“Let her go!”

A sharp voice rang out from behind, echoing through the conference room like a sudden clap of thunder.

Before he could react, Lin Huaiyu felt himself being shoved aside. His grip on Su Weichu’s wrist loosened, and in an instant, she was pulled into another man’s protective embrace.

“Are you alright, Xiao Chu? Did he hurt you?” Fu Wenbo’s voice was thick with worry as he grasped Su Weichu’s hand, scanning her for any signs of harm. His brows were tightly knit, his gaze dark with concern.

Su Weichu shook her head lightly, her expression unreadable as she cast a glance toward Lin Huaiyu. Her eyes, once filled with unspoken emotions, were now icy and distant.

“I’m fine,” she said calmly. “You came just in time.”

Only then did Fu Wenbo exhale in relief. But the moment his gaze shifted back to Lin Huaiyu, his expression hardened.

“Lin Huaiyu,” he said, his voice laced with hostility. “You and Xiao Chu are already divorced. What exactly are you still clinging to?”

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes darkened, his sharp gaze flickering between the two. They stood so close—too close. The familiarity between them, the ease with which Fu Wenbo shielded her, made his stomach coil with an ugly jealousy.

“This is between my wife and I,” he bit out, voice dangerously low. “It has nothing to do with you.”

Fu Wenbo let out a cold chuckle, his stance unwavering as he positioned himself like a wall between Su Weichu and Lin Huaiyu.

“Nothing to do with me?” He sneered. “I’m Su Weichu’s fiancé. If anything, it’s you—her ex-husband—who has no right to interfere in our lives.”

The word fiancé struck Lin Huaiyu like a punch to the gut.

His breath caught in his throat. His fingers curled into tight fists at his sides, his entire body tensing as though an invisible force had hit him.

Fiancé.

The word echoed in his mind, each syllable heavier than the last.

So…it was true.

She was actually moving on.

Lin Huaiyu had nearly forgotten—the Su and Fu families had arranged a marriage long ago.

If Su Weichu hadn’t rejected the engagement and run away from home to be with him, she and Fu Wenbo might have already been married, perhaps even raising a child together by now.

The realization settled like a heavy stone in his chest.

His gaze flickered toward Su Weichu, a storm brewing in his dark eyes—an emotion too tangled and unreadable for anyone to decipher.

Su Weichu hesitated for a brief moment, catching the weight of his stare. But in the next breath, she pressed her lips together and looked away.

“That’s right,” she said, her voice steady. “Fu Wenbo is my fiancé now.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Fu Wenbo’s face lit up with unmistakable triumph. Without hesitation, he slid an arm around Su Mochu’s shoulders, pulling her close. His chin lifted slightly, his expression tainted with provocation.

“You heard her,” he said with a smirk. “From now on, you and Xiao Chu have nothing to do with each other. Stay away from her.”

Lin Huaiyu didn’t respond.

He simply stood there, unmoving, watching her walk away.

Not a word, not a plea—just a silent gaze that lingered long after she had disappeared through the doors.

—

As soon as they stepped out of the conference room, Su Mochu exhaled, the tension finally leaving her body. In an instant, she withdrew her arm from Fu Wenbo’s grasp.

However, before she could fully escape, he caught her wrist again, his grip firm yet careful, as though afraid she might vanish.

“What are you doing?” she frowned, turning to meet his gaze—only to find warmth and something else flickering in his eyes, something unreadable.

Fu Wenbo tightened his hold just slightly, his voice soft but weighted with meaning.

“Xiao Chu,” he murmured. “Now that you and Lin Huaiyu are divorced…isn’t it time to fulfill our promise?”

The woman shook her head decisively and gently pulled her hand away.

“Thank you for helping me out back there,” Su Mochu said, her voice calm but firm. “Wenbo, you know I’ve always seen you as a good friend. As for the engagement… I’ll talk to my grandfather about it.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Fu Wenbo’s face, but he quickly masked it with a warm smile. Reaching out, he ruffled her hair in an affectionate gesture.

“It’s alright,” he said gently.

His easygoing demeanor made Su Mochu feel a twinge of guilt. She lowered her gaze and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t notice how, the moment she looked down, the warmth drained from Fu Wenbo’s face, leaving nothing but a cold, calculating expression.

—

Inside the Conference Room

Lin Huaiyu sat in silence, his fingers lightly tapping against the polished table.

Not as of yet, he told himself.

It’s not the right time.

Just then, his phone rang, the urgent trill cutting through the air like a knife.

“Brother!” Lin Chenxi’s panicked voice burst through the receiver. “You need to come to the hospital now! Qiao Shan… she collapsed!”

His brows knitted together. “Call the doctor immediately. I’m on my way.”

—

By the time Lin Huaiyu reached the hospital, Qiao Shan was already lying in a stark white bed, her face drained of all color. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the room.

As soon as she saw him, she struggled to sit up, her body trembling with weakness. Her voice came out in a faint whisper, fragile as a thread of silk.

“Huaiyu…you’re here…”

“Zhunyu, I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault. I caused the argument between Chu Chu and you.”

Qiao Shan’s pale face looked even more fragile under the stark hospital lights. Tears trembled on the edge of her lashes, ready to fall at any moment, making her appear pitiful and remorseful.

“If you know it’s your fault, then get out of our house already!” Bai Xueping snapped, her gaze filled with disdain. “If it weren’t for you, Huaiyu and Chu Chu wouldn’t have fought in the first place!”

Qiao Shan lowered her head, shoulders trembling as soft sobs escaped her lips. But beneath her lowered lashes, she cast a fleeting glance at Lin Chenxi—a silent signal.

They had a deal.

As long as Qiao Shan helped Lin Chenxi put Su Weichu in her place, Lin Chenxi would ensure she could stay in the Lin family’s home. She knew she couldn’t destroy Su Weichu overnight, but as long as she remained close to Lin Huaiyu, it was only a matter of time before she completely crushed her.

Lin Chenxi understood instantly. She reached for her mother’s arm, tugging gently.

“Mother, Qiao Shan didn’t do it on purpose,” she coaxed, her voice laced with persuasion. “Have you forgotten? When my brother was hospitalized, she was the one who stayed by his side, taking care of him day and night.”

“She was just taking advantage of the situation!” Bai Xueping’s voice rose, her anger unyielding. She turned to Lin Huaiyu, urging him, “Hurry up and send her away!”

But Lin Huaiyu wasn’t listening.

His eyes darkened as he took the medical report from his assistant and skimmed through the results. A flicker of emotion—something unreadable—passed through his gaze.

Thereafter, in a deliberate move, he strode to Qiao Shan’s bedside, reaching out to touch her forehead. His expression softened, and he offered her a gentle smile.

“Mother,” he said, his voice calm yet firm, “Shanshan is still recovering. I refuse to send her away.”

Bai Xueping shot him a glare, her frustration barely contained. “That woman is nothing compared to Chu Chu! Do you even realize who she is? Chu Chu is the sole heir of the Su family!”

Qiao Shan’s expression faltered for a brief moment before she lifted her tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling with sorrow.

“Zhunyu, Auntie is right. Chu Chu comes from such a prestigious, influential family. You should do whatever it takes to win her back.”

Lin Huaiyu stared at the delicate, innocent face before him, but instead of warmth, an inexplicable wave of disgust rolled through him.

If it weren’t for the need to mislead others—to shield Su Mochu from harm—he would have never let this woman stay by his side.

Swallowing down the revulsion tightening in his chest, he carefully masked his emotions. His fingers curled around Qiao Shan’s hand in a gesture of reassurance, his voice smooth and unwavering.

“Just focus on recovering. Stay at the Lin residence as long as you need. I’ll handle everything else.”