Chapter 19: He’s a Man Worth Entrusting for Life

At the faculty courtyard, Ruan Liuzheng sat upright beside Professor Wen Yuexian, lips pressed tightly, eyes fixed intently on the man across from her.

Her elegant brows gradually furrowed into a knot.

Xie Qingcen sat at ease, legs crossed, leaning back casually. A faint smile curled at the corners of his lips, and a relaxed glimmer danced in his deep-set eyes.

He raised an eyebrow and said playfully,
“Miss Ruan, you’ve been staring at me—is there a flower blooming on my face?”

Ruan Liuzheng rolled her eyes subtly and turned away, asking coldly,
“What are you doing here?”

He was a CEO—why wasn’t he at his company? Why was he in the home of a university professor?

And an art professor, no less?

Xie Qingcen smiled gently.
“It just shows that fate is bringing us together. Of all days to visit Professor Wen, we both chose today—don’t you think that’s quite the coincidence?”

In truth, Professor Wen’s son held a patent that was closely tied to a project Xie Qingcen had been trying to develop.

If used well, the patent could push China’s smart tech development ahead by ten years—enough to rival the currently dominant M-country, and potentially shield China from foreign tech suppression.

However, a few days earlier, a friend had warned him: besides Hanfei Group, a foreign company was also privately trying to strike a deal with Wen’s son.

And while Wen’s son was Chinese, he was notoriously greedy.

Xie Qingcen feared he might sell the patent abroad in exchange for money.

In Chinese culture, filial piety is highly valued.

So, for Hanfei’s future—and for the nation—Xie Qingcen decided to take an unusual route: appeal to the family.

Before Wen’s son could say yes to the foreign offer, he hoped Professor Wen could persuade him to keep the patent in China.

Ruan Liuzheng frowned, clearly displeased.
“Stop changing the subject, Xie Qingcen. You and my teacher have no personal ties. Why are you—”

“Liuzheng!”

Wen Yuexian quickly cut in before she could say more.

Adjusting her reading glasses, her silver hair glimmering under the sunlight, she gave Ruan Liuzheng a light, teasing glare.

“Mr. Xie came to visit this old lady. You’re usually calm and well-mannered—what’s gotten into you today?”

Ruan Liuzheng opened her mouth, stole a glance at Xie Qingcen, and realized her tone earlier had been a bit out of line.

But…

She lowered her head, shoulders slumping in defeat.

Though she appeared calm on the surface, she knew full well: the walls she’d built around her heart were being slowly chipped away by Xie Qingcen.

She hated how quietly and persistently he had infiltrated her life.

She resisted—but felt powerless.

Xie Qingcen smiled gently.
“It’s alright, Professor Wen. I’m not offended. On the contrary… I’m quite pleased.”

He nodded slightly and explained, his dark eyes locking onto Ruan Liuzheng, his gaze full of warm and quiet amusement.

“Miss Ruan’s reaction just shows that she doesn’t guard herself around me. That kind of natural reaction… comes from trust, doesn’t it? Right, Miss Ruan?”

Just like that, he tossed the ball back in her court.

Ruan Liuzheng gritted her teeth, glanced at the professor’s puzzled expression, then shot Xie Qingcen a cold glare.

She took a deep breath and forced a smile. Her tone was chilly:

“Mr. Xie, please stop joking. We don’t even know each other that well—where would the trust come from? I was out of line earlier. My apologies.”

Her words drew a clear boundary—cold, polite, and distant.

Completely extinguishing the subtle implications in Xie Qingcen’s earlier words.

Xie Qingcen’s eyes flickered as he looked up at her, a trace of amusement in his smile.

Ruan Liuzheng’s expression turned even colder, her gaze sharp with warning.

Wen Yuexian watched the two, confused.

“Liuzheng, will someone please explain to me what’s going on here? Do you two know each other?”

Ruan Liuzheng stiffened, quickly denying,
“No!”

Compared to her, Xie Qingcen was much more composed.

He calmly adjusted his sleeves and spoke slowly:
“We do.”

“But to be precise, our current relationship is that I’m pursuing Miss Ruan, and she’s… still considering.”

Wen Yuexian looked surprised—but upon closer inspection, there was a trace of delight in her eyes. She turned to Ruan Liuzheng and asked,
“Is that true?”

Ruan Liuzheng shook her head quickly, visibly flustered.
“No, it’s not! I’ve already rejected him. We’re just neighbors, that’s all!”

This time, Xie Qingcen only smiled and didn’t refute her.

Because he saw the light of satisfaction in Professor Wen’s eyes.

There was no need to explain further—the one who needed to be convinced already was.

---

Fu Family Old Residence

A black Maybach rolled to a smooth stop in front of the grand silver-red lacquered gates. As soon as the engine turned off, two servants respectfully approached and opened the car door.

One even shielded the car frame with his hand to prevent anyone inside from getting hurt.

Inside the car, Fu Yanci closed his tablet and looked coldly across at Fu Jingcheng, who was fuming in his seat.

He said in a low voice,
“Put on a happy face. When we go in, you’d better win the old man’s favor. Or else…”

Before he could finish, Fu Jingcheng let out a snort, slid down the seat, and darted out with the servant’s help—his little legs moving like the wind.

He left only a small, angry back figure behind.

Fu Yanci pressed his lips together, frowning deeply.

So rude and wild—how exactly did Ruan Liuzheng raise this child?

On the entire car ride, the brat hadn’t even called him “Dad” once.

Unbelievable.

“Third Young Master, are you not getting out? The Old Master has been waiting for some time now,” the butler approached and reminded him politely.

Fu Yanci inhaled deeply, forcefully suppressed his anger, and stepped out of the car.

Fine. As long as the old man was pleased, it didn’t matter.

He didn’t like Fu Jingcheng anyway—the kid wasn’t even from Huanqing’s womb.

As long as the boy had food and clothing, that was already the limit of his tolerance.

---

“Teacher, there’s really nothing between me and him. I’ve made it clear—I rejected him.”

Ruan Liuzheng had now explained herself for the third time.

Looking at the warm smile in her teacher’s eyes, she felt drained.

Wen Yuexian gently held her hand and said with a smile, eyes glancing toward the kitchen:
“Liuzheng, Mr. Xie is a good man. I think you should give him a chance.”

She trusted her own judgment.

Xie Qingcen was a man worth entrusting one’s life to.

Polite, composed, and graceful—and the way he looked at Liuzheng—that was how a husband looked at his wife.

Even after being rejected, there wasn’t a hint of resentment or bitterness in his eyes.

And just now, after learning how much Liuzheng respected her teacher, he had even offered to help in the kitchen himself.

He had completely set aside the air of someone from a powerful position.

All of it—was a clear sign:

When a man loves a woman, he naturally loves everything about her.