Chapter 22: Where’s My Son?

Ruan Liuzheng glanced sideways, slightly surprised.
It was a call from Jiang Ze!

She hesitated but eventually connected her phone to Bluetooth and answered.

Jiang Ze was Fu Yanci’s assistant. If he was calling, it was definitely about Fu Yanci.

Although she was reluctant, back when she worked at the Fu Group, Jiang Ze was the only one who didn’t treat her coldly because of Fu Yanci’s attitude.
In fact, he had even helped her before.

Next to her, Xie Qingcen, being very perceptive, fell silent and simply watched her, waiting for the call to end.

But as the conversation went on, Ruan Liuzheng’s frown deepened. By the time Jiang Ze finished speaking, her brows were furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with a piercing coldness.

Screech—

Ruan Liuzheng suddenly braked and pulled the car over to the side of the road, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

She turned to the passenger seat and said sternly, “Get out.”

Xie Qingcen had just steadied himself from the abrupt stop when he heard her.
His expression was one of disbelief, as if he’d misheard.
“What did you say?”

Ruan Liuzheng turned to him, her gaze icy—but not because of him.

Taking a deep breath, she repeated clearly, “Get out. Have your assistant pick you up.”

Xie Qingcen’s lips pressed into a thin line. His dark eyes quietly studied her for a moment, then he said:

“Alright. If you need anything, call me.”

With that, he opened the car door and silently stepped onto the roadside.

Once he was out, Ruan Liuzheng didn’t say another word. She immediately started the car and sped off in the opposite direction.

There was no time to explain—but she trusted Xie Qingcen could guess the reason.

Xie Qingcen stood in place, watching the car vanish into the distance, its silhouette disappearing from sight. He sighed helplessly.

As the heir of the Xie family, this was the first time he’d been kicked out onto the street.

And the one person capable of doing that… was probably only Ruan Liuzheng.

Still, he didn’t blame her. Instead, concern filled his heart.

That phone call had to do with her ex-husband. But what could possibly have happened to make the always calm and rational Ruan Liuzheng show such a reaction—so much so that she completely abandoned courtesy and forced him out of the car?

Xie Qingcen’s lips thinned. He suppressed the worry in his eyes and pulled out his phone to message Qi Chong.

After all, he couldn’t just stand on the street forever.

---

Meanwhile—

Fu Yanci was playing chess with the old patriarch of the Fu family when he received a message from Jiang Ze.

Seeing the message flash across the screen, Fu Yanci’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Ruan Liuzheng, in the end, you still came crawling back to me.”

“Who messaged you?” the old master asked, holding a black chess piece between his fingers. His cloudy but sharp eyes narrowed suspiciously at his proud yet unpredictable grandson.

Hearing the old man’s voice, Fu Yanci quickly hid his phone, looked up with a smile, and said,
“Just some useless promotional ad, Grandpa. Let’s keep playing.”

The old man snorted, tossing the chess piece back into the box.
“A useless ad, and you stared at it that long? Yanci, I may be old, but I’m not blind or deaf. I haven’t gone senile yet.”

“Grandpa…”

The old man looked at him, his murky eyes as deep and cold as a pond.
“I may not be involved in company affairs, but I still hear things.”

“Yanci, now that you’re the president of the Fu Group, I shouldn’t have to remind you what’s appropriate and what’s not.”

Fu Yanci’s expression stiffened. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll handle it.”

The old master’s expression didn’t change.
“You chose your wife yourself. I warned you back then, but you insisted. The rules of the Fu family are clear—if you regret it now, you’d better swallow it. Otherwise…”

That was a thinly veiled warning.

Thinking of the family rules, Fu Yanci’s gaze darkened, a flash of sharpness passing through his eyes.

He smiled slightly, concealing his emotions well.
“I understand, Grandpa. Liuzheng will be here soon. She’s just throwing a little tantrum. It won’t affect the company.”

“You’d better be right.”

The old man nodded, his tone easing slightly, finally sounding like a dignified elder.

“Yanci, you’ve always been sensible. Chengcheng is still young—even if you’re unhappy with Liuzheng, control yourself. Women… there will always be more.”

Fu Yanci clenched his palm and smiled faintly. “Mm.”

But behind that smile, a hint of mockery flickered in his eyes.

---

By the time Ruan Liuzheng arrived at the Fu family estate, the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon.

She got out of the car, handed the keys to a servant, and strode toward the house.

Fu Yanci, that despicable man—
To make sure she attended the Fu family gathering on time, he had the audacity to use their son to threaten her!

Shameless! Absolutely shameless!

Her gaze turned icy as she walked toward the living room, exuding an aura of intimidation.

But just as she entered the courtyard, someone blocked her path.

Fu Zhiqing had come out of her own villa and spotted Ruan Liuzheng from afar.

She quickly walked over and stood in front of her, posture arrogant.
“Ruan Liuzheng, how dare you come this late! Didn’t I tell you last time that I wanted you to cook Three-Style Duck for tonight’s dinner? If you don’t, I’ll complain to my brother!”

Ruan Liuzheng stared coldly at Fu Zhiqing, her clear eyes full of chill.

Fu Zhiqing was Fu Yanci’s biological younger sister and had always looked down on Ruan Liuzheng, who came from a humble background.

Not only did she constantly find fault with her, she would rally others to humiliate her, often treating her like a maid.

And for Fu Yanci’s sake, Ruan Liuzheng had once tolerated every unreasonable demand, tiptoeing around Fu Zhiqing in hopes of gaining her approval.

Sometimes, it felt like Fu Zhiqing was the elder in their relationship.

Ruan Liuzheng’s gaze turned sharp.

She said coldly,
“If you want to eat, go find the kitchen staff. Fu Zhiqing, I am not your Fu family’s maid. Move.”

With that, she brushed past Fu Zhiqing and headed straight for the living room.

Fu Yanci had taken their son without permission.
Given the child’s personality, he’d never willingly come to the estate with Fu Yanci.

If he was here, he was probably coerced.

She needed to see her son immediately to put her mind at ease.

Fu Zhiqing stood frozen, stomping her foot in frustration as she watched Ruan Liuzheng storm off.

That woman’s getting bolder by the day!
She dared defy her!

Hmph!
She was going to tell her brother and have him put Ruan Liuzheng in her place!

---

By the time Ruan Liuzheng entered the living room, nearly everyone from the Fu family had already arrived.

Aside from her, only Fu Zhiqing—who had been stopped outside—was missing.

Under the sharp gazes of the Fu family, Ruan Liuzheng paused for a brief moment, then walked straight to Fu Yanci.

Her voice was cold and direct:
“Where’s my son?”