---

Chapter 32: Hit Back Hard—Don’t Let Me Down

Fu Zhiqing’s movement was so sudden that Ruan Liuzheng was completely caught off guard and took a hard slap to the face.

Her head was whipped to the side. A ringing filled her ears, and sharp pain surged from her left cheek. Within seconds, it was swelling badly.

She stared at Fu Zhiqing’s mouth flapping incessantly in front of her.

Like a fly—buzzing, noisy, and unbearable.

The ringing in her head only grew louder.

Ruan Liuzheng closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to stay calm and clear-headed.

“Miss Ruan, are you alright?”

Qi Chong quickly stepped forward, supporting Ruan Liuzheng, his expression full of worry.

Miss Ruan was currently President Xie’s most treasured person. If something happened to her under his watch, he couldn’t imagine what kind of storm Xie Qingcen would unleash when he returned.

Even if the one who hurt her was…

Qi Chong turned to glance at Fu Zhiqing, lips tightening slightly, clearly wanting to speak but holding back.

Ruan Liuzheng rubbed her temple. The ringing slowly faded. She lifted her eyes and shook her head at Qi Chong, then turned her gaze to Fu Zhiqing, who was still fuming.

A cold glint flickered in her eyes.

“You still dare look at me like that?” Fu Zhiqing snapped. “Don’t forget your place, Ruan Liuzheng! Cheating on my brother? That slap was already me going easy on you!”

She crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and looked down on Ruan Liuzheng with disdain.

Her posture and attitude—uncannily similar to her brother’s.

Ruan Liuzheng stared back coldly, inwardly laughing in disbelief.

She said calmly, “Are you done?”

“No!”

Fu Zhiqing looked at her with contempt, her tone arrogant and commanding.
“If you kneel right now and apologize—beg me to forgive your rudeness last night—and break things off with that random guy inside, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll be generous enough not to tell my brother. Let you keep playing the role of ‘Mrs. Fu.’”

Her eyes were full of self-righteousness and smug confidence.

Ruan Liuzheng’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

She had always thought Fu Zhiqing was just a spoiled rich girl.
Bad-tempered, sure, but not necessarily bad at heart.

That’s why every time Fu Zhiqing caused trouble, she endured it quietly. She’d believed that eventually, Fu Zhiqing would come to accept her.

But now she saw it clearly—this wasn’t just a little temper. This was pure malice.

No wonder she was Fu Yanci’s sister. They were clearly cut from the same cloth.

Ruan Liuzheng’s tone turned icy. “Are you done now?”

Fu Zhiqing coldly snorted, refusing to answer.

Seeing this, Ruan Liuzheng let out a chilling laugh. Her eyes suddenly sharpened.
“If you’re done talking, then shut up!”

“Fu Zhiqing, let me make this perfectly clear: Fu Yanci and I are getting a divorce. From now on, who I date and whose clothes I buy has absolutely nothing to do with the Fu family.
As for your demand that I apologize? Fu Zhiqing, you’re not even qualified to ask that!”

“You—!”
Fu Zhiqing turned red with anger. She pointed at Ruan Liuzheng, her tone full of scorn:
“You? Talk about divorcing my brother? Who are you kidding?”

“You’re so clingy with him, you couldn’t bear to leave. Don’t pretend like you’re suddenly independent.”

She paused, then gestured toward the fitting room.
“Is this pretty boy just a prop to provoke my brother?”

Ruan Liuzheng’s gaze chilled. Her lips parted coldly:
“Fu Zhiqing, it makes sense you’re Fu Yanci’s sister—you’re both hopelessly stupid.”

Fu Zhiqing frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ruan Liuzheng chuckled, rubbing her fingers lightly, her face full of contempt.
“I mean—you’re both complete idiots.”

She took a step forward.

Suddenly, the fitting room door opened, and Xie Qingcen emerged slowly in a light tan trench coat.

Tall, refined, and elegant.

Ruan Liuzheng had picked something at random—but unfortunately, Xie Qingcen had the kind of frame that made any clothes look perfect on him.

He looked so good that even she was stunned for a second.

And Fu Zhiqing… froze completely.

Her eyes locked onto Xie Qingcen, shocked that the “boy toy” Ruan Liuzheng had chosen was so—strikingly handsome.

No, not just handsome. His facial structure and features were almost flawless.

But the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed…

Xie Qingcen didn’t spare Fu Zhiqing a glance. He walked straight over to Ruan Liuzheng. When he saw the red swelling on her cheek, his eyes turned sharp and cold.

His thin lips pressed together tightly.

He furrowed his brows and gently touched the side of her face.
His voice was low and tense:
“Who hit you?”

The fitting room was a bit far from where the commotion had happened, and the noise of the shopping mall had masked everything—so Xie Qingcen hadn’t known what had happened outside.

Now, scanning the scene, his eyes locked on the latecomer—Fu Zhiqing.

His gaze turned cold.

Just one look—and Fu Zhiqing instinctively straightened up. The air around her felt frozen.

She lowered her head nervously, unsure how to react.

Xie Qingcen withdrew his gaze and turned to Ruan Liuzheng, frowning.
“You just stood there and let her hit you? Don’t you know how to fight back?”

If that was really the case… then he might need to reconsider whether Ruan Liuzheng was truly worthy of him.

Ruan Liuzheng pursed her lips.
“I was just about to hit back—then you came out.”

Xie Qingcen raised a brow, smirking.
“So it’s my fault now?”

Ruan Liuzheng snorted coldly—her meaning clear.

Xie Qingcen chuckled softly and leaned in behind her, wrapping his arms around her gently. He whispered in her ear:
“Little Liuzheng, hit back hard. Don’t let me down.”

“President Xie…”
Qi Chong finally couldn’t hold it in and tried to speak up. He looked at Xie Qingcen with a conflicted expression.

But Xie Qingcen only gave him a cold, warning glance.

Qi Chong felt a chill down his spine and quickly lowered his head, not daring to say more.

He was certain now—President Xie hadn’t recognized who the girl was.

And even if he had…

Ruan Liuzheng glanced at Qi Chong suspiciously, then looked over her shoulder at Xie Qingcen, her expression unreadable.

Then, without a word, she broke free from Xie Qingcen’s arms.

She walked forward slowly, step by step, toward Fu Zhiqing, her face serious and calm.

Fu Zhiqing’s hands clenched. She looked up and, for the first time, truly felt nervous under Ruan Liuzheng’s gaze.

That usually arrogant look in her eyes flickered with… fear.

Her voice trembled slightly.
“Ruan Liuzheng, what do you think you’re doing?”

Ruan Liuzheng gave a faint smile. She didn’t answer.

She stood still in front of Fu Zhiqing, looking directly into those panicked, uneasy eyes. Her own gaze turned icy.

“PAH—!”

A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the boutique.

Ruan Liuzheng had returned the slap—louder and harder.

Fu Zhiqing clutched her cheek, eyes wide as she stared at Ruan Liuzheng, her eyes red at the corners.

She couldn’t believe it.

And yet… deep in those eyes was a flicker of hatred.