Chapter 15: Husband?

“Grandpa—”

The old man let out a hearty laugh. “That’s more like it.”

“Uncle Liu, go and bring me that box from the study.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Come, have a seat.” The old man gestured to the sofa in the living room, inviting them to sit down.

“Aren’t you going to ask?” Fu Ciyu looked at Fu Jingshan and spoke.

The old man smiled. “Ask what? Didn’t you bring her here? That proves you got what you wanted.”

Fu Ciyu paused for a moment, then the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile. “Yes, I did.”

Uncle Liu brought the box over and handed it to Fu Jingshan.

Fu Jingshan called out to Qu Wanwan, “Girl, come here.”

Qu Wanwan quickly stepped forward. “Grandpa—”

Fu Jingshan opened the box, revealing a jade bracelet inside.

“This was left by Ciyu’s grandmother. She said that once Ciyu had a wife, I was to give this to her.”

Qu Wanwan was taken aback. “This is far too valuable.”

“It’s not,” the old man replied. “As long as you are Ciyu’s wife, you have every right to wear it.”

She nervously looked toward Fu Ciyu, seeking his opinion.

When she saw him nod, she carefully accepted the bracelet. “Thank you, Grandpa. And thank you… Grandma.”

The old man was visibly pleased. “Girl, from now on, live a good life with Ciyu. If he ever bullies you, just tell Grandpa—I’ll stand up for you.”

“Alright, Grandpa,” Qu Wanwan responded softly.

It wasn’t until after lunch that Fu Ciyu took Qu Wanwan back to Yuyuan.

At that moment, Yuyuan was bustling with activity.

A red carpet had been laid outside the villa. Double happiness characters were posted on either side of the main entrance, and even the courtyard was filled with roses.

Qu Wanwan looked at Fu Ciyu in shock. “This… is all for me?”

“You don’t like it?” Fu Ciyu’s gaze subtly shifted.

Qu Wanwan quickly shook her head. “No, not at all. I love it. I really love it.”

Only then did Fu Ciyu relax. Before leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau that morning, he had instructed Qingye to prepare everything—and it seemed the results weren’t bad.

Just then, a crowd of people suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

Qingye, Qingyun, Qingjiu, and a few others she didn’t recognize—people she had never seen in her previous life either.

“Qingyun.”

“Qingjiu.”

“Qingye.”

“Qingming.”

“Qingzhou.”

“Qingxun.”

“Greetings, Madam.”

Qu Wanwan was so startled she instinctively stepped back, only for Fu Ciyu to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her in protectively as he shot them a warning glare.

Qingming rubbed the tip of his nose. So timid—how was she supposed to be their Madam?

A shadow briefly flashed in Qingyun’s eyes. She hadn’t expected that after just a few days away, they had already registered their marriage.

“Um… hello,” Qu Wanwan greeted awkwardly.

“Is everything ready?” Fu Ciyu asked calmly.

“All done, Master,” Qingye replied respectfully.

Fu Ciyu’s tone remained even. “Qingye and Qingjiu will stay. The rest, return to headquarters.”

“Yes, Master.”

As Qingyun passed by Qu Wanwan, the darkness in her gaze deepened.

Qu Wanwan’s expression turned cold. Qingyun would undoubtedly become a threat. Having lived a second life, she understood better than anyone how far a woman could go for her own goals.

“Stop!” Qu Wanwan snapped sharply.

The moment the words left her mouth, everyone except Fu Ciyu came to a sudden halt.

Qingming looked at her in confusion, as if unsure of what she meant. “Madam?”

Qu Wanwan ignored Qingming and walked straight up to Qingyun, standing face-to-face with her.

Qingye’s expression changed instantly, and even Qingjiu grew visibly tense.

Qingzhou and Qingxun wore equally grave looks. Everyone within the Shadow Division knew that Qingyun harbored feelings for the Master—and being sent back to headquarters was the result of a serious transgression.

Fu Ciyu stood with a cool expression, his hands at his sides, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Qingyun’s composure faltered, and nervousness crept into her voice. “Madam—”

Qu Wanwan said coldly, “Qingyun, do you have some dissatisfaction with me? Or is it with the punishment my husband gave you?”

A flicker of surprise passed across Fu Ciyu’s cold features—just now, did she say my husband?

A moment later, the curve of his lips deepened, and a hint of delight glimmered in his eyes.

Qingyun’s face turned pale. “No, I don’t—”

“No?” Qu Wanwan’s tone dropped, becoming even more severe.

“Madam, I, Qingyun, would never express any dissatisfaction with the Master’s decisions,” Qingyun answered quickly.

Qu Wanwan sneered. “Then you’re dissatisfied with me?”

“Your subordinate wouldn’t dare.” Qingyun lowered her head.

“No—you don’t dare only because my current status doesn’t allow you to show your dissatisfaction.”

Qu Wanwan looked directly into her eyes, her tone calm and unruffled. “You’re a member of the Shadow Division. The Shadow Division exists to protect him, so I have no right to judge you for that. However—”

She paused briefly, then continued, “He is now my husband. If someone harbors thoughts of coveting him, then I have every right to speak.”

Qingyun’s face changed instantly.

Qingming quickly stepped forward to explain on her behalf. “Please rest assured, Madam. Everyone in the Shadow Division is sworn to follow the Master and Madam unto death. There is absolutely no disloyalty.”

Qingzhou and Qingxun echoed, “Absolutely loyal.”

Qu Wanwan spoke slowly, “Today is a good day. I won’t take action. But—”

“If something like this happens again, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

“Yes, Madam,” the others replied one after another.

Qu Wanwan turned around, only to be met with the smiling face of the man behind her.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to pursue it further, Qingming immediately pulled Qingyun away from Yuyuan.

Qingye and Qingjiu, understanding the situation, also quietly withdrew.

“What are you smiling at?” Qu Wanwan shot him a glance.

“Husband?” Fu Ciyu repeated the word in a low voice.

Only then did Qu Wanwan realize what she had blurted out earlier.

She tilted her head to meet his gaze. “What? I can’t call you that?”

“You can. I give you full permission to call me that every day,” he replied, the joy in his eyes unmistakable.

“Hug me,” Qu Wanwan said softly, spreading her arms.

Fu Ciyu’s lips curved into a smile. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

Qu Wanwan wrapped her arms around his neck and gave a faint hum. “You knew she had other thoughts about you, so you sent her to headquarters, didn’t you?”

“Mhm.”

“Flirting around—”

Fu Ciyu raised an eyebrow at her words. “I didn’t do anything at all.”

“Hmph!”

“How come I never knew you were so easily angered before?”

“Well, now you do. And it’s not too late. What, are you regretting it? Even if you are—it’s too late for that now—”

By evening, the setting sun cast long shadows outside the window. The sky was painted in hues of gold and crimson, like an oil painting splashed freely across the heavens—breathtakingly beautiful.

“Fu Ciyu, do you think… when they see me, they’ll want to eat me alive?” Qu Wanwan fretted, thinking about the group they were about to meet.

“With me here, they wouldn’t dare.”

“It’s my fault. I should’ve been more restrained before… Now we’re meeting them again.”

“If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.”

“That won’t do. Sooner or later, we’ll have to see them. Might as well get it over with. Let’s go.”

Lanting Hotel

“What did you say? You got your marriage certificate? With who?” Gu Yichen shot up from the sofa in shock.

Qu Mubai raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Take a guess.”

“Holy crap! Don’t tell me it’s that little liar girl?”

“Wow, congratulations, Yichen. You got it right.”