Volume One, Chapter 10: Baby, Choose Me

The night before they broke up, the two of them had been entwined together all night long. They clung to each other intimately, their bond so close it was as if they were conjoined twins. He felt no hint or warning of an impending breakup.

Yet the next day, she brought up the subject of breaking up.

She sent a cold, curt message: "We're breaking up."

When those four words popped up on his screen, his mind went completely blank. He even wondered if her phone had been stolen.

But when he tried to text her back, he found he had been blocked.

Seeing the red exclamation mark on his screen, panic gripped him. Distracted, he didn’t watch where he was going and was hit by a car, lying in the hospital for two months.

Just as all hope seemed lost, the most prestigious family in the capital found him—his biological mother. She revealed that he was the child she had placed with others to raise.

Now an adult with enough resilience, he was ready to return to the Fu family and take on great responsibilities.

It was only then that Fu Yunzhen learned that the old man he thought was his grandfather had actually been an elderly caretaker his mother had assigned to him. Yet, over the years, no one had cared for them; he had grown wild and untended.

At first, he wanted to reject his biological mother’s claim.

But when the news of the Qiao family’s bankruptcy flooded the media, he agreed to return to the Fu family. What she needed most now was money, not love.

And he could give her both.

The only problem was, no matter how long he searched, he couldn’t find her.

He even had his mother investigate her whereabouts, but to no avail.

She had vanished like smoke in the wind.

He returned to her hometown, Harbor City, but no one had any information about her.

He languished in despair for a long time before deciding to study abroad. Leveraging the power of the Fu family, he sought to strengthen and refine himself.

The Fu family might not truly belong to him.

But what was truly his would always be his.

So for six years, he worked tirelessly day and night to build a powerful technological empire. In just six short years, he rose as a new titan of North American technology, mastering the most advanced scientific research worldwide.

Even the Fu family had to show him some respect.

He knew that only by becoming strong and exceptional could he protect those he wanted to protect.

During those years of poverty and hardship, what cold realities hadn’t he faced?

No matter how well he studied, respect was something no one gave him—except Qiao Nian’an.

The moment he saw the transfer student Qiao Nian’an, he was captivated by her noble bearing and graceful demeanor, the epitome of a wealthy young lady.

But he knew they were worlds apart and never dared to dream of her.

He buried that fluttering feeling deep in his heart.

He understood she had helped the entire class during their financial crises, doing so quietly to preserve his dignity.

Whenever anyone’s family was in urgent need of money, no matter the amount, she was generous and kind.

When his grandfather could no longer manage, she stepped in with money to settle matters.

At that moment, he thought she was an angel on earth.

He knew how carefully she guarded his dignity.

And yet, he lost such a girl.

As for her abrupt and ruthless breakup, he was both angry and heartbroken.

But thinking that she needed him, he resolved to temporarily put aside their romantic entanglement. He vowed that when he was strong and accomplished enough, he would boldly stand before her and say:

“This time, let me protect you.”

Qiao Nian’an smiled bitterly and said, “Breaking up is a one-sided thing; divorce requires both parties’ consent, but breaking up doesn’t.”

Her words stunned Fu Yunzhen.

She was truly heartless.

Had she severed all feelings?

He was on the verge of madness.

“You’ve reminded me well—without a marriage certificate, I can’t protect my rights. Saying ‘break up’ is just getting dumped.”

Right, if they were married, she couldn’t just run away!

“And why did you dump me back then? Why break up with me when our relationship was so good? You even said you’d marry me after graduation...” What made her change overnight?

Why did she abandon him?

Qiao Nian’an recalled six years ago.

She didn’t want the troubles of the Qiao family to drag him down—a university student dating a girlfriend drowning in debt, whose father was a financial criminal. No ordinary man could accept that.

She thought of him at every turn. But he already knew about his noble lineage and was secretly seeing and holding hands with another woman behind her back.

For her, it was a devastating blow.

Six years later, Qiao Nian’an’s broken heart remained unhealed.

As she lifted her eyes to look at him, her gaze was filled with emotions Fu Yunzhen couldn’t understand.

She calmly said, “Everyone knows about your arranged marriage to Miss Gu. Are you trying to make me your mistress?”

Fu Yunzhen frowned slightly. Was she mistaken?

He looked at her and said, “With my current status, do I need an arranged marriage?”

Pausing, his deep eyes fixed on her. “Actually, you do need it. If you marry me, all your problems will be solved.”

His gaze darkened, as if plotting.

Qiao Nian’an shuddered, recalling the ruthless tactics of his mother six years ago.

That noblewoman was clearly a formidable figure.

Fu Shiyu stared intently at Qiao Nian’an.

She averted her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze.

Until a burning breath suddenly brushed against her ear, causing her heart to tremble.

Helpless, she turned back and met his deep, hawk-like eyes. They were separated by only a sheet of paper.

Their breaths intertwined.

So close, their minds flashed with memories of their once intimate past.

His warm breath on her fair skin felt like a kiss, leaving it flushed and tender.

Fu Yunzhen’s ambiguous gaze drifted downward, taking in her eyes, nose, lips, collarbone...

All places he had once explored.

Those moments had been intoxicating.

In their time entwined in bed, he finally understood why so many tyrants were willing victims—it was their pleasure.

Seeing his lecherous gaze, Qiao Nian’an hastily pulled her nightgown tighter and glared at him, “What... what are you looking at?”

His eyes were so sneaky!

Like a lecher!

Fu Yunzhen chuckled mischievously. “Not even going to look anymore?”

His gaze finally settled on the rise and fall of her chest, the sensual movement of her Adam’s apple. He swallowed hard. “Here... has developed very well. Much bigger.”

Qiao Nian’an was furious. “You pervert!”

He spoke such vulgar words, yet somehow they sounded utterly unthreatening coming from his lips.

She had told herself countless times not to fall for Fu Yunzhen again.

But after reuniting, her heart shattered more with every step he took closer.

“How else am I supposed to win your favor if I’m not a pervert?” he countered, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You even forgot to put on clothes this morning. Want me to help you dress?”

Even without any underwear, her ample curves stood proud and full.

Hearing this, Qiao Nian’an looked down and realized she was indeed bare underneath.

Her ears flushed bright red, and she frowned. “This is my home. If I want to go without clothes, I can. Who asked you to barge in?”

Fu Yunzhen chuckled lowly, then looked around. “Where is it? I’ll get it for you.”

Qiao Nian’an stopped him. “What are you doing? I can take care of my own things!”

Seeing her cold refusal, Fu Yunzhen raised an eyebrow. “When we lived together before, I always did these things, and you enjoyed it.”

Hearing that, Qiao Nian’an blushed even deeper, scolding, “Enough!”

Fu Yunzhen was speechless.

Fine, enough. Pampering his wife was more important.

Whenever Qiao Nian’an burst out in Cantonese, it meant she was really angry.

Fu Yunzhen asked her, “Have you made up your mind?”

“Made up my mind about what?” she asked, puzzled.

“Whether to pay in money or in person.”

He paused, then added, “But I hope you pay in person.”

Qiao Nian’an gave him a cold glare. “Dream on.”

Once separated, a broken mirror could not be mended.

With her current status, she no longer deserved him.

“You came here looking for me. Aren’t you afraid your arranged marriage partner will get mad?”

Qiao Nian’an just wanted him to leave quickly.

“What’s going on between you and Fu Jingchuan?” Fu Yunzhen ignored her words and asked with a dark expression.

“That’s none of your business,” she said.

She wanted to clarify her relationship with Fu Jingchuan.

That damned man was actually trying to gather money to marry her?

“Fu Jingchuan can’t give you a billion. Even if he did, it’s just a loan, and you’d have to share the debt after marriage. Why borrow to marry yourself?”

Fu Yunzhen pinched her slender chin. “I’m younger, richer, healthier, and more enjoyable than him. Choose me, and I’ll give you countless billions.”

“Baby.”

His voice was almost a plea.