Chapter 26: Name

That night, Lu Qingzhuo stayed in a villa near the downtown hospital. In this area, where land was extremely valuable, Fu Yumian owned countless properties. She reassured Lu Qingzhuo to settle in comfortably before leaving around 10 PM.

There was no one by her side, but Lu Qingzhuo was already accustomed to being alone. However, this time, the loneliness felt more overwhelming than usual.

Lu Qingzhuo had never missed Fu Yumian as much as she did now. She missed the cold expression on her face and the overwhelming sense of security Fu Yumian exuded.

If she had not been tied to Fu Yumian back then, she probably would have achieved nothing by now.

Around 2 AM, Lu Qingzhuo was awakened by a strong feeling of hunger. She lay on the bed, staring blankly for five minutes before finally getting up. To her surprise, the kitchen was fully stocked with utensils and seasonings, and the refrigerator was packed with fresh vegetables and fruits.

Lu Qingzhuo was touched by this small yet heartwarming gesture. Initially, she had planned to order takeout and had even opened the blue app on her phone, but at the last moment, she decided to distract herself in another way.

Since she lived in a detached villa, she didn’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbors with the sound of cooking. Staring at the ingredients in the fridge, unsure of what to eat, she simply took out a tomato and decided to make a simple bowl of tomato and egg noodles.

She grabbed a slightly firm tomato from the fridge, scalded it with hot water to remove the skin, then diced it. Just as she heated the oil and was about to start cooking, she heard the sound of the door opening.

Hurrying out to check, she saw Fu Yumian pushing the door open and stepping inside. Their eyes met, and Fu Yumian visibly froze for a moment.

“President Fu, what brings you here in the middle of the night?”

Fu Yumian replied calmly, “I came to get something from the study.”

Lu Qingzhuo watched as Fu Yumian ascended the stairs. Then she cracked three eggs, beat them evenly, and poured them into the pan to stir-fry.

A rich, fragrant aroma filled the kitchen. She scooped out the cooked eggs and tossed in the diced tomatoes, stir-frying them until they turned soft and mushy. Adding some seasoning and water, she let the flavors blend together.

Tomato and egg stir-fry was the dish she had made the most. The more ordinary the dish, the better the taste. She loved tomatoes—there wasn’t a single tomato-based dish she didn’t enjoy.

She also remembered that Fu Yumian didn’t eat scallions. Initially, she had planned to sprinkle some chopped scallions on top for extra flavor, but after thinking it over, she decided to consider Fu Yumian’s preference and put the scallions back in the fridge.

Fu Yumian came downstairs, carrying a briefcase. The moment she stepped onto the last stair, Lu Qingzhuo called out, “President Fu, it’s drizzling outside, and it’s a bit chilly. Have a bowl of noodles before you go. I made tomato and egg noodles—just enough for two.”

Before Fu Yumian could respond, Lu Qingzhuo had already brought out two beautifully presented bowls of noodles, the rich broth steaming invitingly.

She placed them on the dining table, set down the chopsticks, removed the apron tied around her waist, and gestured for Fu Yumian to come over and eat.

Finally, Fu Yumian put down her briefcase, took a seat opposite Lu Qingzhuo, and picked up her chopsticks, lifting a piece of golden egg.

Lu Qingzhuo didn’t usually have the habit of watching people eat, but since the person sitting opposite her was Fu Yumian, she had to watch and make sure she ate that bite.

Fu Yumian took a taste and nodded. “It’s good.”

Hearing her approval, Lu Qingzhuo’s appetite grew. She finished her noodles and eggs, even drinking every last drop of the thick broth. Sometimes, she thought that if she hadn’t become an actress, opening a restaurant and becoming a chef would have been a great career choice.

Fu Yumian ate with elegance. Unlike Lu Qingzhuo, who drank straight from the bowl, she went to the kitchen, took out a spoon, and sipped the broth one spoonful at a time. Even so, it was clear that she truly enjoyed the noodles.

After finishing her meal, Lu Qingzhuo felt a warm drowsiness creeping over her. Watching Fu Yumian pour herself a glass of water, she rested her chin on her hand and curiously asked, “President Fu, what kind of document did you come to get this late? Is it some kind of top-secret file?”

Fu Yumian shook her head. “It’s not that important.”

Lu Qingzhuo paused, thinking that Fu Yumian could have easily asked Han Tian to pick it up or waited until morning. Was she really so dedicated to her work that she would come out in the middle of a rainy night?

“It’s raining outside. Did you drive here yourself?” This was the first time Lu Qingzhuo felt the urge to make Fu Yumian stay. “It’s quite cold out. If it’s not urgent, maybe you could…”

She almost blurted out an invitation for Fu Yumian to stay the night.

Fu Yumian seemed not to catch her meaning and asked, “What?”

“Nothing.” Lu Qingzhuo quickly shook her head. “President Fu, take care and drive safely.”

“Can’t I sleep here?” Fu Yumian’s voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction. It seemed as though she had picked up on Lu Qingzhuo’s subtle urging for her to leave. She finally said, “It’s late. I’ll stay the night and leave in the morning.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

“But President Fu, I already slept in the master bedroom,” Lu Qingzhuo hesitated. “So you might have to…”

Fu Yumian set down her bowl and chopsticks and headed toward the kitchen. Lu Qingzhuo followed closely behind, watching as Fu Yumian placed her bowl under the running water.

Washing dishes?

Fu Yumian?

These two words weren’t unfamiliar, but putting them together felt almost surreal.

“President Fu, you should go upstairs and rest. I’ll wash the dishes.”

“I ate the food you made,” Fu Yumian said as she clumsily washed the bowl. Lu Qingzhuo stood beside her, watching with a small smile. She took the opportunity to place the used pot into the sink as well.

In reality, there was a dishwasher in the kitchen, and a housekeeper would come in the morning to clean everything.

Neither of them spoke. The only sounds in the kitchen were the running water and the faint clinking of bowls and spoons.

Lu Qingzhuo wiped the dishes dry with a cloth and neatly placed them in the cupboard before washing her hands and preparing to head upstairs.

“Good night, President Fu.”

---

The house fell into silence.

Lu Qingzhuo lay on her soft bed, feeling the cool and smooth sheets beneath her. In the next room, Fu Yumian was also settling in for the night.

At some point, Lu Qingzhuo had started to feel a deep sense of insecurity. Aside from Fu Yumian, she seemed to have no one else she could truly rely on.

Geng Xingluo was still young and had already suffered so much misfortune. Lu Qingzhuo wished she could stay by her side twenty-four hours a day, afraid that someone might try to harm her.

The next morning, Lu Qingzhuo’s alarm woke her at precisely seven. As she descended the stairs, she happened to meet Fu Yumian coming down at the same time.

Lu Qingzhuo greeted her with a smile. “Good morning, President Fu.”

Fu Yumian nodded. The two of them sat at the same table for breakfast. Lu Qingzhuo ate soft, sweet pancakes and drank a glass of milk.

She watched as Fu Yumian took a sip of the dark, bitter coffee. For some reason, a strong bitterness spread from the root of her own tongue.

"President Fu, I'm heading to the hospital to see my sister first. The doctor said she can be transferred to a regular ward today."

Even Lu Qingzhuo herself hadn't noticed how naturally she had begun reporting her whereabouts to Fu Yumian.

"Mm, stay alert." Fu Yumian put down her coffee cup and looked up at Lu Qingzhuo. "Once her condition stabilizes, she can be transferred to the sanatorium on Sang Island."

"Thank you, President Fu."

They had only been together for a month, yet Fu Yumian had helped her more times than she could count. What had originally been just a marriage contract between them now felt like an overwhelming debt of gratitude that Lu Qingzhuo owed her.

The hospital was only two kilometers from where she lived. Lu Qingzhuo drove over, but since it was a Saturday, the streets were quite crowded. It seemed that when bad luck struck, even drinking cold water could make you choke.

While waiting at a red light in her car, she was rear-ended by an electric scooter. The impact left a large dent in the back of the car.

This car had been a gift from Fu Yumian shortly after their marriage, and Lu Qingzhuo had fallen in love with it at first sight.

A crowd quickly gathered, eager to see how the Rolls-Royce owner would handle the accident.

The one who hit her was a female omega who, judging by her appearance and attire, seemed to be a university student. She hurriedly moved her scooter to the side of the road and stood beside the car, flustered and on the verge of tears.

As more onlookers gathered, Lu Qingzhuo put on the mask and sunglasses she had prepared in the car before stepping out. She could hear whispers around her, and even more people were taking out their phones to snap photos and record videos.

Luckily, she had kept a mask in the car for emergencies.

"Oh no, that dent is huge! The paint's scraped off—she might have to pay enough to buy a house!"

"S-Sister... I'm so sorry..."

The student’s voice trembled. After hearing the murmurs of the crowd, her face had turned from red to pale. She stood there stiffly, her neck shrinking like a quail.

Lu Qingzhuo looked her up and down and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"N-No..." The student shook her head, her voice choked with emotion. "Sister, I hit your car. I'll compensate you."

"No need. Just be more careful when riding next time." Lu Qingzhuo glanced at the scooter, noticing a delicately wrapped fruit basket and a bouquet of sunflowers. "Are you heading to the hospital to visit someone? The traffic isn’t too bad right now—go ahead."

The student was stunned. She quickly looked up at Lu Qingzhuo, eyes brimming with tears, unable to believe that this female alpha had just let her go.

She didn't recognize the car model, but judging by the reactions of those around her, she could tell it was extraordinarily expensive—something she could never afford to compensate for.

As Lu Qingzhuo turned to leave for the hospital, the student suddenly stopped her.

"S-Sister, can I add you on WeChat?"

Lu Qingzhuo noticed her head lowered, too timid to make eye contact, so she took out her phone and scanned her QR code. "Remember, always pay attention to the traffic lights when riding."

Lu Qingzhuo parked in the underground lot of the city’s central hospital and took the elevator straight to the VIP ward on the eighth floor.

At the nurse’s station, she asked for directions, and the head nurse led her to the room. 

The moment she entered, she saw someone sitting beside the hospital bed. When the girl turned around, Lu Qingzhuo was met with an unexpectedly familiar face.

Chen Shuang was talking to Geng Xingluo, who was lying on the bed. She was recounting how she had accidentally crashed into a very expensive luxury car earlier that day and how the alpha owner had been incredibly kind, not demanding compensation. The two had even added each other on WeChat.

The moment the door opened, Chen Shuang's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly stood up, flustered.

On the hospital bed, Geng Xingluo's face lit up with joy. "Sister! You're here!"

"Sister?"

The two shared strikingly similar almond-shaped eyes. Lu Qingzhuo stood by the door, exchanged a few words with the head nurse, then stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

Chen Shuang clenched her fists nervously, standing stiffly by the bedside, too afraid to look up.

Noticing a bouquet of sunflowers and a fruit basket on the bedside table, Lu Qingzhuo smiled. "What a coincidence—you’re Xingluo’s classmate."

"Sister, when did you two meet?" Geng Xingluo still had an oxygen tube in her nose. Her lips were slightly chapped, but the doctor had advised against drinking water for now.

"This morning." Lu Qingzhuo walked to the bed, placing her cool palm on Geng Xingluo's face before removing her mask. "Does it hurt a lot? It's my fault for not taking better care of you. This won’t happen again."

Chen Shuang remained standing there awkwardly. Seeing how tense she was, Lu Qingzhuo said, "There’s a sofa over there—you can sit."

"Thank you." Chen Shuang looked up and met Lu Qingzhuo's eyes. With her mask and sunglasses off, she looked oddly familiar—like a celebrity she had seen on TV. The name was on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn’t recall it.

Geng Xingluo held onto Lu Qingzhuo’s slightly cool fingers. "Sister, why did you suddenly come back? Weren’t you filming in Hainan?"

"If I had known you’d get hurt, I wouldn’t have left you alone in Beijing."

Seeing the deep guilt in Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes, Geng Xingluo gently squeezed her hand. "Sister, they say surviving a disaster brings good fortune. I’ll be fine—I’ll even pass some of my luck onto you."

"I don’t need that much." As a firm materialist, Lu Qingzhuo felt her nose sting slightly at those words. "Just a little will do. In a few days, I’ll take you to a sanatorium in Hainan so I can take care of you every day."

"Sister, am I being too much of a burden to you?" Geng Xingluo’s pale, dry lips trembled. "Just like Mom, I’m nothing but a burden to you."

“What nonsense are you talking about? How could you possibly be a burden to me?” Lu Qingzhuo lightly pinched the skin on the back of Geng Xingluo’s hand, subtly changing the subject as she glanced at a bouquet of sunflowers in full bloom. “These flowers are beautiful. Did a classmate give them to you?”

“Yes, they’re from my roommate, Chen Shuang. If she hadn’t jumped in to save me yesterday, I might not have made it out alive.”

Lu Qingzhuo turned to look at the slightly nervous omega sitting on the sofa and smiled knowingly. “Chen Shuang, I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Geng Xingluo hurriedly interjected, “Chen Shuang, this is my sister, Lu Qingzhuo—the big-time celebrity I told you about before. You all didn’t believe me, but now you do, right?”

Lu Qingzhuo?

Chen Shuang lifted her head and saw the tall alpha smiling at her. Memories suddenly rushed back into her mind. The Lu Qingzhuo standing before her was even more stunning than in videos or pictures.

Especially her face and skin—so fair and delicate, almost unreal.

Chen Shuang had never been this close to such a beautiful celebrity before.

So, Geng Xingluo hadn’t been lying after all. She really did have a gentle and gorgeous superstar for a sister.

“Xingluo, I have to go tutor now. If you feel unwell, call me anytime…”

Only then did Chen Shuang realize that Geng Xingluo’s sister was right here. And in just a few days, once Xingluo was stable, she would be transferred to a rehabilitation center in Hainan. They wouldn’t be able to see each other for a long time.

“Thank you, Chen Shuang. If it weren’t for you, Xingluo would have…”

“It’s nothing, really! No need to thank me. Xingluo has always been good to me. How could I just stand by and watch her get hurt?”

After Chen Shuang left, Lu Qingzhuo sat by Geng Xingluo’s hospital bed, dipping a cotton swab in alcohol and gently applying it to her chapped lips.

“The doctor said you can’t drink any water right now. You’ll have to bear with it for the time being. You can’t eat anything either—you’ll have to rely on nutrient infusions.”

The more Lu Qingzhuo spoke, the guiltier she felt. She should have hired bodyguards to stay with Geng Xingluo at all times. But no matter how well she planned, she never expected the one who stabbed her would be their own mother.

“Sister, I’m actually doing fine. Getting stabbed made me see life more clearly.”

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re not even twenty yet, and you think you’ve figured out life already?”

Geng Xingluo smiled. “Yeah, I really have.”

At that moment, someone knocked on the hospital room door. Lu Qingzhuo thought it was a nurse and called out for them to come in. But instead, the person who entered was none other than Fu Yumian, who was supposed to be on set filming.

“President Fu, what are you doing here?”

Han Tian followed behind her. When she saw Geng Xingluo lying in bed, she frowned. A mother who could do this to her own child—wasn’t that no different from being a beast?

“I came to check on her before I leave for Hainan,” Fu Yumian said.

“Sister?” Geng Xingluo had always felt that something was off between these two, but every time she asked, Lu Qingzhuo would just say Fu Yumian was her boss. That it was normal for a boss to care about an employee.

But was this really normal?

Geng Xingluo’s eyes darted between the two. Lu Qingzhuo, feeling flustered under her gaze, finally spoke up. “Xingluo, this is my boss—the one I mentioned before who treats me very well. She came here just to check on you today.”

Avoiding suspicion to this extent—even Han Tian, standing behind Fu Yumian, could barely hold back a laugh. Fu Yumian, however, didn’t look amused. Instead, she asked coldly, “You’re calling me your boss?”

Lu Qingzhuo swallowed nervously, wondering if she had said something wrong. “I… isn’t that right?”

Behind her, Han Tian desperately tried to send signals with her eyes, but Lu Qingzhuo didn’t seem to catch on. Han Tian let out a quiet sigh and shuffled aside, sneaking a glance at Fu Yumian’s expression.

Oh no. As someone who had worked with Fu Yumian for nearly ten years, Han Tian could tell—Fu Yumian was truly angry.

Lu Qingzhuo cautiously lifted her gaze to sneak a look at Fu Yumian, only to feel as if she were about to be shot down by her icy stare.

Fu Yumian spoke, her voice cold as ice. “Lu Qingzhuo, come outside with me.”  

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