Chapter 30: Preferences

Lu Qingzhuo naturally and skillfully hooked her arm around Fu Yumian’s, leaning in close to her ear with a smile. “President Fu, what do you need from me? I was just chatting with a friend.”

Fu Yumian raised an eyebrow in confusion. “A friend?”

That person just now—the one fuming with anger—was a friend?

“Do you know Jiang Yanwei?” Lu Qingzhuo asked. “She used to be in the same company as me, but later, a rival company poached her with a high offer. Now, she’s even been nominated for a Golden Statue Award for Best Actress.”

Fu Yumian detected a faint hint of sourness in Lu Qingzhuo’s voice, though she wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

“I don’t know her.” Fu Yumian shook her head but then added, “Though I did hear Han Tian mention her. The role that got her nominated—wasn’t it originally yours?”

“That’s right.” Lu Qingzhuo nodded, casually rubbing the back of her head. “But I was hospitalized with an injury at the time and missed the opportunity. Even now, my head still aches faintly when I think about it. My memory has been a little off ever since I was discharged.”

Still holding onto Fu Yumian’s arm, Lu Qingzhuo led her to a seat. Throughout the evening, several company chairmen and wealthy heirs attending the auction approached to toast them, but Lu Qingzhuo skillfully intercepted them all.

She didn't drink a single drop of alcohol, nor did she allow Fu Yumian to drink. After all, she didn’t want a repeat of what had happened last time when Fu Yumian got drunk.

Fu Yumian found it amusing that Lu Qingzhuo was being so controlling. She lowered her gaze to the hand that had been holding onto her arm the entire time, the corners of her lips curving into a smile. "Didn’t you say we should keep a safe distance in public? Why are you being so proactive today?"

Lu Qingzhuo bluntly replied, right in front of Fu Yumian, "Didn’t you see how smug she looked just now, holding hands with that old Alpha man?"

"Oh? So what?" Fu Yumian chuckled helplessly but allowed Lu Qingzhuo to keep holding her arm. "There are quite a few antiques at this auction that I find interesting. Is there anything you like?"

Lu Qingzhuo tilted her head slightly and whispered, "If I like something, can I have it?"

Fu Yumian nodded. "Yes."

Lu Qingzhuo tightened her grip on Fu Yumian’s arm. She felt a bit nervous, as if she were dreaming. To confirm, she pinched the back of her own hand lightly.

She could feel it, but not much.

She pinched herself harder, frowning from the pain.

It was real. She wasn’t dreaming.

She couldn’t help but ask again, "So anything I like, I can have?"

Fu Yumian nodded once more, her smile unwavering. "Yes."

Han Tian placed a laptop in front of Lu Qingzhuo. She slid her fingers across the trackpad, occasionally gasping in surprise and holding her breath the next moment.

"Oh my god, this is so expensive."

A Tang Dynasty vase had a starting price of 20 million. Lu Qingzhuo examined it from every angle but still couldn't appreciate its value.

She pointed to a sky-blue, long-necked vase with a clean and translucent color. "This one looks nice. Can I have it?"

"Yes," Fu Yumian agreed readily. Seeing that Lu Qingzhuo had finally found something she liked after scrolling through so many options, she pointed at the vase and instructed, "Han Tian, have this one withdrawn and packed up."

"This is from the Ming Dynasty, right? Our ancestors had an impeccable sense of aesthetics. The more I look at it, the more beautiful it seems."

As Lu Qingzhuo marveled at the vase, Fu Yumian sat quietly beside her, watching the scene. Seeing Lu Qingzhuo happy made her feel content as well.

"Is there anything else? The auction hasn’t started yet. You can take your time."

"Not for now."

Lu Qingzhuo actually felt a bit guilty about taking so much from Fu Yumian. In two years, they would be parting ways, and she didn’t want too many lingering attachments. But the temptation of spending someone else’s money was simply too hard to resist.

Noticing a sticky feeling on her hand, Lu Qingzhuo sniffed it and realized that cream from a strawberry shortcake had smeared onto her fingers. She almost wiped it on Fu Yumian’s arm.

"President Fu, I’ll go to the restroom. You can start without me."

Most of the board members attending this auction had brought their partners along. As the host of the event, Fu Yumian sat in the central VIP seat at the very front.

After she took her seat, an empty chair remained beside her. Many industry insiders knew this seat was reserved for her newlywed wife.

Jiang Yanwei was seated several rows behind Fu Yumian, with a male Alpha next to her—her boyfriend of less than two weeks. He was a real estate tycoon and had business ties with the Fu family.

"I heard President Fu is already married. Married so young, huh."

"That seat must be for her wife. I heard she’s an Alpha actress and quite a beauty."

"President Fu isn’t bad herself. I thought she would end up marrying the eldest son of the Shen family."

"Come on, the Shen family's eldest son is AO-indifferent, and I heard he was recently diagnosed with AIDS, spreading it to a bunch of people."

Lu Qingzhuo lifted her gown slightly as she walked past the gossiping group. She vaguely heard Fu Yumian’s name being mentioned, so she glanced over curiously. In that moment, she locked eyes with Jiang Yanwei, who was sitting among them.

With graceful composure, Lu Qingzhuo gave a slight bow and nodded in greeting before continuing forward, taking her seat beside Fu Yumian in the front row as if she owned the place.

All eyes behind her were now fixed on her back. She pressed her lips together and rested her left hand on her forehead.

A little nervous.

But it felt amazing.

Fu Yumian turned her head and immediately noticed Lu Qingzhuo’s exposed back. Her fair, silky skin resembled the smoothest satin, looking even more striking under the bright lights.

Without hesitation, Fu Yumian removed her suit jacket and draped it over Lu Qingzhuo’s shoulders, covering her back. She even adjusted the collar for her thoughtfully.

"It’s a bit chilly. Wear this."

Lu Qingzhuo was momentarily taken aback. "Thank you, President Fu."

But she wasn’t cold at all.

The auction officially began. Lu Qingzhuo was only here to make an appearance. She had already browsed all the items in advance and wasn’t particularly interested in anything.

Fu Yumian ordered a server to bring some small cakes. Lu Qingzhuo scooped them up with a spoon, eating absentmindedly, entirely uninterested in the auctioned items.

"What’s wrong? Not enjoying yourself?"

Lu Qingzhuo shook her head. "Not really. Just a bit tired from sitting too long—my back feels sore."

Seeing Lu Qingzhuo’s lack of enthusiasm, Fu Yumian immediately knew she was getting restless. So, she took her and left the venue early, leaving Han Tian behind to handle the auction.

---

"President Fu, I’m getting a bit hungry."

Lu Qingzhuo rubbed her empty stomach. Outside, the bustling streets were filled with lights, and the air carried the faint scent of delicious food.

The more she smelled it, the hungrier she felt. Suddenly, she craved hotpot.

"President Fu, I’m starving. I want hotpot. Right now."

"Hotpot?" Fu Yumian frowned slightly, as if pondering what it was. Then, for the first time, she asked something that left Lu Qingzhuo completely stunned. "Is it good?"

"It’s delicious, but a little spicy." Lu Qingzhuo studied Fu Yumian’s expression and hesitantly asked, "President Fu… don’t tell me you’ve never had hotpot before?"

Fu Yumian honestly shook her head. "No, I don’t usually eat that kind of thing."

“You should try it once in a while,” Lu Qingzhuo whispered as she leaned closer. “I haven't had it in ages. Just think of it as keeping me company, okay? If you can't handle spicy food, we can go for the clear broth version instead.”

Fu Yumian didn’t seem opposed to the idea. “Alright, sounds good,” she said.

Lu Qingzhuo cheered internally and opened her phone to browse. When she saw the 400-yuan voucher for a two-person meal, she suddenly thought it was a bit expensive.

Almost as if she could read minds, Fu Yumian took out her phone and handed it to Lu Qingzhuo. “Here, use mine.”

Lu Qingzhuo held Fu Yumian’s phone with both hands as if receiving a great blessing, grinning from ear to ear.

“Thank you, President Fu.”

Fu Yumian’s phone screen was incredibly clean, with no unnecessary apps. Lu Qingzhuo hadn’t planned to snoop, but after searching for a while, she couldn’t find a single food delivery app. Instead, she spotted a lonely little tile-matching game tucked away in the corner.

“President Fu, you play tile-matching games too? What a coincidence! We should add each other as friends sometime.”

She opened the App Store, downloaded two apps—one yellow, one blue—and successfully used Fu Yumian’s phone to buy the 400-yuan voucher. But when she tried to pay, a password prompt appeared.

“President Fu, what’s your payment password?”

Without looking up, Fu Yumian replied, “My birthday.”

Lu Qingzhuo asked casually, “When’s your birthday?”

Silence.

When she turned her head, she saw Fu Yumian sitting across from her, gazing at her with a calm, unreadable expression. That was when Lu Qingzhuo realized she was doomed.

A few days ago, Fu Yumian had told her to look up her birthdate on Baidu. She had agreed at the time, but as soon as she returned to her room, she completely forgot.

If she hadn’t just blurted out the question, she probably would have forgotten about it forever.

Lu Qingzhuo quickly lowered her head in apology. “President Fu, please don’t be mad. It’s all my fault. You know I have a terrible memory.”

She braced for anger, but instead, a hand landed gently on the back of her head, giving it a soft rub.

“Does your head still hurt?”

Fu Yumian had remembered what Lu Qingzhuo said earlier—that she had suffered a severe head injury, causing memory loss. Such trauma could naturally lead to forgetfulness.

“N-no… it doesn’t hurt anymore…”

Fu Yumian rubbed her head twice more before pulling her hand back and then told her the password.

“President Fu, your birthday is October 25? I’ll really remember it this time!”

October 25—wasn’t that just half a month away? That was fast.

As Lu Qingzhuo entered the password and confirmed the purchase, Fu Yumian said, “Once you’re done, let’s head out.”

“Let’s go back to the hotel first,” Lu Qingzhuo suggested. “President Fu, your outfit is so expensive. If it gets stained with oil from the hot pot, that would be a tragedy.” She tugged at the suit jacket draped over her shoulders, which belonged to Fu Yumian. “My dress is pricey too. I’d hate to ruin it at a hot pot place.”

---

Back at the hotel, Lu Qingzhuo slipped out of her dress, standing barefoot on the carpet. She changed into a dark-colored T-shirt and loose-fitting jeans.

She always wore long pants in summer, never shorts. She found the feeling of bare thighs too exposed and uncomfortable.

She knocked on Fu Yumian’s door. When she entered, Fu Yumian had already changed—but she was still in her usual white shirt and black pants. Lu Qingzhuo was convinced Fu Yumian must have bought these shirts in bulk. Her entire wardrobe was probably filled with nothing but white shirts.

“President Fu, who wears a white shirt to a hot pot place? Oil stains are hard to remove.”

The next second, Fu Yumian unbuttoned her shirt, one button at a time, right in front of her.

Her fair, flawless skin gleamed under the lights. She stood at an angle, her waist slender but not fragile, and her full chest shifting slightly with her movements.

Lu Qingzhuo froze for two seconds before quickly looking away, staring at her shoes, her face burning with embarrassment.

Fu Yumian…

Fu Yumian just took off her shirt right in front of her.

Alphas and Omegas had their differences. Even if they had shared a temporary mark once, that didn’t mean they were at the stage of casually watching each other undress.

Soon, Fu Yumian put on a new top—a navy-blue short-sleeved shirt with intricate embroidery. Just by looking at the brand, Lu Qingzhuo knew it was expensive.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh.”

Following behind Fu Yumian, Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t shake the image of her undressing from her mind. She took a deep breath, trying to force herself to forget, but it wasn’t so easy.

Since Lu Qingzhuo had some alcohol at the auction earlier, she couldn’t drive, so Fu Yumian took the wheel.

It was the first time Lu Qingzhuo had ever seen Fu Yumian driving. Having her act as a chauffeur made Lu Qingzhuo feel oddly flattered. Before getting in the car, she even asked if they should call Xie Yun to drive instead, but Fu Yumian refused.

Fu Yumian drove steadily. Lu Qingzhuo sat in the passenger seat, looking ahead. Feeling bored, she opened her phone browser and searched for Fu Yumian’s name, reading her biography like a legend.

Turns out, the biggest divide in life was the moment you were born.

Lu Qingzhuo silently memorized Fu Yumian’s achievements—MIT graduate, billionaire, youngest chairman of a corporate group—and realized she wasn’t even thirty yet.

She turned to look at Fu Yumian, already seeing her as an almost divine figure in her mind.

“Why are you looking at me?” Fu Yumian asked, eyes still fixed on the road as if she had eyes in her temples. “Two kilometers left—it’s the Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot place, right?”

“Yeah.” Lu Qingzhuo quickly turned away. Fu Yumian’s sheer presence was overwhelming. She wasn’t sure how to handle it. “President Fu, I’m bored. What level have you reached in your tile-matching game? Let me play it for a bit.”

“I don’t remember. Haven’t played in a while. You can check.” Fu Yumian glanced at her briefly, giving permission. “The lock screen password is the same as the payment password.”

She focused most of her attention on Lu Qingzhuo. When she saw the other woman quickly take her phone, enter the password, and unlock it with ease, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling inexplicably pleased.

The familiar sound of a casual mobile game filled the car. Lu Qingzhuo opened the game and noticed that Fu Yumian had only reached level 200 or so. She then took out her own phone, entered her ID, and sent a friend request. Feeling satisfied, she continued playing—but on Fu Yumian’s phone instead.

Hmph, she had already surpassed level 2000!

“President Fu, can I open your Alipay?” Lu Qingzhuo waved the phone in her hand and said, “I swear I won’t secretly transfer money to myself. I just want to add you as a friend.”

Fu Yumian didn’t seem to mind. “Do as you please.”

With Fu Yumian’s approval, Lu Qingzhuo happily opened Alipay and sent a friend request.

However, her true goal was to enter Ant Forest and hire Fu Yumian’s little virtual chicken.

After all, what could be more satisfying than making a chicken raised by Fu Yumian work for her?

Fu Yumian silently glanced at what Lu Qingzhuo was doing on her phone. When she saw the screen, she couldn’t help but curl her lips into a helpless smile and let her do as she pleased.

It was already past 8 p.m. The heat of the day had dissipated, leaving only the cool sea breeze against their faces.

The hotpot restaurant they arrived at was owned by a Sichuan-Chongqing entrepreneur, making the flavors incredibly authentic. It was the only hotpot place on the island, and the restaurant was packed with customers.

Just as they reached the entrance, Lu Qingzhuo’s number was called. Fu Yumian followed her inside, seemingly intrigued by the place.

Not long ago, Shen Shijun had also taken her to a similar restaurant, yet something about this one felt different.

Perhaps it was because, this time, Lu Qingzhuo had taken the initiative to invite her. Though, Fu Yumian suspected that Lu Qingzhuo was simply craving hotpot and had no one else to go with—so she dragged her along.

“President Fu, our table is over here.”

The two sat across from each other as Lu Qingzhuo scanned the QR code to place their order. There were too many dishes she wanted to try. She was tempted to order more, but the deluxe set meal for two was already enough to leave her stuffed and unable to walk, so she had to restrain herself.

The server brought over hand towels and aprons. Lu Qingzhuo thanked them before eagerly stepping behind Fu Yumian, tying a neat and stylish bow at the back of her apron like a devoted assistant.

“President Fu, I’m going to mix my dipping sauce. Wait here for me—I’ll be right back.”

Fu Yumian enjoyed the way Lu Qingzhuo constantly looked after her. She liked how Lu Qingzhuo reported every little thing, making her feel an overwhelming sense of security.

At the condiment station, Lu Qingzhuo scooped a generous spoonful of chopped chili peppers into her bowl. Having a high spice tolerance without breaking out in acne truly felt like a blessing.

Fu Yumian’s dipping sauce, on the other hand, was much simpler. She didn’t eat spicy food, nor did she like scallions, garlic, or cilantro. Lu Qingzhuo thoughtfully mixed a mild, universal sauce suitable for someone who couldn’t handle spice.

When she returned to the table, Fu Yumian sat motionless in her black apron, her eyes gleaming with anticipation—like a soft little cat waiting for its owner to come home.

Fresh beef slices were lowered into the two hotpot broths—one a mild mushroom soup base, the other a fiery, red chili-laden broth.

Lu Qingzhuo’s stomach growled, but she patiently waited for the beef to cook before picking up a piece with her chopsticks and placing it in Fu Yumian’s bowl.

“President Fu, the mushroom broth is really good too.”

Fu Yumian took a bite. The flavor wasn’t bad. If Lu Qingzhuo liked this restaurant so much, she might as well consider acquiring the entire chain.

“Ah, hotpot truly is one of the greatest joys in life,” Lu Qingzhuo sighed as she ate. “If I weren’t an actress, I’d love to open a hotpot restaurant—or even just become a chef.”

Fu Yumian put down her chopsticks and took a sip of the dark-colored drink the server had given her. They had called it sour plum juice, and the taste was quite pleasant. She poured herself another cup.

“You want to open a restaurant?”

All the dishes Fu Yumian ate were ones Lu Qingzhuo had picked out for her. She reached for the public chopsticks, dipped a slice of fatty beef into the spicy broth, and placed it in Lu Qingzhuo’s bowl.

Lu Qingzhuo flashed her a sweet smile. “Thank you, President Fu. I do want to, but I don’t think it’s practical. I have too many haters. If they came to my restaurant just to cause trouble and leave bad reviews, it’d be a disaster. It’s probably better to forget about it.”

“There will be opportunities.”

Just not right now. For her reputation to improve, it would take time and careful planning.

Fu Yumian glanced at Lu Qingzhuo’s dipping sauce, which was completely red with chili oil. Just looking at it made her mouth tingle. She asked curiously, “Doesn’t your mouth hurt from eating that much spice?”

“Not at all! I can handle spice pretty well. I even ordered the mild version of the spicy broth.”

Mild?

Fu Yumian considered this for a moment and figured it shouldn’t be too spicy. She picked up a leafy vegetable, dipped it into the broth, and cautiously took a bite.

The moment it touched her tongue, her taste buds exploded. She immediately grabbed her cup and gulped down the sour plum juice. Her soft lips turned red from the heat, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Lu Qingzhuo quickly poured her a glass of warm water and placed it in front of her. “President Fu, are you okay? Did the spice get to you?”

“You said this was mild?”

Fu Yumian slightly parted her lips, revealing a pink tongue now tinged red from the spice. In Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes, she looked stunning—her flustered expression radiating an unexpected allure.

Every time Xie Yun ate spicy food, she would end up grimacing in pain. But Fu Yumian, sitting there drinking water with slightly flushed cheeks, was mesmerizing. Her slender neck tilted slightly as she swallowed, her delicate omega features accentuated by the moment. A few droplets of water slid down from her lips.

Lu Qingzhuo hurriedly handed her a napkin, thinking that no matter what Fu Yumian did, to her, it was always a luxurious visual delight.

She pointed to Fu Yumian’s lips and teased with a smile, “President Fu, your lips look a little swollen. Even mild Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Fu Yumian licked her burning lips. They felt slightly numb, and when her tongue brushed against them, they were still hot and swollen.

Lu Qingzhuo couldn't help but smile. This was the first time she had seen Fu Yumian like this. She enjoyed the sight for a moment before lowering her head and continuing to eat with enthusiasm. She only stopped when her stomach felt slightly bloated.

After finishing their hot pot meal, they stepped outside. Lu Qingzhuo sniffed her hair and clothes—sure enough, they were infused with the rich aroma of hot pot. Even Fu Yumian wasn’t spared.

"President Fu, we smell so strong. You don’t mind, do you?"

Fu Yumian raised her fingers to her nose and sniffed lightly. There was indeed a lingering scent.

"A shower will take care of it."

Her lips were still a bit swollen. Originally a soft shade of pale red, they had become plump and luscious, like rose petals bathed in morning dew—moist and fragrant.

Lu Qingzhuo wasn’t the type to stare at someone’s lips, but for some reason, Fu Yumian’s were particularly captivating. Even slightly swollen from the spice, they looked fuller, more alluring, with a color as tempting as the sweetest berries of Eden.

She bit her own lip and shifted her gaze, rubbing her stomach absentmindedly.

She had eaten too much. She had indulged too much. This was a crime!

You’re a public figure! A superstar! You can’t gain weight!

"Let’s take a walk," Fu Yumian suggested, her gaze landing on Lu Qingzhuo’s hand, still pressed against her stomach. "There’s a small park nearby."

Before they could step off the restaurant’s staircase, a small group of omega girls blocked their path.

One of them, blushing deeply, was nudged forward by her friends. She covered her face, too embarrassed to speak.

"Go on! Didn’t you want her contact info?"

"H-hello…" the flushed omega stammered nervously. "C-can I add you on WeChat? Let’s be friends."

Fu Yumian, standing beside them, remained calm as she observed the situation. She wanted to see how Lu Qingzhuo, who always seemed to attract admirers, would handle this right in front of her.

The next moment, a warm, soft hand intertwined with hers. Slender fingers slid between her own, lacing together into a firm interlock.

Lu Qingzhuo tightened her grip on Fu Yumian’s hand. Her expression carried a trace of apology, but the corners of her lips lifted into a small smile.

"I’m sorry, but I’m already married."  

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