Chapter 35: Falling Down

Once again, Lu Qingzhuo was left behind by Fu Yumian. Caught off guard, she had no time to think and hurriedly chased after her.

"President Fu, I was just joking earlier." Having spent so much time with Fu Yumian, Lu Qingzhuo had become adept at reading her thoughts. She followed closely behind, refusing to relent. "How could I possibly practice kissing with another Omega?"

Fu Yumian shot her a look that clearly said, "You better not," and reminded Lu Qingzhuo that, as a committed Alpha, she should practice self-discipline and not go around flirting with other Omegas.

Even though their relationship was nothing more than a contractual marriage, both parties were expected to maintain respect and boundaries.

Lu Qingzhuo trailed closely behind Fu Yumian, refusing to leave. She knew Fu Yumian had a strong possessiveness toward her, which explained the terrifying expression she had shown when Lu Qingzhuo mentioned other Omegas.

But why was she so possessive? Both of them understood their relationship for what it was—a mere act.

Still, if this was what Fu Yumian preferred, Lu Qingzhuo figured she might as well go along with it. After all, she was an Alpha. No matter what Fu Yumian did, it wasn’t like she’d lose a piece of herself.

---

At noon, when Lu Qingzhuo went to grab her meal, she was surprised that Lin Zhiyu hadn’t shown up to deliver her lunch.

Finding out that Lin Zhiyu was learning to cook just to impress her younger sister was something Lu Qingzhuo could not tolerate. She would put an end to Lin Zhiyu’s delusions soon enough—there was no way a toad could ever dream of eating swan meat.

The meal box had changed again. The one Lu Qingzhuo grabbed contained an especially large chicken drumstick. Forgetting past misfortunes, she cheerfully placed her meal in front of Fu Yumian with a grin.

"President Fu, I got an extra-large chicken drumstick. Want to share?"

Fu Yumian’s lunch was always brought over by Han Tian, specially prepared by a professional nutritionist. But to Lu Qingzhuo, Fu Yumian’s meals always looked like they were made for foreigners.

Who in the world would enjoy such bland food?

The lunchbox contained neatly sliced, emerald-green avocado drizzled with an unidentifiable pale green sauce. A few slices of luncheon meat and bacon sat in the corner, accompanied by bright green steamed broccoli and asparagus spears.

Lu Qingzhuo thought to herself, "Just give me the money you're paying that nutritionist—I could whip up something better with half the effort!"

"President Fu, is this really your lunch?" Watching Fu Yumian take a bite of the tasteless broccoli with an indifferent expression, Lu Qingzhuo took a bite of her own flavorful, braised chicken drumstick and couldn’t help but ask, "Is that broccoli even good?"

Fu Yumian nodded. Her taste buds seemed to have been numbed beyond function. "It’s fine. It fills me up."

Lu Qingzhuo took another bite of her juicy drumstick, savoring the rich marinade bursting on her tongue. She glanced at Fu Yumian’s foreign meal, then scooped up a spoonful of rice, mixing it with the spicy stir-fried pork sauce.

Without even looking up, Fu Yumian knew she was being watched. She suddenly spoke. "What? Do you want to try it?"

"President Fu, I’m just worried you won’t be full. My meal portion is pretty big."

Before Lu Qingzhuo could finish, Fu Yumian reached over, using her chopsticks to pick up a piece of asparagus from her own meal and held it out. "Try this."

Lu Qingzhuo hesitated. "…Th-Thank you, President Fu…"

Under Fu Yumian’s gaze, she reluctantly ate the asparagus. It tasted exactly as expected—bland. Lightly salted with just a sprinkle of black pepper, it offered only the faintest hint of flavor.

"It’s… not bad, but isn’t this a bit too healthy?"

Lu Qingzhuo still preferred her home-cooked stir-fry. The aroma of her chicken drumstick was simply irresistible—she had to ask the cafeteria chef for the braised chicken recipe.

Logically speaking, Fu Yumian had eaten several of Lu Qingzhuo’s meals lately. Had her taste buds deteriorated? Even if she refused to eat takeout, surely this so-called healthy meal was too much.

Watching Fu Yumian eat her leafy greens and salad dressing, Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but feel like she was being scammed. Wouldn’t it be better if she just cooked herself?

---

By the afternoon, after an entire day of filming, Lu Qingzhuo drove Fu Yumian to a shopping mall and parked outside.

"President Fu, do you need to buy anything?" Lu Qingzhuo had come specifically to buy a couple of nice lunchboxes, but she thought it was polite to ask first. "I’m here for some kitchenware and to see if there’s anything else worth getting."

Fu Yumian got out of the car as well. "I’ll go with you."

Fine. Initially, Lu Qingzhuo had planned to let Fu Yumian wait in the car, but today was unusually warm, and the heat was noticeable as soon as they stepped outside.

"President Fu, it’s a bit hot out here."

Inside the shopping mall, Lu Qingzhuo headed straight to the home goods section. Standing before an array of kitchenware, she was momentarily dazzled by the selection.

Fu Yumian stood behind her, observing the variety of adorable kitchen items displayed on the shelves. She couldn’t help but ask, "What are you planning to buy?"

"Lunchboxes." Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes were drawn to a pair of adorable pink piglet-themed lunchboxes. For some reason, she had no resistance to pink. "Ah, President Fu, look at this! Isn’t it cute? Let’s get it!"

At the sight of the pig, Fu Yumian immediately thought of Shen Shijun’s pet pig—a truly annoying creature that always tried to nuzzle her legs with its snout. Absolutely loathsome.

"Why do you need lunchboxes?" While Fu Yumian wasn’t against Lu Qingzhuo’s choice, the pig design did bring up some unwelcome memories. "And why two?"

"I’ve decided to bring my own meals to the set every day." This way, she could keep her cooking skills sharp while also saving Fu Yumian from having to eat those flavorless 'healthy meals'. "President Fu, eating nothing but greens every day—aren’t your taste buds withering away?"  

She knew that Fu Yumian was very particular about food. Since she was the other woman’s "partner," she figured it was her responsibility to keep the Omega well-fed. Who knew? Maybe she’d even get an increase in her allowance.

That was Lu Qingzhuo’s real motive. But at the same time, seeing Fu Yumian eat those raw green leaves made her heart ache a little.

A chairman of a company, and this is all she eats?

“It’s fine. I’ve been eating like this since I was a child.” Fu Yumian accepted the pink lunchbox from Lu Qingzhuo and continued, “Honestly, it’s not that bad. It’s just a bit bland.”

From Fu Yumian’s expression while eating, Lu Qingzhuo could tell that she was merely eating to fill her stomach, completely missing out on the joy of food.

Hearing those words just now, Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She had gone her whole life without enjoying good food.

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t resist asking, “President Fu, how much do you pay that foreign nutritionist per month?”

Fu Yumian thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t remember. Han Tian handles all my personal affairs.”

So it was Han Tian. Lu Qingzhuo guessed that Han Tian must have mixed personal grudges with work. Since she couldn’t complain to Fu Yumian directly, she resorted to attacking her taste buds with bland food.

Lu Qingzhuo leaned in closer, lightly tugging at Fu Yumian’s sleeve. Her peach blossom eyes gleamed mischievously. “President Fu, how about this? I’ll cook for you, and you fire the nutritionist.”

Seeing that Fu Yumian didn’t react, Lu Qingzhuo let go of her sleeve and grabbed the other one, her voice soft and pleading. “I don’t need a salary. I just genuinely want to cook for you. Just say yes, okay?”

Fu Yumian suddenly turned her head away. Seeing this, Lu Qingzhuo thought her request had been unreasonable and quickly explained, “I didn’t mean anything else, President Fu. If you don’t like my cooking, then forget it.”

She placed the lunchbox back down, but before she could let go, a hand pressed down on her wrist.

Fu Yumian spoke slowly, her voice slightly hoarse. “You don’t want a salary?”

“Of course not. I’m happy to cook for you. Why would I need a salary?”

Fu Yumian held her wrist tightly. Lu Qingzhuo instinctively tried to pull away, but just as her fingers twitched, they were grasped again.

Just then, a tiny Omega child, barely reaching Lu Qingzhuo’s waist, peeked out from behind a cupboard, pointing at them with a giggle. “Mommy! They’re doing something embarrassing!”

Holding hands is embarrassing? What kind of parenting is this?

For the first time, Lu Qingzhuo felt her face heat up because of a child. She tried to wriggle free and whispered, “President Fu, people are watching. Shouldn’t you…”

The grip on her wrist instantly loosened. Lu Qingzhuo picked up the lunchboxes again, a faint smile tugging at her lips as if she had already won.

Why did Fu Yumian’s actions seem so childish?

She was clearly older than Lu Qingzhuo by a few years, known for her decisiveness in business, yet in real life, she was a total klutz when it came to daily affairs.

Maybe Lu Qingzhuo was losing her mind, but she found this side of Fu Yumian… kind of adorable.

The lunchbox didn’t come with separate utensils, so Lu Qingzhuo led Fu Yumian to another section and grabbed two identical sets of chopsticks and spoons.

Only after grabbing them did she realize a problem—if all the utensils were the same, they might mix them up while eating. To avoid this, she swapped them for a pair with different-colored tips, happily placing them in the shopping cart.

Fu Yumian walked ahead while Lu Qingzhuo pushed the cart behind her. When they reached the snack aisle, they were surrounded by children running around chaotically. Several of them bumped into Lu Qingzhuo.

Two kids were chasing each other behind them. With a sigh, Lu Qingzhuo moved the cart aside to avoid them, but Fu Yumian didn’t notice. She was hit hard and stumbled forward, losing her balance.

Lu Qingzhuo immediately abandoned the cart and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Fu Yumian’s waist. As Fu Yumian was about to hit the ground, Lu Qingzhuo twisted herself downward, turning into a human cushion.

Fu Yumian landed right on top of her, her elbow pressing heavily against Lu Qingzhuo’s stomach. A sharp pain made Lu Qingzhuo lift her head.

The next second, her lips brushed against something soft and warm.

Before she could even react, Fu Yumian had already stood up, touching her lips in surprise.

Lu Qingzhuo’s mind went blank.

Holy crap!

Did she just kiss Fu Yumian by accident?!

So those cheesy drama clichés about accidental falls leading to kisses weren’t a lie?

“Hero saves beauty” actually works?!

Frozen in place, Lu Qingzhuo watched as Fu Yumian, looking all dignified, extended a hand to help her up. Only when the parents of the rowdy kids came over to apologize did she realize—she was still holding Fu Yumian’s hand.

“S-Sorry, President Fu.” Lu Qingzhuo quickly let go, then tried to change the subject. She turned to the parents and said, “This is really dangerous. As parents, you should keep a closer eye on your kids.”

After the family left, Lu Qingzhuo’s lips still tingled slightly. Even her fingers felt a little numb.

She had once felt a slight electric shock while fixing a computer, and the sensation from that accidental kiss felt strangely similar.

Now, standing there awkwardly, Lu Qingzhuo pressed her lips together as if she had done something scandalous and had just been caught.

Fu Yumian observed her, seeing how she stood stiffly like a startled quail. With a smirk, she asked, “What’s wrong? You look so pale.”

“President Fu, I… I didn’t mean to…” Lu Qingzhuo gripped the cart’s handle, her palms slightly sweaty. “I didn’t expect it to happen like that…”

“Oh, so that’s what’s making you nervous.” Fu Yumian’s lips curved into a small smile. Amused, she said, “When we were filming, I told you to go easy on the kiss scene, but you wouldn’t listen. Why didn’t you apologize back then?”  

As soon as Lu Qingzhuo heard Fu Yumian mention the accident that had happened during the kissing scene, her face grew even more unnatural. Earlier, it had been a little pale, but now it was as red as a ripe peach.

Lu Qingzhuo looked embarrassed and stammered, "President Fu… please… please stop talking about it…"

"But when I told you to stop, you pretended not to hear me and kissed even harder…"

Lu Qingzhuo was on the verge of tears. "President Fu… I’m begging you, please stop talking about it…"

"Alright." Fu Yumian picked up a box of chocolates and placed it in the shopping cart, looking quite pleased. She turned her head to browse more snacks. "Take whatever you want, I'll pay."

After checking out and returning to the car, Lu Qingzhuo touched her cheeks—they were still burning. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror and found her face unusually red, looking highly suspicious.

The two remained mostly silent on the way back. Fu Yumian browsed the news on her phone, while Lu Qingzhuo appeared focused on driving but was secretly observing the woman in the passenger seat.

Without looking up, Fu Yumian said, "Eyes on the road."

Lu Qingzhuo: "…"

Caught again. 

Did Fu Yumian have eyes on the sides of her head?

Spending time with Fu Yumian these past few days had left Lu Qingzhuo in bittersweet torment. She had been used to living alone, but suddenly having someone barge into her solitary world had caught her completely off guard.

---

That afternoon, Lu Qingzhuo had taken a bite of the bland asparagus from Fu Yumian’s lunchbox. The taste left her craving more, so she decided to buy some fresh ones to cook for herself.

She couldn’t understand how Fu Yumian had eaten such dry, flavorless food for so many years without getting tired of it.

Just as Lu Qingzhuo finished preparing dinner and was about to serve it, a knock sounded at the door—right on time. Sure enough, it was Fu Yumian.

She had just showered and was dressed in her pajamas. Without hesitation, she walked right in.

Lu Qingzhuo closed the door behind her and introduced the dishes for the night.

"Boiled shrimp, asparagus, and cola chicken wings."

She carried each dish to the table one by one. Fu Yumian sat across from her, quietly watching her move about.

"President Fu, I’ve made cola chicken wings many times befre. They’re definitely good." Lu Qingzhuo picked up the largest wing with her chopsticks and placed it in Fu Yumian’s bowl. "Try it."

Fu Yumian had never eaten this dish before. In fact, she had encountered many new foods only after meeting Lu Qingzhuo—like the cola chicken wing in her bowl right now.

No one had ever placed food in her bowl before. Lu Qingzhuo was the first.

"If only I didn’t have to work," Lu Qingzhuo sighed while gnawing on a chicken wing. "I could spend my days raising dogs and cats, cooking delicious food, taking relaxing walks, and traveling whenever I felt like it. That would be perfect. But I’m only in my twenties, so slacking off and not making money feels like a waste of time."

Her original plan had been simple: in two years, she would collect her 20-billion-yuan divorce settlement and then disappear to a place where Fu Yumian could never find her, starting a brand-new life.

What was so great about being a celebrity anyway? Constantly managing one's figure, worrying about aging, and some public figures even getting injections and fillers all the time—sometimes, even placenta treatments couldn’t keep up.

"The taste is really good." Fu Yumian took a bite of the chicken wing. She couldn’t believe something so ordinary could be this delicious. Unable to resist, she picked up another piece. "You’d be wasting your talent if you didn’t become a chef."

"Right? I think so too." Lu Qingzhuo noticed how Fu Yumian’s eyes lit up after tasting the dish, which she took as the highest praise for her cooking. "If I ever quit acting, I’ll definitely open a Chinese restaurant."

Fu Yumian chuckled. Lu Qingzhuo caught the lingering smile on her lips and asked, "President Fu, what are you laughing at? You just admitted my food is good, so it must be really good."

"Mmm, it really is delicious." Fu Yumian picked up another chicken wing with her chopsticks and placed it in Lu Qingzhuo’s bowl. "Alright, eat up before it gets cold."

---

After dinner, as usual, the two went for a walk. There were quite a few people at the park, strolling around after their meals. Lu Qingzhuo held onto Ye Ye’s leash tightly, worried the dog might scare someone by running off.

"Woof! Woof!"

Ye Ye suddenly barked toward the dark bushes ahead and pulled Lu Qingzhuo forward. There, they found a dirty black-and-white stray cat hissing at the dog, baring its teeth.

Fu Yumian walked over and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"President Fu, I think this cow-patterned cat is injured." Lu Qingzhuo noticed that the cat was limping. Ye Ye, instead of attacking, rubbed against her leg, looking longingly at the poor feline. She handed the leash to Fu Yumian. "I’ll catch it and take it to the vet."

Fu Yumian held onto Ye Ye, her face filled with concern. "Be careful not to get scratched."

"Meow—"

Sensing Lu Qingzhuo’s approach, the cat bristled, its fur standing on end as it prepared to attack. But in the next second, Lu Qingzhuo swiftly grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

"See? I told you I’m good at catching cats." Holding the cat firmly, she cradled it against her arm and gently reassured it. "There, there, don’t move. I’ll take you to the vet, alright?"

"Be good, little one. No biting, no struggling."

Despite the cat being filthy, Lu Qingzhuo didn’t mind. After calming it down, she used the same hand holding its scruff to gently stroke its head, smoothing down its fur.

Ye Ye seemed eager to get closer, but Fu Yumian held him firmly, allowing him only to bark. However, a moment later, she silenced him by pinching his muzzle.

"No barking."

Ye Ye looked pitifully up at Lu Qingzhuo, then buried his head into her waist, clinging to her thigh with his front paws.

"Alright, Ye Ye, be good. Let’s take the kitty to the vet, okay?"

The poor little stray curled up in Lu Qingzhuo’s arms, trembling. Blood was still visible on its injured leg—it was just a young cat, not long past kittenhood.

Fu Yumian drove over, and Lu Qingzhuo got into the passenger seat. Ye Ye also jumped into the backseat.

As Fu Yumian drove, she searched for the nearest pet hospital, occasionally glancing at the cat in Lu Qingzhuo's arms, worried it might scratch or bite her.

When they arrived at the pet hospital, Lu Qingzhuo approached the front desk, where the staff took the cat away.

She and Fu Yumian followed. Lu Qingzhuo's white blouse was now dirty, and Fu Yumian took a quick look before shifting her gaze away.

Standing aside, Fu Yumian opened her phone’s camera and recorded a short video. Meanwhile, Lu Qingzhuo remained focused on the doctor examining the stray cat, completely unaware of Fu Yumian’s actions.

"A minor fracture in the hind leg, a few ticks on its body, and aside from malnutrition, it's relatively healthy," the doctor said.

Adjusting his glasses, he glanced at Lu Qingzhuo, finding her somewhat familiar, but still asked, "Did you rescue this stray cat?"

"Yes, my dog found it in the bushes. It was quite aggressive at first, but after I caught it, it didn’t dare move."

The cow-patterned cat needed to be hospitalized for observation. Lu Qingzhuo signed the paperwork, and when the pet doctor saw her signature, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"Dr. Zhang, how long will it need to stay in the hospital?"

The Omega female doctor gave a number, and Lu Qingzhuo nodded. "I'll visit it regularly."

Standing nearby, Fu Yumian remained expressionless. From the beginning, she had noticed the pet doctor’s unusual gaze toward Lu Qingzhuo. Holding onto Ye Ye’s leash, she walked over.

"Qingzhuo, how’s it going?"

The female doctor glanced at the strikingly beautiful Omega before her, whose cold demeanor contrasted with her delicate features. Hearing how intimately she addressed Lu Qingzhuo, the doctor’s eyes flickered with curiosity as she looked between them.

"Its leg is fractured, but it’s nothing serious. It just needs to be hospitalized for a while."

Lu Qingzhuo suddenly realized that Fu Yumian had changed the way she addressed her. The realization sent a strange tingle through her heart, though she couldn’t quite put it into words.

It was odd. Many people had called her that before, but no one had ever made her feel the way Fu Yumian did.

"It’s so pitiful. Can I adopt it?" Lu Qingzhuo, emboldened by Fu Yumian’s change in address, spoke confidently in front of the others. "I’ve wanted a cat for a long time. Can I, please?"

Fu Yumian, though pestered by Lu Qingzhuo, had already decided to adopt the cat regardless. However, when she glanced up and caught the pet doctor’s astonished expression, she suppressed the smile threatening to form at the corners of her lips and nodded. "You can keep it."

"Really?!" Lu Qingzhuo was overjoyed at no longer being a "wild person without a cat." Completely unaware of the pet doctor’s fascinated expression, she was so happy that she nearly wanted to lift Fu Yumian and give her a kiss. "Then I’ll go buy all the supplies for it later!"

Holding the dog’s leash in one hand, Fu Yumian deliberately reached out with the other, intertwining her fingers slightly with Lu Qingzhuo’s in front of the doctor.

Her palm was warm. Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes widened as she opened her mouth slightly, struggling to process the fact that Fu Yumian had taken the initiative to hold her hand.

Fu Yumian was holding her hand?

Why was Fu Yumian holding her hand?

Stunned, Lu Qingzhuo followed along as Fu Yumian said, "Let’s go. I’ll go with you."  

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