Chapter 7 Fu Linzheng's kiss landed directly on her lips.

Chapter 07

He was always flamboyant and arrogant, making no attempt to hide it. His question was clearly rhetorical, causing Xiang An Yue to pause slightly, and the expressions of the teachers and classmates also became subtle.

After a moment of silence, Peng Qingshi smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying: "I just got back from a business trip, and Weiyue said she'd treat me to a meal."

Fu Linzheng looked at him without saying a word.

Rong Weiyue sensed the strange atmosphere, tugged at Peng Qingshi's sleeve, and said to the others, "Then we'll be leaving now."

Xiang Anyue smiled and pulled her along: "Weiyue, Qingshi, it's not easy for old classmates to meet. Tonight we're celebrating Teacher Xingzhang's birthday, let's eat together? We can catch up."

He Xin, a woman who used to be An Yue's deskmate, also came over and smiled, "Yes, everyone knows each other."

The teachers were also invited. Xia Sili raised an eyebrow and looked at Fu Linzheng: "Ah Zheng, is the private room we booked big enough?"

Fu Linzheng glanced at Rong Weiyue's hand that had just been holding Peng Qingshi's sleeve, and the corner of his lips curled up: "Big enough to accommodate the two of you in your own private world."

Rong Weiyue clutched her bag, a ripple of emotion welling up in her eyes. Seeing this, Peng Qingshi said gently to Rong Weiyue, "It's alright, we're all classmates, let's eat together? It'll be more fun with more people."

So the group went upstairs, and Rong Weiyue asked Peng Qingshi in surprise, "Why did you agree?"

Peng Qingshi sarcastically remarked, "It's obvious someone doesn't want you to leave; it's just a meal anyway."

The two were talking, whispering to each other, which Fu Linzheng saw from behind. Xia Sili, seeing him watching, suppressed a laugh and put his arm around his shoulder: "Young Master Fu, was that private time for two too crowded for you?"

Fu Linzheng said coldly, "Shut up."

Xia Sili lowered his voice: "That Peng student and Wei Yue have been friends since high school and are even college classmates. They must have a really good relationship!"

Fu Linzheng glanced at him coldly: "Your company doesn't want the Ancheng Plaza project that we've been negotiating recently?"

"Holy crap, are you serious? You're so petty..."

Once inside the private room, everyone took their seats. The teachers and students were separated into two tables. Rong Weiyue noticed that on one side of her classmates' table was the empty seat next to Fu Linzheng, and on the other side was the seat next to a student from the next class.

"Weiyue, where do you want to sit?" Xiang Anyue asked.

Ignoring a certain intense gaze, she walked over to a classmate from the next class and said, "I'll sit here."

Peng Qingshi sat next to her, while Xiang Anyue sat next to Fu Linzheng.

Fu Linzheng fiddled with the lighter, his eyes glazing sideways.

The waiter handed over the menu, and Xu Xingzhang said to let the young people order. Xiang Anyue took over the task: "Give us a Five Blessings Platter, a 'Good Fortune' platter, a steamed snow crab, and some boiled mantis shrimp..."

"Wow, tonight's going to be a seafood feast!" one student joked.

“It’s the teacher’s birthday, so we’ll definitely have to order some fancy dishes.” Xiang Anyue smiled shyly at Fu Linzheng. “Fu Linzheng, I remember you really like seafood? I’ll order more.”

Fu Linzheng: "I don't like seafood."

"Huh? But I often saw him eating in high school."

Xia Sili joked, "That's your misunderstanding. In high school, his girlfriend was allergic to seafood, and he was responsible for helping to eat it."

Rong Weiyue paused slightly upon hearing this.

She remembered that the school provided a meal allowance every week. If Rong Weiyue couldn't finish the shrimp or other seafood, she would throw it all into Fu Linzheng's bowl. She was too thin, so Fu Linzheng always took care of her meals. Once, when she refused to eat an extra chicken leg, he lazily said, "Fine, then kiss me for an extra hour after school tonight."

She blushed and kicked him under the table: "You're using threats and inducements..."

The boy grinned mischievously: "Bribery? So you're pretty willing?"

Xiang Anyue's expression stiffened slightly as she looked up at Rong Weiyue.

Everyone knows who Fu Linzheng's only girlfriend was back then.

Xia Sili asked, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, "Wei Yue, what would you like to eat? You're so thin, you should eat more."

Rong Weiyue snapped out of her daze: "It's alright, you can order whatever you want."

Just as the waiter was about to leave, Fu Linzheng took the menu and said, "Add another order of stir-fried Wagyu beef cubes, spicy chicken balls in chili oil, and green tangerine jelly."

Xiang Anyue was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "You really know how to order. These all sound delicious."

Fu Linzheng ignored her and went to drink tea. Rong Weiyue lowered her eyes and found that the tea was inexplicably to her liking.

But how could he have ordered it for her? She suppressed her thoughts and wiped her hands with a wet wipe when suddenly her phone received a message from the landlord:

Are you home? I'm bringing people over to see the apartment now.

She frowned slightly and replied: "Not home. You'll have to wait until after nine."

It was previously stipulated that viewings must be arranged two hours in advance, so that if there is a last-minute notification, someone can coordinate.

Landlord: [Aren't you home this weekend? Come back now, or I'll get the key and let you in.]

She found it ridiculous: "The contract stipulates that I must be present to view the property. If you force your way in without my permission, I will call the police immediately. There are many important documents of mine in the house; if they are lost, you won't be able to explain yourself."

No matter how much the other person kept nagging, she turned off the screen and ignored them.

As the dishes were served one after another, the waiter brought over a platter and said:

"Mr. Fu and our boss are friends. Mr. Fu said that tonight's bill will be on his tab. This 'May you have abundance every year' platter is a gift from the boss. We wish you all a pleasant meal."

"Holy crap, as expected of Master Zheng, so magnanimous!"

Xu Xingzhang said he would treat everyone to dinner, but Fu Linzheng simply accepted the receipt: "This is just a small token of my appreciation for your birthday, teacher."

Xia Sili joked, "Don't try to take it from A-Zheng, he's got nothing but money on him, let him show off."

Everyone laughed, and then they cut the cake to celebrate. Rong Weiyue went to toast: "Teacher Xu, I'm sorry I didn't prepare a gift. I'll make it up to you next time we meet. I wish you success in your work, good health, and many successful students."

Xu Xingzhang told her not to be so polite, and smiled: "Back then, I was most worried about Weiyue during PE class. You were such a good student, and I was afraid that your PE grades would affect your college entrance exam results. I also hope that your work goes well and that things get better and better for you."

Rong Weiyue smiled and agreed. Peng Qingshi also congratulated her. The teacher smiled and clinked glasses with him. After everyone sat down, they started eating. Peng Qingshi put some food on Rong Weiyue's plate: "Come on, try this fish."

"Thanks."

She used her chopsticks to move the ginger shreds aside, and a vegetable soup was turned to the side in front of her. Peng Qingshi ladled some for her, and she was about to drink it when a cold voice came from across the table:

"Shrimp was added."

Rong Weiyue looked up blankly and met Fu Linzheng's eyes. Her classmate said it was shrimp and vegetable soup. Peng Qingshi realized that she was allergic and quickly apologized. Rong Weiyue said it was okay, "I can pick it up myself."

He Xin smiled and asked, "Wei Yue, it's been so long! You came back to Beijing after graduation? What are you doing now?"

"Filigree inlay, I opened my own studio."

“Oh, I see,” He Xin said, pulling her best friend Xiang An Yue along. “Yue Yue is amazing too. She’s a top student from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and is now a gallery owner.”

Xiang Anyue smiled faintly: "It's only just begun, Weiyue. What's the name of your filigree inlay studio?"

"Qingyue Pavilion".

"Qingyue Pavilion?" Xiang Anyue asked in surprise. "I'm currently working as an art director for a TV series. Are you competing to produce props?"

Rong Weiyue was slightly taken aback: "The Song of Frost and Snow?"

"Yes, what a coincidence. I never thought we'd go from being classmates to being clients and service providers."

Rong Weiyue hadn't expected this either.

So it was Xiang Anyue who recommended Cui An to the producer...

Xiang Anyue smiled and took a sip of tea: "But Weiyue, your studio is too small. Established companies like Cui'an are better than you in every way. I admire your courage to compete with them."

Rong Weiyue's expression remained unchanged: "Cooperation is something that must be fought for; we should always give it a try."

Xiang Anyue smiled and said, "If I had known you were the boss, I would definitely have put in a good word for you. By the way, you don't know this, do you? Mingheng Pictures is the producer of this drama, and it's Fu Linzheng in charge."

Knowing that it was inconvenient for her to plead, Xiang Anyue looked at Fu Linzheng, "Fu Linzheng, you don't know yet, do you? Before that Qingyue Pavilion..."

The man cut off the conversation with a lazy tone: "I've done my research since I took over; I don't need anyone's introduction."

Xiang Anyue's expression froze, and she said with a slight smile, "I see."

“Wei Yue is very capable; she can win based on her own strength and doesn’t need anyone’s help,” Xia Sili said.

He Xin joked, "Yes, Wei Yue used to be the prettiest and best student in our grade, otherwise she wouldn't have been pursued for so long."

The expressions on everyone's faces were subtle. A dark-skinned boy on the basketball team muttered, "Hey, I remember now, Zheng and Weiyue used to date, right?! I remember at the 100-day countdown rally, Zheng said something like, 'A few thousand chat logs are not as valuable as two university acceptance letters from the same city.' He even did his homework after class instead of playing basketball..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xia Sili kicked him from under the table. The boy scratched his head in confusion: "What's wrong? Isn't that right?"

Xia Sili: "..."

This person is more capable than him.

Rong Weiyue's heart tightened, and her whole body felt as if it were wrapped in a sticky fog. He Xin sighed, "What a pity... I thought you two would stay together forever."

Rong Weiyue met the gazes around her and said calmly, "We broke up after graduating from high school, and it's been many years since then."

The man across from me looked over.

His eyelids were wrinkled, and his dark eyes were deep and piercing, like those of a falcon.

Xiang Anyue smiled and tried to smooth things over: "It's all in the past, there's no need to bring it up again. It's normal for people to like different people at different stages. I remember Weiyue said before that she likes gentle, mild-mannered, and refined boys. I thought Qingshi was a perfect fit for that. Back in the after-school art center, the two of them were inseparable and drawing together every day."

Seeing Rong Weiyue's bad expression, Peng Qingshi explained, "We're just taking classes together, Xiang Anyue, don't talk nonsense."

He Xin teased, "I heard that Wei Yue could have gone to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, but she ended up at the China Academy of Art. Could it be because of Peng Qingshi?"

Rong Weiyue's expression turned cold: "We are just friends."

"Wei Yue, there are no outsiders here, what are you embarrassed about, hahahahahaha."

He Xin was laughing when a loud "bang" exploded in her ear.

Like a boulder thrown into a lake, creating a huge wave, the table suddenly fell silent in fright.

Fu Linzheng, his hand firmly on the wine bottle slammed onto the table, lifted his eyelids to look at He Xin and Xiang Anyue, his dark eyes sharp and cold, exuding a sense of oppression:

"Have you argued enough?"

There was complete silence, as still as death.

Everyone knew that the young master had lost his temper.

The smiles on their faces froze, sweat beaded on their backs, and the teasing words caught in their throats.

A few seconds later, Fu Linzheng picked up his lighter and cigarette case, got up and left the private room. Xia Sili said he was going out for a smoke, and Peng Qingshi said, "Weiyue and I have been friends for many years, from high school until now."

He Xin's lips twitched: "Really? Then it feels like you guys..."

Rong Weiyue spoke calmly, "What do you feel? Do you even know me? Who gives you the right to feel that?"

He Xin was stunned: "..."

"Since you enjoy talking about your private life so much, why don't you tell me what I heard about you two-timing back then? Or about getting caught cheating on an exam?"

"..."

Xia Sili chuckled, "He Xin, your story is much more interesting than others! You're even studying other people like Xiang Anyue, do you know anything about your deskmate?"

He Xin and Xiang Anyue turned pale and were speechless.

The atmosphere was too tense. After a while, other classmates came out to smooth things over and changed the subject. Someone went to toast the teacher. Rong Weiyue lost her appetite and said to Peng Qingshi, "I'm going to the restroom."

"good."

The night outside was hazy. Rong Weiyue stepped out of the private room, lowered her eyes, and let out a sigh.

She shouldn't have agreed to come to this dinner tonight.

Go downstairs, walk through the artificial hill and forest, and at the end is the restroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, she saw herself in a light blue antique sweater and long skirt. A gust of wind blew by, and she pulled her white velvet cloak tighter around her. Only her lips were faintly rouged on her pale face.

After calming herself down for a while, she turned back the way she came. As she walked forward, she suddenly saw Fu Linzheng in front of her. His fingertips glowed with scarlet light, and his tall, slender figure, nearly 1.9 meters tall, was as slender as falling snow, his aura undeniably flamboyant.

He stubbed out his cigarette and looked straight at her.

Unexpectedly, she ran into him again. Rong Weiyue lowered her head and walked over, not intending to greet him. But as she passed by him, her wrist was firmly grasped.

She was stunned, and the next moment he pulled her behind a rockery wall.

There was no one around, only the sound of flowing water and the bright moonlight shining on the vines on the stone wall.

He took a step closer to her, raised his hand and pinched her slender waist, trapping her within his territory.

The air is filled with the cool aroma of blueberries, mint, tobacco, and alcohol.

"Fu Linzheng, what are you doing..."

"Do you like gentlemen who are mild-mannered and refined?"

Fu Linzheng's gaze was like a raging fire, and his deep, husky voice slammed heavily into her ear: "Is Peng Qingshi like that? You threw him a welcome-back party when he came back from his business trip, chatting and laughing the whole time. You used to mention him to me all the time back in high school. So, he's the one who meets your criteria for a partner?"

I've been suppressing my feelings all night, from the moment we reunited until now.

He could no longer hide her; his broad arms, like two walls, locked her firmly, preventing her from moving.

"Fu Linzheng, let go!"

He gripped her chin with his large hand, forcing her to lift her face. His dark eyes burned intensely, almost searing holes in her skin.

"You changed your college application to go to Hangzhou because of him? You like him that much? You're willing to give up your future for him?"

Fu Linzheng could easily encircle her with one arm, his palm instantly burning into her waist through her cheongsam. In the past, she had been held and bumped by him like this until she trembled, drenched in the rain, and cried and begged for mercy while clinging to his shoulder.

The man's emotions surged suddenly, like a tsunami. Rong Weiyue frowned and glared at him, disliking this side of him.

"Who I like now is none of your business, and where I study is none of your business either. Fu Linzheng, I've already broken up with you. What I do has nothing to do with you."

He smirked, "Really? Then who was it that said they liked me so much, who was it that said they wanted to study in Beijing with me? I wanted to do everything to please you, did you even care? Was it fun to play with me?!"

Rong Weiyue's eyes welled up with tears, like fallen maple leaves, and her nose stung with tears: "Who didn't say silly things in high school? What I do is none of your business. Anyway, Peng Qingshi is better than you. At least he wouldn't do something like this..."

Fu Linzheng's kiss landed directly on his lips.

The intense, scalding breath, fierce and domineering, pressed and crushed her. The man gripped her waist, one hand holding the back of her neck, his tongue entwining with hers, savoring every breath from her mouth.

Peng Qingshi's voice suddenly came from beside me: "Wei Yue?"

The other person came downstairs to find her; they were separated by a wall, so she couldn't see them arguing.

Her phone rang in her pocket, sending a shiver down her spine. All her sobs were swallowed back by Fu Linzheng.

As Peng Qingshi walked away, Fu Linzheng slowed down and kissed her again and again. The overwhelming emotions were too complicated, but he seemed to have a switch on her. For a moment, she instinctively and uncontrollably succumbed to the temptation, but the next moment, she forced herself back to her senses and kissed her hard with her pearly teeth.

The taste of blood lingered on my lips.

She shoved him away and slapped him across the face.

Fu Linzheng lowered his head, his black bangs obscuring his eyes.

"Fu Linzheng, are you sick in the head?"

Memories overwhelmed her, and Rong Weiyue dared not think about them, her eyes stinging with tears as she glared at him: "Who I like is none of your business, anyway, I really, really hate you..."

There was no one around, and it was exceptionally quiet.

The moonlight overhead hid behind dark clouds.

A few seconds later, Fu Linzheng turned his head to the side, his thin lips glistening with blood from her bite.

He looked into her cold eyes, his dark pupils gradually turning bloodshot. He licked the blood from his lips, a faint smile playing on his lips, his voice hoarse:

"If you hate me so much, why did you get together with me in the first place?"