The following afternoon.

The media team arrived at the World Airways building on time, and Ruan Sixian was styled by a makeup artist at the designated location.

There wasn’t much to do really—she still had to wear her uniform, hair tied back, makeup not too heavy, giving a serious impression.

This worked well, saving her from having to get ready again after the interview when going to Fu Mingyu’s home.

The interview, originally scheduled for three hours, finished in just two and a half hours, and the process went very smoothly without any stumbling moments.

On the way to Huguang Mansion, Ruan Sixian used her phone as a mirror, looking at herself from different angles. “My makeup isn’t too heavy, is it?”

Fu Mingyu didn’t even look up, just made an “mm” sound.

“Could you at least pretend to pay attention when you brush me off?” Ruan Sixian muttered, fingers running through her hair. “When it’s something important, you’re sparing with words, but when it’s nonsense, you talk as if you’re from the Deyun Comedy Club.”

Unfortunately, his hearing was exceptionally good.

“What nonsense have I talked about?”

Ruan Sixian replied irritably, “Nothing.”

“How was the interview today?” Fu Mingyu closed his iPad and unhurriedly unbuttoned his suit jacket.

“Nothing special. Good, smooth. I was eloquent, glib, and quick-witted.”

Fu Mingyu laughed lightly and closed his eyes to rest.

Of course, it went smoothly. Early in the morning, he had the media revise the interview script and remove questions about her family. How could it not go smoothly?

During the interview, the team gradually released some behind-the-scenes footage, and World Airways reposted one clip.

Now in the car, Ruan Sixian was carefully reading through the comments on Weibo, her ego soaring.

“Hey,” she nudged Fu Mingyu with her elbow. “Look how present your high school female classmate is.”

Fu Mingyu had no desire to open his eyes upon hearing the words “high school female classmate,” but the phone was already shoved in front of his face, so he had to make a show of looking.

But when he opened his eyes, the screen was full of flattering comments.

[Wuwuwu sister, even my goldfish evolved into a koi when it saw you.]

[Beautiful sister, every frame is so heart-stirring]

[What’s it like living with such a face every day, and being able to fly too? I want to experience that.]

[Sister, do you have a boyfriend? If yes, would you mind having a girlfriend too?]

Fu Mingyu lifted his eyelids slightly. “You just wanted me to see this?”

He took the phone, scrolled through a couple of pages, and read word by word, “Wuwuwu, sister, my goldfish saw…”

“Okay, okay, shut up!”

The flattering comments sounded completely different when he read them aloud, instantly maximizing her embarrassment. She suddenly felt like these words had taken on a different flavor.

Like some kind of spell.

Fu Mingyu scrolled down and finally saw what Ruan Sixian was pointing to.

[Beautiful sister should debut, star in “Cloud Break Sunrise.” You’re much prettier than that high school classmate with a story. I officially consent to World Airways’ Mr. Fu letting beautiful sister join the cast with investment!]

[Why are you bringing my sister into this just to put someone down? [question] Did you pay the appearance fee? Could you afford it?]

[Did I call anyone out by name? Crazy fan, don’t be so quick to assume. Isn’t it a fact that a certain high school classmate with a story pulled in her boss for publicity? Are you blind and pretending not to see?]

[I wonder who’s blind, comparing a top-tier female celebrity with an ordinary person? Who are you looking down on?]

Probably because the fan team had informants, a large number of fans soon flooded in, pushing this comment to the top of the hot comments.

Fu Mingyu laughed and handed the phone back to Ruan Sixian.

“Will you promote me, boss?” Ruan Sixian smiled fawningly at him. “I’ll split the fee with you fifty-fifty.”

Fu Mingyu asked, “What are you dreaming about?”

“So stingy.”

When Ruan Sixian looked at her phone again, more and more fans had come to argue. The comment section, originally full of flattery, was turning into a battlefield.

“So many people fighting, should I delete it?”

“Just leave it,” Fu Mingyu glanced at her. “Is it necessary to delete it for her sake?”

Ruan Sixian thought about it and agreed.

“Can I reply like this?”

Ruan Sixian showed him her phone again: My boyfriend says I’m dreaming. He won’t let me join the cast [sad face].

Fu Mingyu glanced at her sideways, with a faint smile in his eyes.

“As you wish.”

Two minutes later, Ruan Sixian’s phone quieted down considerably.

No more fans with astonishing fighting spirit poured in. Everyone became as quiet as chickens.

“We’re almost there.”

Fu Mingyu suddenly spoke.

Ruan Sixian immediately put away her phone and sat up straight to adjust her clothes.

The car drove into Huguang Mansion, slowly stopping at the front door along a path lined with dense pine trees.

With the New Year approaching, red lanterns hung tastefully among the greenery, adding some festivity to the solemn winter.

Auntie Luo had been waiting with pricked ears and immediately came out to open the door when she heard movement outside.

“You’re here?”

Auntie Luo looked at Ruan Sixian. “Is this Miss Ruan?”

“Yes,” Fu Mingyu said while taking off his coat, then told Ruan Sixian, “This is Auntie Luo.”

“Hello, Auntie Luo.”

Ruan Sixian followed them in and took off her coat. Auntie Luo immediately reached out to take it.

She paused, not used to such service. “No need, thank you. I can do it myself.”

Auntie Luo smiled at her, took Fu Mingyu’s coat, and added, “Doudou has been sent to school and will be back in the evening.”

Fu Mingyu nodded. “Is he feeling better?”

“Almost completely better.”

“Doudou?” Ruan Sixian was confused. “Who is that?”

“Doudou…” Fu Mingyu had been loosening his tie, but hearing her question, he lowered his hand and looked at her seriously. “Oh, I never got around to telling you. Although I’m not married, I have a son. You don’t mind, do you?”

?

Ruan Sixian’s mouth hung half-open, her brain quickly crashing.

After rebooting two seconds later, she had already thought of 108 ways to kill Fu Mingyu.

Where did he get the confidence to ask if she minded becoming a stepmother???

Was it just because of his face???

“You…”

“Fu Mingyu, are you trying to die?!” He Lanxiang came down from the second floor, heard their conversation, and hurriedly walked over, pulling Ruan Sixian half a meter away from Fu Mingyu. “Don’t listen to him, he’s deliberately teasing you.”

Fu Mingyu pulled off his tie and walked toward the living room, smiling.

Ruan Sixian took a deep breath.

She had already been considering how many years she’d get for murder.

It was cold today, and Auntie Luo had prepared hot water and brought it over. He Lanxiang glared at Fu Mingyu, took the cup from Auntie Luo’s hand, and passed it to Ruan Sixian.

“Drink some hot water first to warm your stomach.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Ruan Sixian took a small sip and heard He Lanxiang continue, “Doudou is a dog he’s raised for many years, practically no different from a son to him.”

?

Ruan Sixian nearly choked.

Indeed.

Fu Mingyu having a dog he’d raised for many years was, to her, no different from him having a biological son.

“You’re here?”

Fu Boting walked down from the second floor with his hands behind his back.

Fu Mingyu had said his parents wanted to invite her for dinner because of the emergency landing incident.

But from Ruan Sixian’s observation, only his father had this intention.

Because his entire conversation never strayed from that incident, asking about various details, even more than the Civil Aviation Administration people had asked. He Lanxiang beside him was already impatient.

She coughed lightly, and Fu Boting received her signal, not continuing further.

But the good behavior lasted barely three minutes. When He Lanxiang mentioned how windy it was today, Fu Boting started talking about the structure of the atmosphere.

From the structure of the atmosphere, he went on to discuss lift generation theory.

After the lift generation theory, he moved on to airfoil design.

Ruan Sixian felt like the exam room had been moved to the dining table!

She carefully responded while kicking Fu Mingyu’s leg under the table.

I came to your house for dinner, not to take an exam!

Fu Mingyu smiled and began to speak, “Dad—”

“Are we still eating or not?” He Lanxiang reacted before Fu Mingyu could. “Can we stop talking about these things?”

The professional topics finally ended there.

Fu Boting’s expression remained calm throughout, and Ruan Sixian couldn’t tell what his attitude was.

At least the examiners would give some comments, but Fu Mingyu’s father did not indicate her performance!

So exhausting.

Fortunately, after being stopped from discussing these topics, Auntie Luo set out the dishes and cutlery.

When they properly started eating, Fu Boting had the habit of not speaking while eating or resting, basically remaining silent throughout. He Lanxiang was slightly more active, though not to the extent of continuous conversation at the table, occasionally saying a few words to inquire about Ruan Sixian’s daily life.

Though quiet and not lively, this dining atmosphere was something Ruan Sixian hadn’t experienced in a long time.

It had been a long time since she had sat at a steaming dinner table in the dead of winter, immersed in a “family” atmosphere, peacefully enjoying a hot meal.

“Would you like some soup?”

When Fu Mingyu asked, he had already ladled soup for her and placed it in front of her.

Ruan Sixian accepted it and said, “Thank you.”

“Oh my,” He Lanxiang interjected. “You two are so polite?”

“Yes,” Fu Mingyu nodded. “She’s always very polite and respectful to me.”

Ruan Sixian kept her head down without speaking.

I’m just putting on an act for your parents, and you’re going for an Oscar.

He Lanxiang curled the corner of her mouth without speaking.

If they were really that polite, she wondered what kind of intimate play had produced that handprint.

A few minutes later, Fu Mingyu’s and Fu Boting’s phones rang simultaneously.

They both took out their phones in synchrony and looked.

Fu Mingyu’s brows suddenly furrowed, while across from him, Fu Boting put down his phone without changing expression, wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, and said, “Come with me.”

Ruan Sixian was in the middle of talking with He Lanxiang when suddenly the two men stood up, indicating for them to continue eating.

Then Fu Boting and Fu Mingyu walked up the stairs one after another.

The atmosphere suddenly felt wrong, anyone could sense it. Ruan Sixian watched their backs and said, “They…”

He Lanxiang pondered for a moment, picked up her spoon to drink soup, and said, “It must be some urgent matter. Don’t mind them, let’s eat first.”

Though she said this, her expression was difficult to maintain composure.

She understood her husband and son better than anyone, and she knew more clearly than Ruan Sixian how unusual the situation was.

Given Fu Boting’s personality, although he was a workaholic and usually so stern as to be somewhat rigid, he wouldn’t suddenly call someone away in the middle of a meal when his son’s girlfriend was visiting.

The dining room suddenly felt much emptier.

Ruan Sixian and He Lanxiang sat facing each other, neither speaking.

Ten minutes passed, and the two hadn’t come back down.

He Lanxiang wiped her mouth with a napkin and said, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

She then stood up and headed upstairs, straight to the study.

The study normally had the best soundproofing, but as He Lanxiang stood outside, she could still hear voices from inside.

There was quite a commotion. Fu Boting was cursing.

She couldn’t make out the specifics, only that he was very angry.

He Lanxiang frowned and was about to knock when suddenly there was a loud crash of breaking glass from inside.

She was startled and, without knocking, pushed the door open and rushed in.

“What happened?!”

Fu Mingyu stood in front of the desk, his expression grave.

Fu Boting, rarely seen so angry, had a reddened neck, his chest heaving violently as he glared furiously at Fu Mingyu.

The broken teacup at Fu Mingyu’s feet had been thrown by Fu Boting.