Chapter Two: Supporting Others from Afar

She took Qin Zhaoqing’s hand and turned to walk in the other direction.

Gu Linzhou rolled down the car window, his gaze following Fu Luoning. She never glanced his way, but frequently looked at the black velvet box in her hands.

It was the watch he had just auctioned.

“Mr. Gu,” Zhang Youqing approached, “Madam says she still has some matters to attend to.”

“Go back,” he said, withdrawing his gaze. “Return to Tianjin Bay.”

Zhang Youqing was momentarily taken aback. He glanced toward Fu Luoning’s direction before returning to the driver’s seat.

Tianjin Bay was the marital home Fu Luoning and Gu Linzhou had once shared, though Gu Linzhou seldom returned throughout the year. This sudden visit caught the servants off guard.

“The master is back.”

Upon entering the villa, Gu Linzhou immediately sensed an emptiness. Aunt Sun came over, “Sir, have you eaten? Would you like some supper?”

“No need.” Gu Linzhou took off his coat and headed upstairs.

In the bedroom, when he switched on the light, his eyes immediately fell on the large wedding photo hanging above the bedside.

Fu Luoning held a bouquet, head bowed slightly, standing before him. Her profile was delicate, beautiful, and gentle.

He stared at it for a while, suddenly recalling that this photo had been taken on their wedding day, a spontaneous shot. They hadn’t exchanged a single word from beginning to end.

Pulling his gaze away, he turned and went to the bathroom.

After showering, he emerged to find the house still empty, with no sign anyone had returned. He glanced at the clock — half past nine. He stepped out of the bedroom and looked toward the living room below; it remained silent and deserted.

He turned back and went to rest in his room.

***

At Dongyu Huafu.

After dining with Qin Zhaoqing, Fu Luoning arrived home past eleven.

She finished tidying up but felt no hint of sleepiness. She took out the luxury watch she had brought back and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, examining it carefully.

Black obsidian.

He would surely like it very much, Fu Luoning thought.

***

The next day, after the rain, the sunlight was exceptionally warm.

Gu Linzhou descended the stairs toward the dining room, fastening his cufflinks as the servant had already prepared breakfast.

Only one set of tableware was laid out.

He sat down. “Where is she?”

Aunt Sun hesitated, “Madam?”

“Does the master not know Madam has moved out?”

“She has been living elsewhere since last year,” Aunt Sun replied cautiously. “She only comes back occasionally.”

Gu Linzhou’s chopsticks paused mid-air. “She moved out last year?”

“Yes, for work convenience, she said.”

Gu Linzhou seemed to realize something. He picked up his phone and walked out, dialing a number.

The other end answered quickly, “Why so early?”

“Check if Fu Luoning is seeing someone else.”

There was a pause. “Impossible. Do you think your sister-in-law is like that?”

Gu Linzhou choked on his words. “Stop the nonsense. Just check.”

“Did you find something?”

“No, just a guess. I came back to Tianjin Bay last night, and this morning Aunt Sun told me she moved out a year ago.”

“You hardly come home all year, expecting her to wait for you there?” The voice laughed. “Rest assured, your sister-in-law isn’t that kind of person.”

Gu Linzhou ended the call and turned to ask Aunt Sun, “Where did she move to?”

She shook her head.

Before he could say more, his phone rang again. Remembering he had several important meetings today and pressed for time, he said nothing more and left immediately.

Aunt Sun accompanied him outside. “Sir, shall I call Madam and ask her to come back tonight?”

Gu Linzhou nodded and strode toward the car.

***

At NQ Design Company.

Fu Luoning had been in meetings since early morning, so busy she barely had time to breathe. When she finally had a moment, she noticed Aunt Sun had called several times.

Shan Yue checked the time on her iPad. “Boss, I contacted Master Fuji’s assistant last night. Master Fuji is now based in Ireland. I confirmed the schedule with his assistant — he’s free until the end of the month. So you can decide when you want to go.”

“No need,” Fu Luoning said, looking at her. “Check my schedule. I’ll go myself.”

Shan Yue hesitated. “Isn’t that a waste of time for such a simple matter?”

“Not at all,” Fu Luoning replied. “The sooner, the better.”

Shan Yue scanned the itinerary on her iPad. “If it’s the sooner the better, then tonight would be the flight. But you have to be back in a week. That night is the Gu family patriarch’s birthday banquet.”

Fu Luoning frowned slightly. In their two years of marriage, she had never attended the patriarch’s birthday banquet. Last year, she had planned to go but missed it due to a car accident on the way to the airport in Yunhai City.

“I understand. Help me choose a gift. I’ll go directly after I return that day.”

Shan Yue nodded and booked a flight to Ireland for tonight.

Fu Luoning took a moment to call Aunt Sun back. When the call connected, Aunt Sun sighed with relief. “Madam, the master came back last night.”

“He went back?” Fu Luoning put down her pen. “Did he say anything?”

“He didn’t say anything last night. It was only this morning that I found out you moved out a year ago.”

“Anything else?” Fu Luoning still hoped for more. “Did he ask you to call me?”

“Yes.” Aunt Sun said, “Madam, maybe you should come back tonight.”

“I can’t tonight.” Fu Luoning’s voice held a trace of excitement. “I’ll call him.”

She hung up, quickly found Gu Linzhou’s number, and dialed.

Gu Linzhou was in a meeting. Seeing the incoming call, he did not answer.

Fu Luoning called a third time before he finally picked up.

The soft female voice spoke first, “Do you want to meet and talk?”

Gu Linzhou heard it and felt an unfamiliar yet familiar sensation.

He paused, confused. “Talk about what?”

There was silence on the other end.

After a few seconds, Fu Luoning’s voice resumed, “You went back to Tianjin Bay last night, didn’t you?”

Gu Linzhou snorted. “If I hadn’t, how would I know? You’ve been living elsewhere for a year.”

“So what?” Fu Luoning disliked his tone. “Do I have to cling to that place?”

“You married here for those reasons, didn’t you?” Gu Linzhou sneered. “Weren’t you the one who insisted on marrying in?”

Fu Luoning caught the sarcasm in his voice and shot back, “I didn’t necessarily marry you. If there were more than one son in the Gu family, I could marry someone else.”

Gu Linzhou’s eyes darkened slightly. “Fu Luoning, you’ve been way too comfortable being Madam Gu these past two years. Don’t you know that careless words bring trouble?”

From what he remembered, their meetings had been few and far between. He had been out carousing, and Fu Luoning never questioned him. Aside from the times she had to deal with the Gu patriarch, they had only pretended to be a couple a few times.

“Hmph.” Fu Luoning sneered. “Comfortable? I don’t even know how to write those two words.”

She knew full well the gossip and whispers behind her back these past two years. Gu Linzhou didn’t care about the wife he had married, and of course, she didn’t need to care either. But she didn’t want to spend all her time tied to the Gu family.

Gu Linzhou gripped his phone tightly, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

“If you have time, you should check your study.” She said this and hung up immediately.

The study?