Nathaniel Fu had arrived.
Celia froze—she hadn't expected to see him show up at the Su residence.
"Mr. Fu, please, come in," Su Changrong and Li Lan quickly stood to welcome him.
Rosalie Su turned to Celia with a curious smile. "Ci Ci, you haven't answered my question. Who's your boyfriend? Come on, tell us—we're all dying to know."
Celia looked at Nathaniel. The man stood tall in a sharp black suit, his elegant frame commanding the room. His deep, narrow eyes stayed fixed on her, quietly studying her expression.
"You really want to know?" Celia raised a brow. "Not telling. I'm leaving."
And with that, she turned and walked out.
The room fell silent.
Rosalie blinked, confused and a bit annoyed. She still had no idea who Celia's mysterious boyfriend was. Honestly, it was such a waste—a girl with her background and those looks, and yet...
She turned sweetly to Nathaniel. "Mr. Fu, please sit. I'll make you some tea."
"No need." Nathaniel's tone was cold. "Did you leak that photo?"
Rosalie froze. She hadn't expected him to be this direct. So he really had come all this way... just to confront her?
Her heart skipped. It was true—someone had secretly taken that photo of her getting into his car that night. And this morning, she'd quietly sent it to the press.
She couldn't afford another loss—not after being humiliated by both Madam Fu and Fu Yingying. But Nathaniel was sharp. He always saw through her.
"Mr. Fu, I..."
"Don't let it happen again." With that, he turned and left without another word.
Su Changrong and Li Lan looked at each other, worried. "Why did Mr. Fu leave so quickly? Qianrou, did you upset him?" Li Lan asked anxiously.
Rosalie took a slow sip of tea, hiding the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. "Relax, Mom, Dad. I was just testing his limits. He's clearly very tolerant of me."
The two parents exchanged a glance and nodded. That made sense.
Just then, the phone rang. It was Madam Su.
"Changrong," she said, "everyone in the business circle now knows Rosalie is connected to Mr. Fu. The company's phones won't stop ringing—everyone wants to work with us. You need to come back and start taking charge. From now on, the company is in your hands."
Su Changrong lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Mom!"
A moment later, Li Lan's phone buzzed. It was Madam Song.
"Mrs. Su, congratulations! So it's true—Rosalie is dating Mr. Fu? We're all getting together for cards tonight. Do you have time?"
Thanks to Rosalie's rising status and Madam Song's introductions, Li Lan had finally made her way into the upper-class social circle. She answered with a wide smile, "Of course I have time!"
Su Changrong and Li Lan were absolutely delighted. "Qianrou, you really are our pride and joy."
Rosalie kept her expression calm, simply sipping her tea as if none of it mattered.
Back at Yipinlan Villa, Celia had already returned.
She combed the entire house for the jade pendant—searching the bedroom, the study—still no sign of it.
It wasn't in the Fu family's old estate, nor was it here. Just where had Nathaniel hidden it?
Eventually, exhaustion overtook her. She curled up in bed and drifted off early.
Night fell.
Somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, Celia felt someone leaning into her. Gentle kisses brushed her cheeks and lips, a familiar scent enveloping her.
A warm hand slipped under the blanket.
She stirred and opened her eyes, only to be met by Nathaniel Fu's sharp, handsome face just inches from her own.
"Did I wake you?" he murmured.
"Yeah," she mumbled, her voice husky and drowsy.
"Then go back to sleep." He kissed her again.
Sleep? With him doing this?
Celia groaned and caught his hand, blinking up at him. "What's going on... between you and Rosalie Su?"
Nathaniel paused. He released her, leaned back, and braced his hands on either side of her, pinning her in place.