Celia forcefully pulled her hand back, refusing to strike him again.
Nathaniel Fu curled his lips into a teasing smile."Can't bear to hit me?"
Celia's clear eyes shimmered with redness, tinged with a fragile, wounded look. She bit her lip hard and spat, "Bah, pervert!"
Nathaniel lowered his head, brushing a kiss against the side of her nose."Fine, I'm a pervert. But I wasn't like this before I met you."
Her heart clenched.What about that so-called white moonlight from his past?Wasn't he just as obsessive with her, too?
"Mr. Fu, look—there's something flying in the sky," she suddenly said.
Nathaniel raised his head instinctively. "What?"
"You're just bragging."
Nathaniel: "…"
Suppressing his laugh, he picked up the small porcelain bowl again. "Drink the chicken soup."
Celia pushed it away with a grimace. The smell alone made her nauseous. "I don't want it."
Though she refused, Nathaniel calmly carved out a tender piece of chicken thigh, lightly sautéed it, and placed it into a fresh dish. "Open your mouth."
This time, Celia didn't resist. Sitting on his lap, she let him feed her one bite at a time.
Her delicate posture and the slow, graceful way she ate made the act strangely intimate. But after only a little, she shook her head. "I'm full. I really can't eat anymore."
Nathaniel didn't push her further. He dabbed her lips with a napkin, then turned to eat what remained—starting with her leftovers.
Celia blinked, startled.Why would he eat after her?
She studied him quietly. Fresh from a shower, he was dressed in a simple black shirt and casual trousers. Dark blue slippers revealed his slender ankles. Without his usual razor-sharp presence from the business world, he now looked more like a refined younger man—elegant, natural, and devastatingly attractive.
Even eating, he exuded an innate sophistication, the kind of grace that could only come from deep self-discipline.
Her gaze wandered to his throat. Almost unconsciously, she stretched out her fingers and brushed his Adam's apple.
Nathaniel paused mid-bite, chopsticks suspended, his eyes flickering toward her."You're really going to bother me while I'm eating?"
Her cheeks flushed. She quickly pulled her hand back. "…"
A wave of drowsiness swept over her, leaving her small hands looped loosely around his neck as she leaned against his shoulder.
Clad only in his white shirt, her slender figure looked impossibly fragile in his embrace. Her pale legs brushed against his dark trousers as she nestled obediently against him—a picture that was both innocent and tantalizing.
When Nathaniel finally set his chopsticks down, she had already drifted into sleep. She fell asleep so quickly it startled him.
But even in slumber, her small hand remained pressed protectively against her stomach, her brows faintly furrowed.
Nathaniel lifted her with practiced gentleness, laying her onto the bed. His palm lingered on her flat belly, rubbing in soothing circles. He pressed soft kisses to her forehead, murmuring,"Why do you always feel unwell?"
The next morning.
Celia woke early, packed her things, and grabbed her bag.
"I'm heading out," she said briskly.
Nathaniel looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Where to? I'll drive you."
"I'm meeting the Su family. And don't tell them anything." Her tone was firm. "Mr. Fu, no need to see me off. I'll go myself."
She left in a hurry.
Nathaniel's gaze lingered on her graceful back until Secretary Song entered the room.
"President, I've just received word—King has arrived in Yecheng."
Nathaniel's eyes sharpened.The real King?
Yesterday he had uncovered Rosalie as a fake bride. And now, today, his real bride had appeared?
"Where is she?"
"King will be meeting the Su family in the presidential suite at the Yunli Hotel."
Nathaniel's thin lips curved, his voice low. "Let's go."
He had waited too long to meet this legendary King.
Yunli Hotel.
Old Madam Su entered the grand lobby with her entourage. Their expressions were tense, every step carrying both expectation and fear.
Deep down, each of them knew: if the person in that suite was truly King, then the Su family's fate would change entirely.
But what if she wasn't the real one?
What if the truth—that Rosalie was only a pretender—came to light before they were prepared?
A hush of unease spread among them as they ascended the steps.
For the first time, it felt as though a thin veil separating truth and lies was about to be torn apart.