"Deduct ten million each time, accumulating accordingly."

Having had their spirits dampened by that scumbag and his mistress, Shu Nian and Qiao Jiaoyun decided to head home early.

"Nian'er, where is your home? I'll drop you off," Qiao Jiaoyun said. Since they had left, she had been observing Shu Nian's expression, and only felt relieved once she saw that her friend seemed to be fine.

"Alright, my home is at the Fu Estate."

"What? The Fu Estate? But you and Fu Zhouye are in a contract marriage!" Qiao Jiaoyun’s eyes widened in shock once again.

Shu Nian nodded calmly; she had long since become accustomed to such reactions.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled patterns on the winding road. Shu Nian sat in the passenger seat of Qiao Jiaoyun’s blue supercar as they drove toward the estate. As the vehicle gradually drew closer, a magnificent manor came into view.

Qiao Jiaoyun gazed through the car window, completely captivated. Her eyes remained calm, however, as she had grown numb to the various unconventional things her best friend did. The estate’s towering walls and spires looked spectacular under the sun, and the flowers in the gardens bloomed in a riot of color; everything appeared luxurious and unattainable.

As Qiao Jiaoyun brought the car to a slow stop, she stepped out and politely asked if Shu Nian would like her to come inside for a tour. She looked at Qiao Jiaoyun, seemingly seeking her opinion.

Qiao Jiaoyun waved her hand gently, a trace of helplessness and self-deprecation on her face. She whispered, "This is the Fu Estate. With my social standing, how could I possibly be qualified to enter? Besides, the person who lives there is rarely seen in public."

Shu Nian looked regretful. She waved her hand lightly to show she understood, saying, "Alright, in that case, I'll have to invite you another time. I hope I’ll have the chance to show you the inside of the manor later."

Qiao Jiaoyun believed that by mentioning the difference in their social classes and noting that the head of the Fu family disliked being seen, she had provided a plausible reason for her refusal, hoping it would keep Shu Nian from overthinking things.

Shu Nian nodded. Although she felt a bit disappointed, she understood what Qiao Jiaoyun meant. Perhaps it was because she had been studying abroad that they had grown a bit distant, or perhaps Qiao Jiaoyun simply didn't want to put her in a difficult position.

They didn't leave immediately, choosing instead to quietly admire the exterior of the magnificent architecture until the setting sun dyed the estate in hues of gold, at which point they finally drove away.

Shu Nian pushed the door open and stepped into the foyer on tiptoes. After changing her shoes, her gaze drifted toward the living room.

On the sofa sat Fu Zhouye, dressed in a custom-made dark suit. The tailoring was impeccable, accentuating his tall, upright posture. The fine texture of the fabric shimmered faintly under the lights, exuding an air of understated luxury. He was focused on his phone, his long, slender fingers swiping across the screen. His profile was sharp, yet softened by the gentle ambient light.

Steward Li stood to the side, holding a ledger with a kind smile on his face, occasionally looking toward Fu Zhouye with a gaze full of respect.

Shu Nian paused, a strange, inexplicable feeling rising in her heart. *Something’s not right. Isn't this tycoon supposed to be buried in work every day? A workaholic? Why does he seem so free lately? He even has time to play on his phone.* He didn't even seem as industrious as Steward Li, who was still holding the ledger.

If Steward Li could hear her thoughts, it would probably be quite amusing. He would surely refute her loudly: *My boss is just resting for a moment; what's wrong with looking at his phone? Does being a big boss mean you can't use a phone? A big boss is a human, not an immortal cultivator.* Although he appeared to have no desires for the time being, there was no telling what he might want in the future.

Fu Zhouye keenly captured the subtle look Shu Nian gave him. He slowly looked up, his deep eyes seemingly able to peer into one's soul. With a meaningful smile, he asked softly, "How was it?"

As his wife in name only, every move Shu Nian made was watched, and Fu Zhouye was well aware of how she had spent her day.

Shu Nian was taken aback by the sudden question. She furrowed her brows, her eyes full of confusion, as if asking, "How was what?"

Seeing this, Fu Zhouye gave a light chuckle, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful arc as he added, "I mean, what kind of person is your ex-boyfriend, that he could make you so infatuated?"

As he spoke, his gaze held a hint of inquiry, as if waiting for her answer or perhaps scrutinizing her heart. Fu Zhouye had never shown any reaction to the fact that his "newlywed wife" was head-over-heels for another man.

*Fu Zhouye, what is this about? Why are you suddenly interested in my private life? Did I act too flirtatious toward him? Did I give the big boss the wrong idea?*

Shu Nian was lost in her thoughts, already beginning to imagine beating Yun Yang half to death. It was all his fault; if it weren't for him, why would the big boss suspect her of having a secret crush on him? *What if I lose my 20 million? I don't have any money left this month! I’m so innocent, so innocent.*

"Mr. Fu, don't worry. If you feel there's something I'm not doing well enough, I can change, but please don't deduct my 20 million!" Shu Nian trotted over and sat beside Fu Zhouye, pleading.

Fu Zhouye’s deep eyes sparkled with a soft light that seemed to gently envelop everything. He chuckled, "Fine. But don't cause me any trouble."

He paused, then added, "Otherwise, for every bit of trouble you cause, I will deduct ten million, and it will stack."

For the first time, Fu Zhouye found this side of Shu Nian lively and cute.

Shu Nian understood; Fu Zhouye must think she was being annoying. She made a motion of zipping her lips shut and lowered her head.

After a few minutes of silence, she ran to the kitchen and asked, "Auntie Ren, what are we having today? I want that steak you made last time—the one that smelled so milky."

Steward Li looked at the lively and adorable Madam and wondered what it felt like for his CEO to have "acquired" such a girl. *Oh my, this vibrant and cute appearance is quite the shock; I’ve never seen the Madam look so bright and sunny before.*

Auntie Ren’s heart bloomed when she saw her. Although the Madam was beautiful and had a good temper, she had brought a touch of vitality to the Fu Estate, which was no longer as empty as it once was. She no longer had to worry about being fired by the CEO, as she was just as busy every day as Steward Li.

Auntie Ren immediately replied, "There's no Angus steak today, but some beef was just flown in. Madam, you can try this Florentine steak first."

Shu Nian’s eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new world. She pressed Auntie Ren, "How do you make this Florentine steak? Is it difficult? Also, Auntie Ren, did you prepare any dessert for after the meal? I was too upset to eat lunch today, and now I'm starving. I really want to taste the flavors of home."

As she spoke, she unconsciously touched her flat stomach, her eyes filled with a longing for food.

Auntie Ren smiled and patted Shu Nian’s shoulder with her apron, comforting her, "Don't worry, Madam. This steak is simple to make; I'll demonstrate it for you in a moment. As for dessert, I've prepared matcha mousse today. I guarantee you'll love it."

She then added a worried reminder, "Eating steak so many times in one day might upset your stomach. We can't have steak again tomorrow."

With that, Auntie Ren turned and headed deeper into the kitchen, her figure casting a warm, long shadow in the glow of the sunset.

Fu Zhouye, who was looking at his phone, paused. Hearing the laughter drifting from the kitchen, he actually felt a sudden urge to go and see what they were doing.