novelraw Chapter 103: You Can’t Take Her Away
Chapter 103: You Can’t Take Her Away
From dusk till dark, Su Lingzhi was carried out of the studio by Fu Yinli.
As footsteps echoed, lights in the hallway flickered on one by one, guiding the two downstairs.
Fu Yinli placed her in the bathtub, observing her exhausted look, his brows knitted tightly, he softly murmured, "What a little troublemaker."
After she was clean, Su Lingzhi hung onto him, letting him play with her hair.
"Is the curly hair hereditary?"
The sound of the hairdryer drowned out his voice, making it impossible to hear what he said.
After her hair was dried, Su Lingzhi released his neck, weakly asking, "Did we have emergency contraception at home?"
"I sent someone to buy it; it will arrive soon."
Fu Yinli compassionately embraced her, "I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful next time."
Su Lingzhi furrowed her brows tightly, her gaze filled with reproach and helplessness toward him.
She didn’t say anything more.
Regardless of whether he lost control, for now, their relationship wasn’t at a point where they could nurture a life together.
Before dinner, Su Lingzhi took the pill.
At this moment, her phone rang.
Seeing it was Rika’s call, she gestured to Fu Yinli, then went outside to answer it.
Upon connecting, Rika’s elegant and gentle voice came through, "Lindie, I just sent you the invitation to Paris Fashion Week, did you see it?"
Hearing about Paris Fashion Week, Su Lingzhi immediately recalled the promise she made to her and James.
"Mommy, I haven’t had the chance to check my email yet."
"It’s scheduled for next Monday, come to Paris to watch the show with me then."
After thinking for a bit, Su Lingzhi replied, "Alright."
Rika already knew she was living with Fu Yinli, but didn’t say much about it, they just discussed the departure time and then ended the call.
Su Lingzhi immediately opened her email to check.
Three shows in total, one of which was the Lyrae spring/summer menswear show.
This was her first time attending a show in Paris, and she couldn’t help but feel a little thrilled internally, eager to witness the designers’ charm up close.
Su Lingzhi returned to the living room to tell Fu Yinli about it, "I’m going to Paris for a show next Monday."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yinli’s expression darkened, and the motion of scooping soup slowed down.
"What’s wrong? Are you against it?" Su Lingzhi asked.
"It’s not that I’m against it, the timing isn’t good."
Su Lingzhi didn’t understand, "Why not?"
Fu Yinli couldn’t bear to dampen her enthusiasm; he was worried about her being taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives amidst the unrest around him, so he had brought her to stay close to him for peace of mind.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "How many days?"
Su Lingzhi held up three fingers, "Three days, and I’ll be with my godmother."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yinli finally relented.
...
The next day, he went to the Lyrae studio to find Rika.
Rika was surprised by his unexpected visit but maintained her composure, speculating, "I suppose this visit is for Lindie, isn’t it?"
"Exactly."
"To be honest, I’m surprised Lindie chose you. I thought she’d pick someone her age with spirit for a passionate love affair."
Her words were somewhat diplomatic.
She was a businesswoman, acutely aware of the weaknesses in human nature in the corporate field, and the man in front of her had navigated the world of fame and fortune for many years.
Motives, sincere or not, were hard to judge.
Of course, hearing her words, Fu Yinli was visibly displeased, feeling a prick in his heart.
It was the first time someone dared to say to his face that he wasn’t worthy of Zhizhi, striking that nerve.
With a steady voice, he said, "She just graduated and is inexperienced, we indeed have disparities, I understand your prejudice against me, but happiness isn’t defined by compatibility; time will prove it all."
Rika’s lips twitched in a smirk, clearly dismissive of his words, yet not wanting to dominate the topic.
"Since Lindie chose you, I hope you treat her sincerely."
"Rest assured."
Rika asked, "What’s your reason for visiting me?"
"I heard you’re taking her to Paris for the show, I’d like you to ensure her safety."
Rika chuckled lightly, "I’m her mother, of course, I will take good care of her, no need for you to worry."
Fu Yinli continued, "The second matter is about Lindie’s origins; I believe you know something."
A while ago, he had someone investigate her connection to Zhizhi, and the findings showed no blood relation, but her attitude towards Zhizhi convinced him there was a deeper connection.
Rika’s expression remained unchanged, firmly stating, "Having me as her mother is enough; she doesn’t need to know who her parents are. I hope you do not pursue Lindie’s origins further."
"Why not?"
"If you genuinely care for her, do as I say," her tone shifted to a more serious note, appearing as a kind of warning.
Fu Yinli silently observed her.
"Lindie is an exceptional and independent girl; I don’t want her drawn into unnecessary conflict. Maybe with your resources, you could uncover things, but I hope you refrain, can you promise me that?"
The gravity of these words demanded attention, but now it was clear she indeed knew something.
Fu Yinli’s brows furrowed as he softly replied, "I promise you, but only if, after the Paris trip, you return a whole and intact Lindie to me."
Mentioning her safety repeatedly piqued Rika’s curiosity, prompting her to ask, "Have you been dealing with anything lately?"
Fu Yinli didn’t deny it, honestly responding, "Family matters."
Rika’s brows furrowed tightly, her demeanor more stern, "Seems perhaps I shouldn’t have felt assured leaving her to you."
"Give me a week; I’ll handle it as soon as possible."
"Though I don’t know how deep your relationship runs, if she encounters any trouble beside you, I’ll unhesitatingly take her away."
This statement seemed to trigger something, causing Fu Yinli’s expression to freeze, his deep eyes suddenly cloaked in a layer of frost as he gazed quietly at the person opposite him, speaking lightly, "You won’t take her."
The tension hung thick in the air, a standoff.
After a suffocating silence, the hostility in Rika’s gaze dwindled, "Lindie will absolutely be fine with me. If there’s nothing else, please leave."
With the order given, Fu Yinli stood from the sofa, politely taking his leave.
On the day Su Lingzhi was to depart, he personally escorted her to the airport, handing her over to Rika.
Su Lingzhi thought he was overly worried; it was only a three-day trip, surely nothing would happen.
She assumed his fret stemmed from a past car accident, causing him lingering dread, so while saying goodbye, she grasped his hand and reassured, "Don’t worry; I’ll be fine."
With a farewell kiss, Su Lingzhi followed Rika away.