The CEO's Sleepless Nights After Annulment

The engagement ceremony was imminent, and yet Fu Yuxiu, one of the main characters, was still nowhere to be seen.

The emcee had asked for him three times over, stating bluntly that if they delayed any longer, the marriage would turn into a joke known to all.

Qiao Zhaoyue looked at her face in the mirror, still cold beneath the heavy makeup. It was beautiful, indeed, but utterly soulless, like a puppet on strings, sparking no interest at all.

She thought she understood why Fu Yuxiu wasn't willing to get engaged to her.

After all, no one would want to face a deadpan expression every day.

Though she understood, she still picked up her cell phone and dialed Fu Yuxiu's number.

At first, the calls went through, but Fu Yuxiu didn't answer. By the fifth call, the line was cut off abruptly.

Qiao Zhaoyue wasn't annoyed, she just kept calling.

By the tenth call, Fu Yuxiu finally picked up.

"What's the matter?" His voice was as indifferent as ever, causing a slight tremble in Qiao Zhaoyue's heart.

She gripped her phone tightly, reminding him with as much composure as possible, "Today is our engagement day."

Fu Yuxiu's tone paused slightly, "So?"

"Both families are here, you need to show up and complete the ceremony with me."

The sound of Fu Yuxiu's voice became distant, as if he was consoling someone nearby.

Qiao Zhaoyue waited patiently. After a while, Fu Yuxiu's voice came through, "Can't you finish it on your own?"

"Exchanging rings requires two people," Qiao Zhaoyue replied calmly, "If you don't come, the reporters will write nonsense."

Fu Yuxiu clicked his tongue, "Troublesome."

"Just hold it off, I'll be there later." Before Qiao Zhaoyue could say anything, all that was left on the line was a busy tone.

He didn't say whether he would come or not, just to drag it out.

The choice of words was subtle; Fu Yuxiu could afford to procrastinate, but the Qiao Family couldn't, the guests couldn't, and Qiao Zhaoyue couldn't either.

She could almost witness how, after tonight, reporters armed with their cameras would depict the absurdity of an engagement without its main character.

Qiao Zhaoyue wasn't as panicked as one might expect.

Because she knew that no matter how ridiculous Fu Yuxiu might be, he wouldn't let her face the engagement scene alone and allow post-event reporters to wreak havoc, which could lead to a drop in Fu Family's stock.

It was just a matter of being on time or a little late.

Someone kicked the door open.

Her half-brother from the same father, Qiao Wan, strode in, looked around with a sneer, and mocked, "What, Fu Yuxiu isn't coming?"

"A groom absent on his engagement day, isn't that humiliating, Qiao Zhaoyue? Your mother was the mistress, how come you didn't learn a thing from her about seducing men? Qiao Zhaoyue, you're useless, no wonder Fu Yuxiu isn't interested in you."

Qiao Zhaoyue ignored his scornful jeering, "What's it to you?"

"Indeed, it's none of my business. I'm just advising you, as family, not to dream about marrying Fu Yuxiu. Take whatever you can get after the engagement, lest you get dumped later, left old and penniless!"

It was laughable hearing the words 'as family' from his mouth.

When had Qiao Wan ever treated her as family?

Qiao Zhaoyue sneered, "You'd be better off worrying about whether you've wiped your own backside clean."

"What do you mean?" Qiao Wan frowned.

"How much did the woman you keep outside ask your family for her abortion? The Qiao Family used to be wealthy enough to deal with your messes, but now it has fallen so low as to sell its own daughter. Next time your mistress comes knocking, will you still be able to afford it?"

"You!" Qiao Wan didn't expect her to be so sharp-tongued. Just as he was about to explode, he reined it in with a cold laugh, "Still better than you being barren! Have you ever wondered why, out of all the choices, Fu Yuxiu picked you? It's precisely because you can't get pregnant, no worries after sleeping with you, and easy to dump you!"

Qiao Zhaoyue was not angered by his words, and adjusted her veil in front of the mirror, "Is that so?"

"Then you'd better pray that Fu Yuxiu doesn't dump me too soon. Right now, all of Qiao Family's orders rely on the Fu Family. Do you think if I'm dumped, you would gain any benefits? Be careful, or you might not be able to enjoy your rich and privileged lifestyle anymore."

Qiao Wan was left speechless by her retort, wanting to counter, but found that what Qiao Zhaoyue said was true.

Watching his deflated expression and his back, turning away without saying another word, Qiao Zhaoyue scoffed in her heart.

Idiot.

At that moment, the MC, sweating profusely, hurried in, "Miss Qiao, we really can't delay any longer. When exactly will Mr. Fu arrive?"

Qiao Zhaoyue glanced at the time, estimated how long it would take for Fu Yuxiu to get there, "Wait another half an hour. If Fu Yuxiu doesn't arrive in half an hour, I'll go up on stage to explain to the guests."

"But on what grounds?" The MC wiped his sweat.

"Just say something came up at his company."

The MC wanted to say more, but seeing Qiao Zhaoyue's expression, he swallowed his words.

He had long heard that the man from the Fu Family was discontent with the engagement, and now it seemed the rumors were indeed true. Life as a lady of a wealthy family was not easy.

Half an hour later, the MC returned with a pained expression, "Miss Qiao, we really can't put it off any longer. Should I go out and tell the guests that the wedding is canceled?"

"No need," said Qiao Zhaoyue expressionlessly as she sent Fu Yuxiu a text, telling him to go straight to the stage when he arrived. "Just proceed as normal."

The MC, following behind her, marvelled at her strong mentality.

Continuing the procedure even when her fiancé was absent, if that wasn't strength, what was?

Dutifully, the MC followed Qiao Zhaoyue onto the stage and explained to the guests the reason for Fu Yuxiu's absence based on her explanation, as for whether they believed it, that was up to them.

Qiao Zhaoyue turned out to be the only person at the scene who was unaffected.

As the MC opened the ring box, he recited his lines awkwardly, "Let us congratulate the couple, and now exchange the rings..."

"Wait." A voice cut through his script.

There was Fu Yuxiu, in his suit, looking perfectly at ease despite his sudden appearance. Amidst the noisy murmurs of the guests below the stage, he walked over to Qiao Zhaoyue, casually glanced at her, took the ring from the MC's hand, and slipped it directly onto her ring finger.

Qiao Zhaoyue heard him whisper in a voice only the two of them could hear, "So calm. Weren't you afraid I really wouldn't show up?"

Qiao Zhaoyue smiled and leaned in closer, "I guessed that President Fu wouldn't like to see Fu Corporation's stock price plummet. So I thought, give him half an hour in case President Fu is delayed, preventing any reporter from writing nonsense."

"Now it seems, my guess was very accurate, wasn't it?"

Her warm breath on the side of his neck made Fu Yuxiu look down at her.

Her usually bland face, now set off by her lipstick, had acquired a bit of charm and color.

Curiously captivating.

His hand tightened on her waist, and Fu Yuxiu's smile didn't reach his eyes, "You've really got a tight grip on my weak spot."

Qiao Zhaoyue endured the pain at her waist without changing her expression, "President Fu might as well move on to the next step. Wouldn't want to delay your subsequent engagements."

"After all, you're always so busy." It was impossible to tell if the emotion swimming in her eyes was sarcasm or amusement.

It was like an electric shock, making Fu Yuxiu suddenly release his tight grip on her waist.

He refused to admit that for a moment he seemed to be bewitched by Qiao Zhaoyue to the point of distraction, and he urged nastily, "Hurry up, I'm on a tight schedule."

He treated this engagement as if it were a task to complete.

Qiao Zhaoyue was indifferent to his attitude; from the start, the only thing she cared about was the result.

Successfully getting engaged to Fu Yuxiu.

As long as she got the result she wanted, it didn't matter to her how the process went.