Ming Yutong wasn't a fragile flower that needed constant care and attention. It was best if Fu Yinxiu could be by her side during tough times, but if he wasn't, she wouldn't feel overly vulnerable.
What mattered to her was feeling his concern and knowing he was thinking of her.
This time, she wasn't asking for him to be physically present. She only needed a phone call to feel assured that he cared and was thinking about her.
"But I still want to come back as soon as possible to be with you," Fu Yinxiu said, seeing Ming Yutong's softened gaze, which lifted his spirits.
"Mm." Ming Yutong didn't refuse this time, "Just make sure you arrange things well."
Fu Yinxiu agreed with a "Okay," and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Ming Yutong felt a bit awkward. Just as she was about to say goodbye, Fu Yinxiu suddenly smiled gently.
"What are you smiling about?" Ming Yutong asked, puzzled.
Caught in the act, Fu Yinxiu decided not to hide his feelings, letting his gaze be openly tender and affectionate. His smile became even more charming.
"It's been a long time since we've talked like this. It feels like we're a couple. You're concerned about whether I'm pushing myself too hard and asking when I'll be home."
Such calmness and a pleasant atmosphere in the quiet night, with soft words.
Ming Yutong almost wanted to respond, "Who's being like a couple with you?" but it didn't feel quite right. It seemed more like a tease than a real rebuttal.
In moments like these, it felt like anything she said would be awkward.
"Anyway, I'll hang up now. Rest well after you get back," Ming Yutong said quickly, intending to end the call, but not completely reassured, she added, "Don't overwork yourself trying to rush back. Arrange things reasonably."
If anyone else had said that, Fu Yinxiu wouldn't have listened and might have found it bothersome. But coming from Ming Yutong, he nodded happily, "Don't worry. I'll make sure to return as early as possible while managing my time well."
Ming Yutong: "…"
Fu Yinxiu's sudden change in demeanor left her unsure of how to respond. She bade him goodbye and hung up, then lay down in bed.
Though she had been exhausted and unable to sleep earlier, after the call with Fu Yinxiu, she felt a wave of drowsiness.
Perhaps it was because her mind was at ease.
As Ming Yutong closed her eyes and drifted off, she was unaware that after she hung up, Fu Yinxiu immediately shifted back to a serious and stern expression.
He asked Alpha Guard 2, "What did Alpha Guard 3 and Alpha Guard 4 say?"
"Alpha Guard 4 just called. Jiang Lulian recently contacted Miss Ming. Miss Ming had told Jiang Lulian about her difficulties with pregnancy, which is why Jiang Lulian gave up pursuing her. But seeing Miss Ming with you again, he couldn't let go. When he was drunk, he might have let something slip about Miss Ming," Alpha Guard 2 reported.
"Is this just Jiang Lulian's suspicion, or is he certain?" Fu Yinxiu asked.
"It's just his suspicion. He's not entirely sure," Alpha Guard 1 said.
"Who did he tell?" Fu Yinxiu asked in a deep voice.
"While he was drunk, only his current girlfriend, Nie Yalin, was with him. He's unsure if he mentioned Miss Ming to her," Alpha Guard 1 replied. "Alpha Guard 4 is already investigating."
"Has the ticket for tomorrow been changed?" Fu Yinxiu asked.
"Yes," Alpha Guard 2 confirmed.
Fu Yinxiu nodded, "There's an important dinner in City B tomorrow night. Knowing Yutong's personality, she won't avoid people and will attend as usual. Have the Alpha Guards keep an eye out for anyone being rude to her. Note them down and I'll deal with them when I get back."
"Understood," Alpha Guard 1 said.
***
The next day, reporters continued to hound Ming family members.
Not only was Ming Yutong, the main person involved, affected, but her parents and even her uncles and aunts were also caught up in the media frenzy.
That night, there was a formal dinner. While men could simply change into suits and attend, Zhu Cailin and Fang Qian'an had scheduled beauty and grooming appointments well in advance and couldn't avoid going out.
Fang Qian'an kept glancing out the window, fuming, "Why are those people so mean? Yutong is clearly the victim, but they're using her situation to make news. It's not like she chose to be infertile! I don't know who leaked the news, but it's absolutely despicable!"
"Have you called your sister-in-law?" Ming Jingshui asked.
"Yes, I have. She's been in touch with Yutong, and Yutong is very calm. She hasn't panicked about this at all. In fact, she reassured my sister-in-law that everything would be resolved soon and told us not to worry," Fang Qian'an replied.
Ming Jingshui raised his voice slightly in surprise, "Has she already found a solution?"
"I don't know. She only mentioned to my sister-in-law that she's investigating. I'm not sure how she plans to find out or where she'll look. After all, this involves her privacy, and ordinary private investigators may not be reliable," Fang Qian'an sighed heavily.
Fang Qian'an looked out the window in frustration. "Who could have leaked it? Only our family knew, and none of us would have spoken about it. Besides, we definitely didn't leak it."
Ming Jingshan and Zhu Cailin, being Ming Yutong's biological parents, wouldn't have mentioned it either.
Ming Jingshui glanced upstairs, and Fang Qian'an immediately understood his thought process, drawing in a sharp breath.
Unable to help herself, she tapped Ming Jingshui's arm and lowered her voice, almost whispering, "What are you thinking? Are you still suspecting Silian?"
Seeing Ming Jingshui remain silent but clearly holding such suspicions, Fang Qian'an was furious but kept her voice low, "She's your daughter! How can you suspect her?"
Ming Jingshui was silent for a moment, then looked upstairs again. He grabbed Fang Qian'an's wrist and took her to the study, closing the door firmly behind them.
Even then, he continued to speak in a hushed tone, "You've seen Silian's hostility toward Yutong. She can't stand to see Yutong doing well."
Fang Qianan didn't quite understand why Ming Jingshui was whispering despite being in a closed room, but his suspicion affected her, making her lower her voice as well. "But it's been such a long time. She's been at home reflecting and hasn't gone anywhere. How could she know about Yutong's situation? None of us told her."
Ming Jingshui's face darkened. "Do you remember when we talked in the room about Yutong's infertility?"
Fang Qianan gasped in shock, "Are you… suspecting Silian?"
"She was at home at that time. I don't want to think badly of my own daughter, but think about it—besides her, who else in the family would leak this? No matter whom Yutong marries, it benefits our family, and no one would want to cut off Yutong's path," Ming Jingshui said in a low voice.