Xu Ningxi just watched him smile at her.
But she couldn't determine what he meant by it.
She was starting to worry.
Because many men harbor some male chauvinistic thoughts, thinking that a woman providing a house is the same as living off a woman, and as a result, feeling looked down upon by her.
Just like when she was with Gu Huai'an, Gu's family background was somewhat lacking, and his personal financial situation wasn't optimistic either—her occasional actions would hurt his sensitive self-esteem, so she was always particularly cautious.
She also couldn't be sure how Fu Hanzheng would think.
Just as she was feeling anxious and considering whether or not to take the keys back, Fu Hanzheng gently grasped her hand.
She shivered in that instant.
Unsure of what he was about to do.
The sensation of the man's fingers sliding across her skin even gave her a taste of ambiguous flirtation.
She didn't dare to move.
Then she saw the man's hand reach into the palm of hers and take the keys from her.
He put the keys away, his eyes unwavering as he looked at her and replied with two words.
"Of course."
His gentle two words were like a calming pill to Xu Ningxi.
Xu Ningxi let out a sigh of relief.
In this regard, their values were quite in alignment.
At least she didn't have to tread on eggshells around him, fearing that she might hurt his pride.
The hand he had just caressed still quivered slightly.
For a moment, she was annoyed with herself for being somewhat infatuated.
After all, he was just taking a key from her hand.
And yet, she was already letting her imagination run wild.
She clenched her palm, forcing herself not to think about those things.
"Let's go eat first and celebrate, let's go to Zhouqin Hotel."
When Fu Hanzheng heard the name, his lips quirked slightly, but he had no objections.
He opened the car door, inviting her in.
Xu Ningxi looked at the Maybach in front of her, biting her lip, but still said nothing.
He had arrived in this car.
She guessed it belonged to one of his wealthy female benefactors.
At the time, she had been in a hurry to get to the civil affairs bureau to register their marriage, so she hadn't minded.
But now, having registered and with Fu Hanzheng officially her husband, it was different.
What was the deal with him driving another woman's car?
She had an idea in mind, to buy him a car in a few days so he wouldn't need to drive a rich woman's car anymore.
Fu Hanzheng drove to Zhouqin Hotel.
The trouble was, upfront a customer's vehicle had scraped against another, and both car owners were refusing to budge, blocking the entrance to the parking lot.
At this rate, it looked like they would argue for a while longer.
Fu Hanzheng suggested she go in first while he parked the car.
"Just report my name," he said.
Just as Xu Ningxi was opening the car door, she heard his instruction.
She didn't know whether he was bluffing or not, if dropping his name would work only because of some benefactor.
Just thinking about it annoyed her.
Seeing her hesitate, Fu Hanzheng raised an eyebrow, "Any problems?"
He was a major shareholder here and had a private room inside.
Xu Ningxi forced a smile.
"No problems for now."
Now is not the time to talk about these things.
She got out of the car and headed towards the Zhouqin Hotel.
No sooner had she entered the door than she saw Xu Huanyan.
Indeed, enemies often cross each other's paths.
Xu Ningxi originally wanted to turn around and leave, not intending to dine here.
But then she thought, why must she be the one to hide when the one with the heart of a beast was Xu Huanyan?!
She walked straight inside.
Xu Huanyan also saw her and came over to greet her.
"I was wondering who it could be, but it turns out to be my naive sister. Now that you've caused such a big mess, Dad is still angry at you, yet you still have the leisure to come here and spend money," she said.
Xu Ningxi felt disgusted at the sight of her.
"Scram."
She couldn't be bothered to waste words on Xu Huanyan and tersely offered her a single word in response.
"Oh dear, someone seems angry," Xu Huanyan, with her thick skin, continued to feign concern, "Sister, let me give you a piece of advice. Just apologize to Dad properly, and he will forgive you. You got your marriage certificate and that's not a problem. We'll all keep it a secret for you, seal our lips, quietly divorce, and then marry Lin Hao. There's nothing bad about the Lin Family. You can enjoy a rich life in there. If you don't like Lin Hao, that's not a big issue, either; just consider him an ATM and a tool. A life of luxury is just as free and easy for you."
"And don't look at yourself as if you've always been pampered, a true 'white, rich, and beautiful' girl. A luxurious life is definitely more suitable for you. As for someone as poor as Gu Huai'an, he only matches me."
Xu Ningxi had long known that Xu Huanyan didn't approach her to say anything well-meaning.
She had prepared herself mentally, reminding herself to stay calm.
But the moment she heard the name Gu Huai'an, her composure nearly crumbled completely.
Her palms clenched tightly.
"Such a great cheater like Gu Huai'an, since he's going to be left for you, my suggestion would be to lock him up tight, so he doesn't run out and harm others!"
"Good dogs don't block the way, move aside!"
She walked right past Xu Huanyan and continued on her way.
Xu Huanyan grabbed her arm, "Xu Ningxi, are you going to keep this proud act up? Do you think you are still the Xu Ningxi you once were?!"
"You've just lost Gu Huai'an like that, unable to hold on to his heart. Doesn't that hurt? Don't you doubt yourself? Reflect on yourself?!"
Xu Ningxi always seemed so superior, always so prideful.
And that was her sore point.
She daydreamed of pulling Xu Ningxi, that flower high on the cliff, down to earth!
Xu Ningxi simply gave her a cold glare.
"You two, a scumbag man and a cheap woman, are a perfect match for each other, with your similar stench. Together, you've freed me from misery. I should be thankful instead of reflecting on myself, right?"
Xu Huanyan was so annoyed she felt itchy in her jaw.
What she hated most about Xu Ningxi was her incomparable sense of confidence.
It was an inborn self-assurance, there from childhood.
In front of that kind of Xu Ningxi, she felt like a complete clown.
How could she be content with that?
With a cunning smile tugging at the corner of her lips, she said, "Aren't you curious why he chose me and not you, the genuine rich girl?"
When she spoke, her eyes and eyebrows were filled with defiance.
She was sure that Xu Ningxi would stop.
And indeed, Xu Ningxi did not continue forward.
Xu Huanyan, triumphant, moved close to Xu Ningxi's ear and whispered,
"Because I told him that only with me would he have a limitless future. I can give him everything he wants! I'll drive you out of this family, out of the company, so you won't have a place to belong. I also told him how you looked down on him in secret, and I told him that your feelings for him were nothing but charity. For someone who craves self-respect as much as he does, not wanting to wait on your handouts like a beggar, of course, he'd crawl into the palm of my hand!"
"Despicable!" Xu Ningxi could no longer endure her shamelessness and slapped her across the face.
Xu Huanyan didn't even try to dodge, and her eyes quickly turned red.
She pitifully clutched her cheek.
"Sister, we can talk this out nicely, why do you have to hit me? Hitting me doesn't solve the problem," she said.
Xu Ningxi, who couldn't stand to see her play the victim, was about to tell her to cut out the act,
when a familiar figure rushed over and stood protectively in front of Xu Huanyan.