Chapter 84: Something Is Amiss

When they returned to the villa, the family doctor was already waiting, just as expected.

Pei Susu felt the elaborate examination was unnecessary. She had only been slapped by Madam Chen and then confronted by the manager from the event’s organizing committee. Aside from that, she’d suffered no real harm.

Still, to ease Fu Zhichen’s mind, Pei Susu cooperated fully with the check-up.

“It appears Miss Pei’s health is fine. The injury on her face is minor, I’ll prescribe a simple ointment and it should heal,” the family doctor said. He had assumed, given how urgently he’d been called, that Pei Susu must have been seriously hurt, only to discover it was merely a slap. It seemed Fu Zhichen truly cared for this girlfriend.

“See? I told you, I’m fine,” Pei Susu said, as Fu Zhichen carried her to the bed, tucked her in, and she peered at him from beneath the covers, unable to hide her concern.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and something feels off. Zhichen, you must be careful these next few days. If anything happens, promise me you’ll let me know,” she urged.

Sharp as ever, Pei Susu quickly sensed the underlying issue. The reporters today had arrived with aggressive intent, their focus clearly on the Fu Group. Oddly, as the protagonist of the story, she was being sidelined.

Everyone seemed to blame her, as Fu Zhichen’s girlfriend, for making mistakes, speculating whether Fu Zhichen had directed her actions…

It was very likely premeditated.

Her mind was in turmoil, and Fu Zhichen recognized her tangled thoughts, realizing she wouldn’t be able to rest. He gently patted her hand.

“Leave everything to me, alright? Trust that I can handle this. These people are targeting me, not you. No matter what you explain, it’s meaningless.”

From start to finish, their aim was never Pei Susu, but him. She had nothing to feel guilty for.

He was the one who had implicated Pei Susu.

“And about that reporter who fell today—there were so many people, jostling and crowding, and you only brushed him lightly, yet he collapsed…” Pei Susu recalled the scene, her unease growing. “He’s definitely suspicious.”

Fu Zhichen frowned.

“I truly didn’t use much force. But among the reporters today, there were far too many problematic individuals.”

If someone hadn’t deliberately steered the narrative, things wouldn’t have escalated to this extent. The mastermind behind the scenes still needed investigation, and it would take time to uncover the truth.

“Rest now. Sleep. Perhaps when you wake, everything will be resolved,” he said.

Pei Susu was no longer a little girl, not so easily soothed. But seeing the coldness in Fu Zhichen’s deep eyes, she knew he was genuinely angry this time.

He wouldn’t let those responsible go unpunished—the ones who stirred up trouble and tarnished their reputations.

“…Alright,” she finally agreed under his gaze, letting herself be coaxed into closing her eyes, though sleep eluded her completely.

Being defended by Fu Zhichen at the auction had felt wonderful, but now, with a clear mind, Pei Susu knew she’d acted impulsively.

Their relationship was exposed, and the ensuing problems were obvious. She couldn’t predict what rumors would swirl once she returned to the company.

Pei Susu had fought hard to build her career to this point. If forced to choose between love and work, she’d be the one caught in the painful middle.

Yet if gossip truly spread, it was likely already everywhere in the company. Pei Susu refused to let herself worry prematurely, so she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

But the scandal was too big this time—she couldn’t simply ignore it. Watching Fu Zhichen leave through the window, Pei Susu took out her phone and began searching today’s news.

…

He should have visited Madam Chen first upon arriving at the hospital.

The media claimed Madam Chen had lost her child in the incident, but Fu Zhichen hadn’t seen her yet and didn’t know if it was true.

Now, it was Pei Susu who was being scrutinized from the moral high ground by online critics. Fu Zhichen had planned to assess the situation before deciding his next steps.

But as soon as he reached the hospital entrance, he found it packed to the brim. Fu Zhichen frowned, and his assistant hurriedly grabbed his hand before he could open the car door.

Frowning at his phone, the assistant said anxiously, “Sir, things have gotten worse. Negative rumors about you are spreading online.”

“That reporter who fell today is apparently in the emergency room, same hospital as Madam Chen.”

So the swarm of media gathered here might not be for Madam Chen at all, but for the reporter…

Their real target was likely Fu Zhichen.

Cold sweat broke out on the secretary’s back.

Fortunately, their arrival was late, and Fu Zhichen hadn’t exited the car. Otherwise, he would have been surrounded by reporters already.

Though he’d comforted Pei Susu earlier, Fu Zhichen had anticipated that this reporter would cause trouble.

Reflecting on it, the sharp questions and sudden rush towards them seemed more than coincidental—almost certainly prearranged.

“What do we do now?” the assistant asked. It was his first time facing such a situation; despite their innocence, they were unable to explain themselves.

“We need to find a way in,” Fu Zhichen said, his gaze deepening. “With the force I used to push the reporter, at most he’d have a superficial injury.”

“So you mean, all of this is fabricated? The reporter is fine, not really being resuscitated?”

Given the circumstances, it was impossible for the reporter to be in critical condition unless he deliberately harmed himself for money.

Even so, there were specialized departments that could assess injuries. In this era of advanced technology, any far-fetched possibility had to be considered by Fu Zhichen.

“Yes, sir!” The assistant, who had felt lost moments ago, now saw things clearly after Fu Zhichen’s explanation.

How could all these people be so cunning?

If he were alone in such an environment, where suspicion was the only response—