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Tong Qing's words were not an attempt to be flirtatious; they were her genuine feelings. She was utterly stunned when Tong Nianyu's pearl necklace was discovered in her desk. The evidence was irrefutable, and she was caught red-handed. Tong Qing was at a loss for how to respond or defend herself. Even though she suspected someone else had set her up, without proof, her words were futile. This led Tong Qing to wonder, "By the way, how did you manage to get the school to update their surveillance cameras just in time?" What were the odds? He remembered her past life, how she had been framed soon after transferring schools and was thereafter branded a thief, enduring endless mockery, but he could not share this with her. Fu Chijing's lips curved slightly as he casually remarked, "It was just a whim." Tong Qing took his words at face value, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. "You know, it feels like ever since I met you, all the bad things in my life have turned around." Fu Chijing paused, then smiled warmly. "You're such a goof." Feeling as if she was being teased, Tong Qing pouted. "Hey, I'm being serious. You're not allowed to laugh at me." At first, she had braced herself to marry a man who was rumored to be hideous, disabled, and prone to rage, but reality had proven the rumors wrong. The same went for the situation with her mother and what happened today. Every problem seemed to dissolve effortlessly whenever he was around. Seeing her displeasure, Fu Chijing could not help but chuckle. He was about to cheer her up when a phone call interrupted them. It was Soong Shi. Soong Shi answered the call, and his expression immediately turned grave. The caller was Tong Hongliang, informing him that Tong Qing had allegedly injured someone at school. The victim's parents had already sought out Tong Hongliang, demanding an apology. Fu Chijing quickly picked up on the critical details and turned to Tong Qing. "You injured someone?" Tong Qing had not anticipated the news would travel so fast. In such a short time, the parents had already approached Tong Hongliang. Fu Chijing remembered the guilty look on her face when she got into the car, and it suddenly clicked. "Is this the 'something' you mentioned earlier?" At his words, Tong Qing became even more reticent.

She feared that Fu Chijing would dislike her because of this incident. After all, who would appreciate someone prone to fighting? Seeing Tong Qing's silence, Fu Chijing turned to Soong Shi and instructed, "Let's head to the Tong family first, and while we're at it, get in touch with the school to have them pull the surveillance footage." Soong Shi acknowledged with a nod, dialed a number, and then set the car in motion. Tong Qing sat quietly to the side, her head hung low like a child who had been caught misbehaving. Fu Chijing extended his hand and gently ruffled the young girl's hair, saying softly, "I'm not blaming you. I just want to understand what exactly happened." He didn't want to arrive at the Tong family's home later and face their questions without any knowledge of the situation. Tong Qing bit her lip and spoke with a muffled voice, "They tried to hit me first, so I fought back." "They?" Fu Chijing's heart clenched. "Are you hurt?" Tong Qing looked up at him, confused. Wasn't he supposed to be upset about the fight? "Hmm?" Fu Chijing scanned her from head to toe. Tong Qing quickly shook her head. "No, I'm not." Relieved by her response, Fu Chijing finally exhaled. Meanwhile, the surveillance footage Soong Shi had requested arrived on his phone. Tong Qing tensed up immediately, her posture straightening. Fu Chijing opened the video and started watching. Tong Qing, mistaking his silence for anger, nervously twisted her hands together. "Actually, if you're upset, you don't need to come back with me. I can explain things to them myself." "One against five." Fu Chijing recalled the girl's crisp and efficient moves in the footage, a smile unwittingly playing on his lips and a light amusement in his eyes. He teased, "It seems my wife is quite capable." Tong Qing's eyes widened in astonishment. She glanced at him and then quickly averted her gaze. Suppressing the excited flutter in her chest from the compliment, she responded evenly, "It was all right." Tong Qing believed she had concealed it well, but her youth betrayed her. How could she outsmart a seasoned veteran who had lived through two lifetimes? Without showing it, Fu Chijing caught a glimpse of her expression, and warmth spread through his heart.

The young lady blushed at the compliment, utterly adorable. Half an hour later, the car came to a smooth stop within the Tong family’s courtyard. Come to think of it, this was apparently their first visit together since getting married. Tong Qing guided Fu Chijing toward the house, and as they neared the hall, a voice thundered with fury, "Apologize! That wild girl must kneel and apologize to my son! Otherwise, this isn't over!" Tong Hongliang was quick to try and soothe the man, "Manager Zhang, Tong Qing will be here any moment. Please, take a moment to cool off." "Cool off? My son has just been rushed to the hospital. How do you expect me to cool off?" "Yes, of course," Tong Hongliang appeased him. "Rest assured, if Tong Qing is at fault, she will not escape my discipline!" Fu Chijing's face turned to ice upon hearing this. Soong Shi, as if reading his mind, delivered a powerful kick to the heavy wooden door. With a resounding bang, all eyes inside the room snapped toward them.

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