Including the underwear, everything was black.

Suddenly, before she could react, Fu Zhouye took her hand.

She remembered that in her previous life, she had shaken hands with many men, but this was different—this direct skin contact made her feel somewhat embarrassed.

When Fu Zhouye’s palm closed over hers, she felt an unprecedented sensation.

His fingers were long and well-defined, cool to the touch, and noticeably larger than her own—almost completely enveloping her small hand.

Madam Fu’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, firmly fixed on the hands of Fu Zhouye and Shu Nian. Her expression darkened, clearly displeased with the scene.

Shu Nian noticed Madam Fu’s change in demeanor and felt a pang of unease.

She knew that in her previous life, Fu Zhouye’s actions were frowned upon by the Fu family. That was why he had chosen him as a marriage partner—especially in Madam Fu’s eyes, Fu Zhouye should have been Ding Zhiyu’s match, not Shu Nian.

Moreover, Zhiyu was Madam Fu’s niece.

Besides, why let outside parties benefit from the family’s resources?

“Why aren’t you wearing your wedding ring? Where’s your diamond ring?” Fu Zhouye’s tone was gentle and indulgent, a stark contrast to how he spoke with Madam Fu.

A hint of teasing laced his voice.

Shu Nian’s heart tightened. She knew that although she was married, she had hidden her wedding ring because she was unwilling to admit her married status.

As for where she had hidden it, even she wasn’t sure.

Fu Zhouye, however, wore a simple yet exquisitely designed wedding band. It accentuated his slender fingers, lending them a faintly sensual allure.

Her gaze involuntarily dropped to the ring, stirring a complex flood of emotions within her.

“I forgot to wear it,” Shu Nian murmured, tinged with apology.

“If you keep forgetting things this easily, I’m going to have to punish you,” Fu Zhouye said, his voice carrying a teasing threat, though his eyes were full of affection.

Though she knew that all of Fu Zhouye’s current tenderness was an act—a performance for her—the sight of such an outstanding man beside her still left Shu Nian somewhat dazed.

Fu Zhouye possessed a unique aura; he seemed capable of shifting his persona at will.

He could lead you into whichever atmosphere he wished simply by letting you perceive him as a certain kind of person.

No one truly knew which side of him was real.

Shu Nian inexplicably felt that Fu Zhouye was more suited to be an actor than herself.

He could effortlessly switch between roles, each portrayed flawlessly, blurring the lines between truth and pretense.

Following Fu Zhouye upstairs, they stopped before a door. He opened it.

With a bang, the door shut.

Shu Nian stood at the entrance to Fu Zhouye’s study, her hand having just slipped from the doorknob.

Behind her, the door quietly clicked shut.

In that instant, Fu Zhouye released her hand, and the gentle, indulgent expression vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

A surge of complex emotions welled up in Shu Nian’s heart. She knew Fu Zhouye’s tenderness was merely a performance—and now, the act was over.

Fu Zhouye sat behind the desk, opening a file with focused, piercing eyes.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desktop.

Shu Nian sensed his concentration and knew he was completely absorbed in his work.

Indeed, Fu Zhouye was the type who could immerse himself in work anytime, anywhere. Such ambition—no wonder he was a big shot!

Forget it, she thought. She should find something to do as well.

Turning around, she began to survey the bedroom’s layout.

The decor was simple yet elegant. A bookshelf was filled with a variety of books, ranging from classical literature to modern business management.

Her gaze lingered on a book titled "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

For some reason, ever since regaining memories of her past life, she felt an inexplicable attraction to this book.

Time slipped by quietly as she flipped through the pages, completely immersed in the book’s world.

She didn’t notice Fu Zhouye’s gaze occasionally drifting to her, eyes tinged with a complicated emotion.

He observed Shu Nian’s focused profile and felt a mysterious stirring within.

He knew Shu Nian was no longer the simple, foolish woman she once was. Her transformation was immense. What could have possibly triggered such a profound change?

Late into the night, Shu Nian closed the book and gently returned it to the shelf, preparing to take a shower.

Turning around, she saw Fu Zhouye quietly watching her.

“How’s the book?” Fu Zhouye’s voice broke the silence.

She smiled faintly. “It’s very interesting. It’s given me a deeper understanding of how to navigate the world—it suits me now. Next time, I want to finish it completely.”

Indeed, this book elaborated on how to interact with others, gain their approval, and overcome human weaknesses. It proposed many practical social principles, including:

Showing sincere interest in others,

Smiling,

Remembering people’s names,

Being a good listener and encouraging others to talk about themselves,

Discussing topics that interest the other person, making them feel important...

Looking back over both her past and present lives, Shu Nian realized she had been too impatient and arrogant, neglecting many of these simple truths.

For instance, remembering names.

Or being a good listener who encourages others to open up.

In her previous life as a top actress, she was notorious for “throwing diva fits” and rarely made an effort to remember anyone.

Fu Zhouye nodded. “As long as you think it’s good.”

Reading more books never hurts.

In truth, when a person stands at the pinnacle, becoming someone everyone looks up to, no matter how unreasonable or uncomfortable their actions might be, their followers will still idolize and glorify them.

Fu Zhouye was now twenty-seven. In his teenage years, he had already seen through these human weaknesses.

At first, he believed that as long as one stood tall and became admired by the world, everything else became irrelevant.

His consistently gentle and refined demeanor was merely the result of his upbringing.

Suddenly recalling something, Shu Nian tentatively asked, “Mr. Fu, I didn’t bring anything today. Can I wear your pajamas?”

Before Fu Zhouye could answer, as if fearing rejection, she added, “I saw there’s a black set in your wardrobe, so I took it.”

His entire wardrobe was filled with black pajamas and suits, including underwear—all black.

And all in extra-large sizes, which made her cheeks flush.

A big shot was a big shot—so straightforward.

Thinking back, she realized she was quite the voyeur. Who else had the audacity to snoop through a big shot’s wardrobe?

Of course, it was her!

If only she had taken photos. If he dared to harm her, she could expose his privacy.

Earlier, while Fu Zhouye was busy with his files, she had taken the chance to explore the bedroom and look through the bookshelves.

Then she hurried to the bathroom, closing the door behind her, leaving Fu Zhouye standing alone in the room.

Fu Zhouye felt that Shu Nian was like a little rabbit—clumsy yet no longer as useless as before. She could play along with him, shifting like the legendary Monkey King with his seventy-two transformations.