Throughout the day, Luo Yunmian couldn’t stop thinking about Fu Yanchi’s words and the intimate gestures between Fu Tingshen and Shen Xin’er.
A woman’s intuition is often accurate.
She had pursued Fu Tingshen for six years. She remembered all his preferences, the things he liked and disliked, while he simply brushed it off with a “too busy, forgot.”
Was it truly forgetfulness, or did he simply not care?
Fu Yanchi’s words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into her heart—he remembered Shen Xin’er’s preferences.
Their relationship was far from simple.
Her heart ached faintly.
After work, she returned to the villa alone ahead of time. As soon as she finished showering, a message arrived on her phone.
It was a WeChat message from Fu Yanchi, whose profile picture was a blue sky with white clouds.
【Sister Mianmian, are you home?】
Luo Yunmian didn’t feel like responding much and replied, 【I’m going to sleep.】
Fu Yanchi: 【Sister Mianmian, Sister Yun said the Persian cat at home ran out and hasn’t been found. I tried calling my brother, but he isn’t answering. Could you help me look around the backyard of the villa?】
【I won’t be back for another twenty minutes. Sorry to trouble you, Sister Mianmian.】
Luo Yunmian stared at the screen, her mind conjuring the image of that snow-white, fluffy Persian cat.
It often snuggled affectionately in her arms. Could this mischievous little thing have gone into heat and run off to find a mate?
She walked to the wardrobe, grabbed a trench coat to drape over herself, and hurried downstairs.
Holding her phone, she turned on the flashlight function, casting a bright beam toward the garden’s greenery.
With her head lowered, she carefully scanned the grass and bushes while softly calling out.
“Xiao Wanzi, where are you? I brought you some treats.”
After turning two corners, she suddenly stopped in her tracks beside a large tree next to a massive transparent glass greenhouse.
Inside the greenhouse were rows of vibrant roses—a scene that should have been romantic and beautiful. Yet, the conversation between the two people inside felt like sharp thorns, stabbing painfully into Luo Yunmian’s heart.
“Tingshen, are you really going to get engaged to Miss Luo? What about me? Do you still love me?”
The woman’s voice was delicate and tinged with grievance.
The man reached out and pulled the woman closer, his eyes brimming with affection. Luo Yunmian heard words she could hardly believe.
“When you left without a word back then, I was heartbroken. She just happened to resemble you a little around the eyes.”
So she was a substitute?
Just someone who wandered into his life during his post-breakup emptiness.
“I’ve always loved you, Xin’er,” Fu Tingshen said, skillfully avoiding the engagement question.
Shen Xin’er understood—only Luo Yunmian’s status matched his. She was the daughter-in-law his family approved of.
Hah, so what? Fu Tingshen’s heart belonged to her. She would find a way to claim that position eventually.
Seeing Shen Xin’er fall silent, the man anxiously added, “I never loved Luo Yunmian. She was just a useful tool.”
Hah. For three years, she had worked tirelessly for him, swallowing her pride, willingly serving only as his special assistant.
And all she got in return was his remark—“a useful tool.” Luo Yunmian’s hand holding the phone trembled slightly. Her fingers tightened uncontrollably, knuckles turning white, and her palm grew damp with sweat from the strain.
“Then, Tingshen, have you ever done this with her?” Shen Xin’er stood on her tiptoes and kissed the man’s lips.
Fu Tingshen wrapped his arm around the woman’s waist, desire plain in his eyes.
“I’ve always remained faithful to you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Try it and you’ll know.”
Luo Yunmian stared blankly at the reflection in the glass, catching the unmistakable blaze in the man’s eyes—a look brimming with love.
The two kissed with an intensity that seemed inseparable.
At this moment, Luo Yunmian realized with painful clarity that the person Fu Tingshen loved was Shen Xin’er, while she herself felt like an unnecessary outsider in this scene of deep affection.
He had always treated her with gentlemanly courtesy.
Even during their dates, when the atmosphere was just right, he would only lightly kiss her forehead. More intimate gestures never went beyond holding her shoulders; he never crossed any boundaries.
Back then, she had always assumed Fu Tingshen was simply a traditional man at heart.
And due to her upbringing, she had never acted inappropriately either.
Her heart felt as if gripped by a large hand, a dull ache spreading through her.
So, he simply didn’t love her—he was saving himself for another woman.
Luo Yunmian felt as though her feet weighed a thousand pounds, each step an immense struggle. She tried to force a smile and call out, but found she lacked the courage.
She watched helplessly as the man carried the woman to the sofa by the greenhouse.
Clothes were scattered across the floor…
Soon, faint sounds of the woman’s pleading and coquettish moans drifted out with the evening breeze.
Unable to bear it any longer, Luo Yunmian turned away and slowly crouched down against a large tree, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.
Bitter, salty tears finally broke free, streaming uncontrollably down her face.
They fell in rapid succession, landing heavily on the back of her hand like raindrops violently striking a windowpane, instantly splattering and shattering.
The tears were scalding, but her heart felt as if a cold knife were churning wildly inside her chest, tearing it apart and shredding it, letting “blood” spill freely.
At the same time, her eyes burned red.
She bit down on the back of her hand, trying to stifle the broken sobs threatening to escape.
Yet faint whimpers still seeped from the corners of her lips.
She didn’t know how long she crouched there, until the lights in the greenhouse went out and the people inside had long since left.
Outside, all was quiet, save for the woman’s suppressed… mournful… low weeping.
Fu Yanchi crouched down beside her, and she seemed to sense his presence.
She looked up, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears that flowed uncontrollably, one after another, falling to the ground and piercing Fu Yanchi’s heart.
Panicked, he used his hands to wipe away the tears that refused to stop.
“Yunmian, don’t cry. You still have me.”
Luo Yunmian’s eyes were red with emotion. In a fit of agitation, she suddenly raised her right hand and delivered another sharp, resounding slap to Fu Yanchi’s face.
Choking back sobs, she demanded, “Are you satisfied now?”
“So, you knew all along that Fu Tingshen was cheating.”
Fu Yanchi nodded.
He had just returned to the country and had already been slapped twice by the same woman.
Probably only Luo Yunmian would dare treat him this way.
Ignoring the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, he took her right hand, examining the bite marks on its back, and carefully brought it to his lips, gently blowing on it. His gaze was filled with tenderness, and his voice trembled slightly.
The slap had clearly been delivered with force, yet Fu Yanchi felt his heart ache even more.
“Yunmian, I didn’t want you to be deceived.”
“So, you orchestrated this for me to see them…”
“Yes.” Fu Yanchi’s gaze was unwavering.
“The mere thought of you being with someone else drives me mad with jealousy.”
The young man’s voice paused for a moment, “So now that I know, I won’t allow Yunmian-jie to be toyed with like a fool.”
Luo Yunmian always believed his feelings for her weren’t love, just the stubborn obsession of youth.
But at this moment, she saw genuine concern in his eyes.
She let out a bitter laugh. He cared for her, yet he made her face the cruelest reality.
Luo Yunmian pushed herself up against the tree, but having crouched for too long, she stumbled forward.
Fu Yanchi caught her just in time.
His low, magnetic voice sounded by her ear.
“Yunmian-jie, your judgment of people is terrible.”
Fu Yanchi looked at the woman, her eyes red and glaring at him, and felt he might have been too harsh. He was about to speak again.
But Luo Yunmian shoved him away and ran ahead.
“Yan Chi.”
Fu Yanchi halted his steps, his clenched fists tightening and loosening. In the end, he slowly turned to face the person who had called out to him.