Shanghai Airport
The airport bustled with people coming and going, a sweet female voice announcing flight information over the speakers.
Shen Zhaoning stood before the security checkpoint, clutching her boarding pass, with Fu Huaixu standing right in front of her.
Originally, Shen Zhaoning had intended to have Su Yue drive her to the airport. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the studio, he was already waiting at the door. Unable to resist him, she had no choice but to let him take her.
Fu Huaixu’s eyes, usually rebellious and unruly, were now filled with reluctance and grievance.
“Zhaozhao, you’re going back to the capital. Can you please accept my friend request?” His voice was low, tinged with a hint of pleading.
Shen Zhaoning took out her phone and tapped “Accept.”
“There, is that okay?” She raised her phone to show him.
Fu Huaixu looked at his chat page appearing on her phone and smiled. Then, he pulled Shen Zhaoning into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
Resting his chin on her shoulder, he nuzzled against the hair at the side of her neck. “Zhaozhao, can I come to the capital to see you?”
Shen Zhaoning reached out and gently patted his back. “Fu Huaixu, when did you become so sentimental? Who could possibly stop you from going wherever you want?”
She gently pushed him away. “Also, until you’ve successfully pursued me, you can’t keep touching me like this.”
Fu Huaixu released her, his gaze burning as he looked at her, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Then remember to miss me.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll miss you, okay? My boarding time is almost up.” With that, Shen Zhaoning turned and walked away.
Fu Huaixu stood in place, his eyes following her figure until she disappeared around the corner of the security checkpoint.
Fu Huaixu swiped open his phone and clicked into Shen Zhaoning’s social media feed. The page was clean, with the latest post marked prominently as “Visible for the Last Three Days Only.”
He had missed five years of her life and had hoped to piece together some traces of her life during those years from her social media.
But there was nothing.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and his heart felt hollow, as if a piece of it were missing.
Not far from them, someone watched the scene that had just unfolded in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
Qin Xin quickly picked up her phone and, using cover, secretly took a few photos of Fu Huaixu and Shen Zhaoning together in the frame.
Her fingers flew across the screen as she casually sent the newly taken photos to her friend Chu Lingyi.
She knew very well that Chu Lingyi had admired Fu Huaixu since childhood, and even Fu’s mother had long regarded Chu Lingyi as the only suitable candidate for her daughter-in-law.
The message followed the photos: “Lingyi, do you know who this woman standing with Fu Huaixu is? I saw them hugging at the airport today. Fu Huaixu even looked reluctant to let her go.”
Chu Lingyi was painting in her home studio when her phone, placed on the side table, suddenly buzzed.
She casually picked it up, glanced at it, and the color instantly drained from her face. The paintbrush she held between her fingers clattered onto the canvas, splattering a large blotch of ink.
In the photo, Fu Huaixu held the woman tightly in his arms, his eyes and brows filled with a tenderness and reluctance she had never seen in all the years she had followed him.
“It’s that woman again!” Chu Lingyi trembled uncontrollably with anger, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists, nearly dropping her phone.
Five years had passed, and Fu Huaixu still hadn’t let her go.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, barely suppressing the surging anger, then grabbed her bag from the sofa and rushed out, slamming the door with a loud bang.
She was going to find Mu Manmei right now to figure out a way—she absolutely had to drive that woman away for good. Huaixu could only be hers!
Chu Lingyi sped all the way to the Fu family’s old mansion. Without even bothering to close the car door, she rushed into the living room with reddened eyes.
Mu Manmei was sitting on the living room sofa brewing tea. Just as the steam began to rise from the Biluochun tea in the celadon cup, she looked up and saw Chu Lingyi charging in with teary eyes.
“Lingyi, what’s wrong?” she quickly set the teacup on the coffee table, her tone full of concern.
Fu Yuyan, who had been playing on her phone nearby, also leaned over, tilting her head worriedly. “Sister Lingyi, who bullied you?”
As soon as Chu Lingyi sat down, tears streamed down her face, her crying pitiful and heart-wrenching. “Auntie, I saw… it seems like Huaixu’s ex-girlfriend from five years ago has returned!”
Fu Yuyan’s eyes widened instantly. “Sister Lingyi, you know that woman?”
“Yan’er, do you remember the jewelry launch event we attended yesterday? The woman who came in with Lu Xingran.”
Fu Yuyan immediately understood. No wonder her brother had been staring at that woman so strangely yesterday—so she was actually his ex-girlfriend?
Chu Lingyi tremblingly handed her phone to Mu Manmei. On the screen was a picture of Fu Huaixu holding Shen Zhaoning at the airport security checkpoint. The two were pressed close together, Fu Huaixu’s eyes lowered, his profile even tinged with reluctance.
“Auntie, look, they only met yesterday, and today she’s already latched onto Huaixu. I’m so scared… Huaixu might be fooled by her,” Chu Lingyi said tearfully.
Mu Manmei took the phone, glanced at it, and her brows furrowed tightly into a knot.
Her heart sank to the bottom. No wonder Fu Huaixu had stormed home early yesterday morning, livid, and confronted her about the message she had sent to that woman on her own five years ago.
She had thought the news had somehow leaked, but it turned out that woman had actually reappeared—and as soon as she returned, she was seducing her son.
“That woman really is like a lingering ghost,” Mu Manmei sneered coldly, the disgust in her eyes almost overflowing.
Then she patted Chu Lingyi’s hand, her tone firm. “Don’t worry, Auntie will definitely handle this. You’re the only one I recognize as the Fu family’s daughter-in-law. I won’t allow any other woman to enter this family.”
Fu Yuyan also quickly nodded in agreement, leaning over to link arms with Chu Lingyi. “Yes, Sister Lingyi, I only recognize you as my sister-in-law.”
Chu Lingyi lowered her head, pretending to wipe her tears, but a smug smile secretly curled at the corner of her mouth. Her voice softened as she thanked them, “Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Yan’er.”
She knew very well just how much Mu Manmei hated that woman. As long as Auntie took action, that woman would never have a chance to marry Huaixu in this lifetime.
The title of the Fu family’s eldest daughter-in-law could only be hers.