The news that Wen Yu had returned spread throughout the courtyard early in the morning.
“I told you she and Shao Wenye couldn’t break up. Even though the wedding wasn’t fully completed, we already ate the banquet. Whether the vows were said or not doesn’t matter. See? She’s back after just one day.”
“Young couples can’t be separated so easily. They just got married and immediately lived apart, and Shanghai is so far away. That’s practically unbearable.”
“I heard she came back because she was injured. She’s still in the hospital now. Who knows how she got hurt? Maybe she couldn’t save face and staged it herself?”
“That’s possible. City girls are just delicate and dramatic. I really don’t understand the Shao family—why bring home such a pampered young lady? It would’ve been better to pick someone from our compound.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“The girls in our compound are good, but they’re all a bit fiery. Compared to Wen Tongzhi, they lack that gentle, soft femininity men like.”
“If we’re talking about gentle types, before Wen Tongzhi came, wasn’t Xu Wan the most fitting one?”
The mention of Xu Wan shifted the topic, though people still held back due to the Shao family’s status and didn’t dare speak too openly.
Even so, when Xu Wan went to work the next day, she immediately noticed something was off. Her colleagues looked at her with a mix of amusement, mockery, and disdain.
She knew why. She just didn’t want to explain—afraid that saying too much would only bring more trouble to the Shao family.
Over the years, she had been treated well in the Shao household. Even after Wen Qing was gone, no one mistreated her. Because of that, she didn’t want anyone to speak ill of the Shao family.
“Xu Wan, go change the dressing for patient room 208,” the head nurse said.
It wasn’t deliberately making things difficult—just that both Xu Wan and Wen Yu were considered part of the Shao family, so having “one of their own” take care of her might make them feel more at ease.
Even though she felt awkward, Xu Wan didn’t refuse. She knew Shao Wenye’s personality—he took responsibility seriously. After what happened, he probably wouldn’t let Wen Yu return to Shanghai easily.
Which meant as long as she stayed connected to the Shao family, she could never avoid dealing with Wen Yu.
She took the medical tray—disinfectant, gauze, cotton swabs—and went to Wen Yu’s room.
Seeing Shao Wenye there didn’t surprise her. She greeted him as usual. “Weren’t you supposed to report back to the unit?”
“I took leave,” he replied.
Her hand holding the tray paused slightly, though her smile didn’t change. “Looks like Mom was right. Once you have a wife, you finally know how to care about people.”
Shao Wenye’s eyes briefly landed on Wen Yu. Worried she might feel uncomfortable, he didn’t respond.
After what happened before, Wen Yu still felt awkward. She wasn’t someone with a thick skin, and she couldn’t simply forget it. She only gave a faint smile. “Sorry for troubling you, Sister Xu Wan.”
“This is my job. There’s nothing troublesome about it.”
Xu Wan placed the tray down and carefully changed the dressing. Her movements were gentle and precise, not hurting Wen Yu at all.
When she finished wrapping the bandage, Shao Wenye, who had been standing nearby, finally relaxed. The tight furrow between his brows eased.
Xu Wan noticed all of it.
And in that moment, she clearly understood—Shao Wenye had truly married. There was now someone else in his heart.
He was no longer the neighborly younger brother who always prioritized her, the one who honored his promise to Wen Qing and looked after her.
“I still have other patients to attend to, so I won’t disturb you,” Xu Wan said.
Women understood women best. Even though Xu Wan hid it well, Wen Yu still caught the faint loss in her eyes.
Wen Yu smiled slightly. “Go ahead, Sister Xu Wan. Work comes first. Don’t worry about me. We’ll call you if anything comes up.”
“Alright.” Xu Wan quickly packed up. “Wenye, take good care of Wen Tongzhi. Don’t let her get hurt again.”
“Mm.”
With that, she left with the tray.
As soon as she was gone, Shao Wenye closed the door and walked straight toward Wen Yu with a serious expression, as if preparing to do something important.
Wen Yu instinctively pulled the blanket tighter. “What are you doing?”
He stopped in front of her. “I have nothing improper with Xu Wan, and I don’t have any feelings for her. If you’re still worried, I can write you a guarantee.”
Wen Yu hadn’t expected that.
On the wedding day, he had already clarified things about Xu Wan, but back then his attitude had been cold and irritated.
Now it was completely different.
She lowered her eyes. “It’s your matter. You don’t need to explain to me.”
“You’re my wife. Why wouldn’t I explain to you?”
Wen Yu abruptly looked up at him, startled. This man had no shame at all.
No wonder people in the compound said Shao Wenye used to be unruly and carefree. Now it seemed they weren’t exaggerating.
Listen to that logic—so shameless she almost couldn’t believe it came from him.
“We don’t have a marriage certificate.”
“We’ll register it after your injury heals.”
“The wedding wasn’t even completed.”
“We can make it up again.”
He spoke calmly, as if none of these were problems.
“I know what you’re worried about. I won’t abandon you again for other people’s matters.”
His gaze was intense, almost burning.
But Wen Yu wasn’t someone who could be won over by a few words.
She turned her face slightly away. “Xu Wan is your family. You don’t need to explain anything to me. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”
Shao Wenye was momentarily speechless.
She was right. Xu Wan was part of the Shao family—they couldn’t be treated like strangers.
Wen Yu didn’t want to stay alone with him either. If he was only staying out of guilt or pity, there was no need for it.
Relationships required fate, not force.
“You should go to work. You don’t need to stay here with me.”
“I’m not going. I took leave,” he said.
He casually pulled over a chair and sat beside her bed, watching her.
Being stared at like that made Wen Yu uncomfortable. She simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
Let it be. She couldn’t control others—she could only control herself.
Right now, she no longer wanted to marry Shao Wenye.