Instantly, the scene could be described as utterly chaotic.
Ning Shu stood frozen in place, her hands and feet icy cold as she watched.
She saw her husband holding another woman, his anxious and concerned gaze fixed on that woman’s face.
This was the man she had liked for seven or eight years, loved for seven or eight years, the one who had shared her pillow. Hah.
Meng Lang stepped forward, deliberately lowering his voice. “Fu Yanshen, what are you doing? Give her to me!”
After speaking, Meng Lang reached out to take Meng Xuan, then added through gritted teeth in a low voice, “Your wife is right over there!”
Hearing this, Fu Yanshen seemed momentarily dazed.
He looked up toward Ning Shu.
Ning Shu happened to be looking back. She thought she felt quite calm, but for some reason, her eyes were already brimming with tears.
A second later, Fu Yanshen withdrew his gaze, appearing indifferent and unmoved.
Meng Lang directly tried to take Meng Xuan from his arms, but Fu Yanshen instinctively took a step back and said, “Call an ambulance.”
Meng Lang felt like hitting someone. “Someone already called! Just give her to me!”
As the two men were locked in this standoff, Mother Fang rushed forward, clearly terrified out of her wits. “Meng Xuan, are you alright? Quick, an ambulance! My grandson, my grandson.”
The Fang family was as anxious as ants on a hot pan, their faces pale with fear, terrified that something might happen to Meng Xuan.
The child in her belly was the only remaining flesh and blood Fang Chen had left in this world…
If it were lost… it would be… truly gone!
Never to return!
Never to return… How cruel those words were…
The situation was becoming a bit chaotic. The others didn’t know whether to pity Ning Shu, or to pity Meng Xuan, or… perhaps both deserved pity.
Just as Meng Lang was about to forcibly take Meng Xuan, Meng Xuan suddenly opened her eyes.
Her opening her eyes made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Fu Yanshen asked first, “Are you alright? Where do you feel unwell?”
The urgent questions Mother Fang had wanted to ask instantly stuck in her throat.
She should have asked, but she didn’t. She should have told Fu Yanshen to let go—this was her Fang family daughter-in-law, and her elder brother was right there.
But inexplicably, Mother Fang also didn’t tell Fu Yanshen to release Meng Xuan.
Meng Xuan’s face was pale, her eyes also red. Weakly, she said, “Yanshen, I’m fine. I’m okay. I just felt dizzy for a moment, don’t worry.”
Hearing her form of address, Fu Yanshen’s eyes suddenly reddened. He nodded. “Mmm, that’s good.”
The atmosphere was intensely silent, and subtle to the extreme.
Ning Shu saw and heard it all.
She heard Meng Xuan call him “Yanshen,” saw the two of them looking at each other with reddened eyes.
This was… their first intimate contact since reuniting after a long separation, wasn’t it…
If Fang Chen hadn’t met with misfortune, Fu Yanshen wouldn’t dare to hold Meng Xuan; even if he queued up, it wouldn’t be his turn to hold her.
But at this moment, though ironic, it was reasonable.
Though reasonable, it was exceptionally ironic.
Ning Shu’s hand tightly gripped the hem of her clothes. To say she felt no pain at all, completely unaffected… that was truly… impossible.
She wasn’t a saint; she didn’t possess the ability to stop loving someone the moment she decided not to love them anymore.
To peel away from her heart someone she had liked and been infatuated with since her first awakening of love… that would probably take some time.
But right now, the more it hurt, the better! The more sorrowful, the better!
When the pain lasts long enough, when the sorrow lasts long enough… it will be stripped away.
At this moment, Meng Lang interrupted this subtlety. To Meng Xuan, he spoke firmly yet not without gentleness, “Since Xuan’er is alright, then come down. Or, big brother can carry you.”
As he spoke, Meng Lang reached out his hand.
Who would have thought that Meng Xuan would instinctively wrap her arms around Fu Yanshen’s neck.
Fu Yanshen froze for a moment.
Ning Shu’s tears fell, the pain in her lower abdomen growing stronger, accompanied by a sharp, needle-like stabbing sensation.
Ning Shu smiled bitterly. Just moments ago, Fu Yanshen had told her not to lose her dignity.
But now, Fu Yanshen was trampling her dignity underfoot, crushing it completely.
Meng Lang frowned in anger and was about to speak.
Unexpectedly, Meng Xuan spoke again, taking the initiative to say, “Yanshen, put me down. Xiao Shu is watching.”
No one expected her to “generously” bring up Ning Shu, to “care” about Ning Shu, and to acknowledge that Ning Shu was Fu Yanshen’s wife.
Fu Yanshen asked with concern, “Can you stand steady?”
Meng Xuan replied, “Yes.”
Without much hesitation, Fu Yanshen set Meng Xuan down.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Meng Xuan was still quite reasonable and knew her limits.
Once Meng Xuan was steady on her feet, Fu Yanshen, worried she might be weak, gently supported her waist with his hand—tender and caring.
Honestly, Meng Xuan’s actions had skyrocketed the sympathy and goodwill toward her.
How tragic was her situation? Her husband was dead, she was pregnant, and yet her mother-in-law had publicly declared that her husband’s true love was someone else.
Overwhelmed by the “humiliation,” she fainted. Her childhood friend stepped in without hesitation to help—a touching gesture, but he already had a lover and had to be mindful of boundaries, keeping his distance…
Wasn’t that tragic?
Heartbreakingly so.
In contrast, Ning Shu stood there like a wooden statue, watching. Though she didn’t step forward to question or make a scene,
she also didn’t offer any words of concern.
After all, Meng Xuan was pregnant!
Once Meng Xuan was steady, Mother Fang anxiously explained, “Xuan’er, listen to me…”
Meng Xuan interrupted her, “Mom, I know.”
Mother Fang’s open mouth froze, unsure how to continue.
But Meng Xuan said, “What you said is the truth, and it’s hardly a secret in our circle. But at an occasion like this, before Fang Chen has even been brought home… it wasn’t appropriate. I just couldn’t hold back…”
Mother Fang immediately burst into tears, overwhelmed with guilt, and kept apologizing, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was wrong, I’m sorry, Xuan’er. Are you alright? Let’s go to the hospital right away.”
Meng Xuan replied, “It’s fine, Mom.”
Then she turned her gaze toward Ning Shu.
Ning Shu remained standing there, motionless.
Xie Jinghong stood beside her, though at a slight distance.
Tang Yue’ai and Zhuang Fu, however, had moved to Ning Shu’s side.
Both Ning Shu and Meng Xuan had long, straight hair cascading over their shoulders, giving them a somewhat similar appearance.
But Ning Shu’s beauty lay in her delicate features, while Meng Xuan exuded a gentle and dignified aura.
If forced to compare, Ning Shu was the “seductress,” while Meng Xuan was the “empress” who commanded respect.
The two women simply stared at each other.
But Meng Xuan didn’t speak to Ning Shu. Instead, she turned to Fu Yanshen and said, “You should go over there. Don’t leave Xiao Shu standing alone. I’m afraid she might misunderstand, or feel that by protecting me like this, you’ve stripped her of her dignity and respect.”
Seeing that Meng Xuan remained as gentle, kind, pure, and magnanimous as ever, Fu Yanshen seemed stirred by emotion, his eyes growing even redder.
He said, “It’s fine. Xiao Shu agreed to take care of you. She’s willing to look after you. She’s just… perhaps still grieving deeply, or maybe she didn’t step forward because she saw me coming over.”
Meng Xuan nodded, “I see. Then I’ll go say hello to Xiao Shu.”
Fu Yanshen replied, “Alright.”
After speaking, he placed a protective hand on Meng Xuan’s waist.
Meng Lang frowned slightly.
But no one could stop Meng Xuan from stepping forward to greet them.
It was impossible to tell her, “Don’t go say hello. What’s your relationship? What conflicts do you have? Don’t you have any self-awareness?”
And besides, you’re bringing someone else’s husband along to greet them…
What kind of situation is this?
Isn’t this just rubbing it in their face?
But could these words be spoken? Obviously not.
So, should the greeting happen?
It could only be: if she said yes, then it had to happen.