Ning Shu’s words, “I’m pregnant too,” stuck in her throat.
But Fu Yanshen continued, “Meng Xuan really needs me right now! She’s already in such a pitiful state, can’t you be more understanding? And the child in her belly is Fang Chen’s! Can’t you be more reasonable and take good care of her, ensuring the child is born safe and healthy? Do you have to throw your unreasonable tantrums at a time like this?”
Ning Shu opened her mouth, but like a fish out of water, she had a thousand things she wanted to say. She was furious, wanting to scream, shout, and curse.
But in the end, it all turned into a sense of powerlessness.
She fell silent.
Fu Yanshen didn’t hang up the phone. After a moment of silence, he finally said, “Alright, stop throwing a tantrum. Come back on your own tomorrow.”
He knew she had nowhere else to go—she would just return to her parents’ home.
Hearing this, Ning Shu laughed again, her eyes blurring as she whispered, “Fu Yanshen.”
Fu Yanshen frowned but didn’t respond.
Ning Shu called him again, “Fu Yanshen.”
Fu Yanshen impatiently stubbed out his cigarette. “What on earth—”
“Let’s get a divorce,” Ning Shu interrupted him.
Fu Yanshen was stunned, perhaps unable to process it for a moment.
It took him a few seconds to say, “Have you gone mad?”
Ning Shu replied calmly, “Divorce. I’m tired.”
After saying this, Ning Shu hung up the phone first.
But… she also cried.
Divorce…
She had never actually… thought about it.
She had liked Fu Yanshen for ten years, and all her pride and confidence vanished in front of him.
She thought that as long as she gave her all, he would eventually come to like her, even just a little.
Their relationship had indeed been improving.
But this tiny, insignificant improvement was utterly shattered in the face of Meng Xuan!
All it took was Meng Xuan’s return to completely negate the two years of effort she had poured into their marriage.
Even when she wasn’t home, Fu Yanshen insisted on bringing Meng Xuan to their house to care for her.
Hah.
It seemed he was determined to become Meng Xuan’s most solid, unstoppable, and unbreakable support, wasn’t he?
How touching.
How deeply moving.
Meng Xuan needed him?
Didn’t she need him too?
Perhaps that saying was right: you can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.
Someone who doesn’t have you in their heart will never spare you a second glance, no matter how hard you try.
In his heart… you’re nothing more than a joke.
Fu Yanshen lit another cigarette, truly finding it hard to understand. It was just about taking care of Meng Xuan for a while.
Was that such a big deal?
Given Meng Xuan’s current situation, she really needed to be cared for and protected.
And Ning Shu was actually asking for a divorce?
She really had gone mad.
Was it necessary?
Was it worth it?
The child was Fang Chen’s, so Ning Shu should take care of it.
Besides, this was something Ning Shu owed Meng Xuan.
She should take even better care of her!
The next day.
Ning Shu wasn’t in the best spirits, but she felt deeply comforted eating the porridge her mother had lovingly prepared for her.
Wen Hui, Ning Shu’s mother, looked at her daughter’s beautiful but slightly pale face and asked with concern, “Did you have a fight with Yanshen?”
Ning Shu was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head. “No. I just missed you and Dad, so I came back to stay for a couple of days.”
Wen Hui didn’t expose the lie. She had a good idea of how things stood between her daughter and son-in-law.
Wen Hui smiled and said, “If you miss us, come back often.”
Ning Shu smiled and nodded. “Mm, okay.”
“Try this,” Wen Hui said, picking up a piece of fried dough stick for her.
Ning Shu picked it up and brought it to her mouth, but the greasy smell triggered a wave of nausea.
Unable to hold it back, she put down her chopsticks and rushed to the trash can.
But nothing came out, only a bout of dry heaving.
Wen Hui was startled and hurried forward with a glass of water, handing it to her while patting her back to soothe her, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Ning Shu took the glass and drank some water. Before she could answer, Wen Hui suddenly said, “You’re not… pregnant, are you?”
Ning Shu nearly dropped the glass and quickly denied it, “No. I… my stomach has been upset these past couple of days!”
“Oh.” Wen Hui nodded, then added, “We have stomach medicine at home. I’ll go get it for you.”
With that, she really went to fetch the medicine.
Ning Shu grew a bit anxious and quickly put down the glass to follow her.
Wen Hui took out the medicine box. “For dry heaving and nausea… this one, this one, and this one. Oh, and antibiotics too, to reduce inflammation. Your stomach probably has some inflammation.”
She handed the medicine to Ning Shu. “Mom will go pour you some water.”
Ning Shu placed the medicine on the coffee table and stopped her. “No need, Mom. It’s just a minor issue, no need for medicine. I took some before and I’m already better. I don’t need it.”
Wen Hui looked at her with some suspicion. “Really? You should still take a little. You’re still vomiting.”
Ning Shu shook her head. “Really, no need. I don’t want to take it either.”
In the end, Wen Hui didn’t insist, only saying, “Alright. But if you vomit again later, you must take it, or go see a doctor.”
Ning Shu nodded. “Mm.”
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Fang Chen and Meng Xuan were returning to the capital tomorrow.
Everyone knew by now, including the elders.
Even Wen Hui was sad and sighed, crying for a while, repeatedly lamenting how such a good boy like Fang Chen could just be gone like that—truly, fate is unpredictable.
To be honest, Fang Chen’s image in the Ning family was deeply ingrained.
He never hid his affection and pursuit of Ning Shu, even saying so in front of her parents.
But he was polite, had strong character, and knew his boundaries, making it impossible for anyone to find fault with him.
Ning Shu’s parents both liked him very much.
After crying, Wen Hui patted Ning Shu’s hand and said, “Fang Chen was clearly blessed with good fortune, but he couldn’t bear it. You didn’t choose him…”
“Mom!” Ning Shu interrupted Wen Hui, her eyes red as she shook her head. “Please don’t say things like that.”
Just then, a servant approached. “Miss, your husband is here.”
Ning Shu was taken aback.
Wen Hui stood up. “Yanshen.”
Perhaps because Wen Hui was lamenting Fang Chen’s unfortunate fate and early death, her attitude toward Fu Yanshen was better than usual.
Wen Hui was well aware of the relationship between the young couple. Her son-in-law treated her daughter indifferently, so she naturally held some dissatisfaction toward him.
But now, it seemed she was relieved that at least he wasn’t short-lived?
Ning Shu wasn’t sure, only feeling that Wen Hui was more enthusiastic than before.
After exchanging pleasantries, Fu Yanshen sat down beside Ning Shu.
For some reason, Ning Shu instinctively shifted slightly away.
Fu Yanshen turned to look at her, his eyes cold and deep.
But he said nothing.
Nor did he make any intimate gestures.
Ning Shu lowered her gaze. Hah, what was she expecting?
What did she even have left to expect?
Wen Hui also sat down, and only then did Fu Yanshen speak. “Mom, Fang Chen and Meng Xuan are returning to the capital tomorrow. Ning Shu and I are going to meet them, so I came today to take Ning Shu home so we can leave together tomorrow morning.”
Wen Hui’s eyes inexplicably reddened again, and she nodded. “Mm, that’s only right. You two go meet them properly tomorrow.”
Fang Chen was of the younger generation. Besides his parents, those going tomorrow would likely be of Fang Chen’s generation.
Wen Hui and the others would attend the funeral directly later.
Perhaps thinking of the immense grief Father and Mother Fang would feel at losing their son, or perhaps recalling how Fang Chen had always treated Ning Shu so well.
Wen Hui shed tears and urged Ning Shu, “Please… comfort your Uncle and Aunt Fang for me.”
Ning Shu’s emotions inevitably stirred as well, nodding with tears in her eyes, “Yes, I know.”
After speaking, Ning Shu unconsciously placed a hand on her abdomen, her brow slightly furrowed.