Chapter 10: Outburst

Wen Yang immediately said, “Don’t think like that. You’re just going through a rough patch; things will get better.”

Yu Qing shrugged and replied, “I hope so.”

Wen Yang knew that Yu Qing was still at odds with Liu Yu and was already busy with her own problems. Yet, she was still helping Wen Yang investigate this and that. Feeling a bit guilty, Wen Yang also hoped all the uncertainties would end soon. She softly said, “I hope we both get through our tough times quickly.”

“Alright.” Yu Qing smiled and said, “I’m going to work on some design drafts. Let me know if anything comes up.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up the call, Wen Yang glanced at the time. It was 10 p.m., two and a half hours before Cheng Yanyu would return. Her mind was a chaotic mess, thoughts darting in every direction. Deciding she might as well go to bed, she got up.

Fearing she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, she lit a sleep-aid aromatherapy candle, filling the room with a sweet, calming scent.

Wen Yang drifted off into a light sleep.

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Her heart pounded like a drum. Sitting there for a while, she finally got up, barefoot, and turned to glance at the man in bed.

Cheng Yanyu remained in the same position, still hugging the blanket. In the dim light, Wen Yang could make out his handsome profile. She quietly walked to his bedside table.

His phone was charging, the screen showing it was fully charged.

Wen Yang carefully unplugged the charger and picked up his phone, tiptoeing out of the room.

After closing the bedroom door behind her, she sat on the sofa in the dark. She entered the password, unlocking the phone, and opened Li Man’s WeChat chat window.

Just like last time, she found the chat window hidden among less prominent contacts.

The messages that greeted her were recent:

Cheng Yanyu: [Sent her a picture of the venue]
Li Man: It’s beautiful, just as I imagined.
Cheng Yanyu: As long as you like it.
Li Man: What are your plans for later?
Cheng Yanyu: Taking them out for supper. Want to join? I can have Ah Zhan pick you up.
Li Man: Why Ah Zhan?
Cheng Yanyu: Then I’ll come.
Li Man: Never mind, it’s a bit late. You guys enjoy.
Cheng Yanyu: I’m in the parking garage.
Li Man: Oh, dear. Alright, I’ll come. My family’s driver is free. Could you order me a hot milk? Do they have it?
Cheng Yanyu: Yes, they do.
Li Man: See you soon.
Cheng Yanyu: See you soon.

Wen Yang’s fingers trembled slightly.

This was from tonight.

They’d had supper together. The restrained tone of the messages, especially the one questioning “Why Ah Zhan?” struck her.

And she called him “little brother.”

Cheng Yanyu was an only child; his cousins were all younger and called him “big brother.” This was the first time Wen Yang had heard someone call him “little brother” in such an intimate tone.

What unsettled her more was how he immediately went to the parking garage at her request—completely unlike him.

Wen Yang’s body shook as she scrolled upward. The conversation history was extensive and alarming.

They had met three months ago when Cheng Yanyu learned that Li Man’s company was recruiting for a jewelry exhibition project. He participated in the bid and successfully secured the contract. Cheng Yanyu arranged to meet Li Man to discuss the exhibition. That day, she showed up in a long dress at the restaurant.

It was the same day Wen Yang had cut her finger.

Cheng Yanyu hadn’t come home on time because his shoulder was soaked from holding an umbrella for Li Man.

The following day, their conversation started about work but quickly became personal:

Li Man: Did my little brother catch a cold last night?
Cheng Yanyu: [Paused before replying] No.
Li Man: How’s your little wife? Is her hand okay?
Cheng Yanyu: [Paused for a long time before replying] She cut her finger, but it’s disinfected and bandaged now.
Li Man: That’s good. I sent some scar cream to your office. Give it to her.
Cheng Yanyu: Thank you.

But he never gave Wen Yang the scar cream.

Li Man: By the way, you look great in dress shirts.
Li Man: Wear one tomorrow too.
Cheng Yanyu: Okay.

So, it was at her request that he wore the dress shirt that day. In the morning, he had spent so long picking a tie, and Wen Yang had helped him. She now realized it was all for Li Man.

Wen Yang’s teeth chattered as she continued scrolling.

Cheng Yanyu: The sunset was beautiful today.
Li Man: Yes, it was. Thank you for catching me; otherwise, I would’ve fallen.
Cheng Yanyu: It was nothing.
Li Man: Little brother, you’re so polite.
Cheng Yanyu: And you’re the same.
Li Man: Haha.

Wen Yang’s hand trembled violently.

That sunset was beautiful. Wen Yang appreciated it alone at home, while he enjoyed it outside with Li Man, even making physical contact with her. Wen Yang dared not imagine what kind of “assistance” that was.

She bit her trembling lips, her eyes brimming with tears.

She scrolled further down the chat history.

There was a day with no records, and Wen Yang’s breathing steadied slightly. But then she recalled—on that day, Cheng Yanyu was home with her, which was why there was no chat history. Yet, he had seemed so absent-minded, constantly checking his phone. At the time, she had thought it was because of work. In reality, he was waiting for Li Man’s messages.

She remembered how he kept picking up and putting down his phone repeatedly.

Tears fell onto the phone screen, pooling into droplets. Wen Yang’s lips bore the mark of her biting.

On that day, she had even worn a seductive nightgown, but he paid no attention to her. It turned out that a man’s changes are not sudden but traceable.
She scrolled further down.

New chat records appeared.

He messaged Li Man about work matters:

Cheng Yanyu: Ms. Li.
Cheng Yanyu: The first draft will be ready in a few days. I’ll send it to you.

It took a while before Li Man replied in the afternoon:

Li Man: Alright, thank you.
Li Man: Calling me Ms. Li sounds so formal. I have a nickname—call me A Man instead, how about that?

After a long pause, Cheng Yanyu responded:

Cheng Yanyu: Can I call you that?
Li Man: Of course.
Cheng Yanyu: A Man.
Cheng Yanyu: Thank you for introducing those two clients to me.

Li Man: Don’t mention it. I take care of my little brother. Zhou is tough to deal with and often speaks harshly, but he has a kind heart. Play to his preferences, and he’ll eventually reveal his true intentions. His winter product launch will be massive, with fierce competition. You should start preparing early.

Cheng Yanyu: Alright, I will.
Li Man: I’m sure you’ll succeed.
Cheng Yanyu: I’ll do my best.
Li Man: How about joining me for dinner tonight?
Cheng Yanyu: Sure.

It was the same night the faucet and power outlet exploded at home, causing a blackout. During that time, he was out dining with Li Man. Wen Yang was alone in the dark, trembling and crying in fear, waiting for him to return. She had been terrified to the point of hysteria, accusing him. His guilty expression as he looked at her was etched in her memory.

When a man starts acting out of guilt, his love has already begun to change.

Tears fell in streams onto the phone screen, blurring the text. Wen Yang wiped it with her thumb, scrolling further. Most of the following chat history was work-related until Cheng Yanyu went on a business trip to Li City.

Li Man: You shouldn’t have drunk so much tonight.
Cheng Yanyu: I was worried you’d drink too much.
Li Man: My little brother is so sweet.

A few minutes later:

Cheng Yanyu: Li Man, I find myself thinking about you. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.
Li Man: Little brother, there are many things in life we can’t control. You need to take care of your own family.
Cheng Yanyu: I’m trying, but I can’t control how I feel about you…
Li Man: Want some hangover soup?
Cheng Yanyu: No, I’m not drunk enough to say nonsense.
Li Man: Have some. I have some here. I can bring it over.

After that, the chat history went silent for a long time. When Wen Yang reached this point, she already understood what had happened between them. Her tears flowed even more uncontrollably, making it impossible to see the phone screen clearly.

She kept scrolling, battling her tears, until she reached the messages from the next day.

Cheng Yanyu: I’m sorry I got carried away last night. Did I hurt you?
Li Man: No, little brother. You were very gentle.

Wen Yang gasped, abruptly putting the phone down, her breaths coming in rapid bursts. He had been away on a business trip at the time, and the day he returned, drenched in rain…

She slammed the phone onto the table, her heart racing, and ran to the bathroom.

Leaning over the sink, she retched uncontrollably, her body shaking.

The noise woke Cheng Yanyu. He reached out, finding the spot beside him empty. He sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and noticed the faint light from the bathroom.

“Wife?” he called softly, walking toward the bathroom.

She stood at the sink, her lips wet, wiping them dry. When she turned, their eyes met in the dim light.

Her trembling hands continued to wipe her lips as she stared at him. A flash of their first meeting in college crossed her mind, a moment now tainted by the cruel passage of time that failed to safeguard their love.

Seeing the tears in her eyes, Cheng Yanyu’s heart tightened. Panic began to set in, but before he could speak, Wen Yang cut him off.

She forced a cold smile and said, “I’m pregnant.”

Cheng Yanyu froze, caught off guard by the news. He stood there, processing her words, showing none of the joy one might expect. After a long pause, he recalled their last time together—hurried and without precaution. He opened his mouth to speak, but Wen Yang’s cold voice interrupted him again.

“A baby? If I were pregnant, the first thing I’d do is get rid of it.”

Cheng Yanyu had never seen Wen Yang like this before. Suddenly, he glanced toward the living room and, in the moonlight, noticed the faint outline of a phone on the coffee table.

His breath caught. He understood immediately.

Turning back to her, he rasped, “Wife, I have something to say—”

“I don’t want to hear it,” she snapped, walking past him.

Panicking, Cheng Yanyu grabbed her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Wen Yang struggled violently, her cold exterior shattering into a storm of resistance.

“Let go of me!” she screamed, clawing at his clothes.

“Wen Yang, listen to me,” he pleaded. “I was lost, and I made mistakes, but I’ve been trying to pull myself back. Please, give me a chance!”

“Get out, Cheng Yanyu! Just leave me alone!” she screamed, her hands flailing wildly. In her frenzy, she slapped him hard across the face, her nails grazing his nose. But he didn’t flinch, holding her tighter instead. Tears streamed down her face as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“I love you, Wen Yang. I really love you. Everything else was just a bad dream. The project with her is done—there won’t be anymore contact.”

“Let go of me! Let me go!”

His scent was still familiar, his presence still one she loved, but she couldn’t understand how things had come to this. She bit her lip, her small frame trembling like a wounded animal. Her resistance weakened, but her sobs grew louder, soaking his chest.

“I can’t stay here anymore,” she whispered through her tears. “I need to leave.”

Cheng Yanyu froze, his breath hitching. “Where will you go?”

“Anywhere but here,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t be with you anymore.”

---

Sansukini: Once a cheater, always a cheater. Although this is the first time he cheated on her, I don’t think he’ll stop contacting Li Man even when they finish their project together. He can try to resist her, but if she persist, he’ll still give in to temptation. Especially since he did this while still having a solid love relationship with his wife. What a scum!
We’ll meet the ML soon. The ML is not Cheng Yanyu.

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