Entering the civil affairs bureau, the weather was much cooler. Jiang Yue handed the documents to Fu Xingzhou, glanced behind him, and said softly, “Miss Wen seems to be here for a divorce too.”
Fu Xingzhou remained silent, flipping casually through the documents he had just received from the lawyer. He motioned for Jiang Yue to call Li Man. Jiang Yue nodded, picked up his phone, but before dialing, he noticed a familiar Mercedes pulling up outside.
Li Man stepped out wearing sunglasses and a light-colored dress. She ascended the steps, her high heels clicking, revealing glimpses of her red nail polish. Inside the bureau, her appearance caught some attention.
Today, many women seeking divorces were dressed impeccably, with several beautiful faces among them. Li Man’s entrance, poised and confident, turned a few heads. She spotted Fu Xingzhou waiting for her and walked over, lips pressed together. Jiang Yue nodded to her in greeting, and she returned it with a slight nod before approaching Fu Xingzhou.
The man turned his head to glance at her briefly.
Li Man’s eyes narrowed slightly behind her sunglasses. Fu Xingzhou handed her a pen without hesitation. Li Man stared at the pen for a few seconds before taking it and placing it on the signature line at the bottom of the document.
Just as she was about to sign, her fingers tightened around the pen. She looked up at Fu Xingzhou.
He tilted his head, meeting her gaze indifferently.
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Yu Qing: Are you home?
Yu Qing: Do you want to come to the studio? I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.
Wen Yang paused for a moment. After washing her hands, she checked Yu Qing’s room and found it empty. Yu Qing had already left for work.
Wen Yang replied: I’m home. I bought groceries to make you some soup. You didn’t sleep at all last night, and you’re still going to work?
Yu Qing: I have no choice. I’m still handling the Xu Xu situation. I’ll push through for one more day. Tonight, I’ll treat you to dinner. By the way, Xu Xu asked about your situation with Cheng Yanyu. I haven’t said anything yet.
Wen Yang: Don’t tell him yet. Take care of yourself first. You look exhausted.
Yu Qing: Don’t worry about me. Just one more day. What about you? Want to come to the studio?
Wen Yang knew Yu Qing was worried about her. Given her own strained relationship with Liu Yu, it was understandable that Yu Qing felt conflicted, especially with tensions running high.
Wen Yang replied: No, I’ll stay home and watch some TV.
Yu Qing sighed: Wen Yang, I’m sorry.
Wen Yang: Don’t say that. I’ll go make myself something to eat.
Yu Qing: Okay, go ahead.
After their chat, Yu Qing became too busy to check her phone. Wen Yang, meanwhile, cooked a simple meal for herself and then sat on the couch, working on a half-completed puzzle Yu Qing had left behind.
She needed to think about her next steps.
After the divorce, her usual way of life had begun to unravel, and she was entering a new phase.
- When sunset arrived, Yu Qing texted Wen Yang to apologize again for not being able to take her to dinner. She suggested Wen Yang come to the studio instead.
Wen Yang didn’t want to add to Yu Qing’s burden and understood that everyone had their own lives. Looking at the crimson glow of the setting sun outside, Wen Yang replied that she’d go for a walk to watch the sunset.
Yu Qing: I was just about to say, tonight’s sunset is beautiful. Bring your camera and take some nice photos.
Wen Yang: Will do.
She didn’t take her camera, though, feeling a stronger need to get out of the apartment than to capture the scenery.
The sky outside was bathed in purple and orange hues. As Wen Yang walked along the flower-lined streets of Nancheng, the sunset slowly gave way to the city’s evening lights.
At the same time, a black extended sedan stopped in front of a small tavern nearby. Fu Xingzhou stepped out, his long legs moving gracefully as he approached the tavern’s entrance.
Coincidentally, Wen Yang was standing outside the tavern, torn between it and the adjacent barbecue shop.
When Fu Xingzhou opened the tavern door, he glanced sideways and saw her.
Their eyes met.
Both were momentarily stunned.
The wind blew gently, causing Wen Yang’s dress to sway. Fu Xingzhou regained his composure, holding the door open. “Coming in?”
If it hadn’t been for his presence, Wen Yang would likely have chosen the tavern. Instead, she pointed to the barbecue shop. “I’m going there.”
With that, she walked off toward the shop.
Fu Xingzhou raised an eyebrow, paused briefly, and then followed her inside. The shop was busy, with only three seats left at Wen Yang’s table.
Fu Xingzhou held a chair and asked politely, “May I sit here?”
Wen Yang, caught off guard, looked up. After a brief hesitation, she nodded.
Though his attire—a dark gray shirt and tailored pants—seemed out of place in the casual setting, he sat down.
Wen Yang ordered her food and glanced at him. “Would you like a drink?”
He looked up. “Sure, I came for a drink anyway.”
Wen Yang handed him the menu after ordering for herself.
He skimmed through it quickly, selecting a few items before passing it back to the server.
When the beer arrived, Fu Xingzhou casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing defined wrists, and opened the bottle with practiced ease.
Under the warm light, even this small gesture exuded an air of refinement.
He poured the beer into her glass and asked, his voice calm, “When did you find out?”
Caught off guard by his sudden question, Wen Yang looked up and met his deep, dark eyes. She realized what he meant and replied softly, “Over a month ago.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded, setting the glass in front of her.
Wen Yang took it, drinking deeply. The cold beer made her head tingle, but it also cleared her thoughts. She downed the entire glass in one go, while Fu Xingzhou sipped his leisurely, watching her.
Fu Xingzhou picked up the beer bottle and poured her another glass. Wen Yang sipped the beer off her lips and asked, “What were you doing at the Civil Affairs Bureau today?”
Fu Xingzhou replied, “The same thing as you.”
Wen Yang was taken aback.
Fu Xingzhou noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow slightly. “Surprised?”
Wen Yang held her glass tightly, voicing her confusion. “You don’t seem very angry.”
“I was angry,” he admitted calmly, “but more focused on how to handle it.”
His composed response contrasted sharply with her own emotional turmoil. To her, he seemed to treat the situation like it was just another business matter. Perhaps all men are like this? Wen Yang didn’t voice her musings. After a moment of silence, she leaned forward slightly, hesitated, and then asked, “But you didn’t notice at all, did you?”
Fu Xingzhou’s Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed another sip of beer. “We’ve spent more time apart than together. I’ve been based in Hong Kong for years.”
No wonder, Wen Yang thought.
She nodded, raising her glass to him. Fu Xingzhou, with a faint, playful smirk, clinked his glass with hers. “In any case, thank you for the reminder.”
Wen Yang’s fingers froze slightly around her glass. In truth, her initial intention had been revenge. It was as if he’d seen through her, his expression now tinged with subtle amusement. Wen Yang lowered her gaze and took another sip of her drink. Soon, the skewers of beef and other dishes arrived. She began eating, but Fu Xingzhou didn’t touch the food. He continued drinking, watching her quietly.
He casually asked, “What are your plans moving forward?”
Wen Yang nibbled on a beef skewer. “Work.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded thoughtfully.
He had already investigated her situation, as she had done his. They were two strangers who now knew more about each other than expected. Wen Yang had only scratched the surface in her inquiries, but Fu Xingzhou had gone deeper.
The cold beer coursed through her veins. Wen Yang had always been reserved when it came to alcohol. She was a rule-abiding girl who followed a structured path: studying, dating, marriage. She had rarely indulged in drinking. But tonight, she let herself go, downing glass after glass alongside the barbecue. Before long, the table was littered with empty bottles.
Pouring her yet another glass, Fu Xingzhou asked, “Are you still okay?”
Wen Yang pressed the rim of the glass to her lips and nodded slightly. Under the warm light, her cheeks were visibly flushed, her tipsiness evident. Fu Xingzhou smiled faintly and leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink.
To draw customers from the neighboring bar, the barbecue restaurant owner had hired a folk singer to perform after 7 PM. The singer, holding a guitar, began serenading the patrons with a soulful rendition of Chengdu.
When he approached Wen Yang’s table, his slow, magnetic voice filled the air. Wen Yang, slightly dazed, rested her face on her hand, looking up.
In her flowing yellow dress, Wen Yang stood out amidst the casual barbecue joint—a striking presence.
The singer’s voice was soothing and melancholic. Wen Yang’s eyes glistened, though no tears fell. She simply listened in silence, her gaze fixed on the performer. Mistaking her watery eyes as a sign of heartbreak caused by Fu Xingzhou, the singer glanced at him with mild reproach.
Fu Xingzhou sighed helplessly, unable to explain. Instead, he pulled out his phone, scanned the QR code on the singer’s guitar, and sent him a tip.
Sansukini: Imagine blaming someone else for your infidelity. Li Man is just absurd. The worst part is that she chose a happily married man to cheat with, thereby breaking someone else’s marriage too.
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Li man is the worst type of women.