Volume 1, Chapter 11: Who Has the Time to Worry About Her

Fu Che opened the room for her, placed the key in her hand, and left. The room looked remarkably clean, clearly well-maintained. The quilt still held a faint scent of sunshine, as if it had been aired out only recently.

She sat and waited for a while, and sure enough, the man returned, bringing her a clean washbasin, a towel, soap, and other essentials. His voice was gentle and warm: "I bought these to keep on hand. They are all brand new and unused. Use them for now; if there’s anything you don’t like, I’ll accompany you to the department store tomorrow to buy more."

Bai Xuanxuan nodded happily. "Thank you, Master." She swayed back and forth, beginning a barrage of unreserved praise: "Master, you are truly wonderful—so handsome and so incredibly gentle in your speech. You treat me better than anyone else. Let me pay you; how much do you think is appropriate?"

She had always deeply admired her master, viewing him as her idol. How could she not be happy when her idol was buying her things? If she had a tail, it would surely be wagging furiously.

The man’s ears turned a deep shade of red. He pressed his lips together and smiled faintly. "No need. It’s just a small amount of money. Hmm, what would you like for dinner? I’ll cook for you."

Bai Xuanxuan settled down in Yingcheng. Meanwhile, back at the military compound in Jiangcheng, chaos had erupted. Someone had seen several tall, burly men dashing out of Bai Xuanxuan’s home. A bold neighbor approached and discovered the front door unlocked, the house inside completely empty. Two days had passed, and there had been no sign of Bai Xuanxuan.

The neighborhood panicked and called the police. The officers searched the premises and found that nothing was missing except for her cash and ration coupons. If this wasn't a robbery, what was it? The police bureau called the Fu family home in the capital, where Fu Heng’s mother, Jiang Yan, answered. She rubbed her temples, muttered a dismissive "I understand," and hung up the phone.

The officer on the other end was left stunned for a long time. Even in those days when life was cheap, he had never seen it treated quite this cheaply. Regardless of the circumstances, they were still family; one would expect at least a superficial inquiry.

As for her adoptive parents, upon hearing that she had been abducted by criminals and was missing, they merely paused before returning to their chores—feeding the chickens and working the fields. When the police tried to press them for more information, they found the officers annoying. "We heard you! We aren't deaf!" they snapped. "Are you police officers so idle that you have nothing better to do? Unlike you, we have a whole household to manage; we’re too busy to care about her." Her father even cursed, "Are you sure she’s missing? Don't have her come crying back tomorrow—there’s no food for her here!"

Bad news travels fast. They had long since heard that Fu Heng had returned to the capital without bringing Bai Xuanxuan along—and worse, that he had brought a "vixen" with him instead.

They were incensed. A woman who couldn't even keep her own husband had no face to return home. A married daughter was like spilled water; their home wasn't a dumping ground. Other people's daughters knew how to look after their families, bringing money and coupons home, but Song Xuanxuan was a miser. When her brother got married and asked her for two hundred yuan, she only gave him one hundred, and even then, he had to ask twice. What was the point of a daughter like that? She should have been drowned in the river.

The police officers were turned away and had no choice but to contact her husband. They thought, "If her family doesn't care, surely her husband will." They called his military unit only to be told he wasn't there, and when they called his home, the person on the other end didn't ask a single question. The police, unsure whether to continue the search, eventually gave up and closed the case.

Jiang Yan listened as Song Qingqing fumed and cursed at Shen Wen for "faking tears and playing the victim," her head throbbing with a persistent ache. Song Qingqing was the younger sister of Song Feiqing and had always been fond of Fu Heng. A few days earlier, hearing that Fu Heng was returning to the capital without his wife, she had been overjoyed. She dressed in her finest dress to greet him at the station, only to be blindsided when she saw him accompanied by another woman.

It was only after asking her brother that she learned the woman was the widow of a friend of Fu Heng's, brought to the capital for medical treatment. When Song Feiqing saw his sister lunging to scratch the woman’s face, he dragged her home by the arm. "His wife doesn't care, so why are you rushing in?"

Song Qingqing stamped her feet, cursing his wife as a useless wretch who couldn't even manage her own husband—a spineless fool! She cursed Fu Heng for being blind, failing to see the manipulative vixen flaunting herself right before his eyes!

Song Feiqing spent the whole journey trying to persuade her to hold her tongue, but Song Qingqing wouldn't listen, constantly railing against the "mistress." "Mistresses are shameful! Mistresses deserve a beating!"

Last night, when Fu Heng brought Shen Wen home, Song Qingqing was also there. In front of everyone, she attacked her with both overt and veiled insults. When Shen Wen was criticized, she had leaned against Fu Heng, crying like a willow in the wind. After dinner, Song Qingqing went to poison the well, telling her to get lost as soon as her treatment was over. Shen Wen had simply smiled, then purposefully tumbled down the stairs, later sobbing that Song Qingqing had pushed her.

Song Qingqing was ready to explode. After being scolded by her father and brother, she had never suffered such grievances.

She went home to tell her mother, Jiang Yue, who naturally believed her daughter. Early the next morning, she brought her daughter and gifts to the Fu residence. The Song and Fu families were long-time friends, and Jiang Yan and Jiang Yue were close confidantes. Hearing Jiang Yue’s account, Jiang Yan’s impression of Shen Wen soured even further.

She sat on the sofa, sighing deeply. She didn't know what sins she had committed in her past life to have two sons with such rebellious streaks. Neither of them brought her any peace. Her eldest son had been sent abroad to study law with hopes of a political career, only to change his major to the Academy of Fine Arts to learn how to make clothes. Even more infuriating, he was of age but showed no interest in taking a wife, and he would run off if she mentioned it twice.

As for her second son, she had told him to find a suitable match when he returned to the capital, but without a word, he had already submitted his marriage registration and even had a child. If he had just settled down and lived a good life, that would have been enough. Instead, he brought another woman home, causing endless drama and turning the house upside down from dawn until dusk.

Just as she was comforting the tearful Song Qingqing, Fu Heng entered the room with Shen Wen. That morning, Shen Wen had complained of chest pain, and not daring to delay, he had taken her straight to the hospital. They had just finished their examinations; the results wouldn't be ready for two days.

Entering the house and seeing Song Qingqing’s tear-streaked face, his expression darkened. He had been back for only two days, and already some busybody was spreading rumors that he was preparing to file for divorce, leading several families to come knocking to inquire. Even the young women from the old compound—not many, just three or five—had been coming by, making the house feel busier than during the Lunar New Year.

The two women met, and the sniping began again. Suddenly, he thought of Bai Xuanxuan. He remembered the way her eyes curved when she smiled—so adorable. When she was reading quietly, she looked beautiful. And when she was sewing, she was so obedient and focused, her lovely eyes seemingly glowing.

Jiang Yan invited Jiang Yue and Song Qingqing to stay for dinner. Shen Wen sat to the side, her eyes glistening. She reached out to pull on Fu Heng’s sleeve, hoping for a word of comfort, but he brushed her off with cold indifference. He stood up, walked into the living room, and placed a call to his home in Jiangcheng.