Volume 1, Chapter 15: Avenging Her

Fu Heng’s pale face was devoid of expression. Seeing her run toward him, he only slowly lifted his head.

"Xuanxuan has been abducted."

Shen Wen covered her mouth in shock, appearing deeply anxious. "What? How could this happen?"

"Have you found her?"

Fu Heng’s voice was hollow. "No."

Shen Wen knitted her brows deeply, grabbing his hand and sighing incessantly. "Brother Fu, don't be anxious. Perhaps she took a fancy to someone else and ran off with them. I know Bai Xuanxuan; she is quite loose in private. Who knows how many men she has been seeing behind your back? Why would those thugs grab her instead of anyone else? It must be because of her own loose behavior. Out with the old, in with the new—that slut never deserved you anyway."

Fu Heng reached out and seized her by the throat, his gaze chillingly cold. "Is this how you have been slandering her all this time? She has no grudge against you; why do you persist in harming her again and again? Just because you are a whore?"

As the man’s grip tightened, Shen Wen realized he truly intended to kill her and frantically clawed at his fingers. The man curled his lips into a smile, lifting her high into the air as if admiring a beautiful toy. His eyes were incredibly gentle.

*I wonder if Xuanxuan has turned into a star.*

*If she could see from the heavens that I have avenged her, would she be a little happier?*

Shen Wen’s eyes began to roll back in her head. Jiang Yan was terrified and rushed forward to pry his fingers loose. This was the military housing complex; if he committed murder here, his career and his entire life would be completely ruined! She screamed in panic, "Song Feiqing! Someone help! Come quickly!"

Song Feiqing, who had been reluctant to intervene, saw the scene at the doorway and immediately vaulted over the low wall. Together with two others, they managed to pull Shen Wen away. Everyone was frantic to see her collapse on the ground unconscious. Jiang Yan reached for the phone to call the hospital, but Fu Heng grabbed her.

His voice carried a faint smile. "Mother, let’s not trouble the doctors with such a trivial matter."

He grabbed Shen Wen by the collar and began to strike her face repeatedly. By the fifth blow, Shen Wen struggled to gasp out, "I was wrong, I was wrong! I’ll never dare to do it again! Please, I beg you, let me go!"

She knelt on the ground, wailing, her face swollen and red, resembling a pig’s head. Neighbors had gathered from afar, but Fu Heng only laughed. Holding the woman by the neck with one hand, he gestured to the neighbors with the other. "Everyone, come and see! Come closer and look! This is the woman—this snake-hearted woman—who has been playing me for a fool! Because of her lies, I hurt my wife, who stood by me day and night! Because of this bitch’s words, I entertained the thought of abandoning her, of leaving her! I have failed my wife. If I hadn't left her behind, she wouldn't have been taken by those thugs, she wouldn't have gone missing, and she wouldn't be dead! Shen Wen, you stinking whore, I’ll kill you!"

The man lunged at her again, but Song Feiqing called over three of their friends, who tackled him and held him down by the waist to restrain him. Song Feiqing spat on the ground and cursed, "Shen Wen! Get out of here! If you want to die, keep lying there and keep acting!"

Shen Wen, terrified and humiliated by the pointing fingers of the neighbors, had lost all face. She scrambled up and fled the compound like a madwoman, her hair disheveled.

Song Feiqing had come today to settle scores with Fu Heng, but seeing him in this manic state, his anger had vanished. Three or four of them dragged him into the house, taking turns trying to talk sense into him, while Jiang Yan paced anxiously nearby.

Fu Yuan watched from the corner of the stairs. Hearing that his father had returned to Jiangcheng, he asked subconsciously, "Father, where is Mother? Didn't Mother come back?"

Seeing his son looking up, Jiang Yan was terrified to the core. She quickly scooped Fu Yuan up and ran upstairs, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Fu Heng let out a laugh. "Did you hear that? My son just asked me where his mother is."

Song Feiqing held him down with one hand and poured him water with the other. "Children say the darndest things; you have to look on the bright side. Bai Xuanxuan is actually very smart, and she loves her son so much—she’ll definitely be fine."

Fu Heng nodded. "Yes, she’s fine. But she hasn't called me once. Do you know why? Because she is deeply disappointed in me and never wants to see me again!"

Seeing his emotions flare as he prepared to stand, Song Feiqing quickly slapped him back down. "How could that be? Brother Fu is so handsome and comes from such a good family; she was the one who chased you first! How could she bear to leave you? The fact that she hasn't reached out must mean... she lost her memory! She forgot the phone number!"

Seeing the man looking dazed, he finally hit the mark. "Didn't you say she was studying for the college entrance exams, planning to apply to the Art Academy in the capital for fashion design? Her notes were filled to the brim."

"I heard rumors that the college entrance exams might be reinstated next year. With your sister-in-law's ability, passing would be a breeze. When school starts, you can just wait at the gate, and you’ll definitely catch her."

Fu Heng’s expression suddenly brightened. He remembered that when he was packing up her things, he indeed hadn't seen her textbooks or notes. It was very likely that Xuanxuan was just angry and hiding from him; it was very likely that she was truly safe.

Meanwhile, the Bai Xuanxuan being spoken of sneezed. She had adapted perfectly to life here—better than in Jiangcheng. If the lights went out, someone fixed them; if things broke, someone took care of them. The only drawback was the poor soundproofing; she had barely sneezed when her master came knocking.

"Shanshan, are you alright? Do you need a new hot water bottle? Are you cold? If you’re feeling unwell, tell your master. I’ll take you to the doctor; don't worry about the cost."

Bai Xuanxuan pulled her coat tighter and opened the door, poking her small head through the crack. "Master, thank you, I’m not cold."

Fu Che stood at the door with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed intently on the room. "But I heard you sneeze. If you’re not feeling well, don't suffer in silence; you must tell me."

Bai Xuanxuan smiled and nodded, pouting slightly as she muttered, "I’m not sick. Just now, someone must have been cursing me. But it’s fine; I have thick skin, I’m not afraid of being cursed."

Fu Che gently patted her head. "That’s not the right way to think. You must love yourself before you can love others; how can you say you aren't afraid of being cursed? If anyone speaks ill of you, come cry to your master, and I will see justice done for you."

Bai Xuanxuan paused, gave a sheepish smile, and said she was tired before closing the door. Her heart ached a little, because Fu Heng had once said the exact same words to her, and at the time, she had been moved to tears. Yet, the man who had vowed to protect her had become the blade that pierced her.

Fu Che stared at the door for a long time before walking back to his room, feeling a sense of desolation. He couldn't quite understand this young girl. She was diligent and proactive in his shop, planning things like a seasoned proprietress. Sometimes, she even said she wanted to protect him. When she listened to him talk, she would look up at him with stars in her eyes that seemed ready to spill out. He could feel that the girl admired him and liked him. But this affection was only the love of a friend, the love of a sister.

How annoying. He didn't want it to be just that.