Volume One, Chapter Six: A Complete Misunderstanding of Her

All day long, Fu Heng’s gaze toward Bai Xuanyuan carried a subtle hint of scrutiny. Before he left for his mission, Bai Xuanyuan had been stumbling over her words like a mute, but suddenly she seemed like a different person entirely. By nightfall, her sweet words became incessant and almost intoxicating. “I like you, I love you,” she whispered one phrase after another, her voice irresistibly tender. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was possessed by some spirit.

That morning, after dropping their child off at school, Fu Heng returned to find Bai Xuanyuan half-reclined on the bed, reading. Her hair lay softly over her shoulders, neat and unruffled, and her skin shone with an ethereal whiteness under the sunlight. She bore none of the disheveled appearance he remembered—only the room was somewhat disorderly, lacking the usual meticulous tidiness.

He reached out, placing his hand on her forehead to check for fever—it was perfectly normal. Bai Xuanyuan, of course, knew what he was thinking. She had no intention of explaining; after all, he would soon return to the capital. In her past life, she had attended a lecture given by the Women’s Federation with friends. The expert had said: if he leaves but comes back, he belongs to you. If he leaves and never returns, then he never truly belonged to you.

But under his probing gaze, she suddenly felt a flicker of fear. What if he thought she was some kind of demon and sent her off to the police station? He looked like a man who dealt with matters with thunderous decisiveness, without a shred of sentimentality.

Her voice was soft and hesitant as she asked, “Husband, what’s wrong?”

Fu Heng crouched down to look at her, his dark eyes reflecting her petite figure. “What’s happened? You seem different from before.”

Bai Xuanyuan lowered her eyes and nodded, a faint sheen of tears glistening. “Something upsetting.”

The man’s gaze darkened. It must be because he had gone back to the capital alone. It must be because of Shen Wen’s nonsensical words. With so much piling up, how could she not be heartbroken?

He parted his lips to explain but found his words hollow and inadequate. “What is it?”

Bai Xuanyuan hesitated, then pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Her soft fingers pointed to the middle. “I lost a lock. It disappeared from the door that night. It was something my mother left me.”

Fu Heng looked into her reddened eyes and asked without suspicion, “Your mother left you this?”

They had been married for years, yet he knew nothing of her past. A wave of guilt deepened within him.

“I’ll ask around,” he said, walking to the door but turning back to her. “Is there anything else?”

Bai Xuanyuan’s expression was uncertain. “No, I don’t think so.”

He stared at her for a long moment before turning and leaving, feeling an emptiness in his chest, as if a piece had been gouged out and a needle stabbed in its place.

As he walked out of the compound, Shen Wen collided with him and staggered back. Fu Heng, lost in thought, reacted too late to catch her before she fell. His expression grew colder and sterner than usual. Rather than helping gently, he gripped her wrist and hauled her upright.

He muttered a cold apology before turning away and opening the car door. Shen Wen, tears in her eyes, called after him, “Commander Fu, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

She was ready for anything, just waiting for the right moment. Xue Junping had found three strong thugs for her, planning to act while Fu Heng was away.

Fu Heng glanced at her, his voice hoarse. “Xuanyuan lost a lock. She’s nearly gone mad, lying around all day, doing nothing.”

“If this keeps up, she’ll fall ill.”

With that, he climbed into the car and instructed the driver to head to the police station.

Shen Wen stood there dumbfounded. She was holding her own lock, so how did she become the thief? Did he never consider that maybe she was just becoming lazy?

Thinking this, she hurried home, retrieved the lock, and hid it in her pocket. She planned to bury it somewhere under cover of night to avoid future trouble.

On his way back, Fu Heng bought chocolates and candies, placing them in the iron box by the table. It already contained some sweets bought a few days ago that hadn’t been eaten yet.

He had never seen Bai Xuanyuan eat candy before and had always assumed she disliked sweets. Now he realized how little he truly knew her. Not only did she love sweets, she seemed as if she wished they could be her main meal. Whenever she heard a disapproving word from him, she’d glare up with wide, glossy black eyes. Her fair cheeks puffed out like a dumpling as she scooted away, hiding her treats from him, as if this could silence his voice.

Fu Heng’s movements placing the chocolates in the box were clear to her. The clinking sound of the iron box immediately made her prick up her ears.

Her childhood was marked by poverty—four older brothers and three sisters. They ate nothing but sweet potatoes every day. She’d only tasted candy once, and the memory still made her mouth water.

After marrying Fu Heng, she scrimped and saved, never daring to buy candy or chocolate. In hindsight, she must have been a bit crazy, thinking she shouldn’t spend money, only for him to end up spending it on another woman.

She only wished he had returned to the capital a little later; otherwise, she would have found a way to spend all his tickets and money herself.

Fu Heng looked at her. “Want some now?”

Bai Xuanyuan nodded with a smile, her already youthful face deepened by charming dimples. Her smile was especially sweet.

He strode over, peeled a chocolate, and popped it into her mouth.

Bai Xuanyuan seemed to do it unconsciously, gently sucking on his finger.

Fu Heng’s muscles tensed instantly.

The woman smiled at him, her pink lips shimmering with moisture. Her mouth parted just enough to reveal a soft, delicate tongue.

His expression remained calm, his black eyes unreadable.

But the disrupted rhythm of his breathing and the slight rise and fall of his chest betrayed him completely.

Suddenly, he thought maybe taking Bai Xuanyuan back to the capital wasn’t such a bad idea. She was so clumsy—some day she’d lose something again and become listless and tearful. Without him by her side, who would cook for her, who would give her money? She would surely become pitiful.

Bai Xuanyuan obediently thanked her husband and lowered her head to continue her work.

These past few days, Fu Heng had been cooking at home. Bai Xuanyuan had stopped worrying about housework; when he was away, she took their son Fu Yuan to eat at the school canteen.

Now having plenty of time, she took on small sewing jobs from neighbors, helping with alterations to earn two or three yuan each time.

She hid all the money she earned in her little iron box.

Fu Heng’s monthly salary was about a hundred yuan, but he didn’t give her much, and when she asked, he wouldn’t say.

Later, she stopped asking, knowing most of it probably went to Shen Wen or someone else.

Better not to ask and cause herself grief.

So, the family hardly saved any money. When Fu Heng returned to the capital, she would have to rely on herself.

Fu Heng had finished his shower while Bai Xuanyuan was diligently working at her sewing machine. He gently brushed her hair aside, urging her to sleep early.

She nodded obediently but, after washing up, slipped out the door.

When he asked, she answered confidently, “I’m going to water the trees. Wait for me a moment.”