Wen Lan Sheng hugged her tightly, his heart both sweet and bitter: “I thought you were angry. You’ve never been so cold to me before, never.”

Large tears rolled down his cheeks. The slightly hot teardrops fell on Fan Xia’s hand, splashing into tear flowers.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I won’t do it again.” Fan Xia gently stroked his cheeks, turning her head to kiss away his tears.

The familiar gentleness and love finally made Wen Lan Sheng feel the long-lost warmth again. He finally cried out without reservation in her arms: “I had a big fight with Mom and Dad. We’ve fallen out. They said they raised me as a son for nothing. They moved back with Wen Jing. My dad even said he doesn’t want to attend my wedding anymore.”

No wonder Wen Ming Yue wasn’t watching TV in the living room today. Fan Xia’s eyes were complex. She didn’t expect Wen Lan Sheng would go this far for her.

She stroked his trembling back, comforting him: “It’s alright. You’re their only son. There’s no grudge that can’t be resolved overnight. We’ll go apologize to them together tomorrow.”

Wen Lan Sheng nodded with a sniffle, tears welling up in his eyes.

“Alright, stop crying. Your eyes will be swollen tomorrow.” Fan Xia coaxed softly.

Wen Lan Sheng sniffled, nestling in her arms and acting spoiled.

“Come on, do you really want to look like a frog tomorrow?” Fan Xia teased. “I’ll go get you a hot towel to compress your eyes.”

Wen Lan Sheng finally let go, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Fan Xia quickly brought back a hot towel. Wen Lan Sheng lay with his head on her lap, face up, letting her cover his eyes with the hot towel. The temperature was slightly hot but very comfortable.

Wen Lan Sheng anxiously held Fan Xia’s hand: “Xia Xia, I’ll go apologize to Mom and Dad tomorrow. Can you… can you put in a good word for me?”

Fan Xia said: “Tomorrow might not work.”

“Why?” Wen Lan Sheng pulled down the hot towel to look at Fan Xia.

“Tomorrow Rong Xiu and I are going to an island for a business trip, to investigate a project for an island sanatorium,” she said.

“Going to an island? How long will you be gone?” Wen Lan Sheng asked nervously, his eyes still slightly swollen.

“Probably about two weeks.”

“So long?” Wen Lan Sheng’s heart trembled. Going to such a far-away island, and with Rong Xiu too.

Having already experienced Fan Xia’s coldness once, Wen Lan Sheng instinctively became like a startled bird, extremely wary: “Is it not possible to not go?”

“This business trip was decided long ago. It’s just that I’ve been too busy before, with too many things going on at home, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you. I’m taking a flight to the island tomorrow, so I need to pack my luggage tonight.”

Wen Lan Sheng lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Late at night, listening to Fan Xia’s soft breathing beside him, he couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

He stealthily got up, took her phone from the bedside table, unlocked it, and took pictures of her flight information and hotel details.

The next day, as Fan Xia was preparing to leave, she gently touched Wen Lan Sheng’s still swollen eyes and said sympathetically: “Uncle and Aunt aren’t here these days, so just stay at home and rest more, take care of yourself.”

Wen Lan Sheng forced a smile and nodded: “I know. It’s your first time going to an island, be careful. I’ve heard the weather there changes quickly, sunny one moment and rainy the next. Take care of yourself.”

“Okay.” Fan Xia gave him a light peck on the lips before finally leaving.

At the airport, Fan Xia entered the VIP waiting room. Rong Xiu was already sitting on the lounge sofa, with exquisite refreshments placed beside him. But his expression was weary and indifferent, showing no interest. Only when he saw Fan Xia arrive did Rong Xiu’s cold and imposing face finally show a hint of relaxation.

“Have you had breakfast?” Rong Xiu gently pushed the desserts towards her.

“I’ve already eaten.”

Rong Xiu withdrew his hand, his voice hoarse and his tone tinged with jealousy he wasn’t even aware of: “I forgot, Wen Lan Sheng would certainly prepare breakfast for you.”

Fan Xia smiled: “I’m going to the restroom for a moment.”

Rong Xiu lowered his head, his dark eyes filled with emotions that were hard to decipher.

Ring ring ring, his phone rang. It was Chen Yu Ze calling.

Rong Xiu answered the phone: “What is it?”

Chen Yu Ze said: “Of course there’s something. Is Fan Xia with you?”

Rong Xiu frowned, his eyes dark as night: “Is it related to her?”

“Let me tell you, that Fan Xia really isn’t a simple person. Guess what I found out?” Chen Yu Ze’s tone was excited. He was about to continue when he was interrupted by Rong Xiu’s angry low shout: “Who told you to investigate her!”

Rong Xiu’s deep eyes were filled with anger, his handsome, thin face tinged with a cold, stern color: “Chen Yu Ze, you have no right to investigate her life!”

Chen Yu Ze was stunned for a moment. Even through the phone, he could guess Rong Xiu’s ice-cold expression at this moment. But for the sake of his friend of many years not falling into a trap, he still felt he had to take the risk.

“Even if you blame me, I still have to say it. Fan Xia isn’t as good as she pretends to be on the surface. She’s not really devoted to her husband either. She’s hidden things too deeply. If I hadn’t sent people to investigate her, I wouldn’t have known that she’s already keeping a male lover outside. You, the chairman of Shanhai Group, lowering your face and dignity, following her around like a dog, can only rank as number four.”

“I know you don’t believe me. I have evidence. I’m sending it to you now.”

Soon, several photos came through to Rong Xiu’s WeChat. In the photos, the young man was youthful and sunny, with handsome and refreshing features. He was playing basketball under the blazing sun, sweating profusely, with a vigorous vitality that could make women stop in their tracks.

Another photo was a candid shot of Fan Xia bringing fruit to the man’s home to celebrate with him. The timestamp showed it was yesterday.

“My private detective told me that ever since Fan Xia’s parents died and she entered the orphanage, she’s been receiving support from her current husband, Wen Lan Sheng. And that male lover, named Lu Cha, is from a single-parent family, poor background, with a father who’s not right in the head, almost like an orphan too. So the two of them sympathize with each other.”

“At that time, Wen Lan Sheng’s family was fairly well-off. In that era, they could even afford a second-hand Santana car. With Wen Lan Sheng’s support, Fan Xia was able to get into university. Later, when she started earning money, she secretly gave pocket money to Lu Cha behind Wen Lan Sheng’s back to support his education.”

“Wen Lan Sheng is really wronged. He’s liked Fan Xia since childhood and has been wholeheartedly devoted to her, but Fan Xia still keeps a male lover outside.” Chen Yu Ze laughed sarcastically: “She’s truly a phoenix rising from the ashes. When she had no money herself, she clung to Wen Lan Sheng to suck his blood. As soon as she became slightly successful, she immediately started keeping a lover! I was almost fooled by her appearance before. I really thought she was a good young woman with high morals and values.”

“……” The other end of the phone was frighteningly quiet.

Chen Yu Ze knew that Rong Xiu certainly couldn’t digest such bad news at the moment. He was about to comfort him and try to bring him back to the right path when he heard Rong Xiu’s cold, clear voice: “She was only thirteen when she entered the orphanage. She couldn’t eat her fill or dress warmly. If she didn’t do well, she would be beaten by the administrators. If she were truly a person of high morals and values, always submitting and allowing others to bully her, she wouldn’t have survived.”

Chen Yu Ze was stunned. He said: “Even so, the fact that she’s keeping a male lover outside is true. I also found out that this month she withdrew 5000 yuan in cash from her account, not giving it to her husband, but to that male lover.”

“Leaving aside whether the detective’s investigation reveals the true story, even if she really has someone else outside, it’s more Wen Lan Sheng’s problem. Who told him he doesn’t have the ability to keep Fan Xia.” Rong Xiu leaned back on the sofa, his cold eyes staring out the window.

“What?!” Chen Yu Ze’s eyes widened, his voice cracking with excitement. He almost thought there was something wrong with his ears.

“If you called just to tell me this, then I know. Don’t bother Fan Xia anymore in the future, and don’t send people to investigate her. Otherwise, we can’t be friends.” Rong Xiu’s fingertips turned the watch on his wrist, the cold material making his fingertips icy.

“Rong Xiu, you’ve gone mad. Do you want to hear what you just said? What do you mean it’s more Wen Lan Sheng’s problem! Fan Xia is cheating! She’s keeping a man outside! You don’t cut off ties with her, you even speak up for her. You madman!” Chen Yu Ze cursed loudly, his booming voice almost breaking through the speaker.

At this moment, Fan Xia also came out of the restroom.

Rong Xiu abruptly hung up the phone. His thick long eyelashes lowered, his cold frost-like eyes revealing emotions that were hard to understand.