Mu Wansheng said softly, “I just feel that I’m no longer worthy enough to be with you.”
Fan Shixin questioned angrily, “Who said you could take matters into your own hands and jump to conclusions? It’s not for you to decide if you’re worthy enough or not.”
Mu Wansheng could tell how angry he was. However, she had long made her mind up not to return to his side. Hence, nothing he said would work anymore.
“Yes, but I don’t think I’m worthy.”
Fan Shixin felt that she was completely different from the old Mu Wansheng who used to get shy easily.
She sounded cold and aloof.
She was obstinate and as stubborn as a mule.
However, she was still the woman he had been missing dearly.
Fan Shixin said with tears in his eyes, “Wansheng, regardless of what you become, I’ll never despise you. Your husband is the man who had saved you, isn’t he? We can make it up to him in other ways. You don’t necessarily have to give yourself to him.”
“Stop trying to persuade me any further. I don’t want my life to be jeopardized. Please just leave. I think we’re just not destined to be together. He’s a good man. He may have lost his legs but he treats me very well. I’m his wife now. The relationship that you and I had is now a thing of the past.”
Fan Shixin said sternly, “You can take charge of any decision except this. There’s no bargaining for this! He may be a good man but does that make me a jerk? You don’t want to hurt him but does that mean you can hurt me? Does he treat you very well? I still remember what you said at the hospital back then. I still remember how miserable you looked when you were crying on the bench outside the ward. Wansheng, don’t bother lying to me.”
“He was just acting out of the ordinary because he had suffered a huge mental blow. He’s gotten better after he was discharged. Everything has been well so far.”
“But I love you, Wansheng.”
Mu Wansheng cocked her head toward the side and said, “I don’t love you anymore.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Why don’t you say it to my face, then? Why did you look away?” Fan Shixin grabbed her and said, “Come back with me.”
“No.” Mu Wansheng tried to push him away forcefully. “Could you please respect my decision!?!”
Fan Shixin accidentally placed his hand onto the stove. Although he retracted his hand as quickly as he could, he was still scalded.
Sensing that something was amiss, Mu Wansheng asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I placed my hand onto the stove.”
Mu Wansheng was infuriated yet flustered and worried for him at the same time. She hurriedly brought some white wine over for him to rinse his hands with. Fan Shixin felt rather relieved upon seeing how worried she was.
There was some medicated cream in the bedroom. She applied it onto his hand and bandaged it. “This is just a simple dressing. You’ll have to go to the hospital to get it cleaned properly.”
“No.”
“Suit yourself, then.” She stood up and continued, “Please leave. My husband will be back soon. It won’t be appropriate if he sees you.”
He grabbed her wrist with his uninjured hand and pulled her onto his lap. She tried to struggle to break free with all her might, to no avail. She knew how strong he was.
“Fan Shixin!”
He wrapped his arms around her and said, “Wansheng, why did you make those decisions without seeking my opinion?”
Mu Wansheng remained silent, filled with a mix of emotions. It had never crossed her mind that he would ever show up at her doorstep.
“I’m not going to let go of you no matter what.”
“Don’t be like this. You’re putting me in a spot. Will you let me be in charge of my own life?”
“He might get hurt, but this is inevitable. I’ll do my best to make it up to him, but he can’t have you and our daughter.”
Mu Wansheng was at a loss for words.
“You already have a family of your own. Don’t do this. You’ll only be hurting another woman and disrupting my peace. I want to continue living like this for the rest of my life.”
He said, “I’ve already requested a divorce. We’ve never consummated our marriage and we don’t have children either. I’ve already informed my parents about you and they agreed to stay out of this. We’re definitely getting a divorce. Whether or not you divorce him, it doesn’t matter at all because your current identity will be overwritten once I apply for a household register under the name ‘Mu Wansheng’. Your marriage will no longer be valid either.”
Mu Wansheng pleaded anxiously, “Don’t act like this. Don’t force me, please. Will you just let me lead the life that I want?”
“I can give you a life of peace too. Wansheng, I know you’re very grateful to your savior, but didn’t I save you too? Do you really love him? I don’t believe that you love him. I refuse to believe that you can forget me that easily!”
Tears welled up in Mu Wansheng’s eyes, unsure of what else to say.
At this very moment, Tang Yucheng and Tang Mianmian entered the house. Upon hearing their voices, Mu Wansheng panicked and exclaimed, “Yucheng and Mianmian are home. Hurry and hide yourself, quick!”
“Why must I hide? We’ll have to meet sooner or later anyway.”
“I’m begging you! Hide… beneath my bed. Hurry up.”
He let go of her and conceded.
This was the most aggrieved he had ever felt!
He actually had to hide beneath the bed.
Fortunately, the bed was big and high. Otherwise, it would have been extremely uncomfortable for Fan Shixin, who was standing at over 1.8 meters.
As soon as he shielded himself with the bed sheet, Tang Yucheng entered in his wheelchair.
“Why are you home so soon?”
“Kangcheng and Sister-in-law weren’t at home. Why do you look so pale?”
“Nothing, I just felt cold.” She handed Snowman to him and said, “Snowman is freezing too. Bring him to the living room. I want to lie down and get some rest.”
She was worried that Snowman would discover Fan Shixin because it had a habit of snuggling up beneath the bed.
Not suspecting that anything was amiss, Tang Yucheng wheeled himself out of the room and brought Snowman into the living room.
“Mommy, weren’t you sitting by the fireplace when Daddy and I left? Why did you stop?” Tang Mianmian asked.
“It wasn’t warm enough for me so I wanted to lie down. Mianmian, is it pouring heavily outside?”
“Yes. Mommy, there’s a huge car outside our village, though. Daddy said that it’s an expensive car.”
“Oh.” Mu Wansheng removed her shoes and lay down on the bed. Tang Mianmian followed suit.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Tang Mianmian removed her jacket and tucked herself beneath the blanket while leaning beside her mother’s arm.
Mu Wansheng was ill at ease because she knew that Fan Shixin was beneath the bed.
After leashing Snowman, Tang Yucheng asked, “I remember closing the door properly before leaving the house. Why was it open when we came back? Did you go out?”
