Dressed impeccably in a tailored outfit, Li Yun looked completely at ease, as if she belonged there. A small, knowing smile played on her lips as she observed Feng Mian's reaction, her posture relaxed yet self-assured.
"Oh," Feng Mian managed, masking her surprise. "I didn't realize anyone was here."
Li Yun tilted her head, that slight smile never leaving her face. "I could say the same about you," she replied smoothly. "Were you… looking for Han Chen?"
Feng Mian nodded, her fingers instinctively tightening around the strap of her bag. "Yes. I needed to speak with him."
Li Yun's gaze flickered with a hint of amusement. "He's in a meeting. But then, I'm sure you already know how busy he can be." There was a subtle edge to her words, layered with implication.
Feng Mian held her ground, her expression unreadable. "I'm willing to wait."
Li Yun's smile grew just a fraction as she observed Feng Mian standing there, calm and composed despite the clear tension in the air. She leaned back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other, her posture exuding confidence.
"You know," Li Yun began, her tone light but laced with something sharper, "I've always admired your… resilience, Feng Mian. Not everyone could handle the position you're in with such… patience."
Feng Mian raised an eyebrow, keeping her expression neutral. "Position?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
Li Yun gave a small, almost pitying chuckle. "Yes. Being Mrs. Han can't be easy, I'm sure," she continued smoothly, her gaze flicking over Feng Mian, assessing. "Han Chen… well, he has a certain loyalty to people who have been by his side for a long time. People who understand him deeply. Sometimes, that bond is irreplaceable, don't you think?"
Feng Mian felt the subtle dig, the implication that Li Yun saw herself as someone truly close to Han Chen, perhaps even closer than his own wife. But she didn't flinch. She simply returned Li Yun's gaze with calm indifference.
Li Yun's smile tightened, her eyes flashing briefly. She wasn't used to Feng Mian pushing back. "Well," she said, recovering quickly, "you know, it wasn't always like this. He was close to certain people long before you came along. Sometimes, history matters more than… formalities. I must be challenging, knowing there are parts of him you'll never quite understand. Some bonds aren't easily replaced, after all."
Feng Mian took a steadying breath, feeling a flicker of irritation but keeping her voice even. "You're right. But relationships are built on more than just memories, don't you think?" She offered a small, polite smile. "It's what keeps us together, even when he's busy. And while history is important, I think we both know that marriage is built on the present—on choices made every day, not on people who just linger in the past."
Li Yun's face hardened, but she quickly masked it with another smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course," she murmured, a hint of mockery in her tone. "I'm sure he appreciates your… unwavering patience." Her gaze shifted, the hint of superiority still lingering.
But Feng Mian simply inclined her head. "I'll make sure to remind him of that, next time we're together," she said smoothly. "Thank you for your… insight, Li Yun."
A faint tension filled the room as they locked eyes, each sizing up the other. Feng Mian held her ground, not allowing the subtle belittling to affect her composure. She wasn't going to let Li Yun see any vulnerability. This was her place—her life—and she wouldn't be made to feel like a temporary replacement.
After a long pause, Li Yun's gaze flickered toward the door. "Well, I'll leave you to your… waiting," she said, standing up and adjusting her jacket. "Good luck with… everything." She gave a polite nod, a glint of challenge in her eyes, before turning to leave.
Feng Mian watched her go, feeling a strange calm settle over her. She knew Li Yun had tried to plant doubts, to make her feel small. But instead, Feng Mian felt stronger, more resolute. She knew why she was here—and more importantly, she knew that her place wasn't for anyone else to question.
At that moment, the door opens, and Han Chen walks in, surprised to see both women there. He glances between them, and Feng Mian notices his expression soften just slightly when he sees Li Yun—something she rarely, if ever, sees directed toward herself.
Li Yun stands up gracefully, giving him a warm, familiar smile. "I was just leaving," she says, brushing past Feng Mian with an air of quiet triumph. As she walks by, she leans close enough to murmur softly, so only Feng Mian can hear, "Remember, it's nothing personal."
As Li Yun exits, Han Chen finally addresses Feng Mian. "What are you doing here?" he asks, sounding more curious than concerned, as though she's merely interrupted his day.
Feng Mian looks at him, the weight of Li Yun's words still heavy in her mind. She sees it clearly now—the way he stands, the way he looks at her without any warmth, and the ease with which he let Li Yun linger in his office. She realizes, in that moment, that she has always been secondary in his life, an afterthought in a relationship that was meant to be her entire world.