Gazing at Fu Liangmu's frail, pitiable, and helpless silhouette, Su Wanwan felt as if an iron hand had clenched her heart mercilessly. He stood in the corner with his head bowed, resembling a child caught in wrongdoing. The matriarch steeled herself. "Wanwan, don't pay him any mind!"
"What's all this acting for?"
"Come, let's eat our meal!"
Su Wanwan sighed deeply. "How can this be mere pretense... this—"
"Enough, standing a while won't kill anyone. Don't vex your grandmother."
The matriarch clutched her chest, feigning anger. Su Wanwan dared not argue further and sealed her lips immediately.
Throughout the meal, Su Wanwan remained uneasy, constantly feeling a faint gaze upon her. Whenever she stole a glance at Fu Liangmu, she would find him slightly averting his eyes, those dark, wounded orbs looking at her with plaintive grievance.
Her hand trembled as she tried to pick up food, fumbling three or four times without success. Suddenly, all appetite vanished.
"Grandmother, I'm full," Su Wanwan set down her chopsticks.
The matriarch asked anxiously, "Why so little? Was my cooking not to your liking?"
Su Wanwan shook her head lightly, offering a faint smile. "No, it's just the long flight has left me unsettled."
Only then did the matriarch's heart settle, patting her tender hand affectionately. "That's true, then after you finish, hurry upstairs to rest."
Su Wanwan glanced at Fu Liangmu and tentatively said, "Then Liangmu—"
"Stand there. Stand until dusk."
Su Wanwan: "..." Is this really my grandmother?
Back in her room, Su Wanwan lay under the covers, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with the image of Fu Liangmu's sorrowful, wronged expression. She glanced at the clock on the wall—one hour remained before the matriarch's afternoon nap. Best to wait a little longer.
Downstairs, the matriarch had returned from her stroll in the back garden and gone to rest.
Fu Liangmu heard footsteps recede before emerging from the corner and entering the kitchen. The servants immediately bowed.
"Young Master."
"This meal was specially prepared by the matriarch before she went upstairs. No one has touched it."
Fu Liangmu murmured assent, a faint, haunting light flickering in his dark eyes.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet, we were just about to."
"Eat it here."
The servants exchanged confused looks.
"The young master means—"
"Finish all this food."
"Ah... yes."
Half an hour later, Su Wanwan quietly opened her door and limped downstairs, only to find Fu Liangmu standing still in the same spot.
She approached from behind and gently tapped his shoulder. "Grandmother is asleep now, why are you still standing here foolishly?"
So obedient!
Fu Liangmu's cold lips pressed thin, his thick lashes fluttering to veil the sorrow buried deep within. He looked as if, despite the pain, he forced himself to remain strong.
"Grandmother is right. I truly failed to take care of you properly. I deserve this punishment."
"Liangmu, don't overthink. If it weren't for that pervert F, none of this would have happened!" Su Wanwan comforted him. "Besides, I was the one you rescued; you've done me a great favor."
"Rest assured, I will explain everything to grandmother later."
A subtle twitch at the corner of Fu Liangmu's eye, but his face remained expressionless, as if that man F did not exist.
"Good."
Su Wanwan breathed out a sigh of relief and took his arm, leading him toward the kitchen. "There should be plenty of food left; I'll warm some up for you."
Yet upon entering, the spotless table bore not a single dish, and the refrigerator was completely empty.
"The food?"
The matriarch had prepared so much, and Su Wanwan barely ate any—there must have been plenty left!
Fu Liangmu smiled bitterly. "Before going upstairs, grandmother ordered the servants to discard the food."
"Discarded?" Su Wanwan froze.
"It's alright. I'm not really hungry anyway."
To emphasize her words, Fu Liangmu's stomach rumbled loudly.
Within three seconds, Su Wanwan devised a solution. "Let's go out to eat."
With that, she lifted her injured leg to move.
Fu Liangmu grasped her hand firmly, his expression suddenly grave. "Your foot isn't healed yet. Don't rush out."
"I can wait until evening to eat; skipping one meal won't hurt."
Without hesitation, Su Wanwan retorted, "That won't do!"
He had already suffered enough—scolded, punished to stand, and now if he couldn't even eat, how could she find peace?
"Just trust me on this!"
"Besides, before going abroad, I heard about a newly opened restaurant I haven't been to. How about you accompany me?"
Fu Liangmu hesitated, contemplating deeply.
"But—"
"No buts. Honestly, I'm still a bit hungry. Let's go!"
She tugged him along. Only then did she realize when they had started holding hands. Just as she prepared to let go, Fu Liangmu seemed to sense her intention and gripped tighter, preempting her.
"I'll support you."
"Alright..."
Together, they set off toward the restaurant.
Fu Liangmu parked at a roadside spot and prepared to step out.
"Wait."
Su Wanwan called after him, producing a mask and handing it over.
"You forgot to wear this."
Fu Liangmu took it and casually donned it, the scar instantly concealed, revealing a pair of exceptionally handsome eyes.
Su Wanwan nodded contentedly and walked in with him.
"Hello, we called ahead to reserve a private room."
Su Wanwan promptly gave her name and phone number suffix. The waiter checked and smiled.
"Please wait a moment; someone will escort you shortly."
Nearby, two women sat at a window table, chatting and laughing. Suddenly, one's gaze froze, as if spotting something extraordinary.
"Li Zhen, look! It's Su Wanwan!"
"She's here with her sugar daddy!"
Li Zhen glanced back, only catching the backs of Su Wanwan and Fu Liangmu. His arm was draped intimately around her slender waist.
"That Su Wanwan is outrageous—married to Fu Liangmu and still not satisfied, currying favor with other wealthy and powerful men!"
Su Nian gritted her teeth in fury, her thoughts aflame with resentment that Ye Nan had been seduced anew by Su Wanwan.
Li Zhen withdrew her gaze, elegantly eating her food.
"No wonder she wants a divorce from Fu Liangmu. Seems she's already lined up a new prospect."
Su Nian's heart sank, growing anxious.
"What did you say?"
"They're planning to divorce?"
Li Zhen nodded disdainfully.
"It's only natural she wants a divorce. With her current status, figure, and beauty, what wealthy man could she not reel in? Why would she willingly marry such an ugly man?"
Su Nian felt a mix of melancholy and smugness.
"Yeah, you know, on the wedding day Su Wanwan was already packing to run off."
"Luckily, my father found out quickly and knocked her out with a stick, packing her off to the Fu family."
"Otherwise, I would be the one married to Fu Liangmu now!"