The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 204 - 203. Considerate Mr. Fu (First Update)

Chapter 204: 203. Considerate Mr. Fu (First Update)

Fang Tong shook her head with a smile, "I don’t mind, I also prefer Chinese food."

Li Bo Ming handed the menu to Fang Tong, who waved her hand, "You order, I’m not picky."

Li Bo Ming chuckled and ordered several dishes, most of which were Fang Tong’s favorites. After all, they had grown up together and eaten at Fang Tong’s house a few times, so he naturally knew her preferences.

Fang Tong did not notice this and seemed somewhat preoccupied. Li Bo Ming glanced at her, "Have you been very tired recently?"

Fang Tong made a sound of acknowledgment without hearing clearly what he had said, "Sorry, I was distracted. What did you say?"

Li Bo Ming repeated himself, and Fang Tong shook her head, "No, probably just that I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I might look a little haggard, right?"

"It’s not haggardness, but your eyes seem filled with fatigue."

Fang Tong was momentarily startled, then gave a bitter smile. Was her emotional state really so obvious?

"Did you have an argument with your boyfriend?" Li Bo Ming asked jokingly.

"No, just ran into some problems at work. Trying to figure out how to deal with them. It’s nothing big," Fang Tong explained. In fact, Li Bo Ming was right; she had indeed been having conflicts with Ding Minghui recently.

The last time Shen Junyu asked her to accompany him to a function, gossip about her and Shen Junyu at the company started to get a bit exaggerated. Originally it was just idle talk circulating amongst the secretaries, but somehow, it reached Ding Minghui’s ears.

Ding Minghui got angry, and despite her explanations, he refused to listen to her, which made her feel powerless. In fact, there really was nothing between her and Shen Junyu, although she felt Shen Junyu was a dangerous man, she could also tell that he had no such intentions towards her.

She was never a dull person; she knew whether someone had feelings for her or not, like Li Bo Ming, for example.

"If the workload is too much and you can’t adapt, you can talk to your superiors. You shouldn’t run yourself into the ground," Li Bo Ming said.

Fang Tong nodded, "I know, but I can still handle it for now." If only it had really been about work.

The meal proceeded quietly. Li Bo Ming didn’t initiate any conversation, and Fang Tong didn’t know what to talk about with him either.

"Thank you for lunch today; I’m heading back to the office now," Fang Tong said with a smile, standing at the entrance of the restaurant.

"Shall I take you back?"

"No need, it’s easy to get a taxi here."

Li Bo Ming did not insist. He helped her hail a cab and then returned to his office.

He liked Fang Tong, and had since they were children. He believed that with Fang Tong’s intelligence, she must have noticed his feelings, otherwise she wouldn’t have started to distance herself from him lately.

Li Bo Ming smiled to himself. He was aware that Fang Tong had a boyfriend, but as long as Fang Tong wasn’t married, he still had a chance, right?

Fang Tong returned to the company, first went to Shen Junyu’s office to report on the work, then returned to her own office. As she walked in, the previously lively office fell silent instantly; everyone looked down at their documents or computer screens.

Fang Tong pretended not to see and walked to her desk, pulled out a file and quietly read it, ignoring the whispers that lingered around her ears.

"Hey Fang Tong, you were in the president’s office again?" A colleague sitting next to Fang Tong came over and softly asked, her eyes twinkling with a gossip-filled curiosity.

Fang Tong’s lips curled slightly, "Didn’t you see I went in to report to the president? It took less than three minutes for me to come out." Her tone was cool; she was kind by nature but not one to be trifled with.

Colleague A curled her lips, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, as if entering through the back door was something to be proud of.

Fang Tong stared at the documents on her desk but hadn’t turned a single page for a long while. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Ding Minghui, a hint of weariness appeared in her eyes. She didn’t understand what was happening; since starting work, the issues between her and Ding Minghui seemed to have escalated. Originally, coming to Junlan Group was meant to bring her closer to him, but now it felt as though they were drifting further apart. Then what was the point of her coming to Junlan Group?

The quiet discussions of her colleagues echoed in her ears, the image of Ding Minghui ignoring her angrily flashed before her eyes. Fang Tong felt an unprecedented tiredness. She really wanted to call Shen Qinglan but knew that Shen had gone to the Military Region with Fu Hengyi, and Yu Xiaoxuan was also busy with her work. At this thought, she realized she had no one to talk to.

Fang Tong smiled bitterly.

When it was time to leave work, Fang Tong unexpectedly saw Ding Minghui waiting downstairs at her company; it seemed as if he was waiting for someone. Could it be her? Her heart brightened, and she walked towards Ding Minghui.

Indeed, Ding Minghui was waiting for her. Seeing Fang Tong approaching, he walked ahead, knowing she would follow him, and sure enough, Fang Tong followed.

Ding Minghui moved to a secluded corner, waiting for Fang Tong to catch up.

"Minghui, are you waiting for me? Why didn’t you call me?" If she had known Ding Minghui was waiting, she would have come down earlier.

Ding Minghui’s face was devoid of any smiles as he stared intently at Fang Tong, "Tongtong, do you still love me?"

What did that mean?

"Of course, I love you." Fang Tong was puzzled.

"If you love me, then resign and leave Junlan."

Fang Tong was stunned, "Why?"

"There are countless rumors in the company about you and Shen Junyu, and they don’t even know you are my girlfriend. If they did, how would they look at me?"

"I explained to you before that there is nothing between me and Shen Junyu. Don’t you trust me?" Fang Tong felt hurt.

Ding Minghui explained, "It’s not that, Tongtong. I do trust you, but can you guarantee that Shen Junyu has no feelings for you?"

"Also, look at what people in the company are saying about you. You may not mind, but it angers me. And Shen Junyu, knowing that you are wronged, doesn’t even step forward to clarify. Such a person clearly lacks a moral compass." Ding Minghui spoke, oblivious to the chilling look gradually taking over Fang Tong’s eyes.

"So, it all comes down to you not trusting me. Ding Minghui, in your eyes, what kind of woman am I, a flirtatious one?"

Seeing that Fang Tong was upset, Ding Minghui panicked and hurriedly explained, "Tongtong, that’s not what I mean. I do trust you. I just think that since Shen Junyu won’t clarify the rumors, the best way for you is to leave here."

"Did you ever think that leaving now would simply confirm I actually had an affair with Shen Junyu? Why should I accept such blame?"

Ding Minghui was taken aback—he knew this logic well but if Fang Tong didn’t leave and people discovered their relationship, he would be seen as utterly cuckolded.

He knew his thoughts were somewhat selfish and unfair to Fang Tong, but he had greater prospects for development, he could go further than Fang Tong in the company. Only by constantly climbing the ladder could he afford a house in Beijing sooner and then marry Fang Tong. Everything he did was for their future.

Ding Minghui explained his thoughts to Fang Tong, and she felt her heart grow colder.

"Ding Minghui, I suddenly doubt whether you truly love me." Fang Tong spoke softly.

"Tongtong, why would you think that? I, of course, love you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t even consider our future. Your family’s situation is better than mine, I know that. They can even afford to buy you a house in Beijing, but Tongtong, I want to be the one to give you happiness, not your family." Ding Minghui looked into Fang Tong’s eyes and said passionately.

His eyes were filled with love, but the sight that usually made Fang Tong happy now only left her feeling completely exhausted.

"I will not resign, and I am not taking the blame for this. If you think I’m holding you back, then let’s break up," Fang Tong said tiredly, "Ding Minghui, I’ve been really tired recently, truly exhausted. I have to face my colleagues’ rumors every day at work, and you still distrust me like this."

"Tongtong, it’s not that I don’t trust you, I just..." care too much about you. Ding Minghui wanted to explain, but Fang Tong waved her hand, too tired to hear it.

"Don’t say any more. Being in a relationship should be a happy thing. If being with me makes you feel miserable, then maybe it’s better we break up."

After she said this, Fang Tong turned to leave, but Ding Minghui held her from behind, "Tongtong, I don’t want to break up, I love you. I really really love you. It’s just that I care about you too much, so I can’t tolerate those rumors. Can we not break up, please?" His voice was filled with pleading and desperation.

Fang Tong felt a pang of pain. She had invested as much in this relationship as Ding Minghui had, but now, she was just too tired. The pressure from her parents, Ding Minghui’s distrust—everything was weighing her down both mentally and physically.

She pried Ding Minghui’s hands off her, "Let’s both take some time to cool down and truly think about whether we want to continue this relationship."

Ding Minghui wanted to hold onto her, but eventually, he just watched as Fang Tong walked away. Unlike usual, Fang Tong didn’t squeeze onto a bus but hailed a taxi instead.

She didn’t go home. Instead, she took a taxi back to the university and wandered around the campus, looking at the familiar sights. Her heart gradually calmed. In fact, every corner of this university bore traces of her and Ding Minghui’s footsteps as they used to walk through the campus hand in hand, sharing their dreams for the future.

In this relationship, she had definitely been serious and was willing to walk through life with Ding Minghui. But now, facing the pressures of reality, she suddenly didn’t know what to do next.

"Tongtong, where have you been? Why are you back so late? I called you and you didn’t answer." The moment Fang Tong walked through the front door, Fu Fanghua came to meet her. She had been waiting in the living room for her daughter’s return, having called Fang Tong many times with no response, terribly worried.

Fang Tong then remembered she had set her phone to silent and saw several missed calls from her parents, "Sorry, I accidentally muted it. I’ve had a lot of things on my mind, and I had to stay late at work today."

"Where’s Dad?" Not seeing Fang Chengzhi, Fang Tong asked.

"Your dad was worried something had happened to you, he went to your company to pick you up." Fu Fanghua smacked her forehead, "Right, I need to call him quickly and tell him to come back."

"Tongtong, have you had dinner yet?" Fu Fanghua asked after finishing the call.

Fang Tong nodded, "I’ve already eaten," though she actually hadn’t eaten anything.

"Tongtong, you look so pale, are you not feeling well?" Fu Fanghua noticed her daughter’s particularly distressed complexion and couldn’t help but worry.

"It’s nothing, Mom, just a bit tired from work. I’ll be fine after some sleep. I’ll go in now. When Dad gets back, could you please say sorry to him for me?"

"If you’re tired, go rest early. No need for any apologies. Just go take a bath and rest." Fu Fanghua urged her daughter to go bathe and rest.

After bathing, Fang Tong lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

When Fang Chengzhi returned, Fu Fanghua was still waiting for him, "Where’s Tongtong?"

Fu Fanghua gestured towards Fang Tong’s room, "She’s tired and already resting."

Fang Chengzhi nodded, not mentioning that when he had received the call to pick her up, he had just left the Junlan Group building, and the security downstairs had informed him Fang Tong had already left the company, which was empty.

Taking advantage of Fu Fanghua going to bathe, Fang Chengzhi knocked on his daughter’s door, "Tongtong, are you asleep?"

Fang Tong hadn’t fallen asleep yet when she heard her father’s voice and got up to open the door.

"Daddy."

Fang Chengzhi looked at his daughter with a face full of affection, "May Daddy come in?"

Fang Tong let Fang Chengzhi into her room and then closed the door, "Daddy, sorry for worrying you today."

"It’s okay, but Tongtong, you can’t do this again. Your mother was almost driven mad earlier." Fang Chengzhi spoke softly, without a hint of reproach in his voice.

"I know, Daddy, I definitely won’t anymore."

"Tongtong, have you encountered something?"

Fang Tong was startled, shook her head, and replied, "No, I’m fine."

Fang Chengzhi chuckled, "Tongtong, although Daddy isn’t home often, I still know you well. You’ve seemed preoccupied lately. If you want to talk to Daddy, I can be your confidant. If you don’t want to talk now, you can tell me when you’re ready, alright?"

Fang Tong lowered her head and remained silent. Fang Chengzhi sighed lightly, patted her head, and stood up to leave, "Tongtong, since you’re tired, you should rest early."

"Daddy." Fang Tong grabbed Fang Chengzhi’s sleeve and gently called out; he sat back down.

"Daddy is here."

"Daddy, what would you say is the most important thing to a man?"

Fang Chengzhi paused for a moment, then looked thoughtfully at Fang Tong, "It varies from person to person, but for me, you, your mother, and my work are all very important."

"If mom was talked about behind her back, would you make her leave her job?"

After a brief thought, Fang Chengzhi understood, "Is it a conflict with that boy?"

Fang Tong didn’t deny it, "Daddy, you haven’t answered my question just now."

Fang Chengzhi smiled, "Tongtong, the foundation of a loving relationship is mutual trust."

Fang Tong understood, her eyes dimming; Ding Minghui didn’t trust her, so he chose to have her resign.

"Tongtong, I know your mother has been pressing you hard lately, but you should understand a mother’s heart. You are her only daughter; of course, she wants what’s best for you. In your parents’ eyes, Li Bomming is indeed more suitable for you than Ding Minghui, but if you truly don’t like Li Bomming, then your parents wouldn’t actually make you be with him, because marriage is a lifetime matter, and your happiness is most important."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"Tongtong, don’t worry too much about what others think; as long as you can justify yourself, that’s enough." Fang Chengzhi said before leaving, then suddenly stopped to add one more thing.

Shen Junyu only found out about the rumors in the company this Friday. He was busy with many things and typically didn’t pay attention to the gossip in the office, nor had anyone talked about it in his presence. If it weren’t for an accidental chance, when he overheard two women gossiping about him and Fang Tong, he might still be oblivious.

"President." The two women gossiping turned their heads and saw Shen Junyu, scared witless, their faces turning white. It’s one thing to be caught talking about others behind their backs, but it’s entirely different if that person is your boss.

The gentle smile on Shen Junyu’s face had disappeared, and he looked at them with a cool gaze, "I didn’t hire you to gossip here."

The faces of the two women turned deathly pale. Although Shen Junyu left after saying just that sentence, the fear they felt didn’t diminish at all.

"How will we manage, the president won’t fire us, will he?" Little did they know that the president had heard just that moment.

The other’s face showed uncertainty, "He probably won’t, the president didn’t say much just now." Moreover, the president was usually such a gentle person, and although gossiping about the boss during office hours was a big taboo in the workplace, it should be fine, right?

The two anxiously returned to their office, spending the afternoon on tenterhooks, their hearts barely calmed when they had received no news, only to receive a notice from the HR department that from tomorrow, they were no longer required to come to work.

Shen Junyu went back to his office and made a phone call to Fang Tong, summoning her to his office. When Fang Tong entered, Shen Junyu was deeply engrossed in reviewing documents.

"President Shen," Fang Tong called out. These past few days, due to the company rumors, she would never show up in front of Shen Junyu unless summoned.

Shen Junyu looked up at her briefly, put down the pen in his hand, and gestured for her to sit.

Fang Tong sat in a proper manner, her hands crossed over her legs.

"Why didn’t you tell me about the grievances you suffered in the company?" Shen Junyu asked her.

Fang Tong was momentarily taken aback, guessing at what Shen Junyu might be referring to.

"New colleagues being bullied by older ones is common in the workplace. Initially, I thought with your personality, you always knew how to fight back. Now, it seems I overestimated you."

In the afternoon, he had specifically asked his assistant, Yu Bin, to inquire about Fang Tong’s situation in the secretarial office. The inquiry had indeed turned out to be unexpectedly shocking; if Qinglan had known, she would have thought he was bullying her friend.

"It’s okay, I’m still an intern; it’s only right that I take on more tasks, consider it a learning experience." the work was plentiful, but in Fang Tong’s eyes, it was still manageable.

"What about the rumors in the company? If you couldn’t explain them yourself, why didn’t you tell me?" Such rumors could deeply hurt a girl, especially since he knew that Fang Tong’s boyfriend also worked at Junlan Group.

Fang Tong looked down slightly, gazing at her hands, "The more you try to clarify such things, the darker they get painted. Even if explained, people wouldn’t believe it, so why bother? It’s enough that my conscience is clear."

"Fang Tong, have you ever heard this saying?" Shen Junyu spoke up, and Fang Tong looked at him questioningly.

"A good person is subjected to bullying, a good horse is ridden. Being kind and forgiving is good, but it doesn’t mean you should always endure, it’s quite necessary to protect your own rights at times."

Fang Tong was silent; she understood all these principles, but she had gotten into Junlan Group because of Qinglan’s connection. If she became too assertive now, people would really think she was abusing this power.

"Don’t want people to say you’re taking shortcuts through connections? Then prove your worth with your competence," Shen Junyu seemed to see through her thoughts, speaking indifferently.

Fang Tong nodded, "I understand, President Shen."

"You’ve figured it out; that’s good. The person who can always help you is yourself."

After Fang Tong left, Shen Junyu shook his head with a smile. Ultimately, she was young, intelligent, but not necessarily comprehensive in acting. Previously, when Qinglan mentioned Fang Tong, she did not lack praise; now it seems, clever but not savvy.

After all, being his sister’s friend, Shen Junyu couldn’t help but look out for her a little.

"President Shen, you have a lunch scheduled with the newly appointed President Wen from Xinhe International, and it’s almost time." Yu Bin walked in to remind Shen Junyu of his schedule.

Shen Junyu stood up, picked up his suit jacket, put it on, and while walking out asked, "Did you take care of the matter I asked you to?"

Knowing what he was referring to, Yu Bin nodded, "I have taken care of it, the items will be delivered on time, no delay will occur."

Shen Junyu felt relieved.

"President Shen, please this way." The waiter led Shen Junyu to a private room. The person he was meeting hadn’t arrived yet. Xinhe International was an important partner of Shen Junyu’s, and their cooperation had always been pleasant. However, the original general manager had retired due to age last week, and the new general manager who had just returned from studying abroad was said to be surnamed Wen, with specific details unknown, which was quite mysterious.

Since they were long-term partners, it was customary to have a meal together to connect when a company changed its executives. This wasn’t the first time Shen Junyu had invited President Wen, and it wasn’t until the third invitation that the other party accepted, which showed a bit of star attitude.

The appointed time had already arrived, but the other party had not yet arrived. Shen Junyu was not in a hurry at all and sat there calmly drinking tea.

"President Shen, do you need me to make a phone call to check?" Yu Bin asked, seeing the time pass minute by minute. Shen Junyu had always disliked people who lacked a sense of time.

"Let’s wait another five minutes," Shen Junyu said.

Yu Bin glanced at his watch. In five more minutes, it would be exactly half an hour.

"Let’s go," Shen Junyu stood up. Just at that moment, the door of the private room was opened, and a slender figure appeared at the door. "Sorry, I’m late." With delicate features and a graceful figure, who could it be but Wen Xiyao, whom he had once met in Lin City?

Shen Junyu looked up at the sound, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "It’s you."

Wen Xiyao raised an eyebrow. "President Shen seems quite surprised to see me?"

Shen Junyu sat down again, looking down at his watch. "President Wen’s sense of timing isn’t very good. Is this also your usual style of doing things?"

Wen Xiyao clenched her teeth. This stingy man, still remembering the incident from the last banquet.

"Doesn’t President Shen know that being late is a woman’s prerogative?" Wen Xiyao smiled amiably and sat down slowly. In fact, she didn’t like being late; today, she was delayed by an important matter that came up unexpectedly.

Shen Junyu smiled and remained silent. Now that she had arrived, he couldn’t possibly leave just like that.

"I didn’t expect that the new general manager of Xinhe International would be President Wen." After all, Wen Xiyao looked too young, which didn’t fit the usual style of Xinhe International.

"There are many things President Shen doesn’t expect. I also didn’t expect that my first meal with a client after starting work in Beijing would be with President Shen." She had just recently accepted the invitation from Xinhe International, and had been too busy handing over her previous job to worry about others, including her twice declining Shen Junyu’s invitations, which, admittedly, had a bit of an intentional element.

Wen Xiyao graduated from the business school at Harvard University in America, earning her MBA early and joining a renowned investment company there, soon rising to an executive position. Her personal capabilities were beyond doubt. Had it not been for her parents’ wish that she return home, and their earnest persuasion, perhaps Wen Xiyao would not have come back.

"President Shen, is Qinglan your sister?" Wen Xiyao asked.

"Do you know my sister?" Shen Junyu was surprised, which was somewhat unexpected.

"She was my junior at B University. I also encountered her last time in Lin City. I just didn’t realize you were siblings." Wen Xiyao’s remark was loaded with meaning; the siblings’ personalities were so different, with Qinglan being so gentle and easy-going, how could she have a brother who was so difficult and so prone to hold grudges?

Shen Junyu naturally didn’t know Wen Xiyao’s views of him; it wasn’t until later, when Wen Xiyao playfully relayed them to Shen Junyu, that he exclaimed his innocence.

Knowing she was Qinglan’s friend, Shen Junyu’s impression of Wen Xiyao finally improved a bit.

Although there had been some unpleasantness before, after all, they were both adults and would become partners in the future, so both chose to selectively forget that little discord, and the meal turned out to be very enjoyable for both host and guest.

"President Wen, didn’t you drive?" Walking out of the restaurant and seeing Wen Xiyao standing by the roadside, Shen Junyu asked.

Wen Xiyao smiled awkwardly, "My car is being serviced; I came here by taxi."

Shen Junyu raised his eyebrows, "If President Wen doesn’t mind, you can ride in my car."

"Then thank you very much," Wen Xiyao smoothly accepted.

Shen Junyu drove Wen Xiyao back to her company, while Yu Bin took a taxi on his own.

"By the way, I’m not sure when Qinglan will be free, I’d like to invite her to dinner," Wen Xiyao said, trying to make conversation.

"Lanlan went to the military with Hengyi, she is not at home right now," Shen Junyu replied. "Is President Wen very familiar with Lanlan?"

"You could say that, we knew each other in school, but then I went abroad for my studies and haven’t really come back over the years, so we didn’t keep in touch much. We just reconnected after unexpectedly running into each other in Lin City," Wen Xiyao explained.

"Where is President Wen from?" After a moment of silence in the car, Shen Junyu, unaccustomed to the quiet, initiated conversation.

"Hai City."

"Hai City?" Shen Junyu pondered. "Does President Wen belong to the Hai City Wen Family?"

"I am indeed from the Hai City Wen Family. Wen Bingchuan is my father."

Shen Junyu understood then; no wonder he had seen Wen Xiyao at the Zhou Family in Lin City, she was Wen Bingchuan’s daughter.

Wen Bingchuan was a top official in Hai City and had studied at the same military school as his father in his early years. Although they had taken different paths—one in the military and the other in politics—Shen Junyu had heard his father mention him and knew a bit about him.

"Why would President Wen come to work in Beijing alone?"

Beijing and Hai City, one in the north and the other in the south, were half of Z country apart.

"Xinhe International had extended several invitations while I was still in M country; since I was planning to return to the country anyway, I simply accepted their offer," Wen Xiyao responded, not minding the continuous questions from Shen Junyu as it helped avoid the awkwardness of being alone.

"Does President Shen seem particularly curious about me?" Wen Xiyao asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Shen Junyu paused slightly, "I’m just curious about such a young general manager of Xinhe International." The implication being, if you weren’t the general manager of Xinhe International, I wouldn’t be curious about you at all.

Wen Xiyao pursed her lips, this man really wasn’t willing to be at a disadvantage.

"Still, I need to thank President Shen for helping me out last time."

Shen Junyu smiled, "It was my honor to be of help to President Wen, although I hope next time it can be in a different way."

Wen Xiyao’s face darkened, this damn man, give him an inch and he’ll take a mile, this is what it means to push your luck.

Wen Xiyao sneered, "Is President Shen always this discourteous?"

"It depends on the person," Shen Junyu calmly replied.

Wen Xiyao laughed dryly, deciding not to talk to this man anymore. Not only was he stingy, but his sharp tongue really belied his gentle and refined appearance, it was truly a pity. Qinglan, such a nice girl, and to end up with a brother like this, what a pity.

Upon arriving at the company, Wen Xiyao coldly said a perfunctory thanks and walked away without looking back, not sparing even a glance.

Shen Junyu shook his head with a wry smile. Today, he had indeed lost his composure, even arguing with a woman.

**

When Fu Hengyi returned, he didn’t find Shen Qinglan on the balcony where she usually liked to sit and paint at this time.

Entering the bedroom, he was surprised to find Shen Qinglan lying on the bed with a frown, her face showing discomfort. Fu Hengyi was alarmed, "Qinglan, are you feeling unwell?"

Shen Qinglan looked at the man who came in, tried to get up, but the hot flow from her lower body made her pause slightly. Fu Hengyi grew anxious, "Qinglan, what’s wrong, are you sick?"

Seeing the fine sweat on Shen Qinglan’s forehead and her pale face, he stepped forward intending to carry her, "Come on, let’s go to the hospital."

Shen Qinglan grabbed his hand, "It’s okay, no need for the hospital. I’m just... just having my period." Her voice became softer towards the end, and Fu Hengyi’s nerves relaxed, relieved that it wasn’t an illness.

Shen Qinglan always had issues with dysmenorrhea, something Fu Hengyi was aware of. He usually prepared everything she needed in advance—hand warmers, brown sugar water, none were missing, but this time it seemed to have come a week early?

"Did you drink any ginger sugar water?" Fu Hengyi asked gently, sitting beside the bed and touching her hand, which was icy cold. After taking Chinese medicine for a week, her body showed no signs of improvement.

Shen Qinglan shook her head. She had felt uncomfortable from the moment she got up in the morning, and then her period had arrived. Fu Hengyi couldn’t join her for lunch due to some work, so she simply lay in bed and hadn’t eaten anything.

Fu Hengyi got up and took a hand warmer from the bedside table, plugged it in to charge. He had bought it specifically for times like this.

Charging the hand warmer took a while, so Fu Hengyi sat beside the bed, placed his broad hand over Shen Qinglan’s abdomen, and gently rubbed it. His palm was dry and warm, and he massaged with just the right amount of pressure, which seemed to lessen some of the abdominal pain.

"Has the herbal medicine not worked at all after taking so much?" Fu Hengyi frowned; he had tried the medicine himself and knew it was quite bitter. If it was ineffective, then there was no need to suffer through it.

"It does have an effect, it’s just that the effects aren’t very apparent yet," like the quantity this time was more than before.

Fu Hengyi got up, placed the warmed hand warmer in the bed, and tucked it on her abdomen. The warmer was covered in a layer of fluffy material, so there was no worry of it scalding her, "You just lie down for now, I’ll go make some brown sugar water for you."

Shen Qinglan watched Fu Hengyi’s retreating figure with a faint smile curling on her lips. He truly was a very considerate man.

Realizing she hadn’t had her lunch due to her cycle, Fu Hengyi guessed as much and, thinking it over, took out some ingredients to start cooking.

After drinking the ginger sugar water and lying in bed for a while, Shen Qinglan got up and, seeing Fu Hengyi busy in the kitchen, she smiled, "Fu Hengyi, has anyone ever told you that the woman who marries you will be very fortunate?"

Hearing this, Fu Hengyi chuckled lightly and looked at her, "Do you feel fortunate?"

Shen Qinglan thought for a moment and nodded seriously, "I’m very fortunate."

Fu Hengyi smiled warmly, "It’s smoky here, don’t come in. Just sit in the dining room, dinner will be ready soon."

Shen Qinglan obediently did as told. Having just drunk the ginger sugar water, her abdomen was warm, and she felt much more comfortable overall. She chuckled to herself, feeling somewhat pampered. In the past, she could handle her periods without all these comforts but now...

Fu Hengyi prepared a light meal, all to Shen Qinglan’s current tastes, "After we eat, I’ll take you to Doctor Zhong to see if there is anything she can do to alleviate the pain."

"There’s no need to make a big deal out of it, actually, it’s much better than before, the medicine is quite effective." Shen Qinglan felt she would be laughed at if they went to Doctor Zhong for this.

After the meal, Fu Hengyi didn’t take her to the hospital but made a call to Doctor Zhong instead, inquiring about ways to ease menstrual pain. Watching his serious and earnest demeanor as he occasionally asked Doctor Zhong about the details, Shen Qinglan turned her face away, her eyes brimming with a tender smile.