"How could he be so indifferent? Your aunt couldn't handle it and her blood pressure shot up," Mrs. Meng said over the phone. "That Zhu Jun is no good either. If they're not getting along, they should part amicably. Why deceive people like this? I heard Zhu Jun's been with the mistress and their eldest daughter for five years already. Now the mistress is pregnant with their second child, reportedly a son. The Zhu family insists on having this child and won't agree to a divorce."
Meng Ning's values were once again challenged. Thinking of Zhu Jun's insincere act at the hospital, claiming the mistress was pursuing him, she felt he was too good at acting.
"Their eldest daughter is already five years old, so they've been together for at least six years. In other words, Zhu Jun started cheating within two years of marrying Yang Liu. He's managed to keep this secret for years. Zhu Jun's career has been soaring, and he's been attentive and gentle to Yang Liu at home, a perfect husband by all accounts except for not having children—they seemed like a model couple."
Because of Zhu Jun's affair, Meng Ning's confidence in marriage was shaken. If such a perfect man as Zhu Jun could cheat, what wasn't possible?
Meng Ning reminded her mother not to meddle too much. Even if she went, comforting her aunt was enough; they shouldn't interfere in how Yang Liu dealt with her marriage.
After the call, Meng Ning sat alone in the living room, lost in thought. She wondered how far her marriage with Fu Tingxiu could go. What would she do if he ever betrayed her? How would she handle it?
For the rest of the afternoon, Meng Ning couldn't focus on anything and just sat on the couch watching variety shows.
Around five o'clock, she heard movement at the door and turned to see Fu Tingxiu returning. Checking the time, Meng Ning realized she hadn't prepared dinner yet.
She hadn't expected Fu Tingxiu to come back so early today.
Meng Ning hurriedly got up. "You're back. I'll go make dinner."
"Meng Ning, we're going out for dinner tonight," Fu Tingxiu said after changing into slippers. "You start your new job tomorrow, so I want to celebrate. I'll take a quick shower and change first."
Meng Ning was a bit surprised that Fu Tingxiu had come back so early just to celebrate for her.
"...Alright," Meng Ning said. "I'll go change clothes too."
After Fu Tingxiu showered and changed, they didn't leave until almost six o'clock. Fu Tingxiu drove while Meng Ning sat in the passenger seat, clearly preoccupied. He noticed and asked, "How was your check-up today?"
"No issues, everything's fine," Meng Ning replied.
"Then what's on your mind?" Fu Tingxiu asked. Meng Ning, who had been holding it in all day, couldn't help but say, "My cousin's husband is cheating. They've been married for eight years, but because my cousin can't have children, he had a child with someone else. Now she's demanding a divorce."
Hearing this, Fu Tingxiu understood. "You're worried about our marriage having problems."
Meng Ning remained silent.
This is quite straightforward.
Meng Ning chuckled lightly, "It's not exactly..."
"Meng Ning." Fu Tingxiu suddenly called her name seriously, "During our marriage, I won't betray you."
Implicitly, as long as they were married, he would remain faithful.
Meng Ning smiled awkwardly and affirmed, "I absolutely believe you."
Whether she truly believed or not was another matter; she had to say it.
Fu Tingxiu smiled and didn't press her further.
Meng Ning thought about Yang Liu's situation and sighed, "Although I don't get along with my cousin, seeing her deceived for so many years, her husband's mistress is even pregnant with their second child... I can't help but feel sorry for her. The thing I hate most in my life is deception."
Hearing the last sentence, Fu Tingxiu's heart skipped a beat.
"Your cousin won't divorce," Fu Tingxiu said, "At least not for the time being."
"Why?" Meng Ning looked at him and asked, "My cousin has a strong personality. Now that she's caught her husband cheating, she'll definitely divorce him."
"You just said they've been married for eight years, so there's definitely some emotional attachment there. Your cousin is just angry right now. When she calms down, she won't leave him," Fu Tingxiu analyzed, "And I don't think your cousin's husband wants to divorce either."
Meng Ning was still puzzled, "Why wouldn't they divorce? His mistress is pregnant with their second child, and his family supports having this child."
Fu Tingxiu smiled and said, "Meng Ning, you're oversimplifying things. If your cousin's husband wanted a divorce, he would have done it long ago and wouldn't have hidden it until now. He probably just wants something new and a child. In a man's eyes, the original wife is still preferable."