Feng Mian held the blue folder close to her chest as the elevator ascended. She glanced at her reflection in the mirrored walls, her expression carefully neutral, though she couldn't ignore the slight tremble of nerves beneath her calm exterior. When the elevator doors slid open onto the top floor, she hesitated. If she was already here… why not give him the file herself?
She stepped out, making her way toward his office. Before she got far, a young receptionist at the front desk noticed her and immediately approached her.
"Mrs. Han," the receptionist greeted her politely. "Mr. Han is in a meeting right now, so he's not to be disturbed."
Feng Mian paused, gripping the folder a little tighter. "Oh… I understand." She forced a small smile, handing over the file. "please give this to him, It's important."
The receptionist nodded, taking the folder from her. "Of course. I'll deliver it as soon as his meeting is over."
Feng Mian glanced toward Han Chen's office, her eyes lingering on the closed door. There is no reason to feel disappointed, she told herself. She wasn't foolish enough to believe he'd be happy to see her or that her arrival would mean anything to him. And yet, a part of her… well, she didn't even know what she'd been hoping for.
She sighed, letting go of the tension in her shoulders. She couldn't help but look for him, even though she knew she shouldn't. Perhaps it had become second nature to her.
While exiting the building her gaze fell upon th cafeteria, just opposite to his office building. She hadn't planned to linger, but the sight of the quiet space, bright and inviting with a glass wall that faced the busy street, felt oddly comforting. She decided to drop by.
At the counter, she ordered a cappuccino, something warm to soothe the strange hollowness in her chest. She took a seat by the glass wall, watching the city bustle outside. A minute later, her drink arrived.
For once, she was glad to be out of the apartment, feeling a sense of freshness she hadn't felt in days. It was nice, being surrounded by people and the soft hum of conversation instead of the lonely silence of home.
As she sipped her coffee, a group of office workers sat down at the table behind her. Their laughter and chatter were a bit loud, carrying over to where she sat. She glanced back briefly, catching sight of their cheerful faces, and felt a pang of envy she couldn't explain.
Their lives seemed full of purpose and kinship, so different from the monotonous life of her own. It wasn't as if she'd never dreamed of working or being part of something meaningful. She had just graduated when she married Han Chen, and back then, she had prioritized building a life together over her own ambitions. She'd told herself she could find fulfillment in their marriage, in making their home warm and welcoming.
But the reality… was nothing like she'd imagined.
Just then, a name caught her attention, breaking through her thoughts. Her heart dropped as she processed what she'd heard.
Hearing Li yun's name associated with Han Chen's is enough to fill her with a sense of dread.
She found herself leaning back, eavesdropping on the conversation, even though she knew she shouldn't. It was her husband's employees behind her, their voices lowered in what they thought was harmless office gossip.
"You guy's saw Li Yun today?" one of them said with a laugh. "All dressed up, think she's going on a date?"
"Yeah i saw and she's been spending a lot of time in the CEO's office lately. Must be nice to have the boss's attention," another replied, a sly edge in her tone.
"Do you think they're…" someone else asked, her curiosity barely concealed.
"Oh, I'd bet my one month's salary on it," came the answer, followed by a round of snickering.
Feng Mian's hands tightened around her cup, her knuckles going white. If it's possible, her heart sank further, twisting painfully in her chest. She knew she shouldn't believe in rumors, and yet… the fact that these were Han Chen's own employees, people who saw him every day, made her stomach churn with doubt.
Not in the mood to sit there any longer, she pushed back her chair and left the cafeteria. She didn't know how she made it back down to the street, only that she was suddenly outside, her legs moving mechanically, carrying her away from the building, her mind in turmoil.
She looked up at the sky, It's crowded with cloud, matching the heaviness in her heart.
Her chest tightening as she wondered, had the sky always been this gloomy? Or was it only now that she noticed, because her own life felt equally clouded?
A memory surfaced—Han Chen's voice, cold and poised, telling her that she could rest assured because there would never be another woman in their marriage. She had believed him, held onto those words like a lifeline. Even if he ignored her, even if he was distant and cold, at least he had given her that small sense of security.
But today, that comfort felt as fragile as glass, cracked by the careless gossips of strangers.
As she walked along the footpath, her eyes drifted around, unfocused, lost in thought. She knew she shouldn't let a few rumors affect her, and yet, the doubt gnawed at her. Had she been a fool to trust in his promise? To believe that even if she didn't have his love, at least she had a place in his life?
Though it's not the first time, but she felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down heavier this ones, suffocating her, as if the ground beneath her feet was shifting.
As she continued walking, she found herself clutching her coat tighter around her, shielding herself against the chilly wind that whipped through the city. And for the first time in a while, she realized how truly alone she is, standing in the middle of a bustling street, with her heart breaking quietly, unseen by anyone around her.
Suddenly raindrops began to fall, soft at first, then gathering strength as they pattered against the pavement and bathed the streets in a silver glow. Feng Mian stopped in her tracks, tilting her head to the sky as the cold rain touched her face, tracing paths down her cheeks like tears she couldn't shed.
For a moment, she simply stood there, letting the rain soak through her clothes and cling to her skin. She closed her eyes, feeling the cold drops sliding down her cheeks, dampening her hair, cooling the heat of her turbulent emotions. She didn't know why, but part of her wanted to be washed away, to let this rain cleanse the ache in her heart, to soothe the cracks that had begun to form within her.
Maybe, just maybe, if she stayed in the rain long enough, the confusion and doubt would fade, leaving her with nothing but calm.
Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed it—the sharp, piercing sound of a car horn, blaring through the downpour, jolting her out of her trance.
Meanwhile, Han Chen stood in his office, adjusting his suit jacket and preparing for his next meeting. He glanced at the documents he'd asked for, still missing, and frowned. Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," he said, his voice steady and expectant.
The receptionist entered, clutching the blue folder he needed. She stepped forward and handed it to him. He took it, beginning to flip through the papers, then paused, a small crease appearing between his brows.
"Where is Jiang Wei?" he asked, barely looking up. "Why is he sending you instead?"
The receptionist answered right away "Actually, Mr. Han, Mrs. Han delivered it. She brought the documents herself."
His hand froze mid-flip, his fingers hovering over the page. He raised his gaze, studying the receptionist's expression, as if trying to gauge if she was serious.
"She… came by?" he asked, his tone unusually quiet.
"Yes, sir," the receptionist confirmed. "She dropped it off a little while ago and left."
A flicker of something crossed his face—something quick and almost unnoticeable, like a shadow that vanished as soon as it appeared. He went silent,still holding the folder. His gaze drifted out toward the glass wall, watching the rain as it streaked down in torrents, blurring the city view.
The receptionist cleared her throat gently, pulling his attention back. "Sir, Jiang Wei got stuck in traffic on his way here. He should be arriving soon."
He nodded, barely acknowledging her words, his expression distant. "That'll be all. You can go."
After she left, he walked over to the window, his fingers tapping the edge of the folder as he looked out at the rain splattering against the glass.
He reached for his phone, hesitating for a moment but then let it fall back to his side, his gaze still locked on the rain, lost in a moment of silent contemplation.