Ming Mian had barely closed her eyes when the incessant ringing of her phone pierced the silence. The sharp sound echoed through the apartment, jarring her from her exhausted slumber. Her fingers fumbled for the phone on the coffee table, and she glanced at the screen. It was a call from an unfamiliar number.
Her brow furrowed slightly. Who could it be? She hesitated for a moment, then answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Ming, it's me, Qin Mei. I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Fu."
Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of Fu Yancheng's name. She had not expected to hear from him, especially not after the encounter they had last night. The memory of his cold, demanding gaze resurfaced in her mind, sending a chill down her spine. She straightened up, her voice slightly shaky. "What is it?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before Qin Mei spoke again, her voice polite but firm. "Mr. Fu would like to discuss some matters with you. He's arranged a meeting tomorrow morning at his office."
Ming Mian's chest tightened at the mention of the meeting. She didn't want to deal with him right now, especially after everything that had happened. But she knew better than to refuse him. Fu Yancheng had always been someone who didn't take kindly to disobedience, and she had learned the hard way that crossing him was never a good idea.
"Understood," she replied, trying to keep her tone neutral. "What time should I be there?"
"Ten in the morning," Qin Mei responded smoothly. "We'll see you then."
The line went silent, and Ming Mian stared at the phone for a few moments longer, her thoughts a swirl of conflicting emotions. She had no idea what Fu Yancheng wanted to discuss, but something told her it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation. She sighed and tossed the phone aside, her mind racing.
Her thoughts wandered back to the hospital earlier that day, when she had seen Sheng Xiang. The way he had looked at her, almost as if he could see right through her, had unsettled her. And the conversation they had about "family being her support" kept echoing in her mind. It was as if he was trying to remind her of something—something that perhaps she had been trying to ignore.
Ming Mian had always known that her marriage with Fu Yancheng wasn't built on love. It was a business arrangement, one that her father had orchestrated with the Fu family to secure the future of the Sheng family. She had always played her part in the deal, putting up with the coldness of her husband and the constant pressure to meet everyone's expectations. But now, with everything that had been happening, she was beginning to wonder if the cost of this arrangement was higher than she had ever imagined.
The memories of her wedding day flashed in her mind. She had been alone when she picked up the marriage certificate. Fu Yancheng hadn't been there, as if he had already mentally checked out before the ceremony even began. The only reason the marriage had gone ahead was because of the immense pressure from their families. She had been too naive to understand the full extent of what it meant at the time.
But now, as she sat in the dimly lit apartment, the weight of it all felt suffocating. She had tried to bury her feelings, to pretend that it didn't matter, but the truth was that she was slowly being worn down by this charade. Every time she saw Fu Yancheng, she was reminded of how little she meant to him, how easily he could discard her for someone else. The image of Xiao Chuqing, the woman he had mentioned last night, only reinforced the painful reality. It was clear now that the only reason he had married her was to fulfill some family obligation, and she was nothing more than a tool in his hands.
She rubbed her temples, trying to ward off the headache that had been brewing ever since she had left the hospital. The encounter with Su Lan had also left her feeling uneasy. The woman's sharp words and the way she had scrutinized her had made Ming Mian feel like an outsider in her own family. She had never been able to gain Su Lan's approval, and it seemed like the more she tried, the more the woman resented her. It was as if Su Lan saw her as a constant reminder of her own failures, a woman who could never quite fit into the mold that Su Lan wanted her to.
The memory of Su Lan's words lingered in her mind. "You're his wife, and you need to think about how the Fu family can help your father," she had said, as if Ming Mian was some kind of bargaining chip. It was infuriating. Ming Mian had done everything she could to help the Sheng family, even sacrificing her own happiness for their sake. But no matter what she did, it was never enough. It was as if she had been born to be nothing more than a pawn in a game she had no say in.
She stood up abruptly, her legs unsteady beneath her as she made her way to the window. The night outside was quiet, the city lights casting a soft glow across the streets. But inside her, there was a storm brewing, one that she could no longer ignore. She was tired—tired of pretending, tired of living in a world where her every move was controlled by the expectations of others. She had given so much, and for what? To be treated like nothing more than an accessory to their plans?
Ming Mian's gaze hardened as she looked out into the night. She didn't know how much longer she could keep going like this. Something had to change, and soon.
The sudden vibration of her phone interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw that it was a message from her father.
"Ming Mian, have you spoken to Fu Yancheng? Is the meeting tomorrow confirmed?"
Her father's words hit her like a slap to the face. He had always relied on her to maintain the delicate balance of their family's relationships with the Fu family. But as she stared at the message, she couldn't help but wonder: was she really just a tool to him too?
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she stared at the message for a long moment, her thoughts swirling. She had always done what her father asked, but now, she felt a growing sense of resentment. Why was it always her who had to bear the weight of these burdens? Why wasn't anyone else looking out for her?
Finally, she typed a short reply.
"Yes, the meeting is confirmed for tomorrow. I'll go."
She hit send, but as the message disappeared into the digital void, she felt a sense of emptiness wash over her. What had she become? Just a pawn in everyone's game? She wasn't sure anymore. But one thing was certain: tomorrow would be another day of facing the harsh reality of her life.
The phone buzzed again. Another message, this time from Fu Yancheng.
"Be ready at 10. Don't be late."
Her fingers tightened around the phone. The cold, authoritative tone of his message sent a shiver down her spine. She had never been able to escape his control, and she wondered if she ever would.
Ming Mian set the phone down and closed her eyes, letting the weight of the situation settle over her. Tomorrow would come, whether she was ready or not. But for now, all she could do was brace herself for the inevitable.