The man wore a smile on his face, dressed in a sharp suit. His features were handsome, and he carried himself with the confidence that came with wealth. However, the way his eyes looked at Sheng Mian made her uncomfortable, a sense of unease creeping up her spine.
With a cold expression, Sheng Mian handed over the medication.
"I've already seen her. You can give the medicine to Aunt Su."
Sheng Xiang raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you come upstairs? It's been a while since we've had a chance to catch up."
"No, I have something to do." Sheng Mian replied curtly, handing the medicine over and turning to leave the hall.
Sheng Xiang watched her retreating figure, his gaze lingering, and then, as if drawn by some unspoken curiosity, he brought the medication bag up to his nose, sniffing it.
A young woman with good looks appearing at the gynecology clinic, holding antibiotics and antivirals—there was no way people wouldn't make assumptions.
Sheng Xiang lowered his gaze, his mind wandering to a place he hadn't intended. It didn't surprise him that Sheng Mian, who appeared so cold and distant, might have been living a more colorful life behind closed doors.
After all, her husband had been absent for three years. A woman, left alone in an empty house, was bound to look for comfort elsewhere.
But that was alright. She would return to the Sheng family eventually, and there would be plenty of opportunities to find out more.
Sheng Mian got into her car, still feeling a tightness in her chest. The discomfort wasn't just physical; it was the result of years of being caught in an uncomfortable situation. When the three of them—her father, her stepmother, and herself—had moved into the Sheng household, the presence of someone like Sheng Xiang, who wasn't even a blood relative, had only made things worse. They crossed paths far too often, and it made her uneasy, like a constant reminder that she was the outsider in this household.
Her father had once tried to convince her to stay, but when she subtly suggested that maybe Sheng Xiang should move out, her father, Sheng Zhong, had become particularly conflicted. He felt deeply responsible for Su Lan and Sheng Wei Yuan, and his affection for Sheng Xiang made it hard for him to choose.
Sheng Mian hadn't wanted to put him in that difficult position, so she moved out instead. Now, it seemed as though she was the one who had become the true outsider.
There was no need for her to punch in at the studio today, so she was heading home, her thoughts drifting aimlessly as she drove. Just as she was nearing her apartment, her phone buzzed. When she saw the name on the screen, her mood, already sour, worsened further.
The ringing continued for what felt like an eternity. Sheng Mian took a deep breath and answered.
"Ms. Bai, hello."
It was Bai Qiu, Fu Yancheng's mother.
Ever since their marriage, Bai Qiu, coming from a prestigious family and with a lofty attitude, had never liked her. Sheng Mian was well aware of this, and had kept her distance. The only time she had put up any pretense was in front of the old man. For everything else related to the Fu family, she had kept a respectful distance.
"I hope you can come to the Fu family's house to discuss the divorce in person," Bai Qiu's tone left no room for misunderstanding.
She didn't beat around the bush, and before Sheng Mian could object, Bai Qiu tried to preempt her response. "Sheng Mian, you must know that this marriage was something we had to go along with because of the old master. Now that Yancheng has taken over the Fu family, things are under his control. I'm sure the old master will give in too."
The implication was clear: the divorce had to happen.
Bai Qiu had even anticipated that Sheng Mian would cause a scene—crying, throwing a tantrum, or even attempting something drastic. After all, what woman could bear to give up a man like her son? Even if she could never have his love, surely she would be satisfied with just a few words from him.
However, the response from Sheng Mian was calm, almost detached. "Okay. Shall I come over now?"
Her tone was so nonchalant, it almost felt like she had been waiting for this day to come.
Bai Qiu's displeasure grew. Of course, the Fu family had every right to dismiss Sheng Mian, but her lack of reaction made it feel as though her son wasn't desirable enough, as if he didn't have enough charm to make her react emotionally.
To salvage her pride, Bai Qiu let out a cold snort. "It's good that you agree. With your background, you're not worthy of Yancheng. He deserves better. Come over now. I've already called him, he will arrive soon."
Sheng Mian paused for a moment. Fu Yancheng would be there too?
If he knew that the woman he had slept with the night before was the same woman he was about to divorce, what kind of reaction would he have?
She couldn't help but chuckle quietly to herself. That prideful man would probably feel like he had swallowed a fly—disgusted, yet unable to spit it out.
With a light laugh, Sheng Mian turned the car around and headed towards the Fu mansion.
When she arrived, Bai Qiu's expression was far from welcoming, though she didn't go out of her way to make things more difficult. Sheng Mian had wisely refrained from demanding any compensation, which was the only reason Bai Qiu didn't create more of a scene.
"You'd better not blame me for being blunt," Bai Qiu began, her voice sharp. "You know as well as I do what's going on with your family right now. Don't think I'm afraid to tell you the truth: You need to persuade your father to give up his delusions. If he's not cut out for business, he should accept his fate. The Fu family might help him once, but they won't do it again. And with that stepmother of yours watching closely, your situation is only getting worse. Marrying you has no benefits for us, and now we also have to take care of your entire family of freeloaders. If you want to blame someone, blame your background."
Sheng Mian sat on the sofa, her expression unchanged as she listened. When Bai Qiu finished speaking, she simply nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're right. I am not worthy of Mr. Fu."
In truth, aside from the marriage certificate, they were essentially strangers, with nothing between them but a title. The marriage had been an empty formality from the start. A divorce wouldn't be such a bad thing for her.
Bai Qiu was momentarily speechless, feeling a frustrated sense of discomfort—as if her words had landed on soft cotton, leaving no impact. She couldn't quite tell if this calm, obedient woman in front of her was genuinely indifferent, or if it was all an act.
The sound of a car braking outside broke the silence.
The servant, who had been waiting outside, rushed in to announce, "Madam, Young Master has returned!"
Bai Qiu's face lit up with joy, and she quickly walked to the door to meet him.
Sheng Mian, however, stood up slowly, her heart beating a little faster. She had prepared herself to face Fu Yancheng, but now, as he was about to appear, she couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness she hadn't expected.