Xu Yansang interviewed for a position at a multinational pharmaceutical company.
Her desired role was as a sales manager, but HR, citing her age of thirty, lack of childbirth, and two-year career gap, only offered her a sales assistant position instead.
The base salary was 4,500 yuan plus commission, with a three-month probation period—if she didn't make any sales, she'd be let go.
Xu Yansang recalled how, two years ago when she resigned, she was the backbone of the company. Her manager repeatedly advised her not to be blinded by love, but she stubbornly dived headfirst into marriage, hoping for a peaceful and happy life.
Instead, what she encountered was the harsh reality of life.
And now, attempting to return to the workforce, she was being taught a tough lesson by society.
This was the price of marriage.
Xu Yansang smiled bitterly and signed the employment papers.
She believed in herself—this would not be the end.
Since her first official workday was tomorrow, after completing the onboarding process, she left the company.
Following the address Fu Zhenteng had given her, she knocked on the door.
The door opened quickly. Fu Zhenteng stood inside, his face expressionless but polite. "You're back."
Xu Yansang responded with a polite smile. "Yes, I bought some food. If you haven't eaten yet, would you like to join me?"
Fu Zhenteng hesitated briefly. Xu Yansang thought he would refuse, but to her surprise, he agreed. "Sure, I'll get some bowls."
He also brought a bottle of fruit wine.
At the dinner table, Xu Yansang raised her glass to him. "Thank you for helping me out at the civil affairs bureau today."
Fu Zhenteng held his wine glass and smiled faintly. "Consider it an act of goodwill. After all, we're partners now."
Speaking of that, Xu Yansang felt a bit awkward and said, "I'll pay you the market rent for the room. For the first two months, I'll owe you a bit, but I'll pay it all once I get my salary."
Fu Zhenteng nodded.
After dinner, he suggested, "It's still early. Why don't we go shopping? Now that there's another person in the house, we need a lot of things. We can split the cost equally."
Xu Yansang stood up. "Sure."
Neither of them had a car, so they had to walk. Fortunately, the mall wasn't far—just a ten-minute walk.
Pushing a shopping cart, they walked through the aisles until Fu Zhenteng suddenly stopped.
Following his gaze, Xu Yansang stiffened.
What a small world.
Just a few steps away, Qin Sisi was holding onto Zhou Muchuan's arm, leaning affectionately on his shoulder.
Beside them stood Zhou Muchuan's sister, Zhou Ruotang.
Qin Sisi looked over in surprise. "Yansang, what a coincidence! Are you shopping for cohabitation supplies too?"
Zhou Muchuan's face immediately darkened.
Zhou Ruotang crossed her arms and sneered, "Xu Yansang, don't you have any shame? Jumping into another relationship right after the divorce? You've brought disgrace to the Zhou family!"
Hearing this, the surrounding shoppers started giving Xu Yansang judgmental glances.
A beautiful woman like her, but so frivolous?
Xu Yansang instinctively tightened her grip on the bedsheet set she was holding.
She had never gotten along with Zhou Ruotang. During her two years in the Zhou family, Zhou Ruotang constantly bullied her, even once pouring scalding pear water on her. Public humiliation like this was nothing new.
In the past, she had endured it all for Zhou Muchuan's sake.
But enduring didn't bring happiness.
A suffocating feeling clogged her chest. She looked at Zhou Ruotang and softly said, "If I moved on quickly after the divorce, isn't your brother the same? I'm legally married, but your brother and Qin Sisi aren't even married yet. Who's better than whom?"
Zhou Muchuan's face darkened instantly. Suppressing his anger, he snapped, "Xu Yansang, what do you want? Sisi and I truly love each other, it's none of your business! Know your place!"
Zhou Ruotang sneered. "Exactly! Know your place! You're just a shameless woman moving from one man to another. How can you even compare yourself to Sisi? A loose woman like you still has the nerve to talk?"
The words felt like a heavy punch to Xu Yansang's chest, making her feel stifled.
Place? When Zhou Muchuan and Qin Sisi got together, she was still his legally wedded wife, his rightful spouse!
She had been the one to let go and make way for them, yet now she was the one being criticized?
She looked at Zhou Muchuan with a dim gaze, her voice soft but firm. "You really don't have to worry. More than anyone, I want our paths to never cross again."
As she said this, her expression was dull, like a once-vibrant flower suddenly struck by frost, drained of all vitality overnight.
Zhou Muchuan felt a strange pang in his heart, remembering the way she had smiled on their wedding day two years ago, saying, "Please take care of me for the rest of my life."
Qin Sisi gently shook his hand and whispered, "Muchuan, maybe we should just let it go. I don't think Yansang meant any harm..."
Zhou Muchuan snapped back to reality. He had only married Xu Yansang for convenience—Sisi was the one he truly loved.
Impatiently, he glared at Xu Yansang. "You'd better stick to that!"
He then pulled Qin Sisi away, while Zhou Ruotang, feeling unwilling, suddenly lunged at Xu Yansang!
Caught off guard, Xu Yansang thought she was about to fall, but a strong hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her aside.
Zhou Ruotang, unable to stop her momentum, crashed directly into the shelves.
Crash!
Items scattered all over the floor, attracting even more onlookers.
Furious and humiliated, Zhou Ruotang yelled, "Xu Yansang, you did this on purpose!"
A staff member rushed over, stunned at the mess. "What happened here?"
Zhou Ruotang pointed at Xu Yansang and snapped, "She did it! Make her pay for everything!"
The staff hesitated and looked at Xu Yansang. "Miss, you'll have to compensate for the damage..."
Everyone's eyes were on her, but no one spoke up for her—not even Zhou Muchuan or Qin Sisi, who had seen everything.
A deep sense of loneliness and helplessness washed over Xu Yansang.
She tried to explain, "It wasn't me..."
But without support, her words felt powerless.
Just then, a firm hand wrapped around her waist, offering silent support. A tall figure stood beside her, unwavering.
"I can testify," Fu Zhenteng's calm voice echoed. "My wife didn't touch the shelves. It was Miss Zhou who suddenly ran into them and caused the damage."
Zhou Ruotang glared. "You're lying! You two are in this together, trying to frame me!"
Fu Zhenteng's face remained expressionless. His dark eyes stared at the staff. "You can check the surveillance footage. If there's any doubt, call the police. But my wife will not admit to false charges."
His steady voice was reassuring, gradually calming Xu Yansang's anxious heart.