Volume 1, Chapter 8: Simply No Longer in Love

Fu Heng stared at her steadily, his black eyes like a calm, deep pool. Beneath the surface, however, turbulent undercurrents swirled.

"There is nothing between Shen Wen and me."

Bai Xuanxuan lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and continued her task, her voice barely a whisper: "I understand."

She had spent her whole life waiting for these words, for this explanation. Yet, now that she heard them, her heart remained unexpectedly calm. She knew the truth: there was nothing between them; the man simply didn't love her anymore. That was why he hadn't bothered to explain himself. For Fu Heng, it was the same—since the love was gone, there was no need to give her false hope. He had figured it was better to let her misunderstand.

Her hair fell forward, shielding her expression, but her eyes were brimming with tears that no amount of effort could swallow. The man lifted her chin, his fingers gently wiping away the moisture. His voice was softer than it had ever been—a tenderness that felt like an unimaginable luxury to her. Yet, this same voice had been warming others day after day.

"Stop crying. Will you come back to the capital with me?"

Bai Xuanxuan looked up. There were no bright stars in her eyes; they were dark and hollow, like a desolate swamp. "It’s too late. I’m doing just fine here. You should go back on your own, just as you planned before."

Just as in her previous life.

The man’s fingers were dampened by her cold tears. Each drop that fell felt like a knife pricking his heart—a bitter, stinging pain. He remembered that when they first married, he had truly loved Bai Xuanxuan. He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. He couldn't pinpoint when he started to find her unrefined, messy, petty, and even vicious. He resented how she fussed over the money he gave Shen Wen, the gifts he bought her, and the medical care he provided for her. She had gone from being a noisy, vibrant woman to one who rarely spoke at all. Meanwhile, his own world had gradually become filled with other voices.

Fu Heng crouched down, his voice raspy: "Xuanxuan, let’s say I was wrong, all right? Please, don’t be angry anymore."

Bai Xuanxuan didn't shut the door entirely, her voice faint as a mosquito's hum: "I'll think about it."

In the past, she had been like a drowning person, always grasping for a glimmer of hope in his spare words. But the man had always turned his back with cold resolve. She had long since let go. These flickers of warmth, like a final surge of life before death, were as fragile as bubbles. She would no longer pin her hopes on such illusions. Perhaps tomorrow, or even a moment from now, he would change his mind and kick her aside again.

Early the next morning, Shen Wen came knocking. Her voice was whimpering and pathetic, likely due to some trivial, imaginary ailment. The man kissed her forehead and left. Bai Xuanxuan didn't even open her eyes; she knew that no matter what she said, she would be branded a jealous, shrewish wife.

When the man returned, Shen Wen was carrying several bags. There was no need to ask; it was surely the gullible Fu Heng who had footed the bill.

Shen Wen waved to Fu Yuan. "Yuanyuan, come here! Godmother bought you chocolate and candy."

Bai Xuanxuan scoffed. Having lived a second life, she had become well-accustomed to Shen Wen’s shamelessness. Fu Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly. The last time his father brought back chocolate, his mother had eaten most of it, and when he’d wanted more, she had scolded him about getting cavities. He ran over without looking back, bouncing with excitement as he took the treats.

Bai Xuanxuan sat by the door, soaking in the sun, and turned her head away after a cursory glance. Shen Wen walked up to her, beaming. "Xuanxuan, you aren't angry, are you? I told Commander Fu not to buy so much, but I couldn't stop him. It makes me feel so embarrassed."

Bai Xuanxuan didn't look up, merely offering a faint, indifferent hum. The man was leaving anyway; if he wanted to scatter his money on the street, what did it have to do with her?

Seeing her cold reaction, Shen Wen was taken aback. In the past, Bai Xuanxuan would have screamed and thrown a tantrum—she had even once ripped out a clump of Shen Wen's hair. Being met with such calm left Shen Wen momentarily frozen.

Fu Heng walked to her side, but Bai Xuanxuan simply continued to wipe the leaves, her long lashes lowered as she focused on her task. Her delicate, pale fingertips, tipped with polished nails, traced the vibrant green leaves. Her small, deliberate movements were hard to ignore. The man couldn't help but think that if this tree were a person, it would have been given goosebumps by now.

"What are you doing?" Fu Heng asked.

"I'm giving the tree a massage," Bai Xuanxuan replied with deep focus.

"..."

She looked up and explained earnestly, "I'm worried it might get a lumbar strain from being so old."

The man paused, then let out a laugh. "Xuanxuan, stop this nonsense. You standing here rubbing and kneading it—it doesn't look right for people to see."

Bai Xuanxuan looked up, her eyes clear as she countered, "Why not? While I don't know if your relationship with his wife is innocent, I am certain that my relationship with his tree is."

...

Bai Xuanxuan turned her head away and went back to her task, muttering, "Brother Jianping was always so good to me. He used to give me candy. It’s only right that I take care of his tree."

The man understood the underlying meaning, but he couldn't help but be bothered by her words. Before Bai Xuanxuan married him, Zhang Jianping had often come over to help her family. It was obvious to everyone that Zhang Jianping loved her, though Bai Xuanxuan had never returned his feelings and had rejected him many times. Yet, at this moment, her words felt like a needle pricking his heart.

Fu Heng gripped her wrist, his strength tightening. His brow was clouded with frost, and the words squeezed from his throat were bitter: "Come back with me."

Bai Xuanxuan stood as still as a wooden stake, as if anchored to the ground, staring at him quietly. "Brother Jianping treated me so well; shouldn't I take care of his tree? You’re a grown man—why is your heart smaller than the tip of a needle? Don't be unreasonable; picking a fight with a tree is just petty."

Dark, cold light flickered in Fu Heng's eyes. When he couldn't pull her along, he moved to hoist her onto his shoulder. Bai Xuanxuan used a clever flick of her wrist to break free, retreating a safe distance. She waved her hands righteously. "We're outside! Stop pulling and tugging; it looks bad."

The man, usually calm in the face of any crisis, found himself losing his composure as she retreated. A sudden, scorching anger flared in his chest, leaving him with nowhere to vent. He suppressed the rage, his tone softening, but his voice was as cold as shards of ice, chilling with every word.

"I was never a generous man to begin with."

He turned to Shen Wen. "If you need anything in the future, contact my guard, Xiao Zhang."

Ignoring Shen Wen’s dark expression, he turned back, forcefully pulling Bai Xuanxuan into his arms and dragging her into the house. Pinned against the wall, Bai Xuanxuan felt a shiver of fear, but she kept muttering, refusing to yield.

"My wrist is bruised from your grip. You're petty and you won't let anyone say it—you, you're just being unreasonable."