Chapter 29: You’re Overthinking It

“What do you plan to do?”

In the dim stairwell, Shi Mufeng toyed with a cigarette in his hand, his eyes slightly downcast. His voice was casual, even indifferent, yet it carried a weighty seriousness.

He was also from a wealthy family and had grown up with Fu Yanci and Bai Wanqing.

He truly regarded Bai Wanqing as a younger sister and doted on her.

Back when Fu Yanci fell for Ruan Liuzheng and broke Bai Wanqing’s heart, causing her to leave the country, Shi Mufeng had beaten Fu Yanci up harshly.

Now, watching Fu Yanci turn back and seek out Bai Wanqing again, Shi Mufeng had nothing but contempt for his behavior.

But since Bai Wanqing still had feelings for him, Shi Mufeng couldn’t say much.

Still, there were some things that Fu Yanci had to clarify—otherwise, how could he be at ease?

At his question, Fu Yanci’s eyes darkened slightly. He lowered his brows, his expression indifferent. “What business is it of yours?”

Shi Mufeng frowned and lazily lifted his eyelids, a trace of displeasure in his gaze. “So what, you plan to keep Wanqing hanging on like this, without any clarity?”

Fu Yanci pursed his lips. “I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to interfere!”

Seeing his attitude made Shi Mufeng furious. He took a deep breath and said coldly, “You can brush me off today, but sooner or later this needs an explanation—especially to Uncle Bai.”

Fu Yanci fell silent.

He knew very well what kind of promise Shi Mufeng wanted from him.

But just thinking about divorcing Ruan Liuzheng made him instinctively resist.

And given how deeply Ruan Liuzheng loved him, if they really divorced, she might…

The thought alone brought a subtle ache to his chest.

He lowered his eyes, his thin lips pressed tightly into a line.

A confusion even he couldn’t explain swirled in the depths of his dark gaze.

Why was this happening? Ruan Liuzheng was clearly a scheming woman, so why was he still reluctant, still hurting?

He didn’t understand it. But he knew that if he didn’t give Shi Mufeng a satisfactory answer, the man wouldn’t let it go easily today.

After a long pause, he finally said, “You know the Fu family’s rules. Give me some time. I won’t let Wanqing be wronged again.”

Shi Mufeng let out a scoff. “I hope so.”

With that, he turned to leave.

His time was valuable, and he’d only freed up this lunch hour.

Now that he’d gotten the answer he wanted, he had no interest in staying longer. He’d rather go back to keep Wanqing company.

Fu Yanci followed behind, apparently of the same mind.

However, just as they opened the stairwell door, they ran into Ruan Liuzheng and Ye Shutong.

Shi Mufeng gave them a cold glance, eyes slightly narrowed.

Of course he recognized Ruan Liuzheng—the woman who’d caused Bai Wanqing so much heartache that she fled abroad.

He’d only met her a few times.

Since leaving for overseas studies right after high school, he hadn’t witnessed much of what happened between Fu Yanci and Ruan Liuzheng firsthand. Most of what he knew came from Bai Wanqing.

And he trusted Bai Wanqing implicitly.

So naturally, he despised Ruan Liuzheng.

Without saying a word, he brushed past them and walked straight toward Bai Wanqing’s hospital room.

He had no intention of wasting time on irrelevant people.

Fu Yanci stood still, watching Shi Mufeng’s retreating figure with a faint frown, his expression calm—he didn’t think anything was wrong with the situation.

Ruan Liuzheng looked at him coldly. She wasn’t particularly bothered by Shi Mufeng’s coldness just now.

None of Fu Yanci’s friends had ever treated her properly since the day they got married. She had grown used to it.

At first, she had hoped Fu Yanci would stand up for her.

Every time, he would promise easily—but he never followed through.

Over time, her hope turned to disappointment, and now she had none left.

Maybe in the past, she would’ve been hurt—but not anymore.

Because it simply wasn’t worth it.

Pushing aside her thoughts, Ruan Liuzheng raised her eyes and gave Fu Yanci a brief, indifferent glance. She then took Ye Shutong’s hand, ready to leave.

Fu Yanci frowned slightly.

He stepped forward, blocking their path. His dark eyes locked on Ruan Liuzheng, his tone arrogant and condescending. “Weren’t you so proud yesterday when you rejected me? What, here to come crawling back today?”

Ruan Liuzheng was forced to stop, her icy gaze flashing with irritation.

She looked at Fu Yanci and gave a cold laugh. “You’re overthinking it.”

Fu Yanci’s face darkened, a flicker of anger surfacing in his black eyes.

Still, he didn’t want to argue with her any longer—after all, Bai Wanqing was waiting for him in her hospital room.

Taking a deep breath, he forced down his anger. His voice was cold as ice, laced with command. “I’ll be at Beishan Villa at eight tonight. Be ready.”

With that, his eyes flicked over her in warning, then he turned and left without giving her a chance to respond.

Ruan Liuzheng watched his back with a frosty stare, a trace of mockery in her gaze.

Such certainty in his tone.

What did he think she was—his personal mistress?

Someone who needed to be on standby at Beishan Villa 24/7, ready to serve him whenever he felt like it?

Fu Yanci, you think too highly of yourself.

She scoffed coldly, eyes glinting with contempt.

Calming herself, she turned to Ye Shutong. “Shutong, let’s—”

But halfway through her sentence, she frowned in surprise.

Ye Shutong was staring blankly ahead, looking dazed.

Her bright, charming eyes were unfocused, as if all their light had vanished.

Ruan Liuzheng’s lips pressed into a line. With concern in her eyes, she asked softly, “Shutong?”

Ye Shutong snapped out of it. She looked at Ruan Liuzheng. “I’m fine. Don’t you have to return to the office this afternoon? I’ll walk you downstairs.”

But Ruan Liuzheng didn’t move. She stared at her closely, her tone serious. “You know Shi Mufeng?”

Though it was a question, her tone left little room for doubt.

Ye Shutong knew Fu Yanci, but had no feelings for him.

So her reaction just now couldn’t have been because of Fu Yanci—it could only be…

Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes darkened. Her gaze grew more serious.

Ye Shutong’s expression flickered. After a moment, she lowered her eyes and gave a small nod. “Yeah, I know him.”

There were things she didn’t take the initiative to tell Ruan Liuzheng, not because she wanted to hide them—but because she didn’t want her to worry.

But if Ruan Liuzheng asked, she wouldn’t lie.

Because she couldn’t bear to lie to her.

Hearing this, Ruan Liuzheng’s brows pinched together in confusion and worry.

Even though she’d only seen Shi Mufeng a few times, she knew that, like Fu Yanci, he had a very unusual level of concern for Bai Wanqing.

Getting involved with someone like him… she feared—

Ruan Liuzheng looked down slightly.

She had already been burned once. She didn’t want to watch Ye Shutong go through the same thing.

Still, seeing Ye Shutong’s current expression, she wisely chose not to say more.

They were friends who had been through thick and thin together. Their bond went far beyond that of typical best friends.

Just a look or a movement, and they could guess each other’s thoughts.

Even though she was worried, Ruan Liuzheng didn’t want to pressure her.

She reached out and gently held Ye Shutong’s slightly cold hand, lips curving into a faint smile. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. But if something ever happens, you have to tell me. We’ll face it together.”

Ye Shutong replied softly, “Mm.”