Chapter 59

Restraining herself, Wen Xihan reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the laptop screen. She absentmindedly sipped her water, her thoughts drifting beyond her control.

Fu Fangbai was someone Wen Xihan had met while pursuing her doctorate in Country M. He had pursued her persistently for over a year. In the end, she had only agreed to his courtship after careful consideration, deeming him a suitable choice.

Perhaps, as Qi Jingning had once said, Fu Fangbai was like a stock with potential for growth in her eyes—nothing more.

And if that stock ever crashed, she would not hesitate to sell it off immediately, just like discarding a burning hot potato.

That analogy might have sounded a bit harsh, but after breaking up with Fu Fangbai, Wen Xihan had reflected on it carefully and realized it wasn’t far from the truth.

She had never truly liked Fu Fangbai. Her decision to accept his pursuit had only come after weighing various factors.

Of course, there was another significant reason. A few days before she agreed to date him, a torrential downpour had caught her off guard. She hadn’t brought an umbrella, her car had a flat tire, and she had unexpectedly ended up stranded at the company.

That day, Fu Fangbai had gone out of his way to bring her an umbrella. Then, he had braved the rain, draping his suit jacket over himself while changing her spare tire.

At that moment, it would have been a lie to say that Wen Xihan wasn’t moved.

Alone in a foreign land, even if she didn’t say it aloud, deep down, she longed for warmth.

“You’re not actually touched—it’s just guilt,” Qi Jingning had once ruthlessly pointed out. “Fu Fangbai is too calculated. He knew exactly what you needed and what you lacked at that time. So in front of you, he always packaged himself that way, making you feel guilty and hesitant, enduring everything just to achieve his ultimate goal. Your breakup was only a matter of time.”

After Qi Jingning’s reminder, Wen Xihan had started to understand what kind of person Fu Fangbai really was. She finally realized why she had always felt resistant and conflicted deep inside.

The truth was, she had never accepted Fu Fangbai from the start. And later, she accidentally discovered why her car’s tire had “coincidentally” burst that day.

When it came to reading people, Qi Jingning was a veteran. She had once casually recommended Ruan Xinyi to her. “So, if you ask me, you should pick someone who not only looks good but also truly understands you—someone you know well and can trust. Like Xinyi, for example. Beautiful, kind-hearted, a classic rich girl. Plus, she’s younger, full of energy, and knows how to take care of people. How comforting is that?”

Wen Xihan: “…”

That night, outside the bar, the rain wasn’t heavy, but the wind was bone-chilling. Yet when that black umbrella tilted toward her, her heart had already leaned with it.

So when she later saw Ruan Xinyi investigating Fu Fangbai, Wen Xihan hadn’t had much of an emotional reaction—just mild surprise.

Soft-hearted as she was, she had actually taken the time and effort to look into Fu Fangbai…

“Sister, the wontons are ready~”

Not long after, Ruan Xinyi emerged from the small kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of freshly cooked wontons.

The bowl was hot to the touch, and as soon as she set it down, Ruan Xinyi instinctively pinched her earlobe, her voice soft and sweet. “It’s still a bit hot. We should let it cool for a while.”

As she lifted her eyes, she met Wen Xihan’s deep gaze head-on.

Peach blossom eyes were naturally alluring and brimming with emotion. If it were any other time, Ruan Xinyi would have indulged in staring, letting the sight make her ears burn. But not today—because she had just realized what was displayed on the laptop screen on the coffee table.

She had absentmindedly left the file open after extracting it…

Sister must have seen it by now, right? Would she be angry that I secretly investigated her ex-boyfriend?

“Sister—” Ruan Xinyi called out timidly, testing Wen Xihan’s reaction.

“Hmm?” Wen Xihan barely reacted at all.

But seeing Ruan Xinyi acting so hesitant and cautious was rare, and Wen Xihan found it amusing. She held her expression firm, curious to see what this little troublemaker would say.

“Uh…” Ruan Xinyi hesitated, pointing at the laptop.

“What?” Wen Xihan feigned ignorance.

“That…” After a brief internal struggle, Ruan Xinyi decided to rip the bandage off. “You probably saw it already, right?”

“Oh, that.” Wen Xihan nodded as if suddenly realizing. “Yeah, I saw it.”

Ruan Xinyi swallowed nervously, studying Wen Xihan’s face. Cautiously, she asked, “So… sister, are you mad?”

Wen Xihan’s jaw shifted slightly as she let out a soft chuckle. “Why would I be mad?”

“Huh?” Ruan Xinyi couldn’t quite grasp her meaning. After a few seconds of deliberation, she simply bit her lip and asked directly, “I mean, I looked into your ex-boyfriend behind your back. You’re really not mad?”

She hesitated before adding, “Or… are you already mad?”

Wen Xihan took a sip of water, her voice calm, as if she were discussing something trivial. “I’m not mad.”

“There’s no reason to be mad about this.”

“Really…” Ruan Xinyi was still skeptical. She carefully replayed Wen Xihan’s words in her head. Seeing no signs of anger, she finally relaxed a little and tentatively asked, “Then, sister, do you want to take a look?”

There was no way Wen Xihan didn’t see through Ruan Xinyi’s little tricks, so she simply threw the question back. “Do you want me to?”

Ruan Xinyi shook her head quickly, hesitated for a moment, then admitted in a small voice, “I kind of want you to, but I’m afraid you’ll get upset after reading it.”

When the investigator had sent her the file, they had also given her a warning:

“Miss Ruan, the man you asked me to look into… well, he’s not what he seems. Some of the contents might be disturbing. I’d advise you to read with caution.”

That was all she needed to understand.

At the moment she extracted the files, Ruan Xinyi had felt nothing but anger—followed by an overwhelming sense of relief.

Relief that Wen Xihan had already broken up with that man.

Relief that she had met Wen Xihan that night.

Wen Xihan set down her glass and stood up slowly. “If you want to read it, go ahead.”

“Sister, you know that’s not what I meant.” Ruan Xinyi was still afraid of being misunderstood and quickly explained, “I just…”

“I know,” Wen Xihan interrupted with a sigh. “I’m not mad.”

“I already know what kind of person Fu Fangbai is.”

“So, let’s just eat breakfast.”

For the first time, Ruan Xinyi realized how easily Wen Xihan could sway her. With just a few words, she let go of the matter, choosing instead to focus on the meal. Smiling, she answered, “Okay,” before heading back to the kitchen to retrieve the second bowl of wontons.  

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