Packing luggage for my wife who was on a business trip for half a month.
I unexpectedly found a pregnancy test form and a crumpled hospital discharge record.
It clearly stated that my wife had been hospitalized for seven days due to a miscarriage.
But I’ve been using contraception all the time. What the hell?
1
Holding these two crumpled pieces of paper, my head was buzzing.
A child?
A miscarriage?
My first reaction was that it was impossible.
My wife Fang Xuening and I had been married for seven years and always wanted a child.
But Fang Xuening had a very clear career plan. She always said she still had room for promotion.
If she had a child, her career would most likely end there.
So she made an agreement with me that we should wait until she was at least 35 and had a stable position in the company before having a child.
OK, I understood.
After all, it’s not easy for female professionals.
The child – bearing and breastfeeding periods would delay her, and all her previous efforts would be in vain.
So in the face of the pressure from our parents to have a baby, I stood up and took it all on myself.
I told both sets of parents that I had asthenospermia and it was not easy to have a child.
Only then did both sets of parents stop bothering us.
Since we didn’t plan to have a child at this stage, I had always taken good protective measures during our married life, for fear that Fang Xuening might accidentally get pregnant and delay her work.
So, I was sure that she couldn’t be pregnant with my child.
Then why were there a pregnancy test form and a hospital record in Fang Xuening’s suitcase? Hadn’t she been on a business trip for the past half – month?
Without thinking much, I tremblingly called Fang Xuening.
As usual, she didn’t answer.
Instead, after hanging up the phone, she sent me a question mark.
When I saw this question mark, it was as if I had been poured a basin of cold water over my head, and I immediately calmed down.
No, I had to first figure out the authenticity of the pregnancy test form and the hospital summary.
Although it was unlikely that Fang Xuening would get two fake things for no reason, what if?
There was still a glimmer of hope in my heart.
So I searched the Internet for the contact information of this maternity and child care hospital and called.
The other side said that Fang Xuening had indeed been discharged from their hospital a week ago.
She had a miscarriage, and the fetus was already three months old at that time.
My mind went blank, and I didn’t even remember how I hung up the phone.
“Did you call for something?”
Perhaps seeing that I hadn’t replied for a long time, she tentatively sent me a message.
I knew Fang Xuening too well.
She had been much colder to me in the past two years.
Whether I was being affectionate and flattering or yelling at her in a breakdown, it was hard to stir up even a ripple in her.
Normally, she basically wouldn’t take the initiative to talk to me. When I called, she would answer depending on her mood.
If Fang Xuening really had a clear conscience towards me.
Then when facing my call, she would just ignore it instead of taking the initiative to send a message to test me.
I took pictures of the pregnancy test form and the hospital discharge record as evidence, and then stuffed them back into her clothes exactly as they were.
Then I replied to her message:
“Nothing. I just wanted to ask you which of the clothes you brought back from the business trip need to be washed.”
Fang Xuening almost instantly replied to my message.
“Don’t touch my suitcase. I’ll deal with it when I get back.”
Looking at this message, my heart felt icy cold.
2
Fang Xuening rarely came home early without using overtime as an excuse as she used to.
When she entered the door, I was cooking in the kitchen.
“Siyuan? What are you cooking? It smells so good.”
Taking the initiative to greet me after coming home was not something she would usually do.
I was disappointed but also thought it was ridiculous.
Usually, I tried so hard to please her, but I couldn’t even get a good look from her.
She would get annoyed if I said a few more words.
Just because I mentioned the suitcase, she rushed home and took the initiative to break the ice, for fear that I would discover her secret.
I looked at Fang Xuening.
Her face was a bit sallow, and she looked much more haggard.
I had thought it was because of the tiring business trip.
Who would have thought that she had secretly had an abortion?
I took a deep breath, barely suppressing the anger in my heart.
“Seeing that you don’t look well after the business trip, I’m making you a soup to replenish qi and blood.”
Fang Xuening forced a smile and very clumsily tested me:
“OK. I’ll go and organize the suitcase I brought back last night first – you didn’t touch my things, did you?”
I stared into her eyes. “No, didn’t you say you’d handle it yourself?”
She avoided my gaze and casually replied before going to the room.
During dinner, Fang Xuening unexpectedly praised the soup I made.
“After being married for all these years, I’ve been the one cooking, and I’ve never heard you praise me. Could it be that you’ve done something to betray me outside and are trying to be nice on purpose?”
Fang Xuening’s face froze for two seconds, and then she became a bit angry:
“What nonsense are you talking about? Can’t I even praise you for cooking well?”
She put down her chopsticks heavily. “I’m not eating anymore. This is so disappointing.”
Her words and actions tonight all showed two words, “guilty”.
I looked at her quietly. “You’re so angry today? This isn’t like you usually.”
Fang Xuening was speechless.
We stared at each other for a while, and then she angrily spat out “nonsense” and got up to go back to the room.
At night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
We each covered with a quilt, and the two – meter – wide double bed was like a clear boundary between us.
I stared at this distinct boundary, and in my mind flashed all the times I had flattered her over the years and her coldness towards me.
What a shitty life this is. I don’t want this woman anymore.
I must get a divorce.
But first, I have to find out which bastard cuckolded me.
Neither the cheating man nor the slutty woman will get away with it!
4
I didn’t sleep all night and reviewed Fang Xuening’s abnormal whereabouts.
I found that besides the so – called “overtime”, she had been going on business trips more and more frequently in the past two years.
And Fang Xuening herself was not the kind of person who liked to join in the fun.
She basically stayed at home on weekends, and occasionally she would go out for a meal or watch a movie at my invitation.
Most of her friends were already married and had children, and they rarely invited each other to go out and play privately.
So I initially judged that her lover was unlikely to be from her circle of friends.
Instead, it was very likely to be a colleague from her company.
I decided to ask my good brother Wang Xin to keep an eye on it for me.
Wang Xin and Fang Xuening worked in the same company, and he was Fang Xuening’s immediate superior.
When Fang Xuening was interviewed and entered this company, I had asked Wang Xin to take care of her.
It’s hard to tell someone close about being cuckolded.
After much thought, I decided to talk to him face – to – face.
So I went to the building where Wang Xin and Fang Xuening worked and called him in the coffee shop downstairs.
Wang Xin quickly came down from upstairs.
He was wearing a well – tailored suit, with his hair combed back, looking like a proper high – spirited urban elite man.
“Wow, it’s rare to see a homebody like you in this kind of place. What’s up? Did you get over your PTSD of office buildings?”
Before sitting down, Wang Xin joked with me with a smile.
Appearing in such a high – end office building did make me feel uncomfortable.
I had also worked on the upper floors of such high – end office buildings before.
But after being fired for taking the blame for my superior, I was really tired of this kind of place and the scheming workplace.
So in the past two years, I didn’t look for a new job but stayed at home all the time.
I wasn’t doing nothing either.
Because I loved cooking, I set up a food self – media account, and in the past two years, I had accumulated a lot of fans.
The income from channels and occasional advertising fees for product promotion was also good.
After all, I didn’t have the pressure of raising a child.
As soon as I thought of “child”, my eyes darkened a bit.
“What’s wrong? What did you want to talk to me about?”
Wang Xin keenly noticed the change in my expression and asked me actively.
I hesitated for two seconds. “Recently at the company, have you noticed if Xuening is getting close to anyone?”
“Especially male colleagues.”
Wang Xin frowned:
“Getting close? No… Did she do something to betray you?”
I felt my ears getting hot, and the words suspecting Fang Xuening of cheating got stuck in my throat.
Seeing this, Wang Xin’s expression became a bit more serious. “Got it, bro. I’ll keep an eye on this for you.”
Saying that, he patted my shoulder reassuringly:
“But don’t think too much. You two have been married for so long. With me watching at the company, she won’t mess around.”
For a moment, I almost told him about Fang Xuening having an abortion behind my back.
But I just couldn’t say such a shameful thing, so I just stopped halfway.
“OK, then I’ll trouble you to keep an eye on her more.”
5
With Wang Xin’s help, I felt a bit more at ease.
Fang Xuening was probably guilty, so she didn’t work overtime these days and came home on time before dark.
Half a month passed like this.
Wang Xin said that Fang Xuening was normal at the company.
He didn’t see her getting close to any male colleagues.
He also told me not to think too much, as overthinking would affect our relationship as a couple.
If I hadn’t found that pregnancy test form and the hospital discharge summary for the miscarriage, I would have believed him.
But the facts were right in front of me.
The evidence of her cheating was irrefutable!
“Bro, tell me the truth. What exactly did Fang Xuening do to you? Why are you so sure she’s cheating?”
On the phone, seeing that I didn’t speak, Wang Xin thought I didn’t believe his words:
“Anyway, your wife is normal at the company. You’re so persistent. Could it be that you’ve already got solid evidence of her cheating?”
I thought about it and decided not to tell him about Fang Xuening’s abortion. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.
“Let’s just say I’m overthinking.”
Wang Xin was silent for two seconds on the other end:
“Lao Liao, since you don’t have evidence, I have to stand up for your wife. You know, office workers are so busy at work and under so much pressure that they don’t have time to cheat. And it’s even more impossible for Fang Xuening.
I think you’ve been on a break for too long and are almost out of touch with the workplace. What’s the point of being a house – husband? You’re like a full – time housewife, always thinking too much. You’re just too idle! Why don’t you find a new job?
“Just so you know, a boss of a partner of mine wants to hire an operation director. Weren’t you in this line of work before? Do you want to give it a try? I guarantee the salary won’t be low…”
“Stop, stop.” I interrupted him with a laugh. “You know I’m not interested in the workplace anymore.”
Wang Xin sighed on the phone. “But it’s not a good thing for you to stay at home all the time. Haven’t your in – laws given you a hard time?”
“I think you’d better find a job to distract yourself. Otherwise, if your in – laws know that you suspect their daughter like this, they’ll say something unpleasant again.”
I fell silent.
I hadn’t formally told my family about doing self – media.
Including Fang Xuening, everyone thought I was living off my savings.
My father – in – law had said to me more than once, “You feel relaxed because you don’t have a child. But if you had a child, you’d see if this little money of yours is enough to survive. This family is supported by my daughter!”
They were elders, and I didn’t want to argue with them.
But Fang Xuening never said a word for me either.
I had always been responsible for the mortgage, and I paid for all the daily expenses.
Fang Xuening would only buy some daily necessities when she saw that something was missing at home. Her salary was usually kept for herself to buy clothes and cosmetics, and I was still the main spender.
Isn’t this called supporting the family?
I didn’t want to talk about this annoying thing anymore, so I casually fooled him and hung up the phone.
But after hanging up the phone, I vaguely felt something was wrong.
6
Wang Xin was my good brother who I grew up with.
We were closer than real brothers.
I also knew him very well.
He was a person who was very good at reading people’s expressions and knew very well about the sense of propriety.
In other words, he had a very high EQ.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so successful in the workplace.
Logically, I had already expressed my unwillingness to reveal how Fang Xuening had cuckolded me.
With his high EQ, he shouldn’t have mentioned Fang Xuening anymore.
But in that phone call just now.
Wang Xin not only asked me if I had evidence of Fang Xuening’s cheating.
He also subtly and repeatedly hinted that I was overthinking and that I was just idle and suspecting my wife of cheating for no reason.
My heart gradually sank.
…Could it be that Wang Xin was involved in Fang Xuening’s cheating?
He couldn’t lie to me, could he?
He was my sworn brother!
Although I kept telling myself not to suspect Wang Xin.
But once the seed of doubt was planted, it would take root and grow in my heart.
And this little bit of doubt grew into a huge tree after Fang Xuening sent a message saying that she was working overtime and wouldn’t come home for dinner.
Was it just a coincidence?
Wang Xin had called to comfort me this afternoon, and then Fang Xuening was “overtime” again?
I forced myself to recall the clues from the past.
That’s right. Fang Xuening was transferred to the marketing department managed by Wang Xin the year before last. Now Wang Xin was her immediate superior.
Whether she worked overtime or went on a business trip was just a word from Wang Xin.
My palms turned cold.
After it was completely dark, I sent Fang Xuening a message.
“When will you be back?”
After more than ten minutes, Fang Xuening replied:
“I’m still busy. I’m writing an analysis report at the company. There will be a marketing department meeting later. You go to bed first. Don’t wait for me.”
When I saw this text message.
I was already downstairs at their company building.
Whether what Fang Xuening said was true or whether Wang Xin had betrayed me, I would know as long as I went upstairs to check.
7
The company was on the 15th floor.
Standing in the dim corridor, looking at the locked door of Wang Xin’s company, I felt as if I had been hit on the head with a heavy hammer. I was dizzy and could hardly stand up straight.
The cleaning lady came over with a bucket and turned off the corridor lights.
I grabbed the lady and asked.
“Has this company closed?”
The lady was confused. “What closing? They just got off work!”
“When did they get off work?”
The cleaning lady looked speechless. “How would I know? But when I came to clean at seven o’clock, the door here was already locked.”
It was 9:30 p.m. now.
Fang Xuening’s company got off work at six o’clock. The building cleaner came to clean at seven o’clock and the door was already locked. This meant that the overtime and meeting she mentioned were completely made up.
I left the building in a daze.
At this moment, I couldn’t tell whether I was more sad that Fang Xuening had cuckolded me or more pained by Wang Xin’s betrayal.
One was my wife who I had slept with for seven years, and the other was my best friend who I had been brothers with for more than twenty years!
The two of them actually joined forces to deceive me and played me like a fool.
Why?
Why on earth?
I didn’t want to believe that such a cruel thing could happen to me.
When I wandered back home and saw the dark and empty house, I suddenly laughed at myself.
Liao Siyuan, look at how failed you are as a man!
These two people’s clumsy tricks could play you around. If you don’t wear the green hat, who will?
I wiped my face and forced myself to cheer up.
Since these two scumbags were unkind first, don’t blame me for being unrighteous.
I bought a pinhole camera in the same city and installed it in our bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc.
Then I pretended nothing had happened and pretended to get along well with Fang Xuening to lull their nerves.
Sure enough, after a period of calm, Fang Xuening got tired of being nice to me and soon returned to her cold self.
I pretended not to notice.
After a few days, I decided to create an opportunity for Fang Xuening and Wang Xin to meet privately.
“At the end of the year, I received an invitation from the Dou X platform, inviting outstanding creators to participate in the annual meeting. I thought that I haven’t been out much in the past two years, so I might as well take this opportunity to go out for a walk.”
Fang Xuening was swiping her phone without looking up.
“Whatever.”
I sneered in my heart but pretended to be worried on my face.
“But what about your meals? Who will take care of you when I’m gone? Maybe I should just forget it.”
Fang Xuening finally looked up from her phone screen, frowning.
“I’m an adult. Don’t I know how to take care of myself? If you want to go, just go. Don’t use me as an excuse.”
8
I told Fang Xuening that I would be away for about a week.
In fact, I just found a hotel to stay in and then observed Fang Xuening’s every move through the APP supporting the cameras I installed.
Although I had prepared myself mentally, when I saw that Wang Xin couldn’t wait to show up at my home on the day I left, I still couldn’t help but smash the cup beside me.
Fang Xuening was like a seductive woman, clinging to Wang Xin, putting her arms around his neck and offering kisses actively.
Wang Xin dodged a bit. “Is he really not at home?”
“He’s not. He won’t be back this week. He said he’s going to an annual meeting or something.”
“Oh, well. That saves you from making excuses to go on business trips.”
Then, Wang Xin slapped Fang Xuening’s hand away. “So eager? Is Siyuan not good enough?”
Fang Xuening pouted. “What are you talking about? Since I’ve been with you, I haven’t let him touch me. You’re still suspecting my loyalty!”
Wang Xin smiled and coaxed her. “Don’t worry. Anyway, Siyuan is not at home. We have plenty of time to fool around. I’ll definitely satisfy you, my little loyal lady.”
Fang Xuening then smiled. “Okay, but next time when I report on my work, I want an A for my performance.”
“Sure. I’ll give you the lion’s share of the team’s project bonus at the end of the year.”
The two were like an affectionate couple, whispering to each other and then hugging.
I endured the humiliation and saved these surveillance videos.
These days, I not only filmed their sweet daily life at home but also many intimate scenes that were too embarrassing to watch.
I never thought that Fang Xuening, who was so cold to me and impatient when I touched her, would fawn on Wang Xin so humbly, even losing her self – respect.
And Wang Xin was like a master, enjoying Fang Xuening’s service with an air of superiority.
This was the wife I cherished, and this was the good brother I trusted completely!
A week later, I returned to that filthy home.
Although Fang Xuening had thoroughly cleaned the house after Wang Xin left, making it spotless everywhere, I still felt that the place was dirty and stinky. I couldn’t stay there for even a second.
I packed my things and left home directly.
Then, with the specialties I bought casually from a local products store, I made an appointment to meet Wang Xin.
9
When I handed the specialties to Wang Xin, he smiled and said I was too polite.
I stared closely into his eyes. “During the week I was away, did Fang Xuening do anything out of line?”
Wang Xin’s hand paused. “What out of line? No… Damn, you still suspect your wife, don’t you?”
“Lao Liao, I have to talk to you. They say a man should be broad – minded. I think you’ve been watching too many TV dramas at home. In real life, there aren’t so many cheating and cuckolding plots. “
Looking at him speaking brazenly in front of me, how could I not have noticed the disdain in his words for me before?
It seemed that the so – called good brother and good friend were just my wishful thinking.
The last trace of hesitation in my heart about whether to expose all this disappeared without a trace at this moment.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Then I invited Wang Xin. “My father – in – law is going to celebrate his 65th birthday next week. Come and have a drink.”
He hesitated a bit. “This is a family banquet. It might not be appropriate for me to show up, right?”
I laughed. “What’s inappropriate? My father – in – law is going to make a big deal of it this time. You’re my brother and Xuening’s boss. Of course, you’re one of the family.”
Wang Xin then agreed.
The idea of the birthday banquet was mine. My father – in – law originally just wanted to have a meal with relatives and friends at home. I patted my chest and said I would make it a grand event.
I said he was a well – known teacher at a key high school in our local area, respected by his colleagues at school and neighbors. This was his first birthday after retirement, and it should be taken seriously.
These words convinced my father – in – law, who cared a lot about his reputation and was always proud of his daughter who graduated from a 985 key university.
When talking to others, he would mention his daughter’s achievements every three sentences.
Over the years, he had been very critical of me because I didn’t go to work. He looked down on me. Last year, when I visited during the second day of the Lunar New Year, he privately tried to persuade Fang Xuening to divorce me because of my so – called “asthenospermia”.
Fang Xuening had never told me about this.
I once thought she had some feelings for me.
Now I knew that Fang Xuening didn’t mention divorce just because her married status wouldn’t arouse suspicion about her relationship with Wang Xin.
For this birthday banquet of my father – in – law, I specially booked the most luxurious five – star hotel ballroom in the city in advance.
Not only relatives and friends but also my father – in – law’s old colleagues from school, the principal, and his former students would be present.
My father – in – law said he didn’t need to make such a big fuss, but the smile that never left his face after seeing the banquet venue showed his true feelings.
On the day of the birthday banquet, Wang Xin arrived with his wife.
When Fang Xuening saw Wang Xin, she personally went to greet him and introduced him to my father – in – law very enthusiastically. “Dad, this is my boss at the company.”
Wang Xin gave a bottle of expensive liquor, and my father – in – law took it with a smile, giving Wang Xin, who looked smart, a kind look.
When he heard Fang Xuening introduce Wang Xin as my friend for many years, my father – in – law called me over and criticized me. “Xiao Liao, look at you. Your friend is already a senior executive of a listed company. What can you do? You’re a homebody! When relatives and friends ask me what you’re doing now, I can’t even say it! “
“Xue Ning has really had bad luck marrying you. Why don’t you learn from your friend and be more motivated? Let us old folks have some face!”
My parents also came to the birthday banquet.
They were sitting at the same table as my father – in – law and naturally heard him scolding me in public.
My mother was a bit indignant and wanted to say something, but my father stopped her.
My father’s face didn’t look good either.
Back then, I lied to both sets of parents that I had asthenospermia for Fang Xuening’s sake.
This made my parents feel inferior in front of the Fang family, always thinking that I had delayed their daughter.
Looking at my parents forcing smiles, I felt extremely guilty.
For a woman like Fang Xuening, I had made my parents lose face. I was really unfilial.
My father – in – law was still chattering about me.
“Look, this birthday banquet was organized by Xue Ning with both money and effort. What’s the use of having a son – in – law like you?”
10
At this time, most of the guests had arrived, and the sumptuous dishes were served one by one by the waiters.
The music that was playing stopped.
My father – in – law’s scolding voice happened to spread among the nearby tables of guests at this moment.
Wang Xin was sitting among them. Hearing my father – in – law praise him, he immediately stood up to toast my father – in – law.
“Uncle, you’re too kind. My brother is also very good. He takes care of the family and has a good temper!”
My father – in – law had drunk a few glasses of wine and was a bit tipsy. He sneered.
“Taking care of the family and having a good temper are not real advantages. A real man should strive for a career outside, support his family, and let his wife enjoy life. What about him? Humph…”
My parents’ faces turned black.
But because he was the birthday star, they didn’t want to refute.
“I think my daughter should have married a guy like you!”
“Dad!”
Seeing that my father – in – law was talking more and more out of line, Fang Xuening finally interrupted him.
My mother – in – law also took the wine glass from his hand, forced a smile, and tried to smooth things over. “The old man talks nonsense when he’s drunk. It’s all a joke, just a joke.”
The people present all laughed awkwardly.
But my father – in – law pushed my mother – in – law’s hand away. “What nonsense? Isn’t this the truth? He can’t have children and doesn’t have a job. He lives off his wife. Don’t you often complain at home? If I had known that Xiao Liao had such a good friend like Wang Xin, I might as well have married my daughter to him!”
At this time, Wang Xin’s wife, Liu Yu, suddenly turned black – faced.
Fang Xuening was also a bit flustered. “Dad, what are you talking about—”
Before she could finish, I stood up and said calmly.
“I’ve taken the blame for your daughter for many years. It’s time to make things clear.”
The whole place fell silent instantly, and everyone’s eyes turned to me.
I motioned to the waiter to give me the remote control and asked everyone to look at the projection on the stage.
Fang Xuening sensed something was wrong and grabbed me.
She asked in a low voice, gnashing her teeth. “Siyuan, what are you going to do?”
I smiled slightly, brushed off her arm, walked to the projector, and said loudly into the microphone.
“Dad, it’s your 65th birthday. I’ve prepared a special gift for you. Maybe after today, you’ll get what you want!”
Then, I pressed the remote control button.
11
It was a short surveillance video.
The screen clearly showed Fang Xuening and Wang Xin hugging and kissing in my living room.
Their intoxicated expressions and the ambiguous sounds of their lips and tongues touching were clearly seen and heard by everyone.
I stood on the stage, looking at Wang Xin and Fang Xuening below.
Wang Xin looked completely incredulous, and Fang Xuening was completely frozen in place.
I laughed, pressed the pause button, and said into the microphone.
“How about it, Dad? The man you think is good is having an affair with your daughter. Is this surprise good?”
My father – in – law’s eyes were dull, and he didn’t react for a moment.
I continued.
“Wang Xin is Fang Xuening’s boss. The two of them have been hanging out together for a long time under the pretext of overtime and business trips. My father – in – law, you’ve always been proud of teaching such an excellent daughter. Yes, I admit that Fang Xuening is very good. She’s beautiful, smart, ambitious, graduated from a prestigious university, and currently holds a middle – management position in a large company. It’s not impossible for her to be promoted to a senior executive in the future. “
“But who would have thought that her success in her career was achieved through cheating and trading sex for power?”
“Dad, or should I say, Teacher Fang, you must take a good look at how your proud daughter has been getting ahead in the workplace.”
I pressed the play button again, and the voices of Fang Xuening and Wang Xin clearly came from the speakers.
“…Next time when I report on my work, I want an A for my performance.”
“Sure. I’ll give you the lion’s share of the team’s project bonus at the end of the year.”
At this birthday banquet, Fang Xuening’s subordinates and colleagues were all present.
Seeing this, they looked at each other in disbelief.
“Damn…”
“I knew it. Manager Fang couldn’t even meet the KPI, but how come she got an A in performance every quarter…”
“Shh, keep your voice down. She has President Wang covering her. Didn’t you see that the team’s project bonus in our marketing department is mostly given to Manager Fang?”
“Damn it, why? Could it have been like this before? I worked so hard, but why was my project bonus at the end of the year so little? It turns out it was taken by her…”
Wang Xin got angry and rushed towards me.
“This is fake. It’s slander! It’s not me! It must be AI face – swapping!”
The waiters who had been arranged to maintain order in the venue immediately stopped Wang Xin.
I ignored Wang Xin and looked at Liu Yu, who was suppressing her anger beside him.
“Liu Yu, you’ve been married to Wang Xin for so many years. You should be the most certain whether the person in the video is him or not.”
Liu Yu’s face was ashen, and her chest was heaving.
When I asked her, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She grabbed Wang Xin’s collar and slapped him twice, left and right.
“I knew you were always perfunctory to me in bed. So you have another woman outside and can’t satisfy me anymore, right? You scumbag, you sleep with any dirty woman!”
Liu Yu had always been arrogant and always warned Wang Xin not to associate with a loser like me.
For her, the fact that Wang Xin slept with the wife of a loser like me was a great humiliation.
Fang Xuening’s face turned deathly pale, and she stood there, staggering.
12
“Siyuan, you… you calm down!”
My father motioned to me from below, meaning to save some face for the Fang family.
I gently shook my head.
“Dad, I think I’ve been more than kind to the Fang family over the years. Every time something happened to Fang Xuening’s family, wasn’t it me who paid and did the work? But in the end, they only thought it was their daughter’s credit. They only saw Fang Xuening. “
“Teacher Fang, you dislike me for staying at home without a job. Well, let me tell you, I was fired not because I was incompetent, but because I made an agreement with my superior to take the blame, so I got a large sum of compensation. To be honest, if I were to live alone, this compensation would be enough for me for the rest of my life. You ask your daughter. She goes to work, but has she contributed a single cent to the family’s expenses? “
“I’ve always been responsible for the mortgage, and I also pay for all the daily expenses. Isn’t this called supporting the family? Oh, are you saying I don’t give your daughter money? “
I directly showed my annual consumption bill on the projector, with a consumption of up to 500,000 yuan.
“One – third of it is for the mortgage, and another 200,000 yuan was used to buy a car for your daughter! Of course, she only drove the car for half a year before ‘lending’ it to you.”
My father – in – law was trembling all over, pointing his finger at me.
“You, you…”
I interrupted him. “So before you judge me in public for not bringing you face and not being worthy of your daughter, think about how much of my money you’ve used. You really have the nerve to say that!”
My father – in – law was so angry that his face turned red. He couldn’t catch his breath, took two steps back, and leaned on a chair to stand up straight.
My mother – in – law came out to smooth things over again. “Siyuan, we’re all family. Why talk about money? It hurts the feelings. You only see your own efforts. Why don’t you think about our family’s tolerance? Let’s not talk about anything else. Just talk about the fact that you have asthenospermia and can’t have children. Xue Ning and I have never complained about you, right?”
“Mom! No—”
Fang Xuening didn’t expect her mother to mention this in public and couldn’t stop her in time.
Only she knew why I said I had asthenospermia.
Seeing that she couldn’t stop her mother, she turned her pleading eyes to me, moving her lips. “Siyuan, stop talking, okay?”
I ignored Fang Xuening and directly told the truth.
“Asthenospermia? Ha, I don’t have this problem at all. Back then, your daughter said she wanted to focus on her career but didn’t want to bear the pressure from you elders. Because I loved her, I used this excuse to silence you. But I never thought that in return for my whole – hearted love, she gave me a green hat!”
I questioned my father – in – law. “Teacher Fang, you’re a special – grade teacher in the city, and you’ve always been proud of Fang Xuening. Then I want to ask you, did you teach Fang Xuening to be snobbish, to cheat and break up a family, and to trample on others’ sincerity? So this is the family education you’re proud of? I really can’t agree.”
After these questions, my father – in – law’s face turned a mixture of green and red. He couldn’t say anything and simply closed his eyes and fell backward.
My mother – in – law and Fang Xuening exclaimed and rushed to support his falling body.
“Dad!”
“Honey!”
My father – in – law was usually in good health. Judging from the way his eyeballs were moving under his eyelids, I knew he was faking it.
I sneered coldly. “Don’t pretend to faint. This birthday banquet was ‘organized with both money and effort’ by your daughter. You should enjoy it well. I won’t keep you company. Don’t forget to remind your daughter to pay the bill later.”
After saying that, I threw down the microphone, grabbed my parents, and left with a swagger.
13
Back home, my mother kept asking me what had happened.
“Oh, before, I worked so hard for the Fang family, but the old couple only credited Fang Xuening. So this time, I deliberately persuaded them to hold a grand birthday banquet. But they didn’t know that I actually used Fang Xuening’s information to book the venue and paid a deposit of 20,000 yuan. The rest of the expenses will have to be paid by Fang Xuening herself. Who asked them to take my help for granted without showing any gratitude? This expense is enough to give their family a hard time.”
My father – in – law was a special – grade teacher, and my mother – in – law was a housewife. Their family was not poor, but not extremely wealthy either.
This time, we used the venue of a five – star hotel. My father – in – law, who cared about his reputation, ordered a 6,000 – yuan – per – table banquet, with about twenty to thirty tables in total. Plus miscellaneous expenses, it would cost at least 200,000 yuan.
My father – in – law’s monthly retirement salary was only over 8,000 yuan. Fang Xuening always spent her own money on herself and was unlikely to support her father. Paying this money would surely hurt the Fang family financially.
And the 20,000 yuan I spent was considered as the property I gave her in the divorce.
“Is that what I’m asking about? I’m asking about the asthenospermia thing. Are you telling the truth? You’re not just being stubborn to save face, are you?”
I looked at my parents guiltily and nodded. “It’s all my fault for being so naive, making you two suffer.”
My mother suddenly covered her mouth and burst into tears, pounding me several times. “You silly child, what kind of excuse is that? I was so worried, thinking you really had this problem and that Fang Xuening would leave you…”
My father took over my mother’s words in a deep voice. “Parents are always thinking about their children. Have you ever thought that although you said it casually, we’ve been worrying about it in our hearts and getting anxious for you?”
I knelt down obediently in front of my parents and kowtowed to apologize.
“Mom and Dad, I was wrong!”
My father sighed. “Well, it’s best that you don’t have the problem. But what exactly happened between you two? Making such a scene today, are you really planning to never see each other again?”
My father had always believed in the principle of “leave some leeway in everything for future encounters” and instinctively didn’t want things to get so ugly.
“Are you kidding? She not only cuckolded our son but also her whole family looked down on him. Look, they belittled Siyuan to nothing in front of so many people. What about behind his back?”
“I say, divorce. Definitely divorce. I’d rather my son be single for the rest of his life than have such a daughter – in – law and in – laws!”
My mother wiped away her tears and said harshly.
I was also worried that my father would be soft – hearted, so I told them the whole story.
When they heard that Fang Xuening had even had an abortion for Wang Xin and was unwilling to have a child with me, my father also fell silent.
Finally, he let out a long sigh. “From now on, we won’t interfere in this matter. You handle it yourself.”
14
After the birthday banquet, I directly sent Fang Xuening a divorce agreement.
I heard that after I left with my parents that day, the scene was in chaos.
Fang Xuening wanted to chase after me and stop me, but was grabbed by Wang Xin’s wife, Liu Yu, and beaten severely.
Wang Xin didn’t get off lightly either. Liu Yu was proud and couldn’t tolerate her husband fooling around outside. She immediately filed for divorce on the spot.
It was said that before leaving, Liu Yu deliberately went to my father – in – law and taunted him. “No wonder you praised Wang Xin. Did you already know that your daughter was rushing to be his mistress?”
These words made my father – in – law so angry that he really couldn’t catch his breath and fell to the ground with his eyes rolled back.
He was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment and ended up having a stroke. He couldn’t move freely for the rest of his life.
After receiving my divorce agreement, Fang Xuening, accompanied by her mother, came to my house.
But my father and mother, who already knew all the ins and outs, refused to open the door.
Fang Xuening had no choice but to call me and beg me to meet.
After thinking about it, I agreed.
Fang Xuening’s mother was also there. When she saw me, her face looked very bad, but she still forced a smile.
Fang Xuening didn’t say a word, just nodded to me.
As soon as I sat down, my mother – in – law started complaining non – stop.
“Siyuan, we were a couple. Why do you have to be so ruthless? I know my Xiaoxue did something wrong to you first, but she’s a girl after all. If you do this, aren’t you ruining her reputation…”
I came to talk about divorce, not to listen to these complaints.
Fang Xuening was also ridiculous. She begged me to meet on the phone, but then pretended to be cold and sad when we met. What, did she still expect me to fawn over her like a dog?
I stood up directly. “If we’re not talking about divorce, then I’m leaving. Bye.”
Seeing that I was so uncooperative, my mother – in – law was stunned.
Fang Xuening finally moved. She quickly stood up, grabbed my wrist, and lowered her proud head.
“…I was wrong. Give me some time to explain, okay?”
I didn’t want to listen to this nonsense at first, but then I thought that I also wanted to know why she cheated, especially with my best friend.
So I sat down with my arms folded.
Fang Xuening opened her mouth and began to talk about her state of mind.
It turned out that she didn’t like me much from the beginning. She just thought I was an economic and practical man, and my parents were in business with a good family background, so she chose to marry me.
According to her, she also wanted to live a good life with me, but I couldn’t help her in her career. Wang Xin, on the other hand, was in the same company as her and took good care of her. Gradually, she fell for him.
She said that Wang Xin could promote her, give her raises, open doors for her, and was good at sweet – talking. He would also support her when she was in trouble. All I did was study food at home all day, had no big ambitions, and couldn’t provide her with emotional support.
Anyway, the main idea was that I was also at fault, otherwise she wouldn’t have cheated.
My mother – in – law also followed her daughter’s words.
“Yeah, it takes two to tango. When there are problems in a marriage, it can’t be one – sided. What I mean is, let’s not keep blaming each other. Can we just let this go?”
I sneered and looked at Fang Xuening. “Do you think so too?”
Fang Xuening avoided my gaze. “I don’t want to divorce. After all, you’re really a good person. This time, consider it my fault. Forgive me, okay? And about the child, it’s easy to talk about. I’ll give you a child.”
Consider it her fault? Give me a child?
She really knew how to gloss over the important things.
I snorted, took out the two pieces of paper I had printed – the pregnancy test form and the hospital discharge summary – and slapped them in front of the mother – daughter pair.
“Fang Xuening, I will never let a promiscuous woman like you be the mother of my child.”
My mother – in – law saw clearly what these two pieces of paper were. All the color drained from her face, and she grabbed Fang Xuening. “What’s going on?”
Fang Xuening’s face also lost all color. She looked at the two pieces of paper and asked me in disbelief.
“…So you suspected me and Wang Xin because of this?”
I didn’t answer her question and stood up to leave. “Sign the divorce agreement as soon as possible. You don’t want your reputation to get any worse, do you?”
15
Fang Xuening finally got a divorce from me.
After all, she didn’t know how much dirt I had on her, and the Fang family really couldn’t afford any more trouble.
Of course, there was a dispute over property division.
Unfortunately, Fang Xuening never paid attention to how much money I earned from doing self – media, so she didn’t even know that I had transferred all my income. The controversial part was the property. But I had paid the down – payment for the house, and I had been paying the mortgage after marriage. She couldn’t produce any proof of contributing to the mortgage, so the property right finally remained mine.
The 20,000 yuan I spent on booking the birthday banquet was the property I gave her in advance.
The Fang family was angry but helpless.
To be honest, if Fang Xuening had paid a little attention to me, she would have known that I was doing quite well in self – media and had a considerable income.
Unfortunately, her whole family looked down on me, thinking that what I was doing was insignificant. So I transferred the property with a clear conscience.
It was their own fault.
Half a month after getting the divorce certificate.
Wang Xin, the other protagonist in this turmoil, invited me to meet.
Wang Xin, who used to be well – dressed and energetic, looked much more down – and – out.
He had a stubbly beard, was unkempt, and no longer wore expensive custom – made suits but ordinary casual clothes.
He looked at least ten years older.
When I sat down, he gave a bitter smile. “It’s rare that you’re still willing to come out and see me.”
I looked at him. “Why?”
I only wanted to ask this question.
Why, for a woman, did he ignore our friendship of more than twenty years growing up together?
In this whole thing, I hated Wang Xin more than Fang Xuening.
His betrayal made me doubt myself for a long time. I wondered how much of a failure I was as a person.
I thought I had never hurt Wang Xin over the years, but I also wanted to hear his thoughts. Maybe in his eyes, I had really done something wrong.
But Wang Xin didn’t answer my question. Instead, he started rambling about his current situation.
“…Liu Yu divorced me. But she hates me and Fang Xuening. After the divorce, she sent a letter of complaint to the company. My position as a senior executive is also unstable. Others seized on this personal matter of mine to attack me…”
His abuse of power, using business trips and other excuses to travel and have private meetings with Fang Xuening, was exposed. Because it involved a senior executive, the headquarters directly set up an investigation team. As a result, it was found that Wang Xin and Fang Xuening had various acts of false reimbursement, embezzling public funds, and misappropriating project bonuses.
Now Wang Xin has been suspended. Once the company sues, Wang Xin and Fang Xuening are likely to go to jail.
“Seeing my end like this, are you satisfied?”
He asked me.
I shook my head.
Wang Xin was stunned.
He wouldn’t understand. When I witnessed his affair with Fang Xuening with my own eyes, what I thought in my mind was that if this matter was exposed, how could we still be friends in the future.
When I exposed all this at the birthday banquet, I scolded my father – in – law and Fang Xuening, but I didn’t specifically mention Wang Xin much.
But what was he saying now?
That I would be satisfied and cheer at his tragic end?
In his heart, was I such a person who would kick someone when they were down?
At this moment, I suddenly felt relieved. I didn’t care why he cuckolded me anymore.
We were simply not on the same path.
I stood up and left.
Wang Xin chased out in a disheveled state, shouting at me from behind.
“You just want to know why I cuckolded you, right? Yes, I did it on purpose! Whether your wife was Fang Xuening or Li Xuening, as long as she was your wife, I would seduce her! Why do you have a complete family with both parents since childhood? I just wanted to destroy your family and let you taste the feeling of a broken family… You have the guts to listen to me, Liao Siyuan. Stand still if you’re a man!”
I waved my hand behind me, leaving him behind.
Once I realized that he was just a passer – by in my life, I didn’t care what he said anymore.
16
But my parents were more resentful about Wang Xin stabbing me in the back and cuckolding me.
My mother was so angry that she cursed Wang Xin. “Back then, seeing that his mother ran away and his father beat him when drunk, we felt sorry for him and invited him to our house for meals. And now he repays us like this? Can we still be good people in the future?”
Wang Xin’s father was a well – known drunk in our area. He would beat people when drunk, and Wang Xin’s mother couldn’t stand it and ran away, leaving Wang Xin alone as his father’s punching bag.
My father couldn’t stand it and scolded Wang Xin’s father. My mother, feeling sorry that Wang Xin couldn’t have a hot meal, invited him to our house. That’s how we got to know each other.
He once even recognized my parents as his godfather and godmother, saying that we were closer than real brothers. Who knew he had always been jealous of my happy family in his heart?
I comforted my mother. “Forget it. Some people just aren’t worth it. Don’t get angry for such unworthy people.”
After that, I didn’t pay attention to Wang Xin and Fang Xuening anymore.
Until half a year later, when my mother arranged a blind date for me, she mentioned it.
“Your ex – wife and Wang Xin have gone to jail. Wang Xin called us after he was locked up, saying he wanted to see you, but I refused.”
Only then did I know that Wang Xin’s company found out that he had embezzled a large amount of public funds in the past two years, and Fang Xuening was also involved in helping him dispose of the stolen money. The two were arrested for economic crimes. In the end, one was sentenced to five years in prison and the other to three years.
“This girl named Zhao is nice. She’s the eldest daughter of Aunt Wang’s family. You two played together when you were kids. Do you want to meet her?”
I nodded.
Time passed. The old people had completely left my world. It was time for me to start a new life.
(The End)
