In all his years, Fu Liangmu had never experienced such an overwhelming sense of defeat. The oppressive aura around him grew heavier by the second, stifling the air like a storm on the verge of breaking.
Su Wanwan spoke gently, her tone soothing and soft."You can be mad at me if you must, but don't take it out on your body.""It's already this late—you haven't even had lunch. Aren't you afraid of triggering your gastritis?"
She lifted the bowl of noodles and offered it to him once more.
But Fu Liangmu's heart was a tangled mess, his mind clouded with frustration. He stood abruptly, intent on leaving."I told you—I'm not eating—"
Yet as he rose too quickly, he accidentally collided with her.
Crash.
The bowl slipped from Su Wanwan's hands and shattered into pieces on the floor, noodles scattering everywhere.
Fu Liangmu froze, stunned—he hadn't meant to do that.
Su Wanwan let out a weary sigh and bent down to clean the mess."What happened to your hand?" Fu Liangmu noticed the band-aid wrapped around her slender fingers.
Su Wanwan's lips tightened. She said nothing.
At that moment, the half-closed study door was pushed open from the outside. The old madam stepped in, her eyes blazing with fury at the sight before her."Fu Liangmu, are you trying to bring the house down? Wanwan made you a meal out of kindness, and this is how you repay her?!""If you don't want to eat, fine! But why smash the bowl?!"
Su Wanwan quickly tried to explain."Grandma, it was my fault—I lost grip of the bowl—"
"Stop covering for him!" the old madam snapped. "I know exactly what kind of person my grandson is!"
She pulled Su Wanwan up and shielded her protectively, like a lioness ready to defend her cub."Let's go, Wanwan. Don't waste your time with him. Let him cool off on his own."
With that, she took Su Wanwan's hand and led her away.
On the way downstairs, Su Wanwan held onto the frail old lady to keep her from stumbling."Grandma, it's really not what you think…"
The old madam patted her hand and settled onto the sofa."Enough. No need to explain. He's my grandson—I know him better than anyone.""I saw what people are saying online."
Su Wanwan blinked in surprise."You… you go online?"
At her age, even using a smartphone was impressive.
"Of course I do! I surf the web all the time!" The old lady raised her chin proudly, her face wrinkled yet kind, wearing a smug smile.
Su Wanwan chuckled, her heart warmed."You're amazing."
"No, you're the amazing one. Who would've thought? That hopeless grandson of mine actually married a treasure."
There was pride in her voice, but also a tinge of regret—as if a flower had bloomed in a pile of dung. Even the little hellion of the house was better than Fu Liangmu!
Su Wanwan's cheeks turned pink. She waved her hand shyly."Grandma…"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. As for all that nonsense online—don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll stand by your side. The entire Fu family will. Remember that."
Her tone suddenly turned solemn.
She had long noticed the video of Su Wanwan and Su Nian and had once mentioned it to Fu Liangmu. He had brushed it off, saying Wanwan knew how to handle it. So she hadn't stepped in.
Now, even though it was clear Wanwan had done nothing wrong, she couldn't shake the feeling that the girl had been wronged.
"I understand."
Just then, Uncle Zhang, the butler, entered."Madam, the young master is here."
The old lady nodded and stood up."Alright. Wanwan, you talk to him. I'm going to take my nap."
"Okay."
Soon, Fu Ziyang came bursting in from outside, hair newly dyed chestnut brown, slicked back with gel. He wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a giant skull and looked positively ecstatic as he grabbed her hand.
"Oh my god, oh my god! I'm holding a pianist's hand!"
Su Wanwan blinked awkwardly and tried to pull away, but his grip was firm.
"I regret it! I regret it so much! I didn't go to the concert! I missed it! Now I can only watch the replay!"
"Okay, let go first."
Su Wanwan's hand was turning red from his grasp.
But Fu Ziyang ignored her, eyes sparkling."No, wait! I need a picture for my feed! You gained hundreds of thousands of followers overnight—can't you share a few with me? And give me an autograph while you're at it?"
A figure appeared behind him and yanked him back. Fu Ziyang stumbled and barely caught himself on the sofa.
"Big bro, what's your problem?!"
"She told you to let go. Are you deaf?"
Fu Liangmu's eyes were cold and dark, his bangs partially shadowing his gaze.
Fu Ziyang shivered, offering a sheepish smile."Sorry, I got carried away. Hehe…"
Su Wanwan glanced at Fu Liangmu but said nothing, remaining quietly seated.
Fu Liangmu's voice was icy as he addressed Fu Ziyang."Do you have any business here? If not, get out."
Fu Ziyang scratched his nose, utterly confused."Bro, did you eat gunpowder today or something?"
Fu Liangmu shot him a chilling look.
Terrified, Fu Ziyang stood up, not knowing where to put his hands."Fine… I'm leaving, I'm leaving…"
As he exited, he made a gesture at Su Wanwan to keep in touch via phone.
Once he was gone, the living room fell silent, leaving only the two of them.
Su Wanwan stood, only for Fu Liangmu to grab her hand."I'm hungry."
She replied indifferently,"And what does that have to do with me? Weren't you the one who refused to eat?"
"I didn't get to eat the noodles."
His voice held a trace of petulance.
"Then ask the chef to make you another bowl. It's not like we don't have staff."
Su Wanwan shook off his hand and headed upstairs without a glance back.
Back in her room, she sat at her desk and pulled out an unfinished design sketch. But after half an hour, her hand was stiff from holding the pen, and not a single new line had been added to the paper.
With a sharp thud, she set the pen down and marched downstairs into the kitchen."Where's Fu Liangmu?"
The chef shook his head.
"Did he eat anything?"
"No one asked us to prepare food."
Su Wanwan sighed and began making noodles again.
Perhaps out of a vindictive impulse, her hand "slipped" while adding salt—and an extra spoonful went in.
She brought the bowl to him and slammed it onto the table.
The balance of power between them had completely shifted.
She said just one word."Eat."
Fu Liangmu picked up the chopsticks without protest and took a big mouthful.
Then paused.
"Is it good?" Su Wanwan leaned closer, smiling sweetly, her almond-shaped eyes glinting with mischief.
Fu Liangmu swallowed, his pace unrelenting."Mm. Delicious."