After ending the video chat with Mi Cai, I sat in her room for a while, flipping through the books and clothes she had left behind, longing for her. When I got tired, I lay down on her bed. At the moment I closed my eyes, I suddenly thought of Yan Yan. However, the image I imagined of her bore a sorrowful expression.
I quickly opened my eyes and sat up. Instinctively, I reached for a cigarette from the drawer beside the bed and lit it, but I didn’t have the courage to imagine how heartbroken Yan Yan must be after learning about Fang Yuan’s infidelity.
I couldn’t help but ask myself, if one day I married Mi Cai and the novelty of life wore off under the weight of daily trivialities, would I make the same choice as Fang Yuan?
I stopped myself from imagining further, then slapped my own face, scolding myself for having such thoughts. After all, it was not yet confirmed whether Fang Yuan had actually been unfaithful. Why should I hastily accuse him of having an affair?
I stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette, picked up my phone, and was about to go back to my room when suddenly the phone rang. I looked at the number—it was Jian Wei calling.
Still puzzled, I answered the call. “What’s going on?”
“Ten minutes. Come to the Shangri-La Hotel right now.”
Jian Wei’s voice was cold. After saying that, she hung up immediately. It took me about 30 seconds to fully process what she had said before I hurriedly put on my coat and grabbed my car keys, rushing downstairs.
…
Ten minutes later, I drove to the open-air parking lot of the Shangri-La Hotel. Jian Wei’s bright red Cadillac was very noticeable, and I recognized it immediately. I drove my car next to hers and parked.
Jian Wei rolled down her window, signaling me to get into her car. I nodded, opened the passenger door, and sat beside her. I noticed her expression was colder than ice, so I couldn’t help but ask, “What’s really going on?”
She pointed her hand toward the front right direction. I followed her gaze and felt a chill on my scalp—there was Fang Yuan’s car. At that moment, whoever was in the hotel room with him could only be Mi Lan.
I ran both hands over my face hard, trying to calm myself before asking Jian Wei, “How did you find him so quickly?”
Without changing her expression, she replied, “After we parted just now, I called Yan Yan. She said Fang Yuan hadn’t returned yet, so I sent a group message to all company employees who had cars, asking them to look for Fang Yuan’s car in every hotel across Suzhou. Eventually, we found him here.”
I nodded. This indeed fit her usual decisive and efficient style.
Jian Wei said bitterly, “Shall we go up now and catch that immoral couple in the act, or wait here?”
“Hotels won’t easily disclose room numbers. Let’s wait. Eventually, he will have to go home.” I said this while lighting another cigarette, weighed down by heavy emotions.
Jian Wei angrily slammed her palm on the center console, venting her fury…
…
Half an hour later, Fang Yuan indeed walked out from the hotel lobby with Mi Lan in his arms, both chatting and laughing, their actions very intimate.
Jian Wei and I simultaneously opened our car doors and stepped out. Jian Wei glared at Fang Yuan and Mi Lan, while I remained silent, filled with disappointment toward Fang Yuan.
Suddenly seeing me and Jian Wei, Fang Yuan was as if frozen in place, his arm still resting on Mi Lan’s shoulder without letting go.
Jian Wei quickly approached Fang Yuan, raised her hand, and slapped him hard across the face, furiously shouting, “Fang Yuan, you’re nothing but an animal! Do you feel any remorse toward Yan Yan who has been with you for so many years?”
Fang Yuan covered his cheek but avoided Jian Wei’s furious gaze. Mi Lan beside him glared at Jian Wei and asked, “Who the hell are you? Why did you hit me?”
This question shifted Jian Wei’s attention from Fang Yuan. She looked at Mi Lan, then suddenly struck her with another hard slap across the face. Blood immediately flowed from Mi Lan’s mouth. She looked at Jian Wei in disbelief, probably never having been treated this way in her entire life.
Regaining her senses, Mi Lan tried to slap Jian Wei back, but I grabbed her hand before she could succeed. Taking advantage of the moment, Jian Wei slapped her again, leaving five bright red finger marks on Mi Lan’s delicate face.
Jian Wei spoke coldly, like a blade of ice, to Mi Lan, “To others, you may be the daughter of Zhuo Mei’s chairman, but to me, you’re just a shameless mistress. I hit you today because you deserve it—you need some discipline.”
Mi Lan was completely enraged. She struggled violently against my grip and screamed hysterically at Jian Wei, “Are you out of your mind?! Who the hell do you think you are? I swear you’ll regret this!”
Facing Mi Lan’s outburst, Jian Wei showed only disdain and said, “You want to know who I am? Fine, I’ll tell you now. My name is Jian Wei, and I’m the best friend of Fang Yuan’s wife. If you think that’s not enough information, I can give you my business card. If you dare, come find me.” She pulled a business card from her wallet, opened Mi Lan’s collar, and shoved the card inside.
Unable to free herself from my grip, Mi Lan cried out to Fang Yuan, “Are you just going to stand there and let them treat me like this?”
Fang Yuan, who had remained silent with his head down, finally looked at Jian Wei and said, “Jian Wei, please stop. It’s my fault, not Mi Lan’s. If you have any anger, take it out on me. Hit me, scold me—whatever you want.”
Jian Wei ignored Fang Yuan. I finally released Mi Lan, who had stopped struggling. Fang Yuan promptly stepped in front of Mi Lan, shielding her from further confrontation with Jian Wei.
More and more people gathered around. To prevent the situation from escalating further, Fang Yuan said to Mi Lan, “You should go back now. I’ll handle the rest.”
Mi Lan continued to glare hatefully at me and Jian Wei. Someone in the crowd seemed to have recognized her identity. For the sake of protecting her reputation, Fang Yuan led her toward his car, pushed her inside, handed her the car keys, and signaled her to leave immediately. After all, she was the daughter of Mi Zhongde. Such a scandal would damage the reputation of Zhuo Mei.
Mi Lan seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation and drove Fang Yuan’s car out of the hotel…
At the scene, only Fang Yuan, Jian Wei, and I remained. Jian Wei was still furious. She took her phone out from her handbag. Fang Yuan nervously asked, “What are you going to do?”
“Call Yan Yan.”
Fang Yuan desperately grabbed the phone from Jian Wei’s hand and begged her, “Vivi, don’t tell Yan Yan. Please, don’t tell Yan Yan.”
“What a disgusting man! Now you’re afraid? Where was your conscience earlier?”
Fang Yuan then looked at me for help. His behavior at this moment made me realize that, in fact, he still had feelings for Yan Yan as husband and wife. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so afraid of her finding out about his infidelity.
After a deep sigh, I said to Jian Wei, “Let’s find a place to sit down first. This isn’t the right place to talk.”
Jian Wei finally didn’t object further. She walked alone toward her car first. I looked at Fang Yuan, who stood there like a statue, and said, “Don’t just stand there. Let’s go.”
Fang Yuan nodded. Then Jian Wei and I each started our cars and quickly drove away from that chaotic place.
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