Everyone in the room stiffened, panic and tension hanging thickly in the air. Wang Lingxuan wanted to step forward, to comfort her, but words failed him. He had never… never… felt his heart twist like this before, seeing tears stream down the face of a girl he had just met today. Fang Liyun immediately reached out, grasping Wu Qingyi's trembling hand. "Dear… baby, what happened? Why are you crying?" she asked softly, her voice gentle, full of concern. Wu Qingyi's sobs continued for a few moments, each one shaking her small frame. When she finally spoke, her voice was raw, laden with remorse. "Sorry… pretty sister. I… I misunderstood you before."
The words hung in the air, and confusion rippled through everyone present. Fang Liyun's mind raced, thinking Wu Qingyi might be referring to her own identity, the earlier misunderstanding that she was a poor, struggling woman. But then Wu Qingyi continued, her voice catching, "I… I am really, really sorry… I thought you had abandoned my husband, just like the rest of his family. I thought… I thought no one cared for him and that he was alone." Her tears fell faster now, but there was a light behind them, a fierce determination shining through. "But now… now I understand. You've been working in secret, tirelessly, just to save money for him." She took a shaky breath, steadied herself, and pressed on. "But you don't need to worry anymore. I will take care of his treatment, I will make sure he gets well soon. My family… I have received a silk shop and a transport business from them. I can work hard and earn from that. And there are precious paintings and stones, we can sell those. The money we get, we can invest in the business and use for my husband's treatment."
Silence settled over the room, heavy and profound. Today had been full of such moments, times when Wu Qingyi's words had silenced everyone, leaving hearts and minds spinning. Fang Liyun's chest tightened as she reflected on her own earlier reactions, the fury and despair she had felt back at the old house when she heard that the Liu family had replaced the bride with someone they claimed to be mentally challenged. But now… now, looking at Wu Qingyi, her heart swelled with warmth and relief. No one… no one… could love or care for her son the way this girl did. She was gentle, intelligent, steadfast, and fiercely devoted all at once.
Yet a pang of worry struck her. Wu Qingyi, her beloved daughter-in-law, still believed that her in-laws had abandoned her husband. Fang Liyun's brows knitted tightly, she could not let such a thought linger. She had to set things straight. "We didn't abandon him," she said softly, choosing her words carefully. "It's just… he needs to receive treatment in private, and the doctor recommended a change of environment." Su Nian glanced at her boss, her eyes narrowing slightly. She knew the truth, the real reason behind her young master's solitary stay.
Wang Lingxuan had grown harsh, quick to anger over the smallest irritations, constantly grumbling, and bossy even toward his own mother. His father, exhausted by his unyielding attitude, had insisted he stay away from the family to reflect on his behaviour. Even so, he had not been left to suffer. He had every comfort: 24-hour medical supervision, multiple housemaids, strong bodyguards, and every facility a young man of his status could need. Yet here he was, residing in a modest single-room apartment, which, if anyone saw this, they would seem to believe about young master's neglect or abandonment. No one could guess that Fang Liyun's words were a careful lie, a shield to build Wu Qingyi's trust and love for Wang family.
Wu Qingyi remained silent for a long moment, her eyes lowering as if trying to absorb every unsaid word. Finally, her voice, soft and tentative, broke the quiet. "Really… my hubby wasn't abandoned?" Fang Liyun instinctively nodded, about to reassure her, when Wang Lingxuan's voice cut in - low, almost sorrowful, yet steady. "Yes," he said, his tone carrying a weight that made the air around them heavy.
"They didn't abandon me… but my father… he has no time for me. He alone has to save the Wang family business ever since I stepped down from the CEO position. My mother… she works so hard, trying to save money for my treatment. My grandparents… they're old and unwell, and they need to take care of themselves. My uncle and aunt… they have their own children to raise, their own struggles to survive." As he spoke, his expression fell into a profound sadness, a sorrow so raw and lonely that it mirrored the helplessness of a forsaken puppy. Everyone in the room froze, hearts clenching and breaths caught in their throats. No one could quite believe the sight of Wang Lingxuan, this proud young master of the Wang family, expressing such vulnerability.
Fang Liyun felt a strange tightness in her chest as she listened to her son. Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to her husband. Saving the Wang family business alone?
In truth, her husband rarely "saved" anything personally. A single word from him was enough to set an entire team of executives scrambling. Reports were delivered to his desk on time, decisions executed flawlessly, and by evening he would return home unhurried, just in time to sit across from her at dinner, discussing trivial matters as if the empire under his name ran itself.
Beside her, Su Nian's expression remained composed, but her mind was far from calm. Working hard to save money?
She almost laughed inwardly. Her boss conducted most of her "work" through phone calls made from the comfort of home. Actual office visits were rare, and supervision even rarer. If Madam Wang stepped out, it was usually for banquets, social engagements, or shopping and not for grinding work or exhausting labour. Saving money through toil was the last description that fit her.
Aunt Qiao's thoughts drifted to Old Master Wang, who still rose early each morning to practice calligraphy with steady hands, and to Old Madam Wang, whose complexion remained rosy, her spirit lively enough to scold the younger generation without missing a beat. Old and sick…
Aunt Qiao silently lit a candle for them in her heart. Who would have imagined that the healthiest elders in the Wang family would one day be described as frail and helpless by the grandson they doted on the most? No wonder people said a man forgot his parents after marrying a wife. In this case, he had not only forgotten his parents but had also swept his grandparents neatly into the same forgotten corner.
Wang Hao, standing to the side, felt his temple throb. His thoughts turned to the uncles and aunts of the Wang family - each one running businesses worth billions, schedules packed tighter than boardroom calendars, negotiations spanning cities and borders. Working just to survive? Struggling to fulfil basic needs?
He almost winced. Wang Hao wondered what their reactions would be if they heard these words spoken so earnestly by the young master. Whether they would laugh, cry, or demand an explanation on the spot, he truly could not say. One thing, however, was certain: if any of them heard this version of reality, the Wang family estate would not know peace for quite some time.
Wu Qingyi listened quietly, then nodded with surprising calm. "Alright, now I understand," she said softly. "Thankfully, my husband is loved by his family and now, I am the happiest and luckiest person to be a part of such a caring and loving family." She turned toward Wang Lingxuan, her eyes bright and unwavering. "Hubby, let's go get our marriage certificate." The atmosphere shifted instantly and everyone began to prepare. Wang Lingxuan changed into the navy-blue suit Wu Qingyi had chosen for him - clean lines, impeccable tailoring, the deep colour lending him an air of quiet dignity. Wu Qingyi emerged moments later in a silk dress of the same shade, the fabric flowing gracefully around her, the matching hue unmistakably marking them as a pair. Anyone who saw them would recognize at once that they were a couple, their outfits harmonized as naturally as their steps.
Fang Liyun and Su Nian also changed into the dresses Wu Qingyi had gifted them at the mall. The elegance of the fabric and the careful selection made them look refined yet effortless, as if the dresses had been tailored just for them. What surprised everyone, was that Wu Qingyi's thoughtfulness did not stop there. She had prepared outfits not only for her husband, but also for Aunt Qiao and Secretary Wang Hao. In that moment, it became clear, this was not merely a wedding preparation. It was Wu Qingyi's quiet way of gathering everyone she cared about into her world, dressing them in warmth, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
Together, they stepped out of the house, preparing to leave. The moment Wang Lingxuan, Aunt Qiao, and Wang Hao reached the courtyard, their steps faltered. Parked there was a brand-new Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The sleek black body gleamed under the daylight, its presence impossible to ignore. Wang Lingxuan turned instinctively toward Fang Liyun. "Mom… did you buy this car?" Fang Liyun shook her head slowly. "No. I didn't." She glanced at Wu Qingyi and said "She drove us here in it."