The wind was still howling outside, and rain was beginning to fall. According to the news, the typhoon was a category 15 storm with extreme destructive power, and many businesses and pedestrians had suffered varying degrees of injury and property damage.
"Breaking News! This afternoon, Typhoon Ximei passed through Fuyi City, bringing extreme wind and rain. A dangerous accident occurred near the city center hospital."
"A man surnamed Lu, protecting a woman surnamed Yu with him, was unfortunately struck by a falling tree trunk, causing severe shoulder fractures. According to witnesses, even after being injured, the man kept holding the woman's hand and comforting her..."
"In times of crisis, we once again witness the power of true love. Currently, the injured man has been rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, and the lucky woman is accompanying him throughout. Let us all pray for this brave man and wish him a speedy recovery!"
Zhang Jingxu watched the news on his phone, his expression growing increasingly grim, because the woman in the footage was Yu Wanwan.
Seeing the two framed together in a scene of "shared hardship and deep affection," Zhang Jingxu felt an inexplicable bitterness in his heart.
He furrowed his brow, anxiously dialing Yu Wanwan's number to check on her.
But all he heard was, "The number you dialed is switched off."
The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. Finally, he grabbed his car keys and headed to the hospital mentioned in the news.
Within just two hours, the incident of "typhoon rescue" had caused a storm online. Many media outlets scrambled to report it, not only making it to Weibo's trending topics, but also being hyped up by WeChat self-media accounts with a highly misleading headline: "True Love in the Typhoon: Fuyi Man Sacrifices Himself to Protect His Ex-Girlfriend, Using His Flesh and Blood to Bear the Weight of Life."
The phrases in the article—"two-year relationship," "sacrificed himself to protect ex-girlfriend," "refused to let go even in death"—stabbed into Zhang Jingxu's heart like sharp knives.
Reading through it, the author described the relationship between the two in the incident as incredibly moving and unswerving, with comments overwhelmingly shipping the couple, completely excluding him, the legal husband.
"Wuwuwu I'm crying, Lu Peizhi truly loves her!!!"
"The girl must still love him too. Look at her expression, she's obviously worried. Get back together soon!"
"Jade Pendant CP, please get back together!"
"Sorry Lu Peizhi, I used to call you a jerk, but I didn't expect you to be so responsible at a critical moment."
"I was already starting to ship Octopus CP, and now you pull this."
"No wonder some comments said Fish and her current husband are in a contract marriage. I sometimes feel their videos are sweet in a forced way."
"It's said that yww married her current husband to spite lpz."
"Ahhh let's pray this ex gets back together."
"Two men fighting over one woman, interesting."
"I think I can ship Fish with anyone, they're all pleasing to the eye. If not, just live together, the three of you..."
...
In the ward, Yu Wanwan had been by Zhang Jingxu's side, unaware that her phone had died.
She was about to go to the nurse station to rent a power bank when a suppressed, pained groan from the hospital bed stopped her.
Yu Wanwan turned around, meeting Lu Peizhi's just-opened, slightly disoriented eyes.
But the disorientation lasted only a moment. When he saw her, it was immediately replaced by a gleam of near-ecstatic joy.
"Wanwan..." His voice was hoarse and dry, but filled with satisfaction. "You're still here. I knew... you care about me."
Yu Wanwan avoided his burning gaze, got up, poured a glass of water, inserted a straw, and brought it to his lips, her tone distant and polite. "The doctor said you can't move yet. Drink some water."
Lu Peizhi obediently took a couple of sips, his eyes fixed on her as if unwilling to look away.
After drinking, he licked his pale lips, suddenly smiled, and said, "Wanwan, did you see? Even heaven is helping me."
"Helping you with what?" Yu Wanwan put down the glass, her voice cold.
"Helping me prove that I can love you with my life."
Yu Wanwan couldn't help but roll her eyes, finding him utterly childish.
She picked up his phone from the bedside table and said in a still indifferent tone, "What's your phone password? I'll notify your family."
Hearing this, the man in the bed frowned. "Are you leaving?"
Yu Wanwan let out a long breath. "Although you saved me, I'm still married. It's not appropriate for us to stay alone here. I've already deposited 300,000 yuan to your inpatient account. That should cover your surgery fees and... hiring a caregiver."
"Wanwan." Lu Peizhi's voice became urgent. "You can't be so heartless. That child was my fault. I was a jerk, an idiot! But I really didn't know. Wanwan, you can't sentence me to death for a mistake I didn't even know about. That's not fair!"
"Stop explaining." Yu Wanwan felt exhausted. Why couldn't he understand?
Lu Peizhi's eyes suddenly reddened, his voice carrying a tearful plea. "We were together for two years. We talked about adopting a cat after marriage, designing our new home together, going on a honeymoon, having a child that looked like both of us. We had so many sweet memories and promises. Have you forgotten them all?"
"Yes, I have." Yu Wanwan turned her face away, not wanting him to see her expression. "I've long forgotten everything about us. Now I only remember that I am Zhang Jingxu's wife."
"Wife?"
Lu Peizhi seemed deeply wounded by those two words. He let out a bitter scoff, his voice full of sorrow and sarcasm. "A contract marriage, a show for outsiders, and you call that a wife? If you truly regarded him as your husband, why have you been sleeping in separate beds all this time?"