Volume One, Chapter 35: Male Menopause Syndrome

Yu Mo lowered her gaze, then looked up again. Her almond-shaped eyes were as clear as water, glimmering with tiny sparks of light. She spoke softly.

“I don’t know him.”

The female reporter was a bit disappointed—she hadn’t gotten the scoop she’d hoped for. But she quickly composed herself and asked another question.

“Is there anything you’d like to say to Mr. Fu and his fiancée?”

Yu Mo cleared her throat and spoke with gravity.

“As Mr. Fu’s ex-girlfriend, I do have a few words for his current fiancée.”

The reporter’s eyes lit up instantly, as if she’d stumbled upon a sensational story. She pressed on eagerly.

“May I ask your name and which family you’re from?”

Anyone who could date Mr. Fu was surely from a distinguished background. If she could dig up this piece of gossip, it would be a big win for her.

Yu Mo smiled.

“I’m not from any notable family. I just want to tell Lin Hua that the herbal medicine Fu Yanting drinks includes deer antler, cordyceps, seahorse, and cistanche… She should remember to have it simmered for four hours every day, and make sure he drinks it while it’s hot, or his condition will never be cured.”

The reporter’s eyes went wide. Was this gossip really so explosive?

“Does Mr. Fu have some health issues that require him to take this medicine daily?”

Beside them, Chu Xirui also stared wide-eyed. She knew Fu Yanting had been drinking the medicine Yu Mo prepared, but didn’t know what illness he actually had. Now, she too waited for Yu Mo’s answer.

Yu Mo replied calmly and seriously.

“This condition is known in medical terms as ‘late-onset male hypogonadism’, also referred to as ‘male menopause syndrome’ or ‘partial androgen deficiency of the aging male’.”

The reporter froze for a moment, then laughter burst out from Chu Xirui beside her.

“Hahaha…”

The cameraman’s equipment recorded everything live. People nearby heard Yu Mo’s words and were drawn over.

Soon, rumors about Fu Yanting’s problem spread throughout the city. The news quickly reached everyone in the banquet hall.

People began to murmur among themselves.

“Fu Yanting doesn’t look weak at all, but you really can’t judge a book by its cover, or measure a man’s, well, you know…”

“Poor Lin Hua. She hasn’t even married in yet, and she’ll have to serve him medicine every day. Otherwise, she’ll be a widow in all but name for the rest of her life.”

“Mr. Fu’s ex-girlfriend must be a medical student—she spoke so professionally. But in the end, it just means he’s… not up to the task.”

“If Fu Yanting has this disease and still drinks alcohol, isn’t that forbidden? Won’t drinking make it worse?”

“So, does that mean the Fu family will have no heirs?”

“Why are you worrying about that? If they really want a son, do you think they’d be lacking?”

Some people covered their mouths, laughing quietly.

Every word of this reached Fu Yanting and Lin Hua’s ears.

Fu Yanting’s face darkened, but he couldn’t appear too agitated, or it would only confirm Yu Mo’s words. Holding Lin Hua’s hand, he led her onto the stage and addressed the guests below.

“Thank you all for coming to our engagement party. Lin Hua and I met by chance. The first time I saw her, I was drawn in by her gentle and lovely demeanor.”

He paused, then turned to look at Lin Hua beside him. His expression softened, and even his voice grew tender.

“So I began to pursue her. Half a year later, we officially became a couple. As for any so-called ex-girlfriends, those are all in the past.”

As he finished, his gaze swept over Yu Mo in the crowd. His tone grew forceful, gripping the microphone tightly.

“Now, I only want to build a future with Lin Hua. I believe we’ll be very happy together. Jealousy may exist, but time will put all rumors to rest. I hope everyone won’t let themselves be manipulated.”

When he finished, applause broke out below. Some women were moved to tears by his heartfelt declaration. Others, realizing they’d been used, looked toward Yu Mo with annoyance.

The matter of Fu Yanting’s health was finally put to rest. No one discussed it further, and the banquet continued as usual.

As Yu Mo walked over to two women, she overheard their conversation.

The woman in red spoke mockingly.

“I heard Mr. Fu’s ex was a total lapdog—always following him around. Now he’s engaged and she comes to stir up trouble. Shameless!”

The woman in white agreed.

“Exactly. She failed to marry into the Fu family and probably resents Lin Hua deeply. Did you see the news? Lin Hua is actually the long-lost heiress of the Chu family. So really, she and Mr. Fu are perfectly matched.”

Chu Xirui pulled Yu Mo behind her and pointed at the woman in red.

“And who do you think you are, gossiping about my Mo Mo behind her back? Are you looking for trouble? Tell me your name and background—I’d like to see you try me.”

She turned to the woman in white.

“And you, your mother didn’t feed you all that rice so you could meddle in other people's business. If you have time to spare, you should fix your face. Looking like an overgrown monkey and still daring to scare people out here.”

“You—!”

The two women were so angry they nearly exploded, but Chu Xirui gave them no chance to retort. She pulled Yu Mo away, still talking as they walked.

“Mo Mo, don’t listen to them. Let’s go to Emerald Pavilion for dinner later—to celebrate the end of the scumbag couple, and to celebrate that you finally have a man.”

Yu Mo nearly laughed aloud. Since when was having a man something to celebrate?

Chu Xirui, eager to distract her, kept chatting.

“I snuck out today without telling my parents. They don’t approve of Lin Hua marrying Fu Yanting. Our family and the Fu family are mortal enemies, as you know.”

Yu Mo nodded. “I know.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have saved the revelation about Lin Hua being the Chu family heiress for the very end.

Chu Xirui went on.

“If Lin Hua is so eager to marry into the Fu family, let her. Even if she gets the marriage certificate, the Fu family won’t treat her well. Her days won’t be easy.”

Yu Mo was only vaguely aware of the feud between the Chu and Fu families—just that it was a blood feud.

“She probably set her sights on Fu Yanting back in college, waiting to steal him from you. I used to feel sorry for her, thinking she suffered so much all these years, and almost became close with her. Now I realize, her first meeting with Fu Yanting was likely orchestrated.”

Yu Mo lowered her lashes, lost in memory.

Back then, Fu Yanting had somehow heard she was dating someone at school. He came straight to the campus, humiliated her, and drew a crowd of onlookers—including Lin Hua.

Somehow, as Fu Yanting approached, Lin Hua conveniently fell into his arms. Their eyes met for a few seconds.

From then on, Fu Yanting started showing up frequently, and each time, Lin Hua would ‘coincidentally’ run into him.

Yu Mo chuckled softly as she recalled another incident before graduation.

Once, Fu Yanting suddenly came to see her and gave her a scarf he’d knitted himself. She was so happy she wanted to sleep with it every night.

The next day, she saw Lin Hua with a similar scarf—only hers was much more delicate, clearly made with more effort.

Looking back, it was obvious: Fu Yanting’s first attempt had failed, and he’d given the botched one to Yu Mo, while the perfect one went to Lin Hua.

The thought made Yu Mo feel nothing but disgust.

She forced a smile, pulled out her phone, and opened her chat with Fu Yanting.

She sent him an audio recording, with a message:

“This is the little white rabbit you’ve always cherished and protected.”

At that moment, Fu Yanting had just left the backstage restroom. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, saw Yu Mo’s message, and frowned slightly.

Yu Mo still hadn’t given up on him.

Yet, unlike before, instead of annoyance, he felt a strange, secret thrill.

He found a quiet corner and played the audio.

A familiar voice reached his ears.