Today was Wang Rong’s forty-third birthday. As in the previous two years, colleagues from the Society of the Holy Mother and many members of the congregation held a lively birthday party for her at the newly built Holy Mother Church in the city center. Everyone praised Wang Rong for her ageless beauty and everlasting youth.
Wang Rong always responded to these compliments with wit and humor, as she was known for her sharp tongue, and the crowd laughed heartily. Yet, deep down, she felt quite uneasy. Only a woman whose youth is slipping away needs to preserve her looks, only she wishes for youth to last forever.
So, after the party, Wang Rong went to pray at the chapel of the Society’s primary school, and remained in low spirits even on her way back to the office. What she truly wanted was for Bai Shikun to celebrate her birthday, not these people who did not matter. But she knew that was impossible, at least for now.
However, when she opened the express registered parcel Judy had left on her large desk, her mood changed completely. It turned out the Holy Mother had prepared an unexpected birthday gift for Wang Rong.
Wang Rong sat in her executive chair, staring at the opened envelope on her desk. Inside was a stack of documents. She murmured, “The Holy Mother has shown her power… The Holy Mother has truly shown her power again…” She wanted to laugh, but the shock was so great that even the muscles in her face were stiff, and she could not manage a smile.
The document was a divorce agreement, sent by her husband, Fang Ming. Before this, Fang Ming had been missing for more than two months.
Ever since she became Bai Shikun’s mistress, Wang Rong rarely returned to the home she shared with Fang Ming. She had her own room in the convent, a comfortable and quaint place, mainly to make people believe she was not the lofty Holy Mother, but one who lived among the masses.
More than two months ago, Wang Rong had returned home to fetch some items. Upon entering, she noticed that Fang Ming’s personal belongings and clothes were gone. The milk in the refrigerator had only expired a few days before, so she deduced that Fang Ming had left not long ago. Afterward, Wang Rong tried to call and message him, but received no reply, as if he had vanished from the world.
She let the matter drop. By now, the public had almost forgotten that Wang Rong even had a husband named Fang Ming.
Now, Fang Ming had sent this divorce agreement. Wang Rong understood that this was another blessing from the Holy Mother. She truly had plans to divorce. Fang Ming had helped her through the period when her public image was collapsing and she was on the verge of social ruin. But that dangerous time had long since passed.
Now, Wang Rong was shrouded in the halo of the Holy Mother throughout the city. She no longer needed Fang Ming. People would understand that a couple with such a large difference in age, career, and social status would naturally separate. More importantly, she now had a clear goal—she was preparing to become Bai Shikun’s second wife.
For the past year, she had been pondering how to bring up the subject, but she had been cautious, worried that Fang Ming would not accept it and cause a scene. If he became stubborn and decided to go down with her, the impact on her image would be incalculable. Wang Rong was even more afraid that Bai Shikun would be displeased. The upper class valued reputation above all else.
Then Fang Ming disappeared, leaving her not even the chance to speak to him. Would she have to wait two years to apply for divorce? She was already over forty, her youth was slipping away rapidly! She feared that, within these two years, Bai Shikun might meet another Li Rong or another Zhang Rong—perhaps not as capable, but likely younger than she was.
Therefore, she was troubled, kneeling before the Holy Mother many times to pour out her predicament. Then, the Holy Mother sent her this divorce agreement.
That night, she watched television in the convent. The breaking news reported that Bai Shikun’s wife, Madam Bai Chen Yuexian, had recently passed away in hospital at the age of seventy-five. It turned out she was two years older than Bai Shikun.
Immediately, Wang Rong drove to the small chapel at the Society’s primary school, knelt before the statue of the Holy Mother, and gave thanks for this blessing. She wept bitterly, tears of infinite happiness and joy.
“Thank you… Holy Mother, thank you! I knew it… You have always cared for me! You care for me more than anyone else in this world… No one cares for me more than You…” Wang Rong sobbed as she spoke.
She cried so hard that her whole body prostrated before the Holy Mother. The Holy Mother lowered her eyes, her face wearing an eternally loving smile, as if she was looking at Wang Rong—or perhaps not.
That day, Wang Rong received a call from Fang Ming. The number showed it was from the United States.
“Hello, Ming.”
“Rong.”
“I have signed the papers. I mailed them back to the law office this morning.”
“That is good. Do you also agree to let Zheng stay with me?”
Wang Rong paused, then smiled and said, “Yes. Although I am very fond of Zheng, you know how busy I am now. I really do not have time to take care of him. With you by his side, I have nothing to worry about.”
“……”
Fang Ming was silent, seeming not to agree with her words.
This made Wang Rong uncomfortable. She thought for a moment and said, “Ming, if you ever need anything or have any difficulties, please do not hesitate to come to me. I will definitely—”
Before she could say “help you,” Fang Ming interrupted, “That is not necessary.”
His tone was firm.
Wang Rong was taken aback.
“I am not so incapable that I cannot provide food and shelter for the two of us.” His voice was still resolute. “Also, you do not need to call me that anymore.”
Wang Rong sneered inwardly but thought that, at this stage, there was no need to argue with someone who no longer mattered. So she did not persist.
She laughed and said, “Very well.”
“That is all. I wish you what you desire—happiness with Bai Shikun.” Wang Rong was startled.
How did he know about me and Bai Shikun?
Before she could react, Fang Ming’s voice sounded again, full of fatigue and indifference.
“That is all. Goodbye.”
He had already hung up.
Wang Rong was left with a sense of shock and doubt.
Impossible! Other than herself and Bai Shikun, only Judy knew about this. But Judy could not have told him.
Soon, however, she put the matter out of her mind. After all, there was too much waiting for her in the future, and the past was no longer worth dwelling on.
She and Bai Shikun married that winter.
As his late wife had only recently passed, the wedding was simple but solemn.
The public was divided: some believed they were both kind and charitable, truly a match made in heaven. Others felt that marrying a new wife so soon after the previous one’s death was improper. Some even saw it as a case of the mistress rising to power, for Wang Rong had played the role of the third party in both her relationships with Fang Ming and Xing Jun.
Amidst all the gossip, Wang Rong became Madam Bai, joining the ranks of high society ladies, an unchangeable fact.
After marriage, she did not give up her career. She continued to lead the Society of the Holy Mother and the legal center, championing justice for the poor and powerless. Under her leadership, the Society flourished and developed rapidly.
Thanks to Wang Rong’s active good deeds, criticism of her quickly faded into the past. Wang Rong remained the Holy Mother on earth, only stronger than before.
Wang Rong and Fang Zheng still had a good relationship. Mother and son corresponded regularly by email, sharing news of their lives.
Even after Fang Zheng found a job in the United States, she continued to send him large sums as pocket money. Fang Zheng did not refuse.
From Fang Zheng, she learned that Fang Ming had opened a small restaurant in San Francisco, and was doing all right.
But Wang Rong wished that the two of them could have a more prosperous life. Fang Ming, at his age, still needed to work hard for a living, which must have been tiring. Fang Ming would never accept a woman’s generosity, so she could only give the money to their son.
She considered that money her way of fulfilling her responsibilities to father and son.
Wang Rong felt that she had done everything she could for her former husband.
On her office desk, she still kept a photo of Fang Zheng. Seeing him, she could not help but think of Fang Ming, since her son looked so much like his father. Each time Wang Rong gazed at the photo in a daze, she could not help but recall her first meeting with Fang Ming—how mature and powerful he was, exuding an irresistible masculine charm. Back then, Fang Ming was in the prime of his life.
Yes, even the Holy Mother would sometimes reminisce about the pure and beautiful days of her girlhood.
At that moment, her secretary Judy entered the office to report on work and go over her schedule: a speech at the Ladies’ Club on the Peak the next morning, a meeting at the headquarters of the Rixin Group in the afternoon to discuss the purchase of land for the construction of a new cathedral for the Society.
And, most importantly, in the evening, she would attend the World Humanitarian Aid charity gala with Mr. Bai.
At once, Wang Rong collected her thoughts and threw herself completely into her present life and her role.
End of Chapter Seven
This story is purely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. The author merely explores the relationship between female destiny and faith. It is not directed at any real individual. Please take note.
Copyright Notice:
The Biography of Wang Rong: The Making of the Earthly Holy Mother Persona
Chapter Seven: Divorce
Original work by Jing Xixian (Vampire L). All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, adapted, reposted, translated, or used commercially in any form without written permission from the author.
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