Shi Nian remembers seeing it in Tang Yanxi’s office.
The first impression Tang Yanxi left on her was so strong that the color scheme blended with him into the same memory symbol, clearly embedding itself in her mind.
Moreover... the second time she went to Tang Yanxi’s office, she sat on the same brown fabric sofa with Tang Yanqing.
The most devastating part was—the kiss that followed. It destined everything in Tang Yanxi’s office to leave an indelible impression on her.
What’s going on, why did she think of that kiss again... truly awful.
"Shi Nian?" Xiang Yuan’s voice called from afar, "What’s wrong with you?"
Shi Nian snapped back to reality, realizing it was the marriage consultant greeting her, but she had been lost in thought and didn’t hear it.
Shi Nian apologized with a bow, quickly went over, and shook the consultant’s hand.
"Hello, I am Shi Nian."
The other person smiled elegantly, shaking Shi Nian’s hand: "Huo Danru."
Upon hearing this name, Shi Nian closed her eyes slightly.
Huo Danru looked over, "Shi Nian? Are you unwell? Perhaps you should rest a little before we start the consultation. Marriage consultation cannot proceed when the parties are in a poor state."
Xiang Yuan frowned, "What’s wrong again?!"
She had been distracted since she arrived, staring at the sofa for ages, smiling and blushing, even ignoring Huo Danru’s greeting; was she going to faint on purpose again? Was she intentionally avoiding today’s marriage consultation?!
But Shi Nian smiled and opened her eyes, "No, I just really like your name. Please forgive my boldness, Danru, it reminds me of ’people are as calm as chrysanthemums.’
Huo Danru then laughed with delight, "Thank you. This is the charm of Chinese; only we, the Chinese, understand it better. The meaning of this name is precisely the realm I have strived for my whole life, forgive me." She then extended her hand: "Please, take a seat."
Xiang Yuan finally sighed in relief.
After sitting down, Huo Danru brushed aside previous formalities and first pointed at a recorder beside her: "From the moment you walked into my office, you became my clients. This recording file is to create your file. Please allow me to start recording now; all conversations you have here will be documented so I can better assist you."
Xiang Yuan nodded, "Alright, no problem."
Shi Nian also smiled, "Okay."
Huo Danru leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on the table, fingers gently touching.
"Next, I want to clarify a concept for you both." She paused, her gaze lingering slightly longer on Shi Nian: "I heard Shi Nian, you’ve only been in M Country for four years, and all your education was in China—so this explanation is especially for your cultural background."
Huo Danru said: "Marriage consultation is entirely different from China’s so-called ’marriage mediation’ offered by neighborhood committees or street office specialists. What I provide you is professional guidance on your personality and marital relationship. In a sense, you can see me as a psychologist."
"For professional marriage consultants, there are no failed marriages, only failed individuals. All failed marriages reflect intrinsic issues of the people involved. So, we talk not just about marriage itself, but we emphasize analyzing people."
"Almost all marriage issues are related to personality traits. Relatively healthy marriage and family relationships often involve couples with good character traits or healthy personality qualities. Problematic marriages often have at least one spouse with deficiencies or issues in some aspects of personality, directly or indirectly affecting their marriage and family relationships."
Huo Danru’s gaze, calm and professional, wandered between Shi Nian and Xiang Yuan’s faces: "Since your marriage has encountered problems, it indicates that both of you, in terms of personality or character, have more or less deviations."
The room’s atmosphere grew heavy. Google seaʀᴄh novel-fire.ɴet
Shi Nian and Xiang Yuan exchanged glances, seeing the same shock in each other’s eyes.
Perhaps it’s due to their being of Eastern origin; they had never looked at marital issues in such an objective, even slightly cold, manner before.
Now, sitting opposite them at the table, Huo Danru was like a mirror, gleamingly reflecting their flaws.