"I truly like you, I genuinely want to marry you and be your wife! Yet you just see me as a plaything! If this were to become known, you’d merely be talked about for a while, but my entire life would be ruined!" Su Miao began to cry.
Zhao Yingjun had initially thought, no matter how she sweet-talks, I must get my way. Who would have thought she’d say she loved me, that she genuinely wanted to spend life with me? Such a declaration from a woman, even if an act of love, made it difficult to just take advantage of her and say my aim was only to toy with her.
Looking at Su Miao’s tear-stricken, pitiful face, Zhao Yingjun sighed as well. He released her, saying, "I truly didn’t expect you to say this. Whether your feelings are real or feigned, I can’t make a move now. Haha."
"I am sincere." Su Miao leaned on Zhao Yingjun’s shoulder, sighed, "It’s just that my aunt met you first."
"So what? As long as you say the word, I’ll divorce her!"
"My aunt won’t agree."
Zhao Yingjun sneered, "Her word isn’t the law! Nowadays, marriage is a choice, it’s not about doing whatever one dictates."
Another reason Zhao Yingjun didn’t mention was that Su Jinxiu had no significant backing, no real support. Who would fear her? Just give her more money when the time comes.
Su Miao, young and beautiful, should be the one to marry into the family.
Su Miao lightly tapped Zhao Yingjun’s forehead with her finger, "Don’t dream too big. Have you thought about our relationship? Once she causes a scene, your workplace leaders won’t forgive you."
If it were a typical affair, it wouldn’t be such a concern, but the relationship here involved relatives. Su Jinxiu deeply hates these two people.
How could she agree to a divorce? She’d probably cause a disturbance reaching even the provincial or Beijing level.
Zhao Yingjun, for a moment, was at a loss for words.
Su Miao grasped Zhao Yingjun’s wrist, saying, "You know so many leaders, find a bold and capable one to help with the divorce. As long as you’re connected with someone competent, it’s possible to suppress Su Jinxiu."
"Isn’t that a bit much, involving a leader for a divorce?"
"Yes, if we’re capable of securing a good job for me, divorce shouldn’t be a problem. We should buy some gifts, visit the leader’s home, explain our situation, they’ll talk to my aunt, and she’ll agree to the divorce. I know what kind of person Su Jinxiu is, cowardly and easily intimidated by authority, when confronted by higher-ups, the issue will be resolved." Su Miao smiled slightly.
Zhao Yingjun remained silent for a moment, hoping to avoid such debts of gratitude. Especially for the sake of divorce, if the leader knew, they would definitely not be happy.
Seeing Zhao Yingjun’s reaction, Su Miao began to cry sadly, "If you’re unwilling, that’s fine! My single-minded affection only results in a breakup? Never mind, I’ll resign tomorrow, leave the apartment, return to the village, find a matchmaker through my father, and settle down with someone decent. Why struggle in the city, facing humiliation?"
Zhao Yingjun, seeing Su Miao’s reaction, felt overwhelmed with heartache.
"Don’t marry someone else. I’ll marry you! I’ll speak to the leader, he’ll agree." He held Su Miao tightly.
Su Miao’s lips curled into a smile, leaving a slight trace on her face before quickly vanishing, "Then I’ll place my hopes on your shoulders."
"Mm, trust me. Tonight I’ll stay here with you, alright?"
She nodded, "Alright, let’s stay together."
"Let’s sleep," Zhao Yingjun held Su Miao.
Initially, Su Miao was nervous, but thinking rationally, she realized he wouldn’t dare force anything, especially as she pretended to be weak and vulnerable, truly in love with him. Leaning against him, he wouldn’t dare act untowardly; any attempt would prove his insincerity.
Instead, Zhao Yingjun experienced a peculiar sensation, yearning for intimacy, yet witnessing her tears and vulnerability as she leaned against him, evoked some excitement inside.
As they say, a wife is not as seductive as a mistress, a mistress cannot compare to a secret affair, and even an affair barely matches the thrill of seeing but not having, holding the person yet feeling untouchable, was truly a novel sensation.
All night, he imagined various loving and affectionate scenarios but refrained from touching Su Miao.
The next day, the two bought some gifts and visited the household that helped Su Miao find work, none other than the Yang Family.
Regarding this, Father Yang and Zhao Yingjun’s mother are distant relatives. The two families were once closely connected in their younger years despite Father Yang moving to Beijing; ties were never cut off, although not particularly close in recent years, Zhao Yingjun still had to address him as cousin, and given his successful life, Father Yang did not look down on him.
Upon their arrival, Father Yang also received them. Coincidentally, Yang Yun was home, noticing the man and woman with gifts entering. Feeling unhappy about it, she descended the stairs slowly, "Are you here again to ask for favors or freeloading?"
Zhao Yingjun was taken aback, then pretended not to hear, smiling as he changed his shoes, while Su Miao lowered her head, remaining silent in a very obedient and sensible manner.
"What are you saying!" Father Yang immediately scolded, "You’re in your twenties, yet act brainless! Is this what you call talking?"
Yang Yun pouted, intending to speak, but Father Yang continued, "Still without a stable job. You had a few matched jobs ruined by your own actions; aren’t you embarrassed to speak!"
Previously, it didn’t seem too bad, but ever since she caused trouble for Ai Gu Junming, Father Yang became highly irritated with his daughter, incapable and merely indulgent with food, drink, and dressing up, even requiring him to write a guarantee letter, truly troublesome!
Yang Yun responded, "I couldn’t do those jobs anyway, it’s just random work, why are you getting upset?"
"Bank, tax office, civil administration, all sought-after jobs, you complain about this and that—the workload, the leadership—you want work or a pedestal position? I’ve pampered you too much; let your grandfather handle you when he returns; I’m exhausted, can’t deal with you!"
Yang Yun hurriedly said, "Dad! You know grandpa’s temperament; if he knows about matters, will he forgive me? You can’t abandon me!"
If grandpa found out, he’d surely drag her back to Beijing, forsaking her comfort.
"I won’t care! Let grandpa find a temporary job for you, marry someone, I can’t tolerate you anymore."
"Dad, do you have to scold me in front of others?" Yang Yun stomped a foot.