He felt a despair like he had fallen into an abyss, only to realize that all along, the redundant one had been him; he was the obstacle between the two of them.
He finally knew why his wife had married him, yet did not like him. He finally understood the reasons why his expressions of love had been rejected time after time.
He sat there in silence for a long time, torn about what to do. One was his brother, and the other was the woman he loved. Was he supposed to give up and let them be together?
At this moment, the food had been served, but both of them just sat there quietly, neither having the heart to eat.
Seeing Yang Ming’s condition, Chu Lian felt that he had indeed acted wickedly, using tricks on Yang Ming for that slight hope he harbored in his heart. But would Yang Ming really waver because of this?
A moment later, Yang Ming stood up and spoke in a heavy voice.
"Xiaoxiao is not an object to be passed around at our convenience. Tomorrow is a holiday, and I will go back and ask her. If her choice is you, then I will respect her wishes, divorce her, and never stand in your way," he said.
Upon hearing this, Chu Lian abruptly looked up, shocked and overwhelmed by guilt toward his friend for actually shaking Yang Ming’s resolve.
Yang Ming’s noble words made him feel all the more villainous.
But then he thought, if Xiaoxiao had truly married the wrong person due to some terrible mistake and couldn’t escape it, then what harm was there in being the villain?
While he was thinking this, he heard Yang Ming say something even more astonishing.
"If we do get a divorce, don’t look down on her because she’s been married. Rest assured, she’s still a virgin."
They had been married for over three months, and she was still a virgin. Wasn’t this enough to prove that neither of them had willingly entered into the marriage?
In that case, he wasn’t tearing them apart but helping them escape from torment. Suddenly, he felt a little better and was elated at the chance still ahead of him.
"Don’t worry, I won’t look down on her," he assured.
Having heard Chu Lian’s promise, Yang Ming had no desire to stay any longer. "You eat. I’m going to take a walk," he said.
Chu Lian did not stop him and let him leave.
Once Yang Ming had left Yuelai Restaurant, he ambled down the street, his heart aching as if pricked by needles.
Reflecting on his time with his wife, her dimples when she smiled, her pouting lips when angry, her tearful eyes when sad, her enchanting expression when singing, and her serious demeanor when painting—every moment, every glance, every smile of hers was etched in his heart.
Was he just going to give up ? Yet if keeping her by his side only made her miserable, he did not want that.
He wanted her to live a happy life.
Tomorrow was February 14th, a special day, not only because he was off work and could see her again, but also because it was her sixteenth birthday.
It had been a day he had long awaited, thinking it would be the day he and his wife could truly be together. Now, it seemed he had hoped for too much.
This might be the first birthday he celebrated with his wife, and very likely the last.
He thought to let himself indulge a little longer in their moments together; he truly couldn’t bear to let go.
After her birthday, he would ask his wife for her answer. Whatever the answer was, he would abide by her