Chapter 139: Romantic Relationship
In nominal terms, Zhou Muxian’s wife, Cen Wan, is a very gentle and beautiful woman. She is about the same age as Zhou Muxian and looks like a refined lady, making it impossible to find any faults with her.
Even though they were living together as roommates under the same roof for the sake of appeasing their parents, they became good friends over time. They had a great relationship, even though they didn’t spark any romantic flames.
Cen Wan had her own girlfriend, and Zhou Muxian had someone he liked as well. Everyone was aware of this, and since their relationship was clean, no one was causing any trouble for anyone else.
When Zhou Muxian returned this time, he noticed that Cen Wan seemed different from before.
She was someone who always looked radiant and lively, but she had visibly become much more haggard. She had lost weight and her chin had even become a bit sharp.
As a longtime collaborator, a friendly roommate, or just a friend, he should show some concern for her.
Zhou Muxian’s cooking skills were not very good. He only knew how to make one dish, white radish and pork soup, which he learned from his online friend, Jin Yuan.
He made a pot of white radish and pork soup and placed it on the table, inviting Cen Wan to come and eat.
Cen Wan sat at the table and drank the soup. Tears started to roll down her cheeks and fall into the bowl. Anyone who saw her would feel heartbroken. This had nothing to do with love affairs, but rather the natural care and concern that comes from empathy.
Zhou Muxian handed her two tissues and finally couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
There were no barriers between Zhou Muxian and Cen Wan. Regardless of the competition between their families, they had already divided their assets before getting married. Whether their relationship changed or not, personal finances were personal and they did not interfere with each other. With these terms, they had fewer conflicts of interest and their relationship could be more pure.
Cen Wan thanked him, wiped away her tears, and continued to drink the white radish and pork soup in her bowl. She finished every last drop of the soup, along with the ribs and radishes that Zhou Muxian had served her, before finally speaking up cautiously.
“Muxian, do you think a love relationship without guarantees can last?”
Zhou Muxian lowered his eyes subconsciously, and then silently filled a bowl of soup for Cen Wan.
During his previous relationship with Chen Sheng, he had long prepared himself to be abandoned, it was only a matter of time. But as far as Cen Wan knew, her love was different. She had a girl whom she deeply loved, and they had been getting along well.
The so-called guarantee in a love relationship was the bright red marriage certificate. Zhou Muxian was bound by his family’s expectations as the eldest son and burdened with heavy responsibilities.
But Cen Wan’s situation was even worse than his.
She originally had an elder sister who was favored by the Cen family’s parents due to her outgoing personality and lenient upbringing.
This led to Cen Wan’s elder sister meeting a bad influence and running away with her lover at the age of sixteen, leaving behind a letter and taking only a small amount of money she had saved up.
The Cen family spent a lot of money and worked hard to search for her for three months, but with no success. Cen Wan was less than ten years old at that time, and it was already twenty years ago.
After her elder sister’s disappearance, Cen Wan’s parents became stricter in their parenting and treated her with excessive discipline. They also showered all their love and hopes on her, which made it impossible for her to rebel against them.
She could never reveal that she was attracted to the same sex, and she could not make the same mistake as her elder sister and defy her parents for love.
Zhou Muxian probably understood what was going on and asked about it out of concern that something bad had happened between Cen Wan and her partner.
“People like us, perhaps shouldn’t expect too much,” Zhou Muxian said, picking at a piece of pork rib in his bowl, feeling a bit unable to eat.
Yes, in the eyes of outsiders, they were so fortunate, born into a life where they never had to worry about food or drink, living the life of the upper class. Whether they worked hard or not, their wealthy inheritance could guarantee their safety throughout their lives.
But everything should come at a price. Not being able to marry the one you love, not being able to publicly disclose your love, not being able to say that you love someone of the same sex, for them, that is the price they have to pay.
Cen Wan is not an extroverted person, and even after knowing her for so many years, Zhou Muxian had never seen her like this before.
The girl smiled bitterly and lowered her head. “Look at those marriages with legal bindings. Even if they are unhappy and have conflicts, no one will easily say they want a divorce. But we are different. No matter how many years of feelings we have, when it ends, it may be just a matter of one sentence. And for same-sex couples, after separation, there isn’t even the bond of a child.”
At this time, for ordinary people, it is best to have a bottle of alcohol, but both of them are sober people and know that getting drunk won’t solve any problems. The white radish and pork soup is just right.
She quietly drank the soup, every move like a painting.
Facing Cen Wan quietly drinking soup, Zhou Muxian couldn’t help but think, if he liked girls and had a wife like Cen Wan, he would never have the heart to let her down in this lifetime. Everything is just fate.
“It will be okay. The unhappy days will always pass.”
Cen Wan nodded and said, “I know that even if a knife is stabbed into the body, as long as the bleeding is stopped, people won’t die. Moreover, people like us, for the sake of our parents and families, how can we easily die? It’s just a scar.”
She pushed open the window and quietly let the wind blow in, while Zhou Muxian sat next to her watching her.
He looked at Cen Wan, as if he was also looking at himself.
They were too alike, to the point that he began to ponder his feelings for Jin Yuan.
During the honeymoon phase, it was rare to have such a calm and collected moment. But now, he had an opportunity to contemplate.
If he missed this phase, then what would happen between him and Jin Yuan?
Some things can’t withstand scrutiny, and sometimes, living one’s life in a foolish and happy-go-lucky manner is the key to happiness.
The world of “naive” people is always much simpler and cleaner than that of “too shrewd” people.
Not to mention the distance between Jin Yuan and Zhou Muxian, even if they both try their best, it will still be a problem to maintain their relationship in the future.
If Zhou Muxian remembers correctly, Cen Wan has been with her lover for ten years and they have always been good. Isn’t it said that they broke up just because they wanted to?
Could he and Jin Yuan secretly hide and stay together for ten years like this?
The cool wind blowing on his face made his mind even clearer, but it also gave him a headache.
End of Chapter 139