Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
I protested with wide eyes, "How is that possible, Mom? What are you talking about? I'm currently overwhelmed with the divorce from Wang Xu. Did he say something to you?"
I thought it must be that way; Wang Xu could say anything deceitful now. I could easily guess what he had said, but my mom waved her hand and said, "It's not about Wang Xu; it's about your mother-in-law."
"My mother-in-law?" I was just as shocked as before. I might have once naively hoped for my mother-in-law's acceptance, but now I dared not expect too much.
This was an incredibly difficult situation; if I hoped for it, it would be a naive delusion.
"Yes, today Wang Xu came over and said that your mother-in-law wants to transfer the house you currently live in to your name. She said this was a promise made to you before, and if you get the house, you'll be willing to live well with Wang Xu. Is that true?"
Ignoring my mother's presence, my voice trembled with excitement, "Mom, do you think I'm that kind of person? That I would continue with Wang Xu just for that house? Do you really think I'm someone who desperately wants a house?"
"Of course not. You get so worked up over just a few words. Your father and I are getting older; while we want your marriage to be harmonious, you've already come this far with Wang Xu. We certainly won't force you into choices you don't like. As long as you're happy, whether it's divorce or not, it's up to you. We just want to see you live well."
"That's not going to happen, Mom." After she finished speaking, my heart softened: "I didn't mean it like that earlier, but I really never thought about having any connection with Wang Xu because of a house. I don't want Wang Xu to bring his mistress home after the divorce; just thinking about it makes me sick."
Not only that, but what I had asked Wang Xu for was to get back the house under Deng Xiaomei's name. He twisted the concept and suggested transferring the current house to my name instead. Aren't these two different choices? Can’t Wang Xu tell them apart?
Perhaps he was so clear about it that he came here to spout nonsense to my parents.
"Well, you two should discuss your matters properly," my mom sighed heavily, looking exceptionally tired. In this divorce battle, I unintentionally dragged my parents into it; they should be at an age where they enjoy peace.
"What happened afterward? Did he leave?"
My mom nodded: "Your dad kicked him out, then he went to lie down because he wasn't feeling well. He said not to call him for dinner and let us eat first."
I responded listlessly; this meal was tasteless for me. To prevent Wang Xu from bothering my parents again, I called him to ask where he was. Wang Xu happily said he was home alone since his mother had gone back to her hometown.
After eating, I grabbed my bag and headed out. My mom called out to stop me and asked where I was going. I hesitated for a moment; the word "home" almost slipped out but ultimately remained unspoken. Where is my home now? Where am I supposed to return? It has become an unknown.
I quickly hailed a taxi and rushed to the familiar neighborhood. As I passed the entrance, the security guard didn't forget to chat with me for a moment, asking if I had just returned from a business trip. I casually replied a couple of words and headed straight back.
Standing once again at the familiar door, I held the key in my hand but hesitated to open it. I feared that what awaited me inside was not just Wang Xu, but also another presence.
It was not impossible, right?
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Wang Xu standing at the entrance with a beaming smile, rubbing his hands in anticipation. When he saw me approach, his eyes lit up, and he took a few steps forward to grab my hand and lead me into the living room, without even giving me time to change my shoes.
It had been quite some time since I returned to this home. Looking around, everything seemed the same yet felt a bit dirty and old. Following my gaze, Wang Xu cheerfully exclaimed, "Oh, dear, this home hasn't felt like a home since you left. But it's okay; now that you're back, it will return to how it used to be."
I couldn't stand his confident demeanor any longer. Turning my face away, I said seriously, "Wang Xu, I'm here to tell you something."
"What is it?" Wang Xu's eyes brightened again.
"I hope you won't disturb my parents' peace anymore. They are getting older now. Although they may not mean much to you, they are the most important people in my life."
"They're elders and parents to me too. Of course, I respect them. Don't worry; I've always treated them like my own family."
"Then what did you mean by saying those things to my parents? Wang Xu, when I asked you for something before, was it this apartment? What I wanted was the one downstairs!"
It wasn't about monetary value or gains; what I wanted was simply to drive away the woman downstairs so she wouldn't get what rightfully belonged to me. Why did Wang Xu think that both his mother and my parents viewed it merely as my greed for a property worth over a million?
Wang Xu's expression changed suddenly: "I know, I know. I'll give you whatever you want. But dear, can you give me some time? We'll transfer this apartment into your name soon. Whatever else you want, I'll try my best to fulfill it, okay?"
I shook my head firmly: "No, I want the one downstairs."
"Please listen to me; I'll definitely give it to you. It's not that I didn't want to before; it's just that there were some difficulties... You don't know what I'm going through. You need to understand my situation," Wang Xu pleaded with me earnestly. But what he said was built on the foundation of my suffering.
"Is that so?" Seeing Wang Xu continually procrastinate made it clear that he only wanted to stall me verbally without any real intention of resolving things. Looking at his pained expression as if he bore countless hardships on his shoulders was quite laughable.
"Not really, it's me..."
"Alright, Wang Xu," I interrupted him, not allowing him to continue his lengthy explanation of his troubles. "Let me tell you something."
Wang Xu widened his eyes and remained silent.
"I'm pregnant."
At that moment, the emotions on Wang Xu's face changed rapidly, each one tugging at my heart. So you like to lie, do you? Intentionally deceiving me, right? Then whatever you've done to me, Wang Xu, I must repay you in kind.
I extended my slightly trembling hand and placed it on my arm. His eyes turned red, and he opened his mouth several times in excitement.
"You said... you're pregnant?"
"Yes." I feigned calmness while my heart surged with turmoil. I couldn't understand how Wang Xu could deceive me so naturally time and again—regarding Deng Xiaomei, regarding my mother-in-law—lying so openly.
After saying this, my heart was filled with regret and discomfort. I felt nauseous but held it in without letting it show. Perhaps Wang Xu had lied so much that he no longer felt such emotions.
"Are you really pregnant?" he asked softly again, looking at me before glancing down at my belly. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled not only with tears but also with joy.
"I got the test results last month. The doctor said my progesterone levels were low and needed treatment; it's not stable yet, so I didn't tell you right away."
To tell one lie requires a thousand more to cover it up. At the moment those words slipped out, my mind was flooded with all the excuses I would need to make later—one after another, pulling various related matters into play. I had to be fully prepared for everything.
Did Wang Xu think the same way when he lied?
He raised his hand to wipe away his tears, slowly turning into quiet sobs. Wang Xu buried his head in his hands, and the sound of his crying was jarring. Looking at him like this stirred a mix of vengeful pleasure and heart-wrenching pain within me.
I thought that if at any time during these three years I had sat in front of Wang Xu like this and told him such joyful news, he would have cried too. We would have both wept together, embracing each other in tears over this hard-won surprise.
Three years later, things are different. Wang Xu's betrayal and my deception have doomed us to never return to the way we were. His infidelity is a fact, and my lies are not something to be proud of.
The excuse I used to deceive him was driven by one purpose.
To take revenge on Deng Xiaomei.
I sighed deeply, immersing myself in the emotions I should feel. I choked back tears as I urged him, "Wang Xu, that house downstairs has always been a burden in my heart. If I don't get it back, I won't be able to sleep peacefully every night. The doctor said my condition is stable but requires constant attention. I've finally become pregnant, and I don't want my emotions to affect the baby. That would be unfair to me."
"I know, I know." Wang Xu nodded vigorously, his voice gaining some firmness. When he looked up again, he seemed less evasive than before. "Honey, please don't get too worked up; don't let it affect your health. You need to take care of yourself now. Don't overthink things; make sure you get enough nutrition."
I patted the back of his hand, pretending to be considerate. "Yes, I know all that. I'm staying at my parents' house; they are taking good care of me. I've also told them not to mention this to you yet. Please don't blame me; coming back here makes me feel very uneasy. If it gets too overwhelming, I'm worried about our child."
It turns out that saying "my child" is so easy, yet why is the reality so hard to achieve? After countless attempts and hopes extinguished, reaching this point feels like fate playing tricks on me.
Fate really does play tricks.
"Yes, yes, you're right." Wang Xu wiped his tears again. He slowly reached out with his other hand and gently placed it on my belly, his movements cautious, a smile gradually appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"That's wonderful, honey! It's really wonderful! We've finally waited for our child."
I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and responded in kind, "Yes, we've waited so long for this; we must cherish it."
Wang Xu carefully withdrew his hand, and the brightness on his face contrasted sharply with his swollen eyes.
"I'll tell my mom! I'll tell her so she can be happy too!" Wang Xu immediately reacted and hurriedly took out his phone to dial a number, but I stopped him first.
When he looked back at me, I said, "Not so fast; let's talk about something serious first."
This was a plan that had suddenly flashed through my mind before I came here. Thinking about it made me feel scared; this thought was a gamble. There were too many flaws for me to let too many people know.
"Alright, go ahead," he softened his voice and emotions, showing more care and concern for me.
"About the house, think it over again. If it really doesn't work out, then there's nothing I can do. I'm going back home to stay for a couple of days, so I can't come over. For the sake of the child, I hope you understand. You can tell your mom whenever you want, but right now, I just want to clarify whether you still plan to be good with me."
Wang Xu nodded vigorously, "Of course I plan to! We are a family; you are my wife. How could I not want to be good with you? Don't worry, what you said is no problem. I'll take care of it; you can trust me."
The firmness in Wang Xu's words gradually turned into murmurs. I sensed that things might not be as simple as he promised, but at least he had verbally agreed to me. Any difficulties or troubles would be his to resolve.
Last time, threatening him with infidelity photos failed, so this time with the child, I felt more confident that Wang Xu would follow my lead. The premise was not to expose anything.
"Okay then, I'll head home first. Don't come over too often; my parents are already unhappy with you. Don't come over and make them uncomfortable. Seeing you like this makes me uneasy too."
"Alright, I understand. I'll try to avoid visiting my parents too much," Wang Xu hesitated, "But what if I want to see you? I want to meet you..."
I coldly laughed inside. Did he want to see me or the child I fabricated?
"I'll reach out to you if there's anything. The child is doing well; don't worry. I'll go for regular check-ups at the hospital. You focus on your part, and we can discuss it later. This is our shared goal; right?"
"Yes, of course," Wang Xu replied earnestly.
I smiled satisfactorily as I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Wang Xu insisted on escorting me downstairs to catch a ride, which I couldn't stop him from doing.
As we stood in the elevator descending, it suddenly opened on the fourth floor with no one outside. Time seemed to freeze for those few seconds, stretching into an odd shape.
It was just an ordinary floor, merely below our apartment, but because of one person living there, it had changed its appearance. I couldn't shake off my anger and curses toward Deng Xiaomei from my mind; she was the thorn that hadn't been pulled from my heart, affecting my every breath.
Wang Xu hurriedly grasped my hand tightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him hesitating as if he wanted to say something. When the elevator doors closed again and continued down as if nothing had happened.
I looked at my reflection in the elevator mirror—my expression was numb—until we reached the first floor. My cracked smile was nowhere to be seen anymore. I turned my head to look at Wang Xu: "Don't see me off anymore. Don't forget what you promised me. I don't want you changing the subject again. If we can't make it work, then fine; if we can continue, who knows? Maybe our family of three—or perhaps four—can be very happy together."
Wang Xu seemed to be aware of his guilt, standing in the elevator without coming out. I hurriedly walked outside, my pace quickening, and suddenly stumbled, nearly falling over before finally stopping.
Outside the community gate, in a corner of the security room where no one could see, I slowly crouched down, avoiding the light from the streetlamp, watching the passing crowd while repeatedly digesting the lies I had just told.
I had woven a fantasy that both Wang Xu and I longed for. I waited for Wang Xu to walk into it himself, watching him get lost inside, seeing him overwhelmed with joy and various compromises, feeling that no matter what, my heart would never be at ease.
I shared this with Miao Miao. Miao Miao exclaimed, "Oh my God, Zhuang Jun, you are so talented! You actually told Wang Xu that! How could he possibly refuse? Why didn't I think of this before? Damn it! What you both want most is a child, right? Now all problems are solved."
"Yeah, I suddenly thought maybe it could work." Compared to Miao Miao's excitement, I was much calmer.
Miao Miao understood me. After her excitement faded, she began to comfort me: "Zhuang Jun, don't overthink it. What's done is done. Although Wang Xu will eventually find out the truth, before that, you might get what you want first. And if you think about it another way, even if Wang Xu finds out and breaks down, isn't that exactly your goal? If he gets so angry that he agrees to divorce you on the spot, that's enough."
"Yes, I know."
I was fully aware of everything. I had thought about how angry Wang Xu would be when he learned the truth, but the extent of his anger was unimaginable.
"Miao Miao, after saying this, there’s no way I can have a calm relationship with Wang Xu anymore, right?"
"Yeah."
Wang Xu would no longer seek reconciliation with me or say sweet nothings like he still loved me. Ultimately, we would become lifelong enemies on the day the truth was revealed.
We stood before each other in our armor, using each other as soft spots to inflict harm.
Thinking about it beforehand was quite terrifying.
"Hey, don't overthink it. Anyway, things have developed this far. Let's just wait and see. Wang Xu thinks you're pregnant now; he should know to abandon the car to save himself. Deng Xiaomei might very well cut ties directly and then demand the house back."
"The house... how should we handle that?"
"I don't know, that's Wang Xu's business. Anyway, if he has the ability to send it out, he should have the ability to get it back. Otherwise, is he even a man? Forget it, Wang Xu was never really a man anyway; I shouldn't have said anything."
"Yeah, let's leave it at that for now."
Since it had come to this, I could only try to move forward.
"Right, but you need to be careful. I'm sure your mother-in-law will take some action. That's good; she will definitely come looking for you. How do you think she will approach you?"
Miao Miao's words made me suspicious.
There are only two possible attitudes from my mother-in-law: either she wants to repair our relationship or she questions the truth of my words.
"I don't know yet; I can't imagine."
"Yeah, that's true. Your mother-in-law is quite peculiar. It's hard to guess her behavior, but she will definitely come looking for you. You need to prepare yourself mentally and make sure she believes everything you say. If she offers to accompany you to the hospital or something, you need to have a good excuse ready not to go. You can't let things get messy on the spot. Although she's older, she's very sensitive about her grandson; don't give her any leverage."
Miao Miao made a lot of sense. Anyone who knows my mother-in-law understands that her focus right now is solely on the child issue. It's easy to lie but hard to cover up later. When I see her again, I need to make sure she believes me too. I, Zhuang Jun, am now someone she cannot provoke.
Comment 0 Comment Count