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墨書 Inktalez
The advertising agency is always much quieter at night than during the day. Most of the employees have already left, the lights are dimmed, creating a calm and familiar atmosphere.
Michelle held a cup of coffee, walked past the floor-to-ceiling window and the long sofa, and sat down at her own desk. On the sofa lay a proposal that the client had recently sent, with a minimalist design on the cover that complemented the company's logo.
The project management software on the computer screen was filled with a list of unfinished tasks, each one like a ticking time bomb, reminding her of the pressure.
The soft lighting in the work environment is not bright enough, reflecting the subtle balance between success and pressure in her innermost feelings.
At that moment, her phone suddenly rang, breaking her concentration. The caller ID displayed a familiar name - "Mom." A subtle emotion surged in her heart instantly.
" Meichi, are you still at the office? It's so late, take care of yourself." The mother's voice was filled with maternal love and concern.
Michelle sighed, sensing that the topic of this call was not just about work. "Mom, I know I should have come home earlier, but there was an important meeting today, so..."
"That Meichi, your mother is going to attend a social event tomorrow, where many successful businessmen and their families will be present. Don't you want to come and take a look?" Her mother interrupted her, with an underlying meaning in her words.
Her mother's words always beat around the bush. In these words, she revealed her dissatisfaction with Michelle's marital status and an expectation - the expectation that her daughter could "marry well."
Michelle knows exactly what's going on. This is another attempt by the matchmaker, just packaged in a more upscale way. "Mom, I'm really busy and may not have time to attend. And you know my views on these kinds of events."
"You're already thirty-six, and I don't want to keep pushing you, but you also need to think about your future."
Michelle's heart tightened, as her marital status once again became the focus. Although she knew that her mother's pressure and expectations were also well-intentioned.
"Mom, I understand your worries, but I hope you can also understand my choice. It's not that I don't want to get married, but I don't want to get married just for the sake of marriage," Michelle's tone was firm, but she avoided being offensive.
"Alright, I understand. But if you have time, it would be best if you could come." The mother finally compromised, but still hoped her daughter would change her mind.
After hanging up the phone, Michelle's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
She recalled a tense moment at the company when she and the creative director, Chen Yifan (Evan), were discussing a major project.
"What do you think of this ad slogan? 'Find your other half, complete your life,'" Evan asked.
Michelle glanced at Evan and chuckled lightly. "Isn't this a bit too cliché? Besides, not everyone believes they need a significant other to complete their life."
Evan also chuckled, "Well, you're right about that. That's exactly what I wanted to ask you. This slogan may resonate with most people, but I always feel it's a bit superficial and not comprehensive enough."
"Comprehensive and in-depth?" Michelle's tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "We're doing advertising, not writing a philosophical thesis. But since you brought it up, what do you think comprehensive and in-depth should be like?"
Evan thought for a moment and then said, "Perhaps it's more diverse, more able to respond to the needs and desires of different groups. Just like you and me, we may not necessarily need marriage to validate our love or life."
Michelle smiled slightly and found his words somewhat interesting. "Hmm, that's actually a good idea. So do you have any specific suggestions?"
"How about finding your own happiness and living as your true self," Evan suggested.
"It sounds good, at least it's more profound than the previous advertising slogan," Michelle nodded, satisfied.
The Taipei night view outside the advertising company is so charming, with towering skyscrapers weaving a magnificent backdrop, but Michelle feels it has nothing to do with her.
She catches sight of several couples holding hands and walking past the window, filled with a sense of melancholy and helplessness.
The expectations of the mother and Michelle's own life philosophy have always had a gap.
Growing up in a single-parent family, Michelle learned perseverance and independence from her mother, and thus understood that "marrying well" is not the only way out. However, this kind of persistence has also become the eternal gap between mother and daughter.
The next day, Evan invited Michelle to a café located in a high-rise building in the city center. The interior design of the café was extremely modern, with a long bar and circular seats creating a striking contrast, giving off an urban vibe.
"It sounds like your mom is a very traditional person."
"Let me correct that, she is traditional, but also very modern. She supports my pursuit of career success, but she still hopes that I can, like women of her generation, find a 'good man' and settle down. This contradiction between tradition and modernity often makes me feel confused and pressured."
Evan took a gentle sip of his Italian espresso, savoring the bitterness of the coffee and Michelle's words. He observed the slight furrow of her brow and the subtle downturn of her mouth, a mix of contemplation and uncertainty playing across her face.
"Well, I understand. My parents had similar expectations, even though their own marriage wasn't successful. That's one of the reasons I feel disgusted by the institution of marriage. It always makes people feel bound, rather than truly loving and being loved."
Michelle nodded, seeming to find a resonance. She observed the surrounding environment for a moment. A beam of sunlight pierced through the French window, shining on Evan's face, making him look somewhat mysterious and charming.
"By the way, have you ever had someone or an experience that made you want to 'settle down'?"
Evan suddenly posed this question, catching Michelle off guard. She stared at her latte, her thoughts instantly flying back to the past.
"There was one time before. I met someone really special, and our relationship developed quickly. But in the end, we both realized that it couldn't give us what we truly desired. So, we chose to part ways."
Michelle felt a slight pain. Evan listened carefully, sensing the sincerity and hesitation in Michelle's words.
"It seems that we have both had experiences that made us rethink love and marriage," Evan said, his voice carrying a hint of depth.
"Yes, these experiences have made us more determined to choose the path of being single. But the question is, where will this path lead us?" Michelle posed a question that left both of them feeling puzzled.
"Perhaps we should stop asking 'where will this path lead' and instead focus on enjoying every moment along the way."
Michelle looked at Evan and suddenly had some insight. She began to realize that perhaps being unmarried did not mean loneliness, but rather a new interpretation of freedom and love.
The conversation between the two paused here for the moment, but they both understood that this was just a small chapter in their exploration of love and marriage. From this moment on, they were both willing to slow down and explore the unanswered questions, to find the answer that would truly make them happy.
The two of them left the coffee shop and walked on the bustling streets of Taipei. The tall buildings, neon lights, and passing vehicles all seemed so lively and colorful, just like the new chapter they were about to begin.
This time, they were no longer lonely travelers, but two people willing to walk together.
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