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墨書 Inktalez
The night sky of Taipei is sparkling, with colorful neon lights crowded between narrow streets, like countless shooting stars.
Chen Yifan (Evan) and Lin Meichi (Michelle) are sitting in a cozy bar, where the dim rooftop lights and wooden furniture create a warm and intimate atmosphere.
This is their little relaxation after a busy day at work, and also a time to get to know each other better.
Evan took the carefully crafted cocktail from the bartender and handed it to Michelle.
Michelle took the cup and brought it close to her lips, carefully taking a sip.
She felt the multi-layered taste of the cocktail spreading in her mouth, sweet but not cloying.
At this point, Evan spoke up and said, "Do you remember Peter and Sophia's open marriage model from before?"
Michelle opened her laptop, which displayed an article about "open relationships."
She turned the screen towards Evan, clicking the mouse while starting the conversation.
"Is this what you're talking about? I looked it up, and it's quite interesting. It mentions that open relationships might be a choice to avoid marriage pressure," Michelle said quietly, setting down her glass of wine.
Evan nodded, "So, this couple maintains an open relationship because they believe it helps to keep the love fresh."
He read the article carefully and then said, "It's definitely intriguing, but I wonder if it would pose practical problems? For example, issues of jealousy and mistrust."
Michelle frowned and said, "Well, it sounds interesting, but not every couple can accept this kind of arrangement. Marriage or romance always needs some rules and constraints, right?"
Evan slowly sipped his whiskey, feeling the warmth it left in his throat.
"Indeed, not everyone can adapt to that kind of arrangement. And I also think that open relationships may lead to some problems, such as trust, loyalty, or sexually transmitted diseases."
Michelle gazed at the bar's lights, her eyes like intoxicating amber, particularly bright beneath the crystal-clear glass. She adjusted her seat slightly, then lifted her glass again, resembling a queen, but gently set it aside.
She opened her mouth, a bitter smile forming at the corner of her lips. "About Peter and Sophia, I actually have first-hand observations of their subsequent developments. One Friday, I didn't leave the office until 11 pm, and the whole floor was empty except for me. When I passed by the stairs to go to the rooftop for some fresh air, I found someone was already there. Later, I found out that they were actually having arguments there every Friday, and sometimes Sophia was also present."
Evan listened, his curiosity piqued. He lowered his gaze to the coffee in his hand, then looked up again, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. "No wonder you always come back so late on Fridays," he teased, leaning on the dining table with his elbow and his fingers slightly trembling. "So, what happened next?"
Then she shook the cocktail in her hand and said, "The HR manager on the fourth floor, Miss Zheng, is no pushover either. This time, Peter has met his match!" She smiled, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her smile.
Evan held the whiskey glass in his hand, his eyes slightly narrowed. After taking a sip, he waved his hand as if savoring the depth of the story and the whiskey Michelle had described. "Oh? This sounds interesting."
Michelle smoothed her skirt and forced a bitter smile, lightly running her finger along the edge of her glass. "The HR on the fourth floor, Miss Zheng, her marriage was already on the rocks. Seeing Peter trying to leave after their affair, she refused. She kept the evidence of their affair and threatened to expose it if he didn't stay with her, causing damage to both of their reputations in the company. So, Peter has been reluctantly dealing with her," she said.
Evan raised an eyebrow and tapped the wooden surface of the bar with his index finger, clearly intrigued by the story. "Hmm, from this perspective, Peter really brought this upon himself, but it also reflects the struggles and compromises within a marriage," he said.
Michelle sighed softly, a hint of weariness on her face, as if she had seen too many of these kinds of stories. "In the end, Miss Zheng even moved out and demanded that Peter come to her after work. Sometimes, she even goes to Peter's house when Sophia isn't home, completely controlling Peter." Her voice suddenly lowered, as if she couldn't bear to continue describing it.
Evan frowned and asked, shaking the cocktail glass in his hand, "Didn't his wife say anything about it?"
Michelle put down her glass, ran her fingers over her lips, and sighed softly: "As a wife, Sophia naturally noticed that another woman had been to the house. She was furious and angrily questioned Peter, 'I thought we agreed it was just a fling?'" At this point, Michelle seemed thirsty and took another sip from her glass.
A hint of disdainful smile appeared on her lips as she teased, "Peter comforted Sophia, saying it was really just a show, and he was being blackmailed by that woman. So Sophia had to swallow her anger."
Evan suddenly squinted, as if sensing a deeper issue, and sharply asked, "What happened next? Is that the end of it?"
Michelle placed her cocktail glass on the bar, signaling for another one. She took a deep breath and her tone turned serious, "Of course not. Miss Zheng has already divorced her husband and started demanding that Peter do the same and marry her."
Evan suddenly put on a surprised expression and stared at Michelle without blinking: "What does Miss Zheng really want?"
Michelle flicked the napkin on the bar and squinted her eyes: "Miss Zheng? Right now, she just wants to upgrade from being a mistress to a wife."
Evan picked up the cocktail glass, took a sip, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: "Complications, that's the risk of an open marriage. It's not so easy to leave even if you want to."
He shrugged and raised an eyebrow, asking, "So what does Peter think? Will he really get a divorce?"
Michelle frowned and shook her head, "Peter is very hesitant. On one hand, he doesn't want to give up his long-standing relationship and family with Sophia; on the other hand, he seems to be somewhat attracted to Miss Zheng."
She continued, "At first, Peter said he was unwilling to divorce no matter what, but this time Miss Zheng didn't use their previous affair as a threat. Instead, she took Peter to hotels and nightclubs."
Michelle took the cocktail glass and took a sip before saying, "Peter hasn't been back to his and Sophia's home for two months now, and Sophia is now demanding a divorce."
Michelle sighed and tightened her grip on the glass, "This kind of love triangle always makes people doubt the value of love."
She set down the empty wine glass in her hand, then elegantly crossed her arms in front of her chest, her gaze sharp as she looked at Evan, as if savoring a delicate psychological drama.
Evan rubbed his beard, feeling somewhat uneasy. A wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he said, "This sounds like a Korean drama. Have you ever thought that knowing too much of these things might affect you?"
Michelle slightly shook her head, a calm smile appearing on her face. "Huh, I won't let myself get involved in such a messy situation. Watching them play with fire so openly only confirms to me that not walking the path of marriage is the right choice."
"Yes, there are just too many examples like this. It really makes us see clearly that love and marriage are indeed two different things," Evan said slowly.
He then added, "In the long run, such relationships are truly unsustainable. Trying to improve their dull marriage through an open relationship will ultimately lead to a parting of ways."
Michelle said, "I also believe that true love is not just about physical attraction, but also requires spiritual communication and resonance. Choosing an open relationship to preserve or enhance their marriage ultimately only adds unnecessary complexity and distrust."
She furrowed her brow, the glass of wine in her hand swaying, reflecting the warm yellow light on the table. "Perhaps these people are just looking for a way to maintain the freshness of their marriage, but unknowingly, they may gradually lose the initial trust and respect for each other."
"This makes a lot of sense," Evan's voice carried a hint of contemplation as he glanced at the phantom-like lights created by the bar's neon signs. "In fact, it's not just open marriages, even traditional marriage models have similar issues. For example, couples may gradually grow apart due to prolonged time together, and mutual distrust can spread like a wildfire, slowly burning love to ashes."
Michelle sighed, setting down her glass. "Yeah, that's true. So, marriage really isn't a simple matter. There are too many different factors, and each one can affect the relationship between two people."
Evan's uncontainable smile seemed to have found a kindred spirit. "That's one of the reasons why I decided not to pursue the traditional path of marriage. I believe that love is a highly personal experience and should not be restricted by institutional norms."
There was a hint of admiration in his gaze. "When it comes to marriage, we are both non-marriage advocates, which aligns perfectly."
Michelle shifted her gaze from the wine glass to Evan. "But this also helps us understand that everyone has the freedom to choose their own love pattern. It doesn't have to strictly follow the framework of society."
Evan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "So, what do you think about our current situation? We've been living together, but we haven't taken the step towards marriage."
Michelle looked at Evan thoughtfully and said, "I think cohabitation is a kind of trial, a way for us to understand each other better and to see if we are truly suitable for long-term companionship. As for marriage, I don't believe it's the only solution, nor is it the entirety of love."
The atmosphere of Taipei at night seemed to become even more profound at that moment. Soft jazz music played in the corner of the bar, creating a subtle harmony with their conversation.
"I like you this way," Evan said, his eyes filled with some unfathomable emotion, "not being influenced by societal norms and expectations."
Michelle smiled, "You too. I'm glad to meet someone who shares the same views as me."
Their eyes met, and in this bustling city, they found a sanctuary where they could truly let down their guard and be open with each other. Michelle glanced at her watch and suddenly realized it was getting late. "Oh dear, we should go. I have an early meeting tomorrow."
Evan also checked his watch and smiled, saying, "Alright, let's head home then."
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