Love with ulterior motives

Chapter 15

Han Mei and Xian Shiyu were even happier than the newlyweds. Their biggest wish after having a daughter was for her to find a good home, and now that everything is going well, they are naturally happy.

The relatives were full of praise for the wedding arrangements. Not only were their round-trip airfares reimbursed and they stayed in the best hotels, but the souvenirs they brought back were also incredibly valuable. They all wished Xianjing would get married a few more times. Ye You's friends were mostly women, and they offered their envious blessings. Xianjing's impeccable smile seemed to be saying to Ye You's suitors, "Tickets are sold out."

The quiet bar was closed for a week, with a large sign hanging at the entrance that read "The boss is happy."

"I'm so tired." Xian Jing sat on the bed, opening red envelopes filled with money; the banknotes beside her were already piled up. Holding a calculator, she said to Ye You, "I never thought getting married could make money. But the shop hasn't been open for the past few days, so we've lost quite a bit."

"Ha, you shrewd and calculating boss lady." Ye You got into bed and hugged Xian Jing.

"How much money do you actually have?" Xianjing asked.

"I don't know. Go ask Lao Luo. He manages the money. If you want to manage the accounts, I can have him transfer them to you, but that would be too tiring. I'd feel sorry for you." Ye You took off her sweater and smiled mischievously.

"Again? I've been so busy these past few days, how about tomorrow?" Xian Jing coaxed Ye You while tidying up the red envelopes and banknotes on the bed.

"No, I want it." Kids are just greedy.

"No, we're out of condoms." Making an excuse to avoid the situation.

"Then let's have a baby and name him Ye Kai, the successor of Little Li Flying Dagger."

Xian Jing was taken aback. "What if it's a girl?"

"Ye Mixian, what do you think? It means that I, Ye You, have fallen for you, Xianjing." Ye You said, burrowing into the blankets. The weather was a bit chilly, and the blankets were heaven.

Without that barrier, Ye You felt much closer to Xian Jing psychologically. Wearing a condom was like washing your feet with socks on – it always felt a bit strange. But tonight, Ye You was extremely excited.

If you like a woman, you always want to possess her body; if you like a man, you always want him to possess your body. Only when you possess each other can it be called love.

Xianjing felt a fullness in her lower body. Perhaps this was the power of marriage.

"I love you." Ye You didn't know what to say during his climax, so he chose to say this. He originally wanted to say "fuck you," but then he suddenly realized that this woman was not a prostitute but his wife.

Xian Jing hugged Ye You's back and patted him gently, saying, "You've worked hard." She originally wanted to say "I love you," but then she suddenly realized that this man was not Bai Mingqing but her husband—a man two years younger than her.

What is Bai Mingqing doing now? Will he feel heartbroken or happy to see this scene?

Ye You held Xian Jing as they slept. On a night like this, who remembered whom, and who forgot whom?

On the bed sheet, countless white tadpoles that didn't make it into the uterus groaned. Unfortunately, some of them might be scientists, musical geniuses, or athletes... all complaining about the unfairness of fate. Therefore, everyone who is alive is lucky.

(32)

Ye You got married, to that "cousin," and Xie Qiqi's heart was shattered. There was no longer any reason or excuse to get close to her, and she could no longer go all night like before. The sex toys left at home were scattered all over the bed. It turned out that games are games, with their own rules: losers are eliminated, and winners rise to the top.

Xie Qiqi came to the quiet bar during the day, had a cup of coffee, and Xianjing treated her.

"Consider yourself lucky." Xie Qiqi finished her drink in one gulp and left without looking back.

"I can afford to lose," Xie Qiqi said to herself as she walked to the door.

The daytime was not as lively as the night. Ye You completely trusted Xian Jing to leave the quiet bar to her, and he was able to relax. Feeling a bit bored, he gradually returned to his old ways. Having meat to eat did not mean he would stop eating seafood and vegetables. Sometimes Ye You would drive to faraway places at night, and if he saw a woman he liked, he would take care of her on the spot or in the car, without bringing her home. Home was no longer just a house; there was a mistress in the house.

"Where is he?" Xian Jing waited at the door for a long time but Ye You did not come to pick her up.

"I'm at home. I'm not feeling well today." Ye You looked at the woman in the back of the car who was busy putting on her pants, threw her a few bills, and gestured for her to get out of the car quickly.

"Okay, I'll take the bus back myself." Xian Jing went back into the bar.

Anzhu went back early; it seemed her house was about to be taken back by the developer, and she was busy protesting. The shop had hired six waiters, which was more than enough manpower.

Playing on my phone at the bar, Anzhu had once mentioned that WAP could pinpoint someone's location. A thought struck me; curiosity killed the cat of trust within me.

The system sent you a text message stating that the location of the phone owner you searched for is No. 983 Sanlitun.

Xian Jing felt a chill in her heart, regretting that she shouldn't have doubted Ye You. Now that she knew the result, she was the one who had lost. Sanlitun was an hour away from home.

Ye You drove home and breathed a sigh of relief when Xian Jing wasn't there. She quickly took a shower; Ye You didn't go out with women who wore perfume—it would be too obvious. She called Xian Jing to ask why she wasn't home yet, and Xian Jing said the shop was busy and she'd be a little later.

What's the point of going back?

Xianjing didn't want to go back. Her mind was a bit of a mess. She stared at the doorway, as if there were gods there, but no gods, only people coming and going.

Bai Mingqing didn't see Xian Jing sitting at the bar, looking like an ordinary drunkard, her face flushed, her body swaying, her head down, and a pitcher of beer in hand.

He had already drunk some drinks, but the party was over, and he wasn't satisfied, so he wanted to drink more. In this city, there are people everywhere who don't want to go home; some complain that no one is home, others that there are too many people at home.

Xianjing didn't recognize him and mechanically handed him a pitcher of beer. "Eighty yuan. Pay up first."

Bai Mingqing only saw a pair of delicate white hands waving in front of her eyes, and grabbed them. "Miss, your hands are very beautiful."

Their eyes met.

Meeting him felt like a dream to Xianjing. The person she had longed for was right in front of her, but she couldn't say the words she wanted to say. And she was already a married woman. Since they had missed each other, why should they meet again?

"Baby, how are you?" Bai Mingqing asked, taking a sip of wine, which was bitter.

"Very good." When Xianjing said "very good," tears were already welling up in her eyes.

"Oh. If you're doing well, that's good. If you're not, just tell me." Bai Mingqing was also frank. After breaking up, seeing each other again would bring not only guilt but also desire. After all, that young and beautiful face was his own, and it was always different from seeing other women.

Xianjing's resentment and grievances could not be expressed. As time passed, she could no longer speak of them. They turned into tears, which flowed to the corners of her mouth and were then swallowed.

"I want to come back." Xian Jing said truthfully after drinking, even if it's just for a minute.

“Come back if you want.” Bai Mingqing held Xian Jing’s hand in his. She was forty-two, a good age for divorce. “I’m alone now, so you don’t need to worry. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I’m living in Shenzhen now, and my phone number hasn’t changed.”

Bai Mingqing stumbled out of the quiet bar. Xian Jing chased after him, but he had already gotten into his car. She squatted on the ground alone, crying, unsure whether she was crying for others or for herself, unable to shake off her sadness.

When Ye You saw that Xian Jing's eyes were red when she returned, he asked, "Wife, you cried. What happened?"

"It's nothing, I just had a few drinks." Xian Jing looked at Ye You. "When did you get back?"

"I've been at home. I wasn't feeling well this afternoon and stayed up all night, but I'm feeling much better now," Ye You said, trying to brush it off. "Go to sleep early, you look exhausted."

Even after taking a shower, and even without seeing a woman wearing perfume, Xian Jing could still sense that Ye You's scent was somewhat different. Women always judge things based on their sense of smell and feeling.

"Are you asleep?" Xianjing asked.

"Not yet, I slept too much at home this afternoon." Ye You hugged her neck affectionately.

Xianjing sighed and gently pushed him away, "I can tell you're lying."

She didn't sleep a wink that night. No matter how Ye You explained or swore, Xian Jing remained silent until dawn, when they finally stopped confronting each other and fell asleep. Perhaps he didn't yet understand the meaning of marriage, perhaps he was still too young, Xian Jing comforted herself.

And so the days go by. If you don't question it, don't take it too seriously, and manage it carefully, perhaps marriage is like the unbreakable brick house built by the third little pig. But if you demand perfection, it's a mirage. If you take a wrong step, what falls is your own loving heart.

"What are you going to do in Shenzhen? Do you know anyone there? Even if you're angry, don't go so far. What will you do in Youjing? Please forgive me this once, okay? It won't happen again, please." Ye You grabbed Xianjing's luggage.

“I’m going to buy a chandelier. The website says that only the DFQ store in Shenzhen has it, and other stores don’t have it. I’m also worried that it might get damaged if it’s shipped over.” Xianjing tried to remain calm as she lied, staring at the ground. “Anzhu at the store will take care of it, so you don’t need to worry.”

"When will you come back?" Ye You suddenly felt reluctant to part with him.

"Come back after you buy the lights. You'd better watch yourself." Xianjing walked to the garage. "If you don't want to drive me, I'll take a taxi to the airport myself."

Ye You quickly opened the door and got the car. Feeling uneasy, although Xian Jing said she was going to buy lamps, he still felt guilty. He had never felt this way before, and he had never felt this way before he was discovered. Like a child who had done something wrong, he secretly observed Xian Jing's expression.

Xian Jing's expression remained unchanged, no different from usual.

"Call me, honey," Ye You called out to Xian Jing, who was about to board the plane.

"Okay." Xianjing's eyes welled up with tears, and she turned to leave.

Shenzhen is described by some as heaven and by others as hell.

(33)

Anzhu lives in Shilei's house and has been extremely busy lately. The house is a bit old and is slated for demolition. The new developer has been tirelessly handing out documents and making promises to residents since early morning. However, not every household wants to move. First, the location is good; second, the compensation offered is too little to buy a house of the same size. After much negotiation, no agreement was reached. Several neighbors met downstairs and firmly refused to move, so the matter was temporarily put on hold.

I tried calling Xianjing, but her phone was off. You can't use your phone on a plane. Xianjing hadn't eaten breakfast.

She went straight to the store. Ye You was there, facing An Zhu from the side. He had beautiful features. "Why is a man so handsome?" An Zhu wondered.

"You're here?" Ye You greeted lazily. There weren't many guests; most were couples on a date, whispering among themselves.

"Where's your wife? Her phone's off." Anzhu went behind the bar and started making coffee. "Why are you here today?"

"She went to Shenzhen, saying she was going to buy a lamp." Ye You felt a little uneasy, a sense of emptiness in her heart. She hadn't felt it when she was around, but now that she was gone, she felt a sense of longing.

"Lights? What kind of lights doesn't Beijing have? Why go to Shenzhen? As far as I know, you must have made her angry, right?" An Zhu stared at Ye You, while the coffee beans settled peacefully in the container.

Ye You said, "It's just that I didn't tell her before going out to play. I didn't do it on purpose."

"It's no use talking to me, go talk to her."

"She's gone." Ye You thought of Xian Jing's unchanging expression before she boarded the plane, and felt a surge of anxiety. "Oh no, what if she doesn't come back? I saw she took a lot of clothes she liked."

"Go after her! Your phones can track each other's locations, right? It should work even in Shenzhen. Send her some roses or something, coax her a little, and that'll be it," An Zhu said casually.

Ye You suddenly understood what was going on. She smiled at An Zhu and said, "You are such a capable and beautiful woman. With you in the shop, one is worth two."

“Just tell me you want to go to Shenzhen to pursue her, no need to flatter me.” An Zhu stared at the bubbling water.

When Xianjing got off the plane, it was noon. Shenzhen is truly beautiful, clean and tidy. No wonder Bai Mingqing chose to live here. Many people like a city because they like a person, and they grow tired of a city because they tire of a person. They come to or leave a city for love, but the city is innocent.

The hotel service was attentive, a completely different feeling from that of northern cities. The smiles were genuine, sincere, and gentle. "How can I help you?"

Xianjing put down her luggage. "Standard room, three days." The room was very comfortable and inexpensive; even inexpensive rooms can be comfortable.

Bai Mingqing treated Xianjing to seafood at noon in a lively restaurant with sharks swimming in the pool, as well as all kinds of shellfish and shrimp.

"Are you married?" Bai Mingqing peeled shrimp for Xian Jing and put it in her bowl, a habit he still remembered even after their breakup.

Xianjing nodded. "We keep missing each other. Either we meet too early, or we meet too late."

"Sigh. Let's not talk about it. Let's eat shrimp. I've already peeled them for you."

Just like when I undressed Xianjing back then, I did it carefully, cleanly, revealing her white flesh.

Xianjing's eyes reddened, and tears fell. "You don't want me. You were the one who didn't want me in the first place."

“I didn’t want to waste your youth at the time, but she insisted on staying, and I had no choice. I didn’t want to hurt you, baby.” Bai Mingqing had already piled up the peeled shrimp; he knew Xianjing liked to eat them.

"Then do you still love me?" Xianjing asked. In front of Bai Mingqing, Xianjing was like a child.

"Eat up. Eat more." Bai Mingqing took a sip of wine.

Xianjing suddenly felt very happy, simply because the man she loved was peeling shrimp for her.

Even after breaking up, the body remembers the other person's face more clearly than the mind. Bai Mingqing went to the hotel room and sat on the sofa. Xian Jing watched him from the edge of the bed, seemingly afraid to approach.

"Come here." Bai Mingqing beckoned.

Xian Jing hadn't been held by Bai Mingqing in a long time. In that instant, Xian Jing felt that she didn't love Ye You. What she needed was this kind of embrace, the familiar and broad chest, filled with a familiar sense of security. After waiting for a year, the stored memories and sadness were suddenly released. There was no other way but to cry. Xian Jing cried so hard that she almost passed out, and spoke in a choked voice, "You don't know... I miss you so much... I just... want to be held by you like this... From now on... Anyway... don't leave me."

Bai Mingqing was a little nervous. He had only wanted to rekindle their old flame, but now that Xian Jing was a married woman, he couldn't entice her into a dangerous situation. After all, he loved her. He wanted her to live a stable and peaceful life.

"Don't do this, speak properly." Bai Mingqing held Xian Jing, somewhat unable to control himself.