「Midnight.」
Yun Yuqing found it difficult to fall asleep as she lay in bed.
She didn't understand. It was Fang Sihan who was having an affair with the older man, so why was she the one who was so disturbed? Was it because Fang Sihan's proactive approach had made her feel a sense of crisis? Or was it that naughty uncle, whose thieving hands were hidden under the blanket, stealthily caressing a thigh and flirting with Fang Sihan, yet his eyes remained fixed on her?
Her initial peeks had been caught by Sun Dasheng, and he had kept an eye on her ever since. Sure enough, he caught her several more times. Every time their eyes met, he wore a half-smiling expression. Once, he even intentionally lifted the blanket, allowing her a clearer view.
This made Yun Yuqing's heart POUND wildly, turning her cheeks into red apples. Even the air she exhaled felt hot and steamy. It was just like being caught red-handed by her parents while watching illicit videos in her bedroom; she wanted to find a hole and crawl into it. Yet she couldn't control herself. Even after being caught, she couldn't resist the urge to peek again.
Fang Sihan, on the other hand, was terrified of giving herself away after her earlier scare, so she kept her eyes glued to the television.
Tonight, both young women struggled to fall asleep.
Sun Dasheng was also still awake. Just a moment ago, he had received a WeChat message from his apprentice.
[Ouyang Jiani: Master, there's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I've decided to tell you.]
[Sun Dasheng: Go ahead.]
[Ouyang Jiani: Actually, I already know about your divorce.]
[Sun Dasheng: Oh? Looks like bad news travels fast.]
[Ouyang Jiani: Aren't you curious?]
[Sun Dasheng: What's there to be curious about? I haven't told anyone, so it must have been Lee Li who spread it. Besides, I remember her saying something about a group for the wives of the company's middle managers, called something like the 'Little Orange Support Group.']
[Ouyang Jiani: Master, you're incredibly astute. I've secretly infiltrated the group. She was the one who spread the news about your resignation and divorce. I'm guessing everyone in the company knows by now.]
[Sun Dasheng: She must have been bad-mouthing me a lot these past few days, hasn't she?]
[Ouyang Jiani: ...]
[Sun Dasheng: Never mind, forget I asked. Let her say what she wants. It's not like I'll lose any sleep over it.]
[Ouyang Jiani: It's all slander and defamation, Master. I'm afraid telling you might make you sick with anger.]
Seeing her master hadn't responded, she decided it was better to just rip the band-aid off and told him the truth she had learned.
[Ouyang Jiani: She said you're an unromantic block of wood. That in all your years of marriage, you never bought her a single bouquet of flowers, never personally purchased her a gift for any holiday, big or small, and that you frequently forget your wedding anniversary.
"She said that you only care about work and neglect everything at home. She claimed she does all the chores and frequently has to take care of the elderly from both of your families.
"Finally, she said you're incompetent. That your salary barely covers the mortgage and you can't afford a car, forcing her to ride crowded buses and subways. And that she has to work as a social media influencer just to supplement the family income.]
Good grief. Sun Dasheng couldn't believe someone could be so shameless, so capable of twisting the truth to such a degree. It was true he'd never bought her flowers, but that was because when he had offered to, Lee Li had said, "Don't buy me flowers in the future. It's a waste of money and useless. Get me something practical instead." The lipsticks, serums, and skincare creams covering her vanity, the clothes, shoes, and bags stuffing her closet—he had bought all of them. They were all luxury brands, far more expensive than any bouquet. He did forget about all the trendy new holidays, like Goddess's Day, White Valentine's Day, or the "First Cup of Autumn Milk Tea" Festival, and hadn't prepared gifts. But whenever she reminded him, he always sent her a red packet. He'd even squeezed the money for those out of the meager living allowance she gave him after she took his salary card. He admitted he devoted most of his time to work and wasn't very attentive to other things. But she claimed she did the housework and took care of the elderly? She spent half the year traveling! What a joke. When she was traveling, he ordered takeout. When she was home, he still ordered takeout. She didn't do a single stitch of housework. If the house got messy, she hired a cleaning service. If she was hungry, she ordered takeout. She couldn't cook at all and often claimed her hands 'weren't made for cooking or washing dishes.' And taking care of the elderly? That was even funnier. After they got married, she had visited his parents in his hometown less than three times. He suspected his wife and his parents still barely knew each other. He wasn't even sure if they could recognize one another on the street. She was, however, very attentive to her own mother, hauling bags big and small to her family's home every New Year. As for her last point about him earning too little, he'd admit to that. But her claim to be supplementing their income as a self-media travel blogger? Wasn't the paltry sum she earned just spent on her own travel expenses? How was that "supplementing the family income"? Unless, of course, she considered her travel fund to be a household expense. In that case, she was absolutely right. He suddenly felt that the woman he'd shared a bed with for years had become a complete stranger. All her past tenderness and concern must have been nothing more than an act, a personality she performed just for him. He had thought their divorce was simply because their feelings had faded and they couldn't go on living together. He'd believed that even if money was the root cause, they had at least shared some genuine affection once. Now he realized he had been completely and utterly wrong. For ten years, she had been deceiving him. She had never felt anything for him, not even in the beginning. Otherwise, she would never have said such defamatory things.
「A long time passed.」
[Ouyang Jiani: Good night, Master!]
She knew her master needed some quiet time to process this unpleasant information, so she didn't disturb him further and ended the conversation.
[Sun Dasheng: Mm, good night!]
He couldn't sleep. He got up, wanting a cigarette, only to realize he'd left the pack in the living room. He tried to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible and didn't turn on any lights. He tiptoed into the living room, picked up the pack of cigarettes from the coffee table, and stuck one between his lips without lighting it before walking out onto the large balcony.
He gazed into the distance. Even late at night, the city was still brilliantly illuminated. It was so merciless, never pausing for those who fell behind, nor mourning for those abandoned by the times. He had a sudden urge to scream, but this was a residential complex; a single shout in the middle of the night would probably get the police called on him instantly.
With a surge of emotion pent up inside him, he fumbled for the lighter in his pocket and lit the cigarette between his lips. In the faint flare of the lighter, he glimpsed a shadowy figure, startling him so much that the cigarette nearly fell from his mouth.
When he got closer and saw the person clearly, he demanded in a low voice, "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, trying to scare people like a ghost?"
Standing in the corner of the balcony was Yun Yuqing, who had been tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. The sudden flicker of light had also given her a scare. She thought it was a legendary will-o'-the-wisp, scaring her witless. Sun Dasheng's sharp voice was what brought her back to her senses.
"Uncle, I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air."
Sun Dasheng saw that a window of the enclosed balcony was cracked open in front of her. He nodded without a word and continued to smoke his sullen cigarette.
"Uncle, is something on your mind?" Yun Yuqing asked, seeing him smoking silently and brooding.
Sun Dasheng nodded.
"I never would have thought you rich folks had worries too!" Yun Yuqing remarked with a sigh.