Fangyuan almost knelt in front of Yan Yan, begging her to keep the child in her womb. Yan Yan was once again on the verge of collapse. She simply shook her head, leaving Fangyuan in utter despair. Yet this despair was nobody else’s fault—it was entirely the consequence of his own actions…
Watching this scene unfold before me, I gained some sudden clarity… Often, it’s not that the world is too cruel, but that we fail to see clearly. We weave ugliness with our desires, yet always use our supposedly kind eyes to despise such ugliness—or worse, we ourselves become evil, treating the hideousness created by desire as the foundation for our existence in this world.
Perhaps I belonged to the former, but Fangyuan at this moment was definitely the latter… He no longer had the chance to turn back, because his ever-expanding desires had already destroyed every path he could retreat along.
Jian Wei, who had been silent all along, finally spoke to Fangyuan: “Fangyuan, don’t make empty promises to Yan Yan. You don’t have the ability to control her. You probably don’t even know that your little mistress came to Yan Yan today, offering her ten million yuan to have an abortion and divorce you. Can you offer a higher price?… I think you should settle with that mistress of yours before making demands on Yan Yan. But honestly, I don’t think you can handle her. Remember, some things will stick to you like permanent labels. It won’t make you any nobler just because you’ve played your games or taken big steps forward. People in our circle can praise you to the skies to your face, but behind your back, they’ll curse you like a dog! Don’t you see all this?”
Fangyuan looked up at Jian Wei, as if his soul had been momentarily shaken.
Jian Wei continued, “Your mistress has already offered ten million yuan. If you want Yan Yan to keep the child, you’ll have to offer at least twenty million. But do you have that kind of money? If not, don’t make empty promises. The future is uncertain. Maybe one day you’ll end up like a stray dog. Then Yan Yan will have no status, no financial security, and still have to raise your child alone… That’s clearly an unprofitable deal. Instead, you should act like the smart person you are—accept the ten million from your mistress and live worry-free for the rest of your life. After all, I believe there will still be men willing to accept a divorced Yan Yan. She’s only 28, still in her prime. Without the burden of a child, she can still live as a high-quality woman with that ten million.”
Jian Wei was a very clever woman. Her words redirected the focus of the conflict onto Mi Lan, forcing Fangyuan to reflect on how much Yan Yan had sacrificed for him over the years. The child in her womb was the best proof of that. He should cherish what he had now!
Fangyuan remained silent for a long time before finally looking at Yan Yan and saying, “Alright, if you’ll keep the child, I’ll give you twenty million. I’ll prepare it within three days and bring it to you!”
I was stunned, as was Jian Wei. We couldn’t believe what we had just heard. The reply was shocking… Human desires had completely changed his values, and nothing could bring him back now!
Fangyuan stood up, pleading with Jian Wei, “Please take good care of Yan Yan for these few days. I’ll figure out how to raise that money. And please act as a witness in three days…”
Without looking back, Fangyuan left Yan Yan before Jian Wei and me. He left behind only the promise of twenty million, but I could no longer predict whether that sum would be a fortune that changed lives—or merely the beginning of an endless nightmare.
…
The night deepened, and Jian Wei and I helped Yan Yan into her car. She couldn’t live independently tonight—she needed Jian Wei to look after her.
Jian Wei started the car. I knocked on the window. She rolled it down and asked, “Anything else?”
“I…” I only managed one word before my voice caught. I had intended to remind her to help Yan Yan make the right decision, but who could bear the responsibility of making such a judgment on Yan Yan’s behalf? The child in her womb was a living, breathing life—not an object. Whether to bring it into the world or end it felt like a sin either way. The best outcome would be for Fangyuan to turn back—but unfortunately, he wouldn’t.
Jian Wei seemed to understand why I hesitated. Perhaps she, too, dared not make such a judgment for Yan Yan. She changed the subject and asked me, “How’s your handover work going?”
“All the documents regarding the equity transfer have been prepared by the administrative department. If you have time in the next couple of days, please come to the company for the shareholders’ meeting, and we can finalize everything.”
Jian Wei paused as she was fastening her seatbelt. She closed her eyes, lowered her head, and in her weariness, I seemed to see a dream painstakingly built now shattering in the face of reality’s choices. That dream had once been mine, and hers as well.
She bit her lip, then opened her eyes and nodded with a smile, “No problem. Give me a call the day before the meeting starts, and I’ll make time.”
“Okay, thanks for your effort!”
Jian Wei didn’t respond further. She rolled up the window and drove off, quickly disappearing into the flickering lights ahead. I stood there for a long time before looking at the car key Yan Yan had left with me. This white Mazda 6 would have to stay with me for now.
…
Driving back into the residential complex, I returned home and placed the car key into the box on the coffee table. I picked up my phone and saw two unread messages and one missed call. The messages were from Mi Cai, and the call was from Leyao.
I chose to reply to Mi Cai’s messages first. In fact, she had sent only a simple message, telling me that she was discussing the road construction project with the village chief and that the township government had already approved the project. Construction could begin after the Lunar New Year.
My reply was equally simple—I praised her efficiency, but I didn’t tell her about the events that had just unfolded, because I didn’t want to ruin her trip. After all, her younger sister, Mi Lan, had played a very dishonorable role in the conflict between Fangyuan and Yan Yan.
I hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of what had just happened. My breath was heavy, my mouth dry. I first drank a glass of water before calling Leyao back. She seemed to have been waiting, because she answered instantly as soon as I dialed, asking, “Where were you just now? I called but you didn’t pick up…”
“I was out doing something and didn’t have my phone on me. Anything important?”
“I just heard a rumor that you’re leaving Luku. I wanted to confirm it with you!”
I replied in as calm a tone as I could, “Yes, that’s true. The handover process is already underway.”
“Then did you follow through with using my acting fee to fund the road construction in that village? Don’t let it end up being nothing. Thirty million isn’t a small amount!”
“So that’s why you called! Don’t worry, I’ve already withdrawn that money from the company’s account. Mi Cai has taken it to the village. She just told me that the township government has approved the project, and the funds will be allocated for construction next spring.”
“That’s better…”
“Why did you have Mi Cai deliver it?”
“There’s been a lot going on lately. She wanted to get away for a while, so I suggested she go to the village. Since the project had been delayed, I figured she could handle it while she was there.”
Leyao fell silent for a moment before speaking again, “I’ve also heard about the Zhuomei incident… It truly confirms what you said: behind human nature lies a sky that’s ever-changing. I initially thought Mi Cai would finally break free from you—the foolish man she once loved. But she didn’t!… How fickle the sky can be!”
If the ever-changing sky truly described human nature, it should refer to people like Fangyuan and Xiangchen. I hadn’t expected Leyao’s perspective to apply this saying to Mi Cai, but it wasn’t baseless. In the general perception, it would have been reasonable for her to leave me, but she chose something incomprehensible to others. Hence, in people’s eyes, she, too, had become unpredictable…
Finally, I asked Leyao, “What exactly are you trying to say? As a friend, after all these things have happened, shouldn’t you offer me some comfort?”
“I’ll comfort you when you’re really in a desperate situation… Remember that audio recording you left with me? I’m actually relieved I haven’t had to use it yet, and I hope I never will… Oh, are you and Mi Cai getting married soon?”
I tried to recall when I had ever left such a recording with her, but couldn’t remember. Knowing her tendency for mystery, I didn’t dwell on it and simply replied, “Yes, we’re getting close.”
“Will you invite me to the wedding?”
“Probably not…”
“Revenge, pure and simple revenge—because I didn’t invite you to my wedding?”
“Of course not. It’s just that our wedding will be too simple. We’re worried your stardom might overshadow our big day. After all, we’re supposed to be the center of attention!”
“Small-town mentality!”
During the conversation with Leyao, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I found myself thinking again about the recent chaos. I no longer felt like continuing the conversation, so I said, “Get some rest. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.” Leyao didn’t insist. She said “Good night” and hung up. I felt a bit lonely, thinking about Yan Yan’s uncertain future. I didn’t know how she would face the cruel changes yet to come.
I also felt regretful because I had ended the call with Leyao too hastily. I asked her to comfort me, but forgot to ask how her married life was going… With this woman, it seemed I had always taken more than I gave. Not exactly—there was a time when I had selflessly given to her. So between our endless taking and giving, we had developed a subtle bond, the foundation of our mutual care. It was hard to sever, but it was fading more and more…
As my emotions grew complicated, the night deepened. I stared at my fingers, trying to calculate the light of tomorrow from the darkness of tonight!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage