Marriage Burnout

Wen Xueyan had just lain down when her husband turned off his phone, switched off the light, and lay down with his back to her.

Wen Xueyan's hand stroked his shoulder.

"I've...

99 Extra Chapter: Xu Junheng and Wen Haijing's Rainy Season Watch (2)

99 Extra Chapter: Xu Junheng and Wen Haijing's Rainy Season Watch (2)

Xu Junheng stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office. His phone screen displayed the information for the earliest flight to Vancouver, departing in six hours.

"Go and inform the project team that we are withdrawing from the bidding for that plot of land in Xingcheng." He called his assistant into his office, his voice cold and stern.

The assistant looked up in surprise: "Mr. Xu, we've been following up on this project for three months, but the board of directors..."

"Tell those old guys," Xu Junheng interrupted him, his eyes darkening, "that they either do as I say, or they get out. I'm the major shareholder now."

Having spent so many years navigating the business world, Xu Junheng has witnessed far too many ups and downs.

In his youth, he firmly believed that human will could overcome nature, thinking that as long as one was shrewd enough and ruthless enough, there was no project that could not be won.

But as he grew older, after turning thirty, he experienced several seemingly insurmountable situations where he unexpectedly lost, and several near-death experiences where he miraculously turned the tide. He gradually began to believe that there might really be some mysterious law in this world, and that there is a destiny in the dark.

The place in Xingcheng has been strange from the very beginning.

He still remembers the morning he first decided to participate in the bidding. It was a rare sunny day, and he was getting ready to go out as usual, but as he stepped down the stairs, he inexplicably slipped and fell hard.

The fall was completely inexplicable. The ground was flat, and his shoes were non-slip, yet he still slipped and fell. At the time, he thought it was just an accident, but a strange feeling of unease lingered in his heart.

Later, as the project progressed, various minor issues arose. Key documents would mysteriously disappear, and core team members would fall ill one after another, requiring them to take multiple days off.

Even now, with the bidding imminent, news of Wen Haijing's illness has arrived.

A few hours later, in the airport VIP lounge, Xu Junheng looked out the window at the flights taking off and landing, his boarding pass crumpled in his hand.

When the final boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker, he dialed Wen Xueyan's number and decided to tell her cousin about Wen Haijing's illness.

"Wen Haijing needs a CT scan as soon as possible to determine if surgery is necessary." After explaining the situation, he got straight to the point, "I hope you can go to Canada and take her to a hospital in Seattle."

Wen Xueyan responded, "The medical conditions in Canada are also very comprehensive..."

"I know," Xu Junheng interrupted her, "but the waiting lists for CT scans and surgery at public hospitals are too long. I've already contacted a private hospital in Seattle with top-notch specialists and equipment. If needed, the surgery can be arranged immediately. Would it be convenient for you to go there yourself and accompany her the whole time?"

Wen Xueyan heard the background noise of airport announcements coming from Xu Junheng's side.

Wen Xueyan was a little confused: "Aren't you going over there? I thought you were at the airport..."

"I can't go to Vancouver," Xu Junheng replied. "I have very poor self-control. Right now... I really like her. I'm just going to the US ahead of time to arrange her hospitalization, so you absolutely must persuade her to get treatment."

The hustle and bustle of the airport seemed to stand still at that moment.

His voice lowered, "If I were to appear before her now, I would only disrupt her life. Her suitors are excellent, worthy of the kind of love a woman her age should have."

A plane roared into the sky in the distance, his voice mingling with the engine's hum: "Given my personality, if I'm with her, I'll definitely want to win her back soon. So, you need to keep this a secret. I'll prepay the hospital $1 million, transferred from my US account. And say it's from you and Mr. Cheng. If Haijing knew I was paying for all this, she'd be emotionally vulnerable again."

He paused, as if carefully choosing his words: "I've set a deadline for myself: if she's still single after she finishes her four years of studies, I'll openly pursue her again. But if I don't have that opportunity by then..."

A soft inhalation came from the other end of the phone.

"That proves she's found a better happiness." Xu Junheng's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "She's only a freshman, and she's already shown amazing academic talent. Her professor has invited her to co-author a paper, and I heard she'll be listed as the second author, published in a top international SCI journal."

His tone unconsciously revealed admiration and respect, and he himself felt that his feelings for Wen Haijing were very complicated.

After a long silence, Wen Xueyan replied, "Thank you."

Wen Xueyan felt that, besides her cousin, there was now another person in the world who cared about Wen Haijing.

Xu Junheng didn't respond, but specifically instructed, "Remember, don't let her parents know anything. That couple doesn't deserve to be her family."

After ending the call, Xu Junheng put his phone aside and sank into the soft sofa. The VIP room lights shone softly, but they couldn't illuminate the deep emotions in his eyes.

My thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to that distant night. Under the dim hotel lights, Wen Haijing's youthful and timid figure appeared clearly before my eyes.

He remembered repeatedly asking her if she was willing, and her answer was yes.

But looking back now, was that really voluntary?

A girl driven to desperation by her parents, facing enormous debt, tried tutoring and even working part-time at a bar. At that time, what other choice did she have but to accept his conditions?

It had started raining outside the window sometime earlier, and the raindrops tapping on the glass sounded just like the man's restrained heartbeat.

What he found even harder to let go of was the scene he witnessed that night.

As her clothes slowly came off, her skin, revealed under the light, was as white as the finest mutton fat jade, radiating a delicate and soft glow.

Yet, on this supposedly flawless white expanse, there are three shocking, old scars. Those dark marks are etched on her thin back, her slender waist, and even extend to the graceful curves of her thighs.

He tried his best to keep his voice steady, but a hint of suppressed sorrow still escaped his lips: "These injuries... how did they happen?"

She curled up like a startled fawn: "When I was little, I ate a piece of meat."

"Huh?" Xu Junheng was surprised.

"My dad said that the meat in the house could only be given to my older brother. I usually only ate rice, vegetables, and radishes. I remember that day my parents cooked very little rice, and I only ate two mouthfuls. That night, I was so hungry that I couldn't sleep, so I went to the kitchen and saw the leftover meat. I took a bite, and my dad found out. He whipped me with his belt..."

Hearing this that night, he leaned down and gently placed his warm lips on her waist.

At first, his kiss was very light, like a spring drizzle or a morning mist. Wen Haijing could feel the slight trembling of his lips, and the surging emotions beneath his restraint.

Even when wearing a condom, he was very careful.

However, Xu Junheng also clearly remembered that he hadn't used protection the second time that night. How much suffering did that impulsive act cause her later?

Even after it was later found that the miscarriage was caused by that bastard Lai Chi-fung, and even though he had been punished by law, it still could not alleviate his guilt.

Xu Junheng decided to go directly to the United States and quietly helped her complete the hospitalization procedures in advance.

This decision almost exhausted all his self-control.

He knew his own nature all too well. The ruthless and decisive Xu Junheng in the business world had never been a gentleman in matters of the heart. If he were to go to Vancouver now, standing before that vulnerable girl who needed him so much, and if the diagnosis confirmed that she didn't need surgery, his willpower wouldn't last three days.

On the first day, he might be able to maintain a semblance of composure. He would appear before her as her cousin, offering just the right amount of concern while keeping a safe distance. He would act like a true gentleman, helping her with hospital admission procedures, arranging accommodation, and contacting doctors.

But this layer of restraint is as thin as a cicada's wing.

The next day, as the morning light streamed through the blinds of the hospital room, the defenses he had carefully constructed would begin to crumble. He would want to reach out and smooth the wrinkles between her brows, to hold her cold hand in his palm, to feel her warmth seeping through his skin.

Then came the third day.

He would lean down, his kisses landing on her cheeks, feeling the slight warmth beneath her delicate skin. His lips would trace the contours of her face, finally settling on her cool lips.

He would pull Wen Haijing into his arms, one hand cupping the back of her neck, the other tightly encircling her waist. The kiss would grow more and more passionate until she trembled slightly in his embrace.

Then, his lips would move down her slender neck, lingering on her fair skin, feeling the rapid beating of her pulse.

His kisses would land on her delicate collarbone, leaving faint marks. Each kiss felt like a declaration of ownership, or a plea for forgiveness.

Xu Junheng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He longed to hold her tightly in his arms, to feel her trembling, until she melted softly in his embrace.

But then what? Didn't it disrupt the new life she had finally started?

He felt he was willing to wait, no matter the outcome. Because he felt that perhaps only through such restrained love could he be worthy of her, who was so intelligent and resilient.

With this in mind, Xu Junheng canceled his flight to Canada and bought a direct flight to the United States. He didn't trust his assistant to make the arrangements, so he decided to go in person. He thought to himself that he might catch a glimpse of her slender figure in the hospital corridor during those few days.

Welcome all readers and fans to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.

They should be together! The sweet moments in the novel give us the motivation to go to work in real life. Please let President Xu and Hai Jing be together in the side story! Hehehe!

Let them be together.

Thank you for your message. We originally planned an open ending for them, but we're considering revising it these past few days. Suggestions are welcome.

Received, thank you for your message. Originally, I planned an open ending for the E/O, but recently I've noticed that everyone wants a happy ending for the supporting characters. I'm considering making some changes, and suggestions are welcome!

Let's have a happy ending.

Thank you to the reader for sending flowers with a "hahaha"!

Thank you for your comment. Feel free to leave a message.

Together!

Thank you for your message.