Zhang Benyuan drove back to his apartment in Chengdu, exhausted, turned on the lights, and habitually picked up his phone. Seeing the text message from his wife, his eyes didn't show much emotion; he simply glanced at it. Then he replied, "I've been busy lately. Thank you for your hard work. You should take the children and get some rest early." Their marriage felt more like a utilitarian transaction.
His wife, Yan Pingping, was three years his senior and plain-looking. While in college, Zhang Benyuan accidentally learned of her identity and deliberately created several opportunities for them to meet. After they met, Zhang Benyuan took the initiative and passionately pursued her. His handsomeness quickly won him over, all because of her family background. Yan Pingping's father was a school administrator, her mother was a senior executive in the oil industry, her uncle was the director of the Public Security Bureau, and her aunt worked in the Education Bureau. Such family background undoubtedly brought Zhang Benyuan many advantages.
In college, Zhang Benyuan diligently studied, successfully winning various scholarships and establishing an image of excellence and ambition. He also treated Yan Pingping with care and tenderness, winning her heart. By the time Zhang Benyuan graduated, Yan Pingping was pregnant, and her family accepted the marriage. After graduation, Zhang Benyuan, through his mother-in-law's connections, secured a job at an oil company, where his career gradually flourished. Soon thereafter, Yan Pingping's father was appointed Secretary of the Shancheng Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
By the time his child turned three and started kindergarten, Zhang Benyuan longed to leave the city and start his own business. So, leveraging the connections of his wife's father and uncle, Zhang Benyuan met some government officials in Chengdu. With funding from his mother-in-law, he and two other partners founded Southwest Yuanchuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. Their main businesses include real estate brokerage, property marketing, pre-owned housing rentals, and mortgage lending. One of the partners, Mr. Chen, was the nephew of a leader at the Chengdu Land and Resources Bureau, while another, Mr. Wang, was his university classmate and a wealthy senior from Chongqing, who had played a significant role in helping him win over his wife.
Through their connections in Chengdu, they successfully secured sales for numerous new real estate projects and opened real estate agencies in various areas of the city, while also undertaking a large amount of mortgage loan business. As their careers progressed, Zhang Benyuan's mentality gradually changed, and his feelings for his wife grew increasingly distant.
Today, Zhang Benyuan's wife works at the Discipline Inspection Commission in Shancheng. Although Zhang Benyuan occasionally cares for his wife, such as preparing a gift for her birthday and sending her blessing text messages on important holidays, these cares are more like habitual actions, lacking real enthusiasm and sincerity.
As for his wife, Yan Pingping, she only responded politely to Zhang Benyuan's concern. She no longer had the same expectations and dependence on Zhang Benyuan as before, but just quietly fulfilled her responsibilities as a wife and mother for her daughter.
In daily life, they appear to treat each other with respect, but their communication is limited to daily trivialities and lacks in-depth spiritual communication.
When they were together at home, the atmosphere was always awkward and dull. Zhang Benyuan was often immersed in his work and only responded perfunctorily to his wife's words. When they were out and about, they would also act like a couple and attend some social activities together.
When facing his family and friends, Zhang Benyuan would deliberately show a harmonious and happy side. But only he knew that this harmony was only superficial, and his heart had long been drifting away.
Yan Pingping remained consistent, silently devoting herself wholeheartedly to the family, working tirelessly and without complaint. And the little attention Zhang Benyuan occasionally showed his wife was likely just to inquire about the children's well-being and the health of his mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Deep in Yan Pingping's heart, as long as they haven't reached the point of divorce, she will willingly devote all her energy to their children, caring for them meticulously and attentively. At the same time, she wholeheartedly supports Zhang Benyuan's career development, firmly believing that he is now fully focused on his career and wants to prove himself. She believes that sooner or later, they will be able to regain the good old days.
However, during his work, Zhang Benyuan unexpectedly met Wang Yitong. This young, vibrant woman burst into his world. Her presence, like a blazing fire, reignited the long-dormant passion within Zhang Benyuan.
From then on, he began to frequently contact Wang Yitong. To avoid being noticed, he even created a fake QQ account to keep in touch with Wang Yitong. They often communicated through this fake account. Zhang Benyuan always believed that a qualified hunter, as long as he had enough patience, would naturally lead his prey into his carefully laid trap.
Wang Yitong would share with Zhang Benyuan the interesting things she encountered or some of the little troubles in life. Zhang Benyuan always listened patiently and gave her warm comfort and advice. Sometimes, Wang Yitong would send some cute emoticons, which made Zhang Benyuan feel relaxed and happy.
He had deliberately arranged this evening's date, having Wang Yitong wait for him at the mall. He was extremely cautious, not wanting the company's employees or the other two partners to be aware of his special relationship with Wang Yitong. Furthermore, he had specifically instructed Wang Yitong not to reveal their relationship to anyone else.
Zhang Benyuan lay in bed, his thoughts flooding his mind. He stared at the ceiling, and Wang Yitong's innocent and lovely face kept appearing in his mind.
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