Chapter 19
"Let's forget about men." Li Chi'an picked up a French fry and chewed it. "But things still need to be done."
After finishing a French fry, she wiped her hands with a tissue and said to Gao Yinxi and Xu Zhuwen, "Look at me, I can make coffee, do flower arranging, write, and take photos. I was originally thinking of opening a flower cafe. When there are customers, I can take orders, and when there are no customers, I can write. How about that? It's a stable job with no worries about income. But after looking into it, I think a flower cafe is not a good idea. Opening a shop means rent, utilities, and if I can't manage it, I'll have to hire people. It's all costs. I'm not confident that I can make a profit as soon as I enter the industry."
“It’s definitely not a good project.” Gao Yinxi nodded. “The real economy is doing terribly this year.”
“Originally, I thought that if I couldn’t make a flower cafe, I could open a floral art studio. My parents also have a house on the first floor, and they said they could make it into a studio for me…” Li Chi’an ate his steak and talked to Xu Zhuwen and Gao Yinxi about his business plan. As he talked, his thoughts became clearer and clearer.
“Your idea is good,” Gao Yinxi said. “If you don’t have writing skills, I would support you to try any of these.”
“Right.” Li Chi’an actually understood his own strengths. The reason he told them was simply to see if there were any other ideas or suggestions that were better than his own.
“There’s no better one.” Xu Zhuwen shook her head. “If your side hustle and slash career are just doing a few low-level things at the same time, it’s useless no matter how many things you do. I think instead of thinking about how to add more labels to yourself all day, you should try to add words like ‘senior’ and ‘famous’ to your title.”
“That’s what I think too.” Li Chi’an smiled. “I want to be a person with roots, like a big tree, so that I can grow into a towering tree and provide shade for future generations.”
She is a long-term thinker; otherwise, she wouldn't have started writing in college and is still writing now, because she truly loves and enjoys it.
However, the rise of AI, coupled with Chen Li's infidelity and the breakdown of her family, caused her anxiety. She felt that she needed to have more options, otherwise, if AI replaced her writing work, she would not be able to earn a living and support her children through writing. What would she do then?
This is also why she constantly studies and investigates projects.
However, when Jinjin came to her house that day and brought her a contract, she felt at ease. She realized that she actually had the ability and luck to cultivate her expertise in the field of writing.
“You can focus on building up your account. You’ve gained so many followers recently, you need to make the most of them and keep them engaged,” Gao Yinxi suggested. “Although the self-media industry is competitive, at least you can do it casually. As long as you spend time and effort, there are no other costs. Of course, the premise is that you like it. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.”
She believes that you must first move yourself before doing anything. If you do things with a heart that moves yourself, you will reap multiple rewards in the process, and your life will be filled with love.
As they chatted, Xu Zhuwen couldn't help but sigh, "It's fortunate that you can still write."
If my cousin didn't have writing skills and hadn't been writing diligently for ten years, she simply couldn't imagine how this affair would have destroyed her life.
It was only after her cousin's husband cheated on her that she realized Chen Li's earnings didn't include any of her cousin's.
That's utterly disgusting.
"You've turned the tables this time," Gao Yinxi said, raising her glass with great relief. "But you were really naive in your marriage before and got hurt badly. You can't do that again."
"Human nature really can't be tested." Xu Zhuwen thought about her own situation, and a sense of frustration welled up inside her. "I always heard people say that to see a person's moral bottom line, you should look at how they treat their ex during the divorce. Now, well..."
She sighed deeply.
Gao Yinxi looked up and gave Xu Zhuwen, whose face had suddenly darkened, a deep look. "Now I think it's a good thing that Chen Li cheated and An'an got a divorce. Who said it would be better if they didn't get a divorce? I was browsing a certain book the other day, and it said that in metaphysics, divorce is also called the clearing of karma. When a couple is together, it means their blessings are equal, and they can share both good and bad fortune. If they are not together, it means they have reached a crossroads in their destinies, like you two..."
Gao Yinxi looked at Li Chian and said, "Look, during the time you and Chen Li broke up, your luck was completely different, right? That's because he has bad things in his life that you can't share with him, and he can't enjoy the good things in your life with you either. Your different lives can't coexist in the end."
"So when someone tells us to declutter, it might be to save us. We should cherish what comes and not force what goes. Our life is all set in our own script."
"When did you start believing in fate?" Li Chi'an laughed. "When I talked to you about cause and effect before, you said you didn't believe in it."
Gao Yinxi sighed, "There's nothing I can do. I've been studying Zi Wei Dou Shu lately, and I've discovered that what I used to think was all the result of my hard work was actually predetermined by fate. I have to admit it."
Xu Zhuwen frowned in deep thought, "I suppose the same applies to zodiac signs?"
"Pretty much the same, I guess."
Gao Yinxi likes Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology), Xu Zhuwen likes astrology, and Li Chi'an likes to study Buddhist principles and Western philosophy.
The three of them were able to grow from friends to good friends and then to close confidants over time because they all pursued self-growth and constantly explored the truth, and shared similar values.
"I only just realized now that if someone drains my energy and spirit, I must stay away from them and have no contact with them at all. The further away the better," Li Chi'an said, reflecting on the recent changes in his state of mind.
Xu Zhuwen said, "In fact, many things in life are predetermined. Those who excessively consume the love of others will ultimately not find happiness."
At the very least, she hopes that those who betray others' sincerity will not be punished.
“From now on, I will use that money to dress myself up and learn about health preservation. Apart from life and death, everything else in this world is trivial,” Li Chi’an said. “Haven’t we all said that vitality is the desire to share, the desire to express, and the desire to dress up?”
Those who cannot fathom the complexities of human nature presume to talk about love.
She used to be a bit too idealistic, always thinking the best of people and not seeing their flaws. But after Chen Li's affair and her attempts to get a divorce, she discovered that the beach of romantic myths is full of the darker and more complex aspects of human nature.
Marriage is not the grave of love, but a vessel for humanity.
The deeper a person's understanding of human nature, the more they can demystify marriage.
She fought a fierce battle with Chen Li, but also gained a lot:
She gained a healthy and adorable son; she gained an understanding of intimate relationships; and she gained confirmation of her deep affection for family and friends.
She felt that she could live without a man, but not without a child. At least in her experience, her son was the one who guided her through a period of rebuilding her life.
Even a bad relationship can be her guru, awakening her with the enlightenment of the Tao of reversal.
As her parents grew older year by year, she realized that there are very few people in her life worth spending her time and energy on, and her parents are the two most important among them. From now on, she will work hard to make money, take good care of her parents, accompany them as they grow old, watch her son grow up, and sincerely accumulate her own blessings.
Fame and fortune can be lost at any time, but the blessings you accumulate will not.
Some time ago, she completely decluttered and categorized her WeChat Moments, and discovered that once she lost all illusions, there was nothing to fear or lose.
With skills in hand, a son in her arms, parents by her side, a few close friends, and countless good books, she could have a rich and fulfilling life.
"Come on, let's toast." Gao Yinxi raised her glass. "Congratulations to our baby An'an on entering a brand new second half of her life."
"Cheers." Xu Zhuwen looked at her cousin, who was still beautiful and had an even more refined air than before, and couldn't help but smile. However, her eyes were a little moist. "I said Chen Li is a vampire, but I don't condemn you for misjudging people. Misjudging people and doing wrong things are inevitable parts of our growth."
Who hasn’t found precious gifts in their mistakes and lessons, and then become more grounded and powerful?
"This year, I lost half my life, but I also grew new blood and flesh. I will cherish the remaining half of my life even more in the future." Hot tears slid down Li Chi'an's fair face. She raised her fair fingers and gently wiped them away. "For the rest of my life, there is only one thing: to live my life well."
Be your own savior, and make yourself your own glory.
She finally understood why suffering was not in vain only through contemplation and enlightenment.
Not doubting oneself in excessive grief, but raising a glass to celebrate firm choices, is a weakness of good people, and the logic of the strong.
Everyone thought that ruining Chen Li and Lin Ying's reputations was her best revenge, but in the future, she will make them understand that living her own life well is the greatest revenge against them.
...
At 11:30 p.m., when Li Chi'an opened the door to his home, the light in the entryway was still on.
She quietly took off her high heels, rubbed her sore ankles, changed into soft slippers, and carried the bags she had bought into the house.
She had a great time having afternoon tea with her best friend, but after chatting for so long and shopping for so long, she was really tired. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower, collapse on the bed, and close her eyes to relax.
"You're back?" came her mother's hoarse voice from behind.
Li Chi'an peeked out in surprise and saw her mother, Wu Taotao, sitting up from the sofa, squinting at her with sleepy eyes.
"Mom, why aren't you asleep yet?" Li Chi'an placed the bags he had bought at his mother's feet.
"I've been waiting for you." Wu Taotao yawned. "There's chicken soup in the pot, it's still warm. Go have some."
"And Zui Zui?" Li Chi'an asked softly.
"She's asleep." Wu Taotao looked at the bags scattered on the ground. "Why did you buy so much stuff? You're wasting money again."
“I didn’t waste money.” Li Chi’an picked up a few bags from the ground. “Mom, go try these on. I bought you some clothes. See if you like them.”
"Oh, why are you buying me clothes?" Wu Taotao refused verbally, but couldn't stop smiling. "I have plenty of clothes to wear, you don't need to buy me any."
“We women can never have enough of one more thing in our wardrobes.” Li Chi’an pulled a floral long-sleeved dress out of the bag. “Mom, go try it on and show it to me when you’re done. I’m going to take a shower.”
"The color of this dress is nice." When Ms. Wu Taotao saw the dress in her daughter's hand, she perked up completely, took it, and wanted to go to her room to change.
Li Chi'an smiled and took all the clothes he had bought for his mother out of the bag. "Try them all on. The mall is having a sale today. The more you buy, the bigger the discount. It's a great deal."
Of course, even with the discount, these clothes are still quite expensive for my mother, but there's no need to tell her that.
After Ms. Wu Taotao happily changed her clothes, Li Chi'an quietly entered her son's room. She found her son already fast asleep on the bed, his long, curled eyelashes resting on his face, looking as cute as a little angel.
The thought that such a lovely son was her own child made Li Chi'an's heart melt.
She bent down and gently kissed her son's fair cheek, then turned off the sleep light in his room and left.
Just then, Ms. Wu Taotao walked out of the room wearing a floral dress. The dress was well-tailored, making her already not-so-great figure appear even more upright and slender, and she looked incredibly beautiful.
"Beautiful, beautiful." Li Chi'an kept praising her, adjusting her mother's belt and then returning to the sofa to take out the new lambskin high heels he had bought for her from the bag and place them at her feet. "Mom, take off your high heels and look in the mirror. You look so elegant."
Ms. Wu Taotao was a great beauty when she was young, and even now that she is older, she still has a love for beauty.
Hearing her daughter's praise, Ms. Wu's face lit up with a bright smile. She immediately kicked off her slippers and put on the black lambskin stilettos her daughter had bought for her. And you know what? When Ms. Wu stood in front of the mirror and twirled around looking at herself, she thought she looked incredibly beautiful.
"Honey, how much is this dress? I'll pay for it."
"What money do you want? Honestly." Li Chi'an urged again, "Mom, go try on the other outfit. I think it will look good on you too."
Ms. Wu went to change into another outfit with a big smile. The other outfit that Li Chian bought for her was a pair of gray trousers and a black knit sweater. After putting it on, Ms. Wu exuded an intellectual and sophisticated aura.
She smiled so broadly, her eyes crinkling with delight.
Seeing that his mother looked really good in all the outfits, Li Chi'an felt relieved and went to his room to get his pajamas before taking a shower.
When she came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, Ms. Wu had changed out of her new clothes and was wearing her original pajamas. She was sitting at the dining table, looking at her with a loving smile. "Baby, come and have a bowl of soup. It's still hot."
Li Chi'an, wearing a white silk nightgown and with her long, half-dry hair, walked to the dining table and sat down. "Thank you, Mom. It's so wonderful to be able to drink Mom's chicken soup when I get home tonight."
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