Chapter 36
It was in the fifth year after moving to Central Park, when Xie Yiling decided never to move again, that she suddenly quit her job at the Japanese company she had worked for her whole life, even though she hadn't reached retirement age yet. She didn't even care about the pension she had been looking forward to for decades, and boldly established her real estate agency in Central Park, becoming a real estate agent.
Frankly speaking, Xie Yiling's real estate agency had a very difficult start. Firstly, Hu Yu didn't believe in her decision at all; he not only didn't support her, but he also watched with amusement as she floundered on her own. Secondly, at that time, only residents had moved into the first phase of Central Park, while the second and third phases were still in the planning stages. Therefore, there were very few houses for sale, and virtually no secondhand housing resources. Furthermore, a real estate agency called "I Love My Home" was eyeing this lucrative market not far from Central Park. Initially, Xie Yiling mainly dealt with the developers of Central Park. Then one day, she inexplicably obtained pre-sale rights for a portion of the second and third phases. No one knows how she managed to navigate the relationships between various departments or how much effort she put in. Even after obtaining the pre-sale rights, Xie Yiling's agency remained extremely quiet, so out of sheer boredom, she constantly renovated her office, decorating it almost exactly like her old office at the Japanese company.
In short, Xie Yiling went through a painful transition period. The work pace of the new company was nowhere near as fast as that of the established Japanese company, and she was all alone at the time, with no colleagues to communicate with, let alone assign tasks or hold meetings. As a result, Xie Yiling began to feel anxious when she had more free time. She worried that she had made the wrong decision and the company would not be able to continue, and she was even more disappointed that her retirement pension, which was about to be received, was gone. What she feared most was Hu Yu's sarcastic remarks... Several times a day, she wanted to scream hysterically, but in the end, she managed to hold back all of them.
Ultimately, Xie Yiling weathered that storm. For nearly three years, she persevered relentlessly, regardless of cost, gradually putting the company on the right track. She not only secured an increasing number of new and used properties in Central Park, but also obtained sales rights for several nearby newly built residential complexes. Her business expanded to the entire town and district… effectively squeezing out the neighboring agency. Her real estate business flourished, her staff grew, and she even bought a villa in Phase III as an office… One year, Xie Yiling's real estate agency was so successful that she worked 18 hours a day!
"I just love my work. It makes me feel fulfilled and shows my value," Xie Yiling repeatedly emphasized to herself and Hu Yu. Therefore, even late at night, she tirelessly reviewed contracts, adjusted house photos, optimized floor plans, provided detailed descriptions of the properties for sale, and constantly browsed client files…
But was it really worth it? This thought suddenly surfaced as Xie Yiling looked at the ingredients in the kitchen, a sense of peace washing over her. She sighed in resignation, realizing how foolish and worthless everything she had done over the years had been. She couldn't help but ask herself: What was the point of working so hard? Did this relentless work-related injury truly fulfill my personal value? And… was her son Hu Zhizhi's problem really unrelated to her, his mother?
Sighing inwardly, Xie Yiling admitted that she had truly changed. But people always change; some changes are positive, while others are negative. For Xie Yiling at this moment, she hoped her changes were positive. She hoped she could bloom like a flower one last time, because she felt that her long-overdue maternal love was awakening.
Xie Yiling was acutely aware of the changes she was undergoing because she felt herself becoming increasingly attached to her "home," yet her enthusiasm for work was gradually waning. Beyond this, there were other, more profound and substantial changes in her life, such as the onset of menopause at the end of last year. Xie Yiling felt both regret and a secret, tinged with joy at this physiological change. Consequently, she made some new discoveries about herself. For instance, sometimes while busy in the kitchen, a song playing on her phone could move her to tears; other times, while chatting with Hu Yu, she would suddenly feel a desire—a longing to embrace him tightly, to hold his balding head in her arms.
These tender, sentimental moments were something Xie Yiling seemed to have never experienced in her youth. This feeling gave her a bittersweet sensation.
"Did you have an extra snack this afternoon?" Xie Yiling said as she brought the washed fruit to the living room. "If not, have some fruit first, otherwise you won't be able to eat dinner if you have an extra snack now. Let's have dinner early today. I have to go to Chengjia in Napa Valley at 8 o'clock. Xiao Huang arranged this time a bit awkwardly, not quite right or wrong."
As she spoke, Xie Yiling placed the antique fruit bowl on the coffee table. But every time she saw the cracked tabletop, a wave of panic washed over her, followed by the terrifying image of police cars arriving on the fifth night of the Lunar New Year. Her mind was filled with the image of her son, Hu Zhizhi, lifting the coffee table and throwing it to the other side of the living room. But for some reason, she just couldn't bear to replace it.
"Finally, I can sit down and rest for a while," Xie Yiling said to Hu Yu with a forced smile. "After a busy day, I don't want to move once I sit down."
It wasn't until Xie Yiling peeled the apple, cut it into four pieces, and removed the core, just the way Hu Yu liked, and handed it to him that she looked up to confirm whether Hu Yu was really sitting there.
Hu Yu only realized his wife had returned home when he suddenly smelled the aroma of apples and looked up to see Xie Yiling.
Hu Yu spent the entire afternoon sitting on the living room sofa, wearing headphones and scrolling through his phone, tipping female livestreamers. Xie Yiling suddenly appeared in front of him, making him look like a frightened child. So he quickly turned off his phone screen and casually placed it on the coffee table. Then, with trembling hands, he took the headphones off his ears and grabbed a slice of apple with the other, stuffing it into his mouth.
Xie Yiling didn't notice Hu Yu's expression and continued talking to herself.
Hu Yu looks older than his actual age of 65. He has worked for that Fortune 500 foreign company his entire life and has never considered changing jobs because his career has been quite smooth. He was promoted to the position of chief accountant of that large company when he was 45 years old.
However, nearly 40 years of intense mental work took its toll on Hu Yu, causing him to age prematurely. Before he even turned 60, various health problems began to plague him. In fact, Hu Yu wasn't a muscular, robust man in his youth; he was more of a frail, scholarly type. In the years since his retirement, Hu Yu has not only become increasingly frail, but his health has also deteriorated: heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and gout. Now, Hu Yu spends all his time indoors, rarely venturing out, spending his time watching videos or listening to audiobooks, his headphones practically glued to his ear. As a result, his hearing is deteriorating, and he can no longer hear what Xie Yiling is saying to him. Besides, due to prolonged indoor time and excessive phone use, Hu Yu's complexion is unusually pale and swollen, and his belly is as large as if he were three months pregnant… In short, this man is increasingly resembling an old woman.
"Is there no cake left? Only apples?" Hu Yu cleared his throat and asked.
"Yes, but let's have some fruit first, because we need to eat dinner early today..."
So Xie Yiling repeated what she had just said, vaguely feeling as if she had already said the same thing. As she spoke, she saw a crimson sunset spread across the French windows behind Hu Yu, and her thoughts drifted to their home in Napa Valley.
Hu Yu nodded, munching on his apple while fiddling with his phone again, absentmindedly ignoring Xie Lingyi's messages once more.
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