"You don't want to... work hard anymore?"
Lu Zhan didn't need to guess what had happened; He Yan was so dejected and forlorn that he probably didn't have the courage to continue striving.
"I've done so much over the past few days and still can't win her heart, but I can't even win the heart of my own daughter. Do you know what that child said to me today? She said that she wouldn't feel sad whether I'm her father or not."
After He Yan finished speaking, he began to sob softly. It is said that men do not easily shed tears, unless they are deeply saddened. It seems that he was truly heartbroken.
Lu Zhan patted him on the shoulder; those words were indeed quite hurtful.
But he had to find other ways to comfort and console him.
"I said, how can you still hold a grudge against your own daughter? She's only three years old. Why do you take a child's unintentional words so seriously?"
Besides, you've only been around for a few months. He's been living with his mother for over three years, relying on her for everything. No matter how well you've done as a father, you've only been a good father for a few months.
Just you wait and see. Spend another five or ten years with your child, and see if they'll still say things like they don't care whether you're there or not!
He Yan wiped away his tears, shook his head with a bitter smile, and said, "I'm not arguing with the child. I clearly realize that there is no possibility between Xiaohua and me anymore. Xiaohua may have fallen in love with someone else. Her heart is with another man. No matter how hard I try, it's all a joke."
Lu Zhan was stunned for a moment. It was as if he had heard some explosive news. Good heavens, she and He Yan were not divorced yet, and she already had someone else in her heart. This girl from the village was bolder than the city people.
She patted his shoulder, thought for a moment, and asked him, "I've always wanted to ask you, do you genuinely like or love Ye Xiaohua? Or is it just lust at first sight? She used to be such a fat and stupid woman, but now she's become slim, beautiful, and knowledgeable, so you've developed feelings for her."
After hearing what Lu Zhan said, He Yan couldn't help but let out a few self-deprecating laughs.
"Are you all mind readers? How can you all be so sure that I was lustful towards Ye Xiaohua? Ye Xiaohua thinks so, my mother thinks so, and even you think so. Do you think I, He Yan, have never seen a beautiful woman before?"
"Which of the girls who want to go on blind dates with me isn't pretty? If I were truly so materialistic, would I still be clinging to Ye Xiaohua and refusing to divorce her? Wouldn't I choose to divorce her and marry a girl even prettier than Ye Xiaohua?"
He was telling the truth. He Yan's appearance, family background, and personal abilities were all top-notch in their circle.
As far as he knew, Chief of Staff Sun's daughter, Sun Shuhan, was a first-rate beauty, much prettier than Ye Xiaohua in terms of appearance. Back then, she used every trick in the book to marry He Yan, from crying and making a scene to threatening suicide.
This shows that He Yan is indeed not fixated on beautiful women.
But he wasn't the kind of person who wasn't attracted to women at all; otherwise, why wouldn't he like the fat and stupid Ye Xiaohua?
"Then tell me why you fell for Ye Xiaohua three years later. If Ye Xiaohua hadn't changed at all, would you still be interested? He Yan is a man, don't deny it. I can only say that you're not obsessed with beautiful women, but that doesn't mean you don't value beauty. But at least you would never fall for a fat and stupid Ye Xiaohua."
He Yan could not refute what Lu Zhan said.
Lu Zhan continued, "However, I don't think Ye Xiaohua is attracted to beauty at all. Otherwise, how could she not have any evil intentions towards a handsome man like you?"
Looking at He Yan's handsome face that inspired envy, Lu Zhan had been jealous of his face since childhood. Being in the same class as him, the girls only had eyes for him.
Looking at him now, I suddenly realize he's not jealous at all. What's the use of being so handsome if his wife still won't give him a second glance?
"I don't know why I fell in love with her. Maybe it was when I saw her holding Kang'an in her arms and gently telling the child stories. Maybe it was when I saw her resting her chin on her hand and looking out the window, with a ray of sunlight shining on her face, peaceful and beautiful."
Perhaps it was her analysis of the essence of son preference that captivated me; the way she spoke so eloquently, the way she exuded an aura of limitless possibilities, like a mystery drawing you closer to uncover her secrets. Falling for her only takes a moment.
Yes, falling in love is just a fleeting moment, but deep affection can lead to irreversible ruin.
"If you like it so much, why do you suddenly not want to keep trying?"
Lu Zhan didn't understand what he was thinking.
"She was unhappy because of my presence, and I didn't want her to be unhappy. If she really fell in love with someone else, I could only respect her wishes and make her happy."
He Yan wasn't being magnanimous; he was simply powerless. Rather than both of them being unhappy, he figured he might as well be the only one who was unhappy.
"No, no, He Yan, I think you're mistaken. If you truly love her, the worst thing you can do is let go. You're a man! Letting go of the woman you love, especially your wife, is cowardly! You're still a man!"
He Yan didn't actually want to let go either. He was just saying he was being magnanimous, but he wasn't really that magnanimous in his heart.
He needed someone to say those words to encourage him, which is why he came to Lu Zhan to give him a reason not to give up.
"Let me analyze it for you. Ye Xiaohua has to study, start a business, and take care of her child at home. Do you think she has any extra time to date other men?"
She might have developed feelings for another man, but she'll never waste her time on romance. All you need to do is silently support her, no matter what she does. As long as you don't divorce, you can rest assured that victory will eventually be yours. People aren't plants or trees; over time, feelings will naturally develop between you.
He Yan had only been considering giving up for a tiny bit, but after Lu Zhan's persuasion, that thought was immediately forgotten.
My fighting spirit has been rekindled!
After Xiaohua finished her first self-study session in the evening, she asked her teacher for leave. She needed to go to school today to check if all the renovation materials had arrived, and she wanted to choose an auspicious day to start construction.
As soon as she stepped out of the school gate, she saw Zhou Musheng's car. She looked at it several times, not quite sure, before knocking on the car door.
The car window rolled down, and it really was Zhou Musheng.
Xiaohua asked in surprise, "Mr. Zhou, it really is you! I saw your car parked here from afar and I hesitated whether to come over. I was afraid it wasn't you."
Zhou Musheng got out of the car and stood in front of Xiaohua, looking her over.
"After studying at university, I really do look like a female college student."
Xiaohua said shyly, "Well, I'm a female college student now, not an illiterate person with no education."
"Mr. Zhou, you didn't come here just to wait for me, did you?"
Xiaohua wouldn't think he was just passing by.
"Mr. Zhou didn't know when you would get out of school, and has been waiting here for more than two hours. Luckily, you arrived just in time."
Mr. Zhou's assistant, Li, couldn't help but chime in.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
