16 A Kiss in the Rain
Wen Xueyan gently shook her head: "Thank you, but no need."
After Attorney Lin drove away, Wen Xueyan took out her phone and began searching for rental information.
The pressures of reality are staring us in the face: we don't have much savings, and we have to pay for my mother's imported medications every month, so we have to be very careful with every penny.
After spending an afternoon with the real estate agent and comparing several apartments, she finally chose a one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of an older building.
The fifth floor has no elevator, but the rent is cheap.
For the same area, the rent would be much more expensive in a newer apartment complex, and the newer complexes are larger, so she doesn't want to share an apartment with young couples after her divorce.
Wen Xueyan felt that she ultimately needed to temporarily submit to reality.
The moment she paid the rent, Wen Xueyan suddenly gained a profound understanding of the values held by her mother's generation. In that era of material scarcity, divorce could mean even greater hardship for women who lacked the ability to survive independently.
When society generally regards marriage as a woman's lifelong destination, women who leave the framework of marriage not only face economic difficulties, but also often have to endure unimaginable criticism.
She stared at the screen showing the successful transfer and suddenly understood why her mother, after noticing something amiss that year, still advised her to be patient.
That wasn't entirely cowardice, but rather a necessity for survival in a specific historical context.
A low divorce rate is never proof of a happy marriage, but rather a helpless choice made by countless women after weighing the pros and cons.
Wen Xueyan opened the door. The room was old, but the window faced south, and the afternoon autumn sunlight was still quite warm. She could see the ginkgo trees in the neighborhood from the window.
On Sunday morning, Wen Xueyan received a confirmation call from Attorney Lin, informing her that Song Tiancheng had been detained according to law. Furthermore, Attorney Lin had helped her file for divorce.
She decided to take this opportunity to go home and get some necessities.
Pushing open that familiar door, the scene from Friday night instantly flooded my mind: the marks of pushing and shoving, and the embarrassing moment when I fell to the ground.
Wen Xueyan quickly headed to the dressing room and clearly selected several sets of business attire, everyday clothes, and personal identification documents.
The ink has slightly blurred, like the thoughts stained by time.
Today, the annotations between the pages still bear the passionate handwriting of yesteryear, but reading them now feels like the gentlest mockery of reality.
Ning Zhiyi is already divorced, and she is about to follow the same path.
Stepping out of the residential compound, Wen Xueyan tilted her head slightly, feeling the warmth of the autumn sun.
Monday afternoon.
Wen Xueyan was focused on revising technical drawings in her office when General Manager Xu Junhang came to her workstation.
"Assistant Wen, the client officially signed the contract today for the large-scale polymerization reactor project for which you participated in the technical solution last week." General Manager Xu wore a rare smile. "The client especially praised your proposed system improvement plan."
At this moment, Sales Director Gu Jinzhou also came over and proactively extended his hand to Wen Xueyan: "Engineer Wen, I really want to thank you this time. The client said that it was precisely because our technical solution was more professional than other suppliers that they ultimately chose us." He turned to General Manager Xu and said, "This is a huge order worth over 30 million yuan. We've been working on it for more than half a year, and we couldn't reach an agreement before."
General Manager Xu nodded in satisfaction and said to Wen Xueyan, "The company is holding a project signing celebration banquet tonight. You must attend. Group President Cheng will also be there; this is a major project."
Wen Xueyan maintained a polite smile and simply replied, "Thank you, Mr. Xu."
However, after Xu Junhang left, Wen Xueyan frowned slightly.
Celebration party, President Cheng, social engagements... these words intertwined in her mind, creating an unsettling picture. It wasn't that she disliked being recognized; it was just that what she needed most at that moment was peace and healing.
Before leaving work, Wen Xueyan stood by the window, lost in thought. The sun was setting, and the clouds on the horizon were dyed orange-red, a breathtaking sight.
She thought of Cheng Boyan. Some boundaries, once blurred, can never be crossed again.
She hadn't even finished her own divorce proceedings, and rationally speaking, she felt she shouldn't interfere in other people's marriages.
Before leaving get off work, Wen Xueyan knocked on Xu Junhang's office door.
"Mr. Xu, I'm sorry, I probably won't be able to attend tonight's celebration party." Her voice was firm. "There are some things I need to take care of at home, and I'd like to go back early."
Xu Junhang seemed somewhat disappointed, but still expressed his understanding: "Okay."
Stepping out of the company building, the cool autumn breeze brushed against her cheeks. Wen Xueyan looked up at the gradually darkening sky, a strange sense of relief welling up inside her.
Meanwhile, in a restaurant in the city center, Cheng Boyan watched the employees arrive one after another, his gaze inadvertently searching for a certain figure.
Xu Junhang walked to his side and whispered something. Cheng Boyan frowned slightly, but then regained his usual composure.
"Understood," he replied casually, then turned to talk to another executive.
During his business trip to Hong Kong, Cheng Boyan accidentally learned the possible cause of Xu Junxian's car accident, which made him consider divorce. He wanted to tell Wen Xueyan tonight, and he also wanted to thank her for her contribution to the company's project breakthrough. He had so much to say to her, but she didn't come.
After get off work, Wen Xueyan went to the nearby farmers' market.
As the autumn wind grew cooler, the vendors packed up early, leaving only a few elderly women selling vegetables. She bought a bunch of greens, a few eggs, and a block of tofu. By the time she carried her simple groceries up to the fifth floor, it was already getting dark.
In the kitchen, Wen Xueyan tied on an apron and began preparing dinner. She rinsed the rice, cooked it, beat the eggs, and chopped the vegetables. The oil in the pan heated up, and the egg mixture sizzled as it was poured in, filling the small kitchen with a delicious aroma.
She focused intently on stirring the food, and the tranquility of the moment allowed her to temporarily forget all her troubles.
A simple plate of fried rice, a dish of stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of tofu soup. She placed the food on the small coffee table, turned on the TV, and saw the news anchor reporting on the impending rainstorm.
Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed past the window, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.
The torrential rain poured down, pounding against the windows.
To make matters worse, the living room ceiling started leaking. At first, it was just a few drops, then it connected into a stream, and finally it became a small waterfall. She frantically grabbed a bucket to catch the water, but the leaks only widened.
Wen Xueyan stood in the middle of the leaky living room, looking at all of this, and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness.
She thinks this might be one of the reasons why the rent for this top-floor apartment is so cheap.
Just then, her phone rang. The screen displayed Cheng Boyan's name. Wen Xueyan tried to keep her voice calm: "President Cheng."
"You didn't attend the banquet tonight. Are you feeling unwell?" Cheng Boyan's voice remained as calm as ever.
"I just want to go home and rest as soon as possible."
"What's that sound over there? Are you leaving the windows open because it's raining?"
Looking at the leaky roof, Wen Xueyan smiled wryly and said, "It's raining, and the house is leaking a bit."
"Leaking?" Cheng Boyan's voice rose slightly. "Where are you? Tell me your address."
After Wen Xueyan gave him the address, Cheng Boyan was silent for a moment, then said, "Wait for me downstairs in half an hour. Bring a few sets of clothes; I have a spare room for you."
"No need, I..."
Before she could refuse, the call was already disconnected.
Wen Xueyan looked at the leaky house, then at her bank card balance. After finishing her dinner, she tidied up briefly, grabbed her umbrella and clothes, and went downstairs.
The torrential rain showed no signs of abating, and the roads in the residential area were already flooded. She stood at the entrance of her building, watching the raindrops form silver streaks under the streetlights.
A black Bentley slowly pulled up and stopped at the entrance of the residential complex. The car door opened, and Cheng Boyan stepped out, holding a black umbrella. He was dressed in a dark suit, his tall and straight figure standing out conspicuously in the rainy night.
Cheng Boyan's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
"Get in the car quickly, I have a spare house. I'll give you the key later, you can stay there for a few days." Cheng Boyan opened the car door.
The car was warm, filled with a faint scent of leather and Cheng Boyan's unique cool aura.
Wen Xueyan sat somewhat awkwardly in the passenger seat, raindrops dripping from her hair and leaving dark marks on the leather seat.
Cheng Boyan handed her a towel, then focused on driving, his profile appearing particularly striking under the streetlights.
When the car arrived at the Jinglan Peninsula residential area, Cheng Boyan parked the car and suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Wen Xueyan found herself not wanting to break free. She didn't have time to think about whether it was because she wanted to get revenge on Song Tiancheng or for some other reason.
Cheng Boyan's large, warm, and dry hands contrasted sharply with her cold skin.
"Does it still hurt?" He looked at Wen Xueyan's fair face and asked in a low voice.
Wen Xueyan gently shook her head: "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Cheng Boyan unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over.
He reached out and cupped the back of her neck, his kiss landing on her lips. He tentatively took her lips in his mouth.
Wen Xueyan could feel the warmth of his lips, with a minty coolness.
Unlike the accidental touch on the beach in Singapore, this time, Cheng Boyan felt very clear-headed.
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Ahhhhh, we kissed!
That's amazing! I'm completely blown away.
Getting stuck here is too cruel!
I can't get enough of it. I love it so much.
Wow!
It's so good, one update a day is simply not enough.
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