In order to facilitate talking about work on the plane, their seats were next to each other. Before Sheng Jianqi saw her, he thought she really wanted to discuss the project with him, but considering her current state, he didn't force her.
When they got on the plane, Sheng Jianqi raised the partition between their seats and treated her as a stranger. He was her boss, so there was no need for him to explain to her why he did anything.
Min Xi put the briefcase on his lap and just opened it. Before he could take out the information about the fourth generation Xiao Xiaoshi, the partition completely separated them. She bent her knuckles slightly and tried to knock on the baffle, but her fingers had already touched the baffle and she gave up.
It has been more than a year since he broke up with his lover, and his condition is not as stable as hers.
Before turning off the phone, I received a message from Fu Yanzhou: [Call me when you land. 】
Min Xi replied: [Okay. 】
I have a lot more to say, but in the end I only sent this one word.
By the third week in Paris, Min Xi's condition had gradually adjusted.
She hardly spoke these days. Except for necessary speeches in meetings, she was immersed in the project all the time. Several times, Sheng Jianqi asked her something, but she didn't hear him and didn't even raise her head.
Every time Sheng Jianqi was about to get angry, he would subconsciously look at the ring finger of her left hand. She never wore the diamond ring. He kept repeating in his ear what she had said to him before the Shengshi press conference: Because you were heartbroken, I don't want to haggle with a man who failed in love, as it would make me look petty and narrow-minded.
Now it's her turn to be unlucky in love. If he cares about it, he will seem unmanly. In the Shanghai circle, he and Fu Yanzhou have mutual friends. He heard his friend mention them during a meal one time. His friend couldn’t understand what was going on between the couple. It didn’t seem like they didn’t love each other, but they couldn’t say they loved each other too much either. So far, neither of them has mentioned holding a wedding.
Sheng Jianqi passed by Min Xi's temporary workstation and said, "It's snowing, go back early."
Min Xi was supporting her chin, concentrating on thinking about how to change the interaction between Xiao Xiao and the advertising spokesperson. She heard Sheng Jianqi's voice, but didn't hear what he said.
She looked up and said woodenly, "Boss Sheng, what's the matter?"
Sheng Jianqi patiently pointed out the window and said, "There is a snowstorm forecast. Go home early."
Min Xi looked at the time on the computer. It was not yet five o'clock. Her boss told her that she could leave work early, so of course she would not refuse.
"Thank you, Mr. Sheng. My brother hasn't arrived yet. I'll wait a little longer."
Sheng Jianqi: "..."
He hesitated to speak.
She is already an adult, but she still needs her brother to accompany her when she goes on a business trip, and Min Ting picks her up and drops her off to get off work every day. He couldn't help but wonder if the problems in her marriage with Fu Yanzhou were caused by Min Ting.
Min Xi was busy for another ten minutes when a message came in on his phone: [Go downstairs. 】
She immediately replied: [Right away. 】
Save the file, turn off the computer, put the laptop in your bag and go downstairs.
Min Ting was worried that she would suffer a double blow and would collapse mentally, so he rushed over a week after she came. Today was the ninth day he had been with her.
He handled the group's affairs remotely, and left all negotiations that required appearances to the group's vice president. He also said that he would be with her in Paris for the next two months.
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and asked him to go back to his country to take care of his own business.
He said that he would be alone at home, and his parents were busy at the end of the year, so the chances of them having a rest were slim, so it would be better for him to stay here.
When they got downstairs, Min Ting handed her a cup of hot coffee he had just bought.
It was cold, so he also brought her a thick scarf.
Min Xi buttoned up his coat, put on his scarf, and reached out to take the coffee. When she stretched out her hand, a snowflake fell on the back of her hand. It was icy cold and quickly melted into water.
Their apartment was not far from Shengshi Technology's office, in the same neighborhood. Min Ting would walk to pick her up every day, and they would chat as they walked along the ancient streets.
She held the coffee in one hand and held Min Ting's arm with the other, and Min Ting held her computer bag with the other hand, just like when Min Ting picked her up from school when she was a child.
When she was in the kindergarten, Min Ting was only in the first grade. She hoped that someone from her family would pick her up after school instead of just the driver, so Min Ting asked her to wait for him in the classroom.
Kindergarten finishes earlier than elementary school. At that time, she was the last child to leave in the class. Seeing others being picked up by their parents, she couldn't help but shed tears.
Min Ting said he would bring her soda as long as she didn't cry.
At home, her grandfather doesn't allow her to drink soda, and only allows her to have a little to satisfy her cravings occasionally. She tried not to cry for the sake of soda.
Min Ting kept his word and picked her up every day with a bottle of orange-flavored soda, carried a small bag full of toys for her, and held her arm with one hand to prevent her from falling. She just tilted her head back to drink the soda and didn't even look at the road.
Worried that the driver might see her and tell her grandparents, she gulped down the soda before getting on the bus and stuffed the small glass bottle into her toy bag.
Later, when I grew up and thought about it, I felt stupid. The driver sent them to their grandfather's house, and she didn't know how to pack her bag. But when she went to kindergarten the next day, there were never any glass bottles in her bag, only different small toys. It must have been taken away by her grandmother when she was packing her bag to change the toys.
During her three years in kindergarten, all she remembers were orange soda and her brother running all the way to her classroom door every day.
Now you don't have to hide from anyone to drink coffee.
However, every time they video chatted, her grandparents would remind her to drink less beverages and coffee.
Min Ting glanced at her and asked, "How have you slept these days? Are you still suffering from insomnia?"
Min Xi shook his head: "I haven't suffered from insomnia for a long time."
She is in good condition now. I can fall asleep before midnight, but I wake up a little early in the morning, sometimes before six o'clock.
Min Ting asked tentatively: "Mom wants to chat with you, are you free tonight?"
Min Xi: "I'm free. I don't work overtime."
During this period, neither her father nor her mother dared to ask her too much. Due to their work, they could not fly wherever they wanted. They could only worry about her pain and ask Min Ting about her situation every day.
After finishing a cup of coffee, I arrived at the doorstep.
Min Xi calculated the time in China and it was already 11:30 at night. She took off her coat, went back to her room and sent a message to her mother: [Mom, are you done with your work? 】
Jiang Rui didn't work overtime tonight and was waiting for her daughter's call.
[Finished.] 】
She made a video call.
Ever since her daughter found out that her relationship with her husband was just an act, she has been sending messages to her daughter and has never video chatted with her. She doesn't know how to face her daughter.
Min Xi answered the call and adjusted the video angle. His mother looked visibly haggard.
"Mom, did you eat late?"
Jiang Rui smiled and said, "I have eaten. I had a work lunch. I had a meeting today and it lasted until about nine o'clock."
Topics that you dare not touch have to be touched upon and must be faced and resolved. She never thought she could keep it a secret from her daughter for her entire life. After her daughter got the marriage certificate, her relationship with her husband became so cold that they were almost strangers. Even if she continued to act, there would be flaws.
"Xixi, you don't have to feel sad for mom, and don't blame yourself. Mom didn't get a divorce not because of you and your brother. It was because I didn't think it through. I thought about divorce, but I didn't have the heart to do it. It dragged on year after year for thirty years."
She always has fantasies and won't turn back until she hits a wall.
"Your brother asked me a few days ago if I wanted a divorce. At my age and position, it's unrealistic to divorce for the pursuit of so-called love. I can now work on my career without any worries and don't have to worry about family matters. It's pretty good."
"Marriage does have its regrets, but how should I put it? Mom is relatively lucky. Your father has contributed as much to you and your sister and to this family as I have."
Jiang Rui hurriedly explained: "I am not saying this to persuade you to continue with Fu Yanzhou. This is my mother's actual situation. It is true that I am not happy, but it is not that bad. You are different from my mother. You are still young. If you want to hold on for a few more years, I think you can. If you want to cut your losses in time, I also support you."
Min Xi exhaled softly: "Mom, are you still in touch with Dad?"
Jiang Rui told the truth: "We haven't been in touch for a long time. We last contacted when you just went on a business trip." Min Jiangyuan called her in the middle of the night that day and said that their daughter and son knew that they were pretending to be in a harmonious relationship.
The illusion of happiness was torn apart, leaving it full of holes. Although it was embarrassing, I felt relieved because I no longer had to maintain a peaceful life in front of my children.
"Mom," Min Xi held her chin with both hands and faced the camera, trying her best to look relaxed: "If you want a divorce, I support you. If you don't want a divorce, then just live your life to your heart's content and stop putting yourself in a difficult position. When I finish the project and go back, I'll go with you to Jiangcheng for a vacation and stay in a B&B surrounded by mountains and rivers."
But he felt something was wrong. His father had been to Jiangcheng before. "I go to Jiangcheng often. Let's go to Sucheng..."
Jiang Rui interrupted with a smile: "Mom, I'm not that pretentious. So, I can't go to the cities your dad has been to. The idea of being reminded of a certain scene will never happen to your dad and me in this lifetime. We've never gone shopping." There were no memories to recall.
Min Xi now has something to look forward to and plans to accompany his mother to Jiangcheng in May to relax.
Her heart knot was untied and she chatted with her mother for more than half an hour.
After the video ended, Min Ting knocked on the door and called her out for dinner.
Min Xi changed into comfortable home clothes and went downstairs. The snow was getting heavier. The cold wind blew the snowflakes onto the window glass. It was hot in the room, and a thin layer of water vapor was formed on the glass.
We were having a home cooked meal tonight, and Min Ting handed the chopsticks to his sister.
"How's Mom?" he asked.
Min Xi sighed: "It's okay, but not great."
She didn't know how to describe it.
The mother has now been relieved of her burden, but has also lost all her energy.
Min Ting hesitated for a moment and looked at his sister: "What about you? What are your plans?"
He still had the same attitude as before, and he would support her no matter what decision she made. My father also stated that he would step in to resolve the interests involving the two families.
"Don't worry about anything. Ask yourself what you want to do and what you don't want to do."
Min Xi said: "I want to separate and don't want to force him anymore."
"Then don't delay. If you delay for one day, you will be treating Fu Yanzhou with cold violence for one day. Let's part ways in peace."
"I have never used cold violence against him. I have been talking to him seriously these days." She did not ignore him. She reported everything she did to him and forced herself to smile even when she felt upset.
Min Xi picked up a shrimp and put it in his mouth. "I will talk to him about it in the next two days."
I ate my favorite shrimps slowly, but it felt like a waste of time.
--
It has been sunny, dry and cold in Beijing these days.
On Friday evening, Fu Yanzhou left the company early. He applied for an early morning flight to see Min Xi. She was unhappy during this period, saying that she knew about her parents-in-law's relationship problems.
He brought three suitcases in total, only one was his own, and the other two were filled with things for Min Xi.
It snowed heavily in Paris last night and it stopped this evening, so I could take her out to see the snow.
Just after he passed the border inspection at the airport, he received a photo of the snow scene from Min Xi, which was taken downstairs of the Shengshi Technology office.
She said: "The last time I saw such thick snow was at your school. 】
Fu Yanzhou had a vague impression, but not a deep one. She was more familiar with every corner of their school than he was.
She often checks in at famous universities around the world, saying that it would be impossible for her to complete her studies at all of these schools in her lifetime, so she just checks in as a reminder.
[I’ll take you to visit my alma mater again later.] 】
Min Xi: [I’ve been there countless times, and I have no plans to go again for now. We’ll talk about it later. 】
She ended the conversation with the excuse that she was busy: [I'll call you tomorrow, Saturday. I'd like to say good night tonight in advance. You should go to bed early, preferably before midnight. 】
Fu Yanzhou was still busy with work and didn’t chat any more: [Well, good night. 】
There is a time difference. It is already dark where he is, but it is only noon where she is.
Min Xi finished his lunch break and forced himself to work. He was going to confront him tomorrow. Today, his work was seriously disturbed. It took him half an hour to get into work mode every time.
Sheng Jianqi felt today that her work efficiency was very low. Although she was silent recently, it hardly affected her work. He had experienced a breakup and understood that feeling, which was completely beyond the control of reason.
He asked, "Do you want to take a few days off? Take a good rest."
Min Xi said no, and apologized, "My efficiency has been a little low recently."
“I’ll be fine next week,” she assured.
Sheng Jianqi vaguely understood what she meant by "okay". She must have made up her mind to separate from now on and only maintain the form of marriage to the outside world. A marriage between powerful families cannot be divorced easily.
Whether it is divorce or separation, it is never the end of pain.
As someone who has been through it, he said: "Next week is the beginning of your pain."
Min Xi just smiled faintly and didn't respond. Sheng Jianqi glanced at her ring finger more than once, and should have guessed why she was depressed. Since she was not familiar with him, she did not talk much about her marriage and private affairs.
This afternoon felt especially long, and she felt indescribable conflict in her heart. She hoped time would hurry up and reach Saturday, but she also hoped time would stay at this moment forever, so that she and Fu Yanzhou would always be husband and wife.
Now she can understand her mother's feelings back then. She must have made up her mind many times to separate from her father, but ultimately succumbed to the pain and torture before the separation.
She was now tormented in her heart, wanting to break up, but still thinking about him.
It's finally time to get off work.
Min Ting had a feeling that she might choose to talk things out with Fu Yanzhou tomorrow, so he brought her a bottle of orange-flavored soda when he picked her up from get off work. Walking on the streets after snowfall and drinking air-conditioned water is a unique experience.
As expected, she had a sleepless night.
It was already noon in China at six o'clock the next morning. Min Xi was worried that Fu Yanzhou had not had lunch yet or was still eating, so she wanted to wait until he finished eating before revealing her cards, so she postponed the meeting for another hour.
Before I knew it, it was seven o'clock.
The message was edited and then deleted, and then edited again. It was just those few words, and was repeated back and forth many times.
This was the struggle she had gone through before proposing marriage to him, and the experience happened again.
[Are you busy?] 】She made up her mind and sent it out.
Fu Yanzhou is on the plane and will land in another hour.
He called her and asked, "Why did you get up so early on Saturday? Do you have to work overtime?"
Min Xi leaned against the head of the bed: "If I hadn't worked overtime, I would have woken up a long time ago."
"Fu Yanzhou." She called him.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Do you still remember that before we got the marriage certificate, you asked me to think carefully about the marriage?"
Fu Yanzhou remembered and was deeply impressed. He asked her: Are you willing to trap yourself in a marriage with no feelings but only interests?
Min Xi finished speaking in one breath, not daring to stop, fearing that if he stopped, he would not have the courage to continue: "I don't want to trap myself in a marriage with only interests but no feelings. It's not an impulse, I've been thinking about it for almost a month. It's not because of my parents' influence, I was very miserable before I knew about their marriage status."
It was not known whether it was because the signal suddenly became bad at an altitude of thousands of miles, or because his mind went blank for a short while and he became deaf for a few seconds.
He didn't say anything. Min Xi waited for a few seconds and then continued: "I don't regret marrying you. It's my fault. I asked for too much and was too greedy. It was clearly a marriage of convenience, but I wanted a lover and a passionate love." She wanted him to care about her work for once like he cared about Zhu Youran's work.
She wanted him to understand her carefully.
Want too much.
"The interests agreed upon by the two families before the marriage will not change because of our divorce until you get married again." She subconsciously grabbed the corner of the quilt tightly, "I hope that after we separate, we can both meet someone we like and who likes us, and we don't have to make do with our lives anymore."
"Xixi, let's calm down. I'll call you later." Fu Yanzhou hung up the phone directly.
Min Xi didn't disturb him again. She sat on the bed for an hour, got up, washed, didn't put on makeup, put on her down jacket and wrapped herself in a scarf and went downstairs. Min Ting was working overtime in the living room and looked up at her.
"Brother, I'm going to take a walk downstairs and come back for lunch."
Min Ting didn't stop him: "I'll accompany you?"
"Need not."
She changed her shoes and went out.
Only when the cold wind blows on my face do I feel alive.
Not knowing where to go, she wandered aimlessly along the street, her mind full of him, thinking about the first time he held her hand, the first time he indulged her.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, we returned along the same route.
She was frozen all over, so she went to a cafe, bought a cup of hot coffee and held it in her hands to warm her hands.
Worried that she had been outside for too long, her brother walked towards the apartment with a cup of coffee.
"Rarely."
Someone called her from behind. It was Fu Yanzhou's voice.
Although he felt like he was hallucinating, Min Xi still turned around suddenly. A car slowly pulled over to the side of the road, and Fu Yanzhou's hand was outside the car.
She didn't come back to her senses until he got out of the car.
"Were you on the plane when I called you?"
"Yeah. It's cold, so I came to see you."
Fu Yanzhou opened the trunk and only took out two boxes, leaving his own box in the car.
Pushing two boxes in front of her, he said, "I brought you something."
She was much thinner than when she first went on the business trip. He hugged her gently with one hand: "Marriage is not just your business. I am also wrong. I am at most a qualified husband, but not a good lover. I know this."
It's a pity that I couldn't give her the love she wanted.
I didn't know she was in so much pain.
He thought they could stay together until old age, and no matter how noisy she was, he was willing to accompany her throughout her life. He never thought that there would be someone else in his life.
From the time he received her call to the time the plane landed, he kept reflecting that if he was not doing well enough in the marriage, he could change. But love is a luxury in this marriage of convenience. She wants it, but he doesn't know how to give it to her.
At the airport, he stayed for half an hour to calm down.
Even though he knew that he might not be able to satisfy her with the passionate love she wanted in his lifetime, he still didn't want their marriage to end like this.
"Xixi, after the divorce, we will meet other people... and we won't be able to go back even if we want to. I have never made any demands on you. I will be selfish for a moment today and not separate for now. Let's both calm down for a while. When the project is over, if you still decide to divorce, I respect you." He paused for a long time, "I hope I can still wait for you at home."
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