Chapter 34: Daily Life and Adjustment After Marriage (Part 2)
The first minor friction between work and health was like a timely spring rain, bringing a momentary chill but also moistening the soil and allowing the roots of their marriage to take root deeper. Huo Linshen began to pay more attention to Su Lingwan's work intensity. Instead of just issuing harsh orders, he learned to express his concern in more roundabout ways - for example, after she worked for two hours straight, he would have his secretary bring her favorite snacks and hot drinks, or he would show up at the studio and forcibly take her away from the work environment, saying that "Mrs. Huo needs to accompany her to an event," to take her for a walk on the mountaintop or to see a midnight movie.
Su Lingwan also accepted this gentleness with a strong edge, and worked hard to adjust her rhythm, no longer blindly overdrawing her body. They found a balance that they could both accept.
However, the challenges of marriage aren't limited to just living habits. When two independent-minded, powerful souls come together, clashes of perspectives are inevitable. This time, the disagreement arose over a more profound issue: the education of their future children.
It all started with an ordinary family dinner. Huo Zhenting, on a rare visit to Repulse Bay Villa, was chatting about an old friend's grandson, who, at just five years old, was already fluent in three languages and had taken up equestrianism and golf. Huo Zhenting, with a touch of envy, remarked, "Our Huo family's children certainly can't afford to lose at the starting line in the future. Lin Shen had the same upbringing. It was tough, but now it seems like it was all worth it."
Huo Linshen did not comment on this. He had indeed grown up under this kind of high-pressure elite education and had long been accustomed to it.
But Su Lingwan frowned slightly. She put down her chopsticks and spoke gently but firmly, "Dad, I think...a child's childhood, happiness and nature are probably more important. I don't want him to be overwhelmed by all kinds of courses at such a young age."
Huo Zhenting glanced at her in surprise and smiled, with the tolerance of an elder, but not taking it too seriously: "Wanwan, you're still young and don't understand. In a family like ours, children are destined to bear more responsibilities. Being strict now is for his future."
Huo Linshen gently shook Su Lingwan's hand under the table, indicating that she didn't need to argue at this moment.
After dinner, after seeing Huo Zhenting off, the two returned to the bedroom. The atmosphere was subtly stagnant.
Su Lingwan sat in front of the dressing table, slowly combing her long hair. She looked through the mirror at Huo Linshen who was leaning on the sofa. "Linshen, what do you think about the issue of children's education?"
Huo Linshen raised his eyes and looked at her in the mirror: "What father said makes sense. The heir of the Huo family really needs to receive the best education from an early age and have the ability to control the overall situation." His tone was rational, with his usual considerations based on interests and reality.
Su Lingwan turned around and faced him: "The best education does not mean depriving him of his childhood. I don't want our children to be like you were when you were a child, thinking that even riding a carousel was a luxury." She thought of the pale and lonely childhood he once mentioned, and her heart ached.
Huo Linshen was silent for a moment. He understood her heartache, but he also believed that it was that rigorous training that shaped him into who he is today. "Lingwan, this world is very realistic. The pressure he will face in the future will be far greater than just whether or not to ride the merry-go-round. I don't want him to suffer because of his lack of ability."
"Ability is certainly important, but a sound personality and the ability to feel happiness are equally important!" Su Lingwan stood up excitedly. "We can guide him and train him, but we can't fill all his time with cold courses! I hope our child will first be a happy, healthy, and loving person, and then the heir to the Huo family!"
This was the first time they had such clear differences on issues concerning core future planning.
Huo Linshen looked at her flushed cheeks and bright eyes, knowing she was serious. He rubbed his brows, trying to calm himself. "I didn't say I didn't want him to be happy. But there are some responsibilities he's born with. A happy upbringing might work in an ordinary family, but in the Huo family, it's too idealistic."
"Idealistic?" Su Lingwan walked up to him and looked him straight in the eye. "Huo Linshen, we're discussing our child now! Not your business merger! You can't apply your cold, profit-maximizing logic to everything!"
This was a bit harsh. Huo Linshen's face darkened instantly. His rationality and control, which he was most proud of, became "cold logic" in her words.
"So, you think my growth is a failure? My logic is wrong?" His voice turned cold, with a hint of hurt anger.
"That's not what I meant!" Su Lingwan realized that she had spoken out of turn, but the words had already been spoken, and the atmosphere became even more tense. "I just hope that our child can have a more complete and warmer childhood! Instead of becoming a machine that can only calculate and doesn't understand feelings!" She almost blurted out the last two words, with a kind of anger that was a waste of talent.
As soon as the words fell, the bedroom fell into dead silence.
Huo Linshen stood up abruptly, the air around him dropping to an alarmingly low level. He stared at her intently, his eyes filled with incredible disappointment and coldness. He had never considered that in her heart, he might be... close to the "machine" she described.
He said nothing, turned around, walked straight to the study, and slammed the door.
The loud slam of the door slamming shut was like a hammer, hammering Su Lingwan's heart. She looked at the closed door, tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn't meant to hurt him, she was just... too afraid their child would suffer the same loneliness he once did.
She slumped onto the sofa, buried her face in her hands, and cried silently. Wronged, regretful, and worried about the future all mixed together, leaving her feeling utterly confused.
In his study, Huo Linshen stood by the French window, gazing out at the dusky night, his chest heaving violently. Su Lingwan's words were like tiny needles, piercing the most secret, untouchable corners of his heart. He admitted that his childhood lacked much warmth, and he had become accustomed to arming himself with rationality and indifference. He thought he had given her all his love and indulgence, but in her eyes, he was still the cold, emotionless "machine" at heart.
An indescribable feeling of loneliness and frustration enveloped him tightly.
That night, the two of them slept in separate rooms for the first time.
Su Lingwan tossed and turned on the large bed in the master bedroom. The empty space beside her made her feel particularly uncomfortable and filled with regret. She knew that her words had been harsh and hurt his pride. She picked up her phone, wanting to text him an apology, but she kept calling and deleting, deleting and calling again, before finally letting it go.
Huo Linshen, in his study, also spent the night awake. He processed several documents, but couldn't concentrate at all. Her words, and her final tearful, disappointed, and angry look, echoed repeatedly in his mind.
He walked over to the bookcase and accidentally knocked over a photo album. He bent down to pick it up and flipped it open. Inside were photos from their wedding. There were pictures of her smiling at him in her wedding dress, of them gazing lovingly at each other as they exchanged rings, of her turning back to look for him as she tossed the bouquet... In every photo, her smile was so genuine, so warm, filled with unconditional love and trust for him.
He closed the photo album irritably, leaned against the bookcase and closed his eyes.
What was he really holding on to? For the sake of so-called "responsibility" and "reality," he was hurting the people he loved most and planning a potentially unhappy future for their children. Was this really what he wanted?
He recalled the unprecedented sense of relief and joy he felt when she took him on the Star Ferry and to the food stalls. He remembered the way she moved to tears when he said, "Learn to love." He remembered the overwhelming fear and ecstasy of finding her in the ruins of Kyoto after the earthquake.
She was the only light in his dark world. She was the source of his love and warmth.
However, he almost pushed the light away with his own hands because of his stubbornness.
When it was almost dawn, Huo Linshen finally opened the door of the study.
He walked to the door of the master bedroom, hesitated for a moment, and gently pushed it open.
Su Lingwan was not actually asleep either. When she heard the noise, she immediately closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Huo Linshen walked over to the bed and looked at her quietly for a moment. In the dim light of dawn, she could feel his gaze lingering on her. Then, the mattress sank slightly, and he lay down on her, carefully holding her in his arms from behind.
His embrace was slightly cool like the night dew, but his actions were full of apology and uncertainty.
Su Lingwan's heart instantly softened. She turned around and burrowed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. She muttered, "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that to you. You're not a machine..."
Huo Linshen hugged her tightly, as if holding a treasure he had lost and found again. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice hoarse from a sleepless night: "I should apologize."
He paused, seemingly determined, before continuing, "I'm too stubborn... trapped by the so-called 'should'. You're right, that's our child, not a commercial project."
He gently lifted her face and made her look into his eyes. His gaze was filled with unprecedented honesty and compromise. "Lingwan, regarding the child... I'll listen to you. Together, we'll give him the best love and freedom we can. As for responsibility... when he grows up, we'll slowly teach him, okay?"
Su Lingwan looked at the bloodshot in his eyes and the difficult concession he had made for her. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy and emotion. She nodded vigorously and kissed him on the lips: "Okay... let's do it together."
This kiss, with the salty taste of tears, is filled with relief, understanding and deeper love.
Huo Linshen responded to her kiss and held her deeper in his arms. All the barriers and disputes were completely melted away in this morning hug and kiss.
They hugged each other and took a short but peaceful nap in the morning light.
When I woke up, it was already noon. The sun was shining brightly, filling the room through the window.
Huo Linshen looked at Su Lingwan, who was as lazy as a cat in his arms, bent down and kissed her hair, and suddenly whispered: "Mrs. Huo, from now on, quarrels... are not allowed to last more than one night."
Su Lingwan nuzzled herself in his arms, finding a more comfortable position, and replied vaguely, "Well... then Mr. Huo is not allowed to sleep on the sofa in the study anymore."
"Okay." He agreed straightforwardly, tightening his arms. "Even if we quarrel from now on, I will hold you in my arms."
Su Lingwan couldn't help but laugh, raised her head and glared at him, "How can we quarrel while hugging each other?"
"We can give it a try." Huo Linshen's eyes darkened, and he rolled over and pressed her under him, proving with his actions that some "fights" can indeed be resolved by hugging each other, and the effect is remarkable.
The sun grew brighter and the temperature inside rose.
The second period of adjustment after marriage was passed safely in a closer entanglement and deep communication of the soul. They are all learning how to become better themselves, and better us.
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