Not long after.
The car slowly came to a stop in the base's parking area.
After the car stopped and the engine was turned off, the surrounding silence spread into the passenger compartment. Gazing at her indescribable facial expression, Zhang Youye pursed his lips and broke the silence.
"How are you? Still in the mood to play? If you don't want to play anymore, I'll take you home."
She opened her eyes, turned her head to meet the gaze of the man beside her, and stared silently into his deep black eyes for a long while.
“Go ahead, it’s good for you to relax,” Shu Yi replied.
"You don't have to force yourself."
After saying that, Zhang Youye unbuckled his seatbelt, stretched out his long arm, leaned back slightly, took a drink from the back seat, and handed it to her. He continued to comfort her.
"It's okay, you can play whenever you feel like it. You don't need to push yourself too hard now."
She took the drink, held it in her hand, and unconsciously shook it. She didn't open it, but continued to stare into his eyes.
"No, I won't force myself. If I go back now, these things will still give me a headache. My brain has absorbed too much information these past few days. It's good to do some exciting activities to relax my mind."
"Okay, whatever you say. Let's go now, I've already made plans."
She responded and got out of the car.
Following behind Zhang Youye to the elevator, she shook her slightly dizzy head.
While waiting for the elevator, Shu Yi pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Zhang Youye, you've grown up in such a large family, do you ever feel tired?"
With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, Zhang Youye gave a slight smile and stood idly waiting for the elevator to arrive.
"Yes, it will be very tiring, extremely tiring."
“Those who haven’t experienced it will definitely think that this kind of life is great, and may even say that being born with a silver spoon in your mouth means you’ve already won at the starting line.”
"But as long as you let the other person try it, they will understand that they have been controlled since childhood, and there is no way they can live without being restricted in their food, clothing, housing and transportation. Even if they want to lie on the sofa, they will be said to be unruly."
"Etiquette, morality, speech, and how to treat others are things that you have to pay attention to every day, for fear that someone might take advantage of you if you're not careful."
As he spoke, Zhang Youye shook his head helplessly, letting out a rare, contemptuous sneer.
It seems like they're laughing at others' lack of understanding, or perhaps they're mocking their own life, which has been constrained since birth.
"Especially in marriage, you can't even have someone you truly love, and everything you do has to be for the sake of your family. Some lucky ones, like through arranged marriages, might find true love in a union."
"But as far as I know, in our large families, there isn't a single couple that isn't just a facade. People are inherently rebellious, and who would truly want to follow their family's arrangements? It's less about marriage alliances and more about the interests between families."
bite--
The elevator doors slowly opened, and the two stepped inside.
With her back against the wall, Shu Yi continued the conversation.
"It seems my dad was right after all."
With a few light laughs, Zhang Youye imitated her, leaning against the elevator wall and gazing at her profile.
"In the eyes of those who are only superficially supportive, your father has always been synonymous with courage. Your father is indeed very capable. For your mother, he left without hesitation, without fear of power. And over the years, he has raised you so well. I admire him very much."
"I never imagined my father's life was so restrictive." As if remembering something, Shu Yi asked again, "Whom was my father going to marry back then?"
"And our family."
After a few seconds of hesitation, worried that speaking too directly might provoke rebellion, Zhang Youye changed his words.
“Back then, my grandfather and your grandfather were on good terms, so they wanted to strengthen their kinship through marriage. After your eldest uncle married into the Qin family, it was your father's and my aunt's turn.”
Having figured out the truth, Shuyi nodded and then asked, "So, what about your aunt now? Is she married?"
When his aunt was mentioned unexpectedly, Zhang Youye's eyes suddenly darkened, and his tone was tinged with regret.
"My second uncle told me that my aunt really liked your dad back then. If your dad liked her too, then she was probably the kind of person I just mentioned who could find true love in an arranged marriage. Unfortunately, your dad didn't like her."
"When your father left, my aunt missed him terribly. She fell ill from longing and has been recuperating at home ever since. She rarely comes out to see people and prefers to stay in her yard, tending to her flowers and plants."
Catching the fleeting worry in her eyes, Zhang Youye suddenly raised his hand and affectionately ruffled her hair.
"Don't worry, my aunt's condition has been cured and she is in good health now."
"After she fell ill, she probably saw through the nature of life. My father and second uncle stopped mentioning marriage to her. She is now living a very comfortable life on her own."
Finally, I heard about an ending that wasn't a tragedy.
A warmth spread through her heart, and as she let the warm palm rest on her head, Shu Yi slowly raised the corners of her mouth.
"That's good. As long as my aunt is happy, that's all that matters. I'm really afraid to hear about a tragic ending."
The natural curve of her lips, like a spring breeze in March, was a heartwarming sensation.
It seemed as if ripples of uncontrollable emotion were left on his scorching lava.
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