Upon hearing Wen Ruan's question, Song Yan felt a tightness in his chest and then stared intently at Wen Ruan.
Wen Ruan's eyes held curiosity, doubt, and even some trouble, but none of the undisguised affection that used to fill them.
Song Yan felt a pang of pain; everything seemed different now.
I don't know when it started, but the little girl who used to follow me around and had nothing but eyes for me has changed. I also don't know when it started, but I began to feel happy because of her actions and disappointed because of her slightest rejection.
Perhaps Wen Ruan's previous suggestion to break off the engagement was her truest thought.
Song Yan felt a pang of sadness and decided to talk to her.
"Ruan Ruan, let's go deliver the food to Uncle Wen first. I have something to tell you when we get back," Song Yan said.
The two walked silently to Wen's father's office.
At first, Wen's father was pleasantly surprised by Song Yan's return, but gradually he noticed that something was wrong between the two. He thought that the two should communicate and resolve any problems, so he hurriedly sent them away, wanting to leave the young man alone.
Upon arriving at the Wen family home, Wen Ruan asked Song Yan to sit down and went to pour him some water.
For some reason, Song Yan felt uneasy and a little nervous.
For someone who is usually taciturn, it is extremely difficult to open up to others.
But he knew that if things continued like this, his wife would run away.
Wen Ruan poured Song Yan a glass of boiled water, adding a pinch of tea leaves that Wen's father had treasured, and then sat down on the sofa furthest from Song Yan.
Seeing Wen Ruan's actions, Song Yan's expression turned complicated. He said, "Ruan Ruan, shall we talk?"
Wen Ruan nodded, somewhat curious about what Song Yan was going to say.
"Ruan Ruan, I admit that I always treated you like a younger sister before."
“From childhood to adulthood, there has always been a little girl following me. Everyone around me tells me that this is my sister and that I should protect her.”
“One day, someone suddenly told me that this person was not my sister, but my future wife. I admit that at the time I couldn’t understand it, and even found it hard to accept.”
"But later, I felt that it was still good for the two of us to be together. Having seen so many women in the compound and family housing work hard for the daily necessities and family matters, I couldn't imagine what you would do if you had to go through those things in the future, because you are the girl I have cherished since childhood."
"At the very least, I will not let my wife spend her days on these things; she can also pursue the life she wants."
"But it wasn't until I was recommended to attend the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University that I met all sorts of people. Some of them abandoned their wives in the countryside after going to university and remarried the daughters of cadres. When their original wives came to the school with their children to look for them, the men said that their marriage was arranged and that they had no love for each other, only kinship at most."
“I thought of the two of us. At that time, I only had sisterly feelings for you. I don’t know if you felt the same way about me. If you also feel familial feelings for me, I don’t think this engagement is fair to you. Although I’m sure I can take good care of you in the future, you are still young and have a long life ahead of you. You can’t ruin your marriage because of such an ambiguous relationship.”
"Later, I shared my thoughts with my family, and they thought my thoughts were absurd. How could a little girl who grew up following me around since she was little, who would ask me for help the first time she was in trouble, and who would always share her happiness with me the first time she got first place in every exam, not like me?"
“Yeah, why did she suddenly stop liking me?” Song Yan’s face was full of dejection, and his eyes looked at Wen Ruan with confusion and pain.
"Because I am no longer her," Wen Ruan thought to herself.
“Until the last time our families met to set the wedding date, I thought you really liked me back then. Now it seems I was mistaken.”
"But for some reason, ever since then, my eyes have been unconsciously drawn to you. I often feel my heart race because of your every move. During these few days of business trip, I often think of you and rush to the post office to call home, but each time I feel a sense of loss because I don't hear your voice in the end."
"Wen Ruan, I think I've fallen for you. Not the kind of love a brother has for his sister, but the kind a man has for a woman." Song Yan stared intently at her, his clenched fists revealing his nervousness.
At first, Wen Ruan listened with a relatively relaxed attitude, and even felt sorry for his college classmate's ex-wife, cursing in her heart, "Men are all the same." She warned herself that she must not be like the original owner and that woman, staying away from love and men, otherwise she would become unhappy. But then Song Yan did this.
According to Song Yan, he used to feel the same way about the original owner as he did about his younger sister, but his feelings changed from the day their wedding date was set.
The day the wedding date was set! Wasn't that after I transmigrated? Huh? So that means he likes me! Wen Ruan was a little confused and suddenly didn't know how to respond.
"Um, Song Yan, our wedding date has already been set, and we agreed that if either of us falls for someone else, the other will unconditionally cooperate, we'll divorce, and the other can pursue their own happiness." Wen Ruan was a little hesitant to look at him. In her heart, she screamed, "Oh my god, Mom, my child has really made something of herself! She actually rejected an incredibly handsome guy! Waaah! It's a pity that while the male lead is destined for greatness, he also faces a lot of trouble. I'm just a poor little supporting character; I can't handle it."
"So, you've never liked me before, right?" Song Yan continued to ask.
The original owner must have really liked him, otherwise she wouldn't have married him regardless of everything. Although she later ran away with another man, it was because Song Yan was too busy with work and was indifferent to her that she gradually became disheartened, Wen Ruan thought silently.
"I liked Song Yan."
“But now I only see you as an older brother,” Wen Ruan replied.
Song Yan understood. So Wen Ruan meant that they could talk about marriage, but not feelings; they could cooperate with both sets of parents to put on an act, but not love.
Song Yan was puzzled as to why Wen Ruan suddenly had such thoughts. He then felt powerless. When Wen Ruan first proposed this agreement, Song Yan considered giving Wen Ruan another chance to regret it, and the two of them made the agreement together.
Song Yan is the one who regrets it now.
"So, do you have someone you like now?" Song Yan asked, his eyes slightly lowered and his thin lips parted gently.
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