My Alleged Husband

I believe that even as the years change your appearance, time has proven that your existence is the most beautiful.

Old Master Zhang stood outside the door, listening to his son and daughter-in-law’s conversation. He had listened for so long, yet he never heard a single correct thing.

He had always thought his son was someone with high emotional intelligence, but he never realized his son was actually this foolish. Is this the way a woman should be treated? If this is the way, why do other women avoid him whenever they see him?

He couldn’t hold back anymore. He stepped forward, pushed open the door, and walked into his son’s bedroom. He looked at his son and daughter-in-law, wanting to give them a good talking-to.

"Dad, why are you here?" Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing asked in unison when they saw Old Master Zhang push open the door and come in.

"Why am I not allowed to come? If I don’t come, will you two ever finish? I’ve listened outside for so long, and neither of you seem to realize your mistakes, right?

Zhang Zhentian, do you lack even the basic dignity and backbone that my son ought to have? A woman doesn’t love you, and that’s just it—no matter how much you give to her, she’ll never love you. So why persist in trying to be with her? Her heart doesn’t have you; regardless of how much you give her, even if you’re willing to sacrifice your life for her, will she ever see you as the person she loves the most?

Never, because deep down, her heart has already given someone else what you’ll never be able to obtain in your lifetime!

A happy marriage requires effort from both parties, but the prerequisite is that the emotional connection between the two must be deep, and mutual trust must be sufficient. Do you think you have that deep emotional connection and mutual trust right now? You are constantly suspicious of each other; do you find this truly joyful?

I truly didn’t expect the children I painstakingly raised to be so foolish at times. You ignore your commercial intellect, thinking that it’s okay, as you have a specialty. But why don’t you learn even the most basic things? Do you not know how to protect your dignity? You allow your wife to repeatedly criticize you, and what do you do? You merely apologize repeatedly and think that’s enough to soften her heart?"

As Xia Jing listened to her father’s words, she felt embarrassed and could only manage a silly smile, yet her smile angered Old Master Zhang further.

"What are you smiling at? You think it’s fun that your husband sacrifices everything for you, even his life? Are you truly heartless? Does your husband’s treatment of you not affect you at all? Trying to be with him and accept him—that’s not happiness for you?

Sometimes, don’t take things too seriously, because it might bring happiness to your heart, but it’s torture for those around you.

You might still not realize what you did wrong, concealing your feelings and causing my son to get caught in emotional turmoil that he can’t escape.

Do you find joy and happiness being together with him? Does your heart truly want this kind of life for all you’ve done? Have you ever considered how to live this life? When you repeatedly make decisions, do you ever wonder about the consequences?"

"I truly don’t understand why, as husband and wife, you are tangled up with this for so long. I hear my son pleading with you, asking you to try having a relationship with him again, yet you are as cold-hearted as usual, offering no smiles or respect!

No matter what, you are legally married. Do you think it’s suitable to behave like this? Seeing your partner bow before you over and over again—do you really feel happy and satisfied?

Sometimes you take his kindness for granted, and when you get so used to it and suddenly he’s not kind anymore, you’ll think he’s changed, as if the whole world has abandoned you.

But did he really change? Did he really abandon you? He has been hurt deeply by you and doesn’t know how to convey this to you. He chooses to protect himself, becoming like a hedgehog, pricking whoever he meets, just to safeguard himself from emotional harm. Have you ever considered what he’s been through? You only know what you want; your wants are not what he can fulfill, but his needs are what you can fulfill. Why not try to offer him happiness for all that he’s done for you, and in turn find happiness for yourself?

Some things I find difficult to speak to you openly about, but I hope you both seriously consider them. Decisions made after careful thought are the right ones, preventing lifelong regret. Making a hasty decision that leads to a lifetime of regret has no meaning."

Xia Jing and Old Master Zhang found their father’s words to be correct.

Xia Jing pondered if she was truly heartless. Why, when her husband humbly lowered himself again and again to say those moving words, did she remain silent? Why reject and evade him cruelly each time he humbled himself before her?

Sometimes, just seeing two photos makes her feel that she’s truly heartless. No matter how much she gives, it seems negligible in his eyes, never altering his previous views. His heartless demeanor makes her inner turmoil and discomfort persist.

I believe in ancient beliefs, the stories in books, true feelings will be appreciated!