My Alleged Husband

Many things may truly be absent now, but they will come in the future.

A year later...

Time has completed another cycle, spring, summer, autumn, and winter have once again alternated, yet during this school anniversary, she still bears her husband’s contributions like before, without feeling any gratitude herself.

Throughout this year, he has endured it all as before, and Zhang Zhentian has quietly contributed as he always did, receiving no reward, but for him, it was the happiest year.

Because this year, his wife chose to be with him, to inquire about his well-being every day, chose repeatedly to care about his health, chose to stay by his side, and accompany the entire family, showing great concern for each family member.

During this year, Old Master Zhang watched his son continue to make foolish sacrifices like before, yet his daughter-in-law remained indifferent, receiving no response in return.

Old Master Zhang thought that perhaps he really shouldn’t have involved himself in so many matters. The more he intervened, the more his son felt controlled by him, making him feel unworthy of being with him.

Each time Zhang Yichen watched his father devote himself to his mother, while his mother simply sat there enjoying it without considering any reciprocation, it left him feeling unsettled. He didn’t want his father to suffer without any outcome.

Zhang Yichen repeatedly wanted to have a heartfelt conversation with his father, but each time he was stopped by his wife.

Ran Zhihan told Zhang Yichen, "You really can’t interfere in these matters. No matter what, you can only be a silent spectator. It’s up to your parents to resolve their issues. If they reconcile again only because we intervened, what meaning would their continued life together have? Perhaps one day, your mother might see your father’s love for her?

Yichen, you know a discordant family is bad for everyone. If we are not harmonious, it will sadden our parents and grandfather. But if their relationship is flawed, it will not only sadden grandfather but also us, the children.

Some things can only have good outcomes once they come to realization on their own. When he understands the key, he will know how Ren Shou should live. If we really intervene in their lives again and again, wouldn’t we be forcing them to respond?"

"I know what you’re saying is correct, but when I see my father repeatedly giving, only to receive silence from my mother, who could accept this? I want a harmonious family too, I wish my parents could be together every day, not just because of us, but for a happy family life.

Is it wrong for me to want this?

As a junior, I know I shouldn’t interfere, but I find it unbearable to see my mother treating my father so coldly, watching him try to please her time and again. Isn’t this a form of heartache for me as well?

Everything they’ve done to me before can be forgotten, but these things happen before my eyes daily and I truly have no way to endure!

A year has passed, and throughout this year, my mother has not changed at all for my father’s sake, despite all his contributions. She keeps waiting for him to serve her again and again. Is my father truly indebted to her?

I only want my father to live happily. I don’t want him to be sad and tired repeatedly, after all, he is always my biological father, always my elder, that’s an unchangeable fact of life!"

"No matter what thoughts are in your heart, ultimately, your parents need to resolve their own issues!

I know what’s on your mind, even I’ve sometimes found it hard to bear watching it. Sincerely giving, only to be met with silence, do you know what kind of pain that is? No one can truly understand it, maybe this pain only your father knows. So why should we interfere, making him feel that his marriage must rely on his children’s interference?

My husband, if you really care about your father, then don’t think about meddling in this matter, let your father happily do what he wants to do.

For him, even if your mother isn’t by his side, as long as he can contribute for our mother’s sake, he feels happy. We shouldn’t disrupt his presumed happiness, as it would shatter whatever hope he has left!"

In fact, Zhang Yichen and Ran Zhihan may not realize, Zhang Zhentian and Xia Jing—while to outsiders it appears Zhang Zhentian is desperately contributing for his wife while Xia responds with silent indifference.

But only Zhang Zhentian knows in his heart that his wife no longer rejects him like before. She’s starting to communicate sincerely with him and attempting to embrace him. He can sense the change during this year, he knows that even if the change isn’t significant, any slight alteration is already valuable.

A person can’t demand too much in life. If you ask for too much, everything might become markedly different. Now he knows that as long as his contributions result in his wife making even a slight change for him, even if he gives everything and receives just a little love, he feels it’s worthwhile.

But in outsiders’ eyes, it simply looks like Xia Jing is quietly enjoying her husband’s care and efforts without properly responding to him.

Perhaps it’s because of the unspoken understanding they have, which others aren’t aware of, that leads to the misconception that they’ve always been in such a state, leading to questions of whether Zhang Zhentian is a little foolish, only knowing to give and not to ask, while Xia Jing seems too clever, only knowing to enjoy and not repay...

I once did everything for you, though we separated, we will eventually meet again!