During her pregnancy, Yan Yan was almost consumed by depression. But she thought, perhaps things would be better after the child was born.
With a small, soft, tender baby there, how could her husband possibly still be obsessed with playing games?
But reality proved her too naive.
In the blink of an eye, Yan Yan's child was born, a daughter.
Although her husband greatly doted on his daughter, it certainly didn't make him give up playing games.
He continued to do as he pleased, engrossed in his gaming.
Because of the child's birth and her husband's unchanged habits, life became chaotic, and Yan Yan's heart grew colder.
Yet, another year passed, and Yan Yan found herself pregnant again. She thought, perhaps it was because she hadn't given birth to a son, that's why her husband's focus was more on games.
Thus, she gave birth to this child.
As expected, it was a son.
After her son's birth, Yan Yan's life became even more hectic. But all that awaited her were two ignorant children and a husband who only played games.
Yan Yan's heart turned cold, then hardened. From discomfort and sadness to disappointment, and finally, to numbness.
All of this seemed to happen very slowly, yet also very quickly. At some point, Yan Yan had lost herself. Her life consisted only of endless trivialities and her two children.
Every day, from waking up in the morning to closing her eyes at night, was the same: an endless repetition.
Such days eventually came to an end one day.
Because Yan Yan met someone online.
This person would talk to her every day, keeping her company in conversation.
Gradually, as days went by, this person seemed to walk into Yan Yan's now-cold heart, making her happy again.
However, this was not a good thing for Yan Yan, because she had a family and children.
Although her husband was not gentle, not considerate, and didn't even utter a single affectionate word, and they often sat in silence,
For the sake of her two beloved children, Yan Yan had never considered divorce.
And yet, Yan Yan couldn't let go of this person who had, at some unknown time, entered her heart.
The feeling of liking someone and being liked in return was wonderfully beautiful.
Every word spoken caused her heart to flutter inexplicably.
Yan Yan felt as if she had found her youthful heart again.
...
"Why aren't you continuing?" Yue Qingxin was listening intently, but saw Shen Xiaoyan fall silent like this, not speaking for a long time.
Shen Xiaoyan's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and she didn't know how to continue. She could only shake her head and say, "It's not that I won't continue, it's that there's nothing more."
"That's it?" Yue Qingxin's eyes widened. This was clearly just the beginning of the story, how could it be over?
"That's it. Because Yan Yan still stays with her husband and her children, and that person will find his own wife and have his own family."
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan say this, Yue Qingxin also felt a sense of heaviness in her heart and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Actually, I think Yan Yan just wanted someone to love her. Because she couldn't feel her husband's love, that's why she cherished even a little bit of care from a stranger so much."
After a long silence, Shen Xiaoyan said with a sigh.
Yue Qingxin nodded in agreement. It was indeed like that.
"However, sister, your storytelling skills aren't very good." Yue Qingxin said with a laugh.
Shen Xiaoyan felt a little embarrassed. She really wasn't good at it.
But it didn't matter if it was good or bad. The story itself wasn't important. What was important was that she had successfully captured Yue Qingxin's attention, stopping her from anxiously peering at the west wing.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan's expression, Yue Qingxin realized why Shen Xiaoyan had told the story.
Once she understood, a look of gratitude appeared on Yue Qingxin's face.
Though Shen Xiaoyan wasn't very talkative normally, she was actually quite thoughtful.
"Thank you, sister." Yue Qingxin said sincerely.
Just as Shen Xiaoyan opened her mouth to say something, she saw Yue Qingxin suddenly stand up and quickly jump off the kangs.
"What's wrong?"
"They're out," Yue Qingxin replied, her body already rushing to the door.
By the time Shen Xiaoyan heard and reacted, she had already rushed out.
Shen Xiaoyan shook her head and smiled, then got off the kangs, picked up the large coat placed on the side, put it on, then picked up another one and quickly walked outside.
As Shen Xiaoyan reached the door of the main house, she saw Yue Qingxin standing alone outside the west wing room door, tears streaming down her face.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you going in?"
Shen Xiaoyan quickly walked forward, draped the coat she was holding over Yue Qingxin, and asked curiously.
"He must have something going on, otherwise why wouldn't he let me in?" Yue Qingxin said, sobbing.
Although Yue Qingxin had always appeared gentle and weak, Shen Xiaoyan had never seen her cry like this. She looked truly worried sick.
"Didn't Sister just say the door opened?"
Yue Qingxin looked at Shen Xiaoyan and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, the door opened, but after Namuzhong came out, it closed again."
"Then that's a bit strange. Where did Namuzhong go?" Shen Xiaoyan also wondered.
The two found it strange but were helpless. Shen Xiaoyan had tried; she had used all her strength but still couldn't push the door open. At this point, there was nothing they could do but wait outside.
About a quarter of an hour later, Namuzhong quickly walked back. Seeing Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin waiting by the door, he didn't say a word, just nodded at them and pushed the door open to go inside.
Before Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin could follow, the door was heavily closed again.
Shen Xiaoyan tried with all her might to open the door, but it remained motionless.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the door in front of her with frustration, her desire to achieve spiritual enlightenment growing even stronger.
The reason was simple: Shen Xiaoyan didn't want to be so passive, so helpless, at any moment.
Although Shen Xiaoyan tried to persuade Yue Qingxin to go back to the main house to wait, as it was warmer inside, seeing Yue Qingxin's expression, she knew she wouldn't agree.
Indeed, when Zheng Wei was undergoing spiritual enlightenment, she had also stood by and watched. Asking her to sit down and watch felt like a waste of time.
The two waited for about half an hour more, and finally, the door opened from the inside.
Seeing Yi Zhixie and Namuzhong standing in the doorway, Shen Xiaoyan felt her heart leap into her throat. The solemn expressions on their faces, what was going on?
"Congratulations, it's successful."
Joyful words came from Yi Zhixie's mouth, accompanied by Namuzhong's delighted laughter.
Shen Xiaoyan's heart finally settled, but she still glared at them, "Why pretend to be so serious?"
"This isn't pretending. Don't you think this is a very solemn, very formal occasion?"
Yi Zhixie retorted strangely, his face full of confusion.
Shen Xiaoyan felt she was already accustomed to Yi Zhixie's different way of thinking compared to normal people, but now, she still couldn't get used to it.
Yue Qingxin, on the side, couldn't wait any longer. She quickly ran into the room, her eyes immediately scanning everywhere, searching for the person she longed for.
"Xinxin, I'm here."
Just as Yue Qingxin couldn't find him in the main house and was about to go to the study, she heard Sima Han's voice from behind her.
She turned around instantly and saw Sima Han standing there smiling, looking at her.
Sima Han was dressed in black, his waist tightly cinched, his sleeves flowing, his hair tied up with a warm jade hairpin. His chiseled face made his features seem more three-dimensional, more resolute.
Yet, these subtle changes were all overshadowed by the smile on his face.
At this moment, Yue Qingxin could only see the smile on his face and the doting in his eyes.
Seeing the familiar Sima Han, Yue Qingxin's nose twitched, and tears welled up.
"Xinxin, don't cry, I'm fine, aren't I?" Sima Han walked forward, cupped Yue Qingxin's face in his hands, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Mmm, I was just worried about you." Yue Qingxin also broke into a smile, feeling a little embarrassed about crying just now.
Being a mother already, yet her tear ducts were still so sensitive. Yue Qingxin found it a bit amusing.
Shen Xiaoyan and the other two watched them from outside the door, all smiling knowingly, then quietly moved away from the doorway.