Section 1

I firmly believe that he will bring me a lifetime of brightness and beauty

I fell silent, contemplating whether I should still speak up and ask for help

Oh... it's nothing, just a call to check on you, it's nothing, goodbye. I hung up the phone and said to little Li in my arms: Shouldn't mom rely on her own efforts to find a job?

I recalled what Mrs. Song said: "Your Mr. Tong is not bad either. Although he doesn't earn as much as my husband, he is quite famous for his painting." I thought to myself, my Tong Zhuoyao, once earned in a single day what your activated carbon company would take several years to make in total.

I went to wash my hands and hold my son, dinner was on the table, red wine paired with black pepper steak, the steak cooked medium. He said this as he brushed past me and entered the bathroom, I felt somewhat guilty and did not dare to look at him. Strangely, he is very fond of Li Hui and never smokes at home, so why is he smoking on the balcony? Perhaps the matter of the contract termination has made him even more troubled.

I carried Li back downstairs and went straight to the kitchen, intending for him to hold the child while I prepared dinner. However, he was not in the kitchen. I caught a whiff of the aroma of black pepper steak; he was really quick, having finished dinner in no time.

"Ah, it's Mrs. Tong, it's been a long time since we last met. Your baby has grown quite a bit, hasn't he? A few days ago, my husband signed a large order with Australia for his company, and he specially took me on a trip to Australia. I visited Melbourne, Canberra, the Sydney Opera House, and even Kangaroo Island. If Mr. Tong wants to take you on a trip, you must go to Australia; I highly recommend it," Mrs. Song said, her voice rising an octave as she spoke about her trip to Australia.

The days in a paradise away from the world are certainly pleasant, but without a source of income, how can one sustain a living? At this moment, what should I do?

"By the way, Mrs. Tong, did you call me for something?" Mrs. Song asked

I still remember him bending down on the soft sandy beach, searching for individual purple shells, placing them in a small white porcelain dish, sitting under the flowering tree in the courtyard, and stringing them together to make a bracelet for me

He snatched the bottle of wine and coldly dropped a remark: "You are still the same as before; from now on, do not even touch red wine again."

He picked up the black coffee, but did not drink it. He looked up at me with soft eyes and said, "I will find a way for everything. You have lost weight these past few days. I will make dinner."

I suddenly recalled the scene where Zhuo Yao closed the door to take a phone call in the kitchen, and a wave of pain surged in my heart. We have both started to do and say things behind each other's backs, and this is because we love each other too deeply. When faced with unpleasant situations, we always prefer to bear the burden alone rather than let both of us get hurt.

I held Li Hui in my arms, plucked one jasmine flower after another, tied them into small bundles with cotton thread, dried them, and made the jasmine tea I had imagined. Those small bundles of dried jasmine flowers, when steeped in a glass cup, resembled a bouquet of flowers blooming in the center of the water, pure and fragrant

Women always boast that the men in their lives are the most capable. I too have vanity and pride, yet I feel deeply saddened. That once invincible Tong Zhuoyao has, because of me, cast aside fame and status, willingly burying himself here, as if I have ruined him. If his comic career were thriving, I might feel better, but now, my heart aches painfully, not for the first time experiencing such piercing sorrow.

The door opened, and to the familiar rhythm of footsteps, I walked out of the kitchen, carrying the black coffee he often drinks, the aroma of the coffee rich and robust. In such a beautiful house, I brew coffee for the man I love and care for our little treasure. For a year, we have nestled in this small fishing village, spending the most peaceful and wonderful days.

Hello, Mrs. Song. I closed the door to my room and lowered my voice, fearing that Zhuo Yao downstairs might hear.

He is Tong Zhuoyao, who has never worried about money since childhood, living a life of luxury and comfort. He was one of the three young masters of the Tong family, renowned in the business world. Just for me, he gave up wealth and status, choosing to stay in this small fishing village, relying on drawing comics to support me and our child

I found Mrs. Song's phone number. Mrs. Song lives in a luxurious villa by the seaside. We met at a convenience store and chatted for a while. She warmly invited me to her home for a visit. Her husband runs a foreign trade company that exports activated carbon.

I stand barefoot, allowing the sea breeze to make my tears even saltier, as salty as the azure sea not far away. Several times, when my tears rolled down to my chin, just about to fall to the ground, they were blown away by the sea breeze, like a swift wind carrying the fine rain in the air

He entered the kitchen, and I gazed at the cup of black coffee on the table, unsure of what else I could do besides helping him brew a cup of coffee and offering a few words of comfort

I stand on the balcony of a small building, draped in a white cotton-linen cardigan and a blue skirt. The aroma of the black coffee I brewed wafts through the air, reminiscent of the enchanting breath between Zhuo Yao's lips and teeth

At this moment, Zhuo Yao stands by the sea, his tall figure clad in a white shirt and gray trousers, shimmering under the dusk. I can see the seawater washing up against his pant legs; he does not flinch, holding a Japanese cigarette between his fingers

I took my phone out of the pocket of my cardigan, sat on the bed, and began to hesitate. Li Hui's small hand gently pinched my earlobe, mumbling indistinct words that I could not understand. Li Hui is one year old now and will soon be able to call me 'Mama' and Zhuo Yao 'Papa.' Just the thought of him calling me 'Mama' and Zhuo Yao 'Papa' in the future fills me with immense joy

He let out a long sigh, his voice hoarse, and said: "Little comic, only by holding you can I feel at ease. Today, Lawyer Li told me that if we go to court against the cultural company in Beijing, winning or losing no longer matters. The legal representative of that company has absconded to Taiwan, having swindled a bunch of comic artists out of their manuscripts."

When Zhuo Yao is not drawing comics, he drives me and Li Hui to the convenience store heading to the seaside. Occasionally, he buys a pack of Japanese cigarettes, always gets me matcha ice cream, and buys Li Hui baby lotion and building blocks

Those companies that rejected the comic drafts from Zhuoyao, citing that they are not currently accepting submissions, even included one company that stated that Zhuoyao's fame is too great, making them hesitant to pursue a collaboration

I heard him speaking softly on the phone, and he gently closed the kitchen door. It might be a call from Lawyer Li; he didn't want me to hear, perhaps out of concern for my worries

I looked at him, this man who once basked in glory and was surrounded by a halo, now finds himself in a predicament

We are like a pair of individuals detached from the world, seeking an untroubled island, accompanied by our shared child, like ethereal mandarin ducks. Occasionally, my aunt will come over to deliver the freshest seasonal vegetables and fruits, along with a few sea fish

I returned to the living room and saw him standing quietly on the balcony. His tall silhouette, he brought the cigarette to his lips, then set it down, the smoke dispersing. Zhuo Yao, you have been through a lot, haven't you

Mr. Tong from your family is quite impressive as well. Although he doesn't earn as much as my husband, he is well-known for his painting. You are also well-off and need not envy me.

However, I do not have it

Those scenes make me always wish that time would not pass, to stop, or to move a little slower

I have no interest at all, and since I am in need of others, I can only pay a few compliments: "Mrs. Song is truly fortunate, I really envy your life"

Xiao Liuhui has already woken up, lying in the crib and smiling at me cheerfully. The little one's smile is exactly the same as the photos of Zhuoyao when he was young. I picked up Liuhui, kissed his little cheek, and said: "Darling, your father and mother wish to give you the best of the whole world. As you grow up, you must love your father well; he is the one who works the hardest and is the greatest."

The world is full of unexpected events. The cultural company that Zhuo Yao signed with is not a weak small firm; how could it suddenly face a financial crisis, terminate contracts with comic artists, refuse to pay royalties, and even have the boss flee to Taiwan? What is even more puzzling is that not a single other company accepted Zhuo Yao's artwork. Those comic works are clearly excellent, and Zhuo Yao's reputation is well-established, yet not a single company seems to appreciate them.

He turned around and saw me standing behind him. He flicked the cigarette away, and the flickering sparks vanished into the dark night. He forced a smile, trying to conceal his worried and confused expression

Zhuo Yao, since it is like this, you can sign with other companies and create new works. You have the ability, so do not worry. My son and I support you, and there is still some money at home. I held his palm and gently squeezed his thumb to encourage him

My right hand caresses a string of shell bracelets on my left wrist, which are purple shells picked up by Zhuo Yao on the beach after the tide receded

In that moment, I choked up; he was deliberately neglecting and distancing himself from me, yet he still did not achieve it to the fullest extent, as there was still care that I could feel.

The crib is somewhat unstable and needs to be replaced. Li Hui's small body is growing day by day, and his clothes are constantly being changed. If I go to work, at least my salary can cover the family's expenses, and Zhuo Yao can also focus on drawing comics with peace of mind.

I weakly cut the steak, the taste of black pepper is particularly tear-inducing at this moment. I tell myself that I must not cry in front of him, as it would hurt his pride. The steak is so sour, and the red wine is just as sour. Is there something wrong with my taste buds?

If he were to know that he has to rely on a woman to work and support the family, his strong sense of pride and masculinity would surely cause him to erupt in anger and throw me onto the bed like a chick.

Before he turned back, I returned to the living room. The child was still sound asleep. I gently closed the door to the small room, went downstairs to the living room, and lit the fire in the fireplace, warming up the space. He had been by the sea for so long, inevitably catching a chill. I hope that at the moment he opens the front door, the warmest welcome awaits him

I went upstairs and pushed open the door to Xiao Li's bedroom. At this moment, all I want is to hold our son. I am increasingly worried that our days of living in peace may not last much longer

Over the years, he has not encountered many setbacks. He has always been able to turn misfortune into fortune when faced with danger, and the few setbacks and difficulties he has experienced have all arisen because of me

At this moment, I feel a deep sense of sorrow. I pulled the cork from the bottle of red wine and began to pour it into my mouth. It reminded me of more than a year ago, in that luxurious and empty hotel room in Paris, where I did the same, pouring bottle after bottle of alcohol into myself. The difference was that, on that occasion, it was hard liquor, and I nearly lost my life, suffering from temporary blindness for over ten months

He certainly does not want me to see him in this dejected state; otherwise, he would not be avoiding me and smoking alone by the seaside

In fact, we do not have much money left

Autumn has arrived, in the evening

That dinner was particularly oppressive, and I sensed his displeasure. Having been together for so long, I could also perceive the emotions he was concealing. He kept teasing Li Hui, not sparing me a glance or uttering another word to me.

The cultural company we previously signed with has reported serious financial issues due to uneven internal profit distribution, and Zhuoyao's illustration income has not been credited for a long time. This is our first experience, and we are both troubled by the financial situation.

I long to run out onto the balcony, descend the stairs, and run breathlessly to him from behind, extending my arms to embrace him. To hold him close during his most challenging moments

He had only eaten a small piece of steak from his plate. He set down his knife and fork, and his handsome face appeared slightly thinner, with more defined features. He stood up and said, "I will go heat the milk to feed him; you enjoy your meal and take a rest. I will clean up the dining table." As he spoke, he did not look at me.

Mrs. Tong, I really like this title; her surname will be my name in the future

I think I should go out and look for a job, but I must keep it a secret from Zhuo Yao.

At this moment, I dared not look into his eyes, fearing that I would burst into tears, for his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. I lowered my head and embraced him, pressing my ear against his chest, tightly wrapping my arms around his waist, while his chin brushed against the strands of hair on the top of my head