Chapter 9

At that time, Xu Dongyang had already left Liancheng. Thus, I spent over ten years in a household that ultimately facilitated two good marriages for the Xu family. However, later on, Xu Fangfei began to change; her eyes became as steady as an old monk in meditation. Fortunately, my father had aged, and Xu Fangfei's transformation coincidentally suited him perfectly.

Although Xu Dongyang was hindered by Lian Cheng and did not show much attentiveness towards me, his gaze, with its repeated glances, was filled with meaning

I blocked Chen Weiwei's line of sight: "You are not allowed to look."

Su Xiaotao asked me what I thought of that message, and I said: "I am waiting for him to deceive me"

Now, his ambiguity is merely for money; he has always been for money. Of course, it is reasonable for him to be for money, as romance and love also come with a cost

That is it

I was only naive once in front of Xu Dongyang, and that was on the day I first met him. At that time, he was not particularly remarkable, but on that day, the wind was high and the clouds were light. He happened to be standing at the windward side, his clothes fluttering, and behind him was a row of French parasol trees, their leaves a mix of yellow and green. The scene appeared indescribably warm, and at that moment, a door opened in my world for him

I have not been idle either; apart from me, no one else is speaking

However, that night fulfilled Xu Dongyang's desires. Even if I had only seen him once, even if it was just in a fleeting moment, I would be captivated for a long time. Therefore, I originally intended to never see him again for the rest of my life. Although I understood what kind of person he was and how he conducted himself, what difference did it make? Sometimes, a woman's obsession with a man is precisely because he is not good enough.

You were not left hungry

I understand, but I would rather not understand. If I do not understand, Xu Dongyang can still deceive me into feeling happy for a moment, but once I understand, I can no longer feel happy. Yet, even if I am not happy, I still have to accompany him in performing well; if I do not perform well, he will not come again. Spending a fortune to drown my sorrows, I spend a fortune to pretend to be drunk.

Is it not?

Sometimes I think that I have not gained nothing from Xu Dongyang. If it were not for him, when would I have known that there are indeed people who are stubbornly attached to their beliefs? If it were not for him, when would I have understood what it means to be unable to act freely? Because I have come to know these things, compared to Su Xiaotao, I sometimes do not hate my father as much.

The party finally came to an end, and Chen Weiwei was clearly somewhat dissatisfied: "What kind of people are you? You invite guests but do not entertain them."

"Shut up." I interrupted him poetically: "You are here today to set the stage for me, do not say such things."

I know that he will eventually be mine; this is just a warm-up for now

After Xu Dongyang sent me a message, I almost ignored everything. I kept thinking about how Xu Dongyang would obtain money from me this time. It was not until Chen Weiwei reminded me that I realized this gathering had already come to an end

Afterwards, Su Xiaotao asked me how I felt. I told her it was not bad, there wasn't much conversation, not many people were eating, and hardly anyone remembered that day. If I were to mention a gain, it would be that I received a love confession text.

It is already a difficult task to treat someone sincerely and genuinely; if it is done with insincerity, it is truly like rowing upstream, requiring constant self-awareness. One must ensure that everything is done thoroughly and that words are spoken appropriately; otherwise, one risks stagnation or regression, and a single lapse can lead to the loss of all previous efforts. It is easy to imagine that anyone who has invested such effort would expect to receive a worthwhile return.

You understand quite well

During the gathering, my father spoke little, but every word was truly precious: "In the future, make sure to come back and visit more often with Taozi. Parents will always be parents. If you have children in the future, they should still carry my surname. All these things from your father will ultimately be left to you." Not long after my father finished speaking, Xu Dongyang sent me a text message on his phone: "I miss you, let's chat when you have time."

Xu Fangfei glanced at Chen Weiwei and said, "Take care of yourself." After speaking, she turned around and walked away gracefully.

I finally brought Chen Weiwei home. For some strange reason, I even bought Chen Weiwei new clothes. Chen Weiwei was quite dissatisfied, as he always believed he could freely enter the hall and the kitchen. However, he thought differently from what I thought. Having been away from home for a long time, my return was partly to reconnect and partly to assert my presence. Chen Weiwei is somewhat like my business card, so it is only normal for him to have a gilded edge.

Therefore, my father has always kept a respectful distance from Xu Fangfei. No matter how gentle and affectionate she is, my father remains as resolute as iron. After several unsuccessful confessions, she finally lost hope, crying as she bid farewell to my father, declaring that she had given up. Her tears were truly like rain on pear blossoms, and her eyes were particularly captivating; her silence spoke volumes. Just like that, my father surrendered on the spot and subsequently left my mother.

Besides deceiving me, what other reason does he have to seek me out

Chen Weiwei let out a hum and said, "Do you think I would act just because you are a woman? If it weren't for you forcing my hand."

The Xu family members all have beautiful eyes, and Xu Fangfei is no exception. Back then, I do not know why, she was determined to marry my father. At first, my father was not moved, or perhaps he was afraid to be moved. In terms of age, he was already on the decline in life, while Xu Fangfei was in her prime, radiant and flourishing. In terms of status, he had already experienced love several times, while Xu Fangfei was still an innocent young woman. I would not believe that my father had no improper thoughts about Xu Fangfei, but my father was also a seasoned man of the world. If he wanted a woman for a night of passion, he had many ways to do so, and there was no need for him to risk everything for it. In terms of age, he was already on the decline in life, while Xu Fangfei was in her prime, radiant and flourishing. In terms of status, he had already experienced love several times, while Xu Fangfei was still an innocent young woman. I would not believe that my father had no improper thoughts about Xu Fangfei, but my father was also a seasoned man of the world. If he wanted a woman for a night of passion, he had many ways to do so, and there was no need for him to risk everything for it.

Xu Fangfei remains youthful, and Xu Dongyang is still quite upright. My father has aged, and even Cheng shows some signs of fatigue. Everyone sits and eats, each with their own thoughts. There are subtle connections among us, and conversations are sparse. When someone speaks a bit more, it is done with caution. Fortunately, I brought Chen Weiwei along, and it later proved to be a stroke of genius to have her accompany me to the banquet.

Why

I deleted the message and did not look at him. At that moment, I hated myself more than I hated him. He is not a good person; I should have known that. Even if I did not realize it earlier, now, sitting right next to him, I should have understood. However, when I saw the message was from him, I was still taken aback. I turned to look around before daring to open the message. In truth, even without looking, I already knew what the message contained; I not only knew but also felt a glimmer of hope. Therefore, one cannot entirely blame the wayward son or the heartless man for deceiving others onto a pirate ship. Ultimately, being lured onto the ship stems from one's own yearning for it. It is just that in the end, the outcome is not ideal—losing one's reputation, losing oneself, and being unable to bear the judgment of the world. Thus, one ends up claiming innocence, unaware that true innocence is devoid of desire.

Is that so

Seeing me take Chen Weiwei away, Xu Fangfei was clearly a bit surprised: "You know what a family banquet is, right"

Chen Weiwei was inherently a person who was not easily intimidated. Moreover, since he had no connections with anyone present, he was the only one in the room who was unrelated to the others. He spoke and acted without any reservations, and as a result, he ended up taking on a significant role, toasting this person, engaging that one, and throughout the entire evening, he single-handedly managed to keep the atmosphere lively.

That night was actually quite dull, with not a word spoken among the group, only smiles exchanged. Xu Fangfei remained composed, while I was lost in a myriad of thoughts, but my heart was too chaotic to articulate what I wanted to say. My father spoke a clear truth, yet that truth was not exclusive to that night. Chen Weiwei had eaten her fill, but she also had her grievances. The entire evening was marked by an awkward silence, and perhaps only heaven knows the purpose of this gathering.