Chapter Nine, Under the Fence (07)

Tan Ruyi instinctively clenched her fingers and after a moment, she smiled and said, "I know. I have said before that I am not on the same path as him after all"

As a nanny

Xialan was surprised, "You have a younger brother? He wouldn't be named Jixiang, would he?"

Xialan continued, "So if it really is a contractual marriage—this notion is quite amusing—when the time comes to part ways, you must not shortchange yourself, ask him for more, and consider it as compensation for emotional distress"

This question caused Tan Ruyi to hesitate for a moment. She placed the cookie she had picked up back on the edge of the plate, pondered for a moment, and replied: "I have hosted a wedding banquet with him."

Tan Ruyi thought for a moment and found it reasonable; he was also puzzled as to why he had not thought of such a simple truth himself

Tan Ruyi could not guess Xia Lan's age; she seemed to have been married for several years, yet appeared to be about the same age as herself, and at times even looked younger than her.

Tan Ruyi smiled and said, "Being single is quite nice; I can casually look at handsome men while walking down the street"

Tan Ruyi smiled, yet there was a hint of bitterness in her eyes, "It won't take many years; by then, his grandfather will have passed away, and the bridge will return to the bridge, the road will return to the road. He and I, after all, are not of the same kind."

After chatting for a while, as they watched the sunset outside the window, it was almost time for dinner. Tan Ruyi bid farewell to Xia Lan and went downstairs to buy groceries and prepare the meal

Xia Lan glanced at her and teased, "Not as good as you, handsome. See you tomorrow, handsome. See you every day, handsome."

Xia Lan downed the coffee in her cup, "You are quite strong. If it were me facing a situation like yours, I might not possess the same resilience as you. My mother often teaches me that a woman should be like water; no matter how difficult the marshes, swamps, jungles, or thorns may be, she should be able to flow through them."

Tan Ruyi could not help but chuckle, "Call him Tan Ji. He does not like this name and has often murmured about wanting to change it since childhood"

Tan Ruyi smiled and suddenly felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She took it out to see that it was a call from Shen Zizhuo. She quickly turned her head to answer and said softly, "Mr. Shen"

After chatting for a while, the two gradually felt a strong affinity for each other. Xia Lan was straightforward and outspoken, while Tan Ruyi was thoughtful and subtle. Although they seemed to be completely opposite, their views on certain issues were sometimes entirely the same.

You, this father, truly opened my eyes

Tan Ruyi had not considered this layer; now, upon Xia Lan's mention, she suddenly felt a bit dazed.

Tan Ruyi did not want to engage with her and changed the subject, "Are you still learning to cook now?"

Nineteen years old, in the second year of university at Chongcheng University

Is it convenient to come back for dinner in the evening

Xialan sighed, "You have your choices, and I cannot interfere. However, there is not a single aspect of this arrangement that you have planned for yourself. After all, living a lifetime is not meant to be for the sake of others."

Tan Ruyi shook her head and smiled, saying, "It's nothing, I don't mind. Whether a teacher or a nanny, everyone earns a living based on their own abilities, regardless of status or wealth. Besides, if I hadn't stood up against my father back then, I might really be working as a nanny today."

If he comes to harass you again in the future, you should call the police directly

Tan Ruyi sat down on the sofa, while Xia Lan leisurely fiddled with the coffee machine, and a fragrant aroma filled the afternoon air. After a moment, Xia Lan brought over a steaming cup of coffee. Tan Ruyi took a sip, found it bitter, and asked her for sugar cubes. After rummaging through the cabinets for a while, Xia Lan finally found two pieces, which were leftover from instant coffee.

After hanging up the phone, she suddenly felt that Xia Lan was looking at her with great interest, and Tan Ruyi hurriedly asked: "What happened?"

Tan Ruyi hurriedly said: "It's convenient. Mr. Shen, is there any dish you would like to eat?"

Xia Lan fell silent for a moment, "I still want to advise you, since the situation has become so complicated, it would be best if you do not develop feelings for Shen Zizhuo. If he likes you too, then it will be a happy ending for everyone; but if he does not like you, then you may end up losing both your heart and your wealth."

Who is Shen Zizhuo to you

Just go with the flow

Xialan smiled and said, "If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have gone through this trouble"

Tan Ruyi hurriedly said, "I will not take his money; I still owe him 200,000."

Xialan fell silent for a moment, then softly apologized, "I am sorry, I did not mean to look down on you. You have helped me twice, and if you are willing, I can lend you some money to help you out—I trust you."

"I must leave. I cannot tolerate even a speck of dust in my eyes. The thought of him having slept with other women makes me feel nauseous. We have reached a point where we cannot stand each other; how can we continue living like this?" She turned and sat back down on the sofa, feeding herself a piece of cookie. "Moreover, he is a man with a strong sense of pride but lacks the corresponding abilities. In recent years, I have earned more than he has, while he stays at home creating a scene every day. Sometimes I feel like our roles have reversed. He desires admiration from women and cannot stand it when a woman is stronger than him. Since he cannot appreciate my success, I am too lazy to accommodate his failures."

The next day, Tan Ruyi went upstairs to find Xia Lan as agreed. Upon entering, she saw that the room had been tidied up, and there were three fresh lilies in a transparent vase on the coffee table. Xia Lan was wearing loungewear, and her hair was still styled in a bun, giving her a radiant appearance

Xialan spoke teasingly, "When you talk to Shen Zizhuo, you completely resemble a little wife. I thought about it and believe you should find a way to make him like you; that would solve everything easily. As you said, Shen Zizhuo comes from a good family, has a good job, and is handsome. He seems to be a perfect match in every way..."

Tan Ruyi smiled, set down her cup, and no longer forced herself. She truly could not endure even a little hardship; when dining out with others, she always ordered the sweetest drinks. Having cooked for over ten years, she had never once taken the initiative to buy bitter melon; while others loved dark chocolate, she particularly enjoyed white chocolate.

Tan Ruyi shook her head

Tan Ruyi felt a sudden warmth in her ears and weakly retorted, "We don't communicate much on a daily basis."

Tan Ruyi lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, "I am not concerned about the kindness shown by Gu Niansheng, but I am worried about my grandfather. If he gets imprisoned, what will my grandfather think? He only has one son, and his heart is already weak; he just had surgery..."

The police won't intervene; once they hear it's a family matter, they just offer a few words of advice and leave. After that, he will hit even harder...

"What to cook... My fingers are meant for pointing out the fluctuations of the stock market, not for wielding a spatula," Xia Lan said with a slight curl of her lips. "I recently hired a nanny in her forties. I must say, older individuals are indeed more compromising and steady. Just look at this shiny floor... Without the presence of illicit lovers wandering about, coming home is truly a pleasure"

Your deeds will be posted online, and the comments below will all be cursing you as a "baozi saint"; do you believe that? That two hundred thousand is probably what your father owes, right? Don't believe in this kind of gratitude; it is just like this. If it were me, I would have cut off ties with him long ago

Tan Ruyi smiled and said, "Xia Lan, thank you. If the day comes when I need your help, I will reach out to you."

Xia Lan stood up to refill her cup of coffee, turned around to lean against the cabinet, took a sip, and exclaimed: "In this day and age, there are still arranged marriages."

Tan Ruyi felt somewhat embarrassed, her fingers twisted tightly as she quietly asked, "Miss Xia, have you heard of 'Why not eat porridge'?"

She forgot in which book she had read the argument that indulging in sweetness is the most primitive form of yielding to instinct

What kind of communication is needed? It is sufficient to have it displayed at home for aesthetic pleasure. Do you expect to communicate with the models in the magazines while looking at them?

It's quite good, this name looks easy to take care of. How old is it

Tan Ruyi smiled and took a cookie from the plate, "It's nothing. It doesn't happen often, and with Grandpa around, he doesn't dare to be too reckless. As for my younger brother, he's tough and resilient, so he gets hit a bit more. However, in recent years, my brother has become even stronger than he looks, so he doesn't dare to act out anymore.

Tan Ruyi put everything in, took a bite, and still found it bitter

Xialan smiled and said, "After working for a long time, I have also become increasingly judgmental based on appearances, so please do not take offense."

Tan Ruyi smiled and said, "I actually envy you, like fire."

Xialan smiled and said: "So you really are a teacher, I thought..."

Xia Lan placed the quilt on the cabinet, her eyes widening in surprise, "Is it really just for two hundred thousand?"

Xialan looked at her and, after a moment of silence, asked: "Have you discussed these words with him?"

In a patriarchal society, men inherently possess more advantages. Take the matter between the two of you as an example; although you have not registered your marriage, you have nonetheless held a banquet to announce it to the world. Others do not concern themselves with whether you have registered or not; they only know that you are married. When the time comes for you to part ways, given his circumstances, there will naturally be plenty of young women waiting for him to continue his selection, while you will be burdened by the label of being a second-time bride. Nowadays, even first marriages are difficult, let alone second marriages.

Xialan hurriedly apologized, saying: "I am sorry, I did not mean to make you... um, have some snacks."

We did not obtain a marriage certificate; it was decided by our parents, and we were both compelled to comply.

Are you planning to get a divorce

Xialan pondered, "I find it highly unlikely. If he truly had a girlfriend, how could she allow her man to host a banquet with another woman and still live under the same roof? What kind of heart would be capable of that?"

Tan Ruyi looked at her gratefully, but still shook his head, "It's not as simple as two hundred thousand now. His grandfather has been quite good to me; if I were to leave now, I would feel guilty. The old man is already eighty-two years old, and he has only a few years left."

"Do not speak carelessly," Tan Ruyi interrupted him, "Actually..." She hesitated for a moment, "I think he has a girlfriend." After saying this, she recounted to Xia Lan about the short-haired woman who came that day to retrieve clothes for Shen Zizhu.

Xia Lan smiled wryly, "What is there to be happy about? I got married right after graduating from university, and it has only been four years. My career is thriving, but life is chaotic and tumultuous."

"Is that your husband?" Xia Lan was even more surprised, "I really didn't expect this."

Tan Ruyi smiled gently, lowering her head to look at her fingers, "I have already gotten used to it"