“You didn’t ask me either.” Ye Xuan focused on the road ahead. “He doesn’t like me, and there’s no reason for me to persistently chase after him. Also, I have a home, a car, and savings. I’m not lacking in anything right now. If I really do get married one day, that person has to be someone I’m in love with instead of someone that I grudgingly get together with just for the sake of having a partner. I reiterate, not everyone’s goal in life is to get married and have children.”


  “I’m shocked that he didn’t like you. Back then, everyone in our class thought the two of you would get together.”


  “Yeah.” Ye Xuan shrugged. “But that’s not a big deal. At the very least, I don’t have any regrets in my life.”


  “I still find it hard to believe. You’re so amazing. You’re pretty, smart, and good at your work. How could he not like you?” Her friend looked as if she was fighting against injustice. “His wife is so young and she’s 11 years younger than him. I don’t believe they have anything in common. You and him are much more suitable for each other!”


  “Stop, don’t say any more stuff like this.” Ye Xuan looked serious. “No one can understand other people’s private affairs. Besides, I think his wife is very good. She has a good personality and temper. She must have good points that other people don’t have and things about her that Song Tingshen likes. It’s just that you can’t see it.”


  “Eh, I was just saying it. Song Tingshen has a wife and child now, so the possibility that something will happen between you and him is long gone……” Her friend paused. “But even if you’re just going through the motions, it’ll be good for you to go out on a few blind dates. Right now, anytime your mom meets a new guy, she’ll want to introduce you to him.”


  Ye Xuan continued to have a calm appearance. “Respecting and showing filial piety to your parents doesn’t include accepting someone that you don’t like. Marriage can be the tomb of love. I won’t marry someone I don’t like. She can do what she wants. I have my own thoughts.”


  After many years have passed, what does it feel like to see someone that you once liked? And when you see that he’s married and has a child, how does it feel?

  Ye Xuan finally had the qualifications to answer those questions.

  Now she knew that the reason why he didn’t like her wasn’t because she wasn’t good enough. It was because she wasn’t his type.

  He had a marriage of mutual respect, and she had her ideals and ambitions. Other than the things she valued, the things that happened in the past were no longer important to her.

  Recalling the scene of Song Tingshen’s wife sneaking looks at her, Ye Xuan wanted to laugh. Sure enough, women were sensitive. Eh, she wondered what kind of role she played in Song Tingshen’s version of the story. Would the proud and cold Song Tingshen have to kneel down tonight and rack his brains to explain to his wife? Just thinking about it made her happy.

  “What are you smiling about?” Her friend asked.

  Ye Xuan shook her head. “Nothing. Just happy.”


  —


  Teacher Wang’s home wasn’t big. It used to be the staff dormitory for old workers. The combined usable area of his home wasn’t more than 50 square meters, but he kept it very tidy and clean. His study was full of books, calligraphy, and paintings. When the little sandy-colored mutt at home saw that Teacher Wang had come home, it circled around him and kept wagging its tail. Seeing strangers, it pretended to be vicious by barking a few times, and it quieted down after a few words from Teacher Wang. This was a very smart dog that could distinguish between strangers and guests.

  “A litter of newborn puppies were found at school. I took one and the rest were taken by the students and other teachers.” Teacher Wang helplessly smiled. “It’s very clingy, like a little kid.”


  Little Wang wanted to play with the puppy.