The Secret of Second Marriage

As I watched Shen Xing get into the taxi and leave in a hurry, I suddenly felt very sad for some reason. For a moment, I felt reluctant to let her go, but when I thought about it carefully, I realized that perhaps it was because I had feelings for Shen Xing.

But I remained very clear-headed and rational, because I didn't want to accompany a little boy as he grew up any longer.

Shen Xing has to go to Hengdian to film from time to time, and his whereabouts are not fixed. Moreover, I feel that I don't know him completely. Sometimes I feel that he is a college student majoring in acting. His acting skills are too good. When he looks at you, his eyes are full of affection, making you unconsciously fall in love.

I can't even tell which of his statements are true and which are false.

……

It was late at night when President Jiang's car pulled up in front of me. He opened the door and let me get in.

Juan took my hand and asked in the back seat of the car, "What did your nephew just say to you? He's so handsome, is he a male star from some idol drama? If you have time, could you ask him to sign an autograph for me?"

I said, "He is a student majoring in acting at the Central Academy of Drama. He graduated last year and received an invitation from a film crew this year to go to Hengdian to film a movie."

I think he's quite talented, his acting is pretty good, and he's very hardworking. In a year or two, he might really become a very famous star.

Juan said, "Wow, I knew he looked like a celebrity. His face is so small, his eyes are so big, his features are so delicate, and he's so tall. Standing there, he's just as dazzling as a star."

President Jiang seemed to have noticed something and was a little jealous.

He said, "Man, do you like young male idols?"

"Normally, I've been a fan of celebrities for a long time."

I say.

President Jiang probably felt that a handsome and youthful young man like Shen Xing wouldn't have any entanglements with a mature and charming woman like me in my thirties.

He added with lingering enthusiasm, "I haven't been a fan of celebrities for a long time. Young people have their own world, and adults have their own emotional lives. They shouldn't be mixed up."

I did not respond to what President Jiang said.

I sat near the car and looked up at the moon, which hung high in the sky. The surroundings were clear, and I couldn't see any stars.

The moonlight was beautiful, illuminating my lonely heart.

After a night of commotion, Mr. Jiang first took Juan home, and then took me home.

Mr. Jiang and I live in the same residential complex, just one floor above the other.

I said goodbye to General Manager Jiang and went upstairs.

Mr. Jiang said, "Tangtang is already asleep at this hour. Man, can you keep me company? I've been missing you a lot lately. Without you, I always have insomnia at night."

"No"

I rejected him with just three words.

President Jiang stood in front of me, holding my hand, and looked at me.

We just stood there, in the dark, twilight corridor, the stairwell lights flickering on and off. I was mentally trying to figure out what I should say to President Jiang.

Suddenly, President Jiang's cell phone rang exceptionally clearly in the darkness.

He answered the phone, and a sweet, beautiful voice came from the other end. I could tell from the voice that it was Xia Weiwei's best friend, Lin Yan.

She said, "President Jiang, there's a class reunion tomorrow night. Do you want to come? The class monitor announced in the group chat that all the classmates who stayed in Beijing will be attending the reunion tomorrow. You should come too!"

President Jiang paused for a moment and then said, "Okay."

He hung up the phone and said to me, "Man, in this quiet night, it's just the two of us. We can have a good talk about what's on our minds."

I just want to tell you that we are all adults now. We are no longer as reckless and impulsive as we were when we were young, doing things without thinking and only pursuing a life of doing whatever we wanted.

We have elderly parents to care for and young children to raise, so we're more concerned with practical matters. I've thought it through clearly: if we really want to get married, you are the best marriage partner for us!

Because I know you'll be a good wife.

"But being a good wife doesn't always lead to a good ending. Mr. Jiang, I'd rather you praise my talent and ability than hear you say I'll be a good wife in the future."

I said coldly.

Mr. Jiang quickly said, "I'm sorry, I misspoke. I just wanted to tell you that you hold a very important place in my heart, and I don't want to break up with you. I didn't mean anything else."

"Do you really not love Xia Weiwei anymore? I want you to look me in the eyes and answer me honestly."

I suddenly looked up and asked President Jiang.

President Jiang suddenly coughed a few times, avoiding my gaze.

I frowned slightly and looked at him, saying, "Since you still have feelings for Xia Weiwei, it's not appropriate for you to appear at a woman's door late at night. Mr. Jiang, regardless, I'm very grateful to you for bailing me out tonight."

I'll treat you to dinner another day. I need to go back to see my daughter. You should also go home and get some rest.

President Jiang quickly said, "Man, can you let me explain?"

"No, thank you. I don't really want to listen. I need to rest."

After I finished speaking, I prepared to take out my key, open the door, and go back to my room.

In the corridor, just as I took my keys out of my bag, President Jiang suddenly grabbed my hand, pulled me into his arms, rested his head on my shoulder, and said in a deep voice after a moment of hesitation, "...Man, I have a favor to ask of you."

We have a college reunion tomorrow, could you come with me? Please? You don't know I've been single all these years. All my classmates who are married make fun of me for not having a woman.

He was standing very close to me, his tall and imposing figure exuding a powerful aura that made me instinctively straighten up, as if he had pinned me against the wall at the doorway.

I tried to remain calm and said, "I don't want to go."

Because I know his college classmates, and they all know about his past with Xia Weiwei, what would I be if I went?

President Jiang raised his voice: "Man, I'm begging you, okay? I used to like Xia Weiwei, but from the moment she went abroad with another man and abandoned me, I only felt hatred for her."

Although she was a hateful woman, she did have some color in my life, and it's difficult for me to completely forget her and have no feelings for her at all.

I'll try my best to forget her, okay? Will you come with me to the class reunion tomorrow?

"In your heart, you only see me as a substitute for her, President Jiang. Those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly. Please wake up. In fact, you still love Xia Weiwei, and you also hate her."

You love her willful, capricious, confident, and talented nature, but you also hate her for being vain and abandoning you for a richer second-generation heir.

"You're only contacting me because I look like her, and you want me to get revenge on her? I won't fall for that."

Anger flashed in my eyes.

President Jiang was stunned and asked me in return, "Jiang Man, is that what you really think? Do you think I'm just a liar who uses emotions to get revenge on others?!"

Couldn't it be that you have some admirable qualities that attracted me? I admit that when I first got together with you, it was because you looked like her.

The longer I spend with you, the more I realize that although you and he look alike, your temperaments and personalities are completely different.

In my eyes, she is better in every way than her. She is more responsible, more capable at work, stronger, and lives a more authentic life.

"Isn't being with you all about protecting you? What's wrong with being my girlfriend? Don't you trust my character?"

Mr. Jiang said, "Let me tell you, Jiang Man, I don't agree to us breaking up. You're my girlfriend. Tomorrow I'll make you dress up beautifully and come with me to the class reunion... My woman is the most beautiful woman in the world, no matter where she goes."

"Alright, stop being childish, okay? You can't fool a three-year-old girl with those words."

I interrupted him.

President Jiang said to me firmly, "The woman I've set my sights on is the best woman in the world."

Jiang Man, let's date. I'll protect you.

Honestly, sometimes when I'm working in this city, I'm exhausted and there's no one around to talk to. It's quite lonely and tiring.

But I met you when I was feeling really down. As long as I lean on your shoulder and rest for a while, I feel like even if the sky is falling, it's not such a big deal.

Jiang Man, don't let one bad experience make you overly cautious, okay? The world isn't all like that scumbag ex-husband.

There are also good men like me who can protect you, hold an umbrella for you on rainy days, unclog the pipes at home, and accompany you to the hospital when you are sick.

If you want to watch a movie, I can watch a movie with you. If you want to eat hot pot, I can go to Haidilao with you.

"I can take care of you and Tangtang... Why are you so stubborn? Why do you always have to be strong on your own? Being together is always happier than being alone."

"I am not unhappy."

I was silent for a moment, then thought for a moment and said, "President Jiang, I haven't decided yet whether I want to continue being with you. You said you could really forget Xia Weiwei, I hope you're not lying to me."

Let me be clear from the start: we're not back together, we're just friends. I can go to your class reunion tomorrow, but can I remain just a friend?

"Can"

To everyone's surprise, President Jiang said, "Anyway, there's plenty of time in the future."

I yawned and said in a low voice, "Let's leave it at that for now. I'm going back to my room to rest."

Goodnight, I'm a little sleepy.

President Jiang said.

……

We each went back to our own homes.

I was on the balcony, bringing back the clothes I'd forgotten there earlier that day. Then I quickly finished washing up, and it was already 3:30 a.m.

I hurriedly put my daughter to bed.

My little daughter, Tangtang, is asleep in the children's room.

Because I wasn't home, she slept very quietly by herself, hugging her blanket and a rabbit plush toy.

I lay down on the bed, kissed my daughter's forehead, and then fell asleep peacefully.

……

The next morning, President Jiang brought me breakfast.

I invited him to sit on the sofa in the living room.

He also gave me a very beautiful dress and necklace.

After getting up, the daughter saw Mr. Jiang and said, "Uncle Jiang, why did you make my mom angry and sad?"

Mr. Jiang said in a low voice, "Tangtang, I'm so sorry my mom got angry. I'll be more careful next time."

I glanced at President Jiang. He was mature and composed, wearing a blue shirt and black jeans with a black suit jacket over them. He looked noble and aloof.

His demeanor was refined and gentlemanly.

The wealthier a man is, the more polite and well-mannered he tends to be.

My daughter, Ms. Jiang, and I sat together having breakfast.

President Jiang brought sandwiches he made, vegetable salad with avocado, and milk.

His daughter, Tangtang, praised his cooking skills.

Mr. Jiang said, "Now that I'm at a certain age, I usually eat something light in the morning, which makes my stomach feel comfortable."

I said, "I also quite like this kind of light and healthy breakfast."

Mr. Jiang and I exchanged a glance and yawned. We realized that people our age are quite in sync: we love sports, health, organic food, and dislike staying up late.

Thinking about how Mr. Jiang had to go to the police station in the middle of the night to bail someone out because of me yesterday, I felt really bad.

I poured myself a cup of black coffee and brought it to President Jiang. I also drank a cup of coffee myself. I felt drowsy, but my mind cleared up considerably.