The Secret of Second Marriage

The car started moving, but none of us said a word.

In my eyes, President Jiang has always been a taciturn, handsome, and cultured man.

The car weaved through the streets of Beijing and finally stopped in front of a restaurant.

He took my hand and led me through a long corridor to a royal restaurant at the entrance of an alley.

This used to be the residence of a prince, which was later converted into a restaurant. It has a garden, a courtyard, and private rooms.

When Mr. Jiang and I went in, the willow trees in the courtyard had sprouted green buds, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom.

In the antique-style private room, President Jiang ordered hot pot.

I found a seat and ate quietly with him, not knowing how to start the conversation.

Suddenly, President Jiang said, "Man, I heard that while I was inside, you were already planning to break up with me... I don't believe it's true, and I don't believe you would do such a thing?"

"I have considered breaking up with you."

I say.

Mr. Jiang clenched his fingers, his eyes filled with unspeakable disappointment. He looked at me, and his eyes instantly reddened.

I've known President Jiang for almost seven years, and I've never seen him cry.

I always thought President Jiang was a rational man who could handle any problem with ease and find a solution. I never expected that the disappointment and anger in his eyes were so deep, as unfathomable as ink.

He said, "Jiang Man, did our relationship lose to reality? Do you know? I missed you terribly while I was inside, and I kept telling myself that if I could get out of here safely, I would marry you."

This morning, my lawyer took me out of the villa and told me that I was released on bail due to insufficient evidence.

The moment I got my phone and could contact the outside world, my first thought was to call and tell you the surprise. But I never expected my father to say to me, "You are a vain woman."

They said, "Did you already plan to break up with me while I was being investigated?"

"President Jiang, I'm sorry."

I shook my head and said.

I apologize because when President Jiang needed me to take the blame, I refused, thinking of my own interests.

It was only at that moment that I realized I loved myself more than I loved President Jiang.

Maybe I'm just a selfish woman. When I was young, I could give everything for love like a moth to a flame, but now that I'm middle-aged, I think more about reality and the long term.

"I don't need you to apologize to me! It was my mistake, Jiang Hui, that I misjudged you. Jiang Man, my father was right, this world is realistic, and love has a price tag."

I was too naive to believe that love still exists in this world.

But I was wrong. I won't love a woman with warped values ​​who chooses to abandon me when I'm in my most dangerous moment. Let's break up.

As soon as President Jiang finished speaking those three words, he smashed all the plates and cutlery in the private room and even kicked the chair next to him.

A series of loud crackling sounds instantly attracted the attention of the waiter.

The restaurant manager came in with several waiters and saw plates and bowls scattered all over the floor, food spilled everywhere, and an angry and heartbroken General Manager Jiang.

I've never seen such a refined man lose his temper like this.

The waiters were too scared to speak.

I said, "It's okay, let him hit him. I'll pay for the broken things."

"unnecessary"

President Jiang said.

The meal ended unhappily.

As before, Mr. Jiang paid by card.

He never lets women pay the bill.

I grabbed my bag and chased after him out of the restaurant, calling out, "Wait a minute!"

"Is there anything else?"

President Jiang has regained his mature and ruthless demeanor.

I took a card from the private room and handed it to him, saying, "Mr. Jiang, all the money I have since we started dating is here. I haven't touched a single penny, so I'm returning it to you."

"Jiang Man, I know we've broken up. There's no need to give me all the money so quickly. Are you in such a hurry to cut ties with me because you've found someone else?"

Suddenly, President Jiang's eyes and nose stung with tears, and he looked at me intently.

My face flushed red as I thought of Shen Xing.

But I swear to God, Shen Xing and I only had one flirtatious encounter, but I made it clear each time. And ever since I got together with President Jiang, I have kept my distance from Shen Xing and have never made any overly intimate moves.

I said very seriously, "President Jiang, the reason I broke up with you is not because I'm materialistic or opportunistic. It's because I suddenly realized that I can't help you!"

We're not a good match in terms of social standing, and there are too many practical obstacles to being together. I didn't believe in such things before, but this time, after you went to jail and I couldn't do anything, I finally understand that some people aren't meant to be together. It's enough to just watch them be happy from afar.

Sometimes letting go is a form of fulfillment.

President Jiang was stunned.

I forcefully stuffed my bank card into his suit pocket, smiled at him, and turned to leave.

But he called out to me from behind. A grown man stood on the street, his eyes red, crying as he said to me, "Jiang Man, can you please not be so heartless to me?"

Didn't you ask me why I fell in love with you? Seven years ago, I had a falling out with my father, returned to Beijing, and used all my savings to start a business. At one point, I was penniless and almost slept on the streets.

During that period, the company couldn't offer high salaries and couldn't afford to hire people.

Just when I was about to give up, you walked into my life like a ray of light. You became my accountant at this company, in charge of human resources recruitment and training, and you even brought me breakfast.

Back then, I was so poor that all I could eat was bread, but you never looked down on me. In those few cramped offices, you stayed up late with me and would come in to pour me water when I was entertaining clients.

I'm busy until late at night every day. Before leaving get off work, I habitually drink a cup of coffee. You make me a cup of coffee, and after I finish my work and lock the office door, we wait together on the roadside for the bus to go home.

Back then, we felt like we depended on each other for survival... Once, we were leaving get off work together, and there were roasted sweet potatoes for sale on the street. You bought one and asked me, "Mr. Jiang, do you want some?"

I nodded, and you handed me a warm roasted sweet potato. I'll always remember that winter, that feeling of warmth.

"So... please don't break up so easily, okay?"

President Jiang pleaded with me to speak.

In this indifferent, restless, and worldly world, Mr. Jiang and I were once so in love.

I cried too.

I was deeply moved by President Jiang's words and remained speechless for a long time. I was just about to say, "President Jiang, I..."

A beautiful woman walked over; she was Xia Weiwei. It seemed she was also dining at this Wangfu Courtyard Restaurant with other guests. She was tall and slender, wearing an expensive beige long dress, with long, straight light brown hair, red nail polish, and exquisite makeup.

Her features are remarkably similar to mine, but I possess a beauty that is gentle and understated, like a white rose, or like a magnolia, unassuming yet captivating.

She was the kind of fiery and eye-catching azalea, exuding desire and ambition.

She walked over to me, smiled, and said, "Mr. Jiang, you and Ms. Jiang are having a meal here? What a coincidence!"

When President Jiang saw Xia Weiwei, he greeted her politely.

There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in Xia Weiwei's words. She said to me, "Ms. Jiang, I have something I'd like to say to President Jiang. You don't mind, do you?"

A mix of emotions overwhelmed me.

I hate seeing Xia Weiwei. Nothing good ever comes of seeing this woman, and I'm pretty sure she has a lot of grudges against me.

"Sorry, I'm busy right now."

President Jiang ignored Xia Weiwei, took my hand, and walked to the parking lot outside the private room.

He asked me again, "Do you love me? Did you ever love me?"

I loved? I said in my heart.

But then I remembered the promise I made to Xia Weiwei, and how she deliberately showed up here today to remind me that I was going to break up with President Jiang.

I said, "President Jiang, all I want to do right now is focus on filming! I don't want to think about anything else."

President Jiang took a deep breath and said, "So you really have changed your mind."

After he finished speaking, he drove off without me. I don't know what he did after that; I guess he went to drink with his friends to drown his sorrows.

I hailed a taxi, told the driver to stop at the entrance of the community, then went upstairs and quickly packed my luggage. I then called a mover who helped me load all my luggage, big and small, into the car.

I was sitting in the front passenger seat of the mover's pickup truck when the driver asked me, "Miss, is that all the stuff you have?"

That's all the stuff we have.

I say.

The repairman then asked me, "What's your new address? Where do you need to move to?"

It's so late, I don't have time to look for another place to live.

I thought about it and called Sister Juan. She's the only close friend I can trust in this city.

Juan quickly brought over the room key.

I asked the driver to move the suitcase to a residential area in Beijing. It was a pretty upscale neighborhood, and it used to be the house of Sister Juan's maternal grandmother.

After Grandma passed away, the house was left to Juan.

The house was quite cozy. I had the movers bring all the furniture up, paid them, and cleaned the house. That was it.

I was busy until 2 a.m. before I could go to sleep.

Before going to sleep, I received a text message from President Jiang: "You've moved the house out so quickly, Jiang Man, just how little do you love me?"

I don't know what to say.

Perhaps in President Jiang's eyes, I am a scumbag woman, but I know that if I continue to stay by his side, I will not be able to help him, and I will be killed by his treacherous and ruthless father and Xia Weiwei.

The world of the wealthy is a very complex place, and I've never had that dream of relying on a man again since my divorce.

I replied to President Jiang: "President Jiang, please forgive me. In matters of the heart, I acted like a coward this time. I'm sorry."

I feel sorry because I love myself more. If I had to choose between a man and my career, I would choose my career without hesitation.