The Secret of Second Marriage

After a busy day, Lu Xiao and I met for dinner at a small restaurant specializing in braised chicken in a clay pot. This restaurant was ranked quite high on a certain group-buying platform.

Although I'm a female celebrity now, I still prefer to eat down-to-earth food, with an average cost of just over 100 yuan per person.

I was wearing sunglasses, a hat, and had my long hair down. I was wearing a fox fur down jacket, and my long hair was half-tied up in a bun with a white magnolia flower sticking out at an angle.

I put on light makeup, carried a bag, and went to the appointment.

Lu Xiao arrived ahead of schedule this time.

He stood at the restaurant entrance waiting for me and said, "Man, I'm sorry I was late the other day. I finished my work today, so I came half an hour early to wait for you."

"It's a bit cold outside, let's go inside and talk."

I said it quite calmly.

The restaurant had a glass door at the entrance. He walked ahead of me and carefully pushed the door open for me to go in. There was a row of wooden signs at the entrance that said the restaurant's signature braised chicken, as well as various side dishes, prices, and discount information.

The shop owner said they've been here for decades, and the spices inside are made with a secret recipe. They get tons of customers every day.

It was around 8 p.m., dinner time, and the restaurant was already packed.

Lu Xiao and I were seated at a corner table, where the owner provided some local specialties and salted dishes so we could sit down and eat at our leisure.

I didn't expect that was the TV on the wall of the store, which was actually playing a TV series I starred in. Luckily, I was wearing sunglasses and a hat when I went out to eat today, so no one has recognized me yet.

The waitress quickly brought out the steaming hot pot chicken.

I was a little hungry, so I didn't care about my image. I rinsed the small bowl and chopsticks with boiling water, filled a bowl with rice, and ate it with braised chicken. It tasted quite delicious.

Lu Xiao seems to admire me quite a bit.

He said, "Man, I've seen a lot of rich second-generation heiresses, but you're the only girl who makes me feel down-to-earth and makes being with you feel very down-to-earth."

"Maybe it's because I was abducted as a child and got used to a hard life, so I got used to it. You must have heard about my background, right?"

I'm not some rich heiress; I'm just an ordinary woman who grew up in the countryside, struggled from the bottom of society, and made my way to where I am today...

I recently found my biological parents by chance while recording a TV program.

I smiled and said.

"I heard about it, so the first time I saw you, I felt that you were a very special woman."

You possess a calm and composed demeanor, as if you've experienced many trials, yet your eyes reveal courage and resilience—a truly captivating quality... I admire you greatly.

Lu Xiao said.

"You flatter me."

I say.

"I don't deserve this award. I've watched your TV dramas, and your acting is truly excellent!"

Lu Xiao said.

"Thank you, your compliment made me feel very happy during the meal."

I picked up a piece of potato from the braised chicken stew and put it in my bowl. The sweet and soft potato with the sauce was quite delicious.

A shy smile suddenly appeared on Lu Xiao's face: "Man, are you free later? I'll take you somewhere."

"Where?"

I glanced at the time. It would be almost 9 o'clock by the time we finished eating. It was late, and it wouldn't be convenient for a man and a woman to be alone together. I didn't want to stay with him any longer.

Lu Xiao said, "You'll know when you get there."

After we finished eating and paid the bill, he drove me to a residential complex located within Beijing's Second Ring Road. The apartments there must be worth tens of millions of yuan. It was an apartment building with an elevator, but from the outside, the apartments looked very expensive.

Lu Xiao used facial recognition to lead me into the community. The landscaping inside was exceptionally beautiful. This community seemed to be in the style of Evergrande, with a refined, classic, and retro feel.

As soon as you enter the residential area, there is a lotus pond, which is full of lotus leaves, but they have withered and only bare stems remain.

There are bamboo trees and a cherry blossom grove next to it. The area at the main entrance is built like a palace. On the first floor, there are facilities for elderly people to sit down, drink tea, play billiards, and there are also express delivery and locker facilities.

This neighborhood is quite beautiful.

Lu Xiao led me to the second building at the back. The garden of the second building was planted with a large area of ​​roses. It was already November, and most of the roses had withered and faded, but a few were still blooming bravely, dancing in the cold wind.

He took me to the first floor, where there was a large garden with glass windows at the back.

As I swiped my card to enter, I hesitated and asked, "Why did you bring me here?"

"Man, you are the first girl I brought home, no, to be precise, you are the first girl I fell in love with."

After he finished speaking, he suddenly grabbed my hand and recorded my fingerprint on his door. I pressed my finger on it, and with a click, the fingerprint unlocked the door.

The room number is 1103. As soon as I entered and turned on the lights, I could tell that it was a newly renovated apartment.

The house is clean and bright, with exquisite decoration. The kitchen, sofa, bathroom, and bedroom are all particularly beautiful.

In particular, there is a balcony outside the window and a floor-to-ceiling window. Stepping out of the window, you can see a garden surrounded by a fence, covered with lawn, and planted with bamboo. Although the area is not large, it is more than enough for you to grill some skewers, swing on a swing, and have a drink after get off work.

After Lu Xiao led me into the room, she went into the bedroom and said she needed to get something.

I immediately became alert. Bringing a strange woman to a strange room late at night gave me a chill down my spine.

I immediately gripped my phone and the pepper spray in my bag, waiting for Lu Xiao to come out.

But when Lu Xiao came out, I was a little dumbfounded. He was carrying a big bag filled with all sorts of certificates he'd earned over the years—military officer's ID, bachelor's degree, police ID, certificates of merit and awards—and placed them all in my hands. He said to me, "Man, you can trust me! I'm sincere when it comes to relationships!"

Looking at his award certificate, I learned that he had been seriously injured while apprehending a drug dealer at the border. He had a deep gash in his abdomen and almost lost his life.

I asked him, "Are you scared?"

"During that mission, all I was thinking about was catching people. I didn't think about anything else. Man, I'm a simple person. I don't have any complicated thoughts. My childhood wish has been to be an upright and honest people's police officer."

Lu Xiao's face was burning red. He looked like the kind of man who had little emotional experience and was very upright and kind.

He said very seriously, "Comrade Jiang Man, are you willing to entrust the rest of your life to me? I promise, I will be devoted to you wholeheartedly! In the future, we will be comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, and also the most intimate lovers in the world."

This time it was my turn to blush.

I watched expressionlessly, but it was impossible for him not to be moved.

However, considering my background, my two marriages, and my experience as a celebrity, I still politely said, "We're just getting to know each other; we're not in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship yet, are we?"

"That's simple, Man. I brought you to visit this new house so you could see if you're satisfied with the interior design. If you are, I can change it."

If we get married, would you prefer white or blue curtains? Do you like this palatial European-style sofa? It's white, and so are the white throw pillows.

The decorative painting on that wall was bought by my parents; it's a landscape oil painting.

The dining table and tableware on it are all custom-made by IKEA. The study has a table and chairs, and that cabinet over there could be converted into a walk-in closet.

You can put your favorite clothes and shoes in here... The switch for the clothes drying rack on the balcony is here, and the washing machine also has a drying function here...

Oh, by the way, I'm planning to build a swing on the lawn after we get married, and plant some flowers and grass. Would you like that?

Lu Xiao is a straight man. He said, "This house is very big, but I rarely come to live here. I always feel that it is cold and lacks a female hostess."

But after having you, I don't want that anymore. My dream is that after we get married, we'll hold hands and grow old together, and when we're at work, we'll just work.

When we're not busy, we come back together for a cup of tea, tend to the cats and dogs, and grow some flowers and plants in the little garden... Just that simple life, three meals a day, four seasons a year, with loved ones by our side, mutual companionship is enough.

I said, "But I've already been married once, and I have a daughter, Tangtang. Can you accept my daughter?"

"Man, I thought about this issue all night after I went on that blind date last time, and I want to tell you my decision."

Tangtang is a very cute girl, but I still hope she can live with your parents. If you miss her every week, you can bring her over to stay for a while.

But I couldn't bring myself to treat her like my own daughter.

To be honest, I'm not a saint. I want a family of three, and I want to have my own children in the future. I can't possibly value Tangtang more than my own child. In my heart, she's just a little guest.

Lu Xiao said frankly.

I am very grateful that he told me the truth without reservation, instead of lying to me that he could accept Tangtang, and only after I actually married him did his true colors come out.

After careful consideration, I made up my mind and said, "I'm sorry, I don't want to get married again. I'm afraid that if I have children after remarrying, it will be unfair to Tangtang."

Tangtang is very important to me, Mr. Lu. It's getting late, I should head back now.

After I finished speaking, I prepared to leave.

Lu Xiao suddenly hugged me from behind and said, "Miss Su, I'm sincere."

Let's discuss Tangtang's matter again, and compromise... okay?

I remained silent and did not say anything.

Lu Xiao didn't do anything excessive. She let go of my embrace and drove me home.

Late at night, after I got home, I took a shower and lay in bed, but I wasn't sleepy. I was thinking about what Lu Xiao had said. Actually, among all the men I've met since my divorce, he's the most honest and simple one.

I can tell that he's not cunning or calculating; he likes what he likes and dislikes what he dislikes.

Today was too abrupt. We've only met twice since our blind date, and we're already discussing marriage and Tangtang.

I don't know if Lu Xiao and I have a future.

Perhaps my mother is right. I'm only in my early thirties, not old enough to be a widow yet. I should start a new life and a new marriage.

Things are different now than in the past. Many women who have been married and divorced also have the right to pursue happiness.

I think if I were to seriously consider a second marriage, I would be much more cautious.

I opened my WeChat Moments and suddenly heard news about my former sister-in-law, Tian Lili.

She now runs a beauty salon in her hometown, specializing in services like eyebrow tattooing and nail art. She has two assistants and makes a good living.

After she made a good living, she saw me on TV as a celebrity, so she messaged me saying, "Sister-in-law, you're really amazing now. Everyone back home has heard that you became a celebrity after your divorce, and that your shows are even on CCTV."

Did you know? You've become a celebrity now. Luckily you didn't go back to the village, otherwise, all those aunts and uncles would either be asking you to help bring their daughters into the entertainment industry to become stars, or they would be coming to borrow money.

Furthermore, Xue Fan's relatives back home were filled with regret and complained that he was ungrateful for such a good wife.

He had an affair, but now the mistress has run off with his money, leaving him all alone and, in his middle age, he's been laid off from his job.

I heard that after he opened a barbecue restaurant and made over 100,000 yuan a month, he got a little greedy and borrowed money at high interest rates to expand the store. Who knew that the business would not be good and he lost several million yuan. Now he has closed the store and is trying to borrow money from people everywhere.

Sister-in-law, you'd better be careful lately, don't get entangled with anything, or you'll definitely suffer a lot...