The Secret of Second Marriage

"Sister, I really have nowhere else to go in this city besides you."

Shen Xing squatted in the corner of the wall at the entrance of the villa for a long time, and his long legs became numb and he couldn't stand up.

I pulled him up, and he slowly stood up, almost losing his balance and falling into my arms. His height was so great that I instantly felt his warm and soft lips press against my ear, and his whole body tightly enveloped me.

Our relationship became strained because of that hug.

I know that what just happened was just an accident.

He had been waiting at the door for so long that his legs were numb and he couldn't get relief for a while.

My heart skipped a beat for no reason. I hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out to push him away, steadying his arm as I asked, "Is your leg feeling any better now?"

"Feeling better, sis."

Shen Xing held onto my shoulder and slowly straightened up. It took about two or three minutes for his legs to stop feeling numb.

After thinking about it, I decided not to bring Shen Xing to my house to stay. The reason is simple: this is my parents' house, and having another guest might not be a good fit for their lifestyle.

I took a taxi and took Shen Xing to a budget hotel near my home. Under the night lights, the hotel sign was flashing neon lights: Orange Sunshine Hotel. It was an ordinary hotel with an average cost of three or four hundred yuan per person.

I swiped my card at the front desk with my ID card. Shen Xing, wearing a mask, followed behind me the whole time. The hotel receptionist looked at me, then at me, and asked, "What's your relationship with Shen Xing?"

"Sister-brother"

"Couple"

Shen Xing and I gave two different answers. The waiter looked at us like we were in orthopedics. Did they think Shen Xing and I were really siblings, and that we were really in love?

I quickly shook my head and said, "Don't listen to him. My brother just likes to joke around. He came here to visit me today and didn't bring any luggage. Just get a room for him to stay in alone."

"Okay, ma'am."

The receptionist gave me a standard smile and nod, then scanned my QR code to register my identity information, checked me in, paid the bill, gave me a room key, and also gave me two bottles of water.

I took the room key and led Shen Xing up to room 208 on the second floor. It was a single room by the window, and the room was very cozy, with a khaki and gray fabric sofa, white curtains, central air conditioning, a bathroom with separate wet and dry areas, a toilet, a floor-to-ceiling window, and a huge single bed.

It was already the middle of the night.

After settling Shen Xing in, I said, "It's too late today, you should go to sleep. I'll buy you your daily necessities tomorrow. As for terminating the contract, I'll talk to Juan about it tomorrow."

Shen Xing, you are a college student who has just entered the workforce. Although you have gained some fame in the entertainment industry after a year or two, you are still not mature enough. Let me tell you something, and you must remember it.

When you encounter such injustice in society, you must dare to fight back. Don't just endure and compromise; otherwise, you will be crushed, torn apart, and completely devoured by this behemoth of society!

"Sister, I'm not afraid. With you by my side, I'm not afraid of anything!"

Shen Xing looked into my eyes and suddenly said very seriously.

"Silly brother, what are you thinking? I really don't know what kind of charm I have that attracts you. There are so many beautiful girls, and you're not interested in any of them, but you happen to like a divorced woman."

When I said these words, there was self-deprecation, but also some incomprehension.

Shen Xing walked up to me with her head down and said very sincerely, "Sister, love is not a math problem, where you can simply input two numbers and get an addition or subtraction problem."

Love is a feeling, an entanglement preordained by fate. Whether the destiny arranged by heaven is a calamity or a blessing, no one can escape it!

Sister, please don't leave tonight, okay?

"What are you going to do if you're not leaving? Go to a hotel? Shen Xing, I admit I'm not a very good woman. I can be attracted to handsome men and my heart can flutter."

I am a real, complex woman, full of jealousy, a desire for victory, and ambition.

To be honest, I'm not that devoted in relationships. Maybe I was in the past. When I first graduated from university and entered the workforce, I was like a blank sheet of paper, completely ignorant about the world of emotions.

At that time, I had not experienced marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or the mundane realities of life. I had not been beaten down by society and marriage.

I naively believed in love, naively believed in the wish to find a soulmate and stay together until old age.

I was devoted and loving, doing laundry, cooking, and raising the children—a good woman. But what did I get in return? All I got was endless drain, betrayal, suspicion, and contempt.

I'm completely transformed now, my life experiences are overflowing with stories. But your life has just begun; you're like a blank sheet of paper, knowing nothing about relationships or marriage.

So I can't deceive you, I can't toy with your feelings, and I can't give you a future!

Shen Xing, in a sense, my life experience and understanding have long surpassed yours.

I'm in my thirties, I've entered middle age, and I can't afford to play this innocent game of love anymore—I can't afford to get hurt!

I took a deep breath and finally broke the ice between us in front of Shen Xing, telling him clearly what I really thought. After that, I didn't want to explain anything anymore and prepared to leave the hotel.

Shen Xingcong froze on the spot, never expecting that the mature, elegant, and calm older sister he always knew, who, despite being divorced, was still pitiful and lovable, would think this way deep down...

The hotel door slammed shut behind me. A mature and worldly smile appeared on my lips. I straightened my clothes and hair, put on my high heels, and prepared to go back.

Suddenly the hotel door opened, and Shen Xing chased after her, saying, "Man... I'll tell you my truth as well, the truth you told me today."

I'm not as good as you think, sis. Actually... in your eyes, I've always been a clingy boy who doesn't consider the consequences and only pursues romance.

In terms of relationships, there's not much I can offer you. I'm always filming outside, so we can't see each other often, and we have to avoid paparazzi taking photos. If you're with me, you'll also face cyberbullying.

All I can do is play the piano, act, and sing. Maybe I won't be famous anymore and will become a has-been star, unable to give you a stable and happy future.

You know what? Sometimes I envy President Jiang. No matter what, he always has an elite demeanor, always dressed in a suit and tie, with a cold and stern look and deep eyes full of calculation.

You like a man who's very calculating, right? Handsome, mature, rich, and charming.

"Shen Xing, President Jiang, has indeed been very good to me."

I say.

Shen Xing smiled and said, "Sister, I'm not a little boy anymore. I'm not just good at being romantic and making you happy; I know that for you women, security is more important than romance."

I will definitely save money to buy a house in Beijing. Once I have a house, I will propose to you!

"Proposal?"

I was shocked. I never expected Shen Xing to think of proposing. But Shen Xing and I had never dated, and I had never thought of marrying Shen Xing.

"Yes, sis, I'll propose to you once I'm able to make you feel secure."

Shen Xing said very seriously.

His eyes were filled with hope and a goal to strive for.

I just smiled and didn't say anything, because I knew that Shen Xing and I were impossible, impossible in this lifetime, because I am a very realistic woman.

As I reach middle age, while relationships are important, my top priority is financial security; personal ability is the guarantee for the future.

Shen Xing lacks all of these qualities.

He's a cute, young man. If we really get together, I might have to support him financially. And he does make a lot of money acting. But the entertainment industry changes every day, and young idols are more likely to become outdated and replaced.

I just gave him a perfunctory reply: "Young man, let's talk about it when you're capable enough to make me feel secure."

"Sister, I will try my best."

Shen Xing made a promise to me, but you should only listen to half of what a man says and never believe him completely. Otherwise, no matter how shrewd you are, you will be deceived and live a miserable life.

I said, "It's late, you should get some rest. Goodnight."

Goodnight, sis.

Shen Xing stood in the corridor and watched me leave, without forcing me to stay in the same hotel as him.

When I went downstairs, the waiter looked at me with curiosity and a gossipy expression.

I don't care. They might guess that my late-night runaway to a hotel with a young man is just a lonely housewife sleeping with a younger man.

The idea is dirty and sordid enough, but thankfully I'm not the kind of person they imagine me to be.

I drove from the hotel to my apartment in less than 10 minutes and got home. By the time I got upstairs, it was almost 2 a.m. I was so sleepy, my eyelids were practically drooping...

The next morning, snowflakes began to fall outside the window. I glanced at the festival and realized it was already Laba Festival. After Laba Festival, the Little New Year will be coming soon.

This means that the Spring Festival is getting closer this year.

I asked my driver, Uncle Geng, to take me to the mall to buy daily necessities, as well as men's shoes, socks, trousers, ties, shirts, down jackets, and so on... Carrying large and small shopping bags, I went to see Shen Xing.

I gave Shen Xing a bunch of household items, as well as various clothes and shoes that are popular this winter.

I said, "I've already renewed the room card for another month, Shen Xing. Just stay here and relax. I'll order takeout for you three meals a day. I can take care of the contract for you. Once the contract is terminated, you can go back to the entertainment industry and continue your career."

"Sis, do you have time to grab lunch together? I'll treat you to hot pot."

Shen Xing said.

I smiled and said, "Let me treat you. This time, let's invite Juan too, and the three of us can get things cleared up. See you at the Yunnan restaurant at noon."

"Okay, sis."

Shen Xing nodded.

I turned and went to the hotel parking lot. Sitting in my million-dollar luxury car, my driver, Uncle Geng, asked me, "Miss, would you like to go?"

"Wait a minute, I need to make a phone call."

I took out my own black cell phone, dialed Juan's number, and the first thing I said was, "Have you gone to Sanya yet?"