The Secret of Second Marriage

To be honest, when I heard my dad say that, I was so shocked that I looked up at him in shock.

He meant that there is still someone in my heart, and that person is President Jiang.

I started to get a little agitated and said, "Dad, Mr. Jiang and I have been going around in circles, and we don't know if we'll be able to go back."

There are so many rumors about me and Shen Xing right now, I think President Jiang might have misunderstood me.

But I don't want to explain too much to him, making it seem like I'm begging him to like me. Our relationship is pretty awkward right now. "Dad, it's late, I want to go upstairs and rest."

"Daughter, don't think too much. If the sky falls, your parents will hold it up for you. Whether it's President Jiang or Shen Xing, all I want is for my daughter to be safe and healthy."

My dad is quite kind-hearted.

My mom said to me with concern, "Man, it's such a cold winter day, and you've been out all day and only just come back. It really breaks my heart to see you like this. Go upstairs and go to sleep."

Tomorrow morning, Mom will have the kitchen make your favorite red bean porridge and fried dough sticks.

"Thank you, Mom."

I felt a surge of emotion. After exchanging pleasantries with my parents, I went upstairs to my room, took a shower, changed into my pajamas, lay down on the bed, picked up my phone, and glanced at it. Mr. Jiang's WeChat profile picture was still black.

Could it be that President Jiang has really misunderstood?

I really wanted to call Mr. Jiang, but I held back because we are just ordinary friends now, and I have no right or qualification to contact him late at night.

Besides, he might not even want to answer my call at this time.

I drifted off to sleep and didn't wake up until the next morning, around 8 a.m., when I was having breakfast at the restaurant.

The maid laid out a sumptuous breakfast on the table, poured me milk and peeled eggs, and served me red bean porridge, brown sugar pancakes, and other foods.

I ate a bowl of red bean porridge and I was already quite full.

By 9:30, I had finished breakfast, washed up, and changed into pretty clothes and a skirt, ready to accompany my mother out to buy New Year's goods.

The winter air is getting colder and colder.

The festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year is getting stronger and stronger.

My mom and I waited until we were almost leaving, but we still hadn't received the flowers that Mr. Jiang had sent today. In the past, no matter how busy he was, he would always have the delivery person send a bouquet of flowers every morning with a card that said "Good morning, Ms. Jiang".

But nothing happened this morning... My feelings are complicated. At this moment, I can probably sense that there has indeed been a misunderstanding between President Jiang and me.

I told myself, if he doesn't trust me, so be it.

My mom and I went to the mall to buy New Year's goods: fresh ham, sausages, cigarettes and alcohol, candy, and all kinds of expensive pastries and fruits.

On the other side, in President Jiang's office.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows hang down, and the office has bright gray-black marble floors.

The black sandalwood table is filled with modern office supplies and various documents, and there is also an antique-style incense burner. Sometimes he would light sandalwood incense in the office to calm his mind.

Looking at the overwhelming rumors online about Jiang Man and Shen Xing's relationship as an older woman and younger man, the "puppy dog" couple, President Jiang finally couldn't help but reveal a deep, unfathomable jealousy in the depths of his eyes.

The first photo that the gossip media released yesterday, showing Shen Xing and me checking into a hotel late at night, completely darkened President Jiang's face.

He never imagined that after so many years of relationship, he would lose to a younger man.

At this moment, the assistant knocked on the door and came in respectfully, saying, "Mr. Jiang, I've had someone obtain the surveillance footage from that hotel the night before last. It's on this USB drive. You'll know the answer once you see it!"

"Okay, you can go now."

President Jiang locked himself in his office without eating or drinking from yesterday until today. He then instructed his subordinates to gather all the information, find the hotel, and buy the surveillance footage at a high price. He wanted to know what exactly happened that night.

Did Jiang Man betray him?

After his assistant left and closed the door, he was alone in the room again.

He gripped the USB drive tightly with his fingers, then after a moment's thought, he plugged it into the computer and watched the video play, confirming the true answer deep in his heart...

The surveillance video showed that it was past 11 p.m. that night, and it was snowing outside; it was especially cold.

Jiang Man took Shen Xing to the hotel reception and booked a room.

As he watched the beautiful woman on the surveillance footage, his fear and anxiety grew. He couldn't help but ask himself, "Jiang Hui, what if she really gives up on our years-long relationship and chooses that young, inexperienced guy in the entertainment industry?"

In front of Shen Xing's younger brother, he always appeared gentle and tender, clingy and manipulative, silently protecting her and never forgetting her.

Jiang Hui, you always make her angry.

Could it be that she's really made up her mind this time? To abandon President Jiang and choose that younger, more adorable guy instead?

But at this moment, President Jiang's heart could not hold any other woman except for Man.

He held his breath and carefully watched all the surveillance footage. He watched until he saw that Jiang Man had taken Shen Xing to the hotel and settled her in before preparing to leave. But Shen Xing chased after him from the room and hugged Man from behind in the hotel corridor.

Shen Xing said, "Sister, please stay, don't leave, okay? I'm staying here alone tonight, I'm scared..."

"Sorry, no."

Jiang Man hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to leave. She did not stay overnight, nor did she completely choose Shen Xing.

That's great, there might still be a chance to save their relationship.

No matter what, he wanted to contact Man and talk to her.

He didn't want to lose her, and he didn't want to miss her.

Around 10 a.m., I was out shopping with my mother when I received a call from President Jiang. I saw the words "President Jiang's contact person" flashing on my phone screen.

A moment later I answered the phone and asked, "Hello, is there something you need?"

Where are you now?

President Jiang said.

"Shopping with my mom in Beijing"

I say.

Mr. Jiang said, "Man, would you like to get together tonight? I'd like to treat you to dinner."

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

I paused for a moment before answering him.

"Well, I have something very important to tell you. Which restaurant would you like to eat at? I'll make a reservation in advance."

President Jiang patiently asked for my opinion.

I said, "Anything is fine. You can decide on the location. See you tonight."

"Okay, see you tonight."

After I said that, I hung up the phone, but my feelings became even more complicated.

President Jiang definitely wants to meet with me to talk about Shen Xing.

I remember how I rejected Shen Xing's advances and affections time and time again, as well as all sorts of ambiguous relationships.

At first, I didn't really care about this younger brother because he wasn't my type.

But now, he's willing to give up everything to be with me, and that really touched me.

The boy's courage, like a blazing light, illuminated my lonely emotional world.

But if my love with him is destined to be as grand and dazzling as fireworks, yet so short-lived, should we even begin?

I think it's time for me to make things clear with President Jiang. Tonight's meeting might be a test.

When I face President Jiang, will those heart-fluttering feelings and unspeakable love be rekindled?

I don't even know what I'm thinking.

I took a deep breath, cleared my mind, and focused on accompanying my mom shopping for New Year's goods.

My mom bought a lot of New Year's goods, and she even took me to the pregnant women's section to buy maternity clothes and newborn clothes, swaddle blankets, a very expensive stroller, winter clothes for the baby, and a pair of gold bracelets with bells.

I saw a pair of small gold bracelets with a tag that said they cost over 10 yuan. They were exactly the right weight, and the gold locks on the bracelets were also made of gold. No wonder they were so expensive.

My mom said, "Man, your sister's due date is after the Lantern Festival, which is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

Mom bought a lot of things for your sister and her baby. This gold bracelet is a gift Mom wants to give to Weiwei's baby. Can you help Mom decide if it looks good?

"Mom, I don't think it's necessary to give such an expensive gift. The price of gold has skyrocketed. We haven't been in contact with Weiwei for more than half a year."

Perhaps, once the Yang family realizes the sister is no longer of any use, they've begun to slowly reveal their true colors... If we rashly give them such an expensive gold bracelet, the Yang family might become greedy, making it even harder for the sister to get a divorce and escape."

I'm telling you the truth.

But my mom said, "This is a full moon gift for the baby, not for the Yang family. I don't believe they are so shameless as to take away even the child's gold... Man, Weiwei is still your sister."

She's heavily pregnant and about to give birth, and she's not having a good time at her in-laws' house. Her mother is really worried about Weiwei!

"Mom, if you insist on giving all these things, including these gold bracelets, to Xia Weiwei, just don't regret it later."

I say.

After I said that, I suddenly felt exhausted. I think it's because my mother is easily swayed by emotions. Even if I try to stop her, she will still secretly send the nanny and maid to give Xia Weiwei money and gifts.

Whatever.

Before I was recognized as a relative and brought home, Xia Weiwei was the princess of this family, pampered to the extreme, and had everything she wanted. She never suffered any hardship.

Whether I like it or not, she is the daughter of this family.

I've gradually come to treat Xia Weiwei with a normal attitude.

My mom and I finished shopping at the mall.

My mom suggested, "Man, I heard that Weiwei is still renting a house in the suburbs of Beijing. It's a shared apartment, and all sorts of people live there. She's having a tough time."

How is she going to spend the New Year with such a big belly? Can Mom go visit her?

"Mom, you can go if you want. But you can only see her from afar; you can't go up to say hello, and you can't acknowledge her."

I say.

I'm not a heartless woman who wants to deliberately prevent my mother and Xia Weiwei from developing a mother-daughter relationship. It's just that from the perspective of the eldest daughter of the Xia family, my mother really shouldn't show her face until Xia Weiwei wakes up from her romantic obsession and breaks free from the Yang family.

I understand.

My mother has lived most of her life; she's seen and knows everything.

She missed her daughter terribly, but she also knew in her heart that she couldn't let her daughter's in-laws think that she, as a mother, was easy to manipulate. Otherwise, the Yang family would definitely pester Xia Weiwei relentlessly, just to take advantage of the Xia family's fading lineage.

My mom and I didn't have lunch either. We had the driver take us for about an hour to a shared apartment in the suburbs of Beijing. It was a messy place, just like an urban village, with all sorts of buildings piled up on top of each other.

To save money, Xia Weiwei and Yang Nan rented a two-bedroom apartment here for a little over 800 yuan a month. It has two bedrooms, one toilet, and the kitchen is outside.

The toilet and bedroom were extremely rudimentary, the house was bare, and there was no decoration at all.

In the dead of winter, she was a woman with a large pregnant belly, cooking in a public kitchen, seemingly preparing a few simple vegetarian dishes.

Yang Nan, his parents, and his sisters were warming themselves by the fire inside.

Seeing Xia Weiwei's current miserable state, my mother couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears, saying, "Man, the Yang family is truly despicable. They made my daughter wash vegetables and cook outside in this freezing weather, her hands turning red from the cold, while they themselves sat inside enjoying themselves..."