Chapter 41.2

She paused before continuing, “Next time, can you discuss such decisions with me first?”

Chen Jubai hadn’t expected her to be upset. Their values regarding spending seemed to differ.

He knew that over a million yuan was no small amount, but it wasn’t significant to him now. Back in his student days, he had struggled financially and carried debt, which fueled his hunger for wealth. But once he started earning, he realized he didn’t know how to spend it. With his family well-off and his own financial security in place, he had little desire for material possessions. To him, spending this money on her felt meaningful and worthwhile.

Still, his priority was to soothe her concerns. Softening his tone, he said, “Alright, I’ll make sure to discuss it with you next time.”

Song Wei didn’t press the issue further. They walked into the dealership together.

The salesperson had prepared a delivery ceremony complete with flowers, balloons, and a large bouquet of roses. Song Wei posed with the car for photos, a smile lighting up her face.

After the ceremony, Song Wei drove while Chen Jubai sat in the passenger seat. The car they had arrived in was sent back by the staff.

The car’s interior and performance were impressive. At the first red light, Song Wei glanced over at him and said, “I really like it. Thank you.” She smiled, adding, “I mean it—I really like it.”

Relieved, Chen Jubai held her hand. “As long as you’re happy.”

Despite the pleasant exchange, there was an undercurrent of unease between them. Song Wei worried her earlier words might have upset him, so she forced a smile. “When the salesperson sends you the photos, forward them to me. I want to post them on my Moments.”

“Alright.”

“Let’s go out for dinner. My treat tonight.”

“Okay.”

Song Wei took him to a restaurant she and Zhu Qingfei often visited. However, it was late, and they had to wait for a table.

After taking a number, Chen Jubai asked thoughtfully, “Want a bubble tea?”

Song Wei grinned. “Yes, the same one as last time.”

“Got it.”

While he went to get drinks, Song Wei pulled out her phone to pass the time.

Unlocking it, she saw messages from Ning Shuhui sent half an hour earlier:
[Weiwei, is Jubai with you?]
[His assistant said he left work early, but he’s not replying to my messages or answering my calls.]
[Can you reach him?]

Thinking it was urgent, Song Wei quickly replied. Ning Shuhui called immediately. “Are you two together?”

“Yes,” Song Wei answered. “We’re out for dinner.”

Ning Shuhui was silent for a moment before her tone turned faintly accusatory. “Tonight, there was a dinner with the Minister of Commerce. I’ve been trying to reach him all evening. Nan’an City is drafting its international trade and economic cooperation strategy. This was an opportunity I worked hard to secure.”

Song Wei was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Is today a particularly important day for you?” Ning Shuhui asked.

“…No.”

“Tell him to call me back.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Song Wei gripped her phone tightly. The knot in her chest tightened, dragging her heart down with it. The bustling mall felt suffocating: the cries of children were shrill, the man who sat nearby reeked of sweat mixed with a foul stench, and everything grated on her senses.

Chen Jubai returned with the bubble tea.

Song Wei tilted her head up at him, forcing a smile. “Sister Ning wants you to call her back.”

Handing her the drink, Chen Jubai took out his phone and stepped away to make the call.

Watching his retreating figure, Song Wei sighed inwardly and sipped the bubble tea. It was too sweet. She distinctly remembered asking for half sugar last time.

Three or four minutes later, he returned. Song Wei asked, “Do you still want to have dinner?”

“Yes.”

The meal took about an hour, and the food was excellent. Song Wei ate until she was nearly full.

On the way back, Chen Jubai drove while Song Wei sat in the passenger seat.

The moment she got in, she rolled the window down to let in the night breeze.

“Don’t stick your head out,” he reminded her.

“Okay.”

The pleasant weather lifted her spirits slightly. The night sky, illuminated by the city lights, looked unreal—like a fabricated scene in an amusement park. The cars on the road seemed like toys moving mechanically.

Lost in thought, Song Wei let her mind drift.

When they arrived home, she mustered her courage and stopped him before they entered. Some things needed to be addressed before stepping inside.

“Chen Jubai, am I affecting your work?”

He thought she was referring to Ning Shuhui’s earlier inquiry. “No, you’re not. She didn’t have anything urgent to discuss.”

“Really?” She smiled faintly. “But Sister Ning said you were supposed to have dinner with a minister tonight—a chance she worked hard to get.”

Chen Jubai hadn’t expected Ning Shuhui to share such details with her. He frowned and explained, “She arranged a dinner with the minister, but I didn’t agree to go. Tonight was the 100-day celebration for Minister Luo’s granddaughter. It wasn’t an appropriate setting to discuss work. Besides, Ning Shuhui has her own plans; I would have only been accompanying her.”

Song Wei listened carefully to Chen Jubai’s explanation, but it didn’t bring her much comfort. Ning Shuhui’s earlier criticism and tonight’s reproach had planted a thought in her mind: perhaps she was a burden to his career. To many, a family and wife could indeed seem like obstacles during a man’s career advancement.

If they hadn’t gone to pick up the car today, he could have attended that dinner. Even if it didn’t yield direct benefits for Guangnian, it would have been an opportunity to expand his network.

Song Wei met his eyes and asked in a subdued voice, “Chen Jubai, have you ever regretted marrying me?”

Chen Jubai was startled. “No. Why would you ask that?”

The past week had been particularly taxing. At work, she constantly overheard tales of him and Ning Shuhui’s professional synergy. It left her questioning his busyness and broken promises, her heart perpetually suspended in doubt.

Perhaps it was due to Ning Shuhui, but deep down, it was because she cared. She cared so much that his ambiguous love left her in a state of constant unease.

Having reached this point, Song Wei felt she needed to lay it all out. She no longer wanted to endure such a life, nor pretend everything was fine and continue to avoid the problem.

She bit her lip and spoke softly, “Since we got married, we’ve rarely argued about anything except work. My parents adore you, and you’re very kind to me. You’ve always been so, so good to me. And I—”

Song Wei paused briefly, gripping the seatbelt tightly before continuing, “I like you a lot too. Maybe there’s a kind of ‘honeymoon period’ for newlyweds. For a long time, I’ve felt genuinely happy and thought I could spend my whole life like this with you.”

“But didn’t we rush things a little too much? We got married, registered, and moved in together without any real adjustment period. It feels like we skipped to the end without truly getting to know each other. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t fully understand you—your personality, your flaws, your interests. What I know now is only what you’ve chosen to show me.”

“Like earlier, we had a disagreement about spending habits. Instead of resolving it, we both chose to set it aside to preserve surface harmony. That’s not the right approach.”

“Your love for me feels like a beautiful flower—vibrant and striking, but so fragile it snaps at the slightest touch, unable to bear fruit. It’s flashy but insubstantial.” Song Wei’s voice grew quieter, tinged with sadness. “I feel like I haven’t given you the confidence you need either. It’s too easy for me to be swayed by others, to doubt you, to doubt myself, and even to doubt whether our marriage was the right decision.”

The more Chen Jubai listened, the heavier his heart sank.

She was articulate and logical, yet her confusion and disappointment were written all over her face.

He felt deeply remorseful that he had made her feel this way.

“Song Wei…” he began softly.

Her gaze remained fixed on a pillar in the parking garage ahead, her voice faint as she responded, “Hmm?”

She wasn’t here to argue. She wanted to solve their problems.

“I’m sorry I’ve made you unhappy. I know we started too quickly, and many things haven’t been properly addressed. But I thought this period was our time to adjust and grow together. So, please don’t make any conclusions yet. Don’t end things so hastily, okay?”

His voice was gentle, each word chosen with care, afraid to say anything wrong.

“So much has been happening lately. It’s true that Ning Shuhui and I have a lot of work interactions, but don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between us—there never has been, and there never will be. From now on, I’ll keep my distance from her.”

Song Wei bit her lip. “You’re aware of the rumors at work?”

Before he could answer, she hurriedly added, “But she’s your professional partner. Keeping a distance isn’t the solution—it would only push me further away. I don’t want to become an obstacle to your career.”

Chen Jubai didn’t respond immediately, but something seemed to dawn on him. After a moment, he picked up his phone, did something on it, and set it back down.

Song Wei looked at him, puzzled.

His eyes were sincere as he said, “Song Wei, I can’t prove my love for you with words alone. I hope you can give me some more time…”

He set a timeline. “Three months. If, after three months, you still feel this way, and I haven’t given you the sense of security you need, then I’ll respect your decision.”

This time, it was Song Wei who fell silent.

The air in the car felt stifling, as if all the oxygen had been used up. She couldn’t breathe, her chest tight, her throat clogged with unsaid words.

She hadn’t come tonight seeking a three-month deadline.

But it seemed like they had reached an impasse, unable to find a way out.

Her hands clenched tightly, her palms red from her nails pressing into them.

“This weekend, I’d like to stay at my mom’s place.”

Her words dropped into the air, shattering whatever hope remained.

Chen Jubai stared at her, the light in his eyes dimming. “I’ll drive you there.”

Song Wei shook her head gently. “No need. I’ll take the car myself.”

“It’s not safe,” he insisted.

After a moment’s thought, she realized he was right—her current emotional state made it unsafe to drive. She reluctantly agreed.

The twenty-minute drive was silent.

When they arrived at the residential complex, Chen Jubai got out to open her door. “Take the car. Call me if you need anything.”

Song Wei nodded, taking the keys from his hand before heading into the building.

He might still be standing there, but she didn’t dare look back. She entered the elevator and rode it up.

There was no goodbye.