Two smiling faces looked so alike! She looked deeply. These two males, one big and one small, were her most intimate people in the world. Her husband and her son, the child she bore for Tang Huasheng. How miraculous, that the flesh and blood emerging from her body would resemble another person, forming an intimate blood relationship impossible to separate in life.
She had forgotten her initial fear, involuntarily reaching out both hands, one caressing Tang Huasheng, the other touching her son’s face, whispering softly and devoutly:
“You look so similar, life… is truly miraculous—” She was in awe.
Tang Huasheng also laughed, holding her small hand:
“Xuexian looks like both of us, no one would doubt this. He inherited your delicate features.”
Suddenly feeling somewhat superfluous, Tang Xuexian could only stare with wide round eyes, drifting between his parents’ gazes, trying to understand the atmosphere permeating the moment.
He was the “their” son, seemingly just an “accompanying” item.
The feeling of being excluded made him uncomfortable; he wanted to understand what his father was thinking, but—he would definitely choose a time when his mother wasn’t around, not wanting to see her sad or afraid.
When Tang Xuexian stood holding a pillow at Tang Huasheng’s bedroom door, he thoroughly demonstrated his unwavering determination to protect his mother.
Xiao Susu looked helplessly at her son, then turned to look at Tang Huasheng who had just emerged from the bathroom, not knowing what to do.
Finally, naturally, Tang Huasheng made the decision:
“Go to sleep early, you have school tomorrow.” He lifted a corner of the quilt, indicating his son could occupy his bed.
Tang Xuexian happily burrowed under the covers, quickly settling in.
“Goodnight, Dad.”
“Goodnight.” He leaned down and kissed his son, put on a robe, and prepared to go to the study without objection.
“You…” Susu softly exclaimed, not knowing why she spoke, a heavy sense of disappointment in her heart.
He gently patted her shoulder:
“We’re not night owls, don’t chat too late.”
This was good, sparing him from challenging his weak willpower. Seeing her sleeping in his bed, he realized how powerful his inner turmoil was; unless he possessed her, his body would not rest peacefully.
Given their current situation, it was indeed inappropriate to add sexual entanglement and further complicate things. He didn’t want to become despicable, taking advantage of her helplessness. Besides, their son had volunteered to accompany the lady, which was indeed a safer approach.
With their son accompanying her, she would feel safe and secure.
Taking a light kiss, he opened the door and left.
Xiao Susu wrung her hands, watching his figure disappear outside the door, unable to say a word. Could she call him back, ask him to stay? She didn’t dare, but that was what her heart desired—she was increasingly unable to understand herself. She was only powerless against her own timidity.
Here, except for the book wall and a set of sofa coffee table that divide the living area, there are no other miscellaneous items. Outside the balcony is placed an ergonomically designed reclining chair; besides the door leading outside, another door connecting to the bathroom can lead to the dressing room.
Not everyone can possess assets like Tang Hua. Besides inherited wealth, maintaining or innovating is also difficult, otherwise how would the saying “wealth does not last three generations” exist? To maintain such huge expenses, he must work very hard, right?
She heard Fei Fan say that an ordinary small family’s monthly expenses of five to six thousand yuan are already a burden, but yesterday Tang Hua took her shopping in Taichung city, swiping the card for over ten thousand each time. By the end of the day, she secretly calculated that three or four sets of clothes had already cost 140,000 yuan… Money spent like water, surely because he earns enough. If an average office worker’s monthly salary is around thirty thousand, then she has undoubtedly been living a luxurious, pampered life. Yet she takes everything for granted, never thinking that her comfortable life comes from his generous support.
For most of her life, she has never earned a single penny, and in fact has never carried money on her. Previously, her parents accompanied her in studying, and then Tang Hua took care of her even more comfortably. Why would someone who has never contributed receive so much care?
However, is this a good thing? It has eliminated her opportunities to develop social adaptability, living a good life without effort, not experiencing hardship, truly as the fortune teller her parents consulted predicted: born into wealth, blessed for a lifetime. Showered with three thousand affections, exclusively embracing one body.
If Tang Hua had ever blamed her parents for causing her self-imposed isolation, should he not also reflect on his excessive protection, making her awareness come so slowly? No, perhaps that would be unfair; at least he has tried. It’s just that she refuses to change, repeatedly retreating into her small world, until finally he could only treat her according to her parents’ established pattern, and even more thoroughly.
Ultimately, the blame should be on herself. She cannot continue to weakly push all faults and disappointments onto others.
Her eyes were weary, but sleep would not come, almost midnight now. Staring at the clock for a long time, only one question emerged in her mind:
Is he still working in the study? Or has he already slept?
This thought gradually transformed into a driving force, urging her to leave the warm bed. The late-night chill attacked, quickly freezing her hands and feet, but she was oblivious in her trembling.
Leaving the bedroom, a small lamp was left on in the living room, and the not-quite-closed door of the study leaked bright light, drawing her involuntarily towards the light source.
Gently pushing open the door, she saw him sitting in front of the computer, hands swiftly moving on the keyboard, perfectly facing away from the doorway. She did not make a sound to disturb him; just seeing his figure made a once-empty corner of her heart disappear, if only she could look at him like this for a lifetime…
Not wanting to indulge in wild thoughts, she stopped her mind and looked at this study of about twenty ping, behind three large bookshelves was placed a large single bed, presumably where he planned to rest tonight.
He works so hard… Does he often work through the night like this?
Is she a huge burden to him?
No. As a leader, one doesn’t necessarily need a brilliant partner, but must know how to use people. Only by placing people with different talents and personalities in the most appropriate positions can a business truly prosper and endure. Only small, family-style companies need husband and wife to work hand in hand and toil together. By only trusting one’s own people and giving opportunities only to relatives, how can a partner not be capable? But if developing into a billion-dollar company, such an approach becomes an obstacle and absolutely cannot achieve a grand vision.
He was a man who could support the world with a single hand! And what role would such a man expect his wife to play? Would his talents not be used to compensate for his wife’s incompetence? No brilliant person would like a completely useless partner, just as every woman’s expectations of her husband are absolutely higher than herself. Wouldn’t a man want a wife with some special qualities?
“What does your ideal wife look like?”
“Why do you ask?” He saw her hands tighten again.
“I… I just don’t know why you would marry me…”
He laughed self-deprecatingly, then sighed deeply, moved her cocoa aside, and embraced her:
