The morning sun streamed through the windows of the villa, but Meixiu's mood was anything but bright. She sat at the dining table, absently stirring her coffee. Jiayi entered, her sharp eyes immediately picking up on her sister's troubled expression.
"Still thinking about what we talked about?" Jiayi asked, pouring herself a cup of tea.
Meixiu nodded slowly. "I don't know how to approach him—my husband, I mean. Things haven't been good between us for a while, but talking about it feels… impossible."
Jiayi sat across from her, her voice calm but firm. "If you don't face it, Meixiu, you'll only keep hurting yourself—and possibly Ye Chen, too."
Meixiu's grip tightened on her mug. "I know, but… what if he doesn't care? What if I'm just making this harder on myself?"
Jiayi leaned forward, her gaze intense. "If he doesn't care, that's your answer. But you'll never know unless you try. Don't let fear stop you from finding out the truth."
That evening, Meixiu sat in her bedroom, her phone in her hand. Her husband had been traveling for work for weeks, and their conversations had grown sparse. Taking a deep breath, she dialed his number.
It rang several times before he answered. "Hello, Meixiu," his voice came through, distant and formal.
"Hi," she said, trying to steady her voice. "I wanted to talk."
"I'm in the middle of something. Can it wait?" he asked, irritation creeping into his tone.
Meixiu's heart sank, but she pressed on. "No, it can't. We need to talk about us."
There was a long pause. "What about us?" he asked finally.
"We've been drifting apart," Meixiu said, her voice trembling. "I feel like we're just going through the motions, and it's hurting me."
"I don't have time for this right now," he said, his tone dismissive. "I'll call you later."
The line went dead before Meixiu could respond. She stared at her phone, tears welling in her eyes.
Meixiu found herself knocking on Ye Chen's door, her emotions too heavy to handle alone.
"Meixiu?" Ye Chen opened the door, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"
She stepped inside, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I… I just need someone to talk to."
Ye Chen led her to the couch, sitting beside her. "I'm here. Tell me what happened."
Meixiu hesitated, then poured out everything—the growing distance between her and her husband, her failed attempt to communicate, and the confusion that had taken root in her heart.
"I feel so lost," she said, her voice breaking. "I don't know what to do anymore."
Ye Chen reached out, gently placing a hand on hers. "Meixiu, you don't have to go through this alone. Whatever happens, I'll be here for you."
His words and the warmth in his gaze made her tears spill over. "Thank you, Ye Chen. You don't know how much that means to me."
Without thinking, she leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close as she cried softly.
Unbeknownst to them, Jiayi stood by the staircase, watching the scene unfold. She sighed softly, her expression a mix of concern and understanding.
Later, when Meixiu had returned to her room, Jiayi approached Ye Chen in the kitchen.
"You're really something, you know that?" Jiayi said, her tone teasing but with a serious undertone.
Ye Chen looked up from his cup of tea, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Meixiu leans on you more than she realizes," Jiayi said, her gaze sharp. "And you're always there for her. That's not a bad thing, but it's becoming something bigger than you might think."
Ye Chen frowned. "I'm just trying to help. She's going through a lot."
"I know," Jiayi said softly. "But be careful, Ye Chen. Emotions are messy, and you're at the center of it all."
Ye Chen's expression grew thoughtful. "I'd never want to hurt her—or anyone else."
"I know," Jiayi said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Just make sure you don't get hurt, either."
The next morning, Meixiu found an email from her husband. She opened it with shaky hands, her heart pounding as she read his words.
> Meixiu,
I've thought about what you said, and I realize I've been distant. Work has consumed me, and I've neglected what matters most—you. I'm sorry. Let's talk when I get back.
Tears blurred her vision as she finished reading. For the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope.
But as her thoughts turned to Ye Chen, her heart ached with confusion. She realized that resolving things with her husband didn't change the feelings she'd developed for Ye Chen—and that was a truth she couldn't ignore.