The day her husband returned from his business trip, Meixiu found herself pacing the living room. Jiayi and Lianyi had tactfully made themselves scarce, leaving her alone to confront him.
The sound of the front door opening made her heart leap. Her husband, Wei, stepped inside, his expression tired but composed.
"Meixiu," he said, setting his briefcase down. "We need to talk."
She nodded, gesturing toward the couch. They sat across from each other, the silence between them heavy.
"You read my email?" Wei asked, his voice tentative.
"I did," Meixiu replied, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "And I appreciate that you acknowledged what I said."
Wei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know I've been distant, but work has been overwhelming. I didn't mean to neglect you, Meixiu."
"It's not just about work," she said, her voice trembling. "We've been drifting apart for a long time, Wei. It feels like we're strangers living under the same roof."
Wei looked at her, guilt flickering in his eyes. "You're right. I've been so focused on providing for us that I forgot to actually be present. But I want to fix this."
Meixiu hesitated, her emotions swirling. "I want to fix it too, but it's not that simple. There's so much we need to rebuild, and I don't know if we can."
"We can," Wei said firmly. "If we're both willing to try, we can get through this."
She looked at him, searching his face for sincerity. "I need time to think, Wei. This isn't something I can decide overnight."
He nodded, though his shoulders sagged. "Take all the time you need. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."
That evening, Meixiu sat on the balcony, staring at the stars. Her conversation with Wei had left her emotionally drained, but her thoughts kept drifting to Ye Chen.
She didn't notice him approach until he spoke. "You okay?"
Meixiu turned to see Ye Chen standing there, concern etched on his face. "Yeah," she said softly. "Just… thinking."
He pulled up a chair beside her. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'm here if you need to talk."
She hesitated before speaking. "Wei and I talked today. He wants to fix things."
"That's good, right?" Ye Chen asked, his tone cautious.
"Maybe," Meixiu said, her voice uncertain. "But it's complicated. I don't know if I can go back to how things were."
Ye Chen nodded slowly. "Sometimes moving forward means letting go of the past. But only you can decide what's best for you."
His words struck a chord, and she looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and pain. "Why do you always know exactly what to say?"
"I just care," he said simply.
Her heart ached at his sincerity. "Ye Chen, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," he said, his gaze steady.
The weight of his words made her chest tighten. She reached out, her hand brushing against his. The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt through both of them.
"I should go," Meixiu said abruptly, standing up.
Ye Chen looked at her, his expression unreadable. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."
She nodded, her emotions in turmoil as she walked back inside.
Later that night, Meixiu found herself in Jiayi's room. Her eldest sister was reading in bed, but she set her book aside when she saw Meixiu's troubled expression.
"You talked to Wei?" Jiayi asked.
Meixiu nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "He wants to fix things, but I don't know if I can."
"And Ye Chen?" Jiayi prompted gently.
Meixiu's shoulders slumped. "He's always there for me, Jiayi. He makes me feel seen, understood. But that just makes everything more confusing."
Jiayi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're caught between loyalty and your heart. It's not an easy place to be."
"What should I do?" Meixiu asked, her voice almost pleading.
Jiayi sighed. "Only you can answer that, Meixiu. But whatever you choose, be honest—with Wei, with Ye Chen, and most importantly, with yourself."
Meixiu nodded, her tears silently falling as Jiayi pulled her into a comforting embrace.
The next day, Wei surprised Meixiu with breakfast in bed, something he hadn't done in years. His effort touched her, but it also deepened her sense of guilt.
As she sat at the table with Ye Chen later that morning, her conflict was written all over her face.
"You seem distracted," Ye Chen said, handing her a cup of tea.
"Just a lot on my mind," she replied, avoiding his gaze.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, his voice gentle.
She shook her head. "Not yet. But… thank you, Ye Chen. For everything."
His smile was warm but tinged with worry. "I'll always be here for you, Meixiu."
Her heart ached at his words, knowing she had to make a decision soon. Staying in limbo wasn't fair to anyone—not to Wei, not to Ye Chen, and not to herself.