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Chapter Eight: Love Does Not Require Staying Together
2026/10/09 20:37
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Chapter Eight: Love Does Not Require Staying Together
36. The Schemes Behind Her Beauty
Zhang Xiu-Yi was in her early thirties, an age when a woman often knows best how to present and manage herself. She had a mature, alluring face, and her long hair was always impeccably styled. Her clothing was never ostentatious, yet her every gesture revealed an elegant charm. She was a sales manager at a cosmetics company, and years of moving between department stores, corporate clients, and upscale restaurants had taught her how to read people and judge their reactions.
After she began dating Cai Shi-Nan, she appeared considerate and attentive, knowing when to show concern and when to keep her distance. Shi-Nan admired her maturity and assumed that a woman with her experience in the real world would appreciate a relationship more than a younger woman might. What he did not know was that he was never the person who truly occupied Xiu-Yi’s heart. Out of his sight, there was another man in her life: Ye Zhi-Xuan.
Zhi-Xuan was in his twenties, with handsome features, a tall, well-built figure, and fashionable clothes. Whenever he entered a restaurant, he attracted women’s attention. He had no steady job, spent money lavishly, and was most interested in having a good time. Xiu-Yi knew exactly what kind of person he was, but she never cared. What attracted her was Zhi-Xuan’s youthful good looks and the opportunity to use Shi-Nan to pave the way for him.
One evening, Xiu-Yi and Shi-Nan were dining at an upscale restaurant. Soft lighting fell over them, and after the waiter served the red wine, he quietly withdrew. Xiu-Yi filled Shi-Nan’s glass and deliberately wore an expression that suggested she had something to say but was hesitant to bring it up. Sensing that something was wrong, Shi-Nan put down his glass.
“Xiu-Yi, whatever it is, just tell me directly.”
She raised her eyes and smiled faintly. “Actually, it’s about a cousin of mine.”
“Your cousin?”
“Yes. He’s thinking about developing his career in Taipei.” Xiu-Yi gently swirled the red wine in her glass. “He has quite a bit of ability, but he hasn’t been able to find the right opportunity. If it’s convenient for you, could you arrange a position for him?”
Shi-Nan did not agree immediately. He looked at Xiu-Yi and remained silent for a moment before asking, “What kind of work do you want him to do?”
Her smile grew gentler. “If he could gain experience at your securities company, perhaps you could give him a try as a sales manager.”
Shi-Nan raised his eyebrows slightly. “A sales manager?”
“He’s very ambitious. I’m sure he’ll achieve good results if you give him a chance.”
Xiu-Yi spoke naturally, but she occasionally avoided Shi-Nan’s gaze. What she really wanted was not an ordinary position. If Zhi-Xuan could enter one of the group’s core businesses and gain access to clients, funds, and the company’s internal operations, she could gradually extend her reach into Shi-Nan’s business empire. That was the real reason she had approached him.
A few days later, Ye Zhi-Xuan arrived at Shi-Nan’s office.
He wore a well-tailored suit, his hair was slicked back neatly, and an expensive watch adorned his wrist. A confident smile remained on his face throughout.
“Hello, President Cai.”
Shi-Nan stood up and shook his hand. “Xiu-Yi told me you’re interested in developing a career in the securities industry?”
“Yes.” Zhi-Xuan smiled as he sat down, casually crossing his legs and appearing completely at ease.
Shi-Nan returned to his desk and studied him carefully. His appearance was certainly impressive, and he spoke fluently enough. However, from the moment Zhi-Xuan entered the office, Shi-Nan had noticed several subtle gestures. He sat carelessly, his eyes occasionally wandering toward the paintings and decorations in the office, and when the conversation turned to work, he had little of substance to say.
Shi-Nan quickly formed an opinion. A person’s abilities could be seen on a résumé, but character was often revealed through seemingly insignificant actions.
He closed the documents in his hands. “Zhi-Xuan, have you worked in securities sales before?”
“No, but I’m sure I can learn quickly.”
“Then are you familiar with the stock and futures markets?”
Zhi-Xuan smiled. “I invest in stocks in my spare time, and I’ve made money a few times.”
Shi-Nan did not respond. He had met too many young people who thought they were clever. They mistook occasional profits for genuine ability and boldness for professional expertise. When faced with real market risks, they were often the first to lose their judgment.
“A sales manager needs experience and the ability to lead a team,” Shi-Nan said calmly. “Given your background, you’re not ready to take on a managerial position directly.”
The smile on Zhi-Xuan’s face froze for an instant. “Then what do you have in mind, President Cai?”
“Start on the front line as a securities sales representative.”
Zhi-Xuan was clearly disappointed. Xiu-Yi had told him that if Shi-Nan agreed, he would become a manager as soon as he joined the company. However, he quickly recovered his smile.
“All right. I’ll follow your arrangements, President Cai.”
Shi-Nan nodded. “Securities sales isn’t something you can do with words alone. Learn about the clients, trading procedures, and the market first. Once you’ve produced results, we can talk about promotion.”
Zhi-Xuan stood up and reached out to shake his hand goodbye. “I’ll do my best.”
Shi-Nan watched him leave without saying anything. The moment the door closed, his brow furrowed slightly. The young man certainly looked impressive on the surface, but his restlessness and playful nature left Shi-Nan uneasy. What Shi-Nan did not know at the time was that the decision he had made that day would eventually become the starting point of a storm within the group.
As for Zhang Xiu-Yi, she stood outside the company building and watched Zhi-Xuan emerge through the revolving doors. A meaningful smile slowly appeared at the corners of her mouth. She had originally expected Shi-Nan to place Zhi-Xuan directly in management. Although things had moved a step more slowly than she had planned, as long as Zhi-Xuan had entered the company, the plan was already underway.
She raised her head and looked at the group’s towering headquarters. There was no love in her eyes, only a woman’s calculations for personal gain.
Some people enter your life for love; others enter your business simply to take away what you cherish most.
37. The Fox Shows Its Tail
Not long after Ye Zhi-Xuan joined the securities company, the true nature he had deliberately concealed began to emerge. Relying on his handsome appearance and ability to charm women, he soon became very close to a female employee named Xu Man-Ning. The two frequently arranged private dates under the pretext of work, and before long, people in the company began gossiping about them behind their backs.
At first, Zhang Xiu-Yi paid little attention to the rumors. Then one afternoon, she returned to her residence unexpectedly to retrieve something. When she opened the bedroom door, she saw the very scene she least wanted to witness.
Zhi-Xuan and Xu Man-Ning were in the room. Looking flustered, they hurriedly stood up beside the bed, their clothes disheveled.
Standing in the doorway, Zhang Xiu-Yi’s expression darkened instantly.
“Ye Zhi-Xuan, didn’t you promise me?”
The color drained from Zhi-Xuan’s face.
“Sister Xiu-Yi, please let me explain.”
Xu Man-Ning hurriedly straightened her clothes, lowering her head and avoiding Xiu-Yi’s gaze.
Xiu-Yi ignored Man-Ning and stared only at Zhi-Xuan, her chest rising and falling slightly with anger.
“Did you treat everything I told you as if it went in one ear and out the other?”
Zhi-Xuan hurried over to her and pleaded in a low voice. “I really just lost my head for a moment. Please give me one more chance. I promise I’ll keep my distance from her from now on.”
Zhang Xiu-Yi looked at him coldly. She knew what kind of person Zhi-Xuan was, and she knew why she had arranged for him to enter Shi-Nan’s company in the first place. Nevertheless, the scene before her still left her feeling humiliated.
After remaining silent for a moment, she took a pen and paper from her handbag and placed them on the table.
“If you’re saying it was just a moment of foolishness, then write it down.”
Zhi-Xuan froze. “Write what?”
“Write that you will have no further contact with Xu Man-Ning. If you do it again, you’ll bear the consequences yourself.”
Zhi-Xuan gritted his teeth but finally picked up the pen and wrote out a written promise.
Xiu-Yi put the written undertaking away and said coldly, “Zhi-Xuan, I helped you get into this securities company so you could build a career, not so you could chase women everywhere. You’d better remember how you came to have everything you have now.”
Zhi-Xuan nodded repeatedly. “I know. I really do.”
Watching him humble himself before her, Zhang Xiu-Yi eventually softened. She had no idea that her indulgence would instead plant the seeds of the disaster to come.
The incident soon reached Tang Ke-Ming, the general manager of the securities company. Sitting in his office, he reviewed the relevant documents submitted by the compliance department, and his expression grew extremely grim.
He summoned Xu Man-Ning and said sternly, “This company is not a place for dating. Your relationship with Ye Zhi-Xuan has already affected workplace discipline.”
Man-Ning lowered her head, her hands clasped tightly together. She knew that if she stayed, the situation would only become more embarrassing.
“President Tang, I understand.”
A few days later, she voluntarily resigned because Ye Zhi-Xuan had promised to give her a monthly living allowance.
Everyone assumed that the matter could now be put to rest. No one imagined that the real trouble was only just beginning.
Not long after leaving the company, Xu Man-Ning discovered that she was pregnant. She sat alone in her rented apartment, clutching the medical report in her hand, her face pale.
She picked up her phone and called Zhi-Xuan.
“Zhi-Xuan, I need to talk to you about something.”
They arranged to meet at a café. Man-Ning sat by the window, looking exhausted. When Zhi-Xuan arrived and sat down across from her, he saw her serious expression and immediately felt uneasy.
“What’s wrong?”
Man-Ning placed the medical report on the table. “I’m pregnant.”
Zhi-Xuan’s expression changed, and he instinctively leaned back in his chair. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve already been examined at the hospital. Look at the report.” Man-Ning stared at him, her eyes filled with disappointment and resentment. “What are you going to do?”
Zhi-Xuan remained silent for a long time before lowering his voice. “What do you want me to do?”
“Give me some money. I’ll leave Taipei, and I’ll handle the baby myself.”
She paused, and her tone turned cold.
“If you refuse, I’ll tell everyone everything that happened between us.”
Zhi-Xuan’s expression darkened further. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m just asking you to take responsibility.” Man-Ning picked up her coffee cup, her fingers trembling slightly with nervousness. “You can’t leave me to bear all of this alone.”
When Zhi-Xuan left the café, his mind was in turmoil. He knew he had to get hold of some money. Otherwise, if the matter came to light, he would not only lose his job; Zhang Xiu-Yi, the wealthy benefactor he had finally managed to appease, might also turn against him completely.
But he simply did not have enough money to settle things with Xu Man-Ning.
A few days later, he sat in the securities company’s trading department, looking at the clients’ orders displayed on his computer screen. Suddenly, a dangerous idea occurred to him.
The stocks entrusted to the company for safekeeping and management were routinely handled by him. If he secretly diverted some of them and then found a way to replace them later…
He knew it was a crime. But when he thought of the medical report in Xu Man-Ning’s possession, sweat began to form on his forehead.
“I just need to get through this one time…” he murmured under his breath.
At that moment, he had crossed a line from which there was no turning back.
Taking advantage of his position, Zhi-Xuan improperly disposed of stocks entrusted to the company for safekeeping and management, then handed the proceeds to Xu Man-Ning. After receiving the money, Man-Ning left Taipei as agreed. Zhi-Xuan assumed that as long as he covered his tracks, no one would discover what he had done.
However, Tang Ke-Ming soon noticed irregularities in the accounts.
One morning, Tang sat in his office, repeatedly checking the transaction records. His brow furrowed more deeply with each review. He picked up the phone.
“Send Ye Zhi-Xuan to my office.”
When Zhi-Xuan entered, he still managed to maintain a semblance of composure.
“President Tang, you wanted to see me?”
Tang pushed a set of documents across the desk.
“Explain these transactions.”
Zhi-Xuan glanced down, and his expression changed instantly.
“This…there may have been a system error.”
Tang raised his eyes, his gaze stern and unyielding.
“The system doesn’t alter transaction records on your behalf.”
Silence immediately filled the office. Sweat appeared on Zhi-Xuan’s forehead, and his lips trembled slightly.
Tang picked up the phone, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
“Call the police!”
Zhi-Xuan suddenly raised his head. “President Tang!”
Tang did not look at him.
“The company can tolerate employees making mistakes, but it cannot tolerate a securities representative misappropriating clients’ stocks.”
The police arrived at the company shortly afterward. As Zhi-Xuan was taken away, he kept looking back. His once-glamorous suit and handsome, youthful appearance could no longer conceal the panic on his face. The attractive face that Zhang Xiu-Yi had once been so proud of now looked utterly disheveled.
From the very first day he entered the securities company, he had believed he had found a shortcut to the upper echelons of society. Only when he was led into a police car did he understand that some shortcuts appeared to lead to success but actually led straight into an abyss.
38. The Truth Comes to Light
A few days later, after his family made repeated efforts on his behalf, Ye Zhixuan was granted bail. When he walked out of the district prosecutors' office, the afternoon sunlight was so glaring that he could barely keep his eyes open. He lowered his head and straightened his rumpled jacket. His once-elegant suit had lost its former polish. These past few days had made him realize for the first time just how fragile the life he had believed he could control really was.
He did not go home. The first person who came to mind was Zhang Xiuyi. As long as Xiuyi was willing to forgive him, he believed he still had a chance to turn his life around.
That evening, he went to Xiuyi's residence and stood outside the door, ringing the doorbell for a long time.
At last, the door opened. The moment Xiuyi saw him, her expression darkened.
"What are you doing here?"
Zhixuan hurriedly said, "Sister Xiuyi, I really need your help right now."
Xiuyi stood inside the doorway without stepping aside. "There's nothing left for us to discuss."
"I know I made a mistake, but you can't just abandon me." Zhixuan reached out to grab her, but Xiuyi immediately stepped back, avoiding his hand. "What you did wasn't a minor mistake. You misappropriated clients' shares, and the prosecutors have already opened an investigation. And you still expect me to clean up your mess?"
Zhixuan's expression turned sour. "You didn't used to treat me like this."
Xiuyi looked at him coldly. "That was then. From today on, don't come looking for me again."
She turned to close the door, but Zhixuan hurriedly reached out to block it.
"Sister Xiuyi!"
"Get out." Her voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally firm.
Zhixuan stared at her in a daze and finally understood that she had given up on him completely.
But Xiuyi was no longer thinking about him, either. All she wanted now was to hold on to Cai Shi-Nan. He had a successful career and social standing, and more importantly, he was sincere in his feelings for her. As long as she could become the woman by Shi-Nan's side, she could escape the degrading relationships with men that had marked her past.
Xiuyi pushed Zhixuan out of the doorway and slammed the front door shut.
Standing outside, Zhixuan's expression gradually shifted from humiliation to resentment. He clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists.
"If you're not going to let me have an easy life, then we'll all go down together."
At that moment, the last of his reservations disappeared.
The following afternoon, Cai Shi-Nan had just finished a board meeting when his cell phone rang.
"Mr. Cai? This is Ye Zhixuan. There's something I have to tell you in person."
Shi-Nan frowned slightly. "What is it?"
"It's about Zhang Xiuyi."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
"We need to meet."
They arranged to meet at a quiet café. When Shi-Nan entered a private room, Zhixuan was already seated inside. He kept his head lowered, looking haggard and utterly unlike the confident young man he had once been.
After sitting down, Shi-Nan asked bluntly, "What exactly do you want to tell me?"
Zhixuan raised his head, a trace of malice flashing in his eyes.
"Do you really think Zhang Xiuyi loves you?"
Shi-Nan's expression changed slightly. "What do you mean?"
Zhixuan gave a cold laugh. "She approached you for a reason."
He then recounted everything he knew, one detail at a time. He also handed Shi-Nan a collection of evidence, including screenshots of private messages between Zhang Xiuyi and himself, as well as bank statements showing the monthly living expenses she had transferred to him.
He explained how Xiuyi had arranged for him to enter the securities company under Shi-Nan's business group, how she had asked Shi-Nan to appoint him as a manager in an attempt to gain gradual control over important internal resources, and how the two of them had maintained an intimate relationship for a long time. He told Shi-Nan everything without holding anything back.
Shi-Nan did not interrupt him once. His fingers simply tightened more and more until he was gripping the edge of the table.
"Do you have evidence to support all these claims?"
"I don't have direct evidence for some of these things right now. But if you ask her about them, she'll definitely give herself away."
Zhixuan stared at Shi-Nan, his voice carrying the satisfaction of revenge.
"I came to see you today not because I want to keep protecting her secrets, but because she threw me away. If I can't have her, I'm not going to let her have you, either."
Shi-Nan said nothing.
By the time he left the café, the setting sun had disappeared behind the city's high-rise buildings. He got into his car but did not start the engine immediately. The interior was completely silent.
He thought of Xiuyi's graceful smile when she had first sat across from him, the tenderness with which she had poured his wine, and all the caring things she had said to him. If Zhixuan was telling the truth, how much of what Zhang Xiuyi had done in the past had been sincere?
He did not want to believe it, but he was even more afraid that he had been believing a lie.
That evening, Shi-Nan went straight to Xiuyi's home.
When Xiuyi saw him appear unexpectedly, the smile on her face froze instantly.
"Shi-Nan, what brings you here so suddenly?"
Shi-Nan did not answer. After entering the living room, he stood by the window. Only after a long while did he turn around.
"Xiuyi, I met Ye Zhixuan today."
Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
"What did he want with you?"
"He told me some things."
Xiuyi forced a calm smile. "You're going to believe what a man who was just fired from his company says?"
"That's why I'm here to ask you." Shi-Nan's voice was calm. "He said you didn't approach me because you loved me. You wanted to use my feelings for you to get him into my company. Once he was promoted into management, the two of you would begin carrying out your plan."
Xiuyi's face went pale.
"He's trying to get revenge on me."
"Then none of what he said is true?"
"Of course not," she immediately denied. "He's just a relative of mine. I wanted him to have a legitimate job, which is why he joined the company. I never intended to use you."
Shi-Nan looked at her. The eyes that had once been filled with trust now held nothing but exhaustion and disappointment.
"What about your close relationship with him?"
Xiuyi froze. "What relationship?"
"You know what I'm asking."
The living room fell silent. Xiuyi's lips trembled slightly, but she continued to deny it through clenched teeth.
"Shi-Nan, do you really believe the word of a criminal?"
Shi-Nan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wished so much that she would tell him the truth. If only she were willing to say, "I'm sorry," perhaps there might still be room to salvage their relationship.
But she did not. She chose to keep denying everything.
When Shi-Nan opened his eyes again, his expression had grown completely cold.
"Xiuyi, I've already given you a chance."
Panic finally appeared in Xiuyi's eyes.
"Shi-Nan..."
"We're done. Let's end this here."
She hurried over and grabbed his arm.
"You can't just believe Ye Zhixuan's side of the story. I truly love you."
Shi-Nan looked down at her hand gripping his arm and slowly removed it.
"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have left me until the very end to discover what I truly meant to you."
Xiuyi's hand remained suspended in midair. She watched Shi-Nan turn and walk away, and at last, tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Shi-Nan!"
He did not look back.
The moment the front door closed, Xiuyi collapsed onto the sofa. She had believed that if she denied everything to the very end, she could save their relationship. Only after losing Shi-Nan did she understand that what had driven him away was not merely the secrets she had kept, but the fact that she had still chosen to deceive him at the very last moment.
Outside, the night grew darker. Xiuyi stared at the empty doorway, remorse piercing her heart with a clarity she had never experienced before. She had schemed so hard to win a man, only to lose the trust he had once given her without reservation.
39. A Love That Was Lost, a Life Still Unfinished
Several years later, the relationship between Cai Shi-Nan's son, Long Xiang, and Chen Xin had grown increasingly stable. Long Xiang had studied computer science at National Taiwan University and entered the technology industry after graduation. Chen Xin had a law degree and was preparing to begin her career in the legal profession. Their relationship had begun on campus and continued into their working lives. After several years together, both had become certain that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with each other.
One evening, Long Xiang brought Chen Xin home. The living room was softly lit. Shi-Nan sat on the sofa, looking at the two young people standing side by side before him. He had already guessed what they wanted to say.
Long Xiang took Chen Xin's hand and smiled.
"Dad, we'd like to get married."
Shi-Nan looked at them, and a smile slowly spread across his face.
"As long as you've thought it through, I have no objections."
Chen Xin lowered her head shyly. "Thank you, Uncle Cai."
Shi-Nan nodded. "From now on, you can just call me Old Cai."
His remark immediately lightened the atmosphere in the living room.
Once the wedding plans were confirmed, both families arranged to meet. On the appointed day, Shi-Nan arrived at the restaurant on time, wearing a dark suit. When he pushed open the door to the private dining room and saw the woman sitting inside, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
They had not seen each other for years. Now that familiar face had appeared before him once again.
"Yi-Jun?"
Lin Yi-Jun raised her head as well. The moment their eyes met, she was equally stunned. She had never imagined that the father of the man her daughter was going to marry would be the very man who had accompanied her through the years of her youth.
"Shi-Nan, it's been a long time."
Her voice was soft, yet it stirred a distant tide of emotion within him. They soon regained their composure and sat down to discuss the young couple's wedding.
Although Long Xiang and Chen Xin sensed something unusual between their parents, they had no idea that the two people about to become in-laws had once been deeply in love when they were young.
During the meal, Shi-Nan occasionally glanced at Yi-Jun. She was still quiet and composed, speaking with the steadiness characteristic of a mature woman. Yi-Jun, too, would look up at him when he spoke. Their eyes met from time to time, but each quickly looked away.
Some memories do not need to be spoken aloud, because both people already understand them.
The wedding arrangements proceeded smoothly. When they left the restaurant, Long Xiang and Chen Xin walked ahead, while Shi-Nan and Yi-Jun fell behind. Long Xiang suddenly turned around and saw his father walking beside Chen Xin's mother, chatting happily with her. At that moment, a strange thought crossed his mind. His father's expression when looking at Yi-Jun seemed different from the way he looked at an ordinary future in-law.
Chen Xin also noticed the subtle change in her mother's expression. They exchanged a glance, but neither said anything.
A few days later, Long Xiang and Chen Xin each spoke privately with their respective parents.
Long Xiang asked Shi-Nan first, "Dad, did you know Chen Xin's mother before?"
The teacup in Shi-Nan's hand paused slightly.
"Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"I can tell." Long Xiang sat down beside his father with a smile. "Were the two of you in love when you were younger?"
Shi-Nan remained silent for a moment. In the end, he decided not to hide the truth any longer.
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Chen Xin asked her mother the same question. Yi-Jun had initially been reluctant to talk about the past, but eventually she nodded gently.
"When we were young, we really did love each other."
That answer made both young people understand something at the same time. It turned out that their own relationship had brought them together through a bond that also carried an unfinished love story from the previous generation.
Long Xiang and Chen Xin quickly arrived at the same idea. They wanted to bring their parents together and help them fulfill the love they had missed out on.
One weekend afternoon, Long Xiang deliberately invited his father out, but arranged for their destination to be a quiet café. When Shi-Nan walked inside, Yi-Jun was already seated by the window.
He glanced at his son. "You two arranged this?"
Long Xiang smiled and patted his father's shoulder. "Dad, some things deserve one more chance."
With that, he took Chen Xin by the hand and left.
The afternoon sunlight fell across the street outside, while soothing music played inside the café. Shi-Nan sat down opposite Yi-Jun. They looked at each other for a moment, then both smiled.
"Who would have thought that at our age, we'd need our children to arrange a date for us?" Yi-Jun said.
Shi-Nan lifted his coffee and smiled faintly. "They probably think we still owe each other an ending."
Yi-Jun lowered her eyes to the coffee in her cup.
"Do you still remember what happened between us?"
"Yes," Shi-Nan answered without hesitation. "I've always remembered."
Yi-Jun looked up at him. In her eyes, he could still see traces of the young woman she had once been, along with the calmness that came from years of experience.
"Actually, I haven't forgotten, either."
Shi-Nan's fingers rested lightly on the rim of his cup. The feelings he had kept hidden in his heart for so many years had never truly disappeared. They had simply been quietly preserved by time.
Looking at Yi-Jun, he finally stopped avoiding his own feelings.
"If the children really want us to start over, I'm willing."
Yi-Jun remained silent for a long time. She looked at the people passing outside the window, and her expression gradually softened.
"Shi-Nan, we've both passed the age when life was so colorful and exciting."
Shi-Nan said nothing.
"When we were young, I thought loving someone meant marrying him, building a family together, and staying by each other's side day and night." Yi-Jun paused, then turned to look at him. "But after all these years, I've come to understand that even if two people never become husband and wife, they can still hold a very important place in each other's lives."
Shi-Nan looked at her. A trace of disappointment passed through his eyes, but he did not press her further.
"So you don't want to?"
Yi-Jun shook her head gently. "It's not that I don't want you. I just don't want to turn the feelings we once shared into an obligation in our later years."
Shi-Nan remained silent for a long time. At last, he smiled.
"You're still the same as you always were."
Yi-Jun smiled, too. "And you're still the same Cai Shi-Nan."
There was no regret in their smiles. Instead, there was a sense of acceptance that they had only learned to understand after so many years.
Just then, Long Xiang and Chen Xin cautiously peeked over from a distance. Seeing the natural smiles on their parents' faces, they knew the answer was clear.
Long Xiang walked over, deliberately putting on a disappointed expression.
"It looks like all our efforts were for nothing."
Shi-Nan patted his son on the shoulder. "Your efforts weren't wasted." He glanced at Yi-Jun. "At least they gave us a chance to sit together again and share a cup of coffee."
Yi-Jun nodded with a smile. "And I think things are just fine the way they are."
Looking at them, Long Xiang finally understood that what his parents truly needed was not a long-delayed wedding, but an afternoon when they could face their past openly and without regret.
The sun slowly sank toward the horizon, and the café window reflected the silhouettes of all four people. The younger couple was about to embark on married life, while the older pair chose to leave a love they had kept hidden for so many years in the place where it belonged.
Shi-Nan and Yi-Jun did not become husband and wife again, but at last they no longer had to avoid the memories of their youth.
Some love stories do not lead to marriage, but that does not mean they have no ending. Sometimes, they simply take another path.
When we are young, we believe that the destination of love is to remain together. Only after living through half a lifetime do we understand that the best place for some people is not by our side, but in our hearts.
Night fell outside. Long Xiang walked ahead, holding Chen Xin's hand, while Shi-Nan and Yi-Jun followed side by side. Leaning closer to Yi-Jun's ear, Shi-Nan said, "In the years after you left, I got involved with two women, one after the other. And then... nothing came of either relationship."
Yi-Jun asked curiously, "So you never got married?"
"That's right! I'm still a virgin to this day. You can keep calling me an 'unmarried man' if you like. I won't mind."
"Oh! It seems I really misunderstood you back then." Yi-Jun gave an awkward smile, using humor to ease the embarrassment.
The four of them walked slowly toward their separate futures in the last rays of the setting sun. The love they had once missed finally found an ending many years later—one that required no marriage, yet gave them both a reason to smile.
The End
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