Soon, the two arrived at the state-run restaurant.
It was Liu Yuan who treated Wen Zhuqing to the meal. Liu Yuan was generous with her spending and ordered braised pork, cabbage stew with vermicelli, a whole fish, and two bowls of rice.
Liu Yuan was the only daughter in her family, and her parents doted on her immensely. They regularly gave her pocket money. After graduating from junior high, her parents had secured her a job at the supply and marketing cooperative—a stable, iron-rice-bowl position that wasn’t too demanding.
“Brother Wen, you’re too thin. You should eat more, especially this braised pork. You need to nourish yourself,” Liu Yuan said, gazing at the slender Wen Zhuqing with heartache in her eyes.
“Thank you, Comrade Liu. Nowadays, you’re the only one who still thinks of me.” Though Wen Zhuqing’s lips curved into a smile, it was tinged with bitterness, and his eyes were filled with sorrow, which only made Liu Yuan’s heart ache even more.
“Brother Wen, did that woman hit you again? Did she not let you eat?”
Wen Zhuqing remained silent.
Seeing this, Liu Yuan grew even more convinced that her guess was correct.
“Brother Wen, I’ll go home today and talk to my parents about helping you divorce that woman. Once you’re free from her, then we, we…” Liu Yuan’s eyes were brimming with love as she looked at Wen Zhuqing.
“Yuan Yuan…” This time, Wen Zhuqing didn’t address her as “Comrade Liu.” Instead, his gaze was filled with tender affection.
Liu Yuan was completely lost in it.
Yes, Liu Yuan was in love with Wen Zhuqing.
Their acquaintance began with a rescue. Wen Zhuqing had unintentionally saved Liu Yuan, and to her, in that moment of crisis, the tall, handsome, and gentle Wen Zhuqing had appeared like a god descending from heaven.
At that moment, Liu Yuan was captivated.
At that moment, her heart stirred, and she fell for Wen Zhuqing.
Afterward, the two began spending time together.
However, upon learning that Wen Zhuqing was married, Liu Yuan hesitated.
After all, the upbringing she had received forbade her from destroying someone else’s marriage.
She had even planned to distance herself from him after repaying his kindness.
But as they continued to interact, she learned that Wen Zhuqing was an educated youth sent to the countryside. His marriage to his wife hadn’t been voluntary—he had been trapped into it.
Not only that, but the woman treated him terribly. She forced him to do endless household chores and, with her formidable strength, frequently beat and berated him.
And Wen Zhuqing, because she was his wife and a woman, never fought back (though in reality, it was simply because he couldn’t win).
As Wen Zhuqing recounted his miserable life, his sorrowful, melancholic expression and the bruises covering his body made Liu Yuan’s heart ache.
If Gu Jianing could read Liu Yuan’s mind, she would have said: Wen Zhuqing has always known how to use his looks to manipulate others for his own benefit.
And now was no exception.
Liu Yuan thought, since Wen Zhuqing had saved her, how could she stand by and watch him suffer in such a predicament while trying to repay him?
She wanted to save him from his misery, just as he had once saved her.
But how? For now, Liu Yuan couldn’t think of a way.
Regardless, because of all this, she no longer considered distancing herself from Wen Zhuqing. Instead, she grew even more tenderhearted toward him.
Pity and gratitude for his life-saving favor—these were the beginnings of a woman falling for a man.
As their interactions became more frequent, Liu Yuan’s feelings for Wen Zhuqing deepened.
And now, things had progressed to the point where she was determined to rescue him from his suffering—to help him divorce Bao Shanyan and marry him herself.
Liu Yuan didn’t know how to help Wen Zhuqing get a divorce, but she knew her parents could.
Before, she hadn’t dared to tell them, knowing they would surely oppose it.
But now, she felt she had no choice. Even if she had to cry, throw tantrums, or threaten suicide, she would make them agree.
When Liu Yuan said she would tell her parents about their relationship today, Wen Zhuqing hesitated for a moment but didn’t refuse. A thoughtful glint flickered in his eyes.
Some things must be set in motion today, he thought.
Soon, the dishes arrived.
The chef at the state-run restaurant was indeed skilled. Especially since Wen Zhuqing, who currently had neither money nor ration tickets, rarely got to eat anything decent at the Bao household.
When Wen Zhuqing was sent to the countryside, he hadn’t brought much with him—in fact, he was quite poor.
But he had relied on “contributions” from people like Gu Jianing to live comfortably and maintain a dignified appearance.
However, after marrying Bao Shanyan, none of the village girls or female educated youths who had once been interested in him dared to approach him anymore.
At first, a few still tried, but Bao Shanyan had beaten them away.
After that, no girl dared to “sponsor” him again.
Life in the Bao family was truly miserable for Wen Zhuqing—never enough to eat, never warm enough, constantly beaten by Bao Shanyan, and even forced to… perform at night before she got pregnant.
Every time, he felt like he was being defiled by a pig.
Although Bao Shanyan was pregnant, the didn’t want the child. But as long as she was pregnant, Bao Shanyan would no longer harass him.
Yet, Wen Zhuqing still wanted to break free from the Bao family and Bao Shanyan.
And the person who would help him escape from Bao Shanyan-was Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan was the one he had carefully chosen after much deliberation.
“Yuanyuan, I’ve rented a place in the county town. After we finish eating, do you want to go take a look? Once you know where it is, we can meet there later…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Liu Yuan had already understood his meaning.
Blushing shyly, she nodded and softly replied, “Mhm.”
After the meal, the two left the state-run restaurant. Soon, Wen Zhuqing led Liu Yuan to a secluded alley and unlocked the door to a small, single-story house.
They stepped inside.
Alone together, the atmosphere grew even more intimate. Combined with Wen Zhuqing’s deliberate touches, it didn’t take long before they couldn’t resist each other.
In the bedroom, the two, drawn to each other, embraced and kissed.
For a moment, Liu Yuan was utterly dazed by passion.
Then, they tumbled onto the bed.
Just as they were about to take the next step, a loud noise suddenly came from the window, startling Liu Yuan back to her senses. In her panic, she pushed Wen Zhuqing off with all her strength.
Caught off guard, the frail Wen Zhuqing hadn’t expected her to shove him.
With a thud, he fell to the floor, his backside aching sharply.
“Ah! Brother Wen, I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Flustered and guilty, Liu Yuan hurriedly buttoned up her blouse, which had come undone.
What had come over her just now? How could she have…
She had always planned to wait until after marrying Brother Wen before… doing that.
But now, Brother Wen wasn’t even divorced yet. If they went through with it, wouldn’t that make them… adulterers?
The thought made her face pale slightly. “Brother Wen, I-I should go back now. Don’t worry, I’ll convince my parents.”
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