Actually, I've been wondering if Zhao Hu might have misunderstood—that maybe the dean, just like the other male teacher, was simply pestering my wife.
Thinking this, I seemed to have let go of a troubling knot in my heart. I said to my wife, "Honey, let's go home now. I have something nice to give you."
If we were a loving couple, she would have been filled with anticipation upon hearing that.
But I couldn't see any trace of expectation in her eyes, which deeply disheartened me.
I truly didn't expect that so many people at the school would be interested in my wife. If one day she couldn't resist temptation and got involved with one of them, what would I do?
With a young and beautiful wife like hers, it wouldn't be surprising if a tall, handsome man came along. If he pursued her desperately, maybe she would be swayed.
Thinking this, my mood naturally worsened.
While driving home, I was quietly troubled by many things.
My wife said, "Zhao Jian, let's stop by the market to buy some groceries. I'll cook dinner for you tonight."
It seemed like life had returned to how it used to be, but I could sense that something had changed.
A woman whose heart has changed is something a husband can feel.
Back at home, while my wife was cooking, I suddenly hugged her from behind.
When we first got married, we used to have such intimate moments.
My wife didn't resist; she seemed numb to this kind of affection.
I said, "Honey, I have something to give you."
Then I took out the diamond necklace I'd just bought and fastened it around her sensual neck.
In the past, she would have been very happy and would have insisted on knowing where I got the money.
Because she knew I hardly had any money.
But her reaction was very indifferent; she didn't even ask where the money came from.
This made me very unhappy.
I rested my head on Lu Wan's shoulder and asked, "Honey, do you like it?"
But her answer was far from what I expected.
"Zhao Jian, why did you buy this? I'm not the type to be vain."
I thought she was angry on the surface but secretly happy—as women often are.
I continued, "Honey, I've just been promoted to sales manager. The money I used to buy this necklace is my two-thousand-yuan bonus. I still have eighteen hundred left. Do you want me to give it to you?"
She shook her head and said, "Men have it hard outside. You keep the money."
During dinner, she seemed preoccupied and unhappy about something.
As a husband, caring about my wife was only natural.
I asked, "Honey, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
She thought for a moment and said, "Zhao Jian, actually I've been thinking about something for a long time."
To be honest, I was very afraid she would bring up something I could not accept. But it was unavoidable.
My emotions were complicated then; I felt my heart pounding in fear.
"What is it, honey?"
She said, "I've decided to have an abortion."
I didn't know why Lu Wan would make such a decision. She must have her own reasons.
If this child really is mine, to just abort it without cause would be a great loss.
If it's not my child, then she has already done something unforgivable.
No matter how you look at it, it's a very unfavorable situation.
The best way to reduce the damage is to find out the truth.
I stared at her and said, "Honey, it finally took us so long to have a child. Why would you want to abort?"
She thought for a moment and said, "Zhao Jian, you've just been promoted to sales manager and will be very busy. I've just been named an outstanding young teacher. If we have a child now, the pressure on both of us would be huge."
I had to admit what she said was true; I was facing these problems now.
But after being married for over a year, it was such a pity to give up the child so easily.
I thought a moment and said, "But abortion could harm your health."
She said, "It's okay. It'll be my first time. I'll take care of myself and will surely get pregnant again later."
Her words were meant to comfort me, but for some reason, I suddenly felt extremely disgusted.
I felt like she was using this as an excuse to get rid of me.
But if that was the case, why did she still come back home? She might as well abort the child and live happily with the other man.
At this point, I couldn't bear it anymore, so I asked, "Honey, tell me the truth—whose child is this in your belly?"
Hearing this, Lu Wan instantly froze.
I don't know if she was just stunned or if I had pierced the thick veil of secrecy. In any case, my words shocked her enough.
I said nothing, waiting for her answer, knowing it would take some time.
After a long while, she said, "Zhao Jian, this child is yours."
Damn, in a situation like this, she still didn't dare to admit it might be the other man's child.
I wondered what her real purpose was—whether she wanted to bury her shameful acts deep or protect the man hiding in the shadows.
I said, "Lu Wan, if this child is truly mine, then you shouldn't abort it. It's the proof of our love."
She said nothing. Suddenly, tears slipped down her cheeks.
For a moment, I felt like a kid who had done something wrong, unsure of what to say to my wife.
Maybe this was my soft spot!
Suddenly, she stopped eating, put down her chopsticks, and went back to the room.
At that moment, I lost my appetite as well. Sitting alone at the dining table, I began to zone out.
I don't know how long I sat there, but I felt deeply sad inside.
It seemed there was no chance I would learn the truth from my wife's mouth; I had to find out on my own.
I quietly made up my mind: no matter the result, I must know the truth. In the end, I would give my wife the fairest and most just choice possible.
Thinking this, I began clearing the table.
That night, I still slept on the sofa because I felt we needed more time apart to think.
Half asleep, I fell into slumber on the sofa again.
When I woke in the morning, I saw my wife busy in the kitchen, apparently fine.
At breakfast, I carefully observed her and noticed her eyes were swollen.
She had obviously cried yesterday.
At that moment, I began to feel sorry for my wife and regretted my words from the day before.
Just as I wanted to apologize, she said, "Zhao Jian, can you accompany me to the hospital?"
In my heart, I knew she had decided to abort the child.
Of course, I didn't agree, so I asked, "Why don't you want this child? Tell me why."
Tears came to her eyes again, and I could feel her pain.
I still couldn't be sure if the child was mine, but as her husband, I almost knew who the real father was.
I was close to madness, wondering why she couldn't tell me the truth. I was not unreasonable.
Seeing her cry, I dared not say anything more, afraid I might damage our relationship further.
The breakfast was eaten in silence, yet it was deeply agonizing.
After breakfast and cleaning up, she said to me, "Zhao Jian, take me to school later. I need to make up some classes."
Usually, she often made up classes at the school on weekends, so this wasn't strange. I thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but please take care of yourself and don't overwork."
She nodded, and I saw her tears had stopped.
…
After dropping my wife off at school, I didn't know what to do.
Then I thought of Zhao Hu.
That bastard! He lied to me, saying my wife's lover was the dean.
I helped him clear a 100,000 yuan debt, and this was how he treated me—a heartless, ruthless guy.
Thinking of this made me furious.
I called Zhao Hu.
After a while, he answered. I guessed he was still asleep.
People who spend their days and nights in bars and clubs usually sleep until mealtimes.
Having played together since childhood, I knew Zhao Hu's habits very well.
"Zhao Jian, what are you calling me so early for?" he asked right away.
"Damn it! Last time you told me my wife's lover was the dean. But from what I secretly observed, that's not the case!"
I had no need to be polite, immediately questioning him.
Zhao Hu suddenly became interested and asked, "What did Lu Wan say to you?"
I didn't know why he asked, but I replied, "Lu Wan said nothing. I just observed it myself."
Zhao Hu said, "Zhao Jian, we've been friends since childhood, so I'll tell you: don't let Lu Wan fool you. The story about her cheating with the dean was told to me personally by Fang Min, and she sounded very convincing."
Hearing this, I suddenly felt very sad.
Even if I didn't believe Lu Wan was unfaithful, the people around her held a poor impression of her. Could it be because she was so beautiful?
To learn more details, I said to Zhao Hu, "Tell me, what exactly did Fang Min say? Could she have lied to you too?"
Zhao Hu sneered, then said, "Zhao Jian, think carefully. Would Fang Min defame her best friend for no reason and no benefit? What would she gain from that?"
Although I didn't socialise much with Fang Min, I knew she was very shrewd.
She wouldn't do something so foolish.
Zhao Hu continued, "Besides, I've completely won Fang Min over. Do you think she'd lie to me?"
I mulled it over and said, "But when I went to school yesterday, the dean was a short, ugly middle-aged man. How could my wife be attracted to someone like that?"
Zhao Hu said, "Never judge by appearances. Love is inexplicable. Like Fang Min—you never would have imagined I could win her over so quickly!"
I began to believe what Zhao Hu said and asked, "So, what should I do now?"
Zhao Hu thought for a moment and said, "You should spend more time at the school. Maybe you'll discover something unexpected."