My relationship with my wife is complicated. I give her $8,000 a month for living expenses. The house and car are in our daughter’s name. To outsiders, I’m the perfect husband. But I have a secret. I know she knows. She knows I know she knows. But we both… pretend not to know. I thought we could go on like this forever, in our unspoken agreement. But one day, she suddenly said to me: “It’s been hard these past few years. Let’s get divorced.” “I’ve transferred this month’s money to you,” I said casually, lounging on the sofa and addressing Sophia’s back. She was bent over, feeding the gecko in its terrarium. After a while, she slowly straightened up and turned to me with a smile. “Yes, I’ve received it.” Her voice was as gentle and warm as ever, matching her overall demeanor. I paused, then spoke again: “Oh, there’s something I need to tell you. I have to fly to Jiuzhaigou for a few days tomorrow. Work’s been stressful lately, and the team’s been clamoring for a change of scenery to relax, so…” “In that case, why don’t you stay a few extra days? Do you need me to pack for you?” she asked, standing at a comfortable distance. A faint smile played on her lips. “No need. There are, uh, some spare clothes at the office,” I replied. She nodded, then added as an afterthought: “The temperature varies a lot in the mountains. Remember to bring a jacket, or you might end up sick in the hospital again.” As she said this, her expression was serious and sincere, clearly genuinely concerned about my health. I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Sophia was a gentle soul. That was everyone’s unanimous impression of her, including mine. Throughout our marriage, she had been exemplary, truly deserving of the title “virtuous wife and loving mother.” She devoted herself to raising and nurturing our daughter Chloe; For me, she was endlessly accommodating and attentive. Last year, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia after getting caught in the rain, she was constantly bustling about, making me nourishing soups and seeking out traditional remedies. The doctor said it would normally take a month to recover, but I was better in just two weeks. Still not satisfied, she repeatedly confirmed with the doctor: “Are you sure he’s fully recovered? Can he go back to work now?” Only after receiving the doctor’s assurance did she seem to let out a long-held breath. I knew with absolute certainty. Sophia loved me. Apart from our daughter, I was her whole world. Any small matter concerning me became the center of her universe; a minor illness or pain was enough to consume her entirely… I really shouldn’t have been leaving at this time. In two days, it would be the death anniversary of her parents. They had died in a car accident, and following their wishes, their ashes were scattered in the mountains. The annual memorial trip required a grueling four to five-hour hike. In fact, Sophia and I first met during one of my hiking trips, when I encountered her making the solitary journey to pay respects to her parents. It wasn’t safe for a woman alone in the wilderness, so after we got together, I made it a point to accompany her every year without fail. But. Zoe had been in a mood lately. I had promised to take her to Jiuzhaigou to cheer her up.
The next morning, I had barely settled into my office chair when Zoe burst in, wearing a bright red floral dress. “So, did you and the wifey have a passionate reunion last night?” she teased, perching on my desk and swinging her legs. I took a sip of the coffee my secretary had prepared. “We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms for years now, as you well know.” Zoe smirked and scoffed. “Separate rooms? That’s nothing. It’s just a matter of going through one door and into another. Didn’t you once dramatically threaten to kill yourself over your wife?” I looked at her helplessly. “You know I promised Sophia I’d go home at least twice a week to be with Chloe, no matter how busy work gets. I’m purely there for our daughter; you’re reading too much into it.” Zoe was silent for a moment, then tilted her head. “No, I want you to prove it to me.” I laughed. “How am I supposed to do that?” She bit her lip lightly, using the tip of her high heel to nudge my crotch. “Let it prove it.” I glanced at the half-open office door. “There are people outside. We’re flying to Chengdu this afternoon anyway, so tonight we can—” Before I could finish, Zoe’s hand was already reaching for me… with practiced ease. “They won’t come in if they see me here. Besides, isn’t it more exciting with people around?” she purred. Zoe had been insatiable lately, her desires reaching alarming levels. She would also get angry suddenly, and I often didn’t even know why. To avoid trouble, I had been trying to go along with her whims. I caught her wandering hand, chuckling, “Try to keep it down a bit, will you?” “Make me!” she challenged. “…” Zoe was my business partner and my lover. We had been together for four years. She and Sophia were two completely different types of women. If Sophia was a gentle, harmless rabbit, then Zoe was a lioness. Confident, proud, vibrant, always brimming with strength and courage. Zoe and I were both VPs at local investment banks, originally competitors from different companies. After crossing paths in various professional settings, we developed a mutual admiration. She was a firm believer in never marrying or having children. Her bold declaration was well-known in the industry: “I make $200,000 a year, I’m rich, beautiful, and capable. Why would I need a man or a child to lower my quality of life?” This statement made her an idol among her female subordinates, who saw her as a role model for women. I suppose many men go through a complex process of struggle, hesitation, and testing before they cheat. But I later realized that when the time, place, and person are all right, the brain doesn’t have time to think. Like my first time with Zoe. It was at an industry dinner. We’d had a few drinks, and we ran into each other in the elevator on the way back to our rooms. Somehow, we ended up kissing passionately. The elevator doors opened and closed, but we couldn’t bear to part. We stumbled into the room, barely making it inside. We didn’t even make it to the bed. It happened right there against the door. … The coffee had gone cold. I stood up, wiping lipstick off my pants. Zoe sat on the desk, touching up her makeup. Her phone on the table rang, and she casually picked it up, giggling as she read the message. “Your wife says she’s prepared some medicine for you and is having it delivered. She doesnd some medicine for you and is’t want you to get sick while in Jiuzhaigou. Hah, I have to admit, I can’t compete with that level of devotion!” Whenever Zoe mentioned Sophia to me, she never used her name or called her “your wife.” She always said “that woman of yours,” as if Sophia wasn’t even worth mentioning. She probably thought the only reason Sophia was still my wife in name was because Zoe herself adhered to her no-marriage policy. Because she had no interest in competing for the position. After all, in terms of looks, education, and ability, the two women weren’t even in the same league. So in Zoe’s mind, Sophia’s current comfortable life was something she had graciously allowed her to have. I suddenly felt an inexplicable irritation rising within me. I snatched the phone away, snapping, “She’s still my wife. If she doesn’t care about me, who will? You?” Zoe froze, staring at me in shock.
Zoe was angry. She put on her underwear stiffly and stomped out in her high heels. In the past, when she acted like this, I would have rushed after her, apologizing and trying to smooth things over. But this time, watching her slam the door shut, I found I had no desire to move. The sunlight outside was bright and energetic. I sank into my chair, closing my eyes in exhaustion. At some point, Sophia’s face popped into my mind. Lately, I seemed to be frequently recalling our past together. Sophia was a biology teacher at a public high school. She was small and slender, with skin a few shades paler than most. She spoke softly and always wore a faint smile. Her eyes were actually quite beautiful. When she focused on someone, they were liquid and bright, reminding me of a celebrity crush from my youth. But in recent years, she always wore glasses. Through the reflective lenses, I often found it hard to discern certain emotions in her eyes. I remembered how she looked when I first met her. On that hiking trip, I had been bitten by a snake. My foot was so swollen I couldn’t walk. I was in the middle of nowhere, feeling desperate and helpless. Then Sophia appeared, wearing a black windbreaker and carrying a backpack, descending the mountain path with light, graceful steps. I felt both joy and disappointment. She looked so small and fragile, not at all like someone who could help. But after carefully examining my injury, she calmly told me it wasn’t a venomous snake bite. Then she left for a while, returning with a handful of herbs. She chewed some up and applied the paste to my wound. An hour later, my foot, which had swollen to the size of a bun, gradually returned to normal. I could walk again, albeit with difficulty. I asked her in amazement who she was, saying she must be an angel sent from heaven to save me in my time of need. She smiled and said, “I’m a high school biology teacher.” That day, I leaned on her slight frame as we slowly made our way down the mountain. … My affair with Zoe was a secret, separate from my ordinary life. Men, after all, have many facets. When I first entered the workforce, I was a green rookie. I couldn’t hold my liquor at business dinners or assert myself in negotiations. One day, after a meal, an industry veteran patted me on the shoulder and said: “Act the part for whatever situation you’re in. The sooner a man understands this, the more successful he’ll be.” It was an epiphany for me. From then on, I put this advice into practice. Sure enough, as the veteran had said, my career took off, and I found myself living a more relaxed and uninhibited life. As for Sophia. I played my part as a husband well, to the fullest. That made me a successful husband. And her a happy wife. My affair with Zoe was a different aspect of my life, one Sophia had no need to be involved in! But paper can’t wrap up fire forever, and Zoe was never one for discretion. Six months later, Sophia found out. As luck would have it, Zoe and Chloe shared the same birthday. Zoe was big on celebrations, and it was our first birthday together, so naturally I had to be with her. I apologetically told my wife and daughter that I had to go on a two-day business trip and would miss the birthday. Chloe was 8 at the time, a quiet girl just like her mother. She came up to me, shyly kissed me on the cheek, and said in a soft voice: “It’s okay, Daddy.” “Take care, Daddy.” We had originally planned to spend two secluded days in a hotel, but Zoe suddenly had a craving for a particular dessert and insisted on going out to buy it. At the dessert shop, as Zoe was playfully smearing cream on my nose, I looked up and saw Sophia and Chloe. They were standing there hand in hand, looking surprised. Their first reaction wasn’t suspicion or anger, but delight. “Honey, you’re back!” “Daddy, did you come to buy my birthday cake too?” Zoe glanced at them, then sauntered to the side, casually eating her cake with a spoon. I quickly composed myself and smiled, “Yes! I came back early to surprise you.” Mother and daughter joyfully came to take my hands. “Thank you, Daddy!” Chloe’s face bloomed like a flower. Zoe suddenly spoke up in a casual tone: “Mr. Chen, didn’t we agree to work on the project all night? Have you forgotten?” Sophia turned to look at Zoe. Her expression slightly clouded. Zoe met her gaze with a smile. I made a quick decision. In that situation, denying Zoe’s words would only raise suspicion. So I slapped my forehead, exclaiming, “Oh no, how could I have forgotten about that!” I looked at Sophia apologetically. Sophia stared at me for a moment, then quietly asked: “Honey, do you really have to go?” I nodded solemnly. “Yes, this project is crucial. I can’t skip it.” I ordered the most expensive princess birthday cake for Chloe, making her clap her hands in delight. “Thank you, Daddy! You’re the best!” As Zoe and I were leaving, I glanced back. Sophia stood on the busy sidewalk, holding Chloe’s hand, watching us silently. The setting sun behind her created a blinding halo. I squinted. Her face was a bit blurry. That night, I punished Zoe severely for her careless words earlier. She squirmed and laughed. “Hah, looks like all those thousands you give her every month are wasted. You don’t even have the guts to stand up to her!” An inexplicable anger burned inside me, and I became even rougher. The next afternoon, I really did receive an urgent assignment requiring a week-long business trip. I rushed home from the hotel to pack some things. On the way, I called Sophia, wanting her to prepare some clothes for me in advance. She didn’t answer. I called again, and this time she hung up on me. Irritated, I returned home with a dark expression. But the house was empty and quiet. During summer vacation, Sophia rarely went out, usually staying home to tutor Chloe. Yet today, of all days, she was nowhere to be found. Fuming, I hastily packed a few clothes myself. As I went into the study to get my laptop, I noticed the screen wasn’t fully closed.
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