If common friends ate together and went Dutch, they were even and had a good relationship. If lovers went Dutch after dinner, they would not owe each other anything and were in step with each other. If a couple did, they were alienated from each other and their marriage existed in name only.

Chen Kexin had no idea why she thought of it, but she was clear that this event tonight hurt her sense of self-esteem. Even though she had self-knowledge and knew that she was silly, lazy, capricious and not a good wife, she did not expect that one day she would be labeled as cheap goods as if she was begging him to marry her.

She recalled how they encountered online, how they started a date in real life and what happened after they got married. She knew why she wanted to marry Wang Weixi and she did not feel ashamed of it. At that time… when she was unwilling to pretend to be good in front of his father, she bumped into Wang Weixi. She thought he was nice and gentle and even found that she crushed on him. But… Should it be blamed on her?

“Was… was I cheap in all the men’s eyes?” She did not know the answer, and tears filled her eyes again and again.

She lowered her head. She was reluctant to look at Wang Weixi. Actually, she did not dare to meet his gaze and was afraid to see his sardonic expression. “Did he say he loved me with a hint of mock?”

Thinking of it. she found it ridiculous. “I wanted to marry him and still spoil myself. I’m deserved to be despised by others… But now all of it is because I loved him and wanted to be with him earlier, so I gave up my dignity and principles and asked him to marry me. I made such a choice because I felt he loved me… I saw happiness in his eyes.”

“Is everything an illusion? I came to your life, is it painful for you?”

Wang Weixi sat there, like a child who made a mistake with his head bowed. He often used his gentleness to soften his wife’s stance, but now, he felt that gentleness was a kind of hypocrisy for he actually said those words without caring about her feelings, only to satisfy his own male chauvinism.

“Now I’ve hurt her. What should I do to comfort her and to ensure that she will not be sad about it?”

…

The silence of the two people in the ward contrasted sharply with the confrontation between Chen Keren and Yi Duanfang on the top floor.

It was a bit cold on the top floor, so no one was here, apart from Chen Keren and Yi Duanfang who had just came up.

The cold moonlight fell on the two frosty faces. Actually, compared with Chen Keren, Yi Duanfang looked a bit guilty, but he did not want Chen Keren to perceive it.

Chen Keren stood only one meter away from him, but at this moment, she felt like they were separated by mountains and seas. Her feelings for him was replaced by uncontrollable anger.

“Yi Duanfang, now you’ve made your dream come true. How do you feel? Watching the two be like this, are you feeling good?” Chen Keren mocked.

Yi Duanfang’s mouth twitched. After a good while, he said, “Are you not the same?”

“What? Are you blaming me now?” Chen Keren asked with a frown.

Yi Duanfang sneered, “Don’t play innocent, Miss Chen Keren. Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve long been disliking Weixi. Now you’ve got a chance. Whether it was his fault or not, you thought the buck stopped with him. You kept telling him off, placed them in a dilemma, and caused a rift between them. Then they would get divorced and you can find a satisfying brother-in-law for your sister Chen Kexin, can’t you?” Finishing those words, Yi Duanfang rolled his eyes with disdain.

Chen Keren was simmering with anger, but she tried to keep calm and sneered, “Really, don’t you think you should be responsible for it?”

Yi Duanfang remembered what he had said and suddenly became speechless.

“Yi Duanfang, I’m not so stupid. I won’t destroy her marriage by hurting her. It was just that Wang Weixi did something wrong. Doesn’t he know that my sister is lazy and that she can’t take good care of herself? Since he knew all of it, why did not he tell me that he was going to have a business trip? Why didn’t he let my sister go to my house or Chen Derong’s house?”

As she said, she was approaching Yi Duanfang. The latter was scared by her imposing manner. As he originally felt guilty, he could only retreat without saying a word.

“Say it. Aren’t you talkative? Aren’t you eloquent? Why are you dumb now? Ah?!” Chen Keren shouted angrily.

Yi Duanfang stamped his feet and gritted his teeth, saying, “I know that I’ve been blunt. I’m upset too and in no mood to argue with you! You cherish Kexin, but I also care Weixi. It seems that they will break up because we had a quarrel.” Then he put on a guilty look and continued, “I’m regretful for it now… I don’t want to bicker with you.”

Hearing this, Chen Keren fell into silence. After a good while, she spoke, a bit apologetically, “Right, we triggered this, so we have to make up for it, don’t we?”

Yi Duanfang looked more upset when hearing it. “I’ve made such a big mistake. How will we make up?”

Chen Keren thought for a while and raised her eyebrows, saying, “Look at how they reacted, anyway, both of us have to admit our mistakes.”

Yi Duanfang said with somewhat surprise, “What? Admit our mistakes? Oh, Big Miss, didn’t I mishear? You said you would admit your mistakes? When have you done this before? I’m really surprised by you.”

Chen Keren said irritatedly, “What do you mean?”

…

In the ward, the blue rose also emanated the faint fragrance, which was refreshing.

“I won’t be a freeloader.” Finally, Chen Kexin wiped her tears and said flatly.

Wang Weixi raised his head and looked at Chen Kexin, who looked pale. The sense of guilt struck his heard and made him unable to breathe. He held Chen Kexin’s hand and kissed it, saying, “Honey, sorry, yell at me. Don’t say those words, OK? I know that what I said hurt you, I’m really sorry… I am just… just…”

Chen Kexin looked at him as he interrupted him with a calm look. “You don’t have to say sorry. I’m really useless. Sorry, you might be tired of me. It’s all my fault. I thought… I’m not qualified to be your wife.”

Hearing it, Wang Weixi trembled. He looked up and said with surprise, “Dear, what did you say?”

Chen Kexin felt tears well up in her eyes. She immediately turned away but still responded calmly. “I sad, I’m not qualified to be your wife.”

Wang Weixi held her hand tightly and shook his head in a panic, saying, “Dear, don’t say this. I don’t allow you to say those words. You know, I didn’t intend to hurt you. My mistake. I was terrified to hear what you said. As long as you stay by my side, I am already very happy. Really… I’ve never wanted you to do something for me… really…”

Chen Kexin gave no response and did not glance at him.

“Dear…” Wang Weixi did not what to do.

Silent for a while, Chen Kexin turned her face. A faint smile appeared on her pale face. It used to look like a warm and lovely smile, but somehow, it caused pain in her heart.

“In the future, you don’t need to prepare meals and wash clothes for me. You don’t have to do the cleaning. You only need to walk hard. If you do those things, I’ll pay you and then we’re even.” As she was saying this, she felt like her heart was ripped. Everyone thought that she was petite and cute, but they did not know the way she protected herself was so decisive.

Although knowing that what she said would worsen the situation, she still did. Whether she did it in order to comfort herself or release her anger, she had already said those words and would not withdraw it for she could not.

Wang Weixi was stunned there. When he came to his senses, he said a bit irritatedly, “Dear, what are you talking about? We’re married, aren’t we? How could we do this? If so, what am I? I am your hourly worker? I know it’s my fault to hurt you, but you can’t… you can’t…”

Chen Kexin was listening indifferently. Her waywardness was understandable sometimes.

Outside the door, Chen Keren and Yi Duanfang stood. What Chen Kexin said struck on the duo’s hearts and overwhelmed them.

“Dear, you said that we would follow the three rules no matter what happened to us or what we fought for, didn’t you? We are not allowed to say anything awful and get mad at each other. And we should admit our mistakes and forgive each other. No matter what it is about, we can’t hurt hurt each other.”

Chen Kexin heard it and the warm night came to mind. She shook her head and burst into tears before she said in a trembling voice, “I didn’t want to hurt you. I have no other meaning. I just can’t forgive myself. Sorry, sorry, please do as I wish, okay? I really don’t want to owe you…”

Wang Weix shook his head and said firmly, “No, absolutely, I don’t want this. If so, are we still a couple?”

“Then go Dutch. It’s settled!” Chen Kexin said in a more decisive tone as if Wang Weixi was not allowed to say anything.

Wang Weixi took her hand painfully and cried, “Dear…”

“I am tired and need to get some rest. You have to go to work tomorrow, so go back to sleep, and I’m fine with Keren’s company.” Chen Kexin did not know where this kind of tough attitude came from. She took back her hand, turned over and lay down.

Wang Weixi stared dumbly at Chen Kexin’s back. After a good while, he helplessly got up and said limply, “I know. Have a good rest.”

Then he listlessly picked up his luggage and was about to leave. Before he turned around, he glanced at Chen Kexin lying there, tears falling from his eyes and dripping into his mouth. He suddenly felt his dry lips soar.

Seeing Chen Keren Yi Duanfang’s guilty expression at the door, he turned to leave before the duo uttered a word.

Yi Duanfang glanced at Chen Keren and ran to keep up with his friend.

Chen Keren looked at the back of the two people and stood for a good while.

Opening the door, she heard Chen Kexin sobbing. Aside from saying sorry, she did not know what else to say.

“Come and sleep, you need to go to work tomorrow.” Chen Kexin did not say anything else.

Chen Keren nodded and fell silent.