The Consequences of Lin Youyou's Success

The next day, Wang Yan called several business owners who needed companies to put on celebratory events.

He was going to play matchmaker and bring Xu Huanshan some business, keeping him busy, but not too busy.

If there were no opportunities, he'd create them. Xu Huanshan couldn't be left with too much free time, but he couldn't be so busy that he had no time to fool around with Lin Youyou, either.

Wang Yan had some pull. After making a few calls, he lined up four jobs, scattered across the country.

Once everything was settled, he passed Xu Huanshan their contact information. He made it clear: These jobs were all his. There was no need to waste time on anything else. He just had to go sign the contracts and handle the designs.

The job in Beijing was basically wrapped up. He only needed to go there now and then to check in. Wang Yan's referrals were substantial, too, and together they were worth far more than the Beijing job. The profits were good, and Xu Huanshan stood to make a lot.

Xu Huanshan plunged into a happy, busy life. And in the midst of all that work, he felt the satisfaction of success as a man.

After all, with every trip and every conversation, he was one step closer to setting off the fireworks. Every minute and second meant money.

But it never occurred to him that the jobs Wang Yan found him were essentially no different from the jobs Gu Jia had found him. This time, he didn't complain about relying on connections, snap at Gu Jia, or grumble pointlessly.

Once Xu Huanshan got busy, his trips to Beijing gradually became less frequent.

What was Lin Youyou supposed to do? She'd finally found someone she liked, and things were progressing just as she'd expected, all within her control. Xu Huanshan was busy making money; if this went on, he might forget all about her.

Lin Youyou started flirting with him relentlessly. She'd send him a couple of selfies, share some delicious food to brighten his day, or find some excuse to exchange flirty messages.

But now things were different. Xu Huanshan was so busy that his work seemed endless, and he barely had time for her. Wang Yan hadn't anticipated that the firework business would drag on so long. He should've arranged one fewer job—then the timing would've been perfect.

Fortunately, Lin Youyou wasn't one to give up. She found a way around this little snag.

Before long, Lin Youyou realized that none of her usual tricks were working. Her eyes darted as an idea came to her. After finding out where Xu Huanshan was staying, she quit her job without a second thought and took a flight straight to him. She was afraid that if she waited any longer, he'd slip away from her.

That evening, Xu Huanshan had just finished a video call with Gu Jia when Lin Youyou called. She told him she'd come to the city where he was staying.

Xu Huanshan was astonished by her sudden arrival. He knew why she'd come, of course, but he hadn't expected her to be so decisive. He immediately set out to meet her.

The two of them went to dinner together, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lin Youyou put on an air of innocent cheer and told Xu Huanshan about what she'd been up to. He simply listened in silence.

After dinner, Xu Huanshan settled Lin Youyou into a room at his hotel.

After opening a new room for her, Xu Huanshan gave her a few instructions and prepared to return to his own room to rest. He had work the next day, and the atmosphere in the room felt dangerous. He was afraid he might lose control.

Seeing him say just a couple of words before trying to leave, Lin Youyou wasn't about to let him go. This was why she'd come. It was win or lose everything; tonight, she had to make him hers.

She wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her voice choked up slightly. "Xu Huanshan, don't go. You know how I feel about you, don't you?"

"I quit my job and traveled all this way. You know why I did it, don't you?"

"Stop running away. I know you care about me. Please don't go."

Xu Huanshan pried her arms away and looked at her. "What are you doing? Don't you know I'm married?"

"If anything I did before gave you the wrong idea, I'm sorry."

Seeing how hard Xu Huanshan was trying to hold himself back, Lin Youyou knew she'd read him right. She cried, "What did you do wrong? I'm the one at fault. I'm shameless for trying to get close to a married man. I'm the one trying to ruin your marriage."

"Don't say that about yourself. It's all my fault. I must have acted inappropriately when we were together and made you misunderstand."

Xu Huanshan was flustered by Lin Youyou's outburst. As if to reaffirm his resolve, he said, "The only person I'm responsible for in this world is my wife, Gu Jia. She's sacrificed so much for me, for our child, for our family. I wouldn't be where I am today without her. I can't betray my wife and child... She..."

At the mention of Gu Jia, Lin Youyou's anger flared. Whenever they were together, it was always Gu Jia this and Gu Jia that. She was sick of hearing about her.

She cut Xu Huanshan off forcefully. "Stop talking!"

Then, sobbing, she poured out her feelings. "The first time I saw you, you had a bruise on your face. You'd obviously gotten into a fight and been beaten up. A man your age who still got into fights and came away bruised had to be interesting."

Xu Huanshan smiled awkwardly at that, a memory of their first meeting coming back to him.

Lin Youyou continued, "But as I got to know you, I realized you were like someone trapped inside a shell."

"You're not allowed to get caught in the rain or get sick. You listen to everything your wife says. She's the one who's forced all this on you. You've locked the little boy inside you away, then pretend you're not that kind of person."

"Have you ever thought that you're just her tool—a tool she can control however she wants?"

Stung by Lin Youyou's words, Xu Huanshan raised his voice. "Enough! Stop talking. Isn't that what marriage is? Understanding each other and changing for each other."

Lin Youyou shouted back, "Xu Huanshan, wake up! She's always the one changing you. What have you ever changed about her? Have you changed her at all?"

"No matter how beautiful the fireworks are, someone has to light them. But, Xu Huanshan, have you lit them?"

Xu Huanshan fell silent at Lin Youyou's words.

Memories rose in his mind, one after another.

He thought it through carefully. Lin Youyou was right: Gu Jia had barely changed over all these years. She wouldn't let him do this or that. She even controlled what he ate, drank, and wore. Ever since they'd gotten together, he'd lived according to Gu Jia's arrangements. He'd never truly been himself. Not once.

Sometimes, people only saw, heard, and thought what they wanted to. Xu Huanshan was no exception. Anyone with half a brain would know that after all those years together, their relationship couldn't have involved only him adapting and changing. He was simply caught up in the moment, lost in his emotions and seeing things one-sidedly.

Wang Yan deserved some credit, too. The jobs he'd referred had gone smoothly, and everyone knew he had powerful connections. The clients also respected Xu Huanshan's opinions. With things going so smoothly, it was only natural that he'd started to feel a little carried away.

Seeing Xu Huanshan lost in thought, Lin Youyou seized her chance. She went over and pushed him onto the bed. Xu Huanshan was still distracted, thinking, and didn't notice until he'd been knocked down.

She leaned over him and looked him straight in the eyes, demanding, "Xu Huanshan, can't you be yourself again? Can't you be the little boy you've buried inside?"

"Xu Huanshan, what are you hesitating for?"

"Tell me, what are you afraid of? Huh?"

"You're Xu Huanshan!!!"

Then she grabbed his face and began kissing him fiercely.

Xu Huanshan had been busy lately and rarely went home to enjoy a happy sex life with Gu Jia. Sometimes he tried to initiate things, but Gu Jia would turn him down, saying she didn't feel well. He was utterly confused and could only assume she'd hit menopause early.

As his workload increased, he made more and more money. Money gave a man courage. And lately, when he went out drinking with clients, he'd watched other people carouse while he spent the nights alone. The frustration had been building.

Xu Huanshan was getting worked up by Lin Youyou's advances. That final line—"You're Xu Huanshan"—hit him right where it felt good. To hell with Gu Jia. To hell with being a tool. I want to be myself. I want to be Xu Huanshan. I am Xu Huanshan.

Lin Youyou caressed him and whispered, "Xu Huanshan."

Afterward, Xu Huanshan held Lin Youyou as they leaned against the headboard. He thought about what had just happened. He did feel guilty, but the thrill of betrayal was stronger.

"People are out there juggling a fourth, a fifth, even a sixth woman, like they're playing cards or mahjong. I've barely started." Maybe comparing yourself to others was how most people found an excuse to make themselves feel better. At least that was what Xu Huanshan did.

You had to admit, Xu Huanshan had found himself a second wind.

The two of them were inseparable. Xu Huanshan flew all over the country, taking Lin Youyou with him wherever he went. He was having so much fun that he'd forgotten all about Gu Jia. Sometimes he had the chance to return to Shanghai, but he didn't. Instead, he took Lin Youyou out to have fun.

With Lin Youyou by his side every day, Xu Huanshan seemed full of energy. Of course, that was how he appeared to everyone else. When he faced Gu Jia, he still couldn't shake his guilty conscience. After all, Gu Jia had spent years establishing her authority over him.

Gu Jia probably knew Xu Huanshan better than he knew himself. So when she video-called him, she sensed that something was off. But Xu Huanshan managed to fool her every time, and she didn't think much of it.

Gu Jia never would've imagined that Xu Huanshan, who'd always done as he was told, had gone off the rails.

She didn't have to worry about her son; Wang Yan was taking good care of him.

She simply ran her dessert shop as usual. Now that she had enough money, she didn't need to sell it. She sometimes chatted with the wives' circle and kept working on herself.

Sometimes she met up with Wang Manni and Zhong Xiaoqin. She listened to Wang Manni share the thrilling details of her battles with a master, and to Zhong Xiaoqin talk about her conflicted feelings between Zhong Xiaoyang and Chen Yu.

Recently, Wang Manni had learned that Liang Zhengxian was against marriage, and she wasn't happy about it. Wang Manni was an expert, but Liang wasn't any pushover. He was an expert among experts, and in just a few words, he talked Wang Manni around. She no longer wanted to get married, and even had the nerve to say something like, "Well, if we're not getting married, then we're not getting married. If I ever want to get married someday, at least I'll have you by my side."

Zhong Xiaoqin was in a bit of a daze. After learning she was divorced, Zhong Xiaoyang had started making his move. His youth, passion, and boundless energy were exactly what she longed for. But she'd spent several years with Chen Yu, and now that she was divorced, whenever she saw him, she found herself thinking that a quiet, ordinary life might be best after all. She was torn and couldn't decide.

Gu Jia was different. Compared with those two, she openly showed them her ambition. She talked about the material comforts, status, and desires she was striving for, and about the harsh realities she'd come to understand. For a while, this made them think she'd changed into someone they barely recognized.

She was no longer the homemaker she used to be, nor the considerate friend they'd known. She was an ambitious career woman.

As Xu Ziyan's godmother, Zhong Xiaoqin hadn't seen him in a long time. Sometimes she asked about him, but Gu Jia always smiled and said he was with a friend, then changed the subject. She never mentioned Wang Yan.

Recently, Gu Jia had been busy preparing for her thirtieth birthday. It was less than a week away, and she wanted to celebrate and use the occasion to get in touch with her friends. Everyone was busy and didn't have much time to catch up. Even the best relationships faded over time if you didn't maintain them. Besides, they could share resources and help one another. It was a win-win.

As her son's godfather—and the man she secretly longed for—Wang Yan was obviously on the guest list.

Of course, when you went to someone's birthday party, you brought a gift. That went double for Wang Yan, who had his eye on her.

He'd already prepared the gift he planned to give her.

He couldn't choose anything too extravagant, or it would put Xu Huanshan in an awkward position. That would be bad form. But it couldn't be too cheap, either. That wouldn't suit his status and might give people the wrong idea. In the end, he settled on a green jade bracelet that cost just under half a million.

He didn't know much about this sort of thing, so he asked an acquaintance to recommend a specialist. The specialist said it was quite good, so Wang Yan bought it.

The price was just right. It might have cost more than Xu Huanshan's gift, but not by much. Besides, Xu Huanshan had gone for the romantic angle. It wasn't too cheap, either, and was a respectable gift. It was just an ordinary bracelet, nothing with any special meaning, just a little accessory. No one would read too much into it.

Besides, Xu Huanshan knew Wang Yan had money and could understand. As for Gu Jia, she could think whatever she wanted. There were only a couple of days left, anyway.

Honestly, Wang Yan had lived all these years without giving women many gifts, and he wasn't very good at it. The most expensive thing he'd ever given was spending 300, then another 200 for an extra hour with that woman. He still remembered it vividly. She'd called him "Brother Wang" sweet as sugar the whole time. It just went to show that money had to be spent in the right place to get twice the results.

Wang Yan hadn't been idle lately, either. He had every move Xu Huanshan and Lin Youyou made under his control.

Since Xu Huanshan and Lin Youyou had already gotten together ahead of schedule, there was no need for him to do anything pointless. How could a cat that had tasted fish keep its desires in check?

Patience was the most basic quality of a good hunter, and Wang Yan happened to have plenty of it.

The fireworks would be lit eventually. As long as things continued naturally, Wang Yan could give them a little push at the right moment, then hold his beauty in his arms and wait for the dazzling fireworks to light up the sky.

With someone like Xu Huanshan, all Wang Yan had to do was have his two men report back regularly. It hardly took any effort. He could carry on taking it easy.

Life was much the same as before. He looked after the child, studied, picked up new hobbies, and flirted with Gu Jia when he had the chance.

Ever since his last time with Wang Manni, he hadn't touched another woman. He kept flirting with Gu Jia, too. He wasn't a saint; it was getting hard to hold back.

Patience was a matter of the mind, not the body. At best, he could just keep enduring it. But Wang Yan had no reason to endure. He had money and free time. He could find someone whenever he wanted. There was no need to suppress his desires. Having plenty of energy and beautiful women around him—wasn't that a kind of cultivation in life, too?

Like the woman now lying in his arms, her blush not yet faded and a seductive look on her face: Dai Qing. She was the new deputy manager at Misia, the shop downstairs. She'd been brought in from outside and had taken Wang Manni's spot—Daisy.

Thanks to Brother Drunkard for the 100-coin gift.

Thanks to my two brothers, Love Han Fei and Your Beauty—I Can't Handle It, for the monthly tickets.

And last, thanks to my old pal Qian Zhiming for his continued support.

Thanks as always to all the brothers who voted for the story.

And to all the other good brothers who've shown their support, whether by commenting or quietly following along.