Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 238 Ye Xiaoman's Crying

"Okay," Wu Zhiyuan replied, his gaze falling on Lin Xue. "Secretary Lin, it's getting late, you should get some rest."

Lin Xue asked softly, "Zhiyuan, you don't have a dormitory in the city, do you?"

"No," Wu Zhiyuan shook his head. "I'm going back to Xindian Town later."

"Going back to the countryside so late? Why don't you just book a room at a hotel?"

Wu Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "We'll talk about it later."

Lin Xue nodded: "Okay."

Wu Zhiyuan helped the unsteady Ye Xiaoman out of Lin Xue's room.

Ye Xiaoman's room was upstairs.

He helped her into bed.

"Zhiyuan..." Ye Xiaoman's voice choked with sobs, "Tell me, why didn't you choose me back then?"

Wu Zhiyuan was stunned.

He never expected Ye Xiaoman to ask him that.

"Perhaps, fate just wasn't on our side," Wu Zhiyuan said bitterly.

"Zhiyuan, if you pursue me after you break up with Su Taohong, I will definitely accept."

It's not because you were Xu Youwei's favorite at the time, but because I liked you.

You can actually tell that I have feelings for you.

In fact, Wu Zhiyuan was well aware that Ye Xiaoman had feelings for him at that time.

However, the world of emotions is exclusive. Since he chose Lin Keke, he had to keep his distance from Ye Xiaoman.

He even thought that if he lived in a country with polygamy, he could have both fish and bear's paw.

"Xiaoman, the reason I didn't choose you back then was because there was someone else in my heart, someone I promised to wait for..."

Ye Xiaoman interrupted Wu Zhiyuan: "I know, she's Lin Keke, right?"

Wu Zhiyuan nodded.

"Zhiyuan, I'm very curious, she was a married woman at that time."

"Xiaoman, that's just the surface. Logically, I should protect Coco's privacy, but it doesn't seem so necessary now."

Her husband is gay, and after they got married, they were husband and wife in name only, without any marital relationship...

I made a promise to Lin Keke. I can't start another relationship under those circumstances; that would be unfair to you and a betrayal to her at the time.

Ye Xiaoman pursed her lips slightly: "Zhiyuan, I think I understand. Will Coco come back?"

"I know everyone is saying she might be gone."

But I didn't believe it. I always felt that she was just lost and would come back someday.

"Zhiyuan, I never imagined you were so devoted. You're such a good man."

I feel sorry for Su Taohong. How could she bear to let go of such a good man?

If it were me, I would definitely hold onto my own happiness tightly.

As she spoke, Ye Xiaoman burst into tears again: "I thought I could protect my happiness with my husband and live a wonderful life, but he betrayed me..."

I couldn't tolerate his betrayal. The next day, I went through with the divorce proceedings.

He didn't apologize at all, and instead accused me of being outdated, saying that open relationships are all the rage now, and that I was being too serious and out of touch with the times.

He even shamelessly claimed that he had several friends who participated in underground wife-swapping clubs.

I slapped him on the spot. I hated myself for becoming bed partners with such scum.

Wu Zhiyuan comforted him, saying, "That kind of person is not worth shedding a single tear for, much less worth doubting yourself."

Your decision to leave was absolutely the right one.

Loyalty is the bottom line in marriage; it's not outdated, but he's shamelessly using it to excuse himself.

"Zhiyuan, we used to be so close. Everyone said we were a perfect match, a match made in heaven, a divine couple."

Why did things change so suddenly? Is there something I didn't do well enough? Have I been so focused on work that I neglected him?

"Xiaoman, this is not your fault. If a person's character is flawed, it's like the foundation has collapsed; no matter how beautiful the house is built, it will still fall down."

If he can say such shameless and vulgar things today, he can do even more shameless things tomorrow.

You should be glad you left him early, instead of blaming yourself. He's not worth your tears.

"Zhiyuan, I'm not crying for him, I'm crying for the dog I fed my own sincerity to, and I'm crying for my failed marriage."

"Regret is inevitable, but the regret should not be about having sincerely given, but about not seeing things clearly sooner."

Your sincerity is not wrong; the wrong lies in the fact that the person receiving it is unworthy.

He paused, then continued, "It's like investing. You see potential in a project, invest everything you have, and then the project manager runs off with the money."

You may regret your poor judgment and bad choice of people, but can you say that the enthusiasm and money you invested were foolish?

No. The fool is the one who's being stupid, while your sincerity and courage remain your most valuable assets.

Next time, I'll be more careful in choosing projects.

"But, Zhiyuan," Ye Xiaoman's tears welled up again, "Next time? Will I have a next time?"

It feels like a piece has been ripped out of my heart; it's empty and bleeding. How can I mend it?

"Xiaoman, the wound in your heart may not completely heal; it will leave a scar and hurt on rainy days, but it will scab over."

We must learn to live with our scars, not let them trap us in the same place.

Wu Zhiyuan spoke calmly, but in reality, the wound in his heart had not healed; rather, it had scabbed over, and the slightest touch would cause him excruciating pain.

I feel pain for Han Tingting, and I feel pain for Lin Keke.

Working like crazy is an anesthetic, allowing him to temporarily forget the excruciating pain.

But when the night is still and quiet, those hidden scars in my heart still ache faintly.

Just as Wu Zhiyuan was about to say something more comforting, Ye Xiaoman said quietly, "Zhiyuan, sometimes when you think about it, you could have just ignored me tonight."

"Let those two thugs take me away. What if they play with me and abuse me?"

Wu Zhiyuan stared blankly at Ye Xiaoman.

I never expected her to say something so self-deprecating.

"Anyway, nobody cherishes me. My sincerity has been trampled on, my marriage has become a joke, what difference is there between me being alive and being dead?"

What difference does it make who I give this body to? Let it get dirty and rotten, maybe that'll be more pleasant...

"Xiaoman, stop talking nonsense!" Wu Zhiyuan stopped her from continuing.

Ye Xiaoman's tears fell like beads from a broken string. "How could I be lying? I treated them with all my heart, and all I got in return was betrayal and deception!"

I thought I had happiness, but happiness is just a bubble that bursts with the slightest touch!

Right now, I'm like a discarded rag doll; who cares? Who will cherish me?

"Do you know what you're saying?" Wu Zhiyuan said, word by word, "Xiaoman, nobody cherishes you? You're punishing and degrading yourself with other people's shamelessness and despicable behavior!"

Your ex-husband is scum, and your so-called friend is a disgrace. They don't deserve even a shred of your affection, let alone the right to define your worth!

Just because you met two lousy people, are you going to deny everything about yourself and even feel indifferent to being hurt or insulted?

It really hurts when a piece of your heart is ripped out; it leaves you feeling empty and bleeding.

But this is not a reason for us to give up on ourselves or even demean ourselves!

If we don't cherish ourselves and don't take ourselves seriously, that's true failure, and that's letting those who want to hurt us get away with it!

I saved you tonight not because I'm some kind of hero, but because you are Ye Xiaoman, my friend, and someone who deserves respect and kindness.

Even if the whole world doesn't cherish you, you must cherish yourself.

This isn't just motivational fluff; it's the bottom line.

There are some things a person must never lose in life, such as dignity.