25: Family love is greater than love

Chapter 25: Family Love Overrides Romantic Love

Hearing this, Li Zhiyan also felt a bit curious.

Zhao Manman was finally going to tell him some things he wanted to know today.

This was a good opportunity for him to assess Zhao Manman's state before deciding when to inform her about Ji Yunhai's infidelity.

Zhao Manman's beautiful face remained icy; normally, she wouldn't discuss such matters with a junior like Li Zhiyan.

However, after their boat ride today,

she felt that the barrier between her and Li Zhiyan's generations seemed to have lessened slightly.

In fact, there was no harm in telling him.

It wasn't much of a secret anyway.

Most importantly, she could use this opportunity to discuss the topic of marriage.

She wanted to salvage his marriage with Meng Ting.

“I entered society quite early, so I got married a bit earlier too.”

“Perhaps it sounds incredible in your generation, but back then, it was actually quite common.”

“Uncle Ji and I always had a good relationship before.”

“But, after I became pregnant with Ting,”

“he almost devoted all his time to business.”

“He basically never came home; even when you and Meng Ting got married, he only took one day off.”

Li Zhiyan looked at Zhao Manman's two unpainted fingernails.

It seemed that Ji Yunhai’s mistress had been around for eighteen years.

This affair had started right after Ting was born.

Yet, Li Zhiyan still couldn't understand.

That woman was clearly far less attractive than Zhao Manman, so why would he still engage in such behavior?

“Then, do you and Uncle Ji still have romantic love now?”

Zhao Manman looked at the distant sunset, gripping the wooden bridge railing with both hands.

She planned to seize this opportunity to persuade Li Zhiyan to work hard and try to win Ji Mengting back.

“For Uncle Ji and me, it’s probably more family love than romantic love.”

“After so many years, there's definitely a lot of family affection in our hearts.”

“After all, even a small cat or dog, living together for many years, will develop deep feelings.”

“So, I never thought about divorce.”

“Because two people going from strangers to knowing each other, and then entering the sacred halls of marriage, is a very difficult thing.”

“A lifetime, though it sounds long, isn't actually that long; it passes quickly.”

“No matter what, I've prepared myself to live with Uncle Ji for the rest of my life.”

“You should cherish this fate with Meng Ting and strive to win her back.”

Li Zhiyan didn't speak; his heart had long since grown unwilling to spend his life with just Ji Mengting.

Hearing this, he knew his earlier decision was correct.

His divorce from Ji Mengting had already been a huge blow to her.

And her heart had also prepared itself to live out her life with Ji Yunhai.

If what had just happened were discovered by Zhao Manman,

the blow to her would be immense.

“So, life is actually very short, and I still hope you can try to salvage things with Meng Ting.”

“Romantic love, for a long-lasting marriage, isn't actually that important.”

Looking at Zhao Manman’s cold, serious face, Li Zhiyan felt a pang of heartache.

Time passed quickly, and Leifeng Sunset was no longer as stunning as before.

“Mom, I’ll think about this and tell you my answer later.”

Zhao Manman’s life was already full of hardship, and Li Zhiyan truly couldn't bear to deal her another blow.

“Let’s go eat, Mom, then we can take the boat back and go home.”

Zhao Manman nodded and walked with Li Zhiyan.

As she walked, her foot started to hurt again.

“Mom, your ankle isn’t fully recovered yet. Lean on me.”

Zhao Manman didn't try to be strong; without someone to support her, she might twist it again.

After walking for a long time, the two arrived at a nearby restaurant called Zizhu Restaurant.

Many tourists were having dinner there.

And next to it, there was also a private kitchen.

“Young sir, young lady, please come eat here.”

“We have an event here; look, this is our body challenge.”

“If you can pass between the two closest pillars, you can get a cash discount and a small gift.”

“Your legs are truly beautiful; I believe you can definitely pass the body challenge!”

Li Zhiyan looked, and there were six pillars in front of them.

The distance between each of these six pillars varied.

The first level was wide enough for even a 600-pound person to pass through.

The second level, however, was half the width.

The third and fourth levels also became progressively narrower.

The last level was astonishingly thin…

Only an extremely thin woman could truly pass through it.

“Baby, you go try it and see if you can get a discount.”

After the man spoke, his girlfriend walked towards the fifth level.

She turned sideways and began to try to pass through; the gap between these pillars was indeed very narrow.

But after she made an effort, she still managed to pass through.

After passing through, the girl excitedly ran to her boyfriend’s side.

“Baby, look, my figure is great, isn’t it!”

Saying that, she even spun a few times.

She seemed very happy.

Li Zhiyan felt a bit amused; she seemed to have won.

But in reality, she had lost miserably…

Any man with some experience would know that only someone overly 'lean' could pass through such pillars.

Yet, she was as happy as could be.

“Mom, why don’t you give it a try too?”

Zhao Manman shook her head; she naturally knew her own situation.

There was no possibility of passing such a challenge.

“Let’s just go eat.”

The two went into the restaurant together and found a window seat.

Li Zhiyan took the menu.

He began to order.

“We’ll have one serving of Spicy Tofu with Baby Lobster, Jin Hua Ham with Pancakes, Crispy Beef Ribs, Sweet and Sour Pine Nut Fish, Sea Cucumber Stone Pot Tofu, and Seafood Vermicelli Claypot.”

“And a jug of plum juice.”

“That’s all.”

The waiter noted it down and went to inform the kitchen.

Zhao Manman looked at Li Zhiyan in front of her, somewhat mesmerized.

Her son truly seemed much more confident and composed than before; his demeanor seemed to have undergone a fundamental change.

Could it be that the divorce had affected him?

“Xiao Yan, why do I feel like you’re different from before?”

Li Zhiyan’s peripheral vision caught sight of two people diagonally opposite them.

He cursed inwardly, “Damn this Ji Yunhai, he hasn’t left West Lake yet?”

It truly was a case of what you feared most coming to pass.

“Sir, your plum juice has arrived.”

A jug of plum juice was brought over, and Zhao Manman also wanted to glance at the people nearby.

This startled Li Zhiyan.

He grabbed Zhao Manman’s hand, which prevented her from turning her head to look in Ji Yunhai’s direction.

She then felt that Li Zhiyan seemed a bit strange.

“Mom, I have something to tell you.”