46: Is it necessary to maintain a marriage without love?

Chapter 46: Is there a need to maintain a loveless marriage?

After Zhao Manman sent a message to Li Zhiyan, she waited for his reply.

However, she also knew that most young people woke up very late when they had nothing to do.

Today was Sunday, so Li Zhiyan should not have been at work.

Perhaps he could not reply to her message so quickly.

Zhao Manman had anticipated this.

Looking at Li Zhiyan, who had not replied, the feeling of unease in her heart grew clearer and clearer.

Somehow, she just felt that Ji Yunhai suddenly transferring so much money was not right.

She could not help but recall Li Zhiyan’s reminder.

“But, his body has been like this for so many years, it shouldn’t be possible, right?”

Zhao Manman felt that this matter made no sense.

A normal man might cheat outside.

But...

What if he was not normal?

While Zhao Manman was lost in thought, a video call came in.

“Xiao Yan?”

Zhao Manman, who now considered Li Zhiyan her true confidant, was a little delighted.

However, upon closer inspection, she realized it was Yang Xintao, her business partner.

Zhao Manman and Yang Xintao had collaborated on many businesses before.

And this newly opened beauty salon actually had some shares owned by Yang Xintao.

Zhao Manman did not have many friends.

In Zhejiang, Yang Xintao was considered her friend.

“Xiao Yang, what’s wrong?”

After connecting the video call, Zhao Manman asked.

“Sister Zhao, I need your help with something.”

Hearing “help,” Zhao Manman thought she probably wanted to borrow money.

If it was a small amount, she could help.

But if the loan amount was quite large, she would be powerless.

“Tell me, Xiao Yang.”

Yang Xintao thought for a moment and said, “It’s like this.”

“I’ve recently fallen for someone, so I might spend a lot of time getting to know him.”

“I’ve given your number to my husband. If my husband calls to check up on me, I hope you can cover for me.”

Zhao Manman did not expect the married Yang Xintao to say such a thing.

“But, aren’t you married?”

On the other end of the video, Yang Xintao also looked a bit embarrassed.

“Yes... I’m married, but I truly like him very much.”

“He’s a new employee at my company, 16 years younger than me, but he’s kind, gentle, and considerate.”

“I’ve fallen for him.”

Zhao Manman did not feel it appropriate to comment on other people’s affairs.

However, out of morality, she still advised, “I think it’s better not to do this.”

“You are already married, after all, and the man is so much younger than you. I think relationships with too large an age gap are unreliable and have no future.”

Yang Xintao’s tears fell.

“If he and I can be together, I will divorce.”

“You know, Old Zhang has physically abused me many times. I’ve long had no feelings for him.”

“What’s the point of maintaining a loveless marriage? If things work out with Xiao Lin, then I will firmly divorce him.”

Zhao Manman sat down, looking at the sea of flowers in the villa’s courtyard.

“A loveless marriage, isn’t it just… irrelevant?”

“Life is so short; enduring it will pass.”

“After all, you’re already this old. Getting a divorce now would cause too much harm.”

“You need to know that once a marriage breaks, it can never be undone.”

“Also, young people’s ideas are too naive. Even if he likes you now, what about later…?”

Zhao Manman still wanted to persuade Yang Xintao not to casually entertain thoughts of divorce.

Her views were still very traditional.

“Sister Zhao, I know your thoughts are rational and make sense.”

“But if you ever truly like someone, you won’t be able to control yourself.”

“When it comes to that point, I believe you will definitely be able to deceive yourself, overturn your own values, and let go of everything.”

“Moreover, truthfully… perhaps maintaining a loveless marriage is not necessarily the right thing to do.”

“Because you don’t know what the person who doesn’t love you might do.”

“They might secretly scheme against you, flaying you alive and leaving no bones.”

“From the time I got married until now, I’ve always been well-behaved, but all I got in return was domestic violence.”

“I truly don’t know when I’ll be subjected to domestic violence again.”

“He used to have a mistress, and I’ve tolerated it for so many years.”

“But Xiao Lin’s appearance has solidified my resolve to divorce.”

Zhao Manman remained silent, her heart feeling a little lost.

Was there truly a need to maintain a loveless marriage?

Would Ji Yunhai scheme against her…?

“What does it feel like to truly love someone?” Zhao Manman asked.

“It’s like how I feel about Xiao Lin. Basically, every day I miss him terribly.”

“I can’t control my desire to see him.”

“Perhaps it sounds a bit silly, but when emotions dominate the brain, that’s how it feels, Sister Zhao, please, help me cover for him.”

Zhao Manman was actually somewhat against immoral things.

But after thinking about it, she and Yang Xintao were indeed good friends.

After a moment of hesitation, she agreed.

“Alright then…”

“I’ll do my best, but don’t blame me if it falls apart.”

On the other end of the video, Yang Xintao said gratefully, “I know…”

“Don’t worry, Sister Zhao, the probability of him checking up is actually very small; it’s just to be on the safe side.”

“He’ll check up at most once, and then it’ll be fine.”

“If Xiao Lin and I make it, then I’ll give all the shares in the beauty salon to you.”

Zhao Manman did not pay attention to these words.

“I’m going to Magic City in a few days. I hope nothing happens then.”

She kept thinking.

Does a relationship with such a large age difference truly have a future? Will that man truly love her and treat her well?

Or is this just a scheme for money?

...

Wan City.

Wu Yuexian slowly woke up.

Soon, she felt that she could not move.

Was it sleep paralysis?

She opened her eyes and found that Li Zhiyan, sleeping on his side, was wrapped around her like an octopus.

He was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of what had happened.

Wu Yuexian forcefully removed Li Zhiyan’s arm and then moved his leg away.

After doing all this, her face was already flushed.

Then, she pinched Li Zhiyan’s face.

“Li Zhiyan, you scoundrel, get up, hurry up!”

Li Zhiyan slowly woke up. It was so early, and being young, everything about him was natural.

After sitting up, he still could not hide it.

“What’s wrong, Li Yuexian?”