"Although I don't know why I'm being thanked here, I have to say it, you're my wife. My other half. There is no need for such gratitude between us. Because at the end of the day, whatever I do won't just be for you. It'd be for US. For OUR future. So, you can also say I'm doing everything selfishly for myself."
Raelle's gaze at him didn't falter at all. And for some bizarre reason, Shui Xian could see softness in her eyes. One that had never been seen before. It was strange how her face would always stay expressionless but lately, he could actually understand her better by just looking into her eyes.
"I have always been a selfish person and I've been told that on plenty of occasions as well. But I never mind it. Because I know I'm a selfish person. And I still don't mind being selfish for our future or for our relationship."
Shui Xian couldn't help falling deeper into the abyss of those black orbs. And he even foolishly smiled. He definitely gave off the impression of someone who was killed by the love of his life and yet, he was happy to die at the hand of his love. And that was something Raelle couldn't possibly understand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?"
All of a sudden, this voice from the other side of the café caught everyone's attention, and Shui Xian and Raelle were no exception. Both of them turned to look over simultaneously.
"Today is my girlfriend's birthday and I'd be really happy to have you join us in celebrating it," said the man who had stood up and had even asked for a mic from the staff. He seemed to be prepared beforehand. While his said girlfriend was currently trying to tug at his arm to make him sit back as if she didn't want to be in the limelight.
Clearly, her boyfriend didn't plan on leaving this limelight today.
Raelle watched with interest as the other couples on a date here sang the birthday song for the birthday girl as she made a wish, blew the candles, and cut the cake. And before the crowd could settle down, the man straight went on one knee and pulled out a ring saying, "Sini, we've been together for five years now. I knew from the moment I saw you that I want to spend the rest of my life with an amazing woman like you. And that feeling hasn't changed even after these years. Today is a special day for you and I want to make it more special. So, Deng Sini, will you marry me?"
"Yes," the woman replied with tears in her eyes as she jumped into her boyfriend's arms.
While Raelle watched with interest how everyone was cheering for them, there was a particular gaze that made her turn her face away from this scene. Seeing the look in Shui Xian's eyes as if she could read it all, she said, "Don't even think about it."
Shui Xian's lips turned downward, "Why?"
"Why?" repeated Raelle. "We are already married."
"So what?" he retorted. "Who said I can't propose my own wife? It's not like I'm gonna propose to someone else's wife. It's my own wife!!"
"My answer is still a big, fat NO!"
"You have to give me one genuine reason for this 'No'! We are already doing everything in the wrong order in this relationship. So who set the rule that a proposal can't come after marriage?" Thinking of something, his eyes narrowed dangerously, "Don't tell me someone went on his knee to propose you before and left a bad memory?"
"Are you trying to write a story here?" questioned Raelle. "No one has ever proposed me."
Shui Xian was stumped for words as his lips twitched. He always thought his wife didn't date because she didn't want to. He never thought from this point of view that no one ever asked her out. And it wasn't his fault at all that he didn't go that far with his thinking. After all, anyone who saw his wife would understand why he was unable to think down that line. Were the boys around her blind or something?
"Are you serious?" he couldn't help asking.
"Do I look like someone who would joke around?"
Shui Xian shook his head, "No but I'm still unable to believe it."
"What's so difficult to believe?" Raelle ate the last bite of the cake and told him, "I've always been the youngest one in my peers. Besides, they all preferred to spend time in the library absorbing knowledge. Catching feelings was something that wasn't on their plans at all. Later when I joined the company, I was still underage. And by the time I reached adulthood, no one in the company was left with the idea of approaching me with ambiguous feelings. Rather, they avoided me like a pandemic."
Shui Xian held his forehead in his hand. He seriously didn't know whether to feel distressed about what his wife went through or feel happy that he was the first person in her life. But to be honest, he felt rather sad when he thought deeply about her teen years.
His mother used to say that one can always make mistakes in adolescence. Youth is the time to experience and make mistakes. And it was the most joyful time of one's life as well.
Although his own youth held some bad memories, he still cherished it all. Because the memories of his youth were precious to him. However, his wife never went through that phase. In a way, one should say, she grew up sooner than she was supposed to. While he was learning to forgive himself for the mistakes he made, she must have been struggling to find a balance to exist 'normally' in this society.
And the more his thoughts went this route, the darker his expressions became and the more his heart hurt. Argh! Why the hell did he refuse his parents from meeting her sooner?!
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel