The second thing Wen Yang did was call the property management office. It took them a long time to answer. After she explained the situation, the person on the other end said, “Miss Wen, please check the circuit breaker in your house. Is it turned off?”
Wen Yang walked over to the main circuit panel, turned on her phone’s flashlight to check, and described what she saw to the staff. They replied, “It seems the main breaker has tripped. Please wait a bit.”
“How long will it take?”
“About twenty minutes.”
Wen Yang thanked them politely and returned to sit on the sofa in the pitch-dark living room. The darkness was unsettling, and the image of flames flickering wildly in the kitchen replayed in her mind over and over again.
Ding Ding.
A message arrived.
Cheng Yanyu: “I’ve called the property management. I’ll be back soon.”
The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.
Wllzkdt pzktbvzu alyppwale, Eld Zydt alrzkle: Twaau cynj.
Ubldt Zyduw: Xjyu.
Gqvla alyekdt bkp alrzu, Eld Zydt nwazle wr sd vbl letl sq vbl psqy, pkzldvzu oykvkdt kd vbl eyaj. Mbl essa oyp srld, yde lhlauvbkdt kd pktbv—vbl qwadkvwal, vbl oyzzp—oyp pbaswele kd pbyesop. Twttkdt bla yaxp vktbvzu, pbl jlrv oykvkdt.
Mkxl eayttle sd.
Llkvbla vbl rasrlavu pvyqq dsa Ubldt Zyduw pbsole wr. Gp pbl pvyale yv vbl essa, y pbyeso pllxle vs qzknjla ynaspp vbl okdeso dlya vbl cyznsdu. Tla dlahlp vktbvldle, yde bla obszl cseu vldple wr.
Mkxl rypplp rykdqwzzu pzsozu kd eyajdlpp. Tla zltp talo dwxc, yde pkzldv qlya nalrv shla bla. Fbl vbswtbv pbl pyo ydsvbla pbyeso rypp cu vbl okdeso.
Mlaakqkle, pbl pbsv vs bla qllv.
Uzknj.
The door opened. Wen Yang looked toward it from behind the cabinet, her eyes reddening.
Cheng Yanyu stepped in, set down his car keys, and, upon seeing her tear-streaked eyes, felt a pang in his heart. “Where’s the property staff?” he asked.
Wen Yang’s legs were numb, her body stiff. Tears slid down her face as she replied, “They haven’t come yet.”
“How long has it been?” Cheng Yanyu checked his phone and turned to leave, but the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase. The property staff finally arrived, followed by a flurry of activity involving the main breaker outside and the indoor switches.
Click—
The lights came back on. The property staff left, and Cheng Yanyu removed the faulty faucet, wiped his hands, and looked at Wen Yang. She had returned to the sofa, tears falling silently.
Cheng Yanyu walked over, knelt before her, and said softly, “I’m sorry.”
Wen Yang raised her tear-filled eyes to look at him without speaking. Her tears splashed onto the floor. Guilt overwhelmed Cheng Yanyu as he cupped her face and kissed her lips.
It had been a long time since they kissed.
The salty taste of her tears lingered on his tongue. He kissed her as tenderly as he used to, and Wen Yang gripped his arm tightly. Their lips and teeth met, faintly recalling the sweetness of the past. Yet the waves of grievances she had been holding back surged like a tide, drowning that sweetness. When he pulled away slightly, she clung to his arm and sobbed fiercely:
“You’re so busy lately. Why are you so busy? Why? Why?”
Two years ago, when they had just gotten married, his company was in its startup phase, and he was even busier. He had to secure projects and participate in bids, often working late into the night. But no matter how busy he was, he would never leave her waiting like this. As long as she called, he would come home. He rarely left her alone for more than a day, and even when working overtime, he’d bring his work home to be with her.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
He held her face and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault…”
All he could say was “I’m sorry.”
He looked up, his thumb brushing the corner of her eye, his gaze filled with guilt and a trace of struggle. “Once this project is over…”
But his eyes also revealed tenderness and heartache.
Wen Yang bit her lip and looked at him. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
Cheng Yanyu wiped her tears and glanced at the kitchen island. “What happened to the faucet?”
Wen Yang sniffled and said, “It broke. I bought a new one online. When I plugged it in after installing it, it exploded.”
Hearing this, Cheng Yanyu’s heart skipped a beat. He turned to look at her, then quickly walked into the kitchen. Picking up the faucet, he asked, “Why didn’t you wait for me to come back to install it?”
Following him to the kitchen island, Wen Yang said irritably, “Could I wait?”
Cheng Yanyu felt another pang of guilt. “I’m sorry.”
Leaning against the countertop, he examined the faucet and asked her what brand she bought.
Wen Yang didn’t buy just any brand—it was a reputable one. Cheng Yanyu muttered under his breath, “That shouldn’t happen.”
After a moment, he noticed something—the brand’s QR code was just a sticker. Peeling it off, he found an empty space underneath. It was a counterfeit product.
Wen Yang, shocked, leaned in. “No way.”
Cheng Yanyu glanced at her. “Which store did you buy it from?”
Wen Yang retrieved her phone and showed him. After scrolling through the details, Cheng Yanyu filed a complaint against the seller. They had charged the price of a genuine product for a counterfeit one—a dishonest merchant.
Watching him file the complaint, Wen Yang’s emotions finally calmed. She tugged at his arm. “Is there something wrong with our socket?”
Bending down, Cheng Yanyu examined it. “No, it’s fine.”
But there was a slight burn mark around the socket, evidence of sparks earlier. Straightening up, he looked at her. Following his gaze, Wen Yang bit her lip and said, “It scared me earlier—sparks were flying everywhere.”
“I’m sorry.”
He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Wen Yang buried her face in his neck, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Her heart finally settled.
The shadows and fears seemed to dissipate in an instant—perhaps they were just figments of her anxious imagination.
So much had happened that evening.
After washing up with Cheng Yanyu, Wen Yang went to bed earlier than usual. Exhausted by the evening’s events, she had no energy to think about anything else. She just nestled into his embrace.
Cheng Yanyu held her, his hand gently stroking her hair.
The phone on the bedside table buzzed a few times. Wen Yang glanced up. Cheng Yanyu looked down at her, kissed her forehead, and said softly, “Sleep.”
Wen Yang was still a little worried about his work.
But she was also a little stubborn. She thought, Why shouldn’t people be allowed to sleep?
She was utterly exhausted and deeply reliant on him. Nestled in his arms, she fell asleep quickly. During this time, the phone rang twice more, but Cheng Yanyu didn’t pick it up.
The room became quiet, with only the faint hum of the air conditioner breaking the stillness. The bedside lamp cast a soft glow. Wen Yang slept soundly, but Cheng Yanyu remained awake.
He carefully loosened his embrace, sat up, and placed his bare feet on the floor. Almost instinctively, he picked up his phone and glanced at the messages from the company group chat. Then, he scrolled to a particular profile in his contacts, hesitating between opening it or leaving it alone.
The hesitation seemed to embody his inner turmoil.
Eventually, he put the phone back on the nightstand, got up, and went to the bathroom. After some time, he returned to bed and lay down to sleep.
The Next Day
Cheng Yanyu woke up late. Wen Yang hurriedly prepared breakfast for him. As she rushed around, he smiled and playfully flicked her nose. “No need to hurry. It’s okay if I’m late today. Let’s take our time and enjoy breakfast.”
Hearing this, Wen Yang grinned and said, “Alright, let’s eat slowly.”
In the soft morning light, at the pristine kitchen island, the young couple enjoyed a rare and leisurely breakfast together. It was a moment of peace, chatting quietly while savoring their food.
This kind of serene morning was something Wen Yang found especially beautiful.
It was also one of those moments that made her feel their early marriage was worthwhile.
After finishing breakfast, Cheng Yanyu kissed her gently on the forehead before heading out. Wen Yang saw him off at the door and closed it behind him. Shortly after, her phone buzzed with a message from him.
“I’ve ordered a new faucet online. Don’t touch it. Wait for me to install it when I get back.”
Wen Yang typed a reply: Got it.
After tidying up the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher, she straightened the living room. Then, her mind wandered to the emotional outburst she had last night. Sitting on the couch, she picked up her phone and called Yu Qing.
Yu Qing was at Xu Xu’s unfinished apartment, surrounded by dust that had settled on her high heels. Standing by the large floor-to-ceiling window, she laughed and answered the call, “What’s up? Want to grab a meal?”
Leaning against the armrest of her couch, Wen Yang replied, “Sure, let’s go out now.”
Yu Qing glanced at the short-tempered man in the distance, busy shouting into his phone, and sighed. “Forget it. I’m busy babysitting a fussy guy today.”
Wen Yang chuckled at that.
After a few seconds of silence, she sighed. “Something happened between me and Cheng Yanyu yesterday.”
“Oh? What happened?”
Wen Yang fell silent for a moment, recalling the fear and helplessness she felt in the dark and the overwhelming grievances that came to a head. She also remembered the constant pinging of his phone later that night.
She had gotten married right after graduation, which was considered early by today’s standards. She enjoyed their time as a couple and wasn’t particularly ambitious, embracing a go-with-the-flow lifestyle. She filled her days with hobbies like photography, editing, and painting, striving to enrich her life and maintain their household harmony. But inevitably, her focus had shifted disproportionately to one side.
She shared with Yu Qing how she broke down emotionally the previous night.
“Was I out of line?” she asked, a hint of self-doubt in her voice.
Yu Qing remained silent for a few moments before replying, “You weren’t wrong. Your life has changed more than his. He’s out there, so he might not feel it as deeply, but you do. Women are naturally more sensitive, and he has been coming home late, hasn’t he? How long has it been since you two had dinner together?”
Wen Yang nodded, tears welling up again. “Yes, it’s been a while.”
“Maybe this project is really important to him, and he has to attend social engagements and work overtime. At home, he might feel he can’t focus completely because he needs to be attentive to you. So he chooses to stay at the office,” Yu Qing reasoned.
After a brief pause, she added, “Since that’s the case, why not find more things to occupy yourself during this time? Try not to dwell on it too much. He did promise you that once the project is done, things will get better, right?”
Wen Yang nodded again.
Yu Qing’s words made sense. To stabilize her emotions, Wen Yang realized she needed to shift her focus away from him.
“You haven’t been to your yoga class in ages, have you?” Wen Yang asked.
Yu Qing laughed. “Are you dragging me there now?”
“Let’s go together tomorrow?”
Yu Qing sighed in mock defeat. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”
Wen Yang smiled. “Alright, I’ll let you go.”
Yu Qing ended the call and noticed Xu Xu hanging up his own call. Wrinkling his nose at the unfinished apartment, he grumbled about its state. Crossing her arms, Yu Qing walked up to him and asked, “What else do you want done, big shot?”
“Add a wine cabinet,” Xu Xu said.
Yu Qing raised an eyebrow and noted it down on her phone. “Alright. Anything else?”
Xu Xu glanced at her. “Who were you talking to just now?”
“Wen Yang,” she replied nonchalantly. Then, her tone turned teasing. “Cheng Yanyu has been super busy lately, huh? A single jewelry exhibition has him so tied up he doesn’t even have time for his wife?”
Xu Xu, who had been inspecting the windows, turned to look at her. “How would I know? If I had a wife like Wen Yang, I’d work from home every day.”
Yu Qing burst out laughing. “You really know how to dream, don’t you?”
Xu Xu snorted in response.
After adjusting her mindset, Wen Yang felt much better. She was still young, full of passion for life, and hopeful about her marriage—especially since her partner was Cheng Yanyu, her first love of five years.
That night, Cheng Yanyu came home around 10:30 PM, carrying the new faucet he had purchased. Wen Yang calmly accepted his late return. Exhausted, she wrapped her arms around his waist, watching him install the faucet. This time, there were no sparks of conflict like the night before. Everything proceeded smoothly and peacefully.
The Next Morning
After breakfast, Wen Yang saw Cheng Yanyu off.
She tidied up a bit, made two cups of coffee, and left the house with a canvas bag, heading to the Yipin Building to find Yu Qing. However, Yu Qing wasn’t at her desk but in her senior’s office.
Through the open blinds, Wen Yang saw Yu Qing standing inside, speaking animatedly with her senior.
Wen Yang sat patiently at Yu Qing’s desk, waiting.
A few minutes later, the office door opened. Yu Qing walked out, rolling her eyes, her high heels clicking briskly as she approached her desk. Wen Yang looked up at her and handed her a coffee.
Yu Qing took a large gulp, her anger seemingly subsiding a bit.
After tidying her desk, Yu Qing grabbed her bag and pulled Wen Yang along as they left the office. Her voice still carried a hint of irritation. “She promised me that if I helped her, and the second-year performance met expectations, I’d become a partner. Now she’s reneging and doesn’t want to give me the position.”
Wen Yang, familiar with the situation, was surprised. “When she first recruited you, she said you’d become a partner after two years.”
“Exactly. But people change. Now she’s just making excuses. I really regret not having her put it in writing back then. What was the point of relying on old classmates’ feelings?”
In a soft voice, Wen Yang reminded her, “Our mentor did warn you not to let emotions get in the way.”
Yu Qing tossed the empty coffee cup into the trash. “Well, I ignored that advice, and now I’m paying the price. She’s even recruited a bunch of juniors to her studio. The younger generation is catching up fast. If I don’t become a partner soon, I can’t see much of a future here.”
Wen Yang gently patted her shoulder.
Yu Qing, determined, hooked her arm around Wen Yang’s as they descended the steps. “I’ll try talking to her again. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll quit and start my own studio.”
Wen Yang thought this was a great decision. Yu Qing was already highly capable and had been involved in projects since university. Many of her senior’s award-winning works had Yu Qing’s contributions behind the scenes.
She nodded in agreement. “Let me know if you need help. I have some money saved up.”
Yu Qing turned to her, pinched her cheek, and teased, “Alright, got it, little rich lady.”
Wen Yang laughed.
The yoga studio was on the second floor, conveniently located between Yu Qing’s and Wen Yang’s residences. While both had signed up for classes, Wen Yang attended regularly, whereas Yu Qing, due to work and laziness, often skipped. As a result, their class levels were different: Wen Yang had advanced to a higher difficulty, while Yu Qing was still in the beginner stage. The studio was spacious.
Wen Yang had enrolled in private lessons, but since the small private room was occupied with a short session today, she and Yu Qing stayed in the main hall.
The hall was lively, filled with a mix of participants, including elegant postpartum women engaged in their recovery exercises. The air was fragrant, and the atmosphere warm.
During a break, Wen Yang got up to fetch water. Passing by the group of women, she overheard their animated conversation, even though they tried to muffle their laughter behind their hands.
“Have you noticed how embarrassing some of these poses are?”
“I realized that a long time ago! I heard yoga was originally created for improving… you know, intimacy.”
“Really? No wonder I feel something after certain stretches.”
“Oh? What do you feel?”
“Ha ha ha!”
Their teasing and nudging caused Wen Yang’s ears to turn red. She focused on watching the hot water fill her thermos.
Yu Qing, likely overhearing the chatter, approached her with long strides. She bumped Wen Yang’s arm lightly and whispered teasingly, “Did you hear what they were saying? Have you and Cheng Yanyu noticed any… changes in that department?”
Wen Yang’s face flushed crimson as she closed the lid of her thermos. Just as she was about to respond, she suddenly remembered that it had been quite a while since she and Cheng Yanyu had been intimate. Her hand rested on the lid, and an inexplicable unease gripped her heart.
Sansukini: I think she’s too dependent on her husband. Being a stay-at-home wife makes you vulnerable sometimes. She should start to investigate soon.
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You can also check out my other translations Here
Being a stay at home person is not that easy. You focus solely on your partner and family. My mom used to be live like that and She teach me to be independent.
If I were Wen Yang, I think i need a long time to realize that my husband was cheating. Honestly, her husband would be the perfect husband—if only he didn’t cheat.