“I… I was just trying to cook something.”
It was Xu Xun’s first time in the kitchen. He had always thought cooking wasn’t difficult, but after trying it today, he couldn’t help but doubt his own intelligence.
“Get out.”
Kang Zhimiao pushed Xu Xun out. She quickly cleaned up the mess he had left behind, then simply made two plates of cold tossed vegetables and sesame paste noodles.
“Mom’s cooking is so yummy.” After taking a big bite, Xu Rui gave Kang Zhimiao a thumbs-up.
Kang Zhimiao rubbed Xu Rui’s head. “If it’s yummy, then eat more, Rui Rui. When Mom has Sunday off, I’ll take you to the state-owned restaurant for meat pies.”
“Really, Mom?” Xu Rui’s eyes sparkled. “Can I invite Jiusi and Yaya to come too?”
Kang Zhimiao nodded. “Of course.”
“Then I’ll call Yaya in a bit and let her know in advance.”
After saying that, Xu Rui stood up and changed his mind. “I think I’ll just call her right now.”
“This kid, always in such a rush.”
Xu Xun wanted to strike up a conversation with Kang Zhimiao, but she ignored him. She lowered her head, finished her noodles, and took her bowl to the kitchen.
Xu Rui also took his bowl to the kitchen after eating. Xu Xun had always just pushed his bowl aside and been done with it when he was home—this was the first time he’d noticed this detail.
“Rui Rui, come here.”
Xu Xun waved Xu Rui over. Xu Rui ran up to him. “Dad, what is it?”
“Why did you take your bowl to the kitchen?”
“After eating, of course you have to take your bowl to the kitchen. That way, whoever washes the dishes has one less thing to do.”
Xu Rui grabbed Xu Xun’s hand. “Dad, Mom didn’t wash the dishes today, so you can do it.”
“I… I’ll wash them?”
Xu Xun was scared just thinking about going into the kitchen now, but Xu Rui didn’t give him a chance to back out. He pulled him straight into the kitchen.
Completely different from before, after Kang Zhimiao had cleaned up, it was especially clean and tidy—though there was still a burnt smell.
Xu Xun looked at the bowls in the sink, not knowing where to start. He turned to Xu Rui. “Rui Rui, how do you wash these?”
“Dad, you’re so silly. You can’t even wash dishes.”
Xu Rui scrunched up his nose at Xu Xun. “I’ll go get Mom and have her teach you.”
“Don’t—”
Xu Xun couldn’t stop Xu Rui—he had already run off. On second thought, he realized this was actually a good opportunity to improve things with Kang Zhimiao.
When Kang Zhimiao came over, she didn’t teach Xu Xun. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves and washed the dishes herself.
Xu Xun watched from the side and thought dishwashing seemed simple enough—he could do it well.
“Zhimiao, from now on, I’ll wash the dishes.”
Xu Xun followed Kang Zhimiao into the room. After seeing her dance, her image had been lingering in his mind, making his heart flutter for her again after so long.
“Old Xu, just tell me straight—what are you trying to do?” Kang Zhimiao made herself clear. “I’m not quitting my job.”
“Go ahead and work if you want to.”
Xu Xun’s words made Kang Zhimiao think she had misheard. “What did you say?”
“I said, if you want to work, then work. As long as you’re happy.”
Xu Xun sat down to the side and looked at Kang Zhimiao. “These past few days, I’ve been thinking carefully about what you said. I was wrong before—too stubborn. I thought about Rui Rui, I thought about the family, but I never thought about you. I also understand now why you were angry with me.”
“You… you figured it out?” Kang Zhimiao was quite doubtful. She and Xu Xun had been married for several years. She couldn’t say she knew him especially well, but she was clear about his temperament.
Xu Xun awkwardly touched his nose. “I was woken up by Little Yue.”
“Little Yue?” Kang Zhimiao’s first thought was. “Yue Mingyuan?”
“Yes.” Xu Xun didn’t hide it from Kang Zhimiao. “I went to a meeting the day before yesterday and happened to run into Little Yue. I figured you and Little Ye are close, and I didn’t know who else to talk to about this, so I said a few things to Little Yue.”
“Outsiders see clearly while those involved are blinded. Little Yue saw the problem right away. At the time, I thought it was a bit ridiculous, but today when I went to the school to watch you dance, I felt he was right.”
Kang Zhimiao asked Xu Xun, “So the cooking idea also came from Little Yue?”
“Sort… sort of.”
Xu Xun was even more embarrassed talking about this. “Little Yue said there are so many things at home, big and small, and for all these years, you’ve been the one taking care of the household, but I never saw your value.”
“After I got back, I thought I’d try cooking. Don’t laugh at me—I actually thought cooking wasn’t hard at all.”
But then he cut his finger while chopping vegetables, and when he tried to stir-fry, he nearly set the kitchen on fire. Only then did he realize that the reason he thought it was easy was because Kang Zhimiao had always been the one doing it.
“No wonder you always scold me for talking like it’s easy when I’m not the one doing the work.”
Xu Xun took Kang Zhimiao’s hand. “Zhimiao, thank you for everything you’ve done for this family all these years. I didn’t do well in the past—I neglected you.”
“And about what happened last time when Xu Wan hurt you—I’ve always felt terribly guilty about that.”
Kang Zhimiao didn’t ask for much. She just wanted Xu Xun to see the things she did and not think that staying home every day was just doing a bit of housework and taking care of the child—that it was easy.
All the grievances from these years welled up in her heart. Kang Zhimiao’s eyes turned red. Xu Xun pulled her into his arms. “Zhimiao, let’s live our lives well from now on. Don’t bring up divorce so easily anymore, okay? I know now that I have many shortcomings. Whatever I do wrong in the future, just tell me.”
“How come you suddenly know exactly what to say?” Kang Zhimiao gave Xu Xun a light punch on the chest.
“I’m afraid you’ll divorce me.”
Xu Xun meant it. He could feel that Kang Zhimiao had genuinely considered wanting to divorce him.
When they first got married, they used to argue a lot. Later, Kang Zhimiao stopped arguing with him, and he was actually happy about it—he thought she had finally grown up and become sensible.
But now that he thought about it, she hadn’t become sensible—she had just grown too tired of arguing with him.
She was doing better and better in every way, yet as a person, she was less and less happy.
And he had never noticed any of it.
Kang Zhimiao had never mentioned divorce to him before—this was the first time. Even though he talked tough about divorce being fine, heaven knew he was actually terrified.
He didn’t know why he felt afraid—he just didn’t want to divorce Kang Zhimiao.
“Will you come with me and Rui Rui on Sunday?” Kang Zhimiao cleverly changed the subject.
Xu Xun knew their conflict was resolved and quickly said, “Of course! We’re a family—we should go together.”
On Sunday, just as Xu Xun and Kang Zhimiao were getting ready to take Xu Rui out, Xu Wan came back crying before they could leave.
“What’s going on now?” Xu Xun got a headache just looking at Xu Wan.
As for Kang Zhimiao, the moment she saw Xu Wan like this, she didn’t even need to think—she knew Chen Can must have found another woman again.
Xu Xun couldn’t even be bothered to deal with Xu Wan, and she certainly wasn’t going to go looking for trouble herself.
“Old Xu, I’ll take Rui Rui to pick up Yaya and Jiusi first?”
Xu Xun walked Kang Zhimiao and Xu Rui to the courtyard gate and reminded them, “Be careful. I’ll be there soon.”
