PEN DOWN A MARRIAGE: CHAPTER 10.1

Hey, my lovely Greaders…. Sorry for the two-day holiday. This gorgeous translator was helping her best friend finish her project…. I’m a kind and gentle woman, you see! *wink**wink* 😜😜😜 Anyway, this chapter is deep from the MC’s perspective.

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Once Xia Xi Jin temporarily moved out of Mu Tian’s villa, an inexplicable feeling of calm and ease filled her heart. Compared to the extravagant villa, the new apartment felt warmer in spirit. Xi Jin immediately felt more comfortable here, even though, it was just as luxurious as Mu Tian’s other properties.

The property was located in a posh city district, that overlooked the vibrant cityscape. It had three spacious bedrooms, a luxurious living room, a state of the art kitchen, and a classic study, that were designed tastefully, incorporating a mix of both classical and contemporary styles. Xi Jin loved how the house had an old charm.

Moreover, the absence of an attendant, servant, chef, or even, her dear husband, gave her sense of relief and freedom which she hadn’t felt for a long time. Finally, she could be like her older self.

Being by herself, Xi Jin mulled over her ‘new’ life, and how she couldn’t understand Mu Tian, the omnipotent President. She was sure her marriage was nothing but a farce, maybe even a play. So, acknowledging her incapacity to understand her husband, she had no problem with maintaing the status-quo between each other. But, her best-friend did not feel the same way.

In Hu Mei’s life, Xi Jin occupied the most important place. She had cared for her like own little sister, and protected her from any possible harm. In her heart, Xi Jin was naive and innocent, who couldn’t manage her life without Hu Mei’s earnest supervision. So, regarding Xi Jin’s phone call that day, Hu Mei couldn’t believe Xi Jin was serious about getting married and got registered immediately, since she had turned a deaf ear to Xi Jin ridiculous decision that time.

But, what shocked Hu Mei the most, was the identity of the man who her best friend had married. (T/N: I really hope Hu Mei and Mu Tian have a show-down. That would be Epic!)

After proper consideration, Hu Mei realised that things could have been worse for Xi Jin, if it weren’t for marrying the ‘big god’ Xi Mu Tian. Who in their right mind, did not know the man’s calibre and class. He was the President of Xi, and the son-in-law of Rong Hongsheng. He controlled two world-class corporations at the back of his hand, and sat on the top of the commercial sector’s food chain.

Although his previous marriage lasted only a few years, the couple’s marriage was a hot topic for a long time, and stirred a lot of interest. They were actually named the industry’s ideal couple, even if their love had ended shortly after.

Compared to other big celebrities, Hu Mei understood Mu Tian was a rare man, who had kept his image clean and sparkling, almost avoiding any devious scandals. But, she couldn’t believe that a man who acted like “once seen the deep blue sea, cannot admire other waters”[1] over his late wife’s death, could be so brash and debauched.

No matter what, Hu Mei very well knew that Mu Tian wasn’t the kind of man who could be swayed by her silly little best friend’s charm. So, the circumstances under which Xi Jin met and flash married the president seemed very suspicious to her.

Annoyed at her best friend antics, Hu Mei inquired firmly, “Xi Jin, you tell me the truth, how did you get to know him?”

Too afraid to answer her question, Xi Jin vaguely replied, “You know, just like that.”

Sensing her hesitation, Hu Mei forcefully asked her again, “Jin, how did you meet him?”

Not giving her a chance to interrogate her ruthlessly, Xi Jin quickly responded, “Hu Mei, I’m his wife already. We’ve registered, and I have the marriage certificate for proof. It’s too late to say anything.”

In hopes of diffusing the situation, Xi Jin stole Hu Mei’s apple from her hand, and took a hasty big bite, showing-off her “dead pig who wasn’t afraid of boiling water” expression.

Feeling defeated, Hu Mei snatched the apple from her mouth, and sighed, “Are you a pig? All you do is eat. Try and focus! Do you know who the hell is Xi Mu Tian? Even if you have a peanut sized brain, you should know. He’s a ruthless businessman, who only works for profit, and If he chose to marry you, then there’s definitely a problem.”

To this, Xi Jin calmly replied, “That was my first thought too. But, even if he wants me for my body or something else, I don’t mind being married to him. He agreed to help us solve the problem of Sacred Heart Orphanage, and you can’t deny the fact that the man I’ve married is far more superior than that stupid Zhou Hang.”

“Superior, my ass!” Hu Mei retorted as she couldn’t tolerate Xi Jin’s naivety anymore. “Xi Jin, why don’t you get it! If you were married to Zhou Hang, you could at least divorce him if you were unhappy. But, with the ‘big god’, if he’s unwilling, there can be no divorce. Even, if you’re unhappy to bits”, Hu Mei added.

Stunned, Xi Jin blinked innocently, “But Hu Mei, when I called you before, you told me to quickly marry the ‘great’ man.”

Being angered to death by this silly woman, Hu Mei knocked her head twice, and retorted, “Can’t you distinguish a joke from a serious response, you little idiot! Anyway, the problems regarding the orphanage were settled without a glitch. He didn’t lie about that. Yesterday, dean mother called to inform me about this, but I didn’t have the courage to tell her about your mess. Xi Jin, how can you be so stupid when you’re already this big!!!!”

Xi Jin, as if unbothered by her words, continued to chew her apple. After a pause, she continued, “I thought, maybe someday, Mu Tian would knock some sense in his head, and divorce me. So, I decided not to tell mother about it.”

Holding her head down, Hu Mei squatted on the floor, and looked at her. “Does he treat you badly?”

Surprised, Xi Jin genuinely smiled, “No. He’s treats me really well.”

Reading her expression, Hu Mei sighed, “Jin, does he love you?”

As she turned away to throw the apple in the trash can, Xi Jin hid her tiny disappointment, and shook her head.“He does care for me dearly.”

Softening her expression towards Xi Jin, Hu Mei couldn’t help but respond, “But, Jin, being ‘cared-for’ isn’t the same as being ‘loved’. You have to be clear about it.”

“Clear about the difference?” Xi Jin seemed momentarily confused.

For Xi Jin, care and love as emotions, were meant to be understood together. They held the same meaning and importance in her heart. But, through her recent marriage, she discovered that wasn’t the case. Although Mu Tian deeply cared for her, there was no love between them. So, leaving him someday wouldn’t be that difficult, unless she unknowingly enjoyed his deep concern and care for her.

Xi Jin understood that, even, a cold-heartless woman, in the presence of a considerate man, wouldn’t shy away from his doting. Let alone, a silly girl like her, who had a soft romantic heart. Therefore, in his absence, Xi Jin finally acknowledged how miserable she was without him. She felt nights were particularly long, because she couldn’t hug him to sleep, while wondering if she’d be able to feel his warmth again.

Seeing her struggle internally, Hu Mei sighed at the foolish girl. Patting Xi Jin’s head, she reminded her, “Jin, remember to use protection. You need to avoid getting pregnant.”

“Contraceptives!?.. why?” Xi Jin asked confusedly. Then, remembering something, she inquired hesitantly, “Hu Mei, are you afraid something would happen to me….my heart…”

Hu Mei, impatiently, knocked her head again, “Silly, nothing’s gonna happen to you. It’s just that doctor clearly advised you not to burden your body too much. Carrying a child would be a little dangerous. I just need you to be careful, and not take any risks.”

Xi Jin had never felt that her heart was a burden. As a child, her body wasn’t good, but once she grew up, she didn’t face any setbacks to her health. She was only seriously sick when she was an infant. So, Hu Mei’s concern seemed excessive to her.

But, pregnancy!? For the first time, Xi Jin felt that this would become a problem between her and Mu Tian. Although, she had a complicated start with Mu Tian, but with each passing day their relationship became thicker and deeper. So, having a child together, naturally, seemed to be the next step in their marriage.

Xi Jin was already a part of a loveless marriage, but adding a childless marriage to the equation, she knew how much damage that would do to her relationship with Mu Tian. Xi Jin was a simple girl, who longed for a simple life. But since her wedding day, her life had become increasingly complicated. This marriage could endanger her life, or maybe it had already done so. Her heart was like a tiny time bomb, waiting to explode. If she was already pregnant, she didn’t know how she’d handle the situation. 

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[1] This line is part of a famous Classical Chinese short poem by the Tang Dynasty’s poet Yuan Zhen, called ‘Li Si: Missing her after Separation”. Translated in English, the poem would be something like this:

I have crossed the deep blue sea,
I can not be attracted by other waters.
I have experienced the beauty of the Wu Mountain’s clouds and rains,
I can not be moved by the other clouds again.
I walk randomly amongst the rarest of flowers,
I can not be moved by their beauty.
Half a reason is that I am studying religiously,
the other reason is that I am deeply missing you…

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T/N: I don’t know when, but, I’ll post the other part of the Chapter today itself. Maybe in a couple of hours, or so. I really don’t know. But, It’ll definitely be posted today. XOXO