Perhaps there are things that I see more clearly than anyone else, that I understand better. These are thoughts I’ve never shared with anyone, thoughts deep within me. I thought you’d understand without me having to say them. I thought you were the person who understood me best.

Xiao Wei now really doesn’t know how to respond to his brother-in-law. Every word he says is so convincingly sincere, but should he really trust him? No matter what, he has hurt his sister before; the pain is self-evident, only she knows how painful it is. He won’t allow his sister to suffer even a shred of hurt anymore. For years, he couldn’t keep his sister protected from wandering outside. As a brother, he already feels like a failure.

"Brother-in-law, since I have let the words come this far today, it proves that I really hope for you both to live in peace, not to let any joke cause conflict between you, which is truly not worth it.

I know over the years you have sacrificed a lot for my sister, but she has sacrificed no less for you. She really wants to come home, but fears you won’t swallow your pride. She hasn’t chosen to return. Do you really think I’m unaware of many things? I only watch from afar, never speaking up because I feel it’s your family matter. As a mere outsider interfering would only ruin your relationship. I don’t want my sister to be sad!

But not speaking doesn’t mean I’m indifferent. I’ve always had people follow you both, scared you might hurt her brother, afraid he’d suffer harm. But I must admit over the years you have treated my sister well, and she has sacrificed just as much for you. Both have contributed to each other; why bother distinguishing right vs wrong, truth vs lies? Being together is the greatest happiness, isn’t it?

I don’t disbelieve you when you speak. I’m just afraid you’ll be torn in the future. After all these years, you owe your father, owe your son, owe everyone, your entire family. If this time you again choose to run away for your wife, abandoning everything, what would your family think of that? How should they accept their kin repeatedly betraying them?

Please speak thoughtfully, don’t just spout what comes to mind. Once spoken, it may not be possible to take back words. For me, once you’ve spoken you must act. Yet now I won’t force you, I just want to know your true thoughts. If someday my sister is unhappy, prepared to leave, faced with your wife’s happiness vs family interests, which would you choose?

If someday my sister chooses to leave you on her own for the sake of safeguarding your family, so no one criticizes you, would you resolutely follow her to leave?"

Zhang Zhentian couldn’t help but admit a bit of conflict within him. After all, he’s put so much effort to finally return to this home, to live together with you, it’s been too difficult for him. How could he easily leave now to fly away? Yet he can’t let his wife be wronged either. If truly forced to choose, what should he decide?

"If it truly comes to that day, and your sister is unhappy, in the face of family and her, I will choose her. If someday she refuses to live with me, wishes to leave, I’ll still resolutely follow her, forever hold her hand.

Even if in the end your whole family sees me as the enemy, distrusts any word I say, rejects me returning to her side, never accepts me back home, for being with my wife I think all is worth it. Perhaps you’ll find me foolish and innocent, unfit as a man to make such a choice.

Yet being able to make this decision today shows your sister’s place in my heart surpasses everything. No object, no person can shake that place from deep within me. Only your sister truly knows how much I treasure her. I love her intensely, to the bone, more than I love my own life or family. As long as she’s happy, I can make my family forever unhappy!"

"Zhang Zhentian, I truly didn’t expect you’d be so selfish, that for a woman you’d even abandon your own family. Where does that leave them?

Though this woman is my sister, hearing you say this I cannot particularly agree. As a man, you’ve thrown all burdens onto your young son, given them all the grief. Shouldn’t you stay by them, taking good care? Can’t you persuade your wife to joyfully live in this world with you?

Sometimes leaving isn’t the best solution. Maybe you’ll not be bringing happiness, but sorrow instead. Your departure would leave your family one by one heartbroken and tearful. Yet you offer only your wife happiness. If you choose to stay, you’d make them happy while making your wife sad. Think carefully, should you choose my sister or your family?"

Zhang Zhentian hesitated; he knows what’s said is right. But in his eyes, this matter simply lacks comparability — no one can be as important as his wife. As long as she’s happy, even if he as a husband suffers some grievance, does it matter? But if everyone’s sad and only his wife is happy, would his sin be even greater? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"I still need to consider these issues. I will answer you in a few days. Maybe by then, an answer might surprise even myself. Who knows. I hope today’s conversation remains confidential between us. Perhaps I truly don’t deserve being a man, having no means to protect my family, only causing them grave harm, making them cry repeatedly due to my decisions!"

Only in the end did I realize, it was all merely my fantasy. You don’t understand me, you don’t know me, you don’t even know what I desire most.