[Bifurcation] (01-33) Author: Su Jing

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

Author: Su Jing
Word Count: 153308

yzwnxhpb.png.

Click to see larger image

Chapter 1

Parting was like this. Qin Xiaoyu secretly wiped away the tears that kept flowing with her left hand, her face past
Liang Anni's hair, turning towards the porthole, watching the orange lights change from blurry to clear, then gradually blur again,
like rain mixed with sadness, constantly soaking and washing over the whole world, so unspeakable and
inescapable . Actually, it wasn't raining, but everything was wet, and she felt like a piece
of clothing just pulled from a basin of water, hanging heavily, every cell in her body was seeping out a watery
substance called sadness, dripping... But, there will always be a day when the water runs dry and she becomes light and dry.

Robert gently held Qin Xiaoyu's right hand. He had been silent all along, standing far away to the side
ever since , seemingly indifferent. Of course, it really didn't concern him much.
Qin Xiaoyu was saying goodbye to her husband Liang Chen, and Liang Anni was saying goodbye to her father Liang Chen. The three of them were crying
over their joys and sorrows, while he was just standing in front of a tree, or a small wooden house, about to take Qin
Xiaoyu and Liang Anni in for temporary refuge. Regardless of whether there would be the warm light of love under that shelter, would he, like
Liang Chen, hold Qin Xiaoyu, reluctant to part? Perhaps even shedding tears?

Robert didn't want to think about this. He still had at least two years to squander this seemingly borrowed
affection and this borrowed woman, so he might as well squander them. Of everyone, only he hadn't
lost anything yet, only he had no right to say anything, but in the end, after everyone's reunion, only he would be left with
loss, and at that time, perhaps no one would be there to share his grief… He understood this. He looked at
them and felt that this scene was just a rehearsal for a certain stage of his own life.

Qin Xiaoyu was still crying secretly. She didn't use tissues loudly, nor did she sob. She resisted
the urge to hug Liang Anni. If she did, six-year-old Liang Anni would surely smile and ask, "Mommy, why are you crying
? Didn't you say we'd live in a beautiful house with a swimming pool? And that
lots of ?" She didn't want to carry too much sadness into another chapter of her life. In any case,
the moment the plane took off would mark a new phase in her life, perhaps even a new phase in her relationship.
The constant, refreshing feeling, like a spring, would be enough to make up for all the disappointment and sorrow. Only

Liang Chen had truly torn two pieces of his own body, his own heart, apart.
Only he was enduring the bloody pain of loss, enduring the emptiness in his heart. He could hardly find
a way to cope.

Yes, after watching Qin Xiaoyu and Anni disappear through security, Liang Chen slowly
made his way to the parking lot. He opened the car door and smoked five cigarettes he hadn't smoked in ten years, until he
couldn't help but cough violently.

Liang Chen started the car amidst the swirling smoke inside. At that moment, a long
message appeared on his phone screen: "Baby, I saw you bought cigarettes. You've quit for so many years, don't use sadness as an excuse to smoke again, okay? I love
you, we'll always love you. We're taking off. I'll contact you every single day, every single moment. For our shared
future, for our Annie, let's be patient together. Time will pass quickly, only two years, and
in between, Annie and I can come back to see you. Don't be too sad, don't cry, okay? I love you."

Liang Chen finally couldn't hold back his tears.

Driving on Beijing's Sixth Ring Road, Liang Chen could see planes taking off and landing overhead, their lights shimmering with a mysterious and
distant light. Those planes carried countless joys and sorrows, playing out different versions of similar
stories around the world… When he was dating Qin Xiaoyu, he hated places like train stations and airports because separation seemed to
outweigh reunion. Liang Chen didn't know if his decision was right, letting another man take his wife and
child to live in exchange for Australian citizenship. If it were just a simple transaction, the
matter would be settled once the money was paid. But Liang Chen realized that Robert liked Qin Xiaoyu. His feelings were so
restrained and suppressed. At the airport, he acted like a complete stranger, polite and courteous to everyone,
including Qin Xiaoyu. When helping with her luggage, he politely said, "Please let me help you with this."
But what if Robert didn't like Qin Xiaoyu? How could she hand over her wife and child to a man she knew nothing about
? What if he hit her? Even if he didn't, she
couldn't ! So, considering everything, Robert was more reassuring for Liang Chen. At least this
foreigner spoke fluent Chinese, at least he liked Qin Xiaoyu, and he had always been good to Annie. Moreover ,
they had agreed on a fee of only 30,000 Australian dollars, less than a third of the price of using an agency for marriage immigration. Besides,
this kind of union, based on a semi-genuine relationship, was probably the most effective guarantee for obtaining residency.

Thinking of this, Liang Chen sighed, squeezing out two words through his nose: "I'll endure it!"

Ten minutes before takeoff, Qin Xiaoyu typed a text message for Liang Chen with her left hand. Each word felt like it was being
torn apart, each one ripped from the depths of her heart. After finishing the message, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand, then
casually wiped them onto a pink handkerchief. She still needed to hide it... She didn't want to give Robert a
sorrowful start. Then, she took Annie's little hand and mumbled something, pointing to the cars
speeding , and said to Annie, "Your dad's car should be that one."

Annie asked, "Which one?"

Qin Xiaoyu said, "The one that's driving slower."

Annie asked, "Is he afraid of speeding?"

Qin Xiaoyu said, "Probably, maybe he wants to see us take off."

Actually, Qin Xiaoyu knew that Liang Chen's speed was usually very high at this time, and she was so worried about him...

If he was really driving very slowly, there was only one reason: he was afraid to go back to the house without her and the child.
Although she had cleaned the house thoroughly in the week before she left, the kitchen
was spotless organized, and she had told Liang Chen which drawer his underwear was in, where his socks were, and
all his shirts were ironed and arranged by color, as were his pants. Many of them were bought together the previous week,
and she was always worried that he wouldn't wash his clothes in time and wouldn't have any to change into. She also reminded him to keep his socks and underwear separate.
"Wash them. If you're too lazy to hand wash them, wash the socks and jeans together, the underwear and sheets together..."
After she finished giving her instructions, Liang Chen only said one sentence: "It's so neat, I don't dare touch anything."

Sigh, a few more tears fell. She pulled her right hand away from Robert's and wiped away
her tears . Then, turning back to Robert with red eyes, she said, "I'm sorry."

Robert pursed his lips, a slight smile playing on his lips. He looked at Qin Xiaoyu with gentle blue eyes
but said nothing. He understood that Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen's twelve-year relationship hadn't been easy to build, especially since they had
their own child, the beautiful Princess Anne. Yes, Robert always called her Princess Anne, which made
the child as happy as a colorful little windmill, always spinning joyfully. But his relationship with Qin Xiaoyu,
bound together by self-interest, was like a pile of scattered sawdust, a small heap that would scatter with a gust of wind. Perhaps it was like dew,
a fleeting romance, as the Chinese proverb goes. Maybe that's how it started.

So he didn't know what to say, unable to promise anything. Robert felt
a of unease. He didn't know why he accepted helping Qin Xiaoyu with this. Was it just to openly
possess her for two years? For someone as afraid of marriage as himself, perhaps two years was the best, perfectly
capturing the passionate period of his feelings. In other words, he could separate before he grew tired of her. It seemed good.
As for the money, Robert didn't think too much about it. Whether he got it or not was fine. If giving money would make Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen feel more
at ease, why not?

Some of the cabin lights were turned off. Robert said to Qin Xiaoyu, "Sleep with the child if you can; it'll be
thirteen or fourteen hours. Also, you can lean on me." He patted his shoulder.

Qin Xiaoyu said, "It's okay, let her watch some cartoons first, and we'll sleep together when she's tired."

"Okay," Robert said, "then I'll read a book to keep you company." He took out an
English book. Qin Xiaoyu couldn't understand what the book was, and just sighed, "Sigh, when will I be able to understand
English books?"

Robert said, "Don't worry, we agreed I'd teach you."

Qin Xiaoyu felt a pang of sadness, because she had said the same thing to Liang Chen, saying, "From now on,
when I study English every day, you'll study with me, otherwise, if we really live in Australia, you'll be deaf and mute...

We agreed Robert would teach me, and I'd teach you." "

Okay,"

Qin Xiaoyu nodded, holding back her tears. At that time, Liang Chen also hummed in agreement, but she was unhappy then, feeling that Liang
Chen's attitude towards learning wasn't proactive enough.

Robert began reading intently, as if Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Anni didn't exist.
The cabin remained quiet; some read, some watched movies, and some slept. Qin Xiaoyu's eardrums
were already severely depressurized. The roar of the plane gradually faded into the distance. She felt
as if being pushed further and further away. She didn't know why they couldn't be like they were when they planned their marriage and immigration—
excited and optimistic, inspired by the future. Now, facing the reality, she realized that the weight of separation was overwhelming
, and the gap between imagination and reality was truly so vast.

Qin Xiaoyu opened her mouth, and the roar of the plane again assaulted her ears.

Robert's body heat slowly seeped through her thin clothes. Qin Xiaoyu wondered: Was she really
going to live a regular life, going to bed early and waking up early, with sandwiches and oatmeal for breakfast? Would she really get used to
a bedroom without a TV, a garden outside the study, and a blue swimming pool in the backyard? Or would she
really be able to
kiss this still-unfamiliar, yet strong and hairy man, and say good morning to each other the moment she opened her eyes in the morning? With him, where would Liang Chen fit in her heart?
Would the two of them secretly compete for space in her heart? And could she balance all of this?

Qin Xiaoyu thought again: She needed to buy two notebooks. She wanted to keep two parallel diaries,
one for Liang Chen, to share her daily life with him, as if they had never been apart; and one for
Robert, as a parting gift, to tell him that she also cherished every moment with him…

…

Thinking this way, Qin Xiaoyu felt a slight excitement, as if
a red rose and a white rose had truly bloomed simultaneously in her life, filled with an anticipated fragrance.

Chapter Two:

Intermittent sleep seemed to stretch those thirteen or fourteen hours even longer. Qin Xiaoyu's mind was constantly
talking to herself, to Liang Chen, even to Robert beside her, breathing quietly with his eyes closed, and
to Annie, who was half-leaning against her. She didn't know how long it would take or how she would recover. She
sorted out her thoughts .

She had fallen asleep for a while, leaning on Robert's shoulder, but suddenly woke up with a start and quickly sat up
straight . After such a long flight, she was worried her breath wouldn't be fresh enough, and she was also worried that if she slept too soundly
, she might snore, or drool onto his shoulder… Would he mind? At least he wouldn't be like Liang Chen,
kissing her without restraint the moment he opened his eyes in the morning, recording her occasional soft snoring to show her when she woke up, and
if he saw her drooling, he would remain motionless. He held her sweet sleep… He wasn't Liang Chen. Although they
were husband and wife in name only, their actual intimacy was extremely limited, except for that time in the Robert apartment
stairwell… Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoyu turned back and glanced at him deliberately. Indeed, he was handsome. His
quiet demeanor at certain times made his blue eyes reveal a poet's melancholy, clear and without a trace of impurity. Qin Xiaoyu
felt that just looking into his eyes was like receiving many pure verses, each one full of emotion, untouched by the mundane world.
This British-Australian man had worked and lived in China for nearly ten years, yet remained single. Qin Xiaoyu had once asked
him why he didn't get married. His answer was interesting: "I'm afraid I can't love for that long, and having to
tie two people together is too long." Qin Xiaoyu said, "But growing old together is so wonderful, two people
relying on each other and keeping each other warm. Don't you want that?" "People who can grow old together must have endured or tolerated all kinds of changes in
life ; it's not that simple." Okay, maybe. Qin Xiaoyu roughly guessed why Rob
Ert preferred this kind of contract with her: an amicable breakup, proper and orderly, only consuming the best time
the two of them spent together. It was like liking the cherry blossoms at Kyoto's Kodai-ji Temple; you only needed to go there in spring.
It would be better to be here, instead of wasting time waiting all year round. It's like choosing a book you like; once you've finished reading
it , that's enough. Whether you give it away, keep it, or throw it away later is unimportant. Perhaps some books, while enjoyable at first glance, aren't worth
a second reading… Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoyu shook her head helplessly.

The plane had already announced that it would land in half an hour, and passengers opened their windows one after another. Qin Xiaoyu
covered her eyes with one hand and pushed open the window next to her with the other, instantly seeing a sea of clouds.

You see, that's how people drift aimlessly. At this moment, you really don't know which way is east, west, south, or north, nor do you know high or low,
you are tossed and turned by the floating clouds.

I wonder if Liang Chen will fall asleep, or if he will be staring intently at the plane's flight path on his phone? Watching how it
crosses the Pacific Ocean, and how it flies over the vast land of Australia? Feeling how quickly his wife
and daughter are separated from him?

Qin Xiaoyu's eyes couldn't help but moisten again.

Robert woke up, smiled at Qin Xiaoyu, and asked, "Are you alright? Hungry?"

"I'm fine." The two meals on the plane were really awful, a world apart from instant noodles. If Liang
Chen were here, she would honestly say, "It's awful! I really want a bowl of spicy instant noodles." But
Robert was probably in no mood to accept her minor complaints.

"It's winter here. The high today is 18 degrees Celsius, and the outside temperature is 13 degrees Celsius. You'll need to
wear a jacket with the child when we go out later."

"Okay. How did you rest?" Qin Xiaoyu asked. "

So-so. When we get home, we'll need to tidy up a bit, take a shower, and everyone take a nap."

"Okay."

Qin Xiaoyu said okay, but her heart started to sink... How would they rest when they got home? Yes, Qin
Xiaoyu meant that they would share a room from day one, and the child would have a separate room? How was she going
to explain this to the child? Previously, they had only vaguely mentioned to the child that they would be coming to Australia to study, and that they would be living in this uncle's
house and being taken care of by him. As for the marriage, they had kept it a secret. Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen
had always felt it was best not to tell the child yet, and to consider how to tell her when the time came.

Qin Xiaoyu frowned.

How could she not know that Robert, who had been single for many years, actually longed to be with her? Although
he hadn't had many opportunities to express it, they had always discussed the details of the contract, such as
how be calculated, whether Qin Xiaoyu would have to pay rent, how the child's education expenses would be handled after the public funds were covered,
how housework would be shared, and whether their incomes would not interfere with each other if Qin Xiaoyu went out to work? However,
that day at the stairwell, Robert had subtly expressed everything.

Yes, he longed for her.

And she, too, seemed to have such an undercurrent surging within her.

That was the day they received their marriage certificate, accompanied by Liang Chen. It marked a turning point in their lives.
Qin Xiaoyu vividly remembered that day: a rare sunny day after the rain, the first clear day after a week of smog.
Everyone on Weibo and WeChat was proudly showing off the Beijing weather from different angles, a feeling of triumph washing over them
after being so long plagued by blue skies and white clouds from all over the world.

That day was June 6th.

Liang Chen had brought up that date more than once, saying it was a pity they hadn't chosen June 9th, as it could have foreshadowed
a sweeter, more intimate time for them. Qin Xiaoyu could feel the deep, lingering bitterness behind every word Liang Chen uttered.

She said, "June 6th was the date we agreed on, it signifies that all our plans will go smoothly
.

Stop joking, my body is yours, my heart is yours, others are just borrowing me at most, don't worry, I
'll definitely return everything intact."

That morning, she and Liang Chen got their divorce certificates. While they were still surprised that the divorce certificates were also red, their appointment to get their marriage certificates with Robert
that afternoon arrived. To avoid
the awkwardness of getting their certificates at the same marriage registration office, they chose to get their marriage certificates in the district where Robert worked. Afterwards, the three
of them carrying two divorce certificates and two marriage certificates, had a meal together.

During the meal, they were still discussing Qin Xiaoyu's life plans after arriving in Australia.

Liang Chen said, "I don't want them to suffer. It would be best if the children went to school, and Xiaoyu could go to school too. I don't want her
to go out to work, like a waitress or something. I'll give you living expenses on time every month. How
much ?"

Robert said, "Actually, we don't need to pay living expenses. The children receive nearly two hundred Australian dollars
in subsidies , which should be enough for their food and drink. We don't need to pay rent. It's best not to do anything that would arouse suspicion from the immigration authorities.
Just treat us like a real family."

Qin Xiaoyu appreciated Robert's careful attitude when speaking to Liang Chen. He always transcended his
role as her temporary husband, speaking very considerately to Liang Chen, a man who had formally lost everything.

"Then Xiaoyu, do more housework when you have time, as a way of making it up to her," Liang Chen gently urged, squeezing Qin
Xiaoyu 's hand.

"I will," Xiaoyu said.

"It's okay, we can do housework together. I like to cook occasionally, there's a washing machine for laundry,
and I like to iron clothes myself. She can't clean the swimming pool or mow the lawn." Robert's words
comforted Liang Chen, but also gave him some worry. Love isn't scary; it comes quickly and fiercely, and it goes quickly
and decisively. But tenderness can easily trap a woman, which is probably an important
reason why marriages can last. Besides the habit of spending time together... well, they'll get used to it day by day. Sigh... Thinking of this,
Liang Chen couldn't help but sigh.

After the three of them finished their meal without really tasting it, they lingered and drank several pots of tea. Liang Chen wanted to explain
every detail he could think of to Robert, and some important points were written into a simple contract.
For example, Qin Xiaoyu could have substantial sexual contact with Robert, but they couldn't have children;
they could live together, but the child needed to be appeased first, at least given a reasonable explanation

; Robert couldn't interfere with any contact or interaction between Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen; Robert

and Qin Xiaoyu couldn't have affairs with other men within the next two years, otherwise it would be very detrimental to
the smooth implementation of this plan... As for Liang Chen, he only said one sentence to Qin Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, I'll
only do two things in the next two years: one is to earn money for you, and the other is to wait for you."

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoyu couldn't help but shed a few tears.

To ease the tension, Robert followed suit, saying, "In the past two
years , I've only done two things: take care of Xiaoyu and Annie, and help them successfully become
permanent residents of Australia." His words earned him a handshake and a thank you from Liang Chen.

The three of them were on good terms that afternoon, but beneath this harmony, three distinct
emotions were surging: Robert's anticipation and longing for a new life, Liang Chen's patience and unease about the impending
void , and Qin Xiaoyu's bewilderment at the transition—between two men
, between two different lives, it wasn't something that could be easily crossed by climbing a few steps, nor
could . It felt like the road ahead was fraught with the complex thorns of these two emotions.

After finishing their tea, Liang Chen drove Robert home. As Robert got out of the car, Liang Chen said,
"See him off." Qin Xiaoyu was grateful for the tolerance hidden beneath Liang Chen's limited selfishness. After all, it was Robert
's first day of marriage. Even if he couldn't consummate the marriage with his bride, they should at least have some time
alone together . Robert didn't say anything. Yes, he
didn't even care whether they were together on their first day of marriage. He felt that arguing about the timing was too childish.

Qin Xiaoyu and Robert entered the apartment building and stood in front of the elevator. Watching the
numbers jump up, they thought that if this farewell was calculated according to these numbers, including the few words of goodbye,
it would only take two or three minutes. This was, after all, the first day of marriage for a legally married couple.

As she pondered this, Robert suddenly grabbed Qin Xiaoyu's hand, pushed open
the stairwell door next to the elevator, and said as they walked, "Let's climb the stairs to the eighth floor together. I can carry you if you get tired."

Qin Xiaoyu was suddenly moved. Yes, the story of Pigsy carrying his wife inexplicably popped into her mind. Robert
probably didn't know it, but he had still managed to think of it and do it.

He held her hand, and when they reached the fourth floor, Qin Xiaoyu had to stop, pressing her hand to her chest as she gasped for breath. "

Come on, let me carry you."

As the carry turned into a hug, Qin Xiaoyu recalled the scene of entering the bridal chamber, always the husband carrying
the bride with her veil on her head to the bed...

Robert really did lift Qin Xiaoyu up in his arms.

Qin Xiaoyu instantly blushed, carefully wrapping her arms around his neck, holding her breath, not knowing what to say.

His steps were slow and elegant, showing no sign of fatigue, climbing the stairs as if walking on a
red ... He kissed her cheek.

He traced the path to her lips.

Qin Xiaoyu dodged.

Robert whispered, "Let me give my bride a ceremony."

Without further ado, he slipped his tongue into Qin Xiaoyu's mouth… After a lingering kiss, he set Qin Xiaoyu
down , pinning her against the wall. He then took her ring finger, made a
small circle with his index finger and thumb, and gently threaded it through her ring finger, murmuring the classic line, "No matter
illness anything." Then he said, "Your turn," and extended his own ring finger.

Qin Xiaoyu blushed, biting her lips, which he had kissed red, and also made a circle with her index finger and thumb, placing
an imaginary ring on his finger. She didn't know what to say, so the gesture was somewhat unrhythmic and slightly
awkward .

Robert said, "I think when the time is right, we'll have a visible token."

Then he stood up, wrapped his arms around Qin Xiaoyu's waist, and began another long kiss.

"No...don't..." Qin Xiaoyu wanted to say she should go. A long farewell might upset Liang Chen,
especially since this was happening right under his nose. As
for what they probably wouldn't have to worry so much.

Robert stopped kissing, but his lips remained on Qin Xiaoyu's. He said, "I want you.
I want to be close to your body, like a husband checking in with his wife. Is that okay?"

Qin Xiaoyu breathed in his breath, completely intoxicated by the unfamiliar scent of the man in his arms. She
couldn't help but stamp her foot: "What are you going to do? I'm afraid he'll get impatient."

"I want it like this." Robert lifted Qin Xiaoyu's skirt, pinning her against the wall
, then slowly squatted down.

His kiss, through a thin layer of black lace, gently landed.

In a daze, Robert felt as if he were standing in a vast spring garden, where everything in the world
seemed to have vanished, leaving only the sunlight, relentlessly showering every pink petal. He ran and ran,
wandering through an endless sea of flowers. Finally, with a thud, he collapsed beneath a tree. In an instant, all
the flowers trembled, cascading like rain. He leaned back, stretching out his arms, chest, even his tongue, to receive
the baptism of the flower rain… Then, a petal drifted gently, landing softly on his tongue. Everything around
him froze in mid-air, only the touch of his tongue against the petal remained—warm and sweet,
yet so insufficient. If only he could chew and swallow this fragrance…

Chapter Three:

Qin Xiaoyu felt a little dizzy.

She quickly ran her fingers through Robert's thick hair, gently pressing his head.

But Robert quickly grabbed her wrist. He slowly stood up, adjusted his breathing,
smoothed Qin Xiaoyu's skirt with his fingers, and lightly kissed her forehead, saying, "Sorry for being abrupt, but I just wanted to mark it like this.

After all, today is very different for me. Today, you gave me a new role, so for a moment...
Actually, I'm not in such a hurry. There are often long stretches of time in my life without women."

"Hmm," Qin Xiaoyu lowered her head, bit her lip, and said, "Do you need me to take you to your door?"

"No need, let me carry you downstairs. Come on..." Robert bent down, put his hands behind his back, and
Qin Xiaoyu stepped forward. His two large hands grabbed Qin Xiaoyu's thighs and lifted her up, and Qin Xiaoyu
obediently climbed onto his back. Hmm, how soft and warm she was. Robert felt a
sweetness that was about to burst forth.

"We're here, we're here, let me down quickly." Qin Xiaoyu kicked her legs anxiously.

"Afraid he'll see?"

"Yeah...it wouldn't be good anyway."

"I'll tell him you sprained your ankle."

"No, let me down!"

Qin Xiaoyu struggled, wriggling and slowly sliding down Robert's back. Robert
suddenly found the woman's wriggling movements quite charming; if she were in his arms, she would be as smooth as an eel and
as .

"Alright, I'll still walk you this far, otherwise he won't understand how you're seeing me off." Robert
ruffled Qin Xiaoyu's hair and said.

"Okay, goodbye."

Qin Xiaoyu walked up the last few steps without looking back, touching her cheeks with both hands
to feel the burning sensation slowly subsiding before heading towards Liang Chen in the car.

"Why do you make me see him off? A grown man like you." Qin Xiaoyu sat in the passenger seat, feigning dissatisfaction
.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to make things easier for him so he could help us.
It's better for you and Annie." Liang Chen started the car, glanced at Qin Xiaoyu, and asked, "Are you alright?" "

I'm fine, it's just... he hugged me for a moment."

"Hmm." Liang Chen squeezed out a syllable from his throat.

Qin Xiaoyu knew this topic couldn't continue; everything could only be imagined. If she and Liang
Chen were to bring this up as a formal discussion, it wouldn't be like rubbing salt into a wound, but it would be like
pouring on the ground—the ground would splatter and bubble.

Regarding this issue, both of them tacitly understood what was going on and could simply avoid it.
There are many things in this world that don't need to be taken so seriously. Life is like a sieve; if your
holes are large enough, many bumps will pass through, making the journey smooth. If you're too meticulous, you'll likely carry a heavy burden of
problems , making life heavy and bumpy. Liang Chen had repeatedly questioned himself about why he had played such a traditionally incompetent role

in this matter . A man without sufficient money or ability to immigrate, yet resorting to selling his marriage, his wife's body, and even her feelings, to obtain a foreign identity that could only be described as vanity… When he and Qin Xiaoyu first discussed immigration, they considered various methods, but rejected . First, their English was poor; second, one was a low-level clerk in the district government, and the other a junior editor in the city's party newspaper, lacking any special skills; third, both came from ordinary families, their parents' greatest contribution being a down payment on a house, which they were still struggling to pay off. What to do? Helplessness is a heavy blow, capable of instantly shattering anyone's fragile self-esteem. Marriage immigration was probably the simplest and most effective method. And, coincidentally, they had found a suitable person. Although Robert hadn't proposed a monetary transaction, Liang Chen knew that such a transaction was generally the most effective way to dispel feelings . You see, sometimes people use money to measure the depth of love, but sometimes money is a cooling agent for emotions; when money is settled, everything can come to an end. Yes, he saw Robert as a stepping stone, not a ship for Qin Xiaoyu's future. Actually, Liang Chen had tried to comfort himself. He loved Qin Xiaoyu so much; if the highest form of love is wishing someone only happiness, then Robert's existence, and the two years Qin Xiaoyu spent with Robert, might be the best gift he could give her—the love and passion of another man. Yes, he still couldn't use the word "physical"; the thought of it made Liang Chen's heart ache. He could see Robert 's expectations of Qin Xiaoyu, and even discerned Qin Xiaoyu's feigned indifference. But he still liked it when Qin Xiaoyu repeated Robert's shortcomings in front of him, even if they were insincere. Liang Chen especially loved hearing Qin Xiaoyu say something that was particularly cliché, yet somehow felt so comforting. She said, "Don't let Robert's height and good looks fool you; his nose is small, so it probably isn't much better." That day, Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen avoided talking about Robert as soon as they got home. But now, the plane was about land. How would her life begin? How would she and Robert get along? These questions were no less important than letting Liang Chen know she had arrived safely. The plane came to a stop, and Qin Xiaoyu turned on her phone, but there was no signal, and she couldn't connect to any Wi-Fi. Robert said, "Don't worry, after we get off the plane and collect our luggage, go outside and breathe some Sydney air first, then I'll buy you a temporary SIM card so you can contact him." "Thank you," Qin Xiaoyu said. "Mom, I'm a little hungry. Also, when will we get to Uncle Robert 's house? And if his house is big, can I get a puppy?" Annie asked, chattering away, holding Qin Xiaoyu's hand. "I'll find a place to buy you something to eat when we go out later. Don't ask anything else now, because Mommy doesn't know either." "Okay." Annie pouted, then suddenly looked up and asked Qin Xiaoyu, "Mommy, does Daddy know we're in Australia now? When will he come to see us? When he comes, can I take him to see the kangaroos and koalas?" "Soon, we'll talk about it after you start school." "Mommy, when will Robert take us to see the kangaroos and koalas?" "Soon, I don't know either." Qin Xiaoyu suddenly felt a little annoyed. She glanced worriedly at Robert , afraid he wouldn't like a child asking so many questions. Robert had never had children, so he probably didn't know how to get along with them, and she wondered if he had the patience to get along well with Annie for the next two years. "Little Anne," Robert stopped and turned to Anne, saying, "Are you hungry? I'll buy a hamburger to try later, but it might not be as good as KFC or McDonald's back home." "It's okay, I can hold out until we get home." Anne's obedient demeanor made Qin Xiaoyu and Robert exchange a smile. "Is the air nice, Princess Anne?" As soon as they exited the departure hall, Robert pointed to the clear blue sky and asked Anne. "Yes, the clouds look like cotton candy. Unlike Beijing, which is always gray and hazy, and sometimes we have to wear masks to school. Right, Mom?" Anne shook Qin Xiaoyu's hand. Qin Xiaoyu said, "I'm glad you like it here. Mom hopes you'll make many new classmates and friends here." "But I have to study English properly first, otherwise I won't understand what they're saying." "Don't worry, Princess Anne, you'll learn quickly." Robert said, turning his gaze to Qin Xiaoyu.

"I told you, five- or six-year-olds adapt to the language environment quickly, don't worry."

"Okay."

Robert's brother, Mark, picked them up at the airport. Robert introduced Mark to
Qin Xiaoyu. Qin Xiaoyu was nervous and didn't know what to say, so Robert quickly explained to Mark that her
English wasn't very good and she was a little nervous. Mark shrugged and said it was okay, then turned
to greet .
As soon as the group got into the car, Robert borrowed Mark's phone and handed it to Qin Xiaoyu, saying, "Call him, I couldn't find anywhere to buy a SIM card."

Qin Xiaoyu gave Robert a grateful look. Then she quickly called Liang Chen.

Qin Xiaoyu whispered, "We've arrived. His brother is here to pick us up. Annie slept well the whole way. I just bought her
a hamburger and fries, but she said the hamburger was awful, so she only ate the fries. I'm
calling you now using his brother's phone. I'll give you the new number after I buy a SIM card."

Liang Chen asked, "Okay. How are you? How's Sydney?"

Qin Xiaoyu said, "I'm fine, but the flight was too long, and my stomach is upset, but thankfully, I
didn't throw up. I'll feel better after drinking some hot water when we get to his house... Sydney is just so-so, it's not cold in winter, and it doesn't
really feel like winter. It's a bit like Shenzhen, Guangdong, with green leaves and flowers everywhere... You didn't sleep
well, did you?"

Liang Chen said, "You know me well. I was basically looking at the flight path of your plane the whole time,
playing games and watching other things... Luckily you arrived safely. I'm going to get some sleep. It
's not good to make international calls on someone else's phone for too long, so I'll hang up now."

Qin Xiaoyu hung up the phone and kept looking at the various houses along the way, all low and nestled in the greenery
. The car drove for about forty or fifty minutes before reaching the edge of a dense forest. Robert pointed to a
road and said, "Our house is the second one on the left after turning left on that road. I told you, it has two bedrooms and a study.
Princess Anne has her own room; you can decorate it nicely for her later."

Qin Xiaoyu smiled. She always felt nervous with strangers around, especially since she didn't speak the language.

When they arrived at the door, Mark got out of the car and told Robert that he and his mother had already
cleaned and hoped they would get some rest. He left Robert his own two-door Holden hatchback
; the keys were on the dining table, and he could return it after buying a new car. Robert patted Mark
on the shoulder , the two gave each other a brief hug, and then waved goodbye to Qin Xiaoyu and the others.

Robert said, "Let's go home first; we have a lot to do."

"Can I go see the swimming pool first?" Anne asked eagerly.

"Of course." Robert opened the door, put down his luggage, and then took Annie's hand, leading her to
the backyard .

Qin Xiaoyu walked slowly alone in the living room on the first floor... What a wonderful house! The living room was bright and airy,
the kitchen and dining room were spacious, and the garden was right outside the window. The lawn around the garden was freshly trimmed and
still lush and green despite it being winter. The bedrooms should be upstairs, and there should also be a study, but she didn't know where it was.

"Let me show you the rooms." Robert appeared behind Qin Xiaoyu at some point.

"That door on the first floor leads to the garage. There's a toilet here, and this is the laundry room. The dining room leads to
the study. Let me show you the study," Robert said, taking Qin Xiaoyu's hand.

"It's called a study, but there aren't many books. A lot of them were bought when I was in college. It's a shame there aren't any Chinese books."

"It's okay, I can't read them anyway… I like this table, it's a bit rustic." Qin Xiaoyu's fingertips
gently traced the edge of the dark gray solid wood table by the window, thinking that perhaps she could sit here, facing the sunrise
or the moonlight, writing letters to Liang Chen, recording each new day here.

"You can read and write here from now on. I'll go to the dining table." Robert seemed to read Qin
Xiaoyu's mind.

"I also want to put a picture of us together here, okay?" Robert pointed to a
bookshelf shelf that only had a rugby trophy on it.

"But we haven't taken a picture together yet."

"We will in the future."

"Okay."

"Come on, let's go see the bedroom."

Robert held Qin Xiaoyu's hand tightly the whole time.

"This room is for Annie. It's brighter, the window faces the backyard, and it's quiet. It also has a
small living room and a bathroom separated from our room."

"Hmm, that's nice, but she might not be used to sleeping alone here... Could I... stay with her
for a few days ?" Qin Xiaoyu whispered.

Robert ignored her, perhaps not hearing her. He took Qin Xiaoyu's hand and pushed open
the door to another room, saying, "Look, this is our bedroom. There's a big wardrobe. You can organize your
clothes and put them in the leftmost column. Mine are on the right. Annie's room has its own wardrobe
... This is the bathroom. Annie can use the downstairs bathroom by herself. This bed is a bit small. I'm thinking of getting a knee-sized one
in a couple of days . What do you think? Or should we change the bed's position?
Wouldn't it be better if it faced that full-length mirror?"

Qin Xiaoyu said, "It's up to you."

Actually, she was still worried about whether Annie would be scared if she slept alone at night. Also, did she really need to go to the downstairs bathroom to
get up ? Wouldn't the upstairs bathroom be more convenient? If Liang Chen
knew his six-year-old daughter had to go to the bathroom alone in the dark downstairs at night, wouldn't he be angry too?

Besides, Robert's sudden talkativeness made Qin Xiaoyu feel like a guest. It was like a
host greeting a guest with great enthusiasm.

"Are you unhappy?" Robert noticed.

"No. Maybe I'm just a little tired," Qin Xiaoyu said, trying to hide her feelings.

"If you're unhappy, there's nothing I can do. Children must sleep separately from adults. We need to cultivate
her independence from the beginning. Don't be soft-hearted. You need to tell her that we're married now, although her father
is still hers, and her mother is still her mother..." Robert squeezed Qin Xiaoyu's hand, then let go,
saying, "I'll go downstairs and tell Annie to take a shower first. After settling her in, we'll take a shower and sleep for a while. I'll take you
out for dinner ." (

Chapter 4:

Annie came upstairs crying, her trouser legs soaking wet.)

"What's wrong?" Qin Xiaoyu squatted down and took Annie's little hand, asking.

"Mommy... Waaah..."

"I let her play outside the iron fence by the pool for a while, saying she couldn't open the gate and go in by
herself ... She opened the gate herself, ran into the pool in her clothes, and I said something to her. She was probably
scared or a little cold, because when I asked her, she didn't answer."

"Oh, I'm so sorry... Honey, are you cold? Wait a minute, Mommy will get some clean clothes and take you for a shower."
Qin Xiaoyu was a little unhappy. Since there was a safety hazard for the child near the pool, Robert shouldn't have left her there
alone Six-year-olds often
do what you tell them not to do, and warnings sound more like reminders than warnings.

"It's nothing, it's just... never mind, I suggest you teach her how to adjust the water temperature and train her to wash herself."

"She's still young, she's never even washed herself at home, I'm worried. I'll teach her slowly. I'm sorry." Qin
Xiaoyu's cold tone revealed her dissatisfaction.

"Okay. Whatever you want." Robert went downstairs first.

"Sweetie, the left side is hot water, the right side is cold water. Turning it left turns it on, turning it right turns it off. Turn on
the hot water , then stand to the side so the water doesn't get on you. Oh, right, then turn on the cold water, turn it to the left, yes, turn it
one side wider. Wait a while and put your hand in to check if the water is too hot or too cold... Okay, if it's a little hot, turn on
a little more cold water... Hmm, okay, how about now? A little cold again? Okay, turn off the cold water a little or turn on the hot water a little

... Hmm, okay, all done, now take off your clothes, come on, Mommy will watch you take them off..." "

But I want to shower with Mommy, and then we can hug each other naked after applying shower gel..."

"Mommy wants to too... but Nini is growing up and needs to start practicing bathing herself. Today is her first time,
Mommy will give you some lather later, okay?"

"Okay."

Looking at Annie's sensible manner, Qin Xiaoyu felt
a , especially since Liang Chen wasn't around and the child was being so obedient. Qin Xiaoyu's eyes welled up with tears
... If she didn't spoil her child, who would? Yes, if Liang Chen had said those words, Qin Xiaoyu
wouldn't have felt anything amiss; she would have felt it was the right thing to do. But since Robert said it, she felt unhappy
. Deep down, she still hoped Robert could spoil Annie as much as he spoiled his own child... Oh,
Robert doesn't have children. Okay, I forgive you, Qin Xiaoyu told herself.

"Mommy, make me some bubbles."

Qin Xiaoyu leaned forward, trying to avoid the water, and found a bottle labeled "body wash .
" She taught Annie the words, explaining that it was body wash and that she would use it to wash her body. The "sh ampoo" she had just seen
was shampoo. Annie nodded her wet head and turned away. Qin Xiaoyu wet her hands, squeezed
some shower gel onto them, and then rubbed Annie all over. She handed Annie a small pink bath sponge, saying,
"Try it yourself, you can make lots of bubbles too."

"Mommy, look! It really is... lots of bubbles! Mommy, I can do it too!" Annie excitedly
played with the bubbles on her arms, tummy, legs, and shoulders. "Come here, Mommy will rub some on your back,
make sure there are bubbles on your back too."

Annie finished her bath smoothly. Qin Xiaoyu picked up a towel, wrapped it around her, put on a shower cap, and took
Annie to her room.

"Sweetie, this is your room from now on. Isn't it comfortable? Mommy will bring you your teddy bear
so you can hug it and sleep. We didn't sleep well on the plane, so we all need to catch up on some sleep
... Mommy will go downstairs to get your teddy bear, so you can get into bed first."

Qin Xiaoyu went downstairs, opened her suitcase, found Annie's teddy bear, and was about to
go upstairs when Robert came over with a cup of hot water and handed it to her: "I heard you say that drinking hot water makes your stomach feel better, here."

Qin Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment. He heard that and remembered it?

"Do you want me to feed you?" Robert smiled, but still handed the cup to Qin Xiaoyu's lips.

Qin Xiaoyu smiled shyly and opened her mouth.

Robert fed Qin Xiaoyu water while reaching out with his left hand to brush the water droplets from her hair.

Qin Xiaoyu suddenly realized that not only were her hair ends wet, but a large patch of her chest was also damp. While it wasn't quite revealing,
it was winter, and she was wearing a slightly loose black long-sleeved t-shirt, but the wet patch was very noticeable.

A little embarrassed, Qin Xiaoyu quickly finished her water, said thank you, and turned to go upstairs. Behind her, she heard Robert
say, "I'll wait for you in the bathroom."

Qin Xiaoyu's heart suddenly pounded, and the rhythm changed.

In the ten years of her marriage to Liang Chen, the first three years were immersed in the sweetness of early marriage and courtship;
it seemed there was no other man in the world besides Liang Chen. For the next seven years, three or four were entirely devoted to their children. When Liang
Chen joined them, everything suddenly felt a bit crowded. A woman's perspective is so small; being pampered by her husband and needed by
her children , like a world divided into two, makes the world feel full. Just those two people alone were enough to keep Qin Xiaoyu
extremely busy. At that moment, she suddenly noticed another man standing against the wall outside the dome,
waiting for her. What was hidden beneath his serious expression? The unexpected
romance Qin Xiaoyu couldn't forget. That game of using her finger as a ring—ethereal, childlike, and full of
innocent persistence—was even more unforgettable than actually standing under the spotlight of a wedding banquet, holding a diamond ring. But,
there was still so much space in her heart for Liang Chen. Should she really start making room for Robert
? Would he, like the "ocean beads" Annie played with, grow from tiny sesame seed beads in three or four days in
water to the size of colored glass beads, beginning to recklessly plunder space?

Love is always a give-and-take. Right now, Robert was taking over; Liang Chen wasn't. Qin
Xiaoyu knew she couldn't open the door to Robert. Even though she secretly hoped for this
man who was excellent in every way, their relationship had a time limit. Indulging her feelings too much
would not only hurt Liang Chen, but also herself. Qin Xiaoyu even hoped Robert would be old and
ugly, cold and selfish, and impotent. She'd be willing to stay with him for two years, even as his caretaker. Then
they could part amicably , settle everything, and she could even walk away without looking back. What she feared most was this kind of expectation that began in advance.
Life… if every step you take now feels like a flower blooming, how will you ever
escape when you're deep within a sea of flowers? The fragrance, the colors, every swaying movement… it all lingers.

Qin Xiaoyu went upstairs, drew the curtains, and sat on the edge of the bed watching Annie slowly fall asleep, her heart still pounding
rapidly. But hiding in the room like this wasn't right either.

For Robert's cup of hot water… let's shower together, after all, we
have a marriage certificate. But she couldn't tell Liang Chen that since Annie came along, they hadn't
bathed together anymore; it was always one of them taking the child to shower today, the other tomorrow, all the romance gone.

Qin Xiaoyu changed into a cartoon-themed long nightgown downstairs. She wasn't prepared to go in naked,
nor did she want to go in wearing only a three-point bra or a half-covering silk nightgown; that would feel like
seducing Robert, not washing away the fatigue from the plane.

She walked barefoot into the bedroom, closed the door, and then opened the bathroom door…

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Robert already standing in the steam, the rushing water making her feel she didn't need to
say anything.

"Come on, I just came in too, the water temperature is just right."

Qin Xiaoyu hesitated, not daring to look directly at the body in the water. She pretended to fix her hair, lingering in front of
the sink .

"Come on!"

Robert actually came out, dripping wet, and pulled Qin Xiaoyu over.

"I haven't taken my clothes off yet…" As she spoke, she was already standing underwater.

A warm rush poured over her head, her clothes completely soaked, clinging tightly to her body.

"You're so beautiful." Robert's greedy gaze pierced through the steam, looking Qin
Xiaoyu .

His gaze was like a pair of hands, a metaphor Qin Xiaoyu truly felt for the first time. She was
overwhelmed by the touch of his gaze, feeling as if he had touched her everywhere, yet also as if he hadn't touched her anywhere at all.

Robert lifted Qin Xiaoyu's chin with his hand and kissed her in the water.

Qin Xiaoyu's world collapsed as if by magic, gaping open everywhere, each place filled with
the desolation .

She began to passively accept everything like a puppet. Robert's kiss was a shallow one
, his tongue merely circling her lips, neither persistent nor lingering... His caresses, yes, he
slowly knelt down, slipped under her nightgown, and wrapped his arms around her body... His caresses were circular,
starting from the back of her knees and slowly moving upwards, the caresses rising and falling with Qin Xiaoyu's body... Reaching her
neck , his hands replaced hers, lifting her clothes above her head... The water poured down, the clothes covering
most of her body, and for a moment, Qin Xiaoyu felt like they were teenagers seeking shelter from the rain, standing on a deserted street corner, shivering and
shrinking , their bodies involuntarily huddling together, as if seeking warmth from the cold.

Robert then gently probed Qin Xiaoyu's mouth with his tongue, sucking greedily
as if he were starving. Suddenly, he flung aside his clothes, half-lifted Qin Xiaoyu, and pinned her against the cold wall…
Qin Xiaoyu's toes touched the ground, her hands pinned to the wall above her head by his right hand. His left leg opened her
legs, his left hand assisting him, and he slowly and deliberately entered her…

Qin Xiaoyu bit her lip, still letting out a long, soft moan.

So this was different.

The heat in her body grew stronger, as if the wall behind her was melting. Qin Xiaoyu twisted her head back and forth,
trying to avoid Robert's kisses, forcing her to seek breath.

"Let's go to bed,"

Robert said, pulling Qin Xiaoyu up and quickly drying her with a towel. At the bedside, he pressed himself
against her.

"No, I'm afraid Annie will hear."

"She won't."

And so, their battle began, restrained and intense, on the bed.

Robert flipped Qin Xiaoyu over, making her kneel on the bed. Qin Xiaoyu buried her head in the pillow.
No matter how many doors were in her heart, Robert's thrust could easily open one...
repeatedly closing and opening, it seemed that before long, all the doors would be shattered under Robert's force
... Qin Xiaoyu began to sob more and more desperately.

"Thump, thump..."

"Annie!" Qin Xiaoyu jolted awake, jumping up and almost bumping into Robert. She pushed Robert
away, made a gesture to his lips with her fingers, and then called out, "Annie?"

"Mommy, Mommy, I dreamt about Daddy. I dreamt that he blew up a balloon for me, and the balloon popped, 'bang,' it made a really loud
noise, it scared me to death... Mommy, Mommy..." Annie's voice was trembling with tears.

"Okay, baby, don't be afraid, Mommy's coming." Qin Xiaoyu got up, but found she had no
clothes to wear. Robert went to the closet, grabbed one of his short-sleeved shirts, and tossed it to her.

"I'm sorry," Qin Xiaoyu said to Robert, embarrassed. She had seen his body go
limp … Sigh, perhaps "I'm sorry" couldn't comfort him at all.

Qin Xiaoyu left the room, lay down with Annie, and patted her until she fell asleep again. Only then did she
return to Robert's side.

Lying down, Qin Xiaoyu's first words were still "I'm sorry."

She lay down fully clothed. Robert said lightly, "It's okay," and then asked, "Aren't you going to hold
me?"

"Never mind, let's just sleep. I don't think you're used to being held while sleeping."

"Okay, since that's what you think." Robert turned over.

"But… I'm sorry… and, I feel…" Qin Xiaoyu also turned her back to Robert,
hesitating.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't misunderstand, I didn't mean to ask if you wanted to continue... I meant, why do I feel like you
haven't been with a woman for that long?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because if you haven't been with a woman for a long time... um... you'll, you'll soon... you know, right?"

"Oh, I understand what you mean, yes, you're right, but I already
came by myself before you came in to shower, I don't think it's necessary to tell you this..."

"I see... I'm sorry... but, I feel like you, you always seem to suddenly
become indifferent..." Qin Xiaoyu paused, speaking with difficulty.

"Is your question why I didn't continue?"

"Hmm...no, it's just that...it's nothing, let's sleep, let's not talk about this anymore."

"Okay. Sleep."

Qin Xiaoyu deliberately kept her distance from Robert's body, but the feeling of emptiness in her mind and body was very strong.
Helplessly, she also deliberately pulled Liang Chen into her mind, thinking about their past trivial matters. Thinking about it,
she fell asleep.

Chapter 5

Robert's home is in a mountainous area in northeast Sydney called Cherrybrooke
, which, together with several surrounding areas, is called The Hills. The terrain is much higher than the city, and there are
many places to overlook the city's night view. It used to be an area with few Chinese people, but in recent years, because Cherrybrooke
's public schools have ranked relatively high, Chinese people have gradually begun to flock in, and as a result,
the housing prices in this area have also risen. However, Cherry Creek remains a lively
and childlike name, like accidentally stepping into a fairytale forest where everyone might encounter a fairy or
become someone else's fairy.

In the mountains, especially in winter, it gets dark very early at seven o'clock in the evening. The streets are almost deserted, with
few vehicles, exuding a tranquility unique to the Chinese countryside.

"What do you want to eat?" Robert asked Qin Xiaoyu, turning his head.

Qin Xiaoyu was a little sullen: "Anything is fine, it doesn't matter."

Actually, her attention was always on Annie in the back seat. Every now and then, she would reach out and touch Annie's little
hand to comfort her. Annie was only six years old, and she had to sit alone in the back seat, and even then, in a child seat.

Back in China, whenever Liang Chen drove, Annie would sit in the front seat with Qin Xiaoyu, either on Qin Xiaoyu's lap,
held tightly by Qin Xiaoyu, or between Qin Xiaoyu's legs—always a picture of family bliss.
But once here, although Qin Xiaoyu understood Robert's good intentions and knew the regulations in New South Wales that
children under seven must use a child seat in the back, she still felt a
sense .

"Annie, let me tell you, in Australia, even very young babies have to
sit in a child seat. Babies under six months old have rear-facing seats, isn't that fun? The regulations are
strict, but they're the safest, to protect you." Robert seemed to be explaining to Annie,
but his eyes kept glancing at Qin Xiaoyu.

"Yes, I know. I like this seat, it wraps me up so snugly." Annie's seat was right
in the middle of the back seat, with a good view, so she was quite excited.

"By the way, Xiaoyu, it's probably hard to find Chinese food at this hour. Let's
grab something at Shopping Centre and buy some daily necessities at the supermarket. Oh, and a phone card too."

"Okay."

Dinner didn't suit Qin Xiaoyu's taste at all. While eating, she asked Robert, "Do you prefer
Western or Chinese food?" Robert said, "I think I'll stick to Western food from now on. It's
easier to make and there's less oil and smoke."

"Okay," Qin Xiaoyu pouted, "but I don't know how to cook."

"We can cook together sometime, or I can teach you."

But Qin Xiaoyu thought to herself, how could someone who's used to oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili peppers, and who eats vegetarian food,
suddenly get used to butter, cheese, and undercooked meat? But this is someone else's house, not her own. It's not like how she
used to be so willful with Liang Chen, managing to get Liang Chen, who doesn't eat chili peppers, to eat more chili peppers than she does.

Fortunately, Annie is young, and seems to get used to all kinds of food easily. However, Qin Xiaoyu decided not to give Annie too many
opportunities to eat junk food and to cook some nourishing Chinese meals, as the child was still growing.

After dinner, they went to Woodworth supermarket together. Qin Xiaoyu's English was very poor, and she could hardly
understand anything, so she just followed Robert around, buying whatever he wanted. Anyway, she
was living , so she didn't care. Since the child's allowance hadn't been applied for yet, Qin Xiaoyu decided that
it would be better to split the living expenses equally for the time being. The only thing that bothered her was seeing that every price was multiplied by six, and she would
exclaim : "Oh my god, it's so expensive! Buy less, buy less, buy less..." Robert bought Annie some drawing
books and colored pencils. He said, "I'll take you to OfficeWorks another day and buy Annie more school
supplies. But, the primary schools here don't really need many school supplies. Playing well and being safe is the school
's main responsibility... Speaking of which, this is what life is all about for children."

Qin Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat. Before leaving the country, she and Liang Chen had discussed their child's education.
She had wanted her child to learn Chinese well and build a solid foundation in math in China, and then come over after graduating from primary school
. It was said that math could be improved here, and then Chinese and English could be learned simultaneously. After all, Chinese people value a starting line
. If she really started studying here from primary school, the vast and profound Chinese language would be out of reach for her child. She would
n't even know what classical Chinese was. Moreover, children remember things from their early years, no matter how old they get, and if they really
just play around for the rest of their elementary school years… Qin Xiaoyu was still uneasy at the time. However, considering that if she didn't
bring the child , she and Robert would have to live a two-year period of just the two of them, which was both unfair to Liang Chen and
added a lot of worries.

So Qin Xiaoyu didn't dare to mention leaving the child in China, and only briefly mentioned her concerns about the child's Chinese.

Liang Chen's opinion was that it was better to go sooner rather than later. First, school was free; second, learning the language early was easier, allowing for
earlier integration into the local environment; and third, the mother and child would have a companion, and a mother's care for a child would always be much more meticulous. Liang
Chen told Qin Xiaoyu at the time, "You can teach her enough Chinese. Memorizing two ancient poems a week and writing
one page of Chinese characters every night is enough. If there are Chinese books, you can also encourage her to read them in the library." Qin Xiaoyu thought it
made sense and didn't insist on anything further. But when she heard Robert say that elementary school was just for playing, her worries
deepened. She secretly resolved that the school was neglecting the children, and she couldn't be careless. She had to tutor her child in academic subjects during
after-school hours, and if necessary, she would have Liang Chen buy some textbooks from Chinese elementary schools so she could teach the child.

Therefore, she strongly disagreed with Robert's views; arguing with him about the child's starting line
was pointless, so she simply kept quiet.

When they got home, Qin Xiaoyu helped Robert put away his things, then looked at the supermarket bill—
$315! Those few items cost almost 1800 RMB. She gasped and went back to her room to...
She took out 160 Australian dollars from her wallet, gently placed it under the bill, and said she was going to call Liang Chen.

Robert said, "Put this in the bathroom drawer. You'll probably need to keep some on hand." Qin
Xiaoyu took it and saw sanitary napkins... She smiled shyly and gave Robert a grateful look.
Liang Chen had never bought her these before. He always said he felt embarrassed buying women's things and didn't understand
the differences between day and night use, with and without wings, or soft and light mesh surfaces. But actually, it seemed
more thoughtful for men to buy these things.

But Robert had never been married, so how could he be so thoughtful? Qin Xiaoyu went upstairs, puzzled.

"Hey, what's up? Didn't expect me to call you so soon?" Qin Xiaoyu was eager to
tell Liang Chen how she had felt over the past half-day. Yes, it had only been a short time, but Qin Xiaoyu felt like it had been
seven or eight days .

"I'm fine. I brought my parents to live with me, otherwise the house feels empty all the time. This way
I don't have to worry about not eating or sleeping on time. How about Annie? Are you all okay?" "

That's what I wanted. I'm relieved now. Annie just washed up and is drawing by herself. I
'll let her talk to you later, and then I'll put her to bed."

"Okay, tell me about you, and him. What's his house like? Will you be able to get used to it?"

"It's alright, but I heard that the public elementary school in this area is pretty good, ranked very high, which I'm
happy about . His house is alright, two stories. The first floor has a kitchen, living room, study, laundry room, etc., and the second floor has bedrooms. There's a
small garden downstairs. It's a pretty ordinary house in this area. Oh, and there's a swimming pool in the backyard, but it's winter
now . Annie can play in the water in the summer. But what's annoying is that he seems to mind the smell of cooking oil.
He said he'll try to cook Western food as much as possible. I guess I'll lose weight."

"That's really great. Our initial thought was all for the child, right? If the child goes to a good school, it's all worth it.
What you eat doesn't matter. If you don't like it, you can just cook it yourself. By the way, making phone calls is quite expensive, isn't it?
It's better to go online. You can keep WeChat or QQ running, and we can even video chat."

"I know. He just came back and reapplied. He said the efficiency here is very low, everyone
is in no hurry , and it will take a month or two, or even longer. My phone number has some data, so we can talk on WeChat normally.
It's just that it's too expensive here. The prices are terrifying. Bananas are $4 a kilogram, which is
24 yuan. I just checked, a pack of ten sanitary napkins is $6, 36 yuan... It's almost impossible to afford."

"You've got your period?"

"Um...yes, it came a few days early this month, probably because I'm tired from the long flight." Qin Xiaoyu
hesitated for a moment, then suddenly became certain, and the lies just came out without thinking, which really startled Qin Xiaoyu
. She knew that saying this would probably make Liang Chen feel happier and less worried, because
who knew what kind of wild thoughts he would have about it that night? And given his personality, he wouldn't ask or easily ask Qin
Xiaoyu to do anything.

However, Qin Xiaoyu didn't intend to mention a word about Robert buying the sanitary napkins.

"Oh, make sure you get plenty of rest these next few days. Have Annie come over so I can talk to her for a bit, and you two should get some rest
."

"Okay... Annie, come answer Dad's call!"

Liang Chen didn't know what to say, but he made Annie giggle. Qin Xiaoyu thought that if they continued
to care for each other like this, happily supporting each other, perhaps the two years would pass easily, and life would return to normal
. Only then, they would be living together under the Australian sky... She hoped so.

After hanging up the phone, Annie said to Qin Xiaoyu, "Mommy, Daddy told me to go to sleep now, but I'm a little
scared. Can you sleep with me? I'm not scared sleeping alone during the day, but I'm scared at night."

"Okay, Mommy will stay with you."

Qin Xiaoyu asked again, "Daddy didn't ask you anything, did he?"

Annie said, "No, Daddy told me a funny story. He also said that I should protect Mommy,
so Mommy, if you sleep with me tonight, I can protect you. You protect me, and I'll protect you."

"Okay, sweetie, Mommy will be next to you. We'll protect each other."

Qin Xiaoyu lay down next to Annie fully clothed, turned off the light, and gently patted her. She thought she might have to find time to
talk to the child about why she had to sleep alone, and why Mommy had to sleep with Uncle... What a big problem. In Annie's
mind , she implicitly believed that only Mommy and Daddy slept together.

After Annie fell asleep, Qin Xiaoyu quietly left and closed the door. She needed to talk to Robert. For the
first few days, she did sleep with the child. Although she had told Annie to go downstairs to use the bathroom at night, she still
couldn't help but worry.

She went into the living room and saw Robert scribbling in a notebook.
Without looking up, Robert said, "I'm making a schedule. First, I need to apply for the child's school and living expenses, then I need to
apply for broadband, then I need to register you for your driver's license test, then I need to start looking for a job, and of course, there's your English
learning plan. I'll teach you first, and once your immigration status is finalized, you'll have over 500 hours of free English learning opportunities."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"It's nothing, it's my job. If you're tired, go to sleep first. I'll come upstairs as soon as I'm done. Also, I
saw the money you left."

"Oh, I think it's better if we split the bill for now. I hope you don't mind… Actually, I was thinking,
could I sleep with the child at night? I'm afraid she'll be afraid to go to the bathroom alone."

"Oh, if you want to sleep with her, that's fine… As for the money, it's up to you, but it's okay if you don't give me any.
I have an obligation to support you, legally speaking."

"It's not that I want to, it's that I'm worried about the child." After saying this, Qin Xiaoyu's face flushed red. She didn't
know why she said those words. But she muttered to herself, "Since they had an obligation, why
did they take the money so rudely? Humph."

"It's alright. I suggested you start cultivating your child's independence. I don't want to repeat myself."

"But if you had a child, you wouldn't feel the same way, the bathroom is so far away..." "

And the stairwell light is always on."

"Why can't the child go to the bathroom in your bedroom?"

"You want the child to see me lying in the same bed as you?"

"You..." Qin Xiaoyu was speechless.

"Go to sleep. If you're not sleepy, read a book. I'm busy."

Qin Xiaoyu went upstairs, feeling displeased. Standing in the small living room, she looked around hesitantly, unsure
which door to open.

Chapter Six:

This second-floor apartment, covered with a thick carpet, had a small living room directly opposite the staircase. On either side of the living room
were two pure white wooden doors. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, forming six distinct, slightly cool rhombuses on the carpet
. Qin Xiaoyu, barefoot, walked to the window, looked up at the moon,
then sat down, resting her head against the glass, watching the quiet street outside.

In her cramped apartment outside Beijing's Sixth Ring Road, the streets below were always bustling with traffic, various vehicles roaring past at night.
At first, she couldn't sleep without closing the windows, but she gradually got used to it. Occasionally, after dinner, she would stand on the balcony watching the long lines of cars below
, feeling a sense of relief.

The world is a wondrous place. Under the same moonlight, Liang Chen, having just finished dinner, was
in a densely packed, remote neighborhood in Beijing, a light on in a brightly lit room, perhaps surfing the internet
or playing games. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoyu, thousands of kilometers away, in
a sparsely populated mountain village, bathed in the soft moonlight, wondered which door to open and whose bed to go to.

Meeting Robert was unexpected; Qin Xiaoyu hadn't imagined that the seemingly mature tree of life
would suddenly sprout new branches. But a branch is just a branch; its function, at best, is to help a tree grow more
lush and vibrant. When no longer needed, a large saw can only leave a small scar.
Robert was that sudden branch; his appearance, at that particular moment,
was as urgent and irreplaceable as a suspension bridge suddenly lowered across a river.

That day, Liang Chen's section chief, Wang Fan, invited several colleagues with whom he had a good relationship to dinner, saying that his son had successfully applied for a study abroad program
in Australia , and they were celebrating together. When Liang Chen told Qin Xiaoyu about it when he got home, Qin Xiaoyu looked
unhappy: "I'm afraid it's not just about dinner. Firstly, it's about showing off, and secondly, it's about receiving gifts."

Liang Chen said, "Giving a gift is only
right . They've always been so kind to me; inviting me to dinner is already a sign of respect. Fine, I'll give a 500 yuan red envelope."

"Can you even afford 500 yuan? It should be at least 2000! You know how gift-giving is these days.
Giving too little not only doesn't earn you favor, but it also makes you unpopular. Now look what's happened, you've lost half a month's salary!" Qin
Xiaoyu said helplessly.

"Don't think like that. Just treat it as attending a class, hearing how others manage to send their kids abroad. Maybe he can help with Annie's studies
later ."

"That's true. But you're too much of a Westernizer.

Why are you always thinking about sending your kids abroad?" "Look at the situation in China now. Anyone in our unit with even a little bit of connections has their kids abroad. Forget about the district head and deputy
district head; their wives and kids are already overseas. Haven't you
heard enough stories about corrupt officials these days? And you work in a government news agency."

"That's true. Food, education, environmental pollution, resources—these are all headaches.
But we can't compete with anyone in China. Going abroad is a dream, isn't it?... Hey, which dress should I wear
? Your Section Chief Wang's wife is so flamboyant; I don't want her criticizing my taste in clothes."

"You're young and beautiful; you'd look better in a burlap sack than her. Whatever, just remember to give her a red envelope."

"You've got a honeyed tongue, haven't you?" Qin Xiaoyu smiled, pulling out a black, fitted, sleeveless cheongsam. Only a cheongsam
could accentuate her graceful figure and silently outshine some middle-aged, overweight women.

That evening at dinner, Qin Xiaoyu saw Robert, and they even sat next to each other.
When Wang Fan introduced them, he deliberately pushed Qin Xiaoyu to sit next to Robert, saying that Robert was the hero of the day and
deserved a beautiful woman beside him, jokingly asking Liang Chen if he minded. Liang Chen laughed and said, "That's my wife
's honor, such a handsome foreigner." Robert was slightly embarrassed: "I'm a China expert now."

And so they sat down. During dinner and conversation, Qin Xiaoyu learned that Robert was a senior manager at a
study abroad agency. He was the one who facilitated Wang Fan's son's high school studies in Australia. In Wang Fan's words,
this dinner was just to express gratitude and also to introduce Robert to more friends and cultivate potential
clients .

Wang Fan's wife was indeed radiant that day. Across the Robert, she said to Qin Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu,
you look so beautiful today. Look at me, I got so tanned when I went to Australia a few months ago, I look several years older than you
... But you should also consider sending your Annie to study abroad after high school. You can stay abroad and then bring
you over. The blue skies and white clouds there are truly beautiful..."

"I don't have any connections, and besides, Annie is still young." Qin Xiaoyu had never liked chatting with Wang Fan's wife,
always feeling that her tone of voice carried a lot of superiority.

"Actually, I originally considered immigrating, but the investment immigration threshold is too high—5 million Australian dollars, 30
million RMB. How can civil servants like us have that much money? Sigh, when I went to Australia,
seeing girls in short skirts and flip-flops on the street, I thought, 'If only I were 20 years younger, I would
marry a foreigner and become an Australian citizen once and for all.' To be honest, studying abroad and immigrating are both too expensive. And maybe
I could even have a… foreign baby, haha."

Mrs. Wang Fan was probably a little excited from drinking, and her words became quite unrestrained.

Robert leaned back, making it easier for the two women to whisper between them. Later, he simply
stood up and said to Qin Xiaoyu, "Let's switch seats so it's easier for you to talk."

Mrs. Wang Fan raised a glass of red wine and said to Robert, "Okay, let me toast you first to thank you.
And Xiaoyu, let's have a drink with this handsome foreign gentleman. This wine is one I brought back from Australia."

Qin Xiaoyu glanced at Robert and noticed he was looking at her, so she hurriedly found a glass to pour herself some wine.

"I'll do it," Robert poured a glass for Qin Xiaoyu.

Just as the three of them raised their glasses to clink, Wang Fan staggered over and said, "Thank you,
Mr. Robert, for not forgetting me..." As he spoke,
he put a hand on Robert's shoulder, but he stumbled and bumped into Robert. Robert quickly steadied him, but unfortunately
, the wine in his glass spilled not only onto his trouser leg and shoes, but also
a little onto Qin Xiaoyu's arm. He was about to find a tissue to help Qin Xiaoyu wipe it off when he saw Qin Xiaoyu take a tissue, squat down, and wipe it clean for him.
She put on her leather shoes… Qin Xiaoyu had her hair in a small bun that day. Squatting down and lowering her head revealed her slender, snow-white
neck, partially concealed by some messy hair, which instantly stirred Robert's affection.

Of course, Qin Xiaoyu's low, crouching posture also stirred his heart.

When Qin Xiaoyu stood up, he forwent using a tissue and instead gently wiped the red
wine stains on her arm with his thumb. He whispered in her ear, "You have a little here too."

Qin Xiaoyu blushed slightly, silently switched places with him, and then the four of them poured more wine and raised their glasses.

During this time, when Qin Xiaoyu went to the restroom, Robert followed behind her. He called out "Hey,"
took out his business card, and handed it to Qin Xiaoyu, saying, "If you need any information, you can contact me directly." Qin
Xiaoyu took the card with some surprise, repeatedly saying thank you, then turned around thinking: This foreigner isn't stupid; he's quite shrewd
in business, giving me his business card already. Then, a thought struck her again, startling her... Maybe... never mind
, she shook her head and put the business card into her small purse.

Dinner was nothing special; everyone was offering Wang Fan drinks with envy and flattery, including Liang Chen. Qin
Xiaoyu watched them coldly, finding it utterly boring. After dinner, Wang Fan wanted to treat everyone to karaoke, but Robert excused himself, saying
he had to work the next day, and left. So everyone left dejectedly.

Before leaving, Mrs. Wang Fan said to Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen, "That Robert is quite nice, isn't he? He's still single.
It's a pity we don't have a chance. If we did, marrying him would be the end of the world. So, whether your daughter studies
abroad or not isn't that important. She can just marry a foreigner and easily get citizenship in the UK, US, Canada, or Australia."

Qin Xiaoyu smiled and nudged Mrs. Wang Fan's arm, saying, "You're really thinking ahead."

That night, after washing up at home, Qin Xiaoyu and Liang Chen tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Watching others
flaunt , they felt the gap between people's lives was just too vast.

"What are you thinking about?" Qin Xiaoyu asked Liang Chen.

"I want to immigrate. What about you?" Liang Chen asked directly.

"It's pointless to even think about it."

"Maybe not... Did you notice what Wang Fan's wife

said?" "Who cares about her crazy talk? Besides, what does it have to do with us?"

"Are you stupid? Don't you know there are sham marriages for immigration?"

"I know, but this is too unreliable. We've been married for so many years, who else would we go to?"

Qin Xiaoyu felt that Liang Chen had also been provoked and was a little dizzy.

"You should ask Robert for advice. You can hear his opinion first, like if he has any
single friends in Australia or something."

"But this is too embarrassing. Me, go to him?" Qin Xiaoyu looked surprised, but her heart skipped a beat.
She hesitated, not planning to tell Robert about giving her his business card. She vaguely felt that
getting involved with Robert might not be a good thing.

"Hmm...you don't need to go to him, I'll go to him. It won't hurt to ask." Liang Chen thought for a moment and
said, "I won't hesitate, I'll ask him tomorrow. Sigh, let me tell you, once this immigration trend hit,
I couldn't help but be moved. Everyone in my workplace with connections left, at least their kids went abroad. Only I'm useless.
Annie can't even get into a good elementary school, and then there's the middle school entrance exam, high school, and university. It's going to be a headache.
In a society she'll suffer a lot."

"Anyway, don't worry too much. Just ask. If we can't live a certain way, we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. Ordinary people still
have to live, right? Don't let desires control you, or it will only lead to endless suffering."

"Okay, I know. I'll ask first, and if it doesn't work out, I'll give up on the idea."

With that, Liang Chen turned Qin Xiaoyu's arm and said, "Go to sleep first."

Liang Chen's hand rested on the spot Robert's thumb had just rubbed… Qin Xiaoyu felt
an instant , the warmth even spreading from her arm to her heart, then to her lower abdomen—
a slightly tingling, indescribable sensation. Qin Xiaoyu pretended to casually push Liang Chen's hand away.

The next morning, Liang Chen met with Robert at the Starbucks downstairs from Robert's company
. Liang Chen briefly explained his situation, saying he really wanted his child to go abroad, even studying abroad. Robert
said Australia didn't accept such young students, but might soon accept middle school students, though the cost
would be even higher than in the US or Canada. Liang Chen asked what about immigration? Robert asked about his English,
skills , or whether he had enough money. Liang Chen shook his head, saying he had none. Robert
frowned and said, "That's difficult." Liang Chen asked, "Is there no other way?" Robert
said, "Seeking asylum used to be possible, for example, practicing Falun Gong, persecution related to family planning, religious
persecution , etc., all of which could be used as reasons, but now it's very difficult, basically blocked, because there are too many fakes. Unless,
unless it's marriage immigration."

Liang Chen asked impatiently, "A fake marriage? Is it expensive?"

Robert said, "Although I don't agree with doing this, if you choose it, I will provide
you with the relevant information."

"How much would that cost?"

"Now it's probably around 100,000 Australian dollars or a little more, I heard it from a friend. But if it's
fake , it's easy for the immigration department to find out, because if you don't live together, you don't know each other, and
there are no traces of previous interactions, there will be many flaws, making it quite difficult. It's best if the two of you live together, and have photos,
correspondence, details of your daily life, even children, then it's much easier."

"I see... Is it very difficult to find such a person?"

"It's indeed difficult to find someone, and you can't guarantee what kind of person you find. Will they have violent tendencies?
Will back out later or demand more money? There are all sorts of uncertainties. You need to think it through."

"That's true…it seems difficult. Sigh…"

"Yeah, finding someone you know well, or someone you understand, is still very reliable. Because this
immigration process is the fastest and most effective, and once you get temporary resident status, your children's schooling is free, and
you enjoy free medical care. There are many benefits, which is why everyone is willing to pay any price to do this, creating
this huge market."

Liang Chen sighed, looking at Robert, and said, "Sigh, that's indeed difficult. I'm also worried that if I just find
someone, Qin Xiaoyu will suffer."

"Think it over carefully again. Don't make a hasty decision, after all, it relates to your current marriage. What…"
"Just let me know if you need any help." Robert glanced at his watch. Liang Chen felt he understood
enough , so he said, "I'm sorry to have taken up your time. I'll contact you again if I have any more questions."

"Okay, feel free to contact me anytime. Goodbye." Robert stood up and shook hands with Liang Chen.

Next, it was obvious that Liang Chen spent about a week persuading Qin Xiaoyu to try
contacting Robert and ask if he would be willing to help. Liang Chen said, "I can't ask him about this. I can't
just ask him directly if he wants to marry my wife. A man has to have some pride. Even a
weak man can't say that. You should ask him. I'll help you make the arrangements."

Qin Xiaoyu said, "You need to think this through. If he doesn't help, I'll be very embarrassed. If he does help,
we need to be clear about the price, so it doesn't get messy later."

"Definitely. I wouldn't give such a good wife to someone else for no reason."

"Sigh, it's so embarrassing." Qin Xiaoyu was very apprehensive about meeting Robert.

But in fact, their meeting was surprisingly relaxed.

They met at the Shangdao Coffee in Jianwai Soho, in a quiet private room.

When Qin Xiaoyu saw Robert come in, she inexplicably said "thank you." Robert
smiled gently.

Qin Xiaoyu said, "I'm sorry to bother you again... I'll just get straight to the point. I won't beat around the bush.
Anyway no matter how much groundwork I lay, I'll still have to say it in the end, so I might as well be direct... What I want to ask is, can you help us?
I mean, if you don't mind, we can pay you at market price. After all, we all think you
're a trustworthy person."

"You mean marry me?"

"Do you have a girlfriend? Or is it impolite of me to say this, or will this affect your future
relationships and marriage?"

"No, I've never planned to get married... but have you both thought this through? This isn't
a game , and besides, I'm not doing this for money."

"Then... what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, if I help you..." Robert looked deeply at Qin Xiaoyu and continued
, "It's possible, but you need to handle your own affairs well, and some details need to be clarified beforehand."

Qin Xiaoyu was stunned. What they had discussed for a week, she and Robert had reached a conclusion in less than two
minutes. She was somewhat skeptical and continued, "But why would you help me if it's not for money?"

"Isn't it too sad if you can only do things for money?" Robert
chuckled .

"But we're in a transaction, so it's more reassuring to talk about money... You know, as a man, Liang Chen will definitely think
more about things."

"Okay, then, half or a third of the market price, to put your minds at ease. But we
still need to sit down and discuss the details. Also, I'll be resigning after the New Year and going back to China. My lungs haven't been feeling well lately;
the air quality is terrible. I need to go back to work for a while; my health comes first."

"Okay, then how about the three of us talk?"

"No need for three people. I feel a bit awkward seeing him, and I guess he'll feel the same way. I'll write a
simple private agreement later; you can take a look, and if you think it's acceptable, just follow that."

"That simple?" Qin Xiaoyu couldn't help but be surprised.

"How complicated do you need it to be?"

"Okay... thank you."

Their conversation started with thank you and ended with thank you, and the matter was settled.

Robert's footsteps upstairs pulled Qin Xiaoyu from her reverie. She saw him standing barefoot in front
of her , at the boundary between moonlight and shadow.

"Why aren't you going in?" Robert asked.

"Oh, I'm coming." She looked up at him, and perhaps because of the angle, Qin Xiaoyu suddenly had a
strange feeling that Robert was like a tree, and she was just a malnourished blade of grass under its shade.

"Don't bother," Robert said, and went into the room, a ray of
warm .

Chapter Seven

Qin Xiaoyu slowly got up, feeling as if many moths in the dark were fluttering in her heart, urging her to walk towards that ray of light
.

When she reached the door, she saw Robert standing by the window, arms raised, taking off his shirt. His strong
arms , handsome waistline, and firm buttocks contrasted sharply with Liang Chen's gradually gaining weight.
Married men in China often have an imperceptible laziness; setting aside health factors, they are quite lax in their pursuit of gender aesthetics.

Qin Xiaoyu held the doorknob, glancing at it a few more times before softly saying, "Goodnight."

She quickly closed the door from the outside. She didn't need his response; she didn't even dare look at his
feigned . He would, of course, respond with a detached "Goodnight
." He wasn't an naive youth; he wouldn't let emotions and desires spread like wildfire. The two of them should be like two gently flowing streams, quietly
flowing separately. Prematurely converging might mean the end of their own paths.

Qin Xiaoyu closed her eyes, his silhouette and the afternoon's passionate encounter flashing through her mind like lightning,
a stark warning—"Don't be greedy," those three words flashed coldly before her eyes like a sharp sword.

She finally lifted Annie's blanket and gently lay down beside her. In her drowsy state, Annie murmured, draping
her small arm around Qin Xiaoyu's neck.

The night grew even quieter.

The next day, Qin Xiaoyu woke up very early. As dawn broke, she took
a picture of Annie sleeping soundly in her arms and sent it to Liang Chen. Although the image was dark and the grainy texture made their expressions blurry and distant,
she knew that seeing it would bring Liang Chen peace and happiness. Sure enough, Liang Chen replied as soon as the message arrived.

"Woke up so early?"

"Aren't you up even earlier? Two-hour time difference, you should go to sleep."

"Without you, even sleeping is torture."

"You'll feel better once you fall asleep."

"Maybe you'll get used to it after a while… By the way, Robert doesn't mind you sleeping with the child?"

"Mind what? I'm not selling myself to him."

"Of course, you'll always be mine."

Qin Xiaoyu paused, then replied, "But we should act like a married couple. I heard the immigration office has done home
visits , checking bedrooms and stuff. If they ask Annie, it'll be terrible."

"I know, we just need to find time to explain things to Annie… Sigh, thinking about it is pretty cruel, forcing… "
"It's like feeding a little kid all that adult stuff into their head."

"Yeah, I also think it might have a bad influence on the child."

"Sigh, no other choice."

"I find it hard to bring it up, let's wait and see."

"Okay, you decide. But honestly, you don't have any feelings or thoughts about Robert?
A single man and woman ? Even if you don't, he hasn't shown anything?"

"What could there be? He's used to being single, and I'm preoccupied with other things too, I don't have the mood for that."

"Sigh, it was bound to happen sooner or later, it's heartbreaking to think about... Never mind, let's not talk about it anymore, let's both get some more sleep.
I can sleep more peacefully while you're not in someone else's bed yet. I've been agonizing over this all night, not getting any messages from you, and I was afraid you
were with Robert, so I just kept thinking about it."

"You deserve it, it was all your idea, it wasn't me crying and begging to be with someone else."

"Hmm, but what goes around comes around. Just thinking about how I can hold my head high at work in two years makes me feel much
better . Getting a promotion is impossible, but you're out there, the kids can breathe clean air, eat
safe capitalist food, and speak fluent English in the future. That makes me feel much better."

"Sigh, go to sleep. Hope everything goes well."

Qin Xiaoyu put her phone away under her pillow, looking at Annie still fast asleep. She felt much more determined,
realizing that the fog surrounding Robert needed to be dispelled by her conversation with Liang Chen.

Thinking this, Qin Xiaoyu fell asleep again.

When she woke up again, it was already 10:30 in the morning. Annie had been playing with her doll on the bed for a long time.

"Get up, let's go wash up."

Qin Xiaoyu tidied herself up and took Annie's little hand to go downstairs to wash up. As soon as she opened the door, she saw that
the bedroom

hall was open. Downstairs, she saw two sandwiches, two glasses of milk, and a sticky note on
the dining table. Qin Xiaoyu picked it up.

"If you like hot milk, just heat it up in the microwave. I'm going to help Annie with her school applications and things like that; I should be back
this afternoon . We'll have lunch out with friends."

Qin Xiaoyu thought: That's quite considerate.

After helping Annie wash up, she turned on the TV for her, found a children's channel, and let her watch it. She went
upstairs to take a shower, hesitated for a moment, and then left her toiletries upstairs.

After breakfast and washing the dishes, Qin Xiaoyu looked at the bright kitchen, the spacious living room, the
lush green , and the lemon tree outside the dining room, and suddenly felt like the lady of the house.

She walked over to Annie and asked, "Sweetie, did you go to the toilet last night?"

"Mommy, I peed once before going to bed last night and once when I woke up this morning. Grandma said that this way
I don't have to get up at night and my bottom won't get cold, hee hee…" Annie covered her mouth and laughed.

"Hmm, good girl." Actually, several images had flashed through Qin Xiaoyu's mind more than once. One incident involved Annie
waking up in the middle of the night, crying as she went downstairs to urinate. Her mother frantically scrambled away from Robert,
caught up with Annie, picked her up, and comforted her while staring helplessly at the wet stain on the carpet. Perhaps
Robert looked on with disgust. Another incident involved going to wake Annie in the morning and finding
her hiding under the covers. Pulling back the covers revealed Annie lying on the wet sheets. When she was told to get up, Annie burst into tears
, saying she was scared to go downstairs at night and wanted to stay in bed to let the sheets dry.

Yet another incident involved Annie crying for her mother in the middle of the night. Qin Xiaoyu slipped
out of bed , took Annie downstairs to urinate, then soothed her to sleep before sneaking back to Robert. Meanwhile, Robert...
Bert, with his deep blue eyes, stared at her silently…

Thankfully, Annie's sleeping habits were pretty good. She didn't really know if her child woke up at night;
Annie had been sleeping in her own bed since she was three, and while she started wetting the bed, she stopped doing so much afterward.

After dinner, with nothing else to do, she carefully sorted and neatly hung up her and Annie's clothes,
throwing the washing machine. Then she pondered how to keep two diaries simultaneously. She
would write down every detail of the past two years, even if it was just a stream of consciousness. Qin Xiaoyu suddenly felt like a child starting school,
full of caution and seriousness, yet also radiating childlike innocence. For the first time, life shifted from the known to the unknown, from a
clear to a labyrinthine maze. Every step was fraught with tentative trepidation, sudden surprises, and even unintentional moments of bewilderment
and helplessness… These two years would shine like eternal gems in her life—perhaps dazzling
happiness , perhaps biting pain, perhaps a dance on a knife's edge, honey in poison… Who knows?
Simultaneously possessing two men, two kinds of love, two kinds of life, a steadfast heart, a physical betrayal—she
would see how life would cleave her apart, how she would divide herself in two to please and appease them, even comfort
them . How she would struggle with herself, how she would despise herself, how she would pity herself, how she
would loathe herself, how she would adore herself… and how she would encourage herself, how she would give up on herself…

Who knows? Qin Xiaoyu paced the room, holding a glass of water. Only one thing excited her
: she wouldn't have to go to work every day for a long time, wouldn't have to read those tedious, formulaic essays. Party newspapers,
as you can imagine , are monotonous and utterly boring. Headlines are simply a matter of rearranging text and images; some reports
are even just changed from previous years' dates and layouts, and they're republished as news… Doing that job
is like working on a machine, like a factory assembly line. And the finished product is never something people willingly buy.

Yet, newspaper subscriptions have never declined because of a phenomenon in China called "quota allocation." So,
the unit's profits are always stable; nobody cares if the newspapers are ignored, or sold
to scrap collectors without ever being opened, for a few coins.

So leaving is good; she has no regrets.

She can start learning—learning to drive, learning English, learning to swim, learning to be… a housewife?
Ha, maybe she'll try to make Robert enjoy having company, so that after she leaves, Robert
might find a woman, marry, have children, and enjoy sweet love and family bliss. In Qin Xiaoyu's
heart, a man without a woman to care for him, without children to surround him, would inevitably have a somewhat desolate old age, evoking
pity. Besides, Robert was so handsome; it would be a waste not to have children.

Robert returned around 5 PM. As soon as he opened the door, he called out, "Princess Anne!"
"Look what I bought you!"

Annie jumped off the sofa happily and ran over.

Qin Xiaoyu followed.

Wow, there was a set of pink patterned furniture in the yard: a bed, a small bookcase, a small wardrobe, and a large
storage box with a fluffy koala on top. There was also a knee-sized
bed and mattress.

"Let's help move this into the living room, and then put the old bed frame, bedside table, and mattress in the garage. We can
throw them away when it's time to throw out the big furniture. This area should be out of the trash next month."

"But those are all fine, why throw them away? Why buy new ones?"

"It's to welcome you... Princess Annie, do you like it?" Robert asked
Annie with a gentle smile.

Annie clapped her hands and jumped up, saying, "I love it so much! I love pink the most. Now my
room is just like the princess's room."

"Of course." Robert patted Annie's cheek.

So they spent the entire evening tidying up the house. After they finished, everyone took turns showering
before realizing they were starving. Qin Xiaoyu said, "I'll make some noodles, it's simple."

Robert frowned and asked, "Don't you need to stir-fry anything?"

Qin Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment, then said, "No, you don't need to." Then she poached an egg for everyone,
added some cooked meat slices to Robert's noodles, and she and Annie ate their egg and spinach noodles.

Annie asked Qin Xiaoyu, "Mom, why isn't there scrambled eggs and tomatoes in the noodles?"

Qin Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Isn't a poached egg tastier?" Actually, Qin Xiaoyu was thinking, if he
dislikes the smell of cooking oil so much, how will he ever stir-fry anything?

After dinner, Qin Xiaoyu went to wash the dishes. She heard Robert and Annie talking seriously at the dinner table.

"Annie, Uncle wants to talk to you about something."

"Okay."

"Do you like your room?"

"I love it."

"Do you want to be its owner?"

"Of course! It's mine, so I'm its owner."

"How do you want to be its owner?"

"Hmm... I want to decorate my own room, clean my own room, sleep alone, make my own
bed , and no one can just walk in. You have to knock before you enter."

"Good, good, you're decisive. Anything else?"

"Hmm... Also, I want to hang a sign on my door with my name on it."

"Great idea! Can I make you a wooden sign? Then you can write your name on it. Also,
you can draw yourself on it, otherwise people won't know if you're a boy or a girl."

"Yes, yes, I want to draw a girl wearing a skirt."

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoyu couldn't help but admire Robert's approach. Everything was done subtly, yet it made
the child happy and full of anticipation.

Robert then said, "Princess Anne, you have your own room now, but what
about your mother? We only have two bedrooms. Do you want your uncle to help her?"

"Hmm...of course, your bed is so big...but...boys and girls can only live
together , like Mom and Dad." Anne looked troubled.

"Let me put it this way, Anne, you're going to be a primary school student soon, you'll understand a lot of things, won't you?"
Robert asked.

"Hmm."

"Then let me tell you, because you and Mom will be living in Australia for two years, I
will be taking care of you during those two years. To better protect you, your mom and I got married, so we'll be
a family, understand?"

"But Mom and Dad are already married."

"Hmm...yes, your parents were married, and then because your dad couldn't take care of you temporarily,
they divorced. You understand divorce, right? Of course, when you're together, your parents will
remarry, so I'm only taking care of you temporarily, understand? Do you want me to take care of you?"

"I understand, Uncle. You and Mom are taking care of me together, so you got married. When my dad comes,
Mom and Dad can remarry, and we won't need you to take care of us anymore. Then you and Mom will be divorced." Annie
finished speaking in one breath, her logical ability surprising Qin Xiaoyu.

"Bingo!" Robert patted Annie's face approvingly, then turned
to look at , his face full of pride.

Qin Xiaoyu blushed, turned her back, and said, "You're really good at talking."

"Children are very sensible. As long as you explain things clearly, that's fine. As for the more detailed reasons and difficulties, she'll naturally
understand when she grows up." Robert continued to Anne, "Princess Anne, there's more good news. You
can start school next Monday, you'll be a first-grade student. It's called 'Ya'arone' here. You might
not understand what the other children are saying at first, but that's okay. You can use gestures, like this... Yes, as long as they
understand what you mean."

Qin Xiaoyu laughed as Robert gestured wildly about standing up, sitting down, writing,

exercising .

"What about tuition?"

"Don't worry about that. You're on an 820 temporary spouse visa, so you don't need to pay tuition
. And the school bus is free for the child. You might only need to pay for the uniform."

"That's great!" Qin Xiaoyu asked, dumbfounded.

“There’s even better. Based on Annie’s age, she can receive a government subsidy of
over 140 Australian dollars every two weeks. That’s basically enough for her school lunch and snacks.”

“That’s great. Then… how much do I need to pay you for living expenses? Weekly or monthly?” Qin Xiaoyu
felt embarrassed to ask this, but she still had to.

“You really want to give me money? Why are you being so polite?”

“It’s not about being polite. It’s your help anyway, I can’t expect you to support me.”

“How about this, you do more housework, and that will offset it. I think I’ll even be getting a good deal. Labor
is very expensive I can’t afford to hire someone to do housework.” Robert smiled, easing Qin
Xiaoyu’s embarrassment.

“Thank you.” “You’re

welcome.”

“Well, not only for that, but also because you really solved my problem,” Qin Xiaoyu glanced at
Annie’s excited back as she ran upstairs, and continued, “Liang Chen and I discussed it for a long time, but we still didn’t know…”
"You solved how to talk to Annie so easily, so..."

"Oh, then you don't need to thank me. Maybe I have my own reasons for doing this."

Qin Xiaoyu lowered her head, bit her lip, and didn't know what to say for a moment. She didn't dare to look up, because she
knew Robert was staring at her with wide eyes at this moment.

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/176682.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=176682&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : 【Public Toilet Adulterous Wife - Xiao Hui】(Poetic Form) (01) Author: cangjingk0ng

Next Page : [The Love Story of My Wife] (The End) Author: Jin Gu Sanren

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Bifurcation] (01-33) Author: Su Jing

comment Open a new window to view comments