“Does Jessica know we’re getting married?” I asked, trying to keep calm.
“I told her, but she said our wedding date hasn’t been set yet…” Hao Yi’s tone was filled with guilt. “Sorry. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to formally ask your parents for their blessing.”
“Can’t someone else go in your place?” I pressed on, unwilling to give up.
“Three people left our department last month, and the ones remaining all have families. Plus, Jessica said having the experience of working as an expatriate in China would make future promotions and raises much easier…” Hao Yi’s words buzzed in my ears, creating a growing sense of irritation and rejection.
“Enough. I understand what you’re saying.” I tried to cut him off.
“Wei Wei, listen to me. We just need to endure these six months. After that, we’ll have enough for a down payment on a house…”
“Enough!” I couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted.
Hao Yi, clearly not expecting such an outburst, stared at me in shock.
“Sorry, I was just caught off guard…” I forced myself to regulate my breathing, slowly calming down.
“I know it’ll be difficult and unfair for us during this time. But trust me—I’ll make it up to you later.”
“Just tell me what your plan is,” I said, closing my eyes, unwilling to hear more sweet promises. “Do you want me to give back the ring? Or what?”
“Of course not!” Hao Yi hastily replied. “I promise to come back every week during those six months. When you want to pick out a dress, book a venue, or take wedding photos, I’ll be there with you.”
“Every week? Does the company provide that kind of travel allowance?” I asked, skeptical.
“Well, I… I’ll pay part of it myself…” His voice faltered, and I could tell he hadn’t thought it through.
“Do you know how much a round-trip ticket to Shanghai costs? Have you calculated how much it’ll cut into our wedding budget? And what happens if we don’t have enough time to plan the wedding?”
Hao Yi’s silence was an unspoken admission that postponing the wedding preparations was on the table. In that moment, I understood why he had insisted on taking me out for an expensive dinner tonight. It wasn’t romance—it was guilt. The truth was, this expatriate assignment wasn’t as unavoidable as he claimed. Faced with a choice between our happiness and a house, he had chosen the latter.
Everything was for that damned house.
I recalled something Hao Yi had said to me not long ago: that he wanted to live with me more than he wanted to buy a house. Now, I finally understood that those weren’t his true feelings. His actions and choices were what I should have trusted as the real truth.
“What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything, as long as it makes you happy.”
Resign. Don’t go.
As much as I wanted to say that, reason told me it was pointless. The decision was already made, and making such an unreasonable demand now would achieve nothing.
“Until things are clearer in Shanghai, let’s put the wedding plans on hold.” My tone was unnervingly calm, as if my soul had left my body. “You know as well as I do, this is the best solution for now.”
But I knew the best solution wasn’t just postponing the wedding. It was taking the next six months to figure out whether Hao Yi and I were truly ready to step into marriage.
Of course, it was me who suggested putting the wedding on hold—Hao Yi didn’t compromise.
0 Comments