“I’m not interested in any of the houses we’ve looked at,” I said quietly, delivering the harsh truth. The atmosphere was already awkward, so I decided to be clear. “Whether it’s you, me, or both of us paying the mortgage, the prices are just unreasonable. I won’t let a house ruin our quality of life.”
“It’s not just a house! It’ll be our life!” When Hao Yi said “our life,” his voice was forceful, and the tenderness I knew so well from his gaze was replaced by a volatile intensity.
“Hao Yi, calm down and think about it. I want you to answer honestly...” I took a deep breath. “Did you propose to me because of the house?”
Hao Yi looked as though he had been slapped awake. He steadied himself, his grip on my hand loosening. It was clear he had never considered this question before, and now he seemed just as shaken as I was.
I looked at him, suddenly feeling like there was more distance between us than I had realized. And it wasn’t just distance—there was a force pushing us further apart. Memories of our relationship played like a film reel in my mind. How could I suddenly feel so reluctant to let go of this handsome face? My thoughts spiraled. Was this the end for us? Could our relationship really fall apart before I’d even had the chance to share the joy of being proposed to?
Hao Yi had said he bought the ring today. Within seven days, we could return it with the receipt and credit card...
“Wei Wei!” Hao Yi grabbed my hand, trying to focus his gaze on me. It felt less like he was trying to convince me and more like he was convincing himself. “I’ve always wanted to live with you—that has never been in question. But you’re right... I—I may have rushed things. I’m not breaking up with you, not at all! It’s just... everything today happened so fast, and I’m feeling a little... overwhelmed.”
“It’s okay.” I held his hand, trying to soothe him. “I think we should sleep apart tonight. Take some time to think about my question, and I’ll think about it too.”
“Can’t we think about it together?”
“Did you forget how close we were to arguing just now?” Seeing the lingering doubt in his eyes, I quickly added, “Let’s treat it as if you proposed, and I’m still considering it. As for the ring—”
“You can’t take it off!” Hao Yi interrupted me anxiously. “Until I’ve figured things out, don’t you dare take it off!”
“What are you talking about? I’ll have to take it off for a bath or to sleep, won’t I?” I laughed. “I already said yes—why are you still so insecure? The ring will stay with me, of course. I’ll keep it close while I think.”
“At least let me take you home.”
“You’ve been drinking, and it’s still early. I can get back on my own.” I kissed his forehead and reassured him, “Don’t overthink things!”
As I walked out of Hao Yi’s apartment, the streets were still bustling with cars and people, the night just coming alive. Yet, everything that had happened today had left me utterly exhausted. This was only the first day of stepping toward marriage—barely a few hours in! If we couldn’t reconcile such fundamental differences in values, how could we build a life together?
Feeling restless, I pulled out my phone and caught a glimpse of the message Chu Ke Huan had sent me this morning, the one I had read but left unanswered. Unintentionally, his words replayed in my mind:
“Don’t be afraid of someone seeing through your heart. What you should fear is someone who doesn’t understand it.”
And then, a quiet yet unsettling thought crept in: If Hao Yi doesn’t understand... could Chu Ke Huan?
0 Comments