Slow to mature after marriage

The plane flew through the clouds, and the view outside the window changed from a hazy gray to a blinding white.

Bo Yan leaned back in his seat, staring at the endless sea of ​​clouds outside the porthole. Sunlight streamed down from above, turning the clouds golden, so bright it hurt his eyes.

Wang Jin sat opposite him, flipping through the documents on his tablet.

"Mr. Bo, everything's been arranged in London. The branch office's data summary for the last three months has arrived. Would you like to take a look?"

"Also, their legal team has scheduled a meeting for the day after tomorrow afternoon to discuss the contract terms for the new project..."

As Wang Jin spoke, he looked up and glanced at the screen.

Bo Yan's gaze was still fixed on the view outside the window.

The image of her curled up in the corner last night suddenly popped into my mind. Her face was pale, her lips were almost bloodless, and she was huddled up in a small ball.

They're inexplicably pitiful.

Bo Yan withdrew his gaze and stopped thinking about it.

After Wang Jin finished reporting the documents, he considered his words for a moment and then spoke.

"Mr. Bo, the old lady called yesterday to ask about your situation." He paused, "I told her about your two-month business trip."

Bo Yan hummed in response, his tone extremely indifferent.

"fine."

My phone has been vibrating non-stop since I landed in London.

Bo Yan took it out and saw that the screen was covered with missed calls from the old lady.

Before he could even open it, the phone rang again.

I pressed answer button, and the voice on the other end bombarded me.

"Bo Yan, explain yourself clearly, why are you going on another two-month business trip?"

Bo Yan moved her phone a little further away.

"Work, earn money."

"Bullshit!" The old lady was furious. "Assistant Wang already told me that the European market didn't need your personal attention; you insisted on going!"

Bo Yan glanced at Wang Jin indifferently.

Wang Jin was dragging his suitcase forward when he noticed someone staring at him. He paused, then lowered his head guiltily.

The old woman continued to curse.

"You were the one who volunteered to see Wanwan, and you were the one who went to America after marrying her. Now that things are finally looking up between you and your wife, you're going to England?" She took a deep breath. "Are you a Westernizer? Can't you stay in your own country?"

"...Let me tell you, I like Wanwan. If you neglect her, I'll make you pay when you get back!"

"Everything about the wedding must be done perfectly. If you dare to delay it..."

Bo Yan listened without responding or refuting.

Half an hour later, the call finally ended.

Wang Jin followed behind, dragging his suitcase, and spoke cautiously under immense pressure.

"Mr. Bo, should we tell your wife that you've arrived safely?"

Bo Yan stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.

His gaze was indifferent, devoid of warmth.

"Assistant Wang, are we plotting a rebellion?"

Wang Jin felt a chill run down his spine.

"Do I pay your salary, or does the old lady pay your salary?"

"Or are you secretly receiving two salaries?"

Wang Jin immediately shook his head.

"No, no, Mr. Bo, I am..."

"What is it?"

Wang Jin swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Bo Yan withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

"Focus more on your own responsibilities."

Wang Jin followed behind, silently wiping the sweat from his forehead.

-

Mu Siwan received a WeChat message from Bo Yan during lunch.

It only has two simple words.

[Bo Yan]: We've arrived.

She lowered her eyes, typed a few words, deleted them, and typed again.

Finally, only one word was sent.

[Mu Siwan]: Okay.

Mu Siwan put her phone face down on the table and continued eating.

She spent the entire afternoon in the lab.

A newly arrived skeletal sample needed cleaning. Wearing a mask and gloves, she used a small brush to carefully remove the dirt, recording every trace. After cleaning the skeleton, she went to work on the report she hadn't finished that morning. The light from the computer screen shone on her face, and several hours passed in a flash.

When she looked up again, it was already dark outside the window.

Xiao Qin yawned and packed her things to get ready to leave work.

"Master, aren't we leaving yet?"

Mu Siwan glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer screen.

8:17.

"I'll leave once I'm done here."

Xiao Qin responded and walked out with her bag on her back.

The door closed.

The laboratory fell silent.

Mu Siwan continued to stare at the screen, typed a few lines, and then deleted them.

She used to do this all the time, working on experiments until she lost track of time, sometimes pulling all-nighters. Back then, Bo Yan wasn't around, and no one cared what time she went home; Mu Yan Garden was just a place for her to sleep.

Later, Bo Yan moved in.

Occasionally, when she forgot the time at night, he would call. The reason was always related to Grace—"Grace isn't eating, when are you coming home?" "Grace is sitting by the door, she's in the way."

She became more and more punctual in returning home after that.

It wasn't because I believed his nonsense.

I felt too embarrassed to stay up any longer after answering the phone.

Now she has no reason to return to Muyan Garden.

Grace also went to England with him.

Mu Siwan stared at the screen for a while longer, finished writing the last few lines of the report, saved it, and shut down the computer.

When I stood up, it was already pitch black outside the window.

-

Mu Siwan returned to Muyan Garden.

Total darkness.

She didn't turn on the light and groped her way upstairs in the dark. As she reached the corner, her calf bumped against something, causing a dull ache. She glanced down but couldn't see anything, and continued upstairs.

After taking a shower, she lay down on the bed.

In the darkness, the pain became clear.

There was still a slight dragging sensation in my lower abdomen, and the spot on my calf where I had bumped it was starting to ache. A fine, dense ache was seeping out from between my bones.

She bit her lip and didn't move.

Habitual tolerance.

I don't know how much time passed, but I felt a cold touch on my hand.

Scales.

Mu Siwan opened her eyes.

Grace returned at some point, curled up on the bedside table, and nuzzled her fingertips with her head.

The snake's tongue flicked out gently.

She froze for a moment.

The lights were off, but its outline was visible by the moonlight.

"Why are you still here?"

The voice was soft.

Grace didn't answer, but simply rested her head in her hand.

Cool and soft.

Mu Siwan stared at it for a long time, then slowly closed her eyes.

I finally fell asleep.

-

The next morning, Mu Siwan squatted in the living room and carefully fed Grace.

Holding the tweezers, she held the thawed baby mouse to its mouth. Grace took it in one bite and slowly swallowed. She watched it for a long time, and after it finished swallowing, she offered it another one.

Aunt Chen came out of the kitchen, already used to the presence of this new member of the family. She set out breakfast and greeted them.

"Madam, please have breakfast first."

Mu Siwan responded, put away the remaining food, and sat down at the table.

Aunt Chen stood to the side, hesitated for a moment, and then asked.

"How long will it be before you return from this business trip, sir?"

Mu Siwan picked up a custard bun and put it in the bowl.

"At least two months."

Aunt Chen was silent for a while, then sighed.

"The husband is very capable, so naturally he comes home less often." She paused, "As long as the couple supports each other and cherishes each other, life will eventually get better and better."

Mu Siwan gave a soft "hmm".

They support and cherish each other through thick and thin.

Two very beautiful words.

Unfortunately, she and Bo Yan will not have that kind of relationship.

They do not interfere with each other and treat each other with respect.