Chapter 34: A Husband's Responsibility

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Could it be that Liu Zhuyin actually extended an invitation to me? And she even called me... Yichen? I could hardly believe my ears. Such an intimate form of address, willing to change for me—while astonished, I could not hide my bitterness. Had this been before the divorce, that one word, Yichen, would have made me wholeheartedly devoted. But now, all I felt was regret mingled with a touch of anger.

"I'm not available tomorrow."

I didn’t understand why she suddenly changed her tone. Nor did I know how she discovered my preferences. I certainly didn’t want to know the purpose behind her actions. In any case... belated sincerity is worth less than grass.

"You..."

Liu Zhuyin was at a loss for words, not expecting such a resolute refusal from me. Given her usual temperament, she would have been angry. Yet today, she displayed a surprisingly good temper that left me dumbfounded.

"I understand. You only want a divorce from me now."

"But I still want to fight for us."

"Yichen, could you give me one more chance?"

I had been giving her chances all along—five full years! Five years of unreciprocated devotion, and even now, what difference would it make?

"Liu Zhuyin, I want to ask—why haven’t you divorced me yet?"

"Don’t tell me it’s because of feelings between us. I don’t believe that."

I wanted to understand her reasons for not divorcing. Liu Zhuyin took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and finally answered:

"It’s because I didn’t know how to cherish you. You are a good man, both to me and to the Liu family."

"I owe you a great debt for those five years, and looking back, those were happy days with you."

"When you were not around... the house felt cold."

"I... I hate the feeling of a house that’s not a home."

Her words were tinged with a faint tenderness, yet I sneered coldly.

"So, it turns out you were just used to being served."

"Used to having food brought to your mouth and clothes handed to you."

"Used to me handling everything, so you didn’t have to lift a finger."

"Liu Zhuyin, if that’s the case, hire a few top-notch maids and advisors—they can do the same!"

With that, I turned and walked away. Of course! Her attempt to hold me back was born of habit.

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She had only just divorced me and fallen into a mess of tangled threads, which made her nostalgic. But what she was nostalgic for wasn’t me—it was the comfort I provided.

Liu Zhuyin’s face changed; she realized she had said too much. She wanted to chase after me, but the coldness in my departing figure stopped her once more. Only when I disappeared from sight did she let out a long sigh.

"What... what am I saying?"

She was frustrated. What she meant to express was not this, yet beneath the surface, there was some truth to it. Clearly, my question was why she hadn’t divorced me. If she liked me, she should say so; if she loved me, she should express it. But she twisted around it.

"Sigh..."

She sighed deeply, then entered the private room where Bai Beichuan was waiting. Bai Beichuan had promised to help me and didn’t hesitate; he immediately offered a solution to resolve this matter without any delay. His ease left Liu Zhuyin incredulous. She had come thinking Ning Yuanzhou was the one helping her, but after seeing me downstairs, she no longer believed that.

"Mr. Bai, may I ask you a question?"

Bai Beichuan smiled. "Miss Liu, go ahead."

"I want to know why you changed your mind to help me. Is it because of... my husband?"

Her choice of words startled Bai Beichuan briefly, but he shook his head.

"No?"

Liu Zhuyin was puzzled. Why did she feel it was me helping her? Especially since she had just seen me downstairs!

In truth, Bai Beichuan wanted to reveal the truth. But he understood me well—he knew what I truly wanted. So after a moment’s thought, he spoke softly.

"Miss Liu, I want to ask you a question too."

"Go ahead, Mr. Bai."

After her consent, Bai Beichuan spoke earnestly.

"Miss Liu, you just called Xiaochen ‘husband.’"

"I want to know, do you sincerely want to save your marriage?"

Without hesitation, Liu Zhuyin nodded.

"Of course!"

Bai Beichuan was somewhat surprised by her straightforward answer, and it made him more certain of his decision not to tell her everything. Still, he gave her a piece of advice.

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"Xiaochen is an emotional man. Don’t be fooled by his macho exterior—his feelings are delicate."

"I think there are things you should clarify with him."

"If you’re only holding on because he treats you well, then there’s no need."

"His kindness has always been voluntary because you are the one he loves."

"He bears no grudges, but he doesn’t want this sense of debt to bind you to him."

Those closest to me understood me well. Except for her...

Liu Zhuyin said nothing but gradually sensed the truth.

"I’m not holding on out of obligation, but... now that I think about it, there is some debt."

Liu Zhuyin still couldn’t quite grasp it. Bai Beichuan smiled.

"Mm, I can feel that inner conflict."

"But don’t blame him. His parents were seriously ill in his youth, and now that they’ve passed, it weighs heavily on him."

"Yet he is the most honorable man I’ve ever met."

"Back then, because of a project, we were rivals. I bullied him a lot."

"But later, after an accident where I broke my leg and the project was on the brink of collapse..."

"He was the one who helped me!"

Recalling that time, Bai Beichuan couldn’t help but smile.

"At first, I thought he was hypocritical—how could he endure my bullying and still help me? It seemed like such a desperate attempt to win favor, lacking dignity."

"I didn’t understand—wouldn’t it have been better to kick someone when they’re down? After all, we were enemies, and I had bullied him."

"Later, I realized he wanted to cooperate, to turn enmity into friendship. That generosity earned my respect—I had never seen such magnanimity."

"But after getting to know him better, I understood: he did it all for the Liu family... for his wife’s inheritance. And this wife... apparently doesn’t treat him well."

"But one thing he said, I’ll never forget."

Bai Beichuan paused and looked at Liu Zhuyin.

"What... did he say?"

Liu Zhuyin’s heart tightened. Bai Beichuan spoke casually, but she could fully immerse herself in the moment—feeling the frustration and grievance I endured.

She knew me—I am a proud man. Yet for the Liu family, for her... I was willing to lower my head.

"He said he is your husband and must shoulder this responsibility."

"He isn’t afraid of hardship, no matter how great the hardship is."

"Even if... you don’t love him!"

"But he... doesn’t want to disappoint you!"

Boom!

Those words struck Liu Zhuyin’s heart like a hammer. Her eyes instantly reddened.