Chapter 5 - Suspicion Caused by a Potted Orchid

Translator: Ruriko

However, the man lying beside Zhishu He gave him the courage to fight against death. Though he was hurt badly by Wenxu Jiang’s indifference, he still lived in hope that they would be reconciled.

Maybe this was the so-called “love”, which could hurt you, but also could save your soul and give your courage.

Zhishu He was really popular since childhood. He had got good academic records, gentle character and handsome appearance, and his clear and mild eyes had attracted so many girls. When he was a student, girls around him groveled to him as long as he gave them a gentle look. He was very good at studying but he didn’t go to the university; instead, he left his hometown and eloped with Wenxu Jiang. After he began to work, still so many people, including rich women, rich men, boys and girls, were attracted to him. But Zhishu He never changed his mind of loving Jiang. He once almost drank to death for their business. Although he knew that he could achieve his goal easily as long as he slept with the cooperators, he never cuckolded Jiang. At that time, Jiang was under great pressure at work, so he always gave Zhishu He rough treatment when they had sex. Afterwards, their company developed and gained a foothold in the market. Zhishu He was gradually ignored by Wenxu Jiang. Jiang didn’t allow Zhishu to deal with public relations any more, and rarely had intimate sex with him.

Zhishu He got out of bed quietly and sat on the sofa. He took a cigarette out of the cigarette case and lit it up. When he was young, he valued his health very much, but drinking and the second-hand smoke ruined it in that decade. Even though what he had suffered was all due to Jiang, he never regretted his decision of being together with Jiang. He loved Jiang with his heart and soul.

Zhishu He had loved Wenxu Jiang for fourteen years, now his love was slowly disappearing in suspicion. He had been disappointed for so long that he despaired of their future. In the beginning, he tolerated Wenxu Jiang’s betrayal because of his deep love, but now it became a habit, or maybe he became indifferent to Jiang’s affairs.

Zhishu He slumbered on the sofa for a while, and when he woke up early in the morning, he found himself running a fever. He poured out some pills into his palm and waited for the water to boil.

“Why did you get up so early? I felt uneasy when I opened my eyes and found you were not in the bed,” Wenxu Jiang complained like a spoiled child. His hair was uncombed, which made him look much younger than his age.

“I’m accustomed to getting up early. I haven’t made breakfast and you can go out for it,” Zhishu He said in an indifferent tone as he added some hot water to the cold water in his cup, and then took a handful of pills.

Wenxu Jiang was offended by Zhishu’s indifference. He was about to lose his temper but held back the anger in time at the sight of Zhishu taking pills, and asked with concern, “You look pale. Are you sick?”

“It’s getting cold and I caught a cold,” Zhishu He smiled and continued. “Nothing serious. Aren’t you going to the company today?”

Wenxu Jiang heard the irony in Zhishu’s voice. He lowered his head, feeling somewhat guilty, and answered, “No. Today I want to stay home with you.”

Zhishu He didn’t show any pleasure at Jiang’s words. He put the pot on the gas range and said, “Okay. I will cook some noodles with tomato soup for you.”

“Good,” Wenxu Jiang was relieved and lay down on the sofa leisurely, waiting for his breakfast.

The smell of lampblack made Zhishu He sick, and he could not help but think that Jiang was born to be his bane.

He just put the noodles into the hot soup before he heard Wenxu Jiang’s voice coming from the living room, “You bought an orchid? I remember that you don’t like growing flowers before.”

Zhishu He paused his movement while replying, “My friend gave it to me, and I just keep it for fun.”

“When did you make a friend? Do I know him? This orchid is rare and expensive. Did he present you with this just to make you happy?” Wenxu Jiang fired several questions.

His jealousy annoyed Zhishu He. How dared Wenxu Jiang scold him after playing around with his lovers? Jiang was the most shameless man He had ever seen! He was too angry to answer Jiang’s questions.

“Zhishu He!” Jiang said stiffly, “Answer my questions!”

“You can stay out and have fun with your friends. Why can’t I do the same thing?” Zhishu He turned off the gas cooker, leaving the half-cooked noodles in the pot to stick together.

Wenxu Jiang flew into a rage with shame, “What the hell did you mean? I worked hard in the company to make money for you. You treat me as a playboy? What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Zhishu He sneered, “For me? Are you kidding me? I gave you thirty percent of the company’s shares. And this house is our joint property. I don’t need your money, Wenxu Jiang.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Hearing Zhishu He’s pointed remarks, Jiang was vexed and somewhat terrified of Zhishu’s sudden anger and unrelenting criticism, but he didn’t admit defeat and quickly retorted, “Are you afraid that I would find your amour? This orchid is worth a down payment of a new house. Your new lover was so generous that you have fallen love with him? So that’s the real reason that you refused to have sex with me, right?”

Zhishu He really didn’t know that this orchid was so expensive; otherwise, he would not have accepted it. He didn’t expect Doctor Ai to be so rich and generous.

Anyway, he didn’t have an affair with others but Wenxu Jiang did. And he felt uncomfortable for the illness. So Zhishu He got angrier and scolded, “If you don’t want to stay at home, just get out of here. I don’t care what you have done outside, and you are not qualified to meddle in my affairs.”

Wenxu Jiang fell into a towering rage and took two steps forward. He lifted his hand and was about to slap Zhishu.

Zhishu He gazed at him with a heartbroken expression, tears rolling down his cheeks, and then he asked, “Do you really want to slap me?”

His tears pricked Wenxu Jiang’s heart. He put his hand down and felt helpless. ‘There are so many boys and girls outside waiting for me. Since you don’t cherish my love, I’ll leave right now!’ he thought with a grievance, took his coat and went straight out of the house without looking back at Zhishu.

Zhishu He frowned and wiped away his tears. He filled the bowl with noodles and sat at the table. Although he lost his appetite in the quarrel, he still tried hard to swallow the noodles. He was sick of both noodles and Wenxu Jiang, but at least, noodles would not hurt his heart.

However, a few minutes later, he vomited up all he had just eaten and even spat out a mouthful of blood.

Love not only hurt his feelings, but also hurt his body.