Strained Relationship

Song Jingren narrowed his eyes as he looked at his innocent wife lying on the bed playing an online game on her phone. He couldn't let his guard down. She was calm and well-behaved. 

It must be calm before the storm. 

"Hubby?" Zuni mouthed as she saw her husband entering the bedroom. "I made a pillow wall between us. I promise I won't touch you."

"I wonder why the change of heart?" Song Jingren snickered. 

"Archer said I need to win your heart more than trying to seduce you all the time, "Zuni said like a big girl. "If I keep on running after your body, I won't be able to win your heart. So, my quest is to win your heart in order to win your soul that will ultimately lead me to win your body." She grinned and raised both of her brows as she asked, "Ain't he genius?" 

"Sounds like something a teenager would say, "Song Jingren said with a blank face. "Totally cringe."

Zuni gasped dramatically. "How do you know my Archer is a teenager?"

My Archer. 

He came close to her and flicked her forehead. "Stop calling anyone yours. Don't forget you are a married woman now." 

Zuni grumbled as she looked at his dissatisfaction. "Hubby, what would you lose if you agree that you are jealous of Archer? I get it. Archer has more exquisite facial features than you. His IQ is twenty points higher than yours. But you have something that he doesn't – wealth and black card. You are unbeatable when it comes to competing with Archer."

"I'm not competing with your teenager chaser, "Song Jingren said in a dissatisfied time as he put another pillow between them and pulled the comforter, making her fall off the bed. 

"Ouch, "Zuni winced as she rubbed her butt. "Hubby, don't attack my Cara."

"Zuni…" Song Jingren closed his eyes full of exasperation. "Don't test my patience. If you really want to annoy someone, go annoy your Archer." 

"Hubby, it's past Ten. I'm pretty sure Uncle has taken gadgets from him, "Zuni informed him. "It's past his bedtime too." 

"Just how old is this Archer?" Song Jingren couldn't help but ask. 

"Fifteen this year, "Zuni shrugged. 

"Lord, "Song Jingren looked at the ceiling and begged for patience from the Almighty. "He is minor for God's sake."

She hit his leg making him groan. "What nonsense are you cooking up in your head! Archer is my youngest brother, alright!" 

Song Jingren blinked his eyes and looked at her in surprise. He never asked her about his family and so he got curious. "How many brothers do you have?" 

"Five, "Zuni answered nonchalantly and he looked at her in a new light. 

"Five?" Song Jingren repeated the number. "Are you the oldest?" 

"Nah, Yanjun Ge is the oldest, "Zuni told him. "Archer is the youngest." 

"Where does your family live?" Song Jingren asked. Such a big family. He felt his head spinning. Was he going to be one of those husbands who couldn't recall the name of his wife's family members? 

"Currently, my mom and dad are living in Switzerland, "Zuni truthfully told him. "As for my Gege, Yanjun Ge was in China last I talked to him. Zhixin Ge. Ugh, we aren't on speaking terms. Gege 4 and Gege 5 are probably enjoying the best of their life somewhere…"

"What about Gege 3?" Song Jingren ended up asking and her face turned sad. She looked at him and tried to smile at him, her big green eyes hiding the pain well. 

"He and I… have the most strained relationship, "Zuni whispered. "I caused something and after that, we don't know how to face each other. So, I always run from him, trying to not show him my face and remind him of the pain again. As long as he doesn't see this face, he won't feel bad about what he lost." 

'I hope Zian will learn to forgive me one day, 'Zuni said in her heart while she feigned a bright smile to look at her husband. 

"Zuni, did you tell your family about our marriage?" Song Jingren asked. 

"Didn't you say you only married for three months?" Zuni asked him. "What's there to tell them? If I tell them about my short-term marriage, I will disappoint them again. In twenty eight years of my life, I haven't given them anything but a disappointment. So, I will pass this opportunity."

Most importantly, she wanted to see her husband alive. So, she was hiding this news because she couldn't disclose this news without waiting for the proper timing. 

"Stop smiling, "Song Jingren suddenly said. "It's ugly."

"Fine, "Zuni said as she lay on the bed and turned her head to the other side and looked at the picture on the phone. She missed her mom and dad so much today. If they were with her, they would understand that she wasn't having hallucinations. 

Somewhere on earth… 

A woman was sitting on the swing petting a cat's head as a man in a dark suit approached her. She paused in her actions and raised her grey eyes to look at the person. 

"She saw you today, ''The man said. "You just made her assumptions right. What are you going to do now, Zoe?" 

Zoe glanced at the man and sighed helplessly. "I didn't know I would see her in China of all places. But here she is. How could I forget that Long Reine has the tendency of reaching all places where she shouldn't be?" 

"She is going to tell everyone, "The man said, looking at her.  

"No one will believe her, "Zoe said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.  "She has a history of hallucinations. Her Baobei is her biggest hallucination. No one will trust her words." Taking a pause, she said, "Don't come to meet again until I call for your help. I'm doing fine here. 

As the man left her house, she looked at the dark sky and whispered, "Reine. Reine. Why must you always play with fire?"