Chapter 25

Qin Wanshu sat in the passenger seat as Han Shibin buckled her seatbelt. After gently kissing her on the cheek, he returned to his own seat. When Han Shibin got back behind the wheel, Qin Wanshu closed her eyes, as if to rest, though she knew she didn't want to talk to him at that moment.

Han Shibin was about to say something but stopped when he saw her eyes closed. He looked at her delicate profile this woman was like a goddess to him. Even after more than three years of marriage, he still couldn't fully understand her.

The car was very quiet, and after a long time, Han Shibin couldn't hold back anymore. He knew Qin Wanshu wasn't actually asleep.

"You seem a bit strange this time..." Han Shibin said, sensitive to her emotions.

After a moment with no response from Qin Wanshu, just when Han Shibin thought she wouldn't answer, she slowly opened her eyes.

"What's so strange?" Qin Wanshu asked calmly.

Han Shibin remained silent. He couldn't quite pinpoint what felt off.

"If you're tired, go ahead and rest. I'll wake you when we get home," Han Shibin said considerately, thinking maybe he was just being overly sensitive.

"Okay," Qin Wanshu replied softly and closed her eyes again.

Han Shibin was in a bad mood and had been ever since they returned.

When they got home, Qin Wanshu went to take a shower first. As she was in the bathroom, her phone started ringing.

Han Shibin stared at Qin Wanshu's purse for a long time, hesitating before finally opening it and taking out her phone.

The screen displayed a caller named "Little Fairy." Han Shibin didn't recognize the name from his wife's usual circle of contacts, so without much thought, he answered the call.

Han Shibin didn't speak right away, and neither did the person on the other end. Both sides were silent for a while until Han Shibin finally asked, "Who is this? I'm her husband. She's in the shower. Is there something you need?"

Upon hearing Han Shibin's voice, Zuo Qinghuan immediately hung up. She felt lucky that she hadn't spoken first. Okay, Zuo Qinghuan admitted to herself that she was being a bit mischievous by causing trouble for Qin Wanshu.

Seeing the call end, Han Shibin frowned. Who was that? It was already strange that the caller hadn't spoken for so long, but to hang up as soon as they heard his voice seemed even more suspicious. Now, he was even more curious about this "Little Fairy."

After a while, Qin Wanshu came out of the bathroom and saw Han Shibin sitting there, staring at her phone. She frowned slightly. She had always respected his privacy, and him going through her phone wasn't right.

Seeing her come out, Han Shibin quickly explained, "Your phone kept ringing, so I answered. It was odd, though the caller didn't say anything. As soon as I spoke, they hung up," he said, trying to sound casual.

"Who was it?" Qin Wanshu knew exactly what Han Shibin was hinting at and could easily guess it was Zuo Qinghuan who had called. But she responded indifferently, finding the situation somewhat amusing here was the mistress calling, and Han Shibin was acting as though he were the one caught cheating.

"'Little Fairy' the name's kind of cute. Who's Little Fairy?" Han Shibin asked, feigning curiosity.

Qin Wanshu didn't know what expression to make. Her cheating husband was now asking her who the mistress was. Ever since meeting Zuo Qinghuan, everything had felt absurd to Qin Wanshu, yet she allowed these absurdities to continue.

"She's a little girl I recently met, a distant relative of the Qin family. She's adorable and likes being called 'Little Fairy,'" Qin Wanshu lied smoothly, without even a hint of hesitation, meeting Han Shibin's questioning gaze without revealing any flaws.

"How old is she?" Han Shibin believed most of the story. Given how large the Qin family was, it wasn't surprising that he didn't know all the relatives.

"About three," Qin Wanshu replied casually, easily dispelling all of Han Shibin's doubts. If it was a little child, it made sense that she wouldn't know how to talk on the phone probably just playing with it.

"A cute little kid, huh? If you like children, maybe we should have one of our own sometime," Han Shibin said, half-joking, half-serious, smiling at Qin Wanshu.

If Zuo Qinghuan hadn't entered the picture, Qin Wanshu had planned to have a child by the time she turned thirty. Her life had always followed a carefully structured plan, but after discovering Han Shibin's affair, she had abandoned that idea.

"We'll see," Qin Wanshu responded, uninterested.

Han Shibin was a little surprised by her rejection. He had always thought of Qin Wanshu as a traditional woman who would like children, but if she didn't, he wouldn't force her. After all, a goddess like her didn't need to trouble herself with having children. Still, the Han family needed an heir, and there were plenty of women willing to bear his child. Originally, Han Shibin had believed no one but Qin Wanshu was qualified to be the mother of his child.

Han Shibin watched Qin Wanshu sitting in front of the vanity, drying her hair. The woman, embodying both elegance and beauty, looked utterly captivating in that moment. If Qin Wanshu had any flaws, it was that she couldn't fulfill his needs. She looked so tempting and desirable that just thinking about it left Han Shibin feeling dissatisfied.

"Wife, tonight I want to..." Han Shibin said as he embraced Qin Wanshu from behind.

"I'm very tired, and I don't want to," Qin Wanshu rejected him without hesitation. In the past, she would occasionally suppress her own feelings and go along with Han Shibin's desires, but now she felt there was no need for such sacrifices. Since Han Shibin had betrayed their marriage, she no longer felt responsible for him. Qin Wanshu always believed she wasn't some kind of saint rather, she was incredibly demanding, especially with those close to her.

"We haven't been together for a long time. I'm only thirty-three, a healthy man in his prime. If this keeps going, what am I supposed to do?" Han Shibin, already in a bad mood, felt a surge of frustration.

"Maybe you could find another woman," Qin Wanshu said with a faint smile as she looked at him. Her smile couldn't have been more indifferent.

Han Shibin was taken aback. It was the first time Qin Wanshu had suggested he find another woman, and he didn't know how to react.

"Are you serious?" Han Shibin asked, uncertain.

"Yes," Qin Wanshu nodded.

"You wouldn't blame me?" Han Shibin probed further. If Qin Wanshu was giving him permission to be with someone else, it might be a solution, sparing him the effort. He just feared that she might catch on to his affair.

"No, I would wish you both the best," Qin Wanshu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Han Shibin immediately thought she was testing him. The idea that Qin Wanshu would divorce him if she found out about his infidelity made him more cautious.

"Qin Wanshu, did you ever love me?" Han Shibin asked.

"Didn't you say that it didn't matter whether I loved you or not, as long as you loved me?" Qin Wanshu replied. When they had gotten married, Han Shibin had asked the same question, and back then she had responded, "I don't know what love is, so probably not." Han Shibin had then told her that it didn't matter, as long as he loved her. That's what had convinced her to marry him.

"But sometimes, I get tired too." Three years had passed, and he still hadn't made her fall in love with him. The thought disappointed Han Shibin.

"You still have a choice," Qin Wanshu said, looking directly into his eyes. Maybe she had made a mistake from the very beginning.

"No, I don't regret my choice," Han Shibin replied firmly. He truly, truly loved Qin Wanshu, despite the imperfections.

Qin Wanshu didn't respond. Maybe one day, she could set him free.

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