Chapter 25: His Love

Xiao Jie walked over to Nian Yu and said nothing, simply staying by her side in silence.

After a while, Nian Yu asked quietly, “If we had never met Zhou Yu, where would we be now, and what would we be doing?”

Xiao Jie glanced at Zhou Yu and replied calmly, “You know him well, and you knew him well back then. So don’t ask such foolish questions.”

Nian Yu said nothing, watching Zhou Yu for a moment before turning to Xiao Jie. “If he’d found a proper job back then, if he’d worked steadily, maybe he and I would never have broken up.”

Xiao Jie looked at Nian Yu in surprise, then said, “Do you really think he would have? Is Zhou Yu the kind of person who’d work honestly in a factory?”

Nian Yu responded in a muted tone, “No, he wouldn’t. Even though he says he wants stability, he’s never willing to settle for a regular job.”

Xiao Jie spoke gently, “Darling, if he were the kind of man content to be ordinary, working a nine-to-five, what would he have left to protect you?”

Nian Yu retorted, agitated, “Protect me? Always making me worry about him—is that what you call protection?”

Xiao Jie replied softly, “Darling, you know your own temperament. When we were at school, you offended so many people. At first, because you were his friend, no one dared do anything to you. Later, because you were his girlfriend, even more so—no one dared touch you.”

Nian Yu continued to argue, “But I don’t want a man like this. I want him to be gentle, refined, mature…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Jie cut her off, “Enough, darling. Does the ideal man you want even exist in this world? If he’s talented, you complain he’s ugly. If he’s handsome, you say he doesn’t earn enough. If he’s rich, you say he neglects the home. If he’s too devoted to the family, you say he’s unambitious. If he’s successful, you say he’s not romantic. If he’s romantic, you say he’s unreliable. If he’s dependable, you say he’s just a coward.”

Without waiting for Nian Yu to speak, Xiao Jie continued, “Darling, if such a perfect man existed, do you think he would even look at us? Maybe Zhou Yu was nothing before the apocalypse, but now, in these times, only men like him can survive, and he is mature—he’s only childish in front of you.”

Nian Yu lowered her head and gently touched Zhou Yu’s face. “I’ve never said I didn’t love him, or that I regret it. It’s just… I hate that he can’t make something of himself, can’t impress my parents.”

Xiao Jie looked at Zhou Yu and said, “Darling, if you love someone, and you still care about other people’s opinions, then you don’t love him enough.”

Nian Yu paused, then asked, “Are you sure I don’t love him enough?”

Xiao Jie replied calmly, “Are you sure you love him enough? If you break up because you care about what others say, I can only think you don’t love him enough. Friends will eventually have their own families and careers, and you’ll rarely see each other. After you’re married, even your parents will visit less and less. As for children, we all know how that goes—only the person beside you at night will stay with you always.”

Nian Yu listened to Xiao Jie’s words and bowed her head in contemplation, for Zhou Yu had once said the same things to her.

Seeing Nian Yu lost in thought, Xiao Jie continued, “Before the apocalypse, there was a saying circulating online: ‘Be good to your spouse. One day, when you’re lying in a hospital bed waiting for rescue, the one who decides your fate isn’t your young mistress or your children—it’s your spouse, only he or she can decide whether to save you or give up on treatment.’”

Nian Yu said nothing. Xiao Jie patted her gently, “Stay with him more often. He’s really been good to you.”