Chapter 51: Chi Mo 5

“When he told me he didn't love me anymore, I was certainly sad, but strangely, I felt a sense of relief.” Gao Jing managed a forced smile. “Later, I realized we were interacting more like relatives than lovers; the romantic impulse between us had vanished.”

“For me, if there is no romance but we can live a lifetime together like family, I could do it, but the other person couldn't.” Gao Jing couldn't hold back her tears. “Deep down, he is a very romantic person; he has always placed great emphasis on 'feeling.'”

“If the feeling is gone, there's no need to keep dragging it out. Letting go is better for both of us. I have two children, and they are both with me now. My parents live with me, mainly because they see how hard it is for me to balance work and raising kids.”

Tan You listened in silence. Her heart was like a rock; she had absolutely no interest in things like "feelings" or "romance."

Having finished, Gao Jing looked toward Xiang Zhe. “I’ve shared my story. Now it’s your turn.”

Xiang Zhe cleared his throat. “Then I’ll go second. I’ve been divorced from my ex-wife for almost three years. I also have two children, and they are with my ex-wife. Back then, I left with nothing—the house, the car, and the savings all went to them.”

Gao Jing’s expression shifted from loss to pure gossip. “Why did you do that?”

She was practically asking if he had cheated.

Xiang Zhe smiled. “At the time, I was desperate to escape my original family, and there was a job transfer. I moved from T Province to S City, and the children couldn't move because of school. We were apart for long periods, and she eventually found someone else.”

“I don't blame her; it was indeed hard for her to raise the children alone. But I couldn't keep going like that either. I could only give them everything I possessed at the time to ensure they wouldn't have to suffer as much.”

He spoke nonchalantly, but Tan You understood. She glanced at Shi Xiang Zhe; he looked like a very gentle person, but Tan You felt his eyes were cold. It was clear his gentleness was merely a facade.

Since they were going in order of their seats, and Tan You was to Gao Jing's right, she had nothing to hide. “My experience is simple. I’ve been divorced for two years; my marriage lasted only three months.”

“We had premarital medical exams before the wedding, and everything was normal then. But after we married, I suddenly fell ill. At the time, the doctor said there might be difficulties with fertility in the future. We divorced after I was discharged from the hospital.”

“Huh? Just because of that? Medical science is so advanced now,” several guests remarked, unable to comprehend. It was true that modern medical technology was highly developed.

“The doctor only said it was a possibility, not that you definitely couldn't conceive, right?” Gao Jing asked, puzzled.

“Yes, that’s what the doctor said,” Tan You nodded. “Later, when I went for a follow-up, the doctor told me not to worry, but we had already divorced by then. It was for the best.”

Gao Jing asked another question: “So you don't have those health concerns anymore?”

“Of course,” Tan You said seriously. “But that doesn't mean I'm going to tell every person I meet that my body is fine. There's no need for that.”

“That’s so heartbreaking,” Zhou Wenwen sighed. “Dealing with an illness while being asked for a divorce... how painful must that have been?”

Tan You remained calm. “There was certainly sadness, but since I can talk about it now, it doesn't feel like much to me. Being divorced is fine; I am living a very good life now.”

Xu Jike couldn't wait to ask: “So, have you stayed in touch since then?”

His eagerness made everyone understand his intent. The male guests exchanged glances, clearly all on the same wavelength.

Tan You: “No. I won't contact him again. I deleted all his contact information later. I have no idea where he is or how he is doing.”

“My story is quite unremarkable. My experience was just that, and I don't have children, so the separation was very clean. For the past two years, I've been busy with work. My social circle is small, and I rarely interact with the opposite sex.”

Lin Meng asked curiously, “But you are so beautiful. Aren't there any men pursuing you?”

Tan You thought of Chi Mo's suitors. “There are, but there's no chemistry, and I don't want to rush into a new relationship. The process of 'slowly cooling down' is actually quite grueling—the process of reclaiming your emotions bit by bit is very painful.”

“Besides, beauty fades. Will I still be this beautiful in ten or twenty years? If he only likes my face, there are plenty of people more beautiful than me. When I am no longer young, he will find someone even more beautiful.”

“Knowing that someone is only after my looks, I naturally wouldn't choose to be with them. That would be devaluing myself.”

Xu Jike smiled. “So you hope people see your inner substance?”

“Substance?” Tan You finally smiled. “Many people talk about 'substance,' but what is it exactly? I think rather than 'substance,' it's better called 'character.'”

“I am just an ordinary dancer. Everything I know and understand is about dance. I don't understand much professional knowledge outside of that; I am just an ordinary person, and I don't consider myself to be deeply scholarly.”

“For example, if you are a lawyer, you are very knowledgeable and professional in your field. I don't understand those things, so the topics we can discuss are quite limited...”

Xu Jike said somewhat anxiously, “But I'm looking for a girlfriend, not a business partner...”

Tan You wasn't offended. “I was just giving an example. Besides, I don't like to talk much; I prefer listening to others. To others, that makes me seem introverted and quiet.”

“Regardless of age, men almost always prefer women who are lively and extroverted. They say they admire strong women, but in their hearts, they still prefer women they can look up to.”

Zhou Wenwen chimed in, “Mo Mo is right. My ex-husband cheated on me with a woman ten years younger than him. Even when men reach their seventies or eighties, they still seem to prefer young girls in their late teens.”

Lin Meng: “So we can be like them and just find someone young too!”

Tan You looked at Zhou Wenwen. “His choice to seek someone else is his loss. You are truly excellent; better things are ahead. Of course, it's also fine not to look for anyone; we can still manage our own lives well.”

Zhou Wenwen smiled. “Yes, I am living very well now. I have a daughter, and she lives with me. Of course, besides that, there were other reasons for our divorce. Because I had a daughter, his family wanted a boy.”

“And I felt the burden was too heavy. I also have to focus on my work. Perhaps that was part of it...”

Gao Jing: “Don't think that way. He cheated and you're helping him find an excuse. His heart just changed; he just wasn't committed to the home anymore.”

Zhou Wenwen took a sip of tea. “Perhaps. But I found that life became much easier after the divorce. Once I no longer had to deal with his family, life suddenly became very peaceful.”