Chapter 148: Affection Dies from Knowing Too Much

Xiaoxiao could no longer listen to this. Who was it that had spoken those heart-wrenching vows of eternal love at their wedding ceremony? Who was it that had nearly burst into tears while kowtowing to the Hua family elders to show their devotion? And now, he had the gall to claim he had only just realized he had married a stranger? There was a saying about loving strangers, but it was clear this was just a flimsy excuse Zeng Ziyu had racked his brain to fabricate to escape social condemnation, presented with such sanctimonious flair.

"Zeng Ziyu, don't try to fob me off with those specious, pretty words. Hua Mei might believe you, but I don't find a shred of reason in what you're saying. Stop casting yourself as the victim; sympathy is a rare commodity in this world, and there is none left to spare for you."

Losing patience, Xiaoxiao decided to take the jewelry and leave. The Zeng Ziyu before her was clearly delusional. She deeply regretted trying to talk sense into him; it was a complete waste of breath. Yet, Zeng Ziyu spoke up.

"Do you really know everything about Lin Shuo?"

"What?" She grew curious, wanting to hear what other tricks he had up his sleeve.

Zeng Ziyu chuckled softly and murmured to himself, "It’s actually quite good. You won't grow weary if you don't truly know someone. Many relationships die because people know too much; sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Take a beautiful woman, for instance. If she is dressed, revealing just enough to stir the imagination, she is likely to be seen as sexy. But if she undresses and reveals a centipede-like scar or a lackluster figure, it’s far less appealing than the mystery of her clothes. She becomes nothing more than a slab of white meat on a chopping block—who would be interested in that? When two people live together, they see things that outsiders never do. Over time, mutual resentment is inevitable."

His words left Xiaoxiao deeply puzzled. So, a lifelong commitment required a heart capable of tolerance—the ability to endure even the most unpleasant aspects of one's partner. Was this the secret to a lasting marriage? She could not be sure.

Zeng Ziyu handed the elegant jewelry box to Xiaoxiao. She carefully tucked it into her bag. As she left, Zeng Ziyu walked her to the door. She asked, "Is there anything you want me to tell her?"

Zeng Ziyu lowered his head and thought for a long moment before replying, "Never mind. She probably wouldn't want to hear it anyway."

Perhaps inspired by Zeng Ziyu, Xiaoxiao spent the following days agonizing over the concept of honesty. She had been completely transparent with Lin Shuo, but what about him? Sometimes, looking into his bottomless eyes made her skin crawl. From the moment they met, she had felt he was hiding many secrets. As they spent time together and were pulled apart, some things had been revealed, but she still felt uneasy, as if those were merely the tip of the iceberg, with much more waiting to be discovered. Yet, Lin Shuo’s attitude remained consistently inscrutable.

Previously, she might have agreed with Zeng Ziyu’s theory that distance creates beauty. But now, she was wavering, terrified that, like Zeng Ziyu, she might one day wake up to find a stranger lying beside her.