Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Yu Wenlai was momentarily confused as to why she would ask such a question, so he did not answer her but instead asked, "What's the matter?"

Jiang Yiyan smiled and said, "I just finished a batch of drawings and want to relax. If you have time, how about I treat you to dinner? Suddenly, it occurred to me that we've known each other for so long, and you've helped me so much at work, yet I haven't treated you to a meal."

Yu Wenlai also smiled and then said, "If it's about dinner, I certainly have time." He glanced at the wall clock and saw that it was almost six o'clock. After a brief consideration, he added, "We usually close at six-thirty, but today we can close earlier."

In fact, he had a client scheduled to try on a qipao at six-thirty, but Yu Wenlai already had a plan in mind. The qipao fitting could be rescheduled for tomorrow, but if Miss Jiang invited him to dinner, this opportunity might not come again.

He knew well which was more important.

Jiang Yiyan definitely didn't know he had a client coming later. If she did, she might either wait until six-thirty or reschedule the dinner for another day.

Considering that he usually closes at six-thirty, half an hour earlier wouldn't make much difference. So, Jiang Yiyan immediately said, "Then wait here for a bit; I'll go get the car and pick you up by the roadside."

"Sure," Yu Wenlai agreed with her arrangement without any objections.

After leaving, Jiang Yiyan headed to the parking lot. Once inside her car, she didn't start the engine right away but took out her phone. She needed to inform her family that she wouldn't be home for dinner, so they wouldn't keep waiting for her.

However, Jiang Yiyan didn't call Wen Mochuan but sent a voice message to Fang Fang via WeChat. Recently, due to their collaboration on managing a book account, Jiang Yiyan and Fang Fang had been interacting quite frequently.

After sending the message to Fang Fang, Jiang Yiyan put her phone aside. She then started the car, backed out of the parking space, and drove out of the garage.

As soon as she left the garage, she received a call from Meimei.

Jiang Yiyan didn't answer immediately but waited until she was safely on the road before picking up the call.

"Meimei, what's up?" Jiang Yiyan asked while keeping an eye on the road and sparing some attention for the conversation with her daughter.

Soon, a soft voice came from the other end: "Mom, when are you coming home?"

Jiang Yiyan replied, "Mom won't be home for dinner tonight. Mom has a dinner appointment outside."

Meimei knew that her mom would be eating out because Aunt Fang Fang had told her after receiving a message from her mom.

"Aunt Fang Fang told me," Meimei continued, "When will you come home after dinner?"

"Well..." Since the dinner hadn't started yet, Jiang Yiyan couldn't give an exact time, so she said, "Meimei, I'll try to come back as early as possible, okay?" It was around six o'clock now. Finding a suitable restaurant and sitting down to eat would likely take until six-thirty.

Allowing an hour for dining and chatting, it would be around eight o'clock by the time they finished. Even if she rushed back home, it would be at least eight-thirty.

And that was under ideal circumstances.

Any delay would push the arrival time past eight-thirty.

Usually, Meimei goes to bed by nine o'clock after taking a bath with Feng Ma at eight-thirty.

Since Jiang Yiyan couldn't guarantee she would be home before Meimei went to bed, she didn't make any promises.

"Mom has something to discuss with a friend today, so you need to be good at home, okay?"

"Okay." Although Meimei felt a bit disappointed, she didn't act unreasonably and insist that her mom come back right away. "Mom, you also need to be good outside. With Dad and I not around, you must take extra care of yourself."

Being cared for by her little angel, Jiang Yiyan felt warm inside. A smile appeared on her face, and her tone was light and cheerful.

"Alright, Mom understands. Mom will definitely take care of herself when alone outside. By the time Meimei wakes up tomorrow morning, Mom will be there, safe and sound."

"Pinky promise." Meimei was very concerned about her mom. "Is Mom driving? You need to focus while driving, Mom. I won't bother you anymore. Bye, Mom." After politely saying goodbye, Meimei hung up the phone.

At that moment, the car had just arrived at the entrance of the qipao shop.

Yu Wenlai walked around to the passenger side, got in, and upon seeing Jiang Yiyan hang up the phone, he half-jokingly asked, "Reporting to the family?"

"It's my daughter," Jiang Yiyan replied as she found an opportunity to merge onto the main road. "I told her I wouldn't be coming home for dinner tonight, and she said she misses me. I just finished comforting her."

It wasn't appropriate to talk too much about family matters, so after a few simple sentences, Jiang Yiyan quickly asked for his opinion. "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"I don't; you can decide," Yu Wenlai responded.

Jiang Yiyan would never spend a fortune taking him to some fancy restaurant for a grand meal. Of course, she wouldn't take him to a street stall or a cheap eatery either. The price range should be at least three to four hundred per person, with a decent environment.

Jiang Yiyan didn't go out often and wasn't familiar with the area. Fortunately, she had a food app. She opened it and looked through a few highly-rated restaurants.

In the end, she chose a seafood restaurant.

She first called to reserve a private room, then drove over.

It was rush hour at six o'clock, and the traffic was a bit congested. A ten-minute drive took nearly thirty minutes.

The private room wasn't large but was sufficient for the two of them.

There was a QR code for ordering at the corner of the table. After asking Yu Wenlai about his preferences, Jiang Yiyan ordered a few dishes. After placing the order, she looked across the table and asked, "Do you often go out to eat?"

Yu Wenlai shook his head. "Not really. Generally, I cook at home. Occasionally, when I don't feel like cooking, I'll meet friends for a meal."

Jiang Yiyan wasn't prying into his privacy; she was simply chatting casually. "Don't you live with your parents?"

"My parents are abroad; they usually come back once a year," Yu Wenlai replied.

Jiang Yiyan now understood that he didn't live with his parents. However, she didn't delve deeper into the topic.

After all, the purpose of inviting him out today wasn't to pry into his personal life but to seek his advice as an outsider on what she should do next.

"Wenlai, I invited you out today not only to express my gratitude but also because I have something I'd like you to help me analyze. I have a friend..." Though it felt awkward to fabricate such a story, it was better than directly saying it was about herself.

She knew that the person sitting across from her was smart enough to guess whether she was talking about herself or her friend.

"This is how it is. I have a friend whose marriage is facing some issues recently. As her best friend, sometimes my thoughts aren't entirely objective, and I might mix in some personal emotions. So today, I want to share my friend's situation with you, and as an outsider, help me think about what would be the best course of action."

After Jiang Yiyan solemnly finished this barrage of words, Yu Wenlai couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The repeated emphasis on being friends seemed somewhat like a case of protesting too much.

Since she did not wish to have her secret exposed, Yu Wenlai also cooperated fully, nodding earnestly, "Then do tell."

Jiang Yiyan said, "My friend and her husband initially got together not out of mutual love but rather because of an unplanned pregnancy, which led to a marriage of convenience. Over the years, it has been my friend who has given more in the relationship, while her husband's affection towards her is limited to a sense of duty, with little genuine love involved. Their marital life can be described as stagnant and lifeless."

Recently, my friend has come to her senses, no longer focusing her thoughts on love, but instead concentrating on herself. She has truly seen the light, not playing hard to get. However, after she stopped clinging to her husband, he, in turn, became the one to take the initiative and come closer to her.

"However, my friend has a stubborn temperament. Once she truly lets go, she will not look back. Her current thought is... she wants a divorce. But they have a child together, and apart from lacking affection for her, her husband is very good in every other way, responsible and a reliable man. In this situation, what do you think my friend should do?"

In fact, when Yu Wenlai first met the couple of Jiang Yiyan, he sensed a subtlety in their relationship. It was not as affectionate and loving as that of an ordinary couple, but rather seemed to be on the surface only.

Subsequently, whether it was during the contract signing with him or when Mr. Wen came to pick up Miss Jiang in person... every detail demonstrated his concern for Miss Jiang.

So he thought at that time, perhaps the way each couple gets along is different. Not being affectionate in public, not deliberately showing love, does not mean there is no affection between them as a couple.

Only after hearing Miss Jiang's words today did he realize that his initial feeling at that time was indeed correct.

That would depend on how determined your friend is about getting a divorce. It's about what she truly feels in her heart and what she genuinely desires. Whether she would be happier by divorcing and regaining her freedom, or by giving her husband another chance and continuing to live harmoniously as a family of three. Regardless of the situation, the most crucial aspect is to ensure that your friend is the happiest she can be, rather than constantly compromising to accommodate others.

Yu Wenlai repeatedly emphasized the importance of the woman's happiness, which could also be seen as indirectly persuading Jiang Yiyan to follow her own heart.

Since she has already entertained the thought of divorce, it is likely that she has carefully considered whether to continue this marriage. The reason she is hesitant to make a decision is primarily because of her daughter; she fears that once divorced, she may no longer be able to provide her daughter with a complete home.

In this society, there are just too many constraints imposed on women. For their parents, for their children, for their family... There are always countless moral shackles that restrict their freedom.

In the end, they fulfilled everyone else's wishes, yet alone bore the grievances themselves.

Yu Wenlai did not wish for Jiang Yiyan to become the same kind of person.

Of course, he did not deny that he had ulterior motives in advising her in such a manner.

Miss Jiang was the woman who captivated him at first sight, her temperament and appearance aligning perfectly with his aesthetic sensibilities. As their interactions grew over time, including her personality, her approach to dealing with people and situations, as well as her perspectives on life and work, they all strangely resonated with him. After every conversation, he felt extremely pleasant.

Alas, she is a married woman.

I had thought that I would have to keep this secret buried in my heart for the rest of my life, forever by her side as a friend and business partner. Yet, unexpectedly, there was a sudden turn for the better, and hope emerged.