The Stolen Lover

Untitled Episode 4

Xiao Yan remained seated, head still lowered, continuing to read without moving. She didn't seem upset at all. After a while, she suddenly remarked, "This part is well-written. This Gazi still has a kind heart deep down. He's quite endearing."

The scholar didn't know how to respond. Xiao Yan's conversational style threw him off, but mainly, his heart was pounding like crazy. He'd heard the phrase "heart racing like a deer," and now he knew exactly what it meant.

Xiao Yan finished the scholar's manuscript in one breath, snapped it shut, looked up at him, stared for ten seconds, then added, "Alright, I'll tell the editor-in-chief. Wait for word. I'm off." With that, she grabbed the manuscript and walked out. The scholar stood rooted to the spot for a long while before realizing he hadn't uttered a single word in the past two or three hours—not even a goodbye. No wonder—Xiao Yan was truly stunning. Her eyes were as clear as a highland lake, her smile warm enough to make you smell the steam rising from breakfast stalls, and her playful banter felt like winter sunshine on your skin. Beyond her looks and figure, the scholar simply wanted to linger longer, as if the scent lingering on her hadn't yet faded.

Later, the publishing house gave the green light. Xiaoyan informed Xiu Cai that the editor-in-chief had approved and asked him to come by. Back and forth, Xiu Cai seized every chance—inviting her to meals, movie dates, strolls on Purple Mountain, small gifts. Nothing particularly novel, really. Xiaoyan never refused. The more clumsy Xiu Cai was, the more she found it endearing. Sometimes, what a woman wants really isn't much.

Months passed like this, their relationship progressing slowly. Their most intimate moment came during a long walk on Purple Mountain. Only after a while did Scholar realize Xiao Yan was cold and drape his coat over her. She stopped, gazed at him for a few seconds, then leaned in and kissed his cheek. Only then did the scholar manage to take her hand. As for crossing that line? The scholar dared not even dream of it. He felt that simply walking hand in hand was enough to fill his days with sweet dreams.

One rainy day, the scholar eagerly rushed to the publishing house to pick up Xiaoyan after work. After eating at a small restaurant, they walked back under an umbrella. As they neared Xiaoyan's residence, they looked up at the small intersection and saw that the rain had turned to snow at some point. It drifted down, so beautiful it looked like a movie scene. Xiaoyan gently pushed the umbrella from the scholar's hand, and gazed up at the snow drifting down beneath the streetlight. She let the flakes land one by one on her face. Tears suddenly welled up at the corners of her mouth, but as they flowed, a smile instantly spread across her lips. The scholar couldn't quite grasp why a woman would cry while smiling. Standing beside her, he dared not speak. Xiao Yan stood there with her eyes closed, smiling as the snowflakes touched her face. The scholar stood silently by her side. Before long, both of them had grown white-haired.

Later, as they walked, Xiaoyan suddenly asked, "Will you marry me?" It was just as abrupt as ever, but this time the scholar heard it clearly. He answered immediately, "I will."

Within two months, the two were married.

Actually, Xiu Cai knew little about Xiao Yan's past. He wasn't very articulate and never knew when to ask what. Xiao Yan, however, quickly got to know Xiu Cai inside out—how many girlfriends he'd had, his family situation, how he made a living, and how many close friends he had. Xiao Yan knew it all. Xiao Yan's family background was far better than Xiu Cai's. After all, it was an art college—the kind Xiu Cai couldn't afford even if he got in. The money for their apartment came partly from Xiaoyan's family, which finally gave them a place to call home.

After marriage, Xiaoyan consistently refused to have children, while Xiu Cai desperately wanted them. Most of their arguments and bickering stemmed from this very issue. Yet Xiu Cai habitually deferred to Xiaoyan. Though they argued, it usually amounted to Xiu Cai sulking alone in his study. Otherwise, they lived a typical young married couple's life. Xiaoyan clocked in punctually at the publishing house, declining most company social events whenever possible. She usually headed straight home after work. Xiucai, meanwhile, poured himself into writing online novels daily, refusing to leave his study until he'd hit his 10,000-word target. Aside from occasional visits to Nan's small bar for drinks and music, he had few other hobbies.

After Xiu Cai gave Brother Nan a rough outline of their love story, the latter stretched lazily and lit another cigarette.

"Why do you think Xiaoyan married you?"

The Scholar pondered for a moment. "I've asked myself that too. Truth is, I'm pretty insecure. Back then, I never imagined I could win Xiao Yan over. When she asked me to marry her, it took me days to believe it was real. I guess it was just luck—that's the only explanation. I truly don't deserve her."

"Hmm, you've got some self-awareness there, kid. But don't be so modest. I don't think luck had anything to do with it. She must have seen certain qualities in you. This isn't like buying vegetables. For something this big, a woman wouldn't just hand herself over without a strong reason. Hmm, there's a tricky part. How much do you know about what happened during those years she was filming?"

"I don't know. I've asked sometimes, but she never talks about it. Just says life is about moving forward, the past doesn't matter."

"I suspect her past experiences might be causally linked to her decision to marry you. Those experiences could have created a deep need for certain qualities in a partner. But enough speculation—if we don't know, we don't know. Let's focus on the present."

Taking a sip of tea, Brother Nan continued his musings. "Here's what we'll do: break the ice first. Once she responds, we'll figure out how to proceed. Send her a text. Hmm, let me think... Write it like this: Under the streetlight, snow falling, I watch you smile through your tears. Even if I never understand it all, I'll still stand by your side. No matter where you go, no matter when you return, I'll be there. Send it. Right now."

"Brother Nan, will this even work?"

"This illness of yours isn't something you can cure by grabbing medicine and expecting instant results. Forget about whether the prescription works or not—just take it for now. I'll patiently adjust it for you over time. After all, it's my fault for giving you that stupid idea in the first place."

"Alright, I'll send it to her right away."

The scholar copied Brother Nan's words verbatim and sent them to Xiao Yan. The two sipped tea while waiting for a reply. The scholar's heart ached with anticipation—the hardest time in the world is waiting for someone's response.

About twenty minutes later, Xiu Cai's phone buzzed. Xiao Yan's reply had arrived.

"I've changed. You've changed too."

The scholar read the message, and tears instantly streamed down his face. He might not be the quickest to grasp things, but his emotions were delicate. The coldness he sensed from Xiaoyan was confirmed in that moment, and his world collapsed. He couldn't fathom what he'd done wrong. All these years, he'd poured every ounce of his strength into loving Xiaoyan. He'd always harbored a lingering fear that she might leave him. Even imagining her departure would pierce him like a knife. Seeing the scholar in such agony, Brother Nan felt his own heart ache.

Nam-go picked up his phone and glanced at Xiaoyan's reply. Something felt off, an uneasy sense that something wasn't quite right.

Watching Xiucai weep so bitterly, Nan knew consolation was useless. He buried his face in his cigarette, his own heart aching too.

Xiu Cai finally calmed down a little, his whole body exhausted from crying. Nan Ge handed him a tissue. "Bro, don't rush. This might not be the end. Maybe there's still a chance to make things right."

Xiu Cai latched onto the words like a lifeline, urgently asking, "You have a way?"

"Hold on, hold on. Let's both take a breath. I feel like something's off here."

Xiu Cai wiped his tears. He realized this wasn't the time for crying—he needed to figure out how to win Xiao Yan back.

Nan* examined the scholar's phone, turning it over and over. A woman responding like this was serious indeed. If she'd been throwing a tantrum or threatening suicide, it often meant nothing was seriously wrong. But this calm admission that she'd changed? That was her final answer after long deliberation. This situation was too tricky—it wasn't something you could fix with smooth talk.

After deep contemplation, Nan decided to take a risky gamble. "Bro, here's what we do. Since things have come to this, let's go all in. See if we can force a breakthrough."

Xiu Cai hurriedly asked, "What's the plan? I'll take any chance, no matter how slim."

"Here's what we do. She gave you an ultimatum, right? That means she hasn't fully decided on divorce yet. The usual approach would be to beg her to reconsider, but I doubt that'll work after all her careful thinking. Instead, play along with her. Tell her you want to separate—give each other space to cool off. Make her feel like, at least this time, you're seeing things from her perspective. If she doesn't want to be with you, then separate. Begging her would only put her in a difficult position. By handling it this way, she'll feel you're willing to let her go—at least this time, you love her more than you love yourself. Of course, don't rush into anything. After you tell her, let's see how she responds, then we'll play it by ear."

Xiu Cai didn't quite grasp Nan Ge's meaning. "If I can't keep her even though I love her so much, how could I possibly have a chance if I initiate the breakup?"

Nan Ge stubbed out his cigarette and lit another. "Here's the thing: if she wants to leave, whatever the reason, she clearly doesn't want to be with you anymore. Now you need to look inward first. Just because you didn't do anything wrong doesn't mean you're right. At least from my perspective, the way you love her falls far short of what she needs deep down. That's why things have come to this. If you keep approaching her with the same mindset, you won't stand a chance. My approach might not work, but at least it'll show her a deeper layer of your love. That's your bargaining chip—add it to tip the scales in your favor. Besides, she's already been so honest about how she's changed. Telling her you want to separate is just buying time—it's not a huge risk. Send it, then we'll see how she reacts and figure out the next move."

Xiu Cai's mind was in complete disarray, utterly unable to process whether Brother Nan's advice was sound or not. After gathering his thoughts, he asked, "Then how should I send it?"

Nan Ge said, "I'll handle it."

"I know I never knew how to love you. Being with you all these years has made me grateful to fate. If letting go is the last thing I can do for you, I'll hold back my tears and leave with only memories. Let's separate for a while. When you've finally decided, just tell me."

After typing it out, Nan Ge showed it to Xiucai. Xiucai couldn't help but cry again. Clicking send felt like signing his own death warrant.