[R18] Want a daughter-in-law – “Desire for a Wife” Chapter 23 – Repression (2) [English]

At this time, the morning light in the riverside park has not yet completely shone. The sky is a light blue-gray, with a bit of bluish coolness, and a little hazy that the clouds have not yet dispersed, but the park has slowly become lively.

The park stretches along the river bank for several kilometers. The floor tiles are slightly old gray bricks, and the edges are slightly undulated by time. The river surface is calm, and occasionally one or two ducks glide slowly by, causing small waves.

The riverside is covered with all kinds of plants. In some places, rows of trees are planted, while in others, natural reeds are preserved; the chirping of birds not far away comes from the branches. It is not noisy, but it is enough to make people realize that there is some natural rhythm hidden in this corner of the city.

Runners passed by in twos and threes. Some were wearing headphones, some were looking down at their watches, and some were jogging with their dogs.

There were also people walking by carrying breakfast, and the plastic bags made a soft crunching sound as they gently collided. The faint scent of warm steam and oil came from the bags. Everyone moved forward at their own pace.

It’s not a stunning view, nor is it particularly beautiful, nor is it deliberately lively. This kind of scene, a mixture of natural and human fireworks, is the truly moving aspect of life.

It is a place that makes people unable to help but slow down and sometimes stop and take a second look unconsciously.

Looking at those people, An Ran repeating his own morning rhythm day after day, Brother Sheng’s originally tense thoughts relaxed little by little in these insignificant daily scenes.

Brother Sheng and Shu Qi walked side by side, a little distance apart from each other, neither far nor close. Although they didn’t speak, their steps were surprisingly consistent.

The gray brick floor underfoot was slightly undulating. Occasionally stepping on a loose stone brick would make a slight sound. After walking for a short distance, someone jogging with a dog passed by each other. The two came closer, their shoulders touched slightly. They did not deliberately dodge, but they did not deliberately separate again.

When she reached a corner by the river, Shu Qi suddenly stopped and watched the ducks sliding across the water without saying anything. Brother Sheng also stopped and stood beside her, quietly watching the spreading waves.

Brother Sheng turned his head and saw that the fatigue on her face was made lighter by the morning light, but also softer.

“Let’s walk a little longer.” Brother Sheng said softly.

Shu Qi nodded without looking at he and continued walking forward.

The wind blew slowly, winding around the street trees and brushing against my ears. It was a bit cool, but it also made me sober.

Shu Qi walked very slowly, her hair fluttering gently in the wind, and occasionally a strand swept across her face. She reached out to brush it away, her movements were a little dazed, and occasionally she lowered her head and kicked the pebbles at her feet, as if she was thinking about something, or as if she wanted to attract he’s attention unintentionally.

She didn’t say anything in particular, but judging from the way she walked and the way she occasionally looked up at the sky, something seemed to be swirling in her heart.

Brother Sheng never urged her or asked questions, he just walked beside her silently.

After walking for a short while, Brother Sheng turned his head slightly in the direction of Shu Qi and said softly: “…with the wind blowing like this, it seems…it’s not that uncomfortable anymore.”

Shu Qi paused for a moment, without turning her head. She just said “Yeah.” The voice was light and soft, but no longer so tight.

The sun finally broke through the clouds and shone down from behind them. The shadows of the two were lengthened, and they approached quietly on the ground, as if they were slowly embracing in the light and shadow.

The wind blew across the river, and a few birds flew up from the water, flapping their wings across the water, making small ripples. They flew not high, but they flew naturally.

A few short bird calls filled the air, and then they disappeared at the end of the bend.

Shu Qi stopped subconsciously, not because she was moved by anything, but simply because she wanted to watch for a few more seconds. Brother Sheng also stopped and stood beside him without saying a word.

Both of them looked at the water, looking in the direction where the birds were flying away.

At this time, the wind blew gently, carrying the smell of plants along the river. It was cool and not unpleasant.

Then she spoke, her voice a little low, as if she was afraid of disturbing someone.

“Shu Wei would never walk with me like this.” Shu Qi’s voice was very soft, but her words were like a blade, calmly cutting through the air.

“He always feels that time should be spent… where he thinks he should spend it, such as work, entertainment, mobile phones or… games.”

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but there was no smile, and she was a little cold.

“I’ve walked around this park dozens of times by myself, and he never knew it.”

Brother Sheng did not answer, his expression did not change, but there was a trace of pain and pity in his eyes, and his fingertips quietly tightened.

He doesn’t know how he and his wife have gotten along over the years, and he doesn’t know what happened to them and what their stories are.

But Brother Sheng knows it very well.

When a woman gives up her expectation of “walking a journey together”, how long has she been left out?

She is really used to being alone.

“I used to find words to talk to him and find excuses to ask him out… but then I got lazy.”

“People can’t always talk to themselves in a relationship, as that would be like marrying a wall.” She seemed to be talking to herself, and her voice was so light that it was about to be blown away by the wind.

Brother Sheng listened, but his heart sank inch by inch.

He knew that he shouldn’t care about these words, because he was an elder, Shuwei’s father, and the father-in-law of the woman in front of him.

He is the one…who should advise her to be “more considerate”.

But he didn’t speak, or even look away.

The wind blew again, and she lowered her head and kicked the pebbles at her feet, like a child who had made a mistake, and as if she wanted to be seen silently.

Brother Sheng said nothing, but sighed deeply in his heart.

He knows that he can’t touch her, and he doesn’t dare to ask her.

But I felt so heartbroken that I wanted to hold her cold hand. I felt so sad that I almost couldn’t help but want to ask, “…are you okay?”

But he didn’t say anything after all, and stayed quietly beside her, even breathing unconsciously and becoming cautious.

Shu Qi tilted her head slightly and looked at the calm river.

She’s bloodshot eyes and slightly red eye sockets after a sleepless night gradually became apparent under the slanting sunlight, like a fine net that tightly grasped He’s heart.

He subconsciously wanted to break free from the net.

But found that he wanted to escape, but couldn’t break free.

He lowered his head and his eyes fell on the slightly trembling hand on her side.

he hesitated.

Just for a moment.

Then he stretched out his warm, generous hand with rough calluses and years, and took Shu Qi’s cold and tender hand.

He held his hand gently, as if touching a flower that was about to wither.

She was slightly shocked and looked at him subconsciously.

Brother Sheng didn’t turn his head, he just looked ahead quietly, as if nothing happened, his expression was as normal.

But she didn’t look away.

It’s still the familiar side face, quiet and calm.

He didn’t say anything, but he seemed to say a lot.

She suddenly felt that the tight place in her heart was touched by a warm breeze, and something melted away.

She didn’t say anything, she just tightened her fingers slightly, so lightly that she could barely feel the force, and never wanted to let go.

The shadows of the two people were stretched longer by the sunlight and gradually overlapped.