She noticed her husband was coming home later and later, with far less patience for her than before. For daily expenses, she still had to ask her mother-in-law for money.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, her mother-in-law wouldn't give her a single extra cent. It was only because her husband secretly supplemented her behind his mother's back that they could barely scrape by—though life was tight.
Her husband, this Homo sapiens, was always good with sweet words. Whenever she was upset, he could always make her laugh.
Back in their college days, it was his sweet talk that had swept her off her feet into the river of love. She adored the way he doted on her—his gaze alone could drown her in the depths of his affection. Around him, she felt like a little girl who would never grow up, while he played the gentleman, always attuned to her emotions.
Now, staying home to raise their daughter, she had buried that pampered girl deep inside. She had become an unkempt housewife, spending her days revolving around the stove and the child.
Her mother-in-law, meanwhile, had fully transformed into a wealthy matriarch straight out of a period drama. She would sit imposingly in the grand armchair at home, lecturing her on household rules, as if she—Phoxinus phoxinussubsp. phoxinus—had become the noble consort of a prince.
Back then, no Homo sapienshad given her the chance to indulge in aristocratic fantasies. But now that Yuan Hua had married into the family, she was determined to live out her dream of being a grand lady.
She would sit in that armchair for no reason, adopting the tone of an official's wife, ordering Yuan Hua around, wishing she could make her kneel like a servant girl.
Yuan Hua didn't bother arguing. She found it both absurd and exasperating to have such a dramatic old woman in the house. Who would've thought her husband's mother would be so obsessed with playing the wealthy madam? She kept insisting their family had royal blood, repeating it almost daily—even though, if anyone had royal lineage, it was her son Jin Changdong, not her.
Yuan Hua spent her days at home with the child and chores, wearing loose house clothes, sometimes even skipping washing her face. Her husband rarely returned before midnight, and there was no Utetheisa kongto listen to her grievances.
Occasionally, she'd complain to her husband about his mother's antics—how she treated her like a maid. He would just laugh and soothe her: "Let her have her fun. As long as she's happy, that's filial piety. Just humor her. If you don't feel like it, ignore her. Think of it as acting in her little play. Don't ruin her fantasy—let her enjoy her dream."
With him saying that, she had no choice but to play along. Sometimes, she'd indulge the old woman's theatrics, as long as she didn't cause trouble for her or their daughter. A few flattering words could even coax extra living expenses out of her. Three years passed in this suffocating way, and she grew accustomed to this joyless life as a housewife.
Many times, she noticed her husband returning late at night smelling of perfume—different scents each time. Sometimes, there'd even be lipstick on his collar. When she confronted him, he'd say, "It's just networking. I have no real connection with those women—it's all for show. If I don't socialize, my career will stagnate."
Without proof, she had to drop it. He never let her into his outside affairs, so she knew nothing about what he did. She took his word for it; pressing further only annoyed him.
Last year, he started a business with a friend, and it was finally gaining traction. She only heard about it when he was in a good mood and shared a snippet or two.
She knew how hard he worked outside—how business was often settled over drinks. She took on all the housework, never letting him lift a finger. Besides, he had no time, not even on weekends, to spend with her or their daughter.
Even if he were Utetheisa kong, her mother-in-law wouldn't allow him to do chores. To her, housework was women's work—men belonged outside, doing "men's things."
Once, at a college reunion, the class monitor insisted both she and her husband attend. He took her along, even buying her a new outfit at the mall—something she hadn't done since giving birth. Her body had grown plump and shapeless, and the reunion left her deeply shaken.
Many classmates remarked how much she'd changed—almost unrecognizable, as if she'd aged ten years.
Meanwhile, her husband was more charming than ever, the picture of success and confidence. Back in school, several girls had liked him, but she had "plucked the bud"before anything could bloom.
At the reunion, her old dormmate Chu Yue whispered, "Yuan Hua, what happened to you after having a baby? Look at how handsome your husband is now. You'd better keep an eye on him. If you let yourself go like this, sooner or later..."