He cupped her face, even more uneasy.

  "Why are you crying?"

  "No, I′m not crying," she said, hugging his waist and burying her face in his chest. "I′m happy, happy that you love me so much."

  He pushed her gently, turning her face to meet his gaze. He examined her carefully, observing her deeply and tenderly. His heart trembled—how much he loved her, this delicate little wife of his!

  “Tell me, Han Yan,” he asked with suspicion, “has Mother been giving you a hard time? Are you two getting along well?”

  “Oh!” She jumped in surprise and replied anxiously, “What are you thinking? Mother treats me wonderfully! She′s a good mother. There′s no problem between us—not a single one.”

  “Alright, I understand now,” Pei Wen said with a smile, kissing her affectionately.

  “You’re lonely, you poor little woman. You shouldn′t have married a businessman. This is my fault. I often leave you alone at home. From now on, I′ll come home earlier. I′ll cut back on some of my social engagements. I promise you, Han Yan.”

  “No, don't dey your work for me,” Han Yan said, looking at him. “But let me come to the factory and work with you! I can help you.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will that make you happier?”

  She lowered her head and said nothing.

  "Then, alright, come to the factory! Like before, be my secretary!"

  She joyfully lifted her eyeshes, then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, eagerly kissing him, continuously kissing him. That night, she was like a happy little fairy, like a dependent little bird. However, this joy sted only for one night. The next morning at the breakfast table, Old Madam Bai easily overturned the entire pn. In her calm and gentle voice, she subtly said, "Why? If Han Yan works at the factory, people will say the Bai family is too trivial. Besides, Han Yan can keep me company at home. Women are naturally meant for the family, and building a career is a man's job, isn′t it? Han Yan, I think you should stay home with me!"

  Han Yan looked at Old Madam Bai, and in that moment, she realized one fact: Old Madam Bai would never let her go, never! Just like Sun Wukong couldn't escape the palm of Buddha, she couldn't escape Old Madam Bai's grasp. As Han Yan′s gaze met hers, Old Lady Bai dispyed a kind smile, a smile meant for Pei Wen, Han Yan knew. Sure enough, Pei Wen, with a cheerful tone, turned to Han Yan and said:

  “How about this, Han Yan? I think it′s better if you stay home and keep Mother company. What do you say?”

  Han Yan lowered her head, her voice soft and feeble.

  “Alright, as you wish. I′ll stay at home.”

  She saw Old Madam Bai′s victorious gaze. She saw Pei Wen′s look of relief. And she also saw Gao Lide′s eyes, filled with sympathy and understanding. Han Yan buried her head over her bowl, and until the meal was finished, she didn′t say another word.

  And so the days slid by slowly and heavily. Han Yan grew more haggard with each passing day. This worried Pei Wen, so he called a doctor to examine her. Yet no cause for illness could be found. She simply grew thinner and paler at an arming rate.

  At night, whenever Pei Wen held her fragile body in his arms and felt her thin, bony frame—so light it barely filled his hands—he would hold her close, tears in his eyes, and ask, “What′s wrong, Han Yan? What′s really wrong with you?”

  Han Yan would timidly lean against him, murmuring, "I′m fine, really, I′m fine. As long as you love me, I′m fine."

  "But my love can't make you healthy!" Pei Wen said with worry, not understanding what was going on with his young wife.

  So, Old Madam Bai began to speak to Pei Wen behind Han Yan′s back, "She′s a woman who doesn′t belong to a family, Pei Wen. I think her previous life must have been very active. She has concerns; she′s always frowning. She′s not used to a normal life, I think."

  “It′s not like that!” Pei Wen said irritably. “She′s just too weak. She′s never been very healthy.”

  Spring came and went, and by te spring, the gentle rain fell. Han Yan became very silent. She would often spend the whole day leaning against the railing, gazing absentmindedly at the chaotic rain. Sometimes, she would quietly hold a bouquet of roses and weep.

  One evening, when Pei Wen returned home, he found her sitting alone by the window like a small puppet, a piece of paper with scribbled words lying on her p. Surprised, he walked over and picked up the paper. It was a poem Han Yan had written:

  “The willows pile up smoke, the curtains are countless,On the jade reins and carved saddle, where I roam,The tower is tall, but the road to Zhangtai is unseen!Rain sideways, wind wild, at the end of March,The door is closed at dusk; no way to keep spring here!Tearful eyes ask the flowers, but they say nothing.The chaotic red petals fly past the swing!”

  After reading, he looked at Han Yan, who was gazing at him with eyes full of sorrow, as if she wanted to say something. In that moment, he began to understand her. The vil, Hanyan Vil, had become an exquisite golden cage!

  He took her hand and sat down on the carpet in front of her, resting his head on her p. He gently said, “How about we go on a trip together? Would you like that?”

  She was shaken. "Really?" she asked.

  "Really. I can have Manager Zhao temporarily take over the factory's business. We can go on a round-isnd trip, go to the south, to Alishan, to Sun Moon Lake. Let′s take a whole week to enjoy ourselves. How about it?"

  She pced her hand around his head, her fingers stroking his cheek. Her eyes looked at him with deep affection, sparkling with a dreamy light. In a soft, dreamy voice, she said, "Ah! I want to go!"

  "I′ll arrange everything tomorrow. We′ll leave next week. How about that?"

  She nodded enthusiastically, her face bathed in a gentle glow.

  However, the next day, Old Madam Bai called Han Yan into her room. She fixed her with a sharp gaze and coldly said, "You actually encouraged him to abandon his serious work to go out and py with you? You can′t stay at home, can you? It′s only been such a short time since your marriage, and you′re already like this. What will happen in the future? I′ve known women like you for a long time, and you′ll never be a virtuous wife and good mother! But since you′ve married into the Bai family, you should learn to be a proper woman; learn the rules of being the Bai family′s mistress!"

  That night, the little woman said gently to Pei Wen, I don′t want to go on the trip anymore, Pei Wen. Let′s cancel the pn.”

  “Why?” Pei Wen asked, confused. “What′s wrong?”

  “There′s no reason.” Han Yan turned her head away, not wanting him to see the tears glistening in her eyes. “I just don′t want to go.”

  Pei Wen frowned, looking at her back in confusion. He felt that he was understanding her less and less. She seemed to be hidden behind a thin mist all day, making it impossible for him to reach her heart or see her world clearly.