It made sense.
Arya remembered that she had criticized Jack for his bad temper and his unpleasant words before. That time, he had also said something similar that if he meets the right person, he will change even if he is unwilling.
Suddenly she felt she should absorb more of her friends’ experiences.
Later that night, Arya called Cindy and asked her directly. "Cindy what made you decide to spend the rest of your life with Mark?”
On the other end of the phone, Arya became quiet and then Mark deliberately toned down his voice and said. "Arya, I really like your straightforward manner of speaking. She is in the bathroom. Ai…….she has come out. I’ll give her the phone. When you get the answer, you must let me know.”
Arya’s face was filled with black lines. Then she heard Mark talk to Cindy and told her there was a phone call for her. He also said he was busy so they could have a nice talk.
Arya unconsciously stroked her forehead. After their ‘nice talk’, he would not really ask her what Cindy told about him, would he?
Very quickly, Cindy answered. Since Arya had already asked the question, of course, she could not shrink back now, so she asked the question again.
"Did Mark tell you to ask me?”
They are really a couple!
Arya replied ‘No.’ and thought for a moment. Then she decided that this atmosphere was not good for this kind of discussion and arranged with Cindy to meet outside.
Cindy agreed and after a while, she called again and said she had told Mark that she was going out for an appointment. Then he had said that they could go to his restaurant to talk and he would provide a place for them, provide drinks and also provide dinner.
Arya stroked her forehead. Mark is so generous to provide everything. Is this because he could get information from her?
However, Arya still agreed and the reason was very simple.
Everything is free!
To be a good woman, if one can save, one should save and it is the highest principle.
So Arya and Cindy met in the overly large of Mark’s Food Restaurant. There was a small table reserved especially for friends and relatives and they talked while they ate.
Cindy was acting like a thief, closely observing the movements around the place. After making sure no one was around, she finally whispered her decision to Arya ~ Mark would frequently do something to make her feel emotionally touched.
Touched? Why is this different again? Isn’t it because she feels her partner’s qualities are good and suitable for her?
This is not what Sophia had said…….the theory of compromise and change but it is just simply……‘Touched’?
So, in other words, every woman’s heart has its own different standard.
Cindy nodded and talked about her views. "Mark treats me very well in every way and we get along fine. He had also proposed to me but I don’t know what is wrong. I feel there is a lack of motivation.”
"Motivation?”
"I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like you are watching a pot of boiling water and you know the water is about to boil. Small bubbles are already rising from the bottom of the pot and you think it should be boiling soon, and the top is already steaming with hot vapor. But you wait and wait but it does not boil. In case you leave it, it will still not boil, then what should you do? At this time, when you feel anxious, you put in some salt and instantly, the water bubbles over. Now I have a little of that kind of feeling, a bit anxious, and feel bloated in the stomach. I really hope that a handful of salt can be thrown in and make me boil over.”
Arya was stunned. To bring forth such an analogy, is she really going to be the wife of a chef? However, this also seems likely to be it.
Just like she likes Jack very much and Jack had also said he likes her. Normally this should be considered as everything had gone smoothly and this matter is decided and settled but she seems to feel that things are a bit uncertain.
"Arya, do you know what I mean?”
"I know. It’s just like the water temperature has almost reached the boiling point and now waiting for the water to be boiling in bubbles so that the meat can be added in.”
Cindy was stunned and then she blushed. "Arya, don’t be so indecent.”
"I’m not indecent.” Arya felt extremely wronged. "It is the same if you’re cooking in hotpot. Oh yes, actually the meat is already cooked for a long time in the hotpot. However, you’re worried that the meat may not be thoroughly cooked and always think of keeping it in the pot longer. You are also worried that when you leave it there for too long it will not taste nice.”
"Ah, right, you’re right! I truly have such contradictory feelings.”
After the two women had reached a consensus, they continued to talk earnestly.
They did not know that Mark who was at the side had caught hold of a passing kitchen staff and asked. "Did you hear what they were talking about?”
"They were talking about hotpot.”
Hotpot? Mark was puzzled. Shouldn’t they be talking about men? How come their talk had changed to hotpot?
"Arya, you already know what happened that year. My first love of 7 years was also able to break up so easily. Although what had happened…….in everyone’s eyes, it was indeed unfavorable to me, but seven years…….after seven years, the feeling of trust could not even be cultivated. Those seven years were not even able to outweigh a misunderstanding, and how long is my relationship with Mark? And the reason he fell in love with me is actually the love-at-first-sight chance encounter that had happened three years ago. Arya, to be honest,I don’t feel confident but this kind of feeling of no-confidence, it seems to him, it is actually not a problem at all. He feels that it is normal for him to be unable to forget me after our first meeting. After several years, meeting again and falling in love is normal and if both of us have mutual good feelings then we should get married. All of these should also be naturally settled. But this whole process, don’t you think it is too unreliable?”
"Then which part of this do you think is unreliable?”
Cindy was stumped. She opened her mouth but was speechless. After thinking for a long time, she finally said. "I’m sure I love him and I’m sure he loves me. There should not be any problems with our two families but I’m just baffled and need a little motivation. Arya, you know I have a weak personality and when I encounter a setback, I want to hide. But Mark is completely different. He really makes me very happy but everything came too easily and too fast.”
She looked at Arya’s stunned expression, suddenly she said flatly. "Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear or maybe it’s just my feeling of insecurity. I said I needed motivation, I needed to be touched emotionally and maybe it’s just my excuse.”
Arya also had nothing to say and she thought while propping propped up her chin with her hand. How many women are like them, with an inexplicable feeling? Feeling inexplicably unsatisfied, feeling inexplicably insecure, and feeling inexplicably illogical and unreasonable. They are truly confused.
"Cindy, you said that he loves you, isn’t that motivation? When he said he loves you, don’t you feel touched? And then, haven’t you determined that he truly loves you?”
Cindy gaped and thought for a long time. "Men must truly hate the kind of mentally sick women like me.”
"Today, Soph had just told me that normal women are mentally sick.”
Cindy thought about this and then laughed out loud. "My attack is far lighter.” She held Arya’s hand and said. "Arya, thank you.”
Thank her? What did Cindy thank her for? Arya looked at her and saw Cindy’s happy expression as if a load had been lifted from her mind and suddenly felt she had also benefited a lot from this conversation.
For several days, Arya did not see Jack.
Jack had gone back to work after a period of absence.
He had applied for a week of sick leave and after going back to work, he found his work had piled up like a mountain. In addition, he also had to adjust his time to replace with those doctors who had stood in for him in his absence. So he was very busy.
At the same time, she was also very busy. In addition to thinking about love and life, her work had suddenly entered a busy period.
Daisy Brown had negotiated for new supply lines and there were several new organic sanitory products that were going to be introduced into the market.
Although Arya was only working part-time, Daisy always took care of her and she would allow Arya to work together with her on certain suppliers.
These few days, the new products were introduced into the market and Arya made use of the time when she was seeing clients and also the night time to go around various retail stores to check on the marketability of the products.
She also discussed putting the new products on sale in the old existing retail stores that were under her. All this while, during the day insurance work, evening teaching paintings and night times working on supply with retail stores. she had always worked non-stop and her schedule would never be in sync with Jack’s schedule
Today, Arya made used of the time allocated to see her clients and went to Daisy’s office.
While waiting for Daisy, In the midst of their discussion about sales issues, her Father gave her a call. He asked her about the progress between Chandler and her.
Arya told him the truth. They had made an appointment to meet but they were unable to meet. Both of them had agreed to be friends but there should not be a possibility of their relationship developing into love.
Her Father paused at the other end of the phone. Disappointment could be felt through the phone line. Arya wanted to sigh but she restrained herself. She knew that she must pass this family hurdle.
Regardless of how her love life develops, she wants to choose the way she leads her life. She does not know how her life will be like in the future, but now, at this moment, she still wants to follow her own heart.
Finally, her Father said the same things again. "You have grown up and have hands and legs. Mom and Dad can’t force you and you have your own opinion but your parents have one lifetime of experience more than you. Mom and Dad also know the meaning of living a life. Take good care of yourself over there and try to get along with Chandler. The New Year is not far off and when it is time, come back home together with Chandler. Whatever happens, come home and we can discuss.”
Arya felt helpless. Obviously, she had made it very clear, but her father could still find a way to pretend he did not understand or did not hear and still say what he wanted to say. Of course, his words and her mother’s words would be the same.
In her home, her mother is strong, shrewish and has a bad-temper, while her father is gentle and obedient. The two elderly were always in unison and their opinions were unanimous.
This is what they meant by living a life. In the family, there is one person who is the master and another who is obedient and tolerant. Maybe it should not be referred to as tolerant because to her father, this is part of life’s happiness.
After Arya had hung up the phone, finally she could let out a sigh. Just then, Daisy came in and heard her sigh.
She smiled and asked the reason for it. Arya told her about the matter of her parents pressuring her to return home.
Then Daisy said that she still wanted to talk to her about whether she was willing to join the company as her full-time salesperson. All the suppliers whom Arya had handled in cooperation with her had given very good evaluations of Arya’s performance.
Regardless of how the products were doing, everyone had praised Arya. They felt that she was easy to talk to, responsible and she did not make mistakes when placing orders.
Arya was very grateful for their praises and said modestly. "All the suppliers I’m handling are small and the quantity is also small, so I have fewer problems.”
"Are you thinking of going back to hometown? Talking about this, I also have a business plan. The sole agent in your home city is going to quit. I’ve looked through their data and the market is good. I want to take over from him but I can’t manage and there is no one I can trust. If you plan to go back to home city, you must tell me in advance. We can take the sole agency rights in that city I will invest the funds and you can run the business. What do you think?”
Arya was surprised and was really flattered.
When does she actually have such good luck?
That night, Arya returned home very late.
When she opened the door, the house was in darkness. No one was home. Sophia had gone on a trip for a week and was still not back yet. This made Arya feel a little lonely.
She made herself a bowl of salad and while she was chopping cucumber, she was thinking. If she is married to Jack and if she always had to work overtime like this, then who will cook at home? She wondered whether Jack could cook and it seems his overtime was even more exaggerated.
While she ate, she said to herself…….she was really thinking too much.
At this moment, the text message alert sounded and when she picked up her phone to take a look, it was from Jack. In the text message, he said that until today, he still had not received her initiative appointment, so he is currently keeping himself in a state of restraint.
When Arya saw the message, she laughed loudly.
She made a call to him.
"What are you doing?”
"Just came out after a surgery. I’m eating from a lunch box. What about you?”
"Just came home. Eating salad.”
"You came back so late?”
"Yes, I also have to work. After you are done eating, are you going off work and returning home?”
"That’s right. I don’t have any appointment, so I’m going home.”
"It’s so late, don’t go out. Go home early to rest. Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”
"Okay.” Jack sighed. In fact, he was really tired.
"What are you going to do after you finish your salad?”
"Well, I intend to think carefully about my life.”
"Why don’t you think about more serious things?”
"Why is my life not considered serious? Then tell me what you mean by serious things.”
"For example, fix an appointment with an outstanding and handsome surgeon for a date, cultivate feelings and talk about love or something like that.”
Arya laughed loudly and simply said. "No.”
"Then what do you want to think about?”
"My father called me again today to remind me about the matter of returning home and told me to try to develop a relationship with Chandler.”
"……” There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone and then Jack’s tone became fierce. "Arya, do you still need to consider this?”
"Of course, I have to consider. After all, they are my parents and I don’t want them to be sad. It just happens today I received some good news so I have a solution to this.”
"What solution? If you dare to tell me that you plan to have a fake love affair with Chandler to deceive them then you just wait for me to deal with you.” Jack roared.
"Dr. Jack, as a doctor, do you think it is right for a medical personnel to be so violent?”
"Don’t worry, with my professional medical knowledge, it won’t be too painful for you.”
Arya frowned. She was not sure whether there was any indecency intended in his words.
"What exactly is that solution of yours?” Jack sounded a bit anxious.
"Did I tell you that I also have two part-time jobs? I am a part-time salesperson of a woman sanitary products and I also teach arts to kids.”
"Ok”
Arya continued to say. "Today, my Boss cum good friend whom I work part-time for said that there is a vacancy for a sole agent in home city and she would like to take it. If I want to return to my home town, she would like to cooperate with me. She will invest the funds and I will run the business.”
"……”
Arya waited for his reaction but he did not respond. She asked. "Dr. Jack, are you still there?”
"I don’t have an appetite anymore.”
"I didn’t even say any nauseating words. I just wanted to say that if my parents want to force me to return home, then I will tell them……I don’t want to sell insurance in this anymore and I will be going back to home city to sell sanitary napkins and other adult products. I will be the sole agent in hometown which is also a business. I know them very well. They place great importance on their face and reputation. so choosing between selling sanitary pads and selling insurance, they might as well let me stay here to sell insurance. What the eyes do not see, the heart will not ache. Am I right?”
"……”
"Dr. Jack, why are you not talking again?”
"Arya, sometimes you are so stupid that you amaze me.”
"What did I do?”
"Am I not more useful than sanitary napkins? Since you are going to highlight those them, it’s better for you to highlight ME to them!”
Arya was stunned and after enduring for a long time she finally said. "Dr. Jack, the way you use your analogy is really wonderful. I’m at a loss for words.”
"……” Jack was silent for a long time, then suddenly he ended the call.
He is shy!
Arya thought for a while and felt it was wrong. It should be…….shamed into anger.
She chuckled and suddenly thought that Jack’s IQ had degraded and his fighting strength insufficient. Can this be considered he had changed?