Chapter 2 Section 1

Misako looked at the sunlight coming in from the window of the ward, and thought, the weather on such a day must be particularly good.The light reflects off the white walls, making the room brighter, but this brightness is incompatible with the atmosphere in the ward. The figure of Naoaki Guasheng lying on the hospital bed reminded Misako of chickens hanging in front of the butcher shop with all their feathers plucked.When she married in a few years ago, her father-in-law was quite rich.And when he said that his body was inconsistent, after being admitted to the hospital for surgery, the flesh on his body seemed to be cut off, and he became thinner day by day.He has esophageal cancer.Although he didn't tell him the truth, he seemed to have known it for a long time.

"My wife." Yayezi squatted beside the hospital bed, holding Zhiming's finely lined hand and calling him. Not knowing if he heard her voice, Zhiming's neck moved slightly.Seeing this, Hongchang called out "Dad" and took a step forward, and his younger sister Yuanzi also stepped forward immediately. Zhiming opened his mouth slightly, and Yayezi immediately put his ears together. "Huh? What did you say?" Then she looked in Misaki's direction: "He's calling Akihiko." So Misako and Ayako exchanged places, sat by the hospital bed, and said in the ear of the expressionless old man, "Dad, I'm Misako. Do you want me to convey something to Akihiko?"

Misako wasn't sure if her voice could reach Naoaki's ears.Even if he could hear, there was no guarantee that he knew who Misako was under the circumstances.However, a few seconds later, he spoke again.Misako was concentrating, trying to hear his faint voice clearly. "Akihiko..." Then he said a few words angrily, and among the people present, Misako heard it most clearly.Although it is an ordinary word, as the last words left by a father to his son, its content surprised Misako. "Misako, what did your father-in-law say?" Ayako asked. Before Misako could answer, Sonoko suddenly called out, "Father!" Naoaki closed her eyes as if falling asleep, and Ayako and Hiroshi came over.

"My wife, open your eyes!" Yayezi shook her husband through the blanket, but he didn't respond at all, only his slender neck swayed weakly from side to side. "He's gone." The doctor who took his pulse said with a trembling voice. After a while, Yayezi began to cry loudly, and Sonoko also began to cry. Misako felt the heat in her eye sockets, and her vision blurred immediately, and Naoaki's gray face also became distorted.The scene when the two first met a few years ago vividly came to mind. You are really a bird flying up to a branch and turning into a phoenix! ——That's what Misako's friends said to her when the marriage was a foregone conclusion.That was five years and ten months ago.

Misako's old surname was Eshima, and her natal family was not considered poor, but it was definitely not rich either.Misako is neither particularly outstanding in appearance, nor has any special skills. Entering UR Electric Production Co., Ltd. made her have a relationship with Gua Shengjia. UR Electric is one of the few motor manufacturers in Japan. It has six factories across the country, four of which are in this prefecture. It can be said that it is the largest company in this area.She belongs to the personnel department of this company and is in charge of the personnel business.Instead of staying in the office of the HR department, the employees of the HR department are dispatched everywhere, some in the production site, and some in the public relations department.

The personnel order received by Misako reads "Special Secretary of the Director's Office", which means that she will take care of all matters around the director.Among the people who joined the company at the same time, she was the only one who got the job. "Miss Jiang Dao, you are really amazing, this is one in a million!" A senior employee of the personnel department told her excitedly.It turned out that it was very rare for a newcomer to be assigned to the boardroom. Her seat is in the full-time director's office.On the morning of the first day of work, the director of the personnel department introduced Misako, and the full-time director even got up from the chair and said with a smile: "I have been waiting for you for a long time, please give me your advice."

"Please give me your advice." Misako also bowed nervously. This is the scene when she and Gua Sheng Nao Ming met for the first time. Zhiming is not tall, with just the right fat to show his majesty, eyes and mouth are slightly gathered in the center of the square face, showing a good background and a calm personality. In fact, he has been a super-elite in his previous working life.His father, Kazuki Kazuo, founded a precision parts manufacturing company in the early Showa era, and has since expanded his business to include electrical products.That was the predecessor of today's UR Electric.Therefore, although his title at the time was a full-time director, it was confirmed that he would take over as the president.

Being alone with Naoaki wasn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be.When working together, he always put himself in Misako's shoes.His tone is gentle and the topics are rich.She has heard from senior employees who work under other full-time directors or permanent directors that some directors are very oppressive, but they are straightforward but not at all. About a year after joining the company, Misako accepted Naaaki's invitation to have dinner with her.When she first heard it, she was hesitant, and Zhiming smiled when she saw it, "Don't worry, I have no bad intentions. A friend of mine's French restaurant opened today, and I want to go to support it. My wife and son will also come. You You usually help me a lot, and I would like to take this opportunity to treat you to a meal." Then, he took out the leaflet of the store.When Misako heard that his family would come, she hesitated again.However, this time, I am not worried that Zhi Ming has evil intentions, but that I am afraid that among people with very different family backgrounds, I may feel that my situation is very miserable.However, Misako finally agreed.She thought it might not be polite to refuse too forcefully.

So, Misako met Naoaki's wife Ayeko and eldest son Akihiko that night. Yayezi is young and beautiful, with her phoenix eyes and narrow chin giving off a cold impression.She was in her thirties, but her elastic skin made her look like she was in her twenties, even though she already had two children in elementary school at that time.Akihiko was born to Naoaki's ex-wife. He was twenty-five years old at the time. He was tall and strong, with a small face, copper bell-like eyes with single eyelids, and piercing eyes.When Naoaki introduced Misako, Akihiko kept staring at her face, making her breathless, so she had to lower her head.

After the dishes were served, everyone moved their knives and forks while talking. Misako didn't expect Akihiko to stay in the university's medical school for research.She took it for granted that Akihiko would definitely work at UR Electric just like Naoaki inherited the position of the first president. Zhiming said in a relaxed tone: "This guy never listens to his parents, so he chose a career that is most incompatible with my job. However, it is better than those men who rely on their parents to protect them." "It's really amazing to be able to study at Tonghe Medical University!" Misako sighed from the bottom of her heart.Not to mention the county, several nearby counties also recognized this university as the highest institution of learning.

Hearing her praise, Akihiko asked, "Which one do you think is better?" "What?" Misako asked back. "Which would you choose, a doctor or an entrepreneur, someone like me or someone like my father?" "This..." Misako was at a loss for words.If it was a lighthearted joke, she'd find a way to figure it out.But Akihiko's tone of voice carried a special seriousness.With a knife and fork in both hands, she was speechless. "Don't ask people inexplicable questions, it will cause trouble for Ms. Jiangdao." Zhiming said with a smile. Yayezi then responded: "I'm good at both, anyway, both are great." Naoaki smiled, and Misako also eased the corners of her mouth.The deadlock was deftly resolved by Yayezi, and Akihiko stopped asking.But before changing the subject, he added: "Well, I'll ask another day, then." "Okay." Misako also smiled. Misako really didn't expect that the "another day" he said would actually come, she thought it must be a polite phrase.However, Akihiko actually called her at the office four days later. "Do you like listening to music or watching games?" After reporting his name, Akihiko asked questions coldly, and Misako was caught off guard. "Huh? Why are you asking so suddenly..." "I'm asking about your interests and activities. Since I'm asking you out, it should be more interesting to go to your favorite places." "Ah..." Misako realized that Akihiko was asking her out.Her heart beat faster, and she knew she was blushing.She peeked in Zhiming's direction, he was reading documents on his seat. "I told my father that I would ask you out some other day." Akihiko seemed to see through the wavering in her heart, "So you don't have to be polite. Are you free tomorrow night?" "Yeah." She hesitated and replied. "So, again, what do you like?" "Ah, everything is fine." With Naoaki next to her, Misako couldn't help lowering her volume. After a short pause, Akihiko said, "Then let's go to the musical, and then we will have something to talk about during dinner. Please wait in front of the company at six o'clock, and I will pick you up." "Ah, well... I see." Putting down the microphone, Misako was still excited.She took a straight look.Zhiming didn't seem to notice any difference in her expression. The next night, Misako and Akihiko sat side by side to enjoy the musical, and then had dinner together.Akihiko and Naoaki speak in different ways, but they are both good at talking.He will branch out from a topic like a branch, and tell a small thing wonderfully.No matter which direction the topic develops, he can display extensive knowledge, giving people the impression that he is different from ordinary rich children. Akihiko is not only eloquent, but also very good at letting Misako speak freely.Misako usually doesn't talk much, but in front of him, she feels like she has become very talkative. Akihiko asked her about her childhood and her family in detail, especially about her health.Misako said, "I don't have any other strengths. I'm just very healthy," thinking that the doctor would be interested in this aspect. After dinner, Akihiko sent Misako home.She politely declined, but Huang Yan said: "Father told me to take you home." It turned out that Zhiming also knew what happened tonight. On the way to drive Misako home.Akihiko said to her: "Doctors and companies stand in hostile positions." His tone was decisive, and Misako felt that this was a continuation of the topic a few days ago. "Enterprises are not interested in the human body, ignore human health, and increasingly pursue development. As a result, doctors have to desperately wipe the ass of enterprises. This is like replanting seedlings destroyed by bulldozers one by one." "I understand." Misako said, "So you want to be a doctor?" "Yes." Akihiko replied.After a moment of silence, he continued: "But compared to bulldozers, pesticides are the scariest thing. They will not only change the landscape, but also the geology. Some areas should not be touched no matter how powerful and financial they are." Misako didn't understand the meaning of his words, so she couldn't answer.He didn't seem to expect a response from Misako either. In this way, Misako and Akihiko's first date ended. Since then, Akihiko will ask Misako every other month or so.Sometimes we watch movies or stage plays together, and sometimes we just eat together. After dating like this for about a year, Akihiko proposed to her.In the coffee shop they often go to, he said in a tone as if inviting her to play tennis: "By the way, would you like to marry me?" It's not that Misako didn't expect Akihiko to propose marriage, it's just that she can't think about it as a reality at all.Their families are too disparate! Although Akihiko chose his own life, it still cannot change the fact that he is the heir of the Guarang family.He and Misako, whose financial situation and family background were below average, were not a good match anyway, so she always believed that even if they continued to date, the relationship between the two would end without a problem one day. Therefore, Akihiko's proposal made Misako feel confused. "Please give me time to think about it." After she finished speaking, she separated from him and went home.But marriage is not a child's play, and it is not something that can be decided as long as there is time. From an objective point of view, there is no better marriage than this.However, Misako feels at a loss, mainly because her feelings for Akihiko are definitely not love.Of course, she didn't hate him, and even respected him, but she never jumped for no reason because she was with him, and she never communicated with him without saying a word.Isn't that feeling of connectedness the most important part of marriage? Misako once loved someone deeply.She was still a high school student at that time, perhaps because her mind was immature, it was her first and last experience of that unforgettable feeling.Although it is impossible to combine with him due to various accidental factors, Misako believes that falling in love with a person should have the feeling at that time, which is completely different from being amazed at a person's extensive knowledge or admiring a person's decisive actions. . However, she finally agreed to Akihiko's proposal.There was no decisive reason, but a number of indefinable factors that vaguely took shape, gradually dissolving her hesitation.These factors include friends who insist that "love and marriage are two different things", parents who don't say so but want Misako to nod, and general marriage situations in the world.If one were to accurately describe her final state of mind, it would be "no reason to refuse". So everyone said that Misako was a sparrow that flew on a branch and turned into a phoenix. Akihiko didn't appear until more than 30 minutes after Zhiming died.At this time, Ayako was no longer in the ward, only Misako and Akihiko's younger brother and sister were left. Zhiming was lying on the hospital bed as usual, covered with a blanket, except that his face was covered with a white cloth, which was different from yesterday. Sonoko was still kneeling on the ground, crying beside the bed.Hongchang sat on a chair a little far away from the bed, with his head bowed slumped.Misako stood by the door, looking at them in a daze. Akihiko opened the door quietly, walked into the ward, saw his father lying on the bed, and stood there in a daze.Akihiko should have known the news of Naoaki's death, but the shock of seeing his father's body with his own eyes cannot be compared with what he imagined. Probably because he heard someone coming in, Sonoko stopped crying.She turned her head and stared at her eldest brother with eyes swollen from crying. "Brother... It's such a time, what are you doing? Dad has been waiting for you. But you are still working—" "Hongchang." Akihiko ignored his younger sister's dissatisfaction and called his younger brother, "Can you take Sonoko out?" Hong Chang silently nodded and got up. Sonoko shook his head. "I don't, I'm not leaving here." "Stop messing around, you have to be considerate of elder brother's mood." Hongchang grabbed her arm and asked her to stand up. "Why? Brother Akihiko doesn't listen to Dad!" "At this time, don't mention that kind of thing again." Hongchang dragged Yuanzi out forcibly. After the figures of the two disappeared, Akihiko closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then walked slowly to the hospital bed and lifted the white cloth covering his father's eyelids. "Is he walking in pain?" "No," said Misako, "it was like sleeping... very peaceful." "Well, that's good." Akihiko put the cloth cover back, put his hands in the pockets of his white robe, and turned his face to the window.The sun seems to be tilted a little more than before. "Dad has something to tell you." Akihiko turned his neck back slightly. "Oh?" "Dad called you when he was dying. If you are not here, I will listen for you." "What did he say?" Misako moistened her lips and said, "He said: 'Akihiko, I'm sorry, they'll leave it to you'." Akihiko's expression changed significantly.He frowned painfully, blinked, then closed his eyes and nodded slightly. "Really? Dad said I'm sorry..." "I don't understand at all." "It's no big deal. He must have said it casually when he was dying, so you don't have to take it to heart." Akihiko looked at the window and replied, but stammered, unlike the usual him. "After Dad said that, he swallowed his last breath." Hearing this, Akihiko still turned his back to Misako, and just responded briefly.Misako felt that his back seemed to be rejecting her. "I'll help mom." After saying that, Misako left the ward. A long time ago, Misako began to think about divorcing Akihiko.She was distressed by this marriage and hoped to find some solution.Fumbling her way through mistakes so far, even now she's not sure what she thinks. As soon as the two decided to get married, Guasheng's family built an exclusive annex for them in the mansion - a two-story wooden building with an area of ​​about eighty stacks, which was too spacious for the two of them.After marriage, friends who came to play at home sighed enviously: "I can't afford this kind of house in my life!" Hearing what they said, Misako felt that she was really lucky, so she didn't think too much about it, and continued to live her usual life. Newly married life. After nearly a year of marriage, she began to feel uneasy.This uneasiness comes from her heart.After being married for so long, she still couldn't feel the love for Akihiko.Like before marriage, she has a certain degree of affection for Akihiko, respects him, trusts him, but that's all. She doesn't think it's a physical problem.She thinks that the sex life of the two is as frequent as that of ordinary people, and she also has considerable pleasure.But if someone asks "Does the other party have to be Akihiko?", she always feels that it is not. Why can't I love him? From an objective point of view, Akihiko is flawless.After getting married, he would put himself in her shoes just like when he was in love. As long as it was what she wanted, he would almost always satisfy her.Nor did he go beyond conjugal ceremonies, or invade her personal privacy.Many men become indifferent and rude to their wives after they get married.In this regard, Akihiko can be said to be an ideal husband. But Misako believes that these are not the conditions for loving someone, at least not for herself, what she needs is to understand the other person. Can I understand Akihiko? the answer is negative.Lived together for a year, but she didn't know anything about him.She knew nothing of his troubles, hopes, and dreams.She only knows what he likes to eat, what he hates to eat, and part of his daily schedule. Misako thought she tried very hard to understand him, but she couldn't touch his heart.The reason is simple, he does not want to open his heart to her. "What did you say?" Akihiko frowned upon hearing her say that.That should be when he was reading the newspaper after breakfast one day. "Please, please tell me." Misako said while grabbing the hem of her apron. "what?" "Everything, all the things you keep hidden in your heart." "Inexplicable!" Akihiko folded the newspaper and put it on the coffee table, "What do you think I'm hiding?" "I don't know, all I know is that you're hiding it. You've told me nothing but trivial things, and you've kept all the important things from me." "I don't think I'm hiding anything from you." "You liar! Don't put me off!" Misako said, tears rolling down her face.It made her feel very sad that the two of them had to talk like this. "I didn't hide it from you, nor did I perfunctory you." Akihiko stood up with a displeased face, and shut himself into the room. The conversation at that time made Misako feel that she had touched Akihiko's heart for the first time, and he had never been so shaken before.At the same time, she was convinced that he was indeed hiding something. Since then, Misako has spent more time in the main house.She thought that spending more time with Akihiko's family might bridge the gap with him somewhat.Akihiko wanted to live a completely independent life, but he seemed to think that Misako's going to the main house would relieve some of the stress, so he let her go. Living with the Guasheng family is not as breathless as imagined, nor is it boring.Unexpectedly, she and her young mother-in-law get along very well, and Hongchang and Yuanzi also respect her very much.However, even with the deepening of their friendship, Misako still cannot get to know Akihiko any further.of course.Yayezi didn't understand him either. "Akihiko's heart? I have nothing to do with him." When Misako and Ayako were chatting, Ayako raised her hands, "I surrender. Since I came to this house as the second wife, he has never opened his heart to me. He does the same with Hongchang and Yuanzi, although he fulfills his brother's duty well, but I don't think it's brotherly love." "How long has it been?" "It's been a few years. Maybe it will always be like that in the future. Akihiko only opens his heart to your father-in-law. I thought you might be the second person he treats sincerely, but it seems that there is still no way." "why?" "I don't know..." Yayezi shrugged and shook his head feebly, "I don't know. At first I tried hard to make him recognize me as my mother, but it was in vain. He called me 'Mom', but to him As far as it is just a formality, he will not act like a spoiled child to me like his own mother." Misako nodded silently.Ayako was right.The relationship between Misako and Akihiko is only in the form of husband and wife, and every day is like acting as a couple who respect each other as guests. After that, Misako spent a long time trying to get to know Akihiko better and love him more.However, she felt that the more anxious she was, the deeper the gulf between them grew. Recently, Misako began to think about another thing—why did Akihiko choose herself as his wife? His family status is enough for any woman to marry him, and there is really no reason to choose a worthless and ordinary self. Misako thought, could it be because of the invisible "rope of fate"? There really is a rope of fate in this world, controlling her life so far.