Chapter 619: Cousin Regrets It Too Late!

Chen Lan's mind went completely blank!

After walking out of the cafe, she felt like a walking corpse, drifting aimlessly through several streets.

Tang Ye did not step forward to disturb her, but followed closely behind, secretly wondering: Could something happen to Chen Lan?

If something truly went wrong, he would find it difficult to answer to Du Xi.

At this moment, Chen Lan only felt that she was a failure to the extreme.

Back then, under her mother's intense obstruction, she broke up with her boyfriend and chose to marry Shen Mingcheng instead. This was not entirely her mother's idea—although her boyfriend was tall and handsome, he came from a rural background. Chen Lan had encouraged him to take the civil service exam, but he failed to pass and eventually ended up working at a private enterprise with an income of only two thousand-plus yuan a month.

Her boyfriend rented a single room in an old residential complex; Chen Lan had been there once, and the room was filled with a pungent, moldy smell. It was at that very moment that her feelings for this relationship began to waver.

She could not accept squeezing into such an environment with her boyfriend and living a humble life where she had to look at others' faces, so she began to deliberately give him the cold shoulder.

Her boyfriend was intelligent by nature, yet carried a sense of inferiority deep in his bones, so upon seeing this, he took the initiative to propose a breakup.

It was precisely because of this that Chen Lan began dating Shen Mingcheng, and within less than half a year, they stepped into the halls of marriage.

Shen Mingcheng had many flaws to begin with, but Chen Lan had always endured them silently—she felt that since she had chosen a person, she should tolerate his shortcomings.

However, ever since Shen Mingcheng was transferred to Tianling County to serve as the County Party Secretary, those flaws of his had only become more magnified.

Although the County Party Secretary was only a Section Level cadre, his authority was immense. He was like a wild horse off its tether, indulging in the pleasure brought by power while completely losing the sense of awe he ought to have had.

Chen Lan had given Shen Mingcheng countless chances, but he had disappointed her to the core time and time again.

Meanwhile, news of her ex-boyfriend had also trickled in intermittently.

She heard that he had succeeded in his business venture a few years ago, and now he was the boss of a company and even had a happy marriage.

A deep sense of regret welled up from the bottom of Chen Lan's heart.

Perhaps she should have insisted on staying with her boyfriend back then; even if they were materially lacking, they would have been spiritually fulfilled and secure.

This time, she would never look back again.

A gust of cold wind swept past her side, and Chen Lan suddenly heard the frantic honking of a car; a blurred shadow whizzed past her. She instantly lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground. Subconsciously looking to her right, she saw Tang Ye staring at her with a face full of concern.

"Are you alright?"

Only then did Chen Lan realize that after she walked out of the restaurant, Tang Ye had been following her silently the whole time.

Just now, because her thoughts were in chaos, she had unknowingly run a red light and was only a step away from being hit by that van.

The van driver was clearly also startled; after parking the vehicle in a safe area, he rushed over and asked nervously, "Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

Chen Lan shook her head and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I was distracted just now; it has nothing to do with you."

The driver sighed, got back into his car, and muttered to himself: This woman is quite pretty, why does she look so mentally dazed?

After the van drove away, Chen Lan remained sitting on the ground, hugging her knees and burying her face deep into them.

Tang Ye did not go over to disturb her—he knew that at this moment, Chen Lan needed to digest her emotions alone.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Lan finally adjusted her emotions, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and cast a grateful look at Tang Ye: "Tang Ye, thank you. If you hadn't pulled me back in time just now, I really might have had an accident."

Tang Ye said gently, "I can understand how you feel right now; anyone who encountered something like this would be very upset."

Chen Lan stood up slowly and suggested, "To show my gratitude, let me treat you to a meal!"

Tang Ye thought that eating together might make Chen Lan feel better, so he said, "I know a hole-in-the-wall restaurant nearby; the food is good and cheap. Let me treat you instead!"

Chen Lan tried hard to squeeze out a smile: "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Tang Ye led Chen Lan through an alleyway to that hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

The storefront was not large and was run by a married couple; both the boss and his wife were around fifty, and their tone of voice could not be called enthusiastic.

Chen Lan thought to herself that if it were Shen Mingcheng, he definitely wouldn't bring her to eat in a place like this—he felt that as a County Party Secretary, eating here would lower his status.

Tang Ye ordered braised beef brisket with potatoes, braised fish offal, stir-fried amaranth, and a serving of vegetable and shredded meat soup.

Not long after, the dishes were served one after another.

Tang Ye picked up the boiling water and carefully scalded the bowls and chopsticks for Chen Lan.

Chen Lan picked up a bite of food and put it in her mouth, and an expression of surprise immediately appeared on her face—the food was full of "wok hei" and authentic, down-to-earth flavor. Somehow, tears began to slide down from the corners of her eyes.

Tang Ye thought the food was not to her taste and hurriedly asked, "Is there something wrong with the food?"

Chen Lan shook her head quickly: "It has nothing to do with the food; the food is delicious. I just... I just have always missed this taste."

Tang Ye smiled: "Then eat more."

Chen Lan ate for a while longer, then slowly put down her chopsticks and looked at Tang Ye: "Tang Ye, can you promise not to tell Du Xi about what happened today?"

Tang Ye sighed and shook his head helplessly: "I'm sorry, I can't promise that. Between a husband and wife, there should be honesty."

Chen Lan sighed resentfully, then her brows gradually relaxed: "This is probably the biggest difference between you and Shen Mingcheng—he is always evasive, while you are always open and aboveboard. Please tell Du Xi that I truly envy her life right now. I said some arrogant things in the past; thinking about it now, it was all self-humiliation."

Tang Ye said earnestly, "Sister Lan, being able to bravely face your own heart is truly admirable. Not everyone can manage to make a clean break with their past."

Chen Lan laughed, though her eyes were filled with tears: "I finally understand now why Aunt likes you so much—because you are someone who can influence those around you. Du Xi is really lucky to have married you."

Tang Ye put down his chopsticks and remarked with emotion: "Truly good love and marriage should be a two-way journey. Meeting Du Xi is my luck."

Chen Lan was stunned.

She had indeed been jealous of Du Xi before, jealous that she could find someone like Tang Ye who loved her.

Now, that jealousy had long since turned into envy and appreciation, mixed with deep regret.

Why couldn't she meet someone like Tang Ye herself?

But then she thought, even if she had really met Tang Ye back then, she would probably have hesitated.

After all, Shen Mingcheng was the most suitable candidate in her mother Xiao Fang's heart. Given Tang Ye's status and family background when he met Du Xi, Xiao Fang most likely would not have looked upon him favorably either.

"The relationship between you and Du Xi has really given me a huge impact," Chen Lan said with deep emotion.

Tang Ye pondered for a moment, then still whispered a reminder: "Sister Lan, I suggest you divorce Shen Mingcheng as soon as possible and divide the assets clearly."

Chen Lan looked at him in surprise: "Why do you say that?"

Tang Ye smiled and explained: "Shen Mingcheng is very cunning; once he knows you are determined to divorce, he will definitely take preemptive measures."

Chen Lan took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I understand! I will divorce him. If he doesn't agree, I will use legal means."

Tang Ye did not tell Chen Lan his plan.

It was not that he was worried she would tip off Mingcheng.

Rather, he had always believed that "matters succeed through secrecy."

This was his principle of conduct.