The Third Marriage

Shen Xue'an has been divorced twice.

The first time, he went from school straight to the altar. He and the rebellious boy who sat beside him were married for two years, then separated over their futures and went their own ways.

The second time, his direct superior proposed to him in grand fashion, dropping to one knee to put a ring on his finger. A year later, Shen Xue'an saw his husband's white moonlight having an ambiguous relationship with him, and he threw away the ring in disappointment.

When someone pursued Shen Xue'an for a third time, he no longer really believed in love.

Facing Huo Mingyan, who had pursued him for three years, Shen Xue'an said wearily, “Wouldn't it be better if you liked someone else?”

Under the sunshine, the young man held up a bouquet and smiled as he shook his head. “It has to be you.”

For some reason, Shen Xue'an was moved as he looked at him. “If it has to be me, then let's give living together a try for a while.

“I don't ask for much. We can respect and understand each other, and help each other out.”

“If one day you regret marrying me, please be sure to tell me.”

Huo Mingyan only nodded and said, “Okay.”

**

After they married, Shen Xue'an attended a banquet with his arm linked through Huo Mingyan's. There, they ran into both of Shen Xue'an's ex-husbands, each more jealous than the last.

The ex-husbands made snide remarks to his current husband.

The first ex-husband said, “Your taste must be terrible. Shen Xue'an can have a really nasty temper. You've suffered from it too, right?”

Huo Mingyan gave a smug, sugary smile. “He's very good to me. Maybe I'm the exception.”

The ex-husband was speechless.

*

The second ex-husband said, “Shen Xue'an and I shouldn't have split up. Given our personalities, we were the perfect complement to each other.”

Huo Mingyan said, “Complement each other how? My husband doesn't need you to complete him. He's got me now. You're just in the way!”

The ex-husband ground his teeth.

Shen Xue'an's cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment.

What an immature, blunt guy.

*

Both ex-husbands regretted it, but Shen Xue'an had no desire to turn back.

A lot of comments have urged me to try switching the love interest, so I think I might give it a go in my next story. I came up with this idea for that purpose, so here's a little promotion.

*

The cover is a free template gifted by the artist Qing Lin. It's beautiful. Thank you!

* Reader's guide:

1. This is an initial draft, and will probably be revised several times.

2. The third marriage is the endgame pairing. The dynamic is probably: a sunny younger golden-retriever seme and a gentle, sensitive catlike uke.

3. This is a melodramatic story, very melodramatic, extremely melodramatic. The process of changing love interests will be shown, so don't read if that bothers you.

4. Note added July 8, 2023. Screenshot saved.

Theme: Embrace all your flaws, and believe that things will get better.