Chapter 4 A Tense Dinner 2

"Hi, Alan. Welcome to join us for dinner."

Richard and his wife smiled in response to the brief greeting from the wanderer. Richard turned to look at his wife, and immediately Mia smiled charmingly and nodded at her husband, then turned to speak to us:

"Everyone is here now, I will serve the food for everyone. You guys have to eat a lot today!"

I noticed the harmony between the two people opposite, truly a united couple. A wicked thought appeared in my mind, it kept repeating endlessly like a loop with no way out.

What if one day, this synchronized familiarity becomes redundant in life?

Would they still be as sweet as they are now?

I lowered my eyelids, hiding the dark emotions within me. Right after controlling my strange expression, I stood up wanting to help Mia:

"I will go help Mia, we can't just sit and wait to be fed!"

Richard looked at me and smiled happily:

"Sure, feel free to leave Alan to me."

Alan remained composed from start to finish. He calmly drank water as if everything around him was of no importance. He seemed so at home as if this was his own house.

Sometimes, I wonder if this man is really like the homeless people I have met. Perhaps he is one of the few special wanderers, or maybe he is someone who has lost everything and thus behaves so indifferently... Or maybe, he is not a wanderer at all.

But whatever it is, as long as it does not affect my work, I don't care who he is.

I smiled.

Because, the outcome will never change.

Entering the kitchen, I saw Mia quickly arranging everything onto plates, I politely said to her:

"Let me give you a hand."

Translation:

Upon hearing my voice, Mia turned around, her beautiful face beaming with a radiant smile as she enthusiastically showed me what needed to be done.

Her hands were busy, but her mouth was still able to function. So, Mia started talking with me, and for the first time, I discovered that this woman is quite talkative. However, after a heap of meaningless compliments, I could conclude that she doesn't really like me.

And the feeling is mutual.

She and I are completely different, from our personalities to our lifestyles. The only thing connecting us is Richard, and that man is also the only reason we can't get along.

Well, I don't really want to get along with her either.

The conversation, filled with underlying tension, quickly came to an end, and we each carried food out to our husbands.

I thought it was natural for Mia and I to not get along, but can someone please explain to me what's going on between Richard and Alan?

Why do they seem so serious?

Confused, I put the food down on the table, looking at Alan as if wanting to ask the questions in my heart. However, I forgot that with his facial expressions, communication was impossible, so I had to temporarily set aside my questions.

The atmosphere, originally tense, gradually became more relaxed. Mia, Richard, and I occasionally exchanged a few words. Perhaps Mia didn't want her husband to notice her jealous side, so throughout the conversation, she tried to appear friendly towards me. But when there is no mutual liking, true harmony is impossible. Therefore, occasionally she would make a sarcastic comment that was hard for me to detect. Like right now:

"I wonder what kind of job Alan does? He must be some successful businessman to make our beloved Alice fall for him immediately!"

After saying this, she covered her mouth and laughed charmingly:

"You should know, our dear Alice is a precious flower cherished by everyone!"

Ha ha, listen to this. Even though I'm the main character in this story, I thought I was considered a precious gem in everyone's eyes. But, is that really the truth?

I focused on my food, smiling wryly at myself.

Then, I felt the gaze of the person beside me. It was Alan.

I looked up at him, and for some reason, in this silent atmosphere, I could sense what he wanted to say.

Translation:

Alan wanted to know if he could speak the truth.

Ah, sometimes he is surprisingly obedient.

I smiled, the play must go on.

Then, I naturally responded to Mia's question:

"No, he's just a homeless man."

The couple across from us seemed to not expect that answer. However, their expressions were completely different. Mia's mouth twitched slightly, displaying a disdainful look as if to say: I knew it.

As for Richard, his reaction was quite interesting. His eyes were full of disbelief, and his face showed self-reproach. He was regretting something.

Mia maintained her shocked expression and exclaimed loudly:

"Oh my god, that is just too..."

Too deserving.

I automatically completed the missing part of her sentence in my mind. Seeing her smug look from defeating an unworthy opponent, I couldn't help but smile. Because, this is what I wanted.

Hearing his wife's exclamation, Richard seemed to snap back to reality. He also confusedly looked at me and asked:

"Why, why would you demean yourself..."

He suddenly stopped, as if realizing that his words could be offensive to both me and Alan, he couldn't continue. But I knew what he wanted to say.

He didn't understand why I would choose to be with a vagabond like that. After all, in this society, vagabonds are on the lower rungs, and few people want to associate with them. But so what?

I smiled reassuringly at him:

"Alan is wonderful; he takes great care of me. I feel a deep connection between us, this must surely be the destined love between Alan and me."

I felt the vagabond beside me shudder slightly after I finished speaking. I didn't know if he found my deeply affectionate demeanor amusing or if my overly cheesy answer made him cringe. I really wanted to step on his foot. With an uncooperative colleague like this, my solo performance made me seem like a love-struck child with no brain to discern good and bad in this life.

Although I admit to being shameless, I think for the duration of our marriage contract, I might just become utterly brazen.

I looked at Mia and Richard, their eyes wide open staring at me, knowing that I was playing my part very well. So, I continued to fabricate the story:

"Even though he's just a vagabond, he has a wonderful character. In the midst of this bustling city, he is like the only light in my life."

I saw Richard's face darken with each word I spoke. I knew I had succeeded.

As expected, Richard spoke in a deep voice:

"Have you told your family about this?"