Chapter 26

Living together as a couple, many things can't blend seamlessly. To coexist, one must smooth out some edges and learn to tolerate the other. Otherwise, it's constant bickering. Reflecting on it, what's the big deal? It's just about him not liking certain foods. Is it worth considering divorce over that?

Parents don't abandon their children just because they refuse to eat. Elderly people who can't chew hard food aren't discarded by their children. Would you get rid of your spouse just because they don't eat scorpions, centipedes, or crickets? Such trivial matters are hardly worth arguing to the point of divorce.

So, he bought vegetables and meat, pondering between making noodles or porridge. Porridge, porridge cooks faster. He returned with a large bag of groceries.

Arguing with your spouse and back down doesn't mean you are a coward. Life has to go on, right? Brian is indeed a handful for him. He has to take care of him and treat him well. What else can he do? It was hard enough to get him to agree not to sign the divorce papers.

Plain white porridge, green vegetables, diced ham, his mixed seaweed, pickles, and newly bought meat buns. Such ordinary meals, yet Brian ate comfortably.

The argument was long forgotten, and the atmosphere was at its best. Watching him eat and laugh, then laugh again while eating a meat bun, William felt content. If things continued this way, they could book tickets for a honeymoon abroad.

Ah, this is the right path, the way it should be.

You eat the food I cook, smile at me, and I smile back while serving you more food. The relationship takes a qualitative leap, and love is not far off. Good, very good indeed.

"Tell me what you don't like to eat, and I won't cook it next time," William said, pulling out a notebook and seriously asking Brian.

"Anything is fine," Brian replied. Having something to eat is good enough, as long as it's not too bizarre.

"Do you eat sweets, drink coffee, eat insects? What about spicy food? Sour? Do you eat bitter gourd, coriander, fish, seafood, lamb, beef?"

"I eat everything."

William noted it all down.

"Drink less alcohol if your stomach isn't good."

"I drink red wine. I rarely touch liquor."

"Good, that's good. Would you like porridge for breakfast tomorrow?"

"I can eat at the office."

"You'll have breakfast ready if you get up a little early. You eat, I'll prepare the ingredients for tomorrow morning."

As he busied himself in the kitchen, Brian watched him without blinking. He had never imagined that William would cook for him and take care of him so meticulously. Things were moving in a positive direction, so all the effort was worth it.

"Do you... do you like eating those insects?"

"You have to eat them when there's no other choice. Because you never know how long a mission will last. You have to be tough, both physically and mentally. It's better to be in the jungle, at least there are snakes and frogs to eat. The desert is the worst, with no water and nothing edible."

William paused, choosing not to scare Brian with the details.

"After we got married, I went on a mission, right? I went to the desert to track down spies. It was neither a vacation nor an adventure. Those spies were fast runners, and the desert has extreme temperatures - scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night. We went in lightly equipped, initially planning to catch them at the edge of the desert, but they kept running. We had very little food and water, and had to be careful not to fall into quicksand pits. You might climb over a sand dune and see the dried-up corpses of those who died of dehydration. At that time, we were a small team of seven people, all hot, thirsty, and hungry, our strength nearly depleted. Seeing those corpses, we all had the same thought: if we couldn't get out and couldn't contact headquarters, that would be our fate."

Brian stared at him, his face a bit solemn.

"The rattlesnakes, large lizards, and scorpions in the desert saved our lives. I won't talk about this anymore, it might make you uncomfortable. Eat more."

He was eating, and talking about this might ruin his appetite. Better to drop it.

"No, keep talking. I want to hear."

Brian knew very little about William's experiences. These were secrets that ordinary people didn't know. Over the past three years, he had received numerous notifications about William being in danger or critically ill, but he didn't know what William had gone through. He really wanted to know why each time William was reported missing or critically ill, what was the reason behind it.