Right & Wrong

After sending his father away, Shui Xian turned his attention towards his wife who was looking back at him currently. He walked up to her side and Raelle had to tilt her head up to look at him since she was still sitting on the couch while he was standing right in front of her with his hands in his pockets.

He slowly bent forward at his waist with the legs and torso kept straight. He looked into her black orbs and said in a level, "I heard you didn't have dinner yet."

"Hm." Was her only response.

"Why?" He further probed.

"Because I was waiting for you," she replied straightforwardly.

"But you didn't have to," he assured her.

Raelle nodded her head, "I think I had to." He furrowed his brows slightly and she went on, "After all, I came home to have dinner with you." She wasn't lying. If she wasn't told to have dinner with him, why else would she leave her office earlier than usual?

Shui Xian was left staring into her eyes for a while in silence before he stood straight and called out, "Reheat the dinner. We'll be right down."

"Yes, Master Xian!"

Shui Xian looked back at her and said, "Give me a moment. I'll join you for dinner."

Raelle nodded and watched him rushing upstairs to freshen up with his long legs. She didn't have to wait long before he showed up and offered his hand to her. Raelle didn't hesitate before taking his hand and following him downstairs to the dinner table.

All the food had been reheated and served on the table. As they sat down to eat, Shui Xian started, "I'm sorry for making you wait so long. I know you like to do things on time, I'll do my best it doesn't happen again."

Raelle looked at him carefully before saying, "What are you apologizing for? For being late?" Shui Xian nodded his head. "Why? You must be busy with work. I can't possibly blame you for that."

Shui Xian bit his bottom lips before replying, "Don't be so understanding. I'll feel guiltier otherwise."

Raelle said in a soothing tone, "But that's one of the things I can understand. Work is obviously important."

Shui Xian pursed his lips, "But I've learned in my life that wife is more important."

Raelle offered him a smile and said with simple directness, "And I was told that it's important for a husband to work otherwise, how else will he be able to raise his wife?" Shui Xian stared at her without blinking as she continued, "You need work to raise a wife. And you need a wife to have a life. Marriage is a commitment, but so is your work. Now, tell me what is more important?"

Shui Xian chuckled silently at her before saying, "I don't think we can choose between the two. But I do know that it's wrong to be unfair to either. I mean my commitment to work is from 9 to 5, and the time after that is supposed to be my wife's. And if I'm giving that time to my work instead of her, that means I'm cheating on her." He took a pause to look at her as he added, "That's why I said I'm sorry. I'm sorry for giving your time to work."

Raelle tilted her head a little as she contemplated his words carefully in her head. Now that he put it this way, she realized he wasn't wrong either. Since marriage and work are both commitments, both should have equal rights as well! It was as simple as that.

She nodded to herself and asked, "So, how are you gonna compensate me?"

"Huh?"

"What? Are you expecting to get out of this with a simple apology?" She questioned. "That's not how it works."

Shui Xian put his chopstick down and stood up to go over to sit beside her. He brushed her hair away from her forehead before softly pressing his lips against it. Then he placed his forehead against her as the tips of their noses brushed together softly.

Raelle continued to stare into his eyes as she said, "Is that supposed to be my compensation?"

His hand against the side of her cheek, caressed it gently as he chuckled saying, "No. It was not your compensation." He pulled away and held her hand, "I promise that I'll do my best to come back home on time. But if I do ever get late for some unforeseen reason, please have your dinner without me."

"Then you'd have to eat alone," she said.

"I'm used to it," he replied.

"That was before you had a beautiful wife like me," she retorted.

Shui Xian's lips curved up into a smile as he said, "Did you just call yourself beautiful?"

"Why? You think I'm not beautiful?" she questioned in return.

"No, I think you're gorgeous. I was just asking to confirm whether I heard you right or not." He touched the tip of her nose with his index finger as he said, "Anyway since my wife is so beautiful, I'd like it if she takes care of her own self rather than waiting for me. I have no problem with eating alone."

Raelle thought about his words before saying, "But isn't it a very simple thing?" Shui Xian raised his brow as she went on, "I mean waiting costs me nothing. I'm a patient person, I think I can wait for my husband. Besides, I had a good time waiting for you." She took a pause to observe his expressions before adding, "Also, the book said that husband and wife should have at least two meals together to build a strong foundation. And it also said that a relationship is a two-way street, and husband and wife should try to meet somewhere in the middle."

Shui Xian touched his forehead, "Which book said that?" Raelle showed him the title of the book on her phone screen. It read, '36 Ways Leading To A Happy Marriage; Beginner's Guide.' Shui Xian stared at that title for longer than necessary before he placed his hand on her head. "Wife, life doesn't come with a handbook. And neither does a relationship."

"I know," she replied. "But there is no harm in learning either. It might not tell us what we're doing wrong but it can tell us what we can do right."