这是一段关于女主角内心独白和回忆的文字,揭示了她对金钱,过去婚姻以及前夫性格的深刻看法.
以下是这段文字的英文翻译.在翻译过程中,我注重保留了原文那种冷静,略带讽刺和自我反省的语气,同时对长句进行了适当的切分,以符合英语小说的阅读习惯.
English Translation
Le Xiang didn't particularly care whether the studio opened or not. After all, while she enjoyed photography, it was merely a hobby, not a passion.
She was only considering opening the studio partly due to the suggestions of friends and clients, and partly for the sake of convenience.
Even without a studio, she could still take photos whenever she pleased, just as she always had. The only thing she stood to lose was money.
It was strange, though. People often say that one's background shapes their character, yet despite experiencing poverty, Le Xiang had never truly placed much value on wealth.
To her, it didn't matter if she earned a little more or a little less, as long as she could get by.
She owned a home now—albeit a small one-bedroom apartment on the Fourth Ring Road—and a car, even if it was just a second-hand Chery QQ. Her income was sufficient to cover her expenses, and occasionally, she could even afford a little luxury. Wasn't that enough?
Le Xiang freely admitted that she wasn't very ambitious. It wasn't that she hadn't suffered, nor that she hadn't endured humiliation from the wealthy and powerful. She wasn't incompetent, yet she never aspired to reach the pinnacle.
Sometimes, she wondered how she had become such a carefree and self-centered person, focusing only on what made her happy.
After all, she came from an orphanage, was adopted by an alcoholic and abusive father, and raised by a mother who blatantly favored her biological son. Even if she hadn't turned out overly cautious, she certainly shouldn't have been this reckless.
But life is strange, Le Xiang lamented. How did things end up like this? She couldn't even understand it herself.
But if she were given the chance to do it all over again, would anything change?
A wry smile tugged at the corners of Le Xiang's mouth.
While the studio might be a no-go, there were still plenty of things to handle—no less than the house itself. The destroyed equipment hadn't just vanished. Some could be repaired, and those beyond repair could still be stripped for parts and sold.
"Alright, stop peeking. The landlord isn't here," Le Xiang said, noticing Yao Qi stealing glances.
Yao Qi looked uneasy. "Does that old hag not know yet that we've torn up the floor and wallpaper?"
"She definitely knows by now," Le Xiang said confidently. "How could she not? It's been days, and the noise has been loud enough to wake the dead; there's no hiding it."
"Then... why hasn't she come to make a scene?" Yao Qi asked, puzzled.
Le Xiang smiled but remained silent. The old woman was stingy and greedy, but she didn't have the guts to act rashly. If things had remained as they were, it would have been fine. But since Shen Mingyuan had undoubtedly given her a hefty sum of money, she wouldn't risk making a move, no matter how upset she was. She was likely too held back by lingering concerns to raise a fuss.
By the time Le Xiang finished sorting through everything, seven or eight days had passed. During this time, the scandalous history of Shen Mingyuan had spread like wildfire.
People used to say that Shen Mingyuan had never forgotten his ex-wife, that he had kept himself pure, refusing to remarry because he always wanted to win her back. He was the model of a devoted romantic. Consequently, despite his mediocre talents, his reputation remained decent, especially among the men in their circle.
But now?
It turned out Shen Mingyuan had been involved with women all along. Even the car accident that caused his ex-wife to lose her fertility was orchestrated by his mistress?
And while his ex-wife was still recovering from the trauma and unable to conceive, he had let his mistress bring his illegitimate child home to raise as his son?
Who could accept that? No wife, no matter who she was, would agree to such a thing. It was no wonder they divorced.
As Le Xiang scrolled through all the gossip about Shen Mingyuan online, she couldn't help but feel a sense of vindication.
Back then, everyone assumed she had climbed the social ladder by marrying into the Shen family. They thought that even though Shen Mingyuan was mediocre and dissipated, marrying him was her greatest fortune.
No matter how many qualities or talents she possessed, her background made her nothing more than an insignificant poor girl in the eyes of high society.
In the eyes of the wealthy and powerful, no matter how many labels a person had—beauty, talent, or character—if their background didn't match up, they were merely dirt beneath their feet.
Most people, when praising a couple, would use words like "perfect match" or "deeply in love." But whenever Le Xiang went out, the comment she heard most was: "Mrs. Shen is truly so lucky!"
Every time she heard that, Le Xiang would smile on the surface, but deep down, she cursed them. Lucky? What luck? Who wants to trade places with me?
Only a fool like Shen Mingyuan would smile smugly upon hearing that, taking it as some sort of compliment.
Heaven knows how agonizing it was for her.
It was true that Shen Mingyuan loved her. During their four years of university, he had pursued her relentlessly. He even cast aside the arrogance of being the young master of the Shen family to flatter and fawn over her. But...
Le Xiang was not the type to be swayed by superficial gestures. She never considered herself inferior to anyone. When Shen Mingyuan was chasing her, the people around them often made sarcastic remarks. Some envied her, some looked down on her, and even her professors had subtly reminded her to keep her feet on the ground.
The attention they received—as if they were animals in a zoo, discussed and mocked by everyone—made Le Xiang feel incredibly annoyed.
If she had actually been interested in Shen Mingyuan, it might have been different, but in reality, that had never been the case. After realizing Shen Mingyuan was serious about pursuing her, she did try to understand him. She tried to see things from his perspective, but the results showed that they were fundamentally incompatible. Their worldviews were completely different.
She was busy with exams, certifications, and various activities, while Shen Mingyuan considered all of that a waste of time. He constantly tried to hinder her, demanding she give up those things to spend more time with him.
When she took on tutoring jobs or part-time work to pay her tuition, he tried to give her money so she would have more time to accompany him.
When they went on trips, although she wanted to visit quiet, scenic, and lesser-known spots, Shen Mingyuan always chose the most glamorous locations and invited his friends along. They would drive luxury cars, and the whole scene would turn into an exhibition. They would be watched like animals in a zoo all day long while his friends had the time of their lives.
After a few incidents like this, Le Xiang figured Shen Mingyuan out. He was the type of person who thrived on attention and wanted everyone to notice him. Whether people admired him, envied him, or even hated him—as long as all eyes were on him, he was happy.
His sole focus was garnering attention. Nothing else registered with him.
And to make matters worse, in his ignorance, Shen Mingyuan was completely incapable of comprehending her rejection. From polite refusals to blunt rejections, he consistently believed she was simply playing hard to get.