To the Love of My Life

The old CEO’s wife stood up, smiled kindly at Steve, and left.

The old CEO chuckled as he picked up the wine jug, filled Steve’s glass, and explained what his wife had just said: “My wife and I were friends for many years at work and got married. It’s true that there wasn’t much love, more friendship, and now it has turned into affection.”

Perhaps as people grow older, they love to reminisce about the past. So the old CEO said to Steve: “I once had a girl that I was very fond of, but it was all just my wishful thinking. I pursued her for seven years and never succeeded. In the end, I saw her get married to someone else with my own eyes.”

Steve’s expression remained calm, but it subtly froze for a moment when he heard this part of the old CEO’s story.

The old CEO continued: “In my life, I had never given so much as I did during those seven years. Back then, I worked a job that paid only a few dozen yuan per month, but I found ways to spend it all on her. She had a younger brother who could not afford a dowry for his wedding, and I also pitched in to help. I gave her everything I had, leaving myself with just one cent.”

This bottle of alcohol that the old CEO had kept for most of his life was truly exquisite – sweet and flavorful. Steve couldn’t help but take another sip before asking, “After giving so much and not getting what you wanted in the end, did you feel content?”

“Of course, I wasn’t content. When I heard she wouldn’t marry me, I hated her so much that I wanted to hack her to death with a knife,” the old CEO candidly said to Steve. “At that time, I actually grabbed an axe and hid in a sorghum field, preparing to kill the man she was marrying. But she was there too, and she knelt on the ground, telling me that love couldn’t be forced. She was grateful to me, but she truly didn’t love me.”

The old CEO took a sip from his glass, “Later, I gave up and went abroad. I unexpectedly made a fortune and started my own company, which grew more and more successful. When my company went public, I returned to my home country and saw her once. She was riding a bicycle in the cold wind, taking her son to school, while I was sitting in a warm BMW. However, I could see that she was very content, and by that time, my youthful discontent and impulsivity were gone. On the contrary, seeing her happiness made me feel at ease.”

The old CEO raised his glass to Steve and drank it down at one go: “When people love deeply, they often become calculating in every aspect. But it doesn’t mean that your deep love will be reciprocated. In the end, if you truly love someone, you just want them to be happy. Even if that happiness is not given by you, you’ll feel satisfied.”

Without saying anything, Steve finished the alcohol in his glass following the old CEO.

After dinner, the old CEO took Steve on a tour of his newly renovated Courtyard House and showed him the antiques he had collected throughout his life. Then, he had someone brew a pot of sobering drink for Steve before sending him off.