"I heard your observational skills are astonishing, James Black. Letâs test you. That couple who spoke to me just now, what do you think about their relationship?" Alexander Forest asked, eagerly putting James Black on the spot.
"Why should I answer such a boring question?" James Black snorted, but went ahead with his analysis anyway, "Both of them are wearing wedding rings and havenât been touching them, which suggests theyâre quite used to the rings. They must have been married for quite a while. The husbandâs hand stayed near his wifeâs waist, although he didnât actually touch her, it still seemed like a protective gesture. Therefore, Iâd say the coupleâs relationship is probably fine."
After speaking, James Black looked towards Alexander Forest and, seeing a sly smile on his face, raised an eyebrow, "Am I wrong?"
"Youâre not just wrong, youâre utterly wrong," Alexander Forest shook his head, then pulled James Black towards a corner to hide. After peering out a few times, he called to James Black, "Theyâre now behind that pillar over there. From this angle, we can see them clearly. Take another look at them now."
Hearing this, James Blackâs curiosity was piqued by Alexander Forest.
Upon looking again, James Blackâs expression changed.
The husband had removed his hand from his wifeâs waist, and the intimate smiles that had been on their faces had vanished, replaced by indifferent and distant looks.
James Black understood, his previous analysis had been wrong.
"That husband was loosely holding his wifeâs waist, which could have been a subconscious protective action, but thereâs another possibility that they are actually quite unfamiliar with each other, to the extent that they donât even want physical contact. Theyâve been married for over four months, and the reason they havenât taken off their wedding rings isnât that their relationship is good and they canât bear to part with them, but rather to make their marriage appear solid in public, so they had to keep them on." Alexander Forest chuckled, "These two are my cousinâs clientsâ son and daughter-in-law. Not too long ago, I accompanied my brother to a banquet at their company and saw with my own eyes how these two, who seemed like a model couple one second, became total strangers the moment they were out of sightâcompletely detached."
James Black watched Alexander Forest make light of this, his gaze still lingering on the couple in the distance.
After being silent for a few seconds, James Black said, "However, that husband kept stealing glances at his wife repeatedly. If his wife didnât notice, he would continue to watch her intently. The moment she moved, he quickly averted his gaze. It seems that this husband really does like his wife in his heart."
"Whatâs the use of liking someone in your heart? Just liking someone in your heart without expressing itâhow would anyone know he likes her?" Alexander Forest shook his head, looking profound, "Believe it or not, these two might not take long to become divorcees."
Alexander Forest continued, "Iâve seen too many of these marriages allied through family and clans. Once the entanglement between the two families is over, so is the marriage of the couple."
"To speak?" James Black scoffed, "To say what, that I like you? Why does one have to directly state something like feelings? Canât actions express them?"
"How can actions express that?" Alexander Forest looked bewildered, "Especially with women, how can actions replace a direct confession like âI like youâ? Youâre not about to tell me that being nice to her is enough, are you? There are plenty of people in this world who are nice to her; does that mean all these people secretly like her? Thereâs a distinction between being nice to her and liking her, as well as how one is nice and how one likes."
Patting James Blackâs shoulder, Alexander Forest said, "You simply donât understand women, brother. Let me tell you, with women, if you like them, youâve got to tell them directly. Hey, woman, I like you, I love you. If you donât say it, whoâs going to know what you really feel for her?"
"Are all women like that?" James Black asked skeptically, clearly doubting Alexander Forestâs long discourse on women.
"Out of 100 women, 99.9 are like that," Alexander Forest said, "In matters of love, women are first rational, then emotional. Donât expect a woman ruled by reason to conclude that you like or love her from what small details and acts of kindness you show her. NO, thatâs impossible. You could do ten things for her, but none would move her heart as much as saying âI like youâ just once."