My Husband Who Doesn’t Have A Mouth

Li Yixun is a thirty-year-old office worker in Shenhai City who has been married for two years to Chen Nian, a wealthy and handsome tech entrepreneur. Their relationship is outwardly stable but emotionally distant, characterized by Chen Nian’s frequent business trips, emotional unavailability, and a lack of affectionate gestures. Li Yixun comes from a traditional, patriarchal family where she was the unwanted daughter due to her gender, raised with only nine-one percent of her parents’ love while her younger brother received all the attention and resources. This background has shaped her into a pragmatic, independent woman who prioritizes financial security over romantic idealism, leading her to accept a marriage of convenience with Chen Nian despite her lingering unrequited feelings for him from their youth.

The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the tenth anniversary of the 2012 doomsday rumors, a date that holds significant emotional weight for Li Yixun. On that day, she reunites with Chen Nian at a bar, where he reveals he remembers their past interactions with unsettling clarity. Their history is complex; Chen Nian rejected her confession in high school, yet later pursued her aggressively, enrolling her in driving school and eventually initiating a relationship that culminated in a hasty, pressured marriage. The wedding itself was a source of trauma for Li Yixun, who felt like a prop in a performance orchestrated by their families, and she even whispered to Chen Nian on stage to run away, a moment he acknowledged with a cryptic agreement before proceeding with the ceremony.

Currently, Li Yixun’s life is a routine of solitary endurance. She endures uncomfortable family gatherings with her domineering mother-in-law, Qi Hui, who openly dislikes her and pressures her for grandchildren. Chen Nian’s behavior is inconsistent; he can be affectionate and attentive one moment, such as when he surprises her with coffee and cooks for her, and completely detached the next, forgetting important details like her best friend’s engagement or ignoring her messages when she is critically ill. A pivotal moment occurs when Li Yixun falls severely ill and is hospitalized alone. Unable to reach Chen Nian, she accidentally calls Yan Che, a former suitor and current business associate, who helps her. Chen Nian’s delayed and indifferent response to her hospitalization highlights the profound emotional neglect she suffers in her marriage.

The core conflict centers on Li Yixun’s internal struggle between her desire for genuine love and her acceptance of a transactional relationship. She is acutely aware that Chen Nian does not love her, viewing their marriage as a mutual arrangement where she provides companionship and social legitimacy while he provides financial stability. However, her unresolved feelings for him and the ambiguity of his actions keep her trapped in a cycle of hope and disappointment. The story explores the dynamics of a modern marriage where emotional intimacy is absent, and the protagonists navigate their lives with a mix of resignation, pride, and lingering attachment. Li Yixun’s journey is one of self-discovery as she confronts the reality of her isolated existence and the superficial nature of her union with Chen Nian, all while managing her career and the expectations of her family.

As the story progresses, the tension between Li Yixun’s past and present intensifies. Her interactions with Yan Che, who represents a path not taken, contrast sharply with her cold reality with Chen Nian. The narrative delves into the psychological impact of her childhood neglect and how it influences her adult relationships, making her vulnerable to men who offer stability but not love. Chen Nian’s possessive yet distant behavior suggests he views Li Yixun as his property rather than an equal partner, further complicating their dynamic. The story does not offer a clear resolution but instead portrays the nuanced, often painful, reality of a marriage built on compromise rather than passion, leaving Li Yixun to navigate her future with uncertain prospects and a heart that has learned to guard itself against further hurt.