When the news about Mr. Wen broke, domestic entertainment media, with a mix of schadenfreude and a desire to kick someone while they’re down, dug deep and shamelessly revealed an overwhelming amount of details, leaving many horrified. Meanwhile, international media seized the opportunity to observe our vast society amidst the spectacle. Condemnation and criticism flooded the scene, and for a moment, Mr. Wen seemed like a rat scurrying across the street, a criminal who had betrayed everyone’s trust. Many even exclaimed, “I don’t believe in love anymore!”

Amidst the dark clouds, Mrs. Ma’s response—“Marriage is not easy, cherish it while you can”—offered a glimmer of warmth and hope in this incident. What do you think?

In my opinion, falling in love is hard, but maintaining that love is even harder. As time passes, the initial vibrancy of a relationship fades, making it easier for other distractions to creep in and shift our focus.

In other words, no relationship is immune to temptations from outside the couple, much like ships sailing in the ocean must inevitably face storms.

But have you noticed that almost all ships manage to navigate through the storms safely? The chances of disaster are minuscule, perhaps one in a thousand or ten thousand.

Love is a bond between people, and unless faced with insurmountable forces, it is entirely possible to pull back from the brink of danger. I recently read an article titled “An Affair is Just an Upside-Down Bowl,” which uses a story from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales to advise people to curb excessive desires in exchange for a peaceful and stable life.

Some realizations are better had sooner rather than later. Life is neither too short nor too long, and true love at first sight or the kind of love that makes you regret not meeting sooner is rare. By avoiding unnecessary detours, we can save time to cherish those around us.

If misfortune strikes and your partner begins to stray, would you be willing to give them time to find their way back, offering both of you a chance to rediscover happiness? I believe few can forgive betrayal, but I also believe that those who can discern the situation and practice forgiveness while holding themselves accountable will be blessed. This is not about being unprincipled or weak; it’s about whether your love can reawaken the promise of “never leaving or abandoning.”

Love that enters marriage can be a lifelong commitment of care and protection. Only with sincerity can it endure. Renowned Chinese psychotherapist Qing Yin once said, “Love is deeper than romance. If sacred marriage is compared to a pure angel, then allow that angel to have freckles.” No matter what happens externally, the belief in love should be rooted in mature reflection, not swayed by the ups and downs of others’ lives. Whether you believe it or not, love is always there. I firmly believe this. I wish all friends, whether inside or outside the “city” of love, clarity, self-control, and the ability to cherish what they have.

News Background:
New York Daily News: “Chinese actor Wen Zhang breaks social media record with apology to wife for affair with co-worker. The ‘Naked Marriage’ actor earned a record-breaking number of comments on the Chinese social networking site Weibo for his mea culpa.”
US Weekly: “Saying sorry and smashing records! Chinese actor Wen Zhang set a new social media record on Monday, March 31, after issuing an apology via Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) for cheating on his wife of six years, Ma Yili, with a costar.”
“Chinese star Wen Zhang broke social media records on Monday when he wrote an apology to his wife for an extramarital affair on China’s version of Twitter Weibo. The missive broke all previous social media records in China as the post received 2.5 million comments and 1 million retweets within 10 hours.”

—By Jessie