The Husband Swap Game
My finger traced the faint progress bar on my mobile phone screen, and my heart sank.
The affection level had stuck at 98% for half a month, then suddenly dropped to 75% yesterday; checking again first thing this morning, it was down to 62%.
This Marriage Affection Level System that only I can see used to be proof of our post-marital happiness, but now it feels like a sword hanging over my head.
The door slammed open, and Mia Scott rushed in clutching a pillow, her eyes red and swollen like ripe cherries.
"It dropped again... Today it plunged from 80% straight down to 53%. I'm losing it!" She buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled and trembling with tears.
I handed her a tissue, my own fingertips tingling with cold.
Mia's husband, Daniel Lynn, and my husband, Mike Collins, almost simultaneously saw their affection levels start to tank.
"Do you think we did something wrong somewhere?" M
ia Scott looked up, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. "Yesterday, I specially made his favorite braised pork, but he only took two bites and said he was already tired of it."
I remembered the way Mike Collins looked at me last nightso strange, like he was looking at a complete stranger.
Before, no matter what I did, I could always see the smile in his eyes, and the System's progress bar would steadily rise.
"Maybe... it's not that we did anything wrong." I stared at the progress bar on my phone, and a crazy idea popped into my head. "What if... we tried doing it differently?"
Mia Scott froze, her hand wiping tears hanging in mid-air. "Change the approach? How exactly?"
"Swap." I took a deep breath and spoke the idea that had been spinning in my head all night, "What if we try winning over each other's husbands? Maybe that could raise the Affection Level back up."
Mia's eyes instantly went wide, her mouth forming an 'O'. "Are you crazy? How could we possibly do that!"
"Got a better plan?" I shot back, my voice edged with desperate resolve. "If this keeps up, our marriages are done for."
Mia Scott fell silent, her fingers absentmindedly twisting the edge of the cushion.
Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on her face.
"But... wouldn't this be too ridiculous?" She hesitated before speaking.
"Is there anything more ridiculous than watching your marriage fall apart right now?" I picked up my mobile phone and opened the chat with Mike Collins; our last conversation was still from yesterday when I asked, "Will you be home for dinner tonight?" and he just replied with a "Mm."
Just then, a line of small text suddenly popped up on the mobile phone screen from the System: [Special strategy proposal detected. Activate "Swap Tactics" mode?]
Mia Scott and I looked at the screen at the same time, the air instantly growing tense.
"The System... actually approves this proposal?" Mia Scott's voice was thick with disbelief.
I stared at that line of text, my heart pounding wildly: "Looks like it."
"So... are we really going to do this?" Mia Scott bit her lip, her eyes full of inner conflict.
I took a deep breath, pushing down my hesitation: "Let's give it a shot. It's better than just waiting to fail."
Mia Scott looked at me, then glanced at the progress bar on her mobile phone, and finally nodded, "Alright, I'll try it with you."
On the System interface, the small line of text changed to ["Swap Tactics" mode activated. Please complete the residence swap within 24 hours.]
Mia and I exchanged glances, both of us seeing a flicker of nervousness and a hint of desperate hope in each other's eyes.
While packing, my fingers brushed against Mike Collins' shirt hanging in the wardrobe, and I paused.
Before, whenever I tidied up his clothes, I'd make sure to iron his shirts perfectly flat. Now, I could only neatly fold them and tuck them deep inside the closet.
Have you packed everything? Mia Scott called, her voice sounding a bit urgent.
Almost done, just the last box left. I put the skincare products into the box. "How about you?"
I just loaded my stuff into the car. Daniel asked where I was going, and I told him I was staying at my best friend's place for a few days. Mia's voice dropped a little. "He didn't ask much, just nodded."
My heart sank again. Mike didn't ask where I was going yesterday either; when I told him I was 'going to Mia's for a while,' he just said, 'Stay safe.'
As I carried the box out the door, Mike sat on the sofa reading the newspaper, not even looking up.
"I'm leaving." I said softly.
He just grunted in response, his eyes still glued to the paper.
The moment I shut the door, my nose suddenly went a little sour.
The person who used to remind me over and over to "be careful on the way" whenever I left now couldn't even spare me a glance.
Mia's car was parked downstairs; seeing me struggling with the box, she quickly got out to help.
"Don't be upset. We're here to fix this," she said. She gave my shoulder a reassuring pat.
I nodded, placed the box in the trunk, and said, "Let's goto your place."
As the car left the neighborhood, I glanced back at the familiar building, my heart a jumble of emotions.
At Mia Scott's place, Daniel Lynn was sitting in the living room watching television.
When he saw us enter, he stood up, his gaze lingering on me for a few seconds.
"Hello, I'm..." I began to introduce myself but was cut off by Mia.
"This is my friend Stacy. Since her home is under renovation, she's staying with us for a few days." Mia Scott quickly said, giving me a look.
Daniel Lynn nodded without asking further and turned to walk into the study.
"He's usually quiet, so don't take it personally." Mia Scott whispered to me.
I shook my head and carried the box into the guest room Mia had already prepared. "It's fine, I'll just organize my things first."
After finishing, I came out and saw Daniel Lynn walking out of the study holding a document.
"Need any help?" I asked instinctively.
Back when Mike Collins worked, I always made a point to offer a hand.
Daniel Lynn paused, glanced at me, and said, "No need, thanks."
His voice was flat, completely devoid of any emotion, like he was talking to a stranger.
I awkwardly pulled my hand back, sat down on the sofa, picked up a book, but couldn't focus on a single word.
On the other side, Mia Scott sent me a message: [I'm at your place, Mike Collins is cooking in the kitchen, even asked what I like to eat, and the Affection Level seems to have gone up a bitit's at 58% now!]
Seeing the message, I felt a small sigh of relief and replied: [I'm okay here, Daniel Lynn hasn't shown any special reaction, he's just quiet.]
I put down my mobile phone, and Daniel Lynn came over carrying a glass of water, placing it on the coffee table in front of me.
"Thank you." I looked up and smiled at him.
He said nothing, just nodded and turned back to the study.
I stared at the steaming cup of water, thinking maybe the first step was to break the awkward silence.
That morning, just as I put the fried egg in the pan, I heard the door open.
It was Daniel Lynn's mother, Ms. Clark.
"Who are you? Why are you cooking in my son's house?" Ms. Clark stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes sharp and wary.
I hurriedly wiped my hands and turned around. "Hello, Ms. Clark, I'm Mia Scott's friend. I've been staying here for a while recently."
"Mia Scott's friend?" Ms. Clark looked me up and down. "How come I've never heard Mia mention you? You're not here to trick my son, are you?"
Her words pierced my heart like needles. I forced myself to explain, holding back my hurt: "Ms. Clark, I really am Mia's friend. If you don't believe me, you can call her."
"Call then!" Ms. Clark pulled out her mobile phone and dialed Mia. "Mia, why is there a stranger woman cooking at your place? You better explain this to me right now!"
I don't know what was said on the other end, but Ms. Clark's expression softened a bit, though she still sounded suspicious, "Alright, I get it. Tell her to be careful and not to cause trouble in my son's house."
After hanging up, Ms. Clark glanced at me, "Consider yourself luckyMia Scott spoke up for you.""But don't think you can just stay in my son's house for long. Let me remind you, my son is a married man."
"Ms. Clark, I understand. I'm only staying a few days. Once Mia's back, I'll leave." I kept my head down and carefully plated the fried egg.
Hmph, I hope so. Ms. Clark walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa, and started watching television, occasionally casting sideways glances at me.
After Daniel Lynn got up, he saw Ms. Clark and paused for a moment. "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you and brought some food along." Ms. Clark stood up and pulled a bag of fruit from her purse. "Who would've thought I'd come and find some strange woman cooking in your house?"
Daniel Lynn glanced at me and said to Ms. Clark, "Mom, she's Mia Scott's friend. She's staying here for a few days, don't read too much into it."
"Can I just not overthink this? A man and a woman alone in a roomimagine how bad it would sound if this got out!" Ms. Clark's voice rose a few decibels.
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Daniel frowned. "Stacy is just Mia Scott's friend. We're nothing more than ordinary friends."
I stood in the kitchen doorway, listening to their mother-son conversation, feeling uneasy deep down.
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