At the end of the performance, the actors presented flowers to the children in the audience.
Watching the children’s eyes sparkle as they received the bouquets evoked a touching sense of legacy.
Jian Zhi was seated in the first row. When the male lead came down, he smiled and handed the flowers to her.
She was somewhat surprised and didn’t react for a moment. It was only when Teacher Zhao nudged her that she quickly hugged the flowers and said “thank you” to the male lead.
“Thank you for coming to watch my performance.” The male lead bowed to her before returning to the stage.
On their way back, Teacher Zhao asked if she remembered this male lead.
Jian Zhi had no recollection at all.
“He graduated from our academy, two years below you. Now he’s the principal dancer of Haicheng Dance Troupe,” Teacher Zhao said with a smile.
So he was her junior.
“Remember that one reporting performance where you were the female lead and he was the understudy for the male lead? When the original male lead got injured and couldn’t perform, he stepped in. Have you forgotten?” Teacher Zhao added.
Only then did Jian Zhi recall that there was indeed such an incident.
“He’s the principal dancer now, that’s wonderful…” She still felt a bit lost and regretful, but she was genuinely happy for her classmates.
Teacher Zhao put an arm around her shoulder. “Life has no finish line, Jian Zhi.”
Jian Zhi nodded firmly. “Teacher, I understand.” She had already decided to start anew.
It was an exciting night—her first time entering a theater to watch a performance in five years.
Returning home, her heart still surged with emotion.
Jian Zhi arranged the flowers in a vase, took a photo, and couldn’t resist posting on her social media: Tonight belongs to my passion and beloved.
Then she removed her makeup, washed up, and went to bed.
Countdown to leaving Wen Tingyan – Day 29: Rediscovering passion tonight.
She thought Wen Tingyan wouldn’t return tonight either, but unexpectedly, the sound of the door opening woke her around midnight.
When Wen Tingyan entered the room, he carried the scent of alcohol.
He had been drinking again.
And he knocked into chairs noisily while walking—how much had he drunk?
Then, without bathing, he collapsed onto the bed.
The smell of alcohol was really strong…
Jian Zhi didn’t want to advise him anymore—whether to drink less or to take a bath.
But she couldn’t stand the smell, so she got up, planning to move to the guest room.
Just as she reached the bedroom door, Wen Tingyan’s voice came from behind her. “Where are you going?”
She didn’t answer and opened the door.
The bed creaked behind her as Wen Tingyan actually got up, knocking into chairs loudly again, and grabbed her wrist. “Where are you going instead of sleeping?”
“I’m going to the guest room. Let go of me.” She struggled forcefully.
But there’s no reasoning with a drunkard—the more she struggled, the tighter he held, until it was futile.
“Alright, stop making a scene. Why bother? If you had apologized earlier, I wouldn’t have embarrassed you,” he slurred drunkenly.
Jian Zhi: ??? What did that mean? Listening to him, it sounded as if she had already apologized?
“When did I apologize?” She hadn’t even seen him—how could she have apologized?
Wen Tingyan chuckled lightly, his drunken voice mumbling, “Tonight belongs to my passion and beloved… So, I came back. If you had yielded sooner, I wouldn’t have blamed you…”
Jian Zhi: ??? Wait, this person actually thought she posted that social media update for him? Wen Tingyan, what were you thinking?
“Jian Zhi…” He suddenly embraced her. “I know, I know you love me. For that love, you would give everything. So, in this lifetime, no matter what happens, I will never let you down…”
Jian Zhi froze momentarily.
He wasn’t wrong.
She had once loved him deeply, so deeply.
He had said these same words at their wedding ceremony. Back then, she thought: though this wasn’t a confession, it was a promise.
He had given her a lifetime commitment.
A lifetime is so long – she believed they would eventually grow to love each other properly. Even in the worst-case scenario, if he never loved her throughout their lives, it wouldn’t matter. Her loving him would be enough…
“Wen Tingyan.” She suddenly felt compelled to ask him one question.
“Hmm?” His warm breath, carrying the scent of alcohol, brushed against her ear and dissipated.
“But your Cheng Cheng has returned. If you’re with me, what about Cheng Cheng?”
“Cheng Cheng? Cheng Cheng…” He murmured the name, his voice suddenly choking with emotion. “Cheng Cheng, I won’t forget. What I promised you, I won’t forget…”
Jian Zhi felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar.
Was he so drunk that he mistook her for Luo Yucheng?
“What promise? What did you promise Cheng Cheng?” she asked numbly.
“Everything, all of it, Cheng Cheng…” His arms suddenly tightened.
Jian Zhi felt herself lifted as he picked her up.
Then he pressed her down onto the bed, his alcohol-tainted breath washing over her face, the tip of her nose, her chin…
He was desperately seeking her lips, but she kept evading him.
The smell of alcohol made her nauseous.
When his hands began tearing at her nightgown, she struggled more fiercely.
“Cheng Cheng, be good, alright? Don’t make trouble…”
Still calling her Cheng Cheng…
In her frantic struggle, Jian Zhi finally managed to free one hand and slapped him wildly across the face, one strike finally landing with a sharp crack.
“Wen Tingyan! Look clearly at who I am! I’m not your Cheng Cheng!” she screamed into the night, her voice hoarse.
His body stiffened briefly. Seizing the opportunity, she pushed him off with all her strength.
He lay collapsed on the bed, still drunk, mumbling, “Cheng Cheng, I’m sorry, I have to go home… I promised her I’d take care of her for life… I owe her…”
Jian Zhi covered her ears. These words had become like a curse, haunting her for five years. Now, whenever she heard them, her mind would buzz with static.
Staring at the man lying supine on the bed, she covered her ears and shouted, “I don’t want you owing me! Wen Tingyan! Do you hear me! I don’t want you owing me! I just want you to set me free!”
Right then, Wen Tingyan’s phone began vibrating.
She glanced over and saw the caller ID: “Cheng Baby”.
Heh, Cheng Baby…
In Wen Tingyan’s phone, her contact was saved as “Jian Zhi”.
Right after their wedding, she had fantasized that one day Wen Tingyan would call her Zhi Zhi, or Xiao Zhi, or some name exclusive to her. Even just “wife” would have been fine. She had even secretly wondered if she should ask Wen Tingyan to change her contact name – whether on WeChat or in his address book – to something more intimate.
But no…
Whether in daily conversation or in his phone contacts, she was always just “Jian Zhi”…
To reconcile herself to this, she had told herself that this was just his personality – not overly affectionate, straightforward, with a rigid character.
She had been wrong…
The words “Cheng Baobei” on the screen were particularly glaring. After an intense internal struggle between answering and ignoring the call, she steeled herself, picked up the phone, and swiped the green button.
She remained silent, while Luo Yucheng on the other end spoke first.