Shi Zhi waited for a long time, but Fu Yuchu didn’t send another message. He bit his lip and was just about to send a question mark when a voice suddenly rang out from above his head: “Who are you chatting with?”
Shi Zhi was startled. He snapped back to reality and looked up at Xu Yining, who had been missing for over half a month. His tone was cold: “Does it have anything to do with you?”
Looking at Shi Zhi’s indifferent expression, Xu Yining knew he wasn’t being sarcastic, moody, or cynical. Shi Zhi truly felt that whoever he chatted with now was none of Xu Yining’s business.
Xu Yining used to love Shi Zhi’s directness and frankness; now, that same directness had become a sharp blade that stabbed him.
“I didn’t mean anything else, I’m just concerned about you,” Xu Yining said hoarsely. “You know how people are out there. I’m afraid you’ll be tricked…”
“Xu Yining,” Shi Zhi interrupted. “I’m 23 this year, not 13. My emotional intelligence might not be as high as yours and I’m not sensitive to social nuances, but I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
Shi Zhi looked at him and said nothing.
Xu Yining said bitterly, “Shi Zhi, I really just care about you. While I was away during this period, I missed you every day. I…”
“We have already broken up.”
“No, that wasn’t a breakup. We just had a fight. We haven’t broken up.”
Looking at the stubborn Xu Yining, Shi Zhi felt an unprecedented sense of mental exhaustion.
Today, he had been called to Fu Yumeng’s shop to taste summer new arrivals. The irritation from seeing Grandpa Xu two days ago had finally been smoothed over by the desserts—only for his good mood to vanish the moment he returned home and saw the lights on and someone busy in the kitchen.
Shi Zhi didn’t understand which part had gone wrong.
When feelings fade, when love is gone, when one is bored, or when affection has shifted—everyone should just part ways amicably. A breakup isn’t a divorce; it doesn’t require the other party’s consent. Even the “not-so-smart” Shi Zhi understood such a simple truth, so how could Xu Yining, who was so adept at interpersonal relationships, not understand it?
Shi Zhi said helplessly, “Xu Yining, if you’re here today to talk about the transfer of the building and the repayment of the loan, then let’s have a proper talk. Otherwise, I don’t want to say anything more.”
A crack appeared in Xu Yining’s expression. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath to suppress his internal emotions, and forced a smile. “Fine. Let’s eat first.” Seeing Shi Zhi about to refuse, he immediately followed up with: “I made this specifically for you; I spent several hours preparing it. Have a meal with me.”
Looking at the expectant Xu Yining, Shi Zhi ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say any words of rejection.
“It’s okay to eat takeout once or twice, but don’t eat it every day.” Xu Yining kept piling food into Shi Zhi’s bowl. He glanced at the discarded delivery container nearby and said disapprovingly, “Even if you want takeout, you should order from a brand. These random little restaurants use pre-prepared meals; eating too much of that is bad for your health.”
Shi Zhi didn’t offer much of an explanation. He gave an “Mm” and lowered his head to eat.
Xu Yining stared at the crown of Shi Zhi’s head for a moment. His peripheral vision caught the stir-fried beef in the delivery container. He served Shi Zhi a bowl of chicken soup and tested the waters: “How come your tastes have changed lately? I remember you don’t eat beef. Have some chicken soup; I know you like it, so I stewed it specifically for you.”
The chicken soup was clear; it was obvious that effort and time had been poured into it.
Shi Zhi put down his chopsticks, no longer in the mood to continue the meal.
Past expectations had become current exhaustion.
“I don’t like it,” Shi Zhi said with a grave tone. “I don’t like any dishes made from chicken, duck, or goose. I don’t like drawing commercial commissions. I don’t like you making Yijing call me ‘Sister-in-law,’ and I don’t like you calling me your ‘wife.'”
“I… I didn’t know. You never told me…”
Shi Zhi said, “I did. Xu Yining, I said it countless times, but you could never remember. All these things you mentioned are things you like, not things I like. You always force your preferences onto me. I’ve refused many times.”
Shi Zhi hadn’t understood before where the mysterious sense of control in the seemingly gentle Xu Yining came from. He always imposed his own consciousness onto Shi Zhi.
It was fine when they first started dating; he was just concerned about his tastes and schedule. Slowly, that concern became interference interference with Shi Zhi’s friendships and hobbies. He always treated his own likes as Shi Zhi’s likes, and he was never willing to hear Shi Zhi’s voice.
It wasn’t until after their engagement last year, when he had a meal with Xu Yining’s family, that Shi Zhi understood where that sense of contradiction came from.
His pushiness toward Shi Zhi was exactly the same as Wang Suzhen’s pushiness toward him. Both used the banner of “doing it for your own good” to attach their own thoughts onto others.
Xu Yining had always tried to resist the control from Wang Suzhen, but unconsciously, he had become dependent on and a true believer in that same method of control.
“So, are you throwing a tantrum just because I can’t remember what you said?” Xu Yining said, sounding deeply hurt. “But wi—baby, I didn’t do it on purpose. I really didn’t. I just thought you would like it; I just felt those things were good for you. If you don’t like them, I’ll change. I’ll change everything. I’ll record all your preferences in my phone right now. From now on, if it’s something you don’t like, we won’t do it. Please don’t be angry, okay? Don’t be mad at me.”
Shi Zhi was truly speechless.
He didn’t know if everyone who had been in the workplace as long as Xu Yining had the ability to filter out information they didn’t want to hear. How could he act as if nothing had happened after the masks had been torn off, speaking to him about these trivial matters without a hint of shame?
Shi Zhi didn’t want to play along with his acting.
“Xu Yining, I’m not throwing a tantrum because of those things. I’m not throwing a tantrum at all; I’m seriously telling you we’re breaking up,” Shi Zhi said. “If I were the one who cheated from the start, if I were the one who slept with someone else, would you accept that? Could you magnanimously forgive me?”
Xu Yining opened his mouth, seeming to finally wake up from the false beauty. He gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice, “Shi Zhi, I was wrong. I was really wrong. Can’t you forgive me just this once? I’m under too much pressure; you have to allow me to make a mistake.” He tried to use memories to soften Shi Zhi’s heart: “We’ve been together for over three years; we have so many beautiful memories. I still have the tattoo you designed on my body. We were about to get married! Can’t you forgive me just once?”
“No,” Shi Zhi said. “We have already broken up.”
Seeing Shi Zhi’s determined attitude, Xu Yining dropped his display of weakness. He said, “Shi Zhi, you’re truly heartless.”
He thought of the words his mother had said to him at the nursing home before he came back, the disappointment in his grandfather’s eyes, and how all his attempts to please Shi Zhi couldn’t get the boy to soften even a little.
Xu Yining felt a deep hatred in his heart.
He hated Shi Zhi’s decisiveness and coldness; he hated that his grandfather was no longer helping him; he hated his mother’s pressure; and he hated Yu Chongyao for breaking his stable life.
“Shi Zhi, I only committed the mistake that all men make. Can you guarantee you’ll never make a mistake in your life? Can you guarantee that after leaving me, you’ll meet a man who never makes a mistake?” Xu Yining said. “Men all think with their lower bodies. No matter who it is, it’s the same no one escapes being ruled by desire. Especially for people like us; being faithful to one person actually invites ridicule. Sex and love are separate to begin with, you just don’t believe it. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll realize I’m right.”
“I just didn’t expect you to be so heartless. Grandpa has treated you well, yet you won’t even let him live out his final days in peace.” Xu Yining stood up, straightened his clothes, and looked down at Shi Zhi. “I agree to break off the engagement with you. It’s just that Grandpa doesn’t have much time left. For these last few days, let’s not upset him, okay?”
Shi Zhi remained silent for a moment before finally saying, “Okay.”
Xu Yining nodded, returning to his usual gentle and kind demeanor. He glanced at the packed-away easel and the suitcase on the balcony, then smiled at Shi Zhi. “I won’t be coming over during this period. You don’t need to rush to move out; you can stay here until the engagement is officially broken.”
With that, he grabbed his jacket and moved to leave.
“Wait,” Shi Zhi called out to him.
A light sparkled in Xu Yining’s eyes. “What is it?”
“I know the company’s cash flow is tight.” Shi Zhi took a deep breath, clutching his phone. “The ten million borrowed by your family can be repaid in installments, without interest. However, the building that was transferred to your name was given to you because we were getting married; I gifted it to you as a wedding present. Now that we’ve separated, there will be no marriage. Therefore, you should return the building to me.”
Xu Yining paused. He looked at Shi Zhi incredulously several times before finally saying, amidst Shi Zhi’s panicked gaze: “Who have you seen lately? Who taught you to say that? Fu Yumeng?” Xu Yining shook his head. “No, Fu Yumeng doesn’t have the brains to come up with those words. You’ve seen someone else, haven’t you? Is it the person you were chatting with just now?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shi Zhi’s fingertips clutching the phone turned white.
Xu Yining said warmly, “Shi Zhi, I told you long ago to be careful with your choice of friends. Look at what Fu Yumeng has turned you into. You’ve even learned how to lie.”
“Xu Yining…”
“Shh” Xu Yining made a gesture for silence, his eyes full of playfulness. He said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about either. I’ve agreed to the breakup and the cancellation of the engagement. I know you’re a person who repays kindness; you won’t make things difficult for Grandpa, right? He’s been a kind person his whole life; you won’t let his name appear in… other places, right?”
Xu Yining left the house with a smile, but the moment he turned around outside, his face darkened.
Break off the engagement?
Heh.
Xu Yining walked angrily to the temporary parking area. Just as he was about to get in his car, he paused. In the temporary parking spot behind his car, another vehicle had parked at some point.
Strangely, Xu Yining gave it a couple more looks: an Audi A8, worth about 800,000 yuan. It wasn’t cheap, but people in this complex who could afford it were everywhere.
Nothing to worry about.
Xu Yining got into his BMW worth over a million and finally felt a sense of balance in his heart. He dialed a number: “Xiao Shu, I’m back from my trip. I bought a gift for you; come down and get it in a bit.”
Fu Yuchu stayed in the car for over an hour until the other person from the photo frame finally appeared. Seeing that the man looked angry but his clothes were neatly arranged, Fu Yuchu instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.
Arguments were fine, as long as no hands were laid on him.
He opened his phone and could finally reply to the message.
Shi Xiao Zhi: Then what should I call him?
CH: An ex-boyfriend.
CH: A stranger with no relation.
CH: The kind of relationship where you don’t need to be soft-hearted or held hostage by morality.
CH: Understand?