Before Ning Shu could speak, Tang Yue’ai said, “As the old saying goes, sisters are like limbs, men are like clothes—you can just take him.”
Ning Shu was amused, and the tension and discomfort she had been feeling earlier dissipated a bit, along with some relief in her lower abdomen.
Ning Shu said, “Alright, don’t you start talking nonsense too.”
Tang Yue’ai said seriously, “I mean it. I’m tired of him anyway.”
Ning Shu was speechless again. “What kind of nonsense is that? Are you crazy?”
Tang Yue’ai laughed. “None of us are exactly normal.”
Ning Shu rubbed her temples. It did seem to be true.
Just then, Xie Jinghong said, “Alright, let’s get some sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow.”
At the mention of this, everyone’s mood seemed to sink again.
Ning Shu said, “Yeah, goodnight.”
As Ning Shu was about to hang up, Xie Jinghong said, “Don’t hang up. Let’s just sleep like this.”
Ning Shu asked, puzzled, “Hmm?”
Xie Jinghong said, “I figure you’re sleeping alone too. Not hanging up might make it a little better.”
Ning Shu fell silent for a moment but felt warmed by the gesture.
Tang Yue’ai also said, “Right, don’t hang up.”
Ning Shu said, “Okay. But don’t come pick me up tomorrow morning.”
Xie Jinghong and Tang Yue’ai both fell silent.
Whether they agreed or not, Ning Shu didn’t ask. After a moment of silence, she placed her phone aside.
But with her friends’ support and this “unconventional” silent companionship, Ning Shu felt much more at ease.
Soon, drowsiness washed over her, and Ning Shu fell asleep.
On the other end of the phone.
Xie Jinghong lay half-reclined on the bed, silently smoking, seemingly deep in serious thought.
Tang Yue’ai stood nearby, picked up her coat, and opened her mouth to silently mouth the words, “I’m leaving.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as she opened her mouth, Xie Jinghong raised an index finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.
Tang Yue’ai was taken aback for a moment, then silently mouthed a curse at him, “Pathetic.”
With that, she turned and left.
After turning away, her eyes inevitably reddened slightly.
She was actually quite conflicted herself.
To step aside or not—she hadn’t fully made up her mind yet, nor was she completely certain.
If she stepped aside, she knew she’d regret it.
But if she didn’t…
Sigh.
Ning Shu slept fairly well but kept dreaming.
She dreamed of Fang Chen, and of Fu Yanshen and Meng Xuan.
She dreamed that she inexplicably attended Fu Yanshen and Meng Xuan’s wedding. The two stood together, looking quite well-matched.
Sitting in the audience, she watched as Fu Yanshen placed a ring on Meng Xuan’s finger, his expression so devout, as if he had finally gotten his wish.
All their friends were cheering, “Kiss, kiss!” Only she sat there like a petrified statue, watching as if she were a complete outsider.
She seemed to want to smile, to join in the cheering, but she could never quite enter the scene.
Then, Fu Yanshen really kissed Meng Xuan. As she watched, her heart felt torn apart, and suddenly tears streamed down her face, unstoppable.
The friends’ cheers grew even more boisterous, but she alone couldn’t make a sound, her throat choked and aching painfully.
Later, Fang Chen came, kneeling on one knee before her, smiling as he reached out his hand and said, “Xiao Shu, look at me. Marry me.”
Ning Shu’s throat felt as heavy as if filled with a thousand pounds of lead. She tried to open her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
Xie Jinghong also came, a cigarette between his fingers, and said, “Marrying him isn’t as good as marrying me.”
Fang Chen looked at him. “Get lost.”
Xie Jinghong grinned. “Don’t know how. Show me.”
Watching them mess around, Ning Shu suddenly felt like laughing again.
But for some reason, her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Then, inexplicably, Fu Yanshen suddenly abandoned Meng Xuan and came toward her, saying, “All of you, get lost. Xiao Shu is my wife.”
Ning Shu saw Meng Xuan standing on the stage, glaring at her resentfully, sending chills down her spine.
Then, suddenly, the battlefield erupted in chaos again.
Fang Chen stood before her, casually taking a cigarette from the pack, and said nonchalantly, “Xiao Shu likes heroes, huh?”
She shook her head desperately.
But Fang Chen seemed not to notice, smiling brightly and warmly at her. He placed the cigarette between his lips and said, “Since Xiao Shu likes it, I’ll go get one for you.”
With that, he draped his jacket over his shoulder, turned, and walked away, stepping into the raging battlefield.
The flames dyed his crisp military uniform red.
Ning Shu instantly burst into tears, her throat aching so tightly it hurt. She opened her mouth and struggled to say, “No, it’s not true, I don’t like it. You… come back!”
But Fang Chen walked on without looking back. Suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out—boom!
Startled, Ning Shu jolted awake from the dream, instinctively crying out, “No! Fang Chen, come back!”
“Come back!” Several seconds later, Ning Shu shouted again before realizing… it was just a dream.
Ning Shu froze, her eyes burning.
The genuine emotions she experienced in the dream made it impossible for her to detach herself for a while.
She had only said it casually.
Everyone likes heroes, but…
Ning Shu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. She gasped slightly, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely.
Just then, a voice suddenly spoke up. “Dreaming about Fang Chen?”
Ning Shu was taken aback, even startled, and then frantically searched for the source of the voice.
Only then did she realize… it was the phone call from last night that hadn’t been hung up.
That voice…
Xie Jinghong?
Ning Shu picked up the phone, switched it to speaker, and said with lingering fear, “You… didn’t sleep?”
Xie Jinghong’s eyes were slightly red. “No, you woke me up. What did you dream about?”
Ning Shu’s throat tightened. Not wanting to say more, she replied, “Nothing.”
Xie Jinghong said, “Mm, it’s just a dream. Don’t overthink it. Life and death are fated, wealth is determined by heaven. The dead cannot come back to life, Ning Shu. Don’t grieve too much—it’s not good for your health.”
Ning Shu made a soft “mm” sound, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn’t.
Xie Jinghong added, “You woke up just in time. It’s about time—get ready, and we should head out soon.”
Ning Shu checked the time and saw he was right.
“Mm,” Ning Shu replied, then casually asked, “Yue’ai isn’t awake yet, right?”
This seemed to catch Xie Jinghong off guard. After a moment, he said, “Do I seem like such a casual person?”
Now it was Ning Shu’s turn to be stunned. She blurted out without thinking, “You two don’t live together?”
Xie Jinghong and Tang Yue’ai had been dating for two years. She clearly remembered that they officially announced their relationship the day after she and Fu Yanshen got married.
At the time, everyone said it was like a double celebration.
Two years had passed, and their parents knew about it. Living together would have been normal.
Who would have thought they didn’t?
Xie Jinghong didn’t answer directly, only saying, “She left last night.”
Ning Shu didn’t press further about whether they lived together.
“Oh,” Ning Shu replied. “Then I’ll get up first.”
Xie Jinghong made a soft “mm” sound.
Just as she was about to hang up, Ning Shu suddenly said, “Xie Jinghong…”
Xie Jinghong brought the phone back to his ear. “What’s wrong?”
Ning Shu opened her mouth, her eyes reddening, hesitating to speak but ultimately saying, “It’s nothing.”
Xie Jinghong pressed further, “Something on your mind?”
Ning Shu shook her head bitterly. “No, I’m hanging up.”
Ning Shu finished packing and went downstairs.
The mess from last night had already been cleaned up downstairs.
The bottles of wine that hadn’t been smashed from the higher shelves were now placed in the middle of the wine rack.
But the top and bottom looked empty, inexplicably quite “funny.”
Like a balding middle-aged man stubbornly holding onto something.
Or perhaps… just like her stubbornly held-together marriage…