When the Umbrella Never Came

When I returned from my business trip, Zhao Ming was playing games.

"You said you would bring me an umbrella?" I asked.

Hearing this, Zhao Ming didn't even look up, replying to me:

"I saw the rain had stopped, so I didn't go."

This time, for once, I didn't argue with him and turned to pack my luggage instead.

Once the thought of breaking up arises, there's no turning back.

"Brothers, he's low on health!

"Team fight, gather up!"

When I entered, Zhao Ming was shouting into his headset.

He was playing a game, and from the sound of it, the battle was intense.

I stood at the entrance, taking off my shoes and socks that had been soaked by the flooded roads.

After a while, Zhao Ming quieted down.

I raised my voice, making sure he could hear me even with his headphones:

"You said you would go to the airport to bring me an umbrella?"

Zhao Ming didn't look up, replying to me:

"I saw the rain had stopped, so I didn't go."

I lowered my eyes, looking at my jeans that were tightly clinging to my calves from the water.

I thought to myself, the rain outside hadn't stopped at all.

It just came and went in intermittent bursts.

Leftover takeout boxes were casually placed on the dining table. He must have already eaten.

I looked at Zhao Ming.

He really was handsome.

So handsome that people couldn't get angry at his face.

His slender eyes were fixed on the screen, the small mole at the corner of his eye particularly captivating.

His long, powerful fingertips quickly tapped the phone, occasionally saying some gaming terms.

I didn't understand.

"Yaoyao, get on me."

"Daddy will give you blue."

This I understood.

He was playing games with his gaming partner.

When Zhao Ming said this, there was a smile on his lips, his tone carrying an imperceptible doting.

I withdrew my gaze and turned into the bedroom to pack my luggage.

I'm a minimalist, so I didn't have much luggage.

When I came out dragging my suitcase.

Zhao Ming glanced at me, his brows slightly furrowed, asking me:

"Another business trip?"

Before I could speak, his tone turned urgent as he spoke into his headset:

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

"I'm coming, hide behind me."

He seemed a bit busy.

I thought, it would be better to say we should break up in person.

While waiting for him, I conveniently put the takeout boxes on the dining table into a garbage bag.

It was from that chain restaurant he often ate at.

After a while, his game still hadn't ended.

Just as I was hesitating about whether to interrupt him, Zhao Ming finally remembered me.

He put away his smile, took off his headphones, and asked me:

"Why haven't you left yet?"

I froze.

The words about breaking up got stuck in my throat and were swallowed back.

"I'm live streaming now, so I don't have time to see you off. Take a taxi yourself.

"Remember to bring an umbrella, be safe on the road, and come back early."

After giving me these instructions, he put his headphones back on.

So, he didn't hear my final reply:

"Mm, okay, I won't be back."

At ten o'clock at night, a summer rainstorm opened the nightlife in Shenzhen City.

I pushed my 28-inch suitcase along the bustling street, truly out of place among the handsome men and beautiful women passing by.

A gust of wind blew, and I shrank back from the cold.

Suddenly I regretted being so impulsive. I wasn't really in that much of a hurry to leave.

At this hour, where would I find a place to live?

Looking at the message I sent successfully a few minutes ago: [Let's break up.]

The crisp and decisive words declared that Zhao Ming and I were over.

I pressed my lips together, tightened the thin jacket I was wearing, and dismissed the thought of turning back.

My stomach betrayed me with a few growls. I pouted and turned into an alley food stall, ordering barbecue and beer.

So it turns out that when people are hungry, ending a four-year first love isn't that difficult.

Zhao Ming and I were university classmates, we met in a public lecture.

We were in different majors, but unexpectedly hit it off in conversation.

Later, we simply became class partners.

After getting to know each other, he thought I was quite nice.

So he asked me: "Want to try dating me?"

I agreed.

Zhao Ming was a local, and his family had bought a house for him when he started college.

So after graduation, we stayed in this city together, living in his house.

Zhao Ming didn't like being constrained, so he simply became a gaming streamer at home.

And I found an internship at a foreign company, slowly getting on track.

It seemed like life was going pretty well.

Until he found a gaming partner and they became like brother and sister.

They gave each other nicknames and teased each other:

"Dog son, come save your mom!"

"Don't shout, Dad's here!"

And so on, they went from playing games together, doing PK matches.

To sharing dinner with each other, sharing music playlists.

Their common topics expanded from games to each other's love lives.

For example, why she didn't have a boyfriend.

"I have you," the other replied.

"Don't be silly, I have a girlfriend."

Although Zhao Ming righteously corrected the other person, there was a smile on his face.

Looking back now, he must have been enjoying this mutual flirting that they both understood.

My company had frequent business trips, and Zhao Ming and I spent more time apart than together.

Every time we argued about his gaming partner, he would use this against me.

Saying I didn't spend time with him, that he had just found a like-minded friend.

It was all just my dirty-minded, petty, jealous female behavior.

So at first, when he found a gaming partner, I reflected on myself.

Many times, I specifically turned down company celebrations and dinners.

Like this time, I hurried back in the heavy rain.

Planning to have dinner together to celebrate.

But the person who promised to bring me an umbrella stood me up.

I came back hungry, my clothes still damp with cold rain.

And he was already eating takeout from the same chain restaurant with his gaming partner.

Their exclusive cloud dinner.

Actually, thinking about it carefully, maybe we were never on the same page to begin with.

In terms of our timelines.

I went to work, he slept.

I slept, he live-streamed.

Our lives gradually lost their intersection, but conflicts accumulated more and more.

I said he was flirting under the guise of friendship, without boundaries.

He said I only knew about work, that I was money-obsessed.

We each stuck to our own arguments, both passionately accusing the other.

Afterward, we would hold each other tightly, trying to "sleep" convince the other.

Yet, neither of us was convinced.

Compared to being a couple, we were more like roommates.

And then, no more intersection.

After eating, it was already eleven o'clock.

The sky started to drizzle again.

Fortunately, this time I brought an umbrella, a very large one.

Big enough for both me and my suitcase to arrive safely at the hotel.

After quickly washing up, I went to bed.

No insomnia, no sorrowful emotions.

Even in my dreams, I was reviewing today's project meeting.

Maybe Zhao Ming was right, I really was money-obsessed.

At four in the morning, the alarm clock rang.

I narrowed my eyes, and through the floor-to-ceiling window, the moonlight hadn't faded yet.

Quiet and with a bit of lonely coldness.

I got up and stretched, sitting at the desk, opening my laptop for a speaking class.

My written English scores were decent, but my speaking was a bit lacking.

And my work often required dealing with foreign clients.

Before, at this time, Zhao Ming hadn't finished his stream.

Seeing me taking a speaking class, he would take advantage of bathroom breaks to come over and kiss me.

Then he would hold me with eyes full of pity:

"Baby, don't be so hard on yourself.

"Life is so long, we can take it slow.

"Worst case, quit working. Your boyfriend doesn't lack the money you earn."

Actually, long ago, we did have times of complete trust, when we gave our whole selves to each other.

But now, how did we become like this?

When the red sun peeked over the horizon, I glanced at the time, it was already past seven o'clock.

I packed my things and ran to catch the subway.

The company was quite far, over an hour's commute.

I was squeezed in a corner by the crowd, so I put on my headphones to listen to English morning reading.

My phone "dinged" a few times, messages came in.

It was Zhao Ming, he sent me several photos.

There were cosmetics and skincare products, and also baby formula.

The message I sent him last night was pushed down.

So from last night until now, he hadn't seen the [Let's break up.] I sent him.

Just as I was thinking about whether to remind him, he sent several voice messages.

I opened them, his voice was hoarse, he must have just finished streaming:

"Baby, while you're on your business trip, go to the duty-free shop and buy these."

Not hard to guess, these weren't for Zhao Ming's use.

But for his gaming partner, Wang Yuan.

When they were on voice chat, they mentioned that her friend had a baby.

But she was troubled by not having a reliable channel to buy a certain foreign brand of formula.

Zhao Ming racked his brain to plan for her, even called his mother for help.

I vaguely remembered, that day was my birthday.

I left work early, passing by a cake shop to buy a small cake.

It was Zhao Ming's favorite lime and sea salt flavor.

When I got home, Zhao Ming had just woken up. Seeing the cake in my hand, he asked with sleepy eyes:

"Why did you suddenly buy a cake?"

I smiled and explained: "Today is my birthday."

He scratched his head and smiled along:

"Sorry, baby.

"I was busy and forgot."

He took out his phone and transferred 5200 yuan to me, plus a: "Happy birthday."

I wasn't angry, but I wasn't very happy either.

Just as I was about to light the candles, Zhao Ming urged me to make a wish.

He was about to start streaming, and time was tight.

The flickering candlelight seemed to understand and politely extinguished itself.

I didn't even have time to make a complete wish.

So we hurriedly cut and ate the cake.

Midway, Zhao Ming suddenly looked up and asked me:

"What kind of gifts do you like?"

I thought he was going to make up for my birthday gift, so I thought for a moment.

My lotion seemed to be almost running out, so I mentioned the brand I usually use.

Hearing this, Zhao Ming shook his head:

"She doesn't use skincare products at this price point."

She, referring to his gaming partner—Wang Yuan.

I froze for a moment, silently lowering my head.

I had known early on about the gap between Zhao Ming and me.

It was my first relationship, and I took anniversaries very seriously.

I did a lot of research and bought him Vans skateboard shoes for around five hundred yuan.

While I wore no-brand white shoes for 29.9 yuan with free shipping.

But when Zhao Ming received the gift, there wasn't much change in his expression, even a bit of disdain.

Only then did I know that the colorful shoes he usually wore each cost over a thousand yuan.

His family, loving parents, well-off household.

And me, both parents present, divorced family.

When I was little, the words I heard most were:

"If it weren't for being pregnant with you, I wouldn't have married your dad."

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been forced to marry."

My existence came from an accident between them, and they were forced to take responsibility.

Starting a never-ending quarrelsome marriage.

When I was eight, they fought their way into the hospital again.

The man met his first love at the hospital and simply divorced, quickly falling into a hot romance.

The woman cried for a long time on the hospital bed.

After recovering and being discharged, I never saw her again.

My grandmother raised me.

She gave me all the money she had saved her entire life.

Then on a sunny day with no wind or rain, she left forever.

So, between Zhao Ming and me, there was always a great distance.

Even without outside interference, maybe we wouldn't have gone far anyway.

"Ding~"

The message notification sound pulled me from my memories.

Zhao Ming sent another voice message reminding me:

"Look carefully, don't buy the wrong one. I'm taking it to give to someone."

I suddenly remembered before, when we were in the heat of our relationship.

My favorite singer was holding a concert in mainland China, and tickets were hard to get.

Zhao Ming also repeatedly urged his friends to grab tickets like this.

Yes, he had once carefully cherished my likes too.

Only now, that cherish had transferred.

I smiled, feeling somewhat relieved.

I blocked him.

Life is but thirty thousand short days.

Between people, having some beautiful moments is enough.

When I arrived at the company, the reception room was surrounded by a crowd of people.

I squeezed in, and it turned out people were arguing.

The onlookers thoughtfully explained to those who smelled the gossip and came to watch:

"These two came to the company early this morning to block CEO Song."

"They didn't manage to block CEO Song, but they ran into their love rival instead."

"The two met and started attacking each other."

"Over a man, is it really worth it?"

"How is it not worth it? With Old Song's physique and face, top-notch quality. If I weren't afraid of being fired, I'd also want to bow down before his pomegranate pants, and be a flirtatious ghost even in death."

...

An image of a stern-faced man flashed through my mind.

A man with eyes on top of his head.

My boss, Song Qi.

The first time I met Song Qi was in a meeting room.

When I was presenting my proposal, Song Qi didn't even frown, directly calling a stop:

"No good, redo it."

Just a few words, overturning our team's week of hard work.

Then, he accurately listed several shortcomings in the proposal.

Although my team leader was angry, he couldn't find fault.

He could only resist in small ways, such as:

"Can't you respect others?"

"The girl has thin skin."

What did Song Qi say then?

Oh, he said:

"The prerequisite for winning respect is absolute strength."

Before leaving, he glanced back at me, saying coldly:

"Someone who can't even speak English fluently, how can they convince clients?"

No beating around the bush, no face to speak of.

Hard to imagine, a man with such a strange temper.

Actually had women, very beautiful women fighting over him.

Wait, fighting?

Hey, how did a fight start?

In an instant, some childhood fragments flashed through my mind.

A man and a woman tangled together, using the most vicious words to curse each other.

I was too small, completely unable to stop two adults from fighting.

So later, every time I thought about that incident, I felt guilty and blamed myself.

If I had stopped them then.

Maybe they wouldn't have divorced.

I would still be a child with a home.

That sense of helplessness became a crack in my heart.

I subconsciously rushed forward to break up the fight.

But I underestimated their fighting power.

In the end, this absurd farce ended with me getting slapped across the face.

Several long scratches from fingernails hung on my face, stinging painfully.

When I was cleaning the wound in the rest area, Song Qi came in.

He glanced down at my injured face, his tone without much fluctuation:

"Come to my office."

Like the calm before a storm.

After entering the office, he took a first aid kit from the bookshelf and placed it before me.

I understood, put my phone aside, and picked up cotton swabs and iodine.

At the same time, Song Qi took my phone.

Added me as a friend, transferred money, one hundred thousand yuan.

The actions flowed smoothly.

"Today's incident was caused by me. Consider this your medical fee."

"In the future, have some self-awareness, and meddle less in others' business."

His words carried an irresistible pressure and contempt.

I suddenly understood those women.

This person Song Qi, although scummy, had some charm.

Not to mention anything else, he was really generous with money.

The head of public relations pushed the door open angrily. Seeing me, she slightly managed her expression.

The prelude to big shots arguing, I took the opportunity to slip away.

Song Qi's light words:

"Finish treating your wound before leaving."

Cut off my retreat.

Hearing this, the person's face turned iron-green, simply dropping the pretense:

"Fine, then I'll be direct."

"You playing with women is none of my business, that's your private matter."

"But letting them bring it to the company is your fault."

"The public opinion is still fermenting, and the shareholders are already angry."

Song Qi frowned and interrupted him:

"You don't need to worry about this matter. I'll hold a press conference in two days."

My eyelids were jumping badly, but Song Qi seemed fine as he flipped through files.

Noticing my gaze, he slightly looked up:

"You book two tickets to Hangzhou for tonight."

"You're coming with me."

"?" I pointed at myself.

"Mmm, I've already informed your superior."

Completely leaving no room for refusal.

Seeing me silent, he put down his pen, his body leaning slightly back, in a condescending manner:

"What, you're unwilling?"

"Ah, no, it's just a bit sudden."

Hearing this, Song Qi's fingertips lightly tapped the table, raising an eyebrow:

"Opportunities only belong to those who are prepared."

I thought about it all morning.

The words kept looping in my mind:

"You playing with women is none of my business."

"Opportunities only belong to those who are prepared."

For safety, after landing in Hangzhou that night.

I went to the market and bought a bottle of "anti-wolf spray" to put in my bag.

In fact, for a whole week, I was so busy my feet barely touched the ground.

Before getting on the plane, Song Qi handed me a proposal.

He asked me to follow up on this press conference.

When public sentiment was at its highest, Song Qi explained to the reporters.

His relationships with the two girls had already ended, and he had given each a generous breakup fee, even though some of their relationships lasted less than a month.

The moment that face appeared, in this online environment where looks are justice.

Many people's balance had already tilted.

The comments under the company's official website were unanimous:

"Well, with such stunning looks, I can kind of understand why the exes fought."

"Heavens! For this look, I'd be willing to pay!"

"Graduated from an Ivy League school, handsome and smart, looks very capable in that department too."

...

The one-sided heat caused the company's stock to hit its daily limit.

The newly opened Hangzhou branch also quickly gained fame and occupied the local market due to the attention.

Some questioned whether this farce was just a reverse marketing stunt specially planned by Song Qi.

Song Qi's gaze lingered on this comment, his coffee-drinking motion pausing.

He smiled lightly: "It's too late to realize this now."

I sat beside him, somewhat understandingly asking:

"So, CEO Song."

"Those two girls were hired by you to act?!"

Hearing this, Song Qi frowned, retorting:

"In your eyes, am I that kind of despicable person?"

I froze, and he couldn't help but feel irritated, explaining:

"My relationships with them were mutual and consensual, we broke up amicably."

"As for them falling for me again, I have no obligation to be responsible."

"This time was purely coincidental, I just took advantage of the situation."

First time hearing "scummy" said so nobly.

I still maintained a polite smile on my face, while silently giving him the side-eye in my heart.

Song Qi seemed to hear my thoughts, his face turning serious:

"This is your first time being fully responsible for a project, it seems fine on the surface."

"But actually, there are big problems. The proposal I gave you was very rough."

"And you work by the book, lacking your own thinking, not flexible enough."

"Even if opportunities are placed before you, you might not be able to seize them."

Although Song Qi seemed to be abusing his power for personal revenge at this moment.

I had to admit, he was right.

Because the proposal was ready-made, I did indeed execute it step by step.

I quickly nodded in agreement, using the bathroom as an excuse to avoid his overt and covert attacks.

When I came out of the bathroom, I unexpectedly ran into someone.

Zhao Ming.

I had been busy with work this week and rarely thought of him.

I thought I was very free-spirited and had completely forgotten him.

But meeting again, I couldn't help but feel a ripple in my heart.

Our beginning came from a heartbeat.

But when it ended, we didn't even say goodbye.

Four years of relationship, why could he have no reaction at all after I suggested breaking up?

Those nights of sweet talk and passionate entanglement seemed as if they had never really existed.

And we were more like people who had never been in love.

I stood not far away, watching him anxiously look around.

Just as our gazes were about to meet.

Someone called out to him.

"Little turtle son, looking for me?"

The girl wore a loose shirt, light blue denim hot shorts exposing her long, white legs, chestnut wave-like hair casually tied behind her head.

Passionate and bright.

I clearly saw the tremor in Zhao Ming's eyes, not a pure gaze.

A long, long time ago, he used to look at me like that too.

"Why didn't you reply to my messages? I thought something happened to you."

"I was out drinking with friends last night and forgot to reply."

The surrounding crowd was noisy, but I still clearly heard their conversation.

So, Wang Yuan didn't go online last night and didn't reply to messages.

Zhao Ming worried about her all night and booked the earliest flight to Hangzhou.

Coincidentally, I ran into them.

A bit ridiculous.

I laughed at my inexplicable sense of loss.

I had already broken up with him, so it had nothing to do with me what he did.

But as I turned around, my eyes felt a bit hot.

"Lin Wanchun?"

Zhao Ming's voice came from behind.

I didn't look back, quickly leaving.

Zhao Ming stared at the familiar back not far away and froze for a moment.

"Who?"

"Nothing, I must have seen wrong."

Zhao Ming glanced at the pinned chat on his phone, the conversation box had stopped a week ago.

His heart inexplicably trembled, but he attributed it to the panic from not resting well last night from worrying about Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan stood on tiptoe, intimately hooking Zhao Ming's neck, smiling:

"Let's go, son."

"Mommy will take you to eat something delicious."

Zhao Ming slightly turned to create distance.

"Be careful to avoid suspicion. I have a girlfriend."

"Then why are you so nervous about me?"

Wang Yuan subconsciously questioned:

"Worried about my safety, you flew to my city early in the morning."

"Zhao Ming, your behavior has already far exceeded the boundaries of ordinary friends."

"Admit it, you like me too, right?"

Wang Yuan's tone was sincere, her eyes slightly teary,

She was about to be driven crazy by this feeling of watching flowers bloom gloriously from a ditch.

Liking someone always subconsciously puts oneself in a lower position to beg for the other's love.

But Zhao Ming rejected her.

Even though everything he did, piece by piece, told her.

He liked her too, but he wouldn't admit it.

It didn't matter, they could take it slow.

One day, Zhao Ming would recognize his true feelings.

They smiled and went to eat together again, as good friends.

As if nothing had happened just now.

When I returned to the coffee shop.

Song Qi had already closed his laptop and was waiting for me.

I hurried over, making an excuse for myself:

"Sorry, CEO Song."

"I had a stomachache, which delayed me a bit."

Hearing this, Song Qi looked up at me, as if trying to see through me.

"You cried."

A statement.

I shook my head in denial.

"Reason?"

Song Qi continued to ask:

"Too much pressure?"

"Was I too fierce?"

Before I could speak, he sighed lightly.

Subconsciously raising his hand, placing it on top of my head, seeming to sense something was wrong.

So he changed direction, patting my shoulder saying:

"As a newcomer, you've already done very well."

"My tone wasn't good just now, I apologize to you."

"Let's go, let's celebrate."

Song Qi seemed to have misunderstood.

He postponed the return to Shenzhen, booking a nearby restaurant to celebrate.

Unfortunately.

The restaurant he booked was the same one Zhao Ming and Wang Yuan went to.

We had just entered the private room when Zhao Ming rushed in.

His gaze fell on me:

"Wanchun, that was really you just now!"

Wang Yuan followed closely behind Zhao Ming.

"Zhao Ming, what's wrong?" she asked.

Past Zhao Ming, my gaze met Wang Yuan's.

The emotions in her eyes weren't friendly.

Zhao Ming didn't care about this, staring fixedly at Song Qi sitting calmly to the side, asking me:

"Who is he?"

"Weren't you on a business trip abroad?"

Wang Yuan pouted, her eyes wandering between me and Song Qi.

"Wow, so rich."

"Just the two of you opening such a large private room for dinner."

"Who knows what you're doing here that can't be seen."

Song Qi laughed, his meaning unclear:

"This young lady is quite interesting."

"Besides eating in a restaurant, what else can one do?"

Wang Yuan innocently shrugged:

"Who knows what you want to do."

Hearing this, Zhao Ming gritted his teeth, his eyes red as he looked at me:

"Lin Wanchun, did you sleep with him?"

I looked at him in disbelief, this person I had sincerely treated for four years.

Still the same face, but terrifyingly unfamiliar.

Because of Wang Yuan's ambiguous words.

He put the hat of betrayal on me.

So, a week later, a full seven days.

He hadn't seen the breakup message I sent.

Even now, he hadn't discovered I had blocked him.

In this situation, with no contact between us for seven days, he didn't think there was any problem.

"And what about you?" I looked up, staring at him.

"What?"

"You recorded her period in your memo, ordered takeout for her from the same brand restaurant, helped her friend's son buy formula, sent her various luxury skincare products and cosmetics."

"Just because she didn't reply to your message last night, you panicked and flew to Hangzhou just to confirm her safety."

"Then, you continue to ambiguously eat together under the name of friends."

"If I get accused of 'betrayal' just for eating with someone else."

"Then what do all these intimacies between you count as?"

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

He subconsciously blurted out:

"I'm a guy, so no matter what, I won't suffer a loss."

Hearing this, Wang Yuan looked up in shock, her eyes teary:

"Zhao Ming, what do you take me for?"

"In terms of appearance, figure, personality, or family background, where do I lose to her?"

"So many people pursue me, but I've been waiting for you to see your true heart."

"And now you tell me I'm just your plaything?"

"Zhao Ming, I really regret liking you."

After speaking, Wang Yuan ran out crying.

Zhao Ming bit his lip, his fists tightly clenched, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

He was hurting, but he suppressed the impulse to chase after her.

The private room fell into silent silence.

After a moment, Zhao Ming looked up and asked me:

"Are you satisfied now?"

He questioned me.

He flirted with Wang Yuan under the name of friendship.

While clearly knowing the other person liked him, he still opened his domain to her.

Then when exposed, he made a difficult choice.

He chose me over her.

So, he blamed me, blamed me for forcing him to make a choice.

I can't describe the feeling in my heart.

I just knew, I didn't want to see him anymore.

Forever.

"Zhao Ming, if you had paid attention to my messages, you would have discovered that I had already notified you of the breakup seven days ago."

"On the day you stood me up to play games with Wang Yuan, we had already completely ended."

"So now, whatever you do with Wang Yuan has nothing to do with me."

Hearing this, Zhao Ming picked up his phone, quickly scrolled up in our chat box.

The sentence I sent him: [Let's break up.]

Quietly and lonely lying in the blank space.

Zhao Ming's pupils shook, his face pale:

"I was live streaming that day."

"You know I was busy..."

Yes, he was busy.

So busy that his girlfriend was away on business for seven days, and he didn't even have time to click on the message box.

So busy that when his female partner didn't reply to his message for one night, he hurriedly flew to meet her.

Really too busy.

He didn't say anything more.

His reasons were too clumsy.

The fact that he appeared here, no amount of explanation seemed utterly pale.

But it had nothing to do with me anymore.

I passed by him, walking out.

But my wrist was tightly gripped by him.

"I don't agree to the breakup."

Song Qi stood up, blocking in front of me, warning Zhao Ming:

"Let go!"

"Fuck! What the hell are you!"

Zhao Ming clenched his fist, throwing it straight at Song Qi's face.

Song Qi took a punch, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He smiled as he wiped it away, his eyes turning fierce as he threw a punch back.

The two tangled together.

The 28-year-old Song Qi, due to regular exercise, was not inferior in stamina to the 22-year-old physical education major Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming, since graduating, had stayed up late, eaten takeout, and rarely exercised.

Now not as good as when he was in school.

The two fought back and forth, for a while it was hard to tell who had the upper hand.

In the past, I would have rushed forward as a human shield to separate them, persuading them left and right.

But now, I rushed forward.

Aimed at the right moment, and slapped Zhao Ming across the face.

"Slap!"

Compared to the dull sound of flesh meeting flesh, the slap was extremely loud.

Zhao Ming froze, his eyes red, looking at me in disbelief.

"You hit me?"

"You hit me for him?"

"Lin Wanchun, you're really something."

"He's an old man eating alone with you, what good intentions could he have?"

"We're both men, how could I not know what he's thinking?"

"Lin Wanchun, we were together for four years, a full four years."

"So many of our firsts belonged to each other along the way."

"You're really heartless, just let go, just break up."

"No wonder your parents didn't want you, people like you don't deserve love."

My heart jumped violently, like the dull pain of being heavily punched, hard to breathe.

"That's not true."

I heard my own voice, lightly refuting: "It's not like that."

"You're the one who killed your grandmother, and people who get close to you will become unfortunate."

I closed my eyes, tightly covering my ears, losing control:

"Shut up, shut up!

"Zhao Ming, you shut up!"

Song Qi took the opportunity to throw two punches at Zhao Ming's cheekbone.

Zhao Ming finally shut up, collapsing powerlessly to the ground.

Song Qi loosened his tie and stood up, making a phone call:

"Call an ambulance."

"Yes, fighting."

"He's fine, won't die."

Song Qi's face was also quite battered. After hanging up, he looked at me:

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head, my legs somewhat soft.

Leaning against the wall, little by little I bent down and sat.

The words Zhao Ming said kept repeating in my mind.

Yes, Zhao Ming and I were together for four years.

He was once someone I treated as family.

At certain moments, he was also someone I treated as my salvation.

Those nights we slept holding each other, we also told each other our deepest secrets.

Because of enough trust, dropping all vigilance, putting away all thorns to embrace each other.

Because of enough understanding, also knowing where it hurts most to stab the knife.

Grandmother was such a good person, she should have lived a long life.

But she passed away early.

They all said I was a jinx, a life-taker.

Not at all.

Grandmother said I was born in spring.

She was illiterate but gave me a very beautiful name—Wanchun.

It was the spring when winter ice melts, full of hope.

I was her most precious treasure.

But how could she bear to abandon her most precious treasure?

Because what they said was right.

People close to me are unfortunate.

I am the jinx that everyone spits on.

What to do?

It seems the tears can't be stopped.

A warm suit jacket covered my entire body.

I fell into darkness, but felt strangely at ease.

Someone gently held me.

"Cry if you want to cry."

It was Song Qi.

In my dream, someone was humming a nursery song softly.

An aged voice, with non-standard pronunciation:

"Grow up quickly, grow up quickly."

"Our Chun'er, grow into a tall, strong tree."

"Never again fear wind and rain, sun and rain..."

A hand with thin calluses tightly held my hand.

I could feel it, the scorching palm, a continuous source of heat.

In that old building, an old fan slowly swayed.

The old woman was braiding the little girl in her arms into pigtails.

Getting closer, I saw their faces clearly.

It was grandmother and my childhood self.

Grandmother looked at me, her aged hand touching my head, smiling as she asked:

"Is Chun'er back."

"You've grown so tall already."

"Let grandma see, have you lost weight?"

"Living alone outside, have you been eating well, loving yourself well?"

I nodded, tears unconsciously falling.

Someone touched my face, gently wiping away my tears.

"Don't cry."

I looked up, it was my childhood self.

The self that grandmother raised well.

She also smiled, somewhat shyly shrinking into grandmother's arms.

It was satisfaction, happiness.

Grandmother held her tightly, looking at me:

"Chun'er, you will always be grandma's precious treasure."

"Even if grandma isn't by your side, grandma will always love you."

"You must take good care of yourself, carrying grandma's love and hope."

I nodded vigorously, also holding them tightly.

But the tighter I held, the emptier my arms became.

They gradually became transparent, disappearing bit by bit.

I reached out desperately to grab.

"Don't go!"

I woke up with a start.

"I'm here."

Song Qi's voice was light but resolute.

I looked down at our tightly clasped hands.

So, the hand in the dream was his.

I quickly let go, moving back to create distance from him.

"I'm sorry, CEO Song."

"Because of my affairs, I've implicated you in getting injured."

Song Qi looked at the hand I released, his gaze paused for a moment, then smiled:

"It's nothing, just minor injuries."

"That kid is more serious, needs a couple of stitches."

"The doctor said you fainted because your emotions fluctuated too much, just rest well."

"Thank you, CEO Song."

Song Qi nodded, standing up.

Against the light, I couldn't see his expression.

I only heard his voice:

"I've lived 28 years, and this is my first time fighting."

"Fighting for a girl, quite interesting."

I lowered my head, not knowing how to respond to his words.

A light laugh came from above my head. Song Qi looked at the time:

"Alright, you rest well, call me if you need anything."

I nodded, watching him leave.

He reached the door, stopped, and called back to me:

"Lin Wanchun."

"Mmm?"

"While the 'anti-wolf spray' in your bag is guarding against me."

"Also guard against others, like your impolite ex-boyfriend."

"Bang" the door closed.

In the hospital room, only the sound of the IV drip could be heard,

Outside the window, the banyan tree rustled, its long tassels swaying in the wind.

There was also one growing in front of my old home.

Grandmother said banyan trees are the easiest trees to grow.

Once its roots touch soil, they can also support a small patch of shade.

Old friends gather under the tree, unafraid of the years that pass.

The years are quiet and good.

But a phone call broke this peace:

"Lin Wanchun, you're such a bitch!"

On the other end of the phone was Wang Yuan's furious voice:

"Zhao Ming is still so young, his career is just taking off, what deep hatred do you have that you fucking want to send him to prison? You and Zhao Ming were together for four years after all, how can you be so vicious!"

I froze for a moment, but quickly reacted:

"He assaulted and slandered me, the law is fair and just."

"What slander, isn't it true?

"Although I like Zhao Ming, Zhao Ming has always maintained boundaries, we never cross the line."

"On the contrary, you and your lover in the private room, you know clearly what you were doing."

"No wonder your mother gave birth to such a heartless thing like you and ran away, you deserve it, you know?"

"People like you don't deserve to live in this world, hurry up and die, die with your grandmother."

"Your whole family can reunite..."

My family's affairs, I had only told Zhao Ming.

After experiencing this.

I wasn't too surprised that Zhao Ming told Wang Yuan about my affairs.

I could even imagine, when Zhao Ming told my most painful and difficult experiences to Wang Yuan,

His expression was one of pity, but the corners of his mouth were turned up.

Then the two of them acted as saints from on high.

Either judging or sighing.

On the phone, Wang Yuan continued to say horrible things.

I saw it was about time, closed the recording button.

Hung up the phone, and blocked the phone number.

Since she felt so strongly for Zhao Ming.

Then she could join him inside.

I contacted my team leader, whose sister ran a law firm.

"Oh, it's my little Chun'er."

"Quick, tell me, what did you do to Old Song?"

"My ex-boyfriend harassed me, CEO Song helped me..."

Before I could finish, she interrupted me:

"Tsk, not that."

"Your idiot ex-boyfriend is being sued by Old Song, with our legal department's abilities, he'll probably be in prison sewing."

"Not talking about that, too unlucky."

"The point is Old Song, I saw he was beaten and his mood was pretty good."

"He even specifically told me to care more about my subordinates, not his style at all."

I quickly clarified:

"CEO Song simply helped me out seeing injustice."

"No fun."

"You're not here, I've eaten several fewer meals!"

I coaxed her, and顺便 mentioned Wang Yuan's situation.

"It's fine, I'll push my sister's business card to you."

"Just treat her like a donkey, no need to be polite."

...

After talking with the team leader's sister, about Wang Yuan's slander and insults.

The maximum was just a few hundred yuan fine and a few days in detention.

But it didn't matter, it was enough.

After all, it concerned my and Song Qi's reputation.

He was innocent and shouldn't be implicated by me.

People close to me won't become unfortunate.

Personally breaking the deadlock, supporting a patch of shade to resist all difficulties.

Outside the window, the banyan tree branches gently swayed.

A wind blew in along the windowsill, gently brushing my face.

As if telling me:

"My Chun'er has grown up."

"You did very well."

Wang Yuan was also a gaming streamer, like Zhao Ming.

A few hundred yuan fine and a few days inside, Wang Yuan said it didn't matter.

She said during her live stream:

"Dead poor ghost, really crazy for money hahaha."

"These few hundred yuan, just consider it sister's charity."

But after she said this, fans tagged her in one account asking her to explain.

Explain what?

I sent a recording of her scolding me, with some excerpts, to a marketing account.

Plus surveillance footage from Hangzhou of her confessing to Zhao Ming and going to eat.

And while I was collecting evidence, several netizens claiming to be Wang Yuan's high school classmates found me.

It turned out Wang Yuan had bullied a girl in high school, causing her to develop depression and drop out.

And Wang Yuan's family spent a lot of money to suppress everything, graduating smoothly.

The heat quickly attracted local attention.

Wang Yuan's father had lived a low-profile life, but because of this incident was dragged in, and major problems were discovered, where he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Afterward, Wang Yuan quickly deleted her account and disappeared without a trace.

Some said she was desperate to save her father and married someone.

As for where she really went, no one knew.

Time seemed to have been put on fast forward.

Approaching the New Year, everyone was busy, feet barely touching the ground.

I moved to a new place, not too far from the company, about a thirty-minute commute.

I still woke up at four for speaking class, and thanks to persistence, my speaking improved rapidly.

Later, I added several business-related courses.

This day, my team leader found me:

"Little Chun'er, are you trying to turn grief into strength?"

I stopped my work, looking at her in confusion.

"You've been taking on too much work recently, often working overtime. I'm worried about your health."

"A new bar opened downstairs, with a few tough-looking guys."

"Don't be sad about that idiot anymore, I'll treat you to a drink."

I was torn between laughter and tears, declining her kindness.

"Thank you, my good team leader."

"Zhao Ming and I were together for four years, over 1,400 days."

"This is just a small part of my life. I still have many things to do, many dreams not fulfilled."

"Go to Africa to see elephants, to Iceland to see the aurora, to the Maldives to dive, to Hokkaido to soak in hot springs..."

"Quite tasteful." Song Qi walked by holding coffee, saying lightly:

"This year's team building will be in Hokkaido for hot springs then."

"Yeah!"

"Boss is awesome!"

The office became lively because of Song Qi's words.

I also joined in the crowd's tone: "Boss is awesome!"

Song Qi glanced at me, then looked away.

I sat back at my desk and continued my work.

After a while, my phone lit up, a message came in.

It was Song Qi:

[Your first dream, the company will help you achieve.]

I replied: [1]

Song Qi didn't reply to me.

Among adults, it's about the decency of点到为止.

Working overtime at night, when I left, the company was almost empty.

Taking the elevator, Song Qi happened to come out of the office.

"CEO Song, you're working overtime too?"

Song Qi nodded, his expressionless.

We took the same elevator down.

A bit quiet.

I pressed the first floor, for him I pressed the basement.

The moment the door closed, Song Qi suddenly walked toward me.

I was backed into a corner, he lowered his head to look at me.

We were very close, even able to feel each other's breathing.

"CEO Song, you..."

"What are you dissatisfied with me about?"

"Looks? Family background? Education? Figure? Or something else?"

I shrank back, wanting to create distance from him, but there was nowhere to hide.

"No, CEO Song, you're excellent, it's just..."

"Just what?" he pressed step by step:

"I support inspection here, fake one compensate one hundred, seven days no reason to return."

"But I'm confident I can make you absolutely satisfied."

"Ding!" The elevator opened.

I "whooshed" and shrunk, feet extended, and ran.

My heart was beating fast because I ran to the subway station.

Getting home, washing up, I lay in bed.

For the first time, I had insomnia.

I found many reasons.

Finally settled on the iced Americano from this morning.

Around eleven o'clock.

My phone rang, it was Song Qi.

I turned on silent, pretending to be asleep.

It rang for a while, he didn't call again, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside the window seemed to have the sound of a car starting engine, I turned over to find a comfortable position and continued sleeping.

I thought about it.

Song Qi is good as a boss, and good as a friend too, what about as a boyfriend?

In my mind were his exes, the messy sight of them fighting.

Each of them was beautiful, excellent.

On what basis did I think Song Qi would always maintain freshness with me?

And what guarantee did I have that this relationship wouldn't repeat the same mistakes?

When love comes to an end, would there only be harsh words left?

If the ending is like that, I'd rather not begin.

This memory of Song Qi would forever be without stains.

The next day, I submitted a project application.

Song Qi glanced at it:

"This project requires long-term residence abroad, are you sure you want to go?"

I nodded.

Song Qi closed the file, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.

"Trying to avoid me?"

"No, CEO Song."

"I want to improve, I want to grow into someone who can stand alone as soon as possible."

"For this, I've made preparations, that's why I took on this project."

Song Qi thought for a long time, finally nodding:

"Fine, since you've already made your decision."

"Then go do it, good luck."

He neatly signed, and handed it to me.

I slightly bowed to thank him, took the documents and walked out.

"Lin Wanchun."

Song Qi called me, I turned back, he said:

"You can use my affection for you to do anything, as long as I can help."

"You are brave, kind, and treat people sincerely. You deserve it."

"I wish you早日 grow into your own towering tree."

My eyes felt a bit hot:

"Thank you, Song Qi."

Watching the departing figure, Song Qi's heart felt itchy and numb.

He was certain, at this moment, he seemed to like Lin Wanchun even more.

(The End)