Chapter 9.2

After downing the entire glass in one gulp, Wang Qixuan poured himself another drink and studied Xin Zhihuan, noting his gloomy expression and furrowed brows. He guessed that something was wrong.

“Did you have a fight with Feifei?”

Xin Zhihuan responded with a self-deprecating smile and nodded.

“Why?”

“She questioned my relationship with Jennifer.”

“Jennifer?”

“My colleague. You met her when you came to New York for a business trip last year. The three of us had dinner together.”

“Oh, her.” Wang Qixuan recalled the charming foreign woman. They had shared a passionate night that evening. “Why would Feifei ask about your relationship with her?”

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“Klddkqla kp kd Mykrlk qsa y cwpkdlpp vakr. R vssj bla vs Wlkqlk’p alpvywaydv, yde obld Wlkqlk pyo wp vstlvbla, pbl tsv qwakswp.”

“Fbl oyp flyzswp?”

“Rv pllxp zkjl xsal vbyd fwpv flyzswpu. Fbl oyp hlau ydtau, yde R esd’v jdso obu.” Dkd Hbkbwyd pktble kd qawpvayvksd. “Fbl yzps tsv bwav psxlbso. Ebld R ypjle bla ycswv kv, pbl oswzed’v vlzz xl yde pyke kv oypd’v xu cwpkdlpp.”

“Fbl oyp vbyv ydtau?” Eydt Ckmwyd aykple bkp lulcasop kd pwarakpl. Mbl Wlkqlk bl jdlo oyp yzoyup tldvzl yde taynkswp. Rv oyp byae vs kxytkdl bla zspkdt bla vlxrla.

“Lsv vbl pbswvkdt jkde sq ydtla,” Dkd Hbkbwyd lmrzykdle. “Fbl oyp fwpv nsze, oswzed’v zssj yv xl sa vyzj vs xl. Zsw jdso, vbyv’p obyv pnyalp xl vbl xspv. R’e ayvbla ol yatwl zswezu vbyd bla pyukdt dsvbkdt yv yzz.”

G nsze oya? Eydt Ckmwyd alyzkgle. Rdelle, vbyv oyp obyv xld qlyale xspv ycswv osxld.

“Jwv pbl eke pyu sdl nzlya vbkdt vs xl.”

“Ebyv oyp kv?”

Xin Zhihuan didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at his friend with a bitter expression, took another sip of his drink, and finally spoke hoarsely. “She said she wants a divorce.”

“What? I thought you two decided not to divorce?”

“We hadn’t decided against it. I just asked her to give me some time to work things out, but… it looks like she gave me a failing grade.”

A failing grade?

Wang Qixuan gazed at his friend, then patted his shoulder comfortingly. “Come on, don’t look so down. It’s making me depressed too. Look, whatever’s on your mind, just say it. Your brother is here to share the burden with you.”

Xin Zhihuan’s spirits lifted slightly at his friend’s words, and he managed a weak smile. “Thanks, brother.”

The two men exchanged a look, their unspoken bond of brotherhood strong. Then, in unison, they raised their glasses and drank deeply.

“Yes, I slept with Jennifer. So what? It was just a one-night stand! She has a boyfriend now, and they’re even talking about getting married!”

Just a one-night stand. So what?

Qi Feifei closed her eyes and smiled bitterly.

After her unpleasant encounter with Xin Zhihuan, she took a taxi home alone. As soon as she got inside, she rushed into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the dirty and humiliating feeling. Then she retreated to her room, curling up by the window.

He had the nerve to retort that his fling with that foreign woman was just a one-night stand. So what?

How could he be so unapologetic? And why did her heart ache so much upon hearing his nonchalant admission?

He said his relationship with the red-haired beauty was purely professional, with only that one night of indulgence.

But did he know that during his six years of gallivanting in America, she had been alone? Even with numerous admirers pursuing her, she had never opened her heart to anyone. She never had intimate physical contact with anyone. For the sake of furthering her relationship with Fang Jiajun, she insisted on finalizing her divorce from Xin Zhihuan first.

Yes, in those six years, they had been in a de facto state of divorce, living separately. But her heart had never truly left him.

This was what she hated the most: why couldn’t she let go? She should have completely severed her feelings, eradicated her longing and attachment to him. She should have realized long ago that people, in the end, must learn to be independent and strong.

Especially women.

A woman must never stake her happiness on a man, never let her body and soul depend on a man. She must learn to rely on herself.

Had she not recognized this harsh reality even now?

Thinking of this, Qi Feifei laughed again, this time more hoarsely, more sorrowfully, in a way that was almost unbearable to hear.

She got up sadly and walked to her glass cabinet, looking at her precious collection.

Should she buy a new music box? This time, it had to be very delicate and beautiful. It could even be a bit expensive. She had the money now. She had plenty of money!

She wasn’t afraid anymore. She didn’t need to be. Now, her material life was secure. She could support herself, rely on herself, and she didn’t need any man. She didn’t need Fang Jiajun, nor did she need Xin Zhihuan!

In the end, she was alone, and could only depend on herself.

“Qi Feifei, you are strong…” she murmured, her eyes misty as her delicate hand brushed over each music box, finally stopping at the one he had given her.

This was the only music box she hadn’t bought for herself, the only one that wasn’t purchased to soothe a wounded heart. It was a gift from him, a birthday present.

Qi Feifei’s hand trembled as she took down the beautiful crystal music box, cradling it in her arms as she knelt on the floor and carefully opened it.

The clear and melodious music struck a chord in her heart.

As she listened, silent tears began to fall.

Mom, mom, when will we meet again? I’m so lonely, so alone, do you know that?

Are you in heaven with my baby? Is he doing well? Is he cute? Does he hate me? Does he hate me for not protecting him?

Can you tell him I’m sorry? Tell him it’s my fault. One day, I’ll hold him in my arms, tell him to wait for me, okay?

Wait for me, both of you, wait for me so we can be reunited. I miss you, mom, I miss you so much…

Crying was so easy, and yet so draining. Her heart ached, her stomach churned violently, and she coughed and choked, but there was still a deep sadness lodged in her chest that she couldn’t expel.

What should she do? What could she do?

Why couldn’t even the music box comfort her anymore? Why couldn’t the heavenly music ease her pain?

What should she do?

Qi Feifei sobbed and choked, her delicate fists pounding her chest, trying to release the sorrow stuck in her heart. It hurt so much, so much…

In the midst of her intense crying, she suddenly heard a noise outside the door. Someone had returned—it was him.

She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, terrified that her sobbing would be heard.

He stumbled to her door, banging on it forcefully.

“Feifei, Feifei, I know you’re in there! I know you’re home, open the door!” His rough, drunken voice called out.

Was he drunk?

Qi Feifei bit her lip hard, stifling her sobs.

“Feifei, open the door, open it!” He shouted, continuing to bang on the door.

She didn’t move.

“What are you mad about? Is it Jennifer? There’s really nothing between us. If you care that much, I promise I won’t see her privately again, okay?”

“…”

“Still not talking? I get it… Have you accepted Fang Jiajun’s proposal? Because he’s richer than me, his family background is better, so you decided to choose him, right? Is that it?”

How could he think that? What did he take her for?

Qi Feifei was filled with indignation, her brows furrowing tightly, her teeth clenched.

“Fine, you won’t talk to me, won’t talk, right? Fine! This is what you always do, insist on not saying anything. Do you know how exhausting this is for me? You, you’re really exhausting!” He hiccupped, pausing. “Alright, it’s decided then…”

Decided what?

Her heart tightened, and she listened intently. He seemed to stumble back to his room, rummaging through things. A moment later, he returned to her door and slid something under the door.

She stared blankly at the item he slid through. It was a document folder.

“Divorce papers. Sign them. We’ll finalize the divorce tomorrow!”

So, he had already prepared them?

“Isn’t this what you want? Then let’s do it! I’ve had enough. Let’s get divorced!” He shouted through the door, his tone cold and unfeeling.

Her world froze instantly, her heart encased in ice.

Divorce it is. It can only be this way.

The music box continued to play its beautiful melody, the ballet dancer spinning gracefully. But her tears had dried, fading away with the night.

—

The wedding ceremony had been complex, but the divorce required only a simple procedure.

Stepping out of the civil affairs office, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was clear and blue, as if even the heavens were congratulating their divorce.

She and he stood on the sidewalk, facing each other, both with calm expressions. Even in parting, they refused to be resentful ex-spouses.

“I’m going back to the United States,” he announced calmly.

She was taken aback. “Back to New York?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Didn’t you get the General Manager position?”

“What does it matter to you whether I got it or not?” he retorted sarcastically. “Don’t forget, we’re no longer married.”

Yes, they were no longer married. She had no right to ask.

Qi Feifei’s heart sank, but she managed to smile, a polite and gentle smile. “Then I wish you all the best. I hope everything goes well for you in the U.S.”

He raised an eyebrow.

That’s it? His eyes seemed to question.

She blinked, her breathing momentarily disordered.

After a few seconds, he also smiled. “I wish you success with your new restaurant. May it prosper.”

“Thank you.”

With nothing more to say, they looked at each other for a moment.

“Then… I’ll go this way,” she awkwardly pointed to the right.

“I’ll go this way,” he pointed to the left.

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

They bid each other farewell, turning and walking in opposite directions.

From then on, they would go their separate ways. Who knew when they might meet again? Perhaps by then, their faces would be marked by time and their hair streaked with gray.

Would they recognize each other then? Would they smile at each other in relief when they met?

She hoped they could greet each other with a smile, just as they had smiled while parting today.

She hoped for that day…

Both suddenly stopped, lifting their heads to look at the distant sky.

Were those tears in their eyes?