Chapter 2
Edward Quan ·
Then he closed the door.
I opened my hand.
The ring had rubbed my finger raw.
It was bleeding.
It hurt.
I turned my hand and threw the ring into the trash.
5.
After that, I stopped sending him endless messages.
Whenever he suddenly had to go to Mu Xueqing, I didn't ask questions.
I only said, "Go on, then."
He paused and looked at me.
"It's just work."
I nodded.
"All right."
He frowned.
But in the end, he still left.
Once, I went to his office to see him.
Passing the break room, I heard two male employees talking.
"Mu Xueqing's really something. Looks like she's about to land the big fish. Mr. Ji himself."
The other said, "Doesn't he have a girlfriend?"
The first laughed.
"Have you ever seen a CEO personally walk an assistant through her work? Or Mr. Ji show that much concern for another employee?"
"She's only been here a year, and she's already been promoted and transferred. On paper, she's number two in marketing. In practice, even the department head has to take his cue from her."
"Why do you think that is? Because Mr. Ji's behind her."
"Who cares if he has a girlfriend? Even if he had a wife, so what? His heart's been with Mu Xueqing for ages."
I stood behind the door until they'd gone.
Then I came out.
I didn't think about finding Ji Anyan to question him or argue.
I simply left.
The next day, I developed a high fever.
He took me to hospital and stayed while I received an IV.
I drifted off.
Pain woke me.
A girl I didn't know sat beside me, looking worried.
"Your IV ran out. Blood was backing up into the line. I called a nurse to remove it for you."
"Why did you come alone? Isn't anyone with you?"
I stared.
When I opened my phone, I found a message he'd sent an hour earlier.
"Something's come up at work. I'll be back soon."
Meanwhile, a friend had sent me a video from a bar.
In it, Ji Anyan had an arm around Mu Xueqing, leaning close to say something in her ear.
She didn't answer.
She simply fell into his arms.
He paused for a few seconds.
Then lifted her and carried her out.
My friend asked, "Isn't this your boyfriend?"
I didn't answer.
I thanked the girl beside me and left the hospital alone.
Standing downstairs, I realized I really didn't want to go back to that apartment.
So I walked down the street without a destination.
Soon, my phone rang.
"Xiao Cun, you're awake? I'll be back at the hospital in a bit."
I was quiet for a moment.
"Don't bother. I've left."
He paused.
"Left? Where did you go?"
I said nothing.
When I looked up, I froze.
A few steps away stood Ji Anyan.
Again.
He was supporting Mu Xueqing, who seemed a little more sober now.
They were coming toward me.
He stopped too.
Then immediately quickened his pace.
At that moment, a sharp creak sounded overhead.
By the time I reacted, the old, neglected sign had fallen.
Ji Anyan turned and shielded Mu Xueqing.
It struck me in the head.
In the chaos, I tried to push the sign away.
I touched my head.
My hand came away covered in blood.
When I looked up, Ji Anyan was staring at me in horror.
He ran toward me.
Then I passed out.
When I woke again, I was in hospital.
The doctor said the blow to my head had damaged my nervous system.
I could no longer hear the world.
6.
Those memories flickered through my mind, leaving me dazed.
Ji Anyan suddenly gripped me, as though he wanted to say something.
His lips parted.
Then pressed shut.
After a while, he released me and wrote again.
"All right. I won't disturb you. Get some rest."
"I'll buy you some fruit."
Instead, I caught his arm.
Calmly, seriously, I said, "Ji Anyan, perhaps you shouldn't come anymore."
"Let's… end this."
He froze.
Shock crossed his face.
He seemed to lose all composure, saying one thing after another.
I couldn't hear.
I only frowned, confused.
He abruptly stopped.
…
"Xiao Cun…"
This time, I could read his lips.
But he only said my name.
Nothing more.
Instead, he watched me.
"Don't be angry."
After a long while, looking at me as though soothing a child, he slowly typed the words and held out his phone.
Strange.
He'd thought I was a nuisance for so long.
Now I was offering to break up.
Shouldn't he be happy?
Why did he look anything but happy?
Even flustered?
I didn't need soothing.
I shook my head.
"I'm not angry."