Chapter 5
Edward Quan ·
How many times had I argued with him over Mu Xueqing?
How many times had I complained when he left me behind to go to her?
He hadn't heard any of it.
Only thought I was noisy.
"You didn't listen when it mattered. There's no point listening now."
"Ji Anyan, I have nothing left to say to you."
I turned to leave.
He suddenly gripped my wrist.
As though he'd made an enormous decision, he said, "I'll fire Mu Xueqing. I'll never see her again. All right?"
The rain outside suddenly became clear.
I stared toward it for a moment.
Then turned back.
I saw the ring on his finger.
"That ring was for me, wasn't it? Xiao Cun, you wanted to marry me, didn't you?"
I raised my hand and took it off his ring finger.
"I was going to propose in the Arctic."
He froze.
"I looked forward to it for so long."
I lowered my head, almost murmuring to myself.
"But I never got to go."
"You went with someone else. Your picture was lovely. You looked… well suited."
His face slowly went white.
"But now I think it was for the best."
I smiled.
"Thank goodness I never proposed. We aren't right for each other."
He stepped closer.
"We are. We're right for each other."
"Let's get mar—"
His eyes suddenly widened.
I'd thrown the ring as hard as I could through the corridor window.
It traced a long, high arc through the rain.
He rushed to the window.
I turned and left.
11.
A large new mall selling licensed character toys and plushies had opened in Beicheng.
I went on opening day.
I'd only walked a few steps when someone began following me.
Ji Anyan pointed at a yellow plush toy on the counter.
"Xiao Cun, you designed this one. It's very popular."
Then he pointed at a bear in winter clothes.
"Isn't this your favorite character? I don't think you have this version. Shall I buy it for you?"
He coughed twice, selected a box, and held it against his chest.
Then I noticed the ring was back on his hand.
I looked up, surprised.
He didn't look well.
Even his smile was strained.
"I found it."
Beyond that window had been a thick patch of grass.
I had no idea how much effort it had taken to find a tiny ring there.
Especially in the heavy rain of the past few days.
That explained his sickly look.
"I've fired Mu Xueqing," he told me.
"I won't go to her again."
I ignored him.
The outing had lost its appeal, so I decided to leave.
He followed, but a sales assistant stopped him to pay.
When I reached my building, I saw someone both familiar and strange.
Mu Xueqing sat on a log beside the bushes.
She stood when she saw me, dusted off her clothes, and looked at me coldly.
"You're better at this than I thought."
I had no interest in her and walked on.
She blocked me immediately.
"I know you can hear, Xia Cun. Stop pretending."
"Your little pity act might work on Ji Anyan. It won't work on me."
"I nearly had him. Then you went a little deaf, and suddenly he changed his mind."
Resentment filled her voice.
I looked at her coolly.
"What about you? Aren't you going to keep acting?"
"What's the word for it?"
I tilted my head.
"The brave but delicate little innocent?"
"Mu Xueqing, why aren't you crying? You look so pretty when you cry. If I were a man, I might like you too."
Her expression grew colder.
Then suddenly changed.
Her eyes reddened almost before I could blink.
"Ms. Xia, I'm not like you. I wasn't lucky enough to be born rich. I had to study hard as a child and work hard as an adult, just to scrape together a slightly better life."
"And…"
She choked back tears, looking stubbornly unyielding and so fragile she might break at a touch.
"Someone in my family is ill…"
"I need money. My job at Ji Group means so much to me. There's really nothing between Mr. Ji and me. Could you… please leave me alone?"
Her gaze flicked behind me.
Watching her, I suddenly laughed.
"That expression really is captivating. You're pretty when you cry too."
She stopped.
"Could you cry a little more?"
"What?"
She stared.
I looked down, searched my bag, and took out my half-finished bottle of water.
I unscrewed the cap and poured it straight over her head.