Chapter 22

“All right.” Her voice was a little rough. “Today you can eat as much as you want.”

I went back to the waiting room and took off the gown.

It was heavy. Only after removing it did I notice two red marks across my shoulders.

I put on my familiar shirt and trousers, carefully folded the dress, and placed it in its protective bag.

I didn’t throw it away or tear it.

The dress had done nothing wrong. It simply hadn’t been able to see me through a wedding.

Mom waited outside.

Seeing me in ordinary clothes, her eyes filled again.

“Wangshu…”

“I’m all right.”

I went over and linked my arm through hers.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To eat.”

She stared.

I smiled.

“Didn’t we agree, Mom? Even if I’m not getting married today, I still need a proper meal.”

She looked at me, then smiled too, tears falling as she did.

This time, I didn’t cry with her.

I gently wiped her tears, took her arm, and left the venue with her and Zhixia.

Shiye was gone.

I didn’t ask where. He didn’t call again.

That evening, a message arrived.

*“Wangshu, I always thought you wanted marriage so badly that you could never leave me. Today I understood that I’d turned it into a threat. I’m sorry.”*

I looked at it for a long time.

Then I sent a brief reply.

*“I hear you.”*

Nothing more.

I believed this apology was sincere.

But the days when he had ignored and dismissed me were real too.

Accepting his apology didn’t mean going back.

—

### 19

Later, I moved out of the home we had shared.

I rented a little apartment near the editorial office. It wasn’t large, but the balcony was spacious and caught the midday sun—perfect for drying clothes.

On moving day, I spent a long time cleaning alone. Books went onto the shelves one by one, clothes onto hangers. Then I went to the supermarket for bowls, chopsticks, and household essentials.

At the checkout, the cashier asked whether I wanted a membership card.

I thought for a moment and said yes.

On the form, a field read “Number of household members.”

I paused, then carefully wrote:

*One.*

Walking home with my shopping, I felt strangely light.

Living alone wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. I bought groceries and cooked. If I worked late, I ordered one portion of takeout. At weekends, I slept until I woke naturally, without worrying that someone would complain I was getting up too late.

I even taught myself to fix the tap that occasionally leaked.

Of course there were sad moments.

A delicious dish could still make me think of Cheng’an. Architectural news still brought Shiye to mind.

I didn’t force myself to forget them at once.

I had truly loved both men. Both had held important places in my life.

I simply no longer needed to return to them.

Shiye contacted me twice after that.

The first time, he asked whether I had collected all my things.