On Jack’s birthday, I shyly put on the lingerie I had bought for him. But when he saw me, his eyes flashed with disgust. “What are you wearing? Take it off quickly! What if my girlfriend sees?” I froze, my voice trembling. “Girlfriend?” “Yeah, Sophia. She just accepted my confession.” Seeing my stunned expression, he sneered disdainfully. “You’re just too old-fashioned. We only slept together a few times. You didn’t think we were actually dating, did you?” “If childhood friends were meant to be lovers, we would’ve gotten together years ago. Why wait until now?” We had lived together for a year and done everything couples do. I always thought we were in a secret relationship. Even our family and friends assumed we were going to get married. But my childhood friend suddenly said we were just adults comforting each other. In that moment, I felt utterly hopeless. I quit my job and left for a faraway city. But he regretted it and came begging on his knees: “We’ve already slept together. Are you really going to be so irresponsible?” 0
After a night of passion, my legs were still shaky as I got dressed. But thinking of his delighted reaction when he saw me made me hurry. After dressing, I shyly looked at myself in the mirror, remembering his intimate whispers in my ear last night. “Olivia, wear it for me. I like it.” We had lived together for over a year, and I always fulfilled his requests unconditionally. Plus, it was his birthday today. I was willing to make this sacrifice for him. Full of anticipation, I opened the door. But instead of Jack’s excitement, I was greeted by his impatient expression as he held his phone. He said tenderly into the phone: “Wait for me.” After hanging up, his expression changed to disgust when he looked at me. “What are you wearing?” I was stunned. He had clearly hinted at wanting me to buy this, even putting it in my Amazon cart himself. I felt lost. The room was cold in the early autumn, and I shivered. He grabbed my lingerie and threw it at me. “Hurry up and change. My girlfriend will misunderstand if she sees!” My mind went blank. I asked in disbelief: “Your girlfriend?” His face softened. “It’s Sophia, the beauty from the dance club. She accepted my confession.” It felt like a blow to the head. I could hardly believe my ears. Sophia was the girl he had chased for half a year in sophomore year. But then she went abroad, and he seemed to get over her quickly. I always thought it was just a passing crush, and that I was the one who truly understood him. He turned to get dressed, the scratches from last night still visible on his back. Childhood friends, with over 20 years of history between us. Living together for over a year, we ate together, watched TV, hiked, saw sunrises, wore matching bracelets, even had couple profile pictures on SnapChat. The man who had been intimately entangled with me just last night suddenly told me he had a girlfriend. What did that make me? Seeing me standing there motionless, he frowned and sneered. “What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you thought we were actually a couple?” My teeth were chattering, my throat too choked up to make a sound. He threw his jacket at me, saying disdainfully: “You’re just too old-fashioned. We only slept together a few times. We’re both adults, do I really need to spell out this kind of unspoken arrangement?” “If childhood friends were meant to be lovers, we would’ve gotten together years ago. Why wait until now?” I trembled violently, the chill from the floor seeping up to my chest. Holding back the ache in my nose, I forced a stiff smile. “You’re right, it was just sleeping together a few times.” I stiffly started to get dressed, but it was so cold I couldn’t even pull my pants on properly. His phone rang. It was Sophia urging him to come downstairs. He hung up and impatiently pushed me towards the door. “Hurry up, she’s almost here!” I stumbled and fell flat on my face, my nose hitting the floor. Tears immediately welled up. He seemed about to help me up, but then remembered something and ran to the mirror to cover up the marks on his neck. He grumbled impatiently: “You women just love leaving these marks, as if that makes you my girlfriend.” I froze, seeing his mocking and contemptuous gaze. I scrambled to my feet, just wanting to escape this room as quickly as possible. As I was about to open the door, he called out to me. “I don’t want Sophia to misunderstand. Delete your fingerprint access, and leave the key too.” He hummed cheerfully, completely ignoring the blood dripping from my nose. In that moment, I wanted to ask him why he was being so cruel. We had chosen this smart lock together, and set the passcode to our couple numbers. I bit my lip hard, holding back tears as I quickly deleted my access. When the success tone sounded, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down my face. I fled as fast as I could. 0
I left in such a hurry that I didn’t even put on socks, walking out into the chilly autumn street in just thin shoes. Passersby kept turning to look at me, because I was crying, wearing only a thin jacket, with messy hair and a swollen nose. I didn’t dare go home. I stood alone by the bridge in the cold wind for a long time, until my tears were dried by the wind. Then I got a call from work. My manager said the client needed to check a document from last year. All my files were locked in the cabinet at Jack’s place. After hanging up, I reluctantly dialed his number again. The phone rang for a long time before someone picked up. I could hear noisy voices in the background. I tried hard to suppress my emotions, not wanting to sound like a jealous woman. “Jack, I left some documents at home. Can you give me the passcode?” Thankfully, he just asked what documents they were. I described them, and he hesitated before saying: “Why don’t you come over? I’ll give you the key.” “No need, just give me the code. I’ll delete it afterwards, don’t worry.” He insisted: “Come get the key. I’ll text you the address. Sophia’s moving in tonight, I can’t guarantee she won’t throw your stuff out.” He said it so casually, but those were all things we had bought together. I remember how nervous and happy we were when we picked out those little items. Now he was treating them like trash. I gave a bitter laugh and took a taxi to the address he gave. I entered the private room and immediately saw it was full of friends Jack and I had in common. They were all toasting Sophia. She sat in the place of honor, elegant and haughty. Her gaze swept over me with contempt. “Jack, is this your little childhood friend?” Only then did I notice Jack sitting beside her, focused on peeling shrimp for her. The plate next to her was already piled high with peeled shrimp. The man who couldn’t even use chopsticks in front of me was now acting like an attentive waiter for another woman. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and reached out my hand to him. Before I could speak, he suddenly stood up and came over to me. “Sophia, I invited her here today to prove I have nothing to hide. There’s nothing between us, we’re just family friends. I couldn’t refuse out of consideration for our families.” Ignoring my suddenly pale face, he turned to our friends. “You guys can vouch for me, she’s the one who’s been chasing after me this whole past year.” I looked at him in shock, then uncertainly at our friends. They had all witnessed Jack’s and my relationship develop. They saw us go from being inseparable to living together. We spent every important holiday together. They had all seen our passionate embraces. No one would meet my eyes. They just muttered: “Yeah, Sophia, don’t misunderstand. They’re just friends.” “Olivia’s the clingy type, that’s why she’s always hanging around Jack.” I opened my mouth, feeling a stab of pain from my fingertips to my chest. “Sophia, now do you believe me? There’s really nothing between us. I’ve seen her looking like an ugly tomboy, who would fall for a buddy like that?” Sophia snorted. “So you’re saying she shamelessly threw herself at Jack to live with him? Olivia, you’re really pathetic.” I jerked my head up, glaring coldly at her about to retort. Sophia suddenly threw her phone at Jack. “Prove it to me. If you don’t love her, announce in all your group chats that she’s the one who chased you. So no one will misunderstand.” I froze in shock. Jack and I had gone to the same schools since childhood. We had so many mutual friends. We were in almost all the same group chats. That was my entire social circle. 0
Jack seemed to hesitate too. He glanced at me furtively. I bit my lip hard, past caring. “Sophia, there’s nothing between Jack and me. You don’t need to worry or test me anymore. I won’t contact him again.” But Sophia just sneered again. “If there’s nothing, what are you afraid of? Jack, don’t tell me you’re too scared? Was it a lie when you said you only love me?” Jack glanced at me quickly and muttered “Sorry.” He picked up the phone and, right in front of me, opened one group chat after another. “Listen up everyone, there’s nothing between Olivia and me. I only love Sophia. Please don’t spread rumors about us anymore.” “Sophia is my only girlfriend!” My phone started buzzing non-stop, vibrating so much my hand went numb. My heart felt numb too. When he finally finished, Sophia patted his head like rewarding a dog. “I heard Miss Olivia plays piano. It’s Jack’s birthday, why don’t you play something to liven things up?” I looked sharply at Jack. Only he knew I played piano. He also knew that I could no longer play after my fingers were damaged saving him. That year, there was a fire in the school gym equipment room while Jack was moving equipment inside. No one dared to go in, but I forced open the red-hot iron door with my bare hands. I had always loved arts, dancing and piano came naturally to me. Though I never had formal training, I was quite talented. But after that incident, my fingers were fused from the burns. I could never play piano again. I still remember when the doctor broke the bad news, Jack’s hands trembled as he gently stroked my face: “Olivia, I’ll protect you forever from now on.” Those words still echoed, but the person had changed. Catching my pained and shocked gaze, he looked away uncomfortably. Sophia sneered: “I heard you used to play for Jack all the time. I guess I’m not worthy.” She made as if to leave. Jack immediately stopped her and coaxed her to sit back down. Then he came over to me and said in a low voice only I could hear: “Olivia, just play something for show. Sophia just got back, don’t make her lose face in front of my friends.” I said shakily: “Jack, you know I can’t play piano anymore!” At a party years ago, someone had also urged me to play. Jack angrily smashed a glass to make them shut up. Jack gritted his teeth, his voice turning cold: “Then leave. But you won’t get your documents.” “Those documents are important, right? Didn’t you always want a promotion?” An icy chill ran through me. So he knew. Had he forgotten I gave up a overseas assignment for him, ruining my chances at promotion? I looked at him, my eyes burning and nose stinging. The boy I loved had completely changed into someone I didn’t recognize. Something inside me slowly shattered. I lowered my head and gave a bitter smile, holding back tears. “Fine.” I walked to the piano and slowly sat down, gently placing my hands on the keys. It had been five years since I touched a piano, but I felt no joy, only numbness and sadness. As expected, even a simple “Happy Birthday” came out discordant and awful. Whispers broke out in the room. I heard Sophia’s friend snicker: “Look at her hands, they’re like chicken claws. If I were her, I’d be too embarrassed to keep playing.” “Sophia, why don’t you play instead?” The next moment, Sophia stood up and came over, her voice haughty. “Miss Olivia, what a coincidence. I also learned piano, and even won some small awards.” She shoved me aside and sat down. Her long fingers quickly produced a melodious tune. Jack led the applause, and the room immediately erupted in enthusiastic clapping. It made me feel even more like a pathetic clown. When she finished playing, Sophia stood up. Jack immediately went over to take her hand, looking at her adoringly. “Sophia, you play so beautifully.” Sophia glanced at me meaningfully. “Jack, you should eat something good.” I stood in the warm room but felt chilled to the bone. This farce finally ended after Sophia’s grand performance. Jack gave me the key. As I was leaving, he grabbed my arm. “Olivia, don’t be angry. We’re still friends. If you ever need help in the future…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. “Future?” Tears streamed down my face. “We have no future!” 0
I rushed back to the office as fast as I could and worked until 3 AM to finish everything. My head was pounding. The day’s events had left me utterly exhausted. Instead of going home, I fell asleep right at my desk. In my dream, I returned to Jack’s and my teenage years. He was full of vigor, leading me through mountains and rivers. His youthful voice clear and bright: “Olivia, when we get married, let’s build a house here with a big yard…” I was woken by a commotion. Vaguely, I heard people whispering: “I saw clearly, isn’t that Olivia’s boyfriend?” “Yeah, her childhood friend!” I rubbed my aching head and opened my eyes to find it was already bright outside and my coworkers had arrived. Seeing me awake, my colleague Amy pulled me to the window. I immediately saw Jack standing below, holding something. Even from a distance, I could see his angry expression. “Olivia, get down here!” I was startled by Jack’s harsh tone. To avoid making a scene during work hours, I could only text him. “Can we talk after work? Today is really busy, please.” I was already using my most humble tone to beg him. When I didn’t get a reply for a while, I thought he had agreed. But a minute later, the office door was pushed open. My manager was discussing yesterday’s work with me when Jack marched straight up to my desk and slammed down what he was holding. “Olivia, you’re so manipulative! I told you clearly there was nothing between us, that I don’t love you! But you turn around and have your parents bring this stuff to my house!” “Don’t you know yesterday was my dad’s birthday? Sophia was there, all our relatives were there. Where am I supposed to put my face?” “You made Sophia cry. What are you trying to do? Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m not going to marry you!” I felt like I’d been stripped naked and thrown onto the street for everyone to gawk at. I was utterly humiliated. My coworkers’ stares, my manager’s scrutiny – it all felt like being sliced apart over and over. The shock left me trembling all over, my tongue so stiff I couldn’t make a sound. Jack wasn’t done. He called Sophia and put her on speakerphone, shouting loudly: “Olivia, listen up! Even if you were the last woman on earth, I wouldn’t marry you! I only love Sophia!” “Stop chasing after me. If you want a man, I can introduce you to someone!” “We’re just friends, stop doing things that make people misunderstand!” The stares of everyone around made my mind go blank. Sophia’s voice came through, choked with sobs: “Please stop seducing my boyfriend! He was corrupted by you. I’m not like you, sleeping around. I’ll only sleep with my future husband!” I clutched at my collar, struggling to breathe. Tears spilled from my eyes, blurring my vision. I opened my mouth, using my last ounce of strength to point at the door: “Get out!” Jack left. The office was dead silent. But I felt crushed under the weight of a thousand stares and unspoken judgments. My back was rigid as I wiped my tears over and over, quickly packing up my things on the desk. My phone on the desk rang. It was my mom. “Olivia, your dad collapsed. Come to the hospital quickly.” … I arrived at the hospital. The doctor found me and spoke earnestly: “Your father’s airways and blood vessels have always been weak. He needs to avoid emotional stress.” I nodded and went to my father’s bedside, feeling ashamed. He was awake, but his face turned red with anger when he saw what I was holding. “That bastard Jack! How dare he say my daughter isn’t good enough for him? He humiliated you in front of all those people, saying you were chasing after him! What bullshit! We all saw how he couldn’t bear to be apart from you all these years!” “When you were kids, he’d cry if he was away from you. At night when the adults weren’t around, he always wanted to sleep next to you!” “You lived together for a year, and now he says you’re just friends?! How did I not see earlier what a scumbag he is?” Yes, Jack used to be such a good person. He was humble and polite, and extremely protective of me. He never let anyone bully me. As kids, he got into countless fights for me, taking so many beatings from his mom on my behalf. It was all these little things piling up that turned into love, making me willing to live with him for a year without any official status. My mom sighed and explained what had happened. Apparently they had gone to Mountain Temple a few days ago and heard it was good for praying for marriage. My mom had knelt for half a day and gotten two red strings and a pendant from the monk. They took it very seriously, bought gifts, and chose yesterday’s auspicious date to personally deliver everything to Jack’s house. When they explained the items and their purpose, Jack immediately threw everything out and said a lot of hurtful things. My dad just scolded him a bit, but for Sophia’s sake, he actually yelled at this elder who had always doted on him. He even kicked my parents out, spouting nonsense about introducing men to me if I couldn’t get married. … Tears fell from my eyes in big drops. It was my love for Jack that had humiliated them like this. I knelt in front of my dad, silently crying for I don’t know how long until my tears were almost dried up. But my heart slowly grew more determined. I choked out: “Dad, Mom, let’s go stay with Uncle. The doctor says your condition needs a change of environment to recover.” My uncle lived in River City and had always wanted us to move there. My parents only stayed because they didn’t want to separate me and Jack. They were stunned for a moment, but quickly nodded. “Okay, we’ll do as you say. Our Olivia can thrive anywhere.” … With things decided, I immediately listed the house with a realtor and started the resignation process at work. A week later, the house sold smoothly and I got my resignation paperwork. But the day before leaving, I ran into Jack again at the mall while buying seasonal clothes for my mom. Since I had blocked him, his expression turned ugly when he saw me. He was clutching his stomach, with dark circles under his eyes. Sophia had dragged him out shopping. “Olivia.” He stood in front of me, carefully looking me over. “I heard you quit your job?” I didn’t want to talk to him, but was afraid he’d make a scene. So I just gave a faint “Mm.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice was tinged with grievance. “I had to hear it from friends.” I ignored him. He trailed pitifully behind me: “Are you really angry about last time? They just showed up suddenly, Sophia misunderstood. I was just trying to calm her down.” Seeing I wasn’t responding, he stepped in front of me, putting on his usual act of weakness. “Olivia, my stomach hurts again.” In the past when his stomach was bad, I’d search everywhere for folk remedies to make for him. I spent a year breaking his habit of drinking on an empty stomach to finally improve his stomach. But in just a week, he was back to his old ways. I looked up at him. His eyes immediately lit up with joy. He tried to grab my hand but I dodged. I laughed: “What, being a lapdog not comfortable enough? Can’t even eat dog food properly?” He had posted an official announcement with Sophia on Instagram. Sophia commented: “Good boy, my little puppy.” His expression darkened, then he smiled strangely: “Olivia, Sophia says you like me. You’re not jealous, are you?” I stared at him silently, like looking at an idiot. He thought he had guessed right and smiled: “Olivia, we’ve been together so many years. I understand you. You’re just jealous.” “I said we could still be friends. Isn’t tomorrow your birthday? I’ll come see you, okay?” “Didn’t you always want to see the sunrise? I’ll go with you. We can stay at the mountaintop hotel for a night.” I looked at his excited, expectant eyes and smirked. “Sure, I’ll wait for you.” Sophia called his name from outside. He answered, then quickly kissed my forehead. “Wait for me at home tomorrow.” After he left, I disgustedly wiped off the mark on my face. Wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Jack, you really are despicable to the extreme. But this time you might be disappointed. I don’t want you anymore. … The next day, just before the plane took off, I got a call from Jack using another number. “Olivia, you sold the house? Where did you all go? Where are you going without me? Why didn’t you tell me? Aren’t I the person you care about most? You lied to me!” I laughed lightly: “Oh, I’m off to find a man who’ll marry me after sleeping with me.” His anguished yelling came through the phone. I hung up, blocked the number, and turned off my phone. The plane took off, carrying me towards a beautiful new future. 0 When we got off the plane, we were greeted not by my uncle, but by a stranger. The man called my name: “Olivia?” I searched my memory but was sure I didn’t know him. He smiled: “Your uncle sent me to pick you up. I’m Ethan.”
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