1 In the fifth year of my relationship with Alice Zinberg, we had another argument. She grabbed her keys and stormed out, once again choosing the silent treatment. I sat quietly on the sofa, fuming for a while, then scrolled through short videos, chuckling heartily. Around 2 AM, I was woken by my phone. Alice’s voice on the other end was icy enough to freeze water: “I’ve been out here all this time, and you haven’t called me once?” It was then I awkwardly remembered she was still out there, wandering in the freezing cold. I apologized, “Uh, why don’t you… just not come back? Let’s just call it quits.” A brief silence fell on the other end of the line after I said that. Then, with a “smash,” the call was disconnected. I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I rolled over and fell comfortably asleep in my warm bed. When I woke up the next day, I heard rustling in the living room. Going out, I saw Alice packing her suitcase. She seemed not to notice me, just silently stuffing her belongings into the suitcase. I stood there, frowning, watching her for a while, worried she might accidentally take some of my things. She finally finished packing, zipped up her suitcase, and then calmly said, “You need to cool down. Let’s not contact each other for a while.” Her words sounded familiar. It seemed like this happened once last year too. We had a huge fight, and she grabbed her keys, intending to leave. I went over and desperately grabbed her. “Why are you doing this again? Why do you always leave me alone? Can’t you just say what you mean to my face? Why are you always avoiding things!” She actually didn’t leave. Instead, she went back into the bedroom. When my emotions had somewhat calmed, I saw her emerge with her suitcase. Her voice was distant and calm, completely unlike my hysteria. “You cool down for a few days, and we’ll talk later.” For the next half a month, she truly didn’t contact me again. All the messages I sent, all the calls I made, vanished like stones in the sea, receiving no response. I was distraught then, crying every day and unable to sleep. In the end, I actually swallowed my pride and sent messages begging for forgiveness. Once it happened, it happened again. Alice discovered that the silent treatment worked exceptionally well on me; I didn’t need comforting and would sort myself out. So, she began giving me the cold shoulder repeatedly. I went from desperately craving a response to gradually learning to self-soothe, step by step. Only I knew how I endured that process. Now, just like last year, she stood before me with her suitcase, her expression blank, seemingly devoid of emotion. She even offered generous advice: “Don’t overthink things. Eat well, work well. You’re not without other things to do besides clinging to me.” I rubbed my sleepy eyes and casually replied, “Okay. Be careful on your way.” Alice’s previously indifferent expression stiffened slightly. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to even utter a single word of retention. I took two steps towards the bathroom, then remembered something and turned back to remind her, “Did you pack your summer clothes too? Take them with you today if you can, save yourself another trip.” Her face darkened. She didn’t speak, just slammed the door shut and left. My heart suddenly relaxed. It felt good; it was finally over. 2 Today was Saturday. In the past, I would always pester Alice to spend the weekend with me. Later, Alice found her trick against me: whenever we argued, she’d grab her suitcase and leave. And once she left, it would be at least half a month. I was forced to get used to spending one holiday after another alone. From writing hysterical little essays at first to gradually becoming numb and detached, and finally returning to the joyful holiday state I had when I was single and spent time with friends, it only took a year. I cooked myself a steaming bowl of century egg and lean pork congee. After eating, I curled up on the sofa, petting my cat and watching a horror movie. Outside, the weather was gloomy, with a drizzling winter rain. I had the heating on, enjoying my comfortable solitude. As one movie ended, I made myself a hot drink and casually browsed my social media. To my surprise, the first post was one Alice had just made. 【Accompanying Mr. Davis on a business trip】 The accompanying photo was a selfie of her and Leo Davis, arms linked, at the airport. Leo was her university classmate and business partner. They were very close. Every time Alice and I had the silent treatment, it was always them two going on a long business trip together. The first time I found out, I was mentally drained for a long time. I wasn’t sure if they were simply colleagues or if there was something more. Until the second silent treatment, the third silent treatment, Alice, without exception, took Leo on a business trip out of town, leaving me alone at home. I started furiously messaging and calling Alice, demanding to know what she meant, why she always went on business trips when we argued, and always took Leo with her. She usually took an assistant on business trips, so why didn’t she take one with Leo? Three days later, Alice calmly replied with a few words: 【Think what you like.】 Then she disappeared again, not answering a single word. I knew then that there was no need to continue this relationship. I wiped my tears, my hands trembling as I typed a few words: 【Then let’s break up.】 Then I turned off my phone, forbidding myself from going crazy and making a fool of myself, trying to bury myself in work to distract myself. A few minutes later, my phone vibrated. I couldn’t wait three minutes and picked it up to look. It was a message from a work group. Various app notifications. A text from the bank wishing me a happy birthday. It wasn’t until 9 PM that a message with Alice’s name finally popped up. Two short, cold words. 【Whatever.】 I completely broke down, crying uncontrollably on the bed. As I cried, I sent messages accusing her of not loving me at all, meticulously listing all the disappointments and neglect I felt from her, trying to awaken a tiny bit of guilt in her, trying to make her realize she wasn’t fit for this relationship. But everything was, as always, a stone sinking into the sea. It was as if no one was on the other side. Or rather, she didn’t even bother to read a single word. I scrolled through her social media, seeing photos of her having dinner with Leo and clients, a harmonious scene, everyone smiling happily. A bucket of cold water was poured over my head. I clearly saw myself as a struggling, yet utterly pathetic clown. My reason clearly told me that she was not a good partner. I finally stopped sending messages. But life became a blur. I tried hard to act like everyone else, but everything became mechanical and numb. Only when I dragged my exhausted body home, looking at the empty house, could I not help but squat down and cry. I knew she was likely a terrible person. But I missed her terribly. I knew I was incompetent and fragile, but performing as a normal person had already drained all my energy. I indulged in my painful thoughts of her in the darkness. I didn’t know when it would end. Until thirty-six days later, she finally contacted me again. 【Calmed down yet?】 【Still breaking up?】 I stared numbly at the message. The message came too late, no longer stirring my anticipation or excitement. I slowly typed out two words: 【Up to you.】 She sent a voice message. “I brought you a birthday present. I’m coming back now.” Her voice was light, with a hint of laughter. There seemed to be another man’s laughter beside her. That laughter was distinctive—it was Leo’s voice. Even through the phone screen, I could imagine them, fresh off the plane, dusty but vibrant and full of spirit. Unlike me. I was like a dirty, trapped beast in a cage. All my pain and struggles had not affected Alice in the slightest. Everything I felt in this relationship felt like my own sensitivity, my own overthinking, a self-made drama. And Alice, generous and stable, had tolerated me. 3 My thoughts returned to that social media post. There were already several comments below it. A: 【A perfect match, Mr. Zinberg.】 B: 【Nonsense, our Leo is clearly both talented and handsome!】 Alice: 【Good eye.】 C: 【A month-long business trip? Leaving your boyfriend alone at home again? How do you smooth things over? #doghead#】 Alice: 【We’re adults. Do you expect me to be with him all day long?】 C: 【True, men shouldn’t be spoiled.】 Amidst all the trivial comments, a striking one suddenly appeared. Quinn Riley: 【Boyfriends don’t need company, but male partners on a business trip definitely do~】 That “~” conveyed a strong sense of sarcasm. This was the boyfriend of Eleanor Vance, another female partner at Alice’s firm. I’d heard they were supposed to get married this year, but it was already year-end, and there was still no news. Eleanor, his girlfriend, had been on just as many solo business trips with Leo as Alice had. I’d heard that the last time his mother was hospitalized with an illness, he was swamped at the hospital alone, while Leo posted a selfie with Eleanor, cheek-to-cheek, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They claimed it was a business trip, but anyone who didn’t know might think it was a honeymoon. Quinn had a huge fight with Eleanor over this. Although they reconciled, their relationship was no longer the same, and marriage hadn’t been brought up again since. When his comment appeared, the previously lively social media feed seemed to hit a pause button; there were no new comments for a while. Just as I was about to scroll away, I saw a new comment pop up. Leo: 【Buddy, don’t be overly dramatic. Is business more important, or your petty little love affairs?】 Leo: 【If you want to marry a rich person and get rich without effort, just be a pretty face, don’t mess things up for yourself.】 Quinn quickly replied: 【Compared to certain people who can’t travel for business without a female partner accompanying them every time, I’m much more independent at work. Who are you calling a pretty face?】 After a ten-minute pause, Leo replied with just two words. 【Nonsensical.】 Ever since Quinn found out Eleanor was always on solo business trips with Leo, he hadn’t gotten along with him. They’d always exchange words, even I had grown accustomed to it. I closed my social media and was about to make dinner when my landlord called: “Hey Adam, your lease is up next month. You’re renewing, right?” I looked around the apartment. A spacious, bright open-plan apartment with the most bustling night view of S City outside the window. Alice had always wanted me to move into her apartment, but I was always worried about the risk of being kicked out if I lived in someone else’s place, so I insisted on living alone. She was very clingy back then; the next day, she showed up at my door with her suitcase, looking pitiful. I had just started working then and didn’t have much money, living in a cramped thirty-square-meter apartment far from the city center. I knew Alice was used to a good life, and I always felt it would be unfair to her to make her live in such a small place with me. So, as soon as I became a full-time employee and got a raise, I gritted my teeth and moved here. It cost almost half my salary every month. “No, I won’t,” I told the landlord. “I’m planning to move to the east side of the city.” That would be closer to my workplace. I also wouldn’t have to leave home at 6 AM every morning to catch the subway. The landlord was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong? You used to say this place was convenient because it was close to your girlfriend’s company.” “Yeah,” I responded softly, kicking my slippers, and chuckled, “We broke up.” The landlord was very sympathetic, comforted me for a while, and then kindly introduced me to a moving company before hanging up. 4 The company was preparing for a live streaming event at the mall recently. I was busy coordinating with my new junior colleagues. The two new colleagues were recent female university graduates, full of energy and enthusiasm, which even invigorated us old hands in the workplace. After coordination that day, the two insisted on dragging me to eat barbecue, saying we needed to relax after so many tiring days. At a roadside food stall, I snapped a photo of the barbecue table, overflowing with food under the dim yellow lights. The two university girls tilted their heads into the shot, smiling cleanly and brightly. The photo frozen, I happily posted it on social media: 【Coordination complete! We can finally enjoy a good weekend tomorrow!】 By the time I got home, it was past midnight. A long-awaited message from Alice popped up on my phone. She had taken a photo of her eating with a client, almost as if she were reporting to me: 【I’ll be back in another week.】 【I brought you a gift.】 I pretended not to see it, disinfected and charged my phone, and placed it by my bedside. In the past, when I was first given the silent treatment, I would panic and furiously message her, just begging for a tiny response. Later, I forced myself, after each of her departures, to try and get used to single life. I gradually stopped messaging her. She, in turn, softened her silent treatment strategy, becoming less completely unresponsive. From sending me one message a month, to calling me every half-month, then weekly, then every three days. What a blessing. This kind of blessing, whoever wants it can have it. After showering and getting into bed, I saw Alice had sent a few more messages. 【What did you do today?】 【Work was tiring?】 【Fell asleep?】 I set her messages to “Do Not Disturb.” Not deleting, not blocking, not responding. I had learned very well from her.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “580631”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel
Leave a Reply