Victoria’s phone home screen had a counter, and for three years, I watched it tick from 001 to 999. The night before our wedding, I curiously asked her what it meant. She just stared silently at her phone for a long time, then faintly smiled, “Nothing, it won’t be there starting tomorrow.” In the middle of the night, she didn’t even have time to change out of her pajamas. Her eyes red, she said she needed to go out for a bit and told me to get some sleep. After she left, I opened the hidden folder on her computer for the first time. Nine hundred ninety-nine videos, nine hundred ninety-nine condoms. The password was the date we got together, and also the date she broke up with Leo. The cover was a screenshot of their chat. They had agreed that after breaking up, they would completely forget each other once they’d used up the thousand condoms they had stockpiled. Today marked exactly three years since their breakup, and it was also the last night before our wedding. I spent six hours watching all nine hundred ninety-nine videos. Dawn broke, leaving just one hour until the wedding. I dialed the number I’d kept hidden for three years. “If you show up within an hour, we’ll go and sign the marriage papers.”
I did many things within that hour. Audrey arrived in ten minutes. We went to City Hall, signed the marriage papers, then picked up our immigration visas, and even bought one-way tickets to leave the country in seven days. I rushed to the wedding venue, dispersed the guests, apologized profusely to each person, and handed out the carefully selected wedding favors I’d prepared. After all that, an hour and a half had passed since the wedding was supposed to start, and Victoria still hadn’t arrived. I went home, packed all my belongings into a suitcase, and stared blankly at the red wedding decals above our bed for ten minutes. At the exact moment we should have been exchanging rings, I finally made the call. Victoria answered after a long delay, her voice a little hoarse. “Sorry, Daniel, I drank too much last night and forgot to set my alarm. I’m on my way now, can you ask the host to keep things going…?” “No need. I’ve already sent the guests home. The auspicious hour was long gone. Let’s do it another day.” My tone was flat, devoid of emotion. Victoria paused slightly. “Daniel, I’m so lucky to be marrying such a thoughtful and caring husband.” Then I heard her say, “I’m sorry.” I didn’t know if she was apologizing for being late to the wedding today, or for something else entirely. I softly hummed in acknowledgment and hung up the phone. While Audrey and I were waiting in line at City Hall, I received a message from Leo. I tapped the voice message. Leo was sobbing, begging Victoria to stay. “Victoria, it’s been a thousand times, how can I still not move on? I can’t forget you! Not even after a thousand times!” Victoria was silent for a moment, her voice trembling. “Then let’s keep going, until you completely forget.” Leo continued to ask, “Can’t you just not marry him?” Victoria’s low voice carried a hint of sorrow, “I can’t. Leo, it’s over between us.” Leo suddenly pushed her away. “We only stockpiled a thousand condoms! There won’t be a thousand and first time! Just leave!” A long silence. I heard Victoria trying to soothe Leo, “I’m pregnant. I’ll take responsibility myself. I’ll tell Daniel everything and have the baby.” The clock pointed to ten. I didn’t know if this was their thousandth-and-something time. I only knew Victoria was lying to me. They had gotten so caught up that not only had she not made it to the wedding, she probably hadn’t even managed to tear herself away from Leo. Our wedding home had been completely redecorated, inside and out. I had personally pasted every single one of the nine hundred ninety-nine red wedding decals. I thought those numbers were about us, so every time Victoria’s counter increased by one, I bought another decal and put it up in the house. Now, there was no need to tear them down. I’d leave them for whoever needed them next. We had lived together for three years, and I didn’t have much luggage. Audrey, always efficient and no-nonsense, couldn’t wait and came to pick me up herself. Audrey’s car and Victoria’s car passed each other at the entrance to our apartment complex. Leo, in the passenger seat of Victoria’s car, and I, in the passenger seat of Audrey’s, exchanged a distant glance. A silent understanding passed between us, and neither of us spoke. Audrey cleared her throat. “Should we say hello? Or start a fight?” I finally cracked a smile and told her to focus on driving. Seven days later, Audrey and I would emigrate. Our new home was already bought overseas, so Audrey first dropped me off at my parents’ house. “I need to handle some company matters. I’ll pick you up in seven days.” I nodded faintly and ignored Victoria’s incoming call.
Victoria chased me to my parents’ house. “Daniel, why did you move all your stuff out? Are you angry?” I pressed my lips together. “Victoria, I sent you a breakup text. You probably didn’t see it.” Victoria’s eyes were a little red. “Daniel, it was wrong of me to be late for the wedding today. It was all because I accidentally drank too much with some girlfriends yesterday. It won’t happen again, ever.” I didn’t speak. She sounded like she was talking to herself, repeating, “It’s all over, Daniel. Nothing like this will ever happen again.” Over? Half an hour ago, I had personally seen her drive Leo back to our apartment complex. I reiterated, “Victoria, we’ve broken up. You don’t need to make promises to me.” Victoria reached for my hand. “How can we be broken up? We were about to get married! After today, we’re husband and wife. A little spat won’t break a marriage, right? Come back with me, please?” She pressed close, brushing against my arm. I caught the strong scent of Leo’s cologne on her. Leo liked to groom himself; he was a completely different style from me. I pulled my hand away, unable to resist asking her, “Where’s Leo?” Victoria looked at me in shock, her hand dropping guiltily. “What do you know, Daniel?” So much. Those thousand condoms, that breakup note, those nine hundred ninety-nine videos, the missed wedding… Where should I even begin? Finally, I spoke. “What were you doing bringing him to our wedding home?” Victoria breathed a sigh of relief. “Daniel, we were about to get married. He just came to pick up some things he’d given me before.” “I made him take everything that had anything to do with him. That’s my statement, Daniel. Since I decided to marry you, I won’t have anything messy with anyone else.” “I’m truly sorry about being late for the wedding. I swear on my life I’ll never stand you up again. If I ever do, I, Victoria, don’t deserve to marry you, and I deserve to be single forever.” Sweet words couldn’t erase anything. I pushed her towards the door, wanting to rest. Victoria suddenly pulled out an old almanac and waved it at me, her face full of smiles. “Daniel, I’ve picked a new wedding date! This time, I had a master fortune-teller calculate it. They said our stars aligned perfectly, and seven days from now is a truly blessed day! We’ll get married then, and we’re sure to have a beautiful, long life together!” “Last time, I was fooled. Today wasn’t suitable for us to get married at all! The snag and the delay were actually a blessing in disguise.” The first time we picked a wedding date, Victoria had chosen that day too. She said a friend had given her an almanac, and it said today was auspicious for marriage. Yesterday, I learned that even our wedding date had been picked by Leo. He had deliberately chosen an unlucky day, just to provoke me. But ironically, I felt that the fortune-teller was worse than Leo, because we had no future. No seven days later, no beautiful, long life together. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Did the master not calculate that I’ve already married another woman?” Victoria’s face hardened. “Daniel, don’t say things like that. You’ll always be mine. Who else could you marry, besides me?” We had been dating for three years, but I had liked her for ten. She was naturally confident that I was just being childish with her. But she didn’t know that ten years ago, I had made a bet with myself: if Victoria still didn’t like me after ten years, I would give up on her. Today marked exactly ten years. I had accumulated enough disappointment that it almost felt numb now, not as painful. Victoria refused to leave my parents’ house. I had no choice but to say, “The bride and groom shouldn’t see each other before the wedding. It’s bad luck.” She finally beamed, visibly relieved, and patted her chest. “Oh, is that it? I knew you couldn’t bear for me to go through the trouble of moving, so you deliberately moved out yourself.” “Daniel, get some good rest. Remember to pick me up in seven days.”
I sold our wedding home. It was a gift I had given Victoria. My name was on the deed, and Victoria had voluntarily chosen not to add hers. She said, “Daniel, I’m not with you for your money, I’m just with you for you. If I ever betray you, you can just kick me out.” Now I decided to kick her out for good, and everything I had ever invested, I would take back. After agreeing on a price, I went to the real estate agency and signed the contract. I hadn’t wanted to see Victoria again, but the new owner insisted I accompany them for the inspection, so I reluctantly went and knocked on the door. Victoria opened it in her pajamas and slippers, looking a bit tired. I glanced around; indeed, many things were gone, and there were no signs of Leo. The owner frowned at the numerous wedding decals throughout the house. “Why are you selling a wedding home?” Older generations had superstitions; they avoided buying houses meant for newlyweds, believing all the good luck would be sucked out. I quickly explained, “We didn’t have the wedding yet. We were preparing for it, but it didn’t happen. We hadn’t even moved in as a married couple.” The owner was immediately satisfied. A house like this, they thought, would be brimming with good luck. “Perfect, I’ll buy it for my daughter’s wedding home. No need for renovations, she can move right in.” Victoria frowned. “Daniel, you’re selling the house? What does this mean?” I said blandly, “I need money.” Victoria paused. “If you need money, tell me! I can lend it to you. Why would you sell the house?” “Our wedding is in only seven days, there’s no time to buy another house. We can discuss it after the wedding, okay, Daniel…” The owner became impatient. “No, that won’t do. I won’t buy a house that’s already been lived in as a married couple. Besides, I’ve already paid. You need to move out.” I nodded. “It’s fine. My name is on the deed, so I make the decisions. The contract is signed. We’ll be out in three days.” The crowd dispersed, and Victoria and I sat facing each other, silent for a while. Victoria cautiously began, “Daniel, are you going through some difficulty?” I casually replied, “Immigration. They require financial verification. I’m two million short, so I sold it to make up the number.” Watching the final approval go through, my heart finally settled. I stood up, ready to leave. “Alright, Victoria. Remember to move out in three days. From now on, we owe each other nothing.” Ten years. How could we owe each other nothing? It was just that I didn’t want to bother counting anymore. But Victoria insisted on counting. She stood up. “What exactly do you mean? A grown man, running away from home *and* selling our wedding home? Are you trying to back out of the marriage? Daniel, have you had enough of this tantrum? You’re an adult. I indulged your moods, and now you’re being relentless, is that it? Selling a house, you’d actually do that? And immigration? Have you ever even been out of the country? Do you have any idea how complicated immigration is?” That, I genuinely didn’t know. I only knew Audrey had been tirelessly handling all the preparations for me. I’d have to thank her properly. I looked at her, puzzled. “Didn’t you stand me up at the wedding? Are you blaming me now?” Victoria stammered, “That was… that was…” “That was you saying goodbye to your past, for my benefit. But Victoria, how many times has Leo been in this house?” I answered for Victoria. But at the second question, she fell completely silent. That night, for six hours, I counted. Ninety-three times, it was in this house, on our bed. “Since this is my house, and it’s been defiled, I’m going to sell it. Is there a problem with that?” “Are we supposed to have our wedding night on the same bed where you and him… I find it disgusting.”
Victoria raised her hand and slapped me. As her palm connected with my face, Victoria seemed to regret it, pulling back some of her force, but her sharp nails still scraped my cheek. It stung. My heart skipped a few beats. I looked up, utterly disbelieving. Victoria frowned. “Leo, he sacrificed so much for you. You shouldn’t talk about him like that. You know he comes from a humble background, he’s sensitive. You can’t call him disgusting.” “Daniel, I never hid my past with him from you. You knew about it. Now I’ve chosen you, and I’m going to marry you. He’s the one who’s hurt. You’re the one who benefits from this, so you shouldn’t treat him this way.” I didn’t understand what I had gained. Victoria’s love? But what Leo received was always her preferential treatment. I couldn’t even magnanimously give Leo anything, because I had never received as much as he had. So, I would just erase my presence, and slowly withdraw. Victoria sighed. “Daniel, I admit I wronged you before, but everything I did was to be responsible for our marriage. I’ve completely cut ties with him. From now on, my world only has you.” She stepped forward, reaching out to touch the red mark on my face, but I pushed her hand away. Victoria was about to say more when her phone rang. It was Leo’s unique ringtone. “Victoria, everyone in the town is laughing at me… After something like this, I can’t bear to live anymore. Since you’ve chosen him, I have nothing left to hold onto. Goodbye, Victoria.” Half an hour ago, those nine hundred ninety-nine videos had been uploaded online, going viral across every platform. Leo’s name was trending. The videos had blurred Victoria’s face, but Leo had grown up in a small town with traditional family values. The damage to him was unimaginable. Victoria almost instantly raised her hand and slapped me hard again. “Was that you?” I frowned, then immediately dismissed the possibility of Audrey deliberately leaking the videos to get revenge for me. Although Audrey was extremely well-connected and getting the videos wouldn’t be difficult for her, I knew Audrey. She would never do something that would tarnish someone’s reputation in such a way. I shook my head. “It wasn’t me. I wouldn’t do something like that…” The door was kicked open. Leo and Victoria’s mutual friends stormed in, tackling me to the ground. Victoria’s eyes were bloodshot. “If not you, then who?! Only you dislike Leo! Only you would go so far as to destroy him! I already chose to marry you, I already cut ties with him, what more do you want?!” “Daniel, don’t forget, you were the one who begged to be with me! You were the one who said you didn’t mind that I moved on so fast, you were the one who said you’d wait for me!” I was dragged up by the group and thrown into a car, covered in scrapes. My leg felt broken. “Come with me to save him. You did this, you go talk him down. If anything happens to him, I’ll jump with you. We owe him this.” On the rooftop, Leo’s face was ashen. He gave a bitter laugh. “Victoria, do you remember this place? This is where I confessed to you ten years ago. We were just students then, weren’t we? So beautiful.” More and more people gathered below, insults and jeers echoing ceaselessly. “Shameless! What did their parents teach them? Only got a lower body, huh?” “I heard he’s a kept man. The videos are all with other people’s wives. Deserves to be exposed!” “Hey, the netizens have already found you a job! You’re so good at it, the pay must be decent. Don’t jump, benefit the public! Plenty of rich ladies at exclusive clubs!” Victoria shrieked, her eyes bloodshot, “Shut up! All of you, shut up!” It was useless. She could only tremble as she walked towards Leo, trying to cover his ears. “Leo, don’t listen to them, don’t do anything stupid. I’ll make Daniel explain.” My leg throbbed, and I was sweating profusely, my vision blurring. “Explain what? I told you I didn’t leak the videos.” Victoria raised her heel and stomped on my injured leg. “Besides you, who else would know the password? You know exactly when Leo and I broke up. If not you, then who?” “Daniel, I had finally made up my mind to marry you and build a good life together, but you’ve disappointed me so much. I never thought you’d be such a malicious person…” “Enough!” Leo clenched his fists. “It’s come to this point, what good is talking about it now? Victoria, don’t come near me! If you take one more step, I’ll jump! Make Daniel come over here!” I was tossed around like a football by the group, thrown towards him. My hand slammed against the iron railing, a steel nail piercing right through it. I finally tensed up. For a designer, a ruined hand was no different from a ruined life. I yelled at the crowd, “Call 911! My hand is badly injured! Get me to a hospital!” Victoria said coldly, “Daniel, you’re quite an actor. But I won’t believe you anymore! If you want me to forgive you, then get Leo to forgive you first!” I grabbed Leo’s arm, begging him, “The videos really weren’t from me! Victoria and I have broken up. You don’t need to do this, you two can be together.” Leo suddenly curled his lips into a smile, then violently grabbed me in a tackle, pulling me onto the rooftop as we wrestled. “Of course I know the videos weren’t from you, because I’m the one who spread them myself!” “Daniel, after all these years, you still haven’t improved. With just a slight effort, I can win Victoria back. You’re too weak. How about you die for me instead?” My body was covered in injuries, and I felt my strength draining. My body was already over the railing. “Goodbye, Daniel.” Leo said, slowly letting go of my hand. I was powerless to resist, falling into a chaotic void, my body plummeting rapidly. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me, holding me tight. I saw firefighters rushing up, and at the front of the crowd was Audrey, her hair disheveled from running.
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