Chang Shengnan drove Chang Xuyu slowly out of the parking lot. Chang Xuyu was distracted, staring blankly at the neon lights outside the window. They passed a stretch of water, and on the opposite shore, a bar flashed with multicolored lights, especially conspicuous.
“Xuyu, do you want to go home, or come with me?”
Chang Shengnan asked softly.
Chang Xuyu snapped back to reality, turned to look at her aunt, let out a breath, thought for a moment, and said slowly, “Auntie, let’s find a place to sit for a while. It’s almost dawn.”
She thought about Yi Zhuo, still asleep at home. Leaving him alone was a bit pitiful—after all, he had fiercely stood up for her and gotten hurt. Logically and emotionally, she should take care of him.
Chang Xuyu pressed her lips together, took two mint candies from her bag, gave one to Chang Shengnan, and put the other in her own mouth.
Instantly, she felt awake.
She was actually very tired.
Now she understood why Yi Zhuo loved mint candies so much. This was the feeling. He rarely smoked around her; instead, he used mint. Just one candy could sober him up completely.
Thinking back to that day at his studio—how complex even a draft sketch was—he must be exhausted usually.
Chang Xuyu sighed and quietly waited for the mint candy to dissolve completely.
Chang Shengnan thought of a good place and turned the car.
They arrived at a 24-hour shop with an English name, though it was unclear what business it did. Chang Shengnan led her inside. The interior was dim, lit only by a few small lamps. The shop wasn’t big—just enough for a few tables.
At the far end, a group of people sat around a table, drinking from large beer mugs and eating, occasionally cheering.
A man with salt-and-pepper beard was wiping wine bottles at the counter. His hair wasn’t long, but it was well-groomed.
He looked up, saw Chang Shengnan, put down his work, and smiled at her. Then he noticed the young woman behind her and asked, “And this is...?”
Chang Shengnan pulled Chang Xuyu forward and answered with a smile, “My niece.”
A flicker of emotion passed through the man’s eyes. He looked at Chang Xuyu and suddenly laughed. “So you’re the niece Shengnan always mentions—studying at Central Academy of Fine Arts. The younger generation is formidable.”
Chang Xuyu gave a slight smile and nodded. “You flatter me.”
She thought this uncle must be a friend of her aunt’s.
The man invited them to sit down. Chang Shengnan said no alcohol, and after a brief chat, the man soon brought out a plate of tuna salad and a plate of tempura.
“You can come for sashimi during the day. The Japanese food here is our specialty,” he said to Chang Xuyu before returning to the counter.
His accent was a bit strange. Chang Xuyu acknowledged him, picked up her fork, and started eating the salad. She wasn’t used to this kind of food, but the taste was surprisingly good.
Chang Shengnan let out a breath and asked Chang Xuyu what she wanted to talk about.
Swallowing a piece of fruit and vegetable, Chang Xuyu said she wanted to talk about the graduate entrance exam.
Chang Shengnan’s hand, holding the fork, paused. After a moment of silence, she said, “Mm.”
“Then... about you and Yi Zhuo.”
“I plan to get divorced on the day of Jingzhe,” she closed her eyes. “Auntie, I really don’t have the energy.”
Chang Shengnan knew she had always been a very decisive child, and she understood. But she still felt a bit sorry for Yi Zhuo.
Yi Zhuo was a few years older than Chang Xuyu. Chang Shengnan knew everything about their past, but she couldn’t tell Chang Xuyu everything. He had a good heart, and most importantly, he was willing to put effort into Xuyu. Marriage was basically two people living together, and it wasn’t easy to meet a man like that. But in Chang Xuyu’s heart, her feelings for Yi Zhuo weren’t that important.
At least, not important enough to delay her own plans.
“Alright, auntie supports you. During your exam prep, you can stay with me. I’m usually busy during the day and rarely at home, so you can focus on studying and painting. I won’t disturb you.”
“Thank you, auntie.”
Chang Xuyu’s heart stirred.
Chang Shengnan opened her mouth, poked at a slice of cucumber on her plate, hesitant to speak.
Chang Xuyu knew what her aunt wanted to say. She paused, lowered her head slightly, and said slowly, “I know it’s unfair to him. Later, I’ll try my best to make it up to him...”
Though she didn’t know how to compensate a wounded heart.
She was the one who had let Yi Zhuo down—she admitted that.
Chang Shengnan reached out and stroked Chang Xuyu’s hair, pressed her lips together, and gave a light laugh. “Silly child, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you suffer. As for compensation, I’ll handle it for you.”
Hearing that, Chang Xuyu shook her head, her gaze firm and persistent, and said resolutely, “No, auntie. This is something I owe, I have to bear it myself. Otherwise, it won’t truly settle—especially between him and me.”
*
When she got home, the sky was already light, dawn just breaking. She felt exhausted. Even a few rays of sunlight that fell on her did nothing to warm her.
She walked into the bedroom. The person on the bed seemed to be sleeping poorly, frowning deeply, breathing heavily, still smelling of alcohol.
Chang Xuyu moved closer to look at him, thinking he’d probably sleep for a long time.
She came out of the bathroom wearing a silk nightgown, gently lifted the covers, and lay down. She let out a soft breath, turned her back to Yi Zhuo, and closed her eyes.
After a while, she shifted slightly, slowly moving closer to him—
This side was too cramped; she couldn’t turn over. Better to sleep a bit further in.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. She was startled, almost crying out.
A warmth spread over her belly. Yi Zhuo turned her over and pulled her into his embrace, her face against his half-open shirt, clearly seeing his dark, muscular chest. Her forehead was only two centimeters from his collarbone. Looking up slightly, she could see his Adam’s apple moving.
Her ears instantly turned red.