Cheng Yuan had been like an outsider the whole time, even when the doctor used tweezers to remove glass shards—he didn't react, as if the hand wasn't his. But upon hearing the doctor's question, he perked up.
He hoped Jiang Xiao would say they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Not a close relationship," Jiang Xiao said.
Cheng Yuan's heart felt like it was drowning in seawater—painful, excruciatingly painful.
"It's best to have a family member accompany him to the hospital," the doctor said, glancing at Cheng Yuan. "He doesn't look like he'll cooperate."
Jiang Xiao didn't look at Cheng Yuan. She said flatly, "Okay, understood."
The doctor left. Jiang Xiao said, "Call Jiang Yu and go to the hospital for treatment."
Cheng Yuan curled his fingers pitifully. "You won't come with me?"
"No time," she said. "I have a meeting tonight."
"Is the meeting more important than me?" Cheng Yuan realized immediately that it was the wrong question.
The next second, he got a heart-wrenching reply.
"Yes, more important than you."
"Do you have to say that?" Cheng Yuan looked like he was about to cry. "Can't you just lie to me?"
"Cheng Yuan, what are we to each other?" Jiang Xiao said. "I don't have to be responsible for your emotions."
"You said we'd try again," Cheng Yuan said. His hand had been cleaned, the bloodstains gone. He could hug her now. He wrapped his arms around her. "We're the closest people to each other."
Close...
Jiang Xiao sneered. "The ones in the gossip columns are. Not me."
"There is no gossip," Cheng Yuan said. "You can check. These years, I've kept myself pure. I haven't pursued anyone."
"And I haven't let anyone get close."
"Except for Jiang Yu, no one else."
"You don't need to explain to me." Jiang Xiao pushed him. "Let go."
"I need to explain." Cheng Yuan said gently, "Xiao Xiao, I've really learned to be good."
"Don't believe me?" He unlocked his phone and handed it to Jiang Xiao. "There's not a single woman in my contacts or on WeChat."
"Xiao Xiao, I only have you."
"..." To Jiang Xiao, this was extremely ironic. She had once wished he could be like this, but he had said it was impossible—he couldn't cut ties with others for her.
"Since you're saying this, let me be clear too." Jiang Xiao said, "My contacts have both men and women, and so does my WeChat. I will never cut ties with anyone for you, not in this lifetime."
Hitting him with his own words—how satisfying.
Those words were too familiar. Cheng Yuan remembered something and swayed. "...Do whatever makes you happy. I won't force you."
"It's good that you can see it that way." Jiang Xiao laughed lightly. "I assume you have no objection to my date with Song Xuan."
"Date with whom?"
"President Song—Song Xuan."
"I don't ag—"
"I'm just informing you, not asking for your opinion." Jiang Xiao interrupted him. "I have the freedom to make friends."
To hell with freedom. He wouldn't allow it.
"Song Xuan doesn't seem like a good person."
"You don't seem like a good person either."
"...Do you have to go?"
"Yes."
Cheng Yuan: "Can't you not go?"
"No." Jiang Xiao said, "I hate people who break promises the most."
Cheng Yuan remembered he had broken promises many times—so many he couldn't count. Jiang Xiao was punishing him.
"Fine. Then go."
*
The next evening, Jiang Xiao went.
She went on a date with a man, wearing a beautiful dress.
They even went to a romantic couple's restaurant with great ambiance.
Cheng Yuan followed behind, grinding his teeth in anger but unable to do anything.
Midway, taking advantage of Song Xuan going to the restroom, he called Jiang Xiao.
"Xiao Xiao, the doctor said my hand is infected and I need surgery. Can you come and sign the consent form?"
Jiang Xiao replied, "No."
Cheng Yuan's heart shattered into pieces.