Chapter 3 An Ordinary Thing
I broke up with Chen Yanzhou because of one very ordinary thing.
I had been busy with a project and worked overtime until past midnight. I took a taxi home by myself.
On the way the driver said there was road construction and he needed to change routes. I did not think much of it.
But when the road grew darker and darker I started to feel scared.
The driver seemed to sense my fear and began to harass me with words.
"Beauty, what kind of job do you have, getting off work so late?"
When he received no answer he grew annoyed and started mocking me sarcastically.
"Or is it easy for you women to make money? Just lie on the bed, spread your legs, and cash comes rolling in. Unlike us who work our asses off every day and still don't earn much."
"Beauty, how much for one time? I'll waive the fare and take you for late-night snacks. How about it?"
I was terrified and called Chen Yanzhou.
But the line kept showing he was on another call. The messages I sent sank without reply.
My hands shook as I pressed the emergency alarm button.
A text soon arrived on my phone.
"You attempted to alert 110. We have notified your emergency contact. Please avoid conflict, stay away from danger, and keep in touch with the police."
It was completely useless.
Recalling the news stories I had seen before, I fell into deep despair. Gritting my teeth, I dialed 110 and told the driver,
"I called the police. I want to get off."
The driver paused, then cursed me with the ugliest words.
"You fucking crazy bitch. Joking with you is me doing you a favor, you dumbass..."
Luckily he did not dare do more. He slammed on the brakes, stopped the car, dragged me out, and threw me on the roadside. Then he hit the gas and sped away.
In the cold winter night I stood alone in the pitch-black wilderness. The signal in the suburbs came and went.
I had been afraid of the dark since I was little. Now I felt even more hopeless and lost.
I held back my sobs and called Chen Yanzhou again and again.
But he never answered.
Maybe he was asleep.
I wiped my tears and called a friend. Luckily she had not gone to bed yet and answered quickly. She headed over right away.
Unfortunately my phone ran out of battery. After what felt like forever my friend finally found me on the roadside, cold and scared and almost passing out.
When I got home the lights were still on.
I paused for a moment, then pushed open the bedroom door.
Chen Yanzhou was on the phone, a smile at the corners of his eyes and brows. When he saw me his expression returned to normal.
"Why are you back so late?"
I said softly,
"Chen Yanzhou, I called you so many times. Why didn't you answer?"
He glanced at his phone and replied naturally,
"I was on a call. What's up?"
"What about the messages? Why didn't you reply?"
Chen Yanzhou furrowed his brows.
"What exactly do you want to say?"
I wanted to say so much. I wanted to cry. I wanted to hug him.
I wanted to ask if he knew how scared I had been. I wanted to ask why he had not replied.
But in the end I only said one thing.
"Nothing."
That night, after Chen Yanzhou fell asleep, I opened his phone.
He had been on another call and could not pick up mine.
My fingertips felt colder than the screen as I opened WeChat.
The pinned chat at the top was with Feng Linlin. They had only said goodnight to each other late into the night.
I scrolled down.
My chat was below.
When I opened it a crossed-out bell sat next to my name.
No wonder Chen Yanzhou had not seen my messages.
He had put me on do not disturb.
I stayed awake all night, staring out the window.
Chen Yanzhou slept beside me. I studied his face carefully, the face I had loved for so many years.
Finally I understood. We had always been walking the same path.
No matter how hard I tried I could never get closer to him.
This relationship had been a mistake from the start.
Now it was time to end it.