Chapter 7 The Unwelcome Guest
The day I married Mu Jinci, I was so excited I didn’t sleep at all.
Until Chen Yi showed up with the excuse of celebrating our new marriage.
He arrived carrying bags of gifts, warmly congratulating me, but his eyes kept drifting to Mu Jinci.
Mu Jinci looked dazed, as if her soul had been pulled away.
All her emotions seemed to flow straight into Chen Yi’s gaze.
That deep, unspoken longing—I had never seen it from her toward me.
Even though I still knew nothing about their history, panic crept into my chest.
“Su Yueming, go pour Chen Yi some tea,” Mu Jinci said.
I did.
I went to the kitchen to brew it.
But Mu Jinci took Chen Yi into our bedroom.
I felt uneasy.
What couldn’t be said in the living room?
I hurried back with the cups and stopped outside the door.
Before I could knock, I heard them.
“After we fought that day, I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to apologize the next day, but then I heard you were already with someone.”
“It’s all in the past. My parents said awful things to you too. It wasn’t just your fault.”
“How have you been?”
“Fine.”
“Mu Jinci, don’t lie to me.” Chen Yi paused. “Do you really love him?”
Mu Jinci went silent.
I waited.
No answer ever came.
Her silence made it clear: she had only agreed to date me—and insisted on marriage—because she had just quarreled with Chen Yi the day before.
It had been nothing but a rebound.
I drank enough red wine and stepped onto the balcony for a cigarette.
Halfway through, I called Mu Jinci.
Chen Yi answered.
“Su Yueming, what’s up?”
“Where is Mu Jinci?”
“She’s… in the shower. Want me to pass the phone?”
I took a drag. “No need. I heard your foot was fractured?”
He laughed lightly. “Not that bad. Just a sprain. Mu Jinci worried too much and exaggerated.”
The provocation in his voice was unmistakable.
But I didn’t have the energy to argue.
It wasn’t worth it.
I leaned against the railing and exhaled smoke. “All right. Tell Mu Jinci to come home tomorrow. I need to talk to her.”
I hung up, closed my eyes, and felt the evening breeze.
Tomorrow, when Mu Jinci returns.
Then we divorce.