Chapter 3 The Coat on Her Shoulders
Thick snow had piled on my umbrella when Zhou Chaoqing walked out of the hotel wearing only a thin shirt.
The black cashmere coat I bought him was now draped over Bai Yao's shoulders.
That patch of black stood out sharply against the white snow.
She tilted her head up, saying something to him, a soft smile on her lips.
Zhou Chaoqing leaned slightly, listening seriously.
The dim yellow floor lamp shone on the two of them.
They looked very well-matched, I had to admit.
My appearance startled both of them.
I looked at the tip of Zhou Chaoqing's nose, red from the cold.
"Where's your coat?"
Bai Yao pulled the coat tighter and spoke in a gentle voice.
"It's my fault. I'm too afraid of the cold, so Senior Brother let me wear it."
She turned toward Zhou Chaoqing with a sweet smile.
"Thanks to your coat, and thanks to you helping me outline the research framework. Advisor Lu said he's very interested in this topic."
"You've worked so hard tutoring me these past two weeks. Tomorrow I have to treat you to a really nice meal."
Bai Yao smoothly shifted the topic back to the research.
Smoothly leaving me out.
She glanced at me.
She didn't hide the tiny triumph in her eyes.
Zhou Chaoqing frowned.
"Wear more next time. If you catch a cold it will delay the project progress."
"The topic is difficult. Even though Advisor Lu is interested, your current ability can't finish it alone. Don't forget to check the literature and the ddl the day after tomorrow."
Bai Yao's smile froze for a second, then returned to normal. She nodded obediently.
"I know. With you helping me, I'll definitely finish it."
She took off the coat.
"It's really warm, but since it's cold out, here, Senior Brother."
"No need."
I spoke, my tone flat.
"It's dirty now. I don't want it."
Bai Yao's smile vanished instantly.
Zhou Chaoqing took it, put it on, and looked up at me.
"Weren't you going to eat with me?"
In the end we went to a fast-food place around the corner.
When Zhou Chaoqing gets busy he forgets to eat. He ate slowly, his eyes glued to his phone the whole time.
I snatched it away.
"Eat properly."
I opened his WeChat and scrolled down.
The screen was full of chat windows. My finger ached by the time I found mine, marked with a red 99+.
I almost laughed.
Bai Yao's chat was pinned at the top.
The remark was "Yao Yao."
Both their profile pictures were formal ID photos. Their nicknames were real names.
In some ways, they looked more like a couple.
I pointed at the remark and asked him.
Zhou Chaoqing said calmly.
"I didn't change it. Probably Bai Yao did it last time she used my phone."
So Bai Yao could use his phone whenever she wanted.
What I had, Bai Yao had.
What Bai Yao had, I didn't necessarily have.
I propped my chin and looked at him.
"You can't spare ten minutes to reply to me. But you have plenty of time to help her revise her project."
"When will you ever care about how I feel?"
Zhou Chaoqing explained without much warmth.
"This project is important. It affects my future PhD application. This is all for our future."
He paused, as if genuinely confused.
"Why do you always care about these unimportant little things?"
That sentence again.
I didn't want to argue anymore about whether this was really a small thing.
Instead I handed him the gift I had prepared.
After so many years together, I wanted to give us one last chance.
Inside the box were things from when we were young until now.
His first love letter to me, the matching tallies we got from climbing the mountain together...
And a breakup letter.
If he opened it right then, I would talk to him properly one more time.
Zhou Chaoqing was stunned.
"Sorry, I forgot to buy one. I'll get you something in a few days."
He took it.
His fingertips brushed the ribbon.
Then his phone rang.
His fingers moved to the screen.
Bai Yao's voice came through, crying.
"Senior Brother, my stomach hurts... Can you take me to the hospital?"
I said coldly.
"There are other people at the hotel. Can't you call 120?"
The other end ignored me. Only continuous sobs and repeated calls of "Senior Brother."
Zhou Chaoqing frowned and stood up to leave.
"Where are you? I'm coming right now."
I grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Does it have to be you? What about the others?"
He turned back.
Under the dim light.
I couldn't read whether the emotion in his eyes was worry or impatience.
I only heard the anxiety in his voice.
"The ddl is the day after tomorrow. If it's delayed..."
He paused, as if comforting me—or maybe brushing me off.
"I'll open the gift later. I'll take her to the hospital and come right back. It won't take long."
The fast-food restaurant door was pushed open. Cold wind rushed in.
I stared at my fingers that had been shaken off. It hit me late.
Maybe it was both worry and impatience.
Just that the worry was for Bai Yao.
The impatience was for me.
He took the gift with him, but whether he opened it later didn't matter anymore.
This time I didn't hesitate.
I sent him a message: "Zhou Chaoqing, let's break up."