Chapter 6
MuJinci hung up in a fury.
Before the line went dead, she spat, “I want to see how long you keep this act up!”
She was angry again.
She always did this—happy, and she’d be sweet to me; upset, and she’d take it out on me, waiting for me to coax her back.
Once or twice, I could handle it. She was my wife, after all. A little pampering wasn’t too much.
A year, two years—I could still bear it. Marriage has its fights, right?
But five years drained every last bit of my patience. I finally had to face the truth: it wasn’t that she had a bad temper.
She just didn’t love me.
That’s why she kept testing my limits.
She loved ChenYi. She’d give him everything without hesitation.
She never once cooked for me alone, yet she’d invite ChenYi over and make dinner herself, calling it a friendly gathering.
ChenYi would smile and praise how virtuous she was—any man would be lucky. But only I knew that the only times I got her cooking were when he was there. Everything else, too.
I’d watch them exchange glances across the table while I silently carried dishes, unable to even join the conversation.
“SuYueming, eat more, don’t be shy,” ChenYi would say, serving me food like he owned the place—like he and MuJinci were the real couple and I was the guest.
I’d look at MuJinci for any reaction. She’d say nothing, just eat in silence, avoiding my eyes.
ChenYi noticed my discomfort but pretended not to. He kept pushing.
“SuYueming, don’t overthink it. MuJinci and I go way back—childhood sweethearts. We always sat at the head of the table when we ate out. I’m still getting used to her being married. Sorry if I spoke out of turn.”
He raised his glass.
“I would punish myself with a drink!”
When I stayed quiet, he added with a half-joking smile, “You’re not actually jealous and mad, are you?”
The air turned ice cold.
MuJinci didn’t defend me. Instead, she nudged me with her elbow.
“It’s rare we all eat together. Stop sulking. ChenYi didn’t say anything wrong—don’t be so petty.”
My wife was siding with an outsider, letting him humiliate me, then telling me not to take it so seriously.
Something in me dropped.
I forced a smile like a puppet.
“I get it. You two are old friends. I’m not jealous.”
It was exactly what she wanted to hear, but the moment I said I wasn’t jealous, her face darkened anyway.
I couldn’t figure her out.
Before, when I argued and tried to stop her from seeing ChenYi, she hated it.
Now that I’d learned to step back and compromise, she still hated it.
MuJinci wore me down a little more every day.
She’d become a raw spot in my chest that never quite healed.
I had no energy left to fight, no patience left to yield.
If she wouldn’t come to me, I’d go to her.
This marriage had to end.
I found MuJinci in a restaurant, eating with ChenYi.
ChenYi’s expression changed the moment he saw me.
I walked over and sat across from them.
“What are you doing here?” MuJinci asked, her face tight.
“I came to—”
She cut me off.
“Even if you’re trying to make a grand gesture on my birthday, I’m not forgiving you that easily.”
Just then, a server brought over a bouquet and handed it to MuJinci.
“Ordered by the gentleman beside you,” the server said, nodding toward ChenYi.
“Thank you.” MuJinci smiled faintly.
She brushed her fingers over the petals and suddenly noticed something tucked inside—a necklace.
ChenYi slipped the necklace around MuJinci’s neck as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“MuJinci, do you like it?”
“Mhm. I love it. Thank you, ChenYi.” MuJinci smiled up at him.
ChenYi scratched the back of his head, cheeks pink.
I clapped slowly.
“What a sweet little romance scene.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
MuJinci’s brows snapped together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said.” I shrugged.
She stared at me, the air around her turning icy.
“And yours?” she asked.
“What?” I blinked, not following.
“Fine. Since you’re here to apologize, let’s see the birthday gift you brought.”
I smiled faintly. “Trust me, you’re going to love this one.”
“Show me. I hate games.”
I reached into my jacket and slid the divorce agreement across the table.
MuJinci froze, eyes wide.
“What the hell is this?”
“Divorce.”