Chapter 1 Five Years
Jiang Yu and I had been married for five years.
We had always been close.
He was careful with money and devoted to me.
He never drank, never gambled, never touched anything harmful.
He listened to me in everything and worked hard at home.
Lately, though, something felt wrong.
He spoke less and grew short-tempered.
That evening, only the sound of chopsticks against bowls filled the table.
He used to talk nonstop during meals.
Now he ate in silence, never lifting his head.
The quiet felt strange.
I tried to break it.
"Is the food too salty tonight?"
"Did you add too much water when cooking rice?"
Jiang Yu's cooking was always perfect.
Tonight it was not.
He paused, then set his chopsticks down hard.
"If you like what's outside so much, go eat out."
"Nothing at home is ever good enough for you."
I stared at him, startled by the sudden anger.
His words carried a sharp edge I had never heard before.
In the past he would have smiled and offered to cook again.
Now his face stayed dark, like a storm waiting to break.
I hurried to smooth things over.
I picked up a large bite of food and several mouthfuls of rice.
"I like salty food."
"The doctor said soft rice is better for my stomach."
Jiang Yu's expression eased a little.
He picked up his chopsticks again.