Chapter 2 Separate Rooms
Jiang Yu's behavior grew stranger.
He began working out every day.
His body grew stronger, and I could not help watching.
He often stood in front of the mirror, lost in thought.
When I spoke to him, he barely answered.
He stopped changing clothes in front of me.
He even closed the bathroom door.
It felt as if he were guarding against me.
We had been married for years.
Why was he suddenly shy?
I teased him once.
"Acting like strangers now?"
He stayed silent, as if he had not heard.
He refused any closeness.
He would not kiss me or hold me.
Even a touch seemed too much.
At night he used to pull me close in his sleep.
Now he kept a clear distance between us.
One night his voice woke me.
"Why am I just a Stand-In? Why treat me like this?"
I turned on the light.
He was still asleep, tears soaking the pillow.
I shook him awake.
"What did you dream about?"
Jiang Yu opened his eyes, red and confused.
After a moment he seemed to realize where he was.
He wiped his face quickly and got out of bed.
"We should sleep in separate rooms from now on."
He grabbed his pillow and left for the guest room without another word.
I stared at the closed door.