Chapter 11 The Slap
After that day, Shen Zong stopped coming to work.
Maybe, just like our colleagues guessed, he was busy preparing for a wedding.
I submitted my resignation to my boss.
Once I finished handing over my work, I could leave.
That evening, on my way home in a taxi, I spotted Shen Zong's car in the rearview mirror.
I quickly texted Wen Zeyan, asking him to wait for me downstairs.
As soon as I got out, I hurried over to him, wrapped my arms around his neck, and tiptoed up to "kiss" him.
It was just a staged angle.
From another view, though, it looked like a real kiss.
Moments later, a car roared away behind us.
Wen Zeyan teased lightly.
"My role as the ex-boyfriend is pretty pathetic. Being used over and over by my ex-girlfriend."
I pressed my lips together.
"Sorry, Senior. I promise this is the last time."
Wen Zeyan had pursued me back in university. He could be considered my first love.
We only dated for a week before both agreeing we were better off as friends.
We strolled around the neighborhood for a while before I headed back to my apartment.
The moment I inserted the key into the lock, a dark figure lunged at me.
A strong smell of alcohol and cigarettes flooded my nose.
Shen Zong gripped my wrist and pinned me against the door.
He stood with his back to the light, face hidden in shadow.
"Chunian, I admit I'm pathetic."
The next second, he seized my jaw and kissed me forcefully.
The kiss was brutal, like he wanted to devour me whole.
I struggled a few times.
He only kissed deeper.
A sharp sting spread across my lips. The taste of blood filled my mouth.
I winced and shoved him away hard, then slapped him across the face without hesitation.
"Shen Zong, what the hell are you doing?"
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at me. His voice came out raw and broken.
"Chunian, sometimes I really hate you. I hate that you treat me like his Stand-In. I hate how easily you walked away."
"But the more I hate, the more I realize the person I hate most is myself. I hate that I can't let you go. I still love you."
He gave a bitter laugh. His face grew paler, his voice surrendering to something heavy.
"You win. I'm the one chasing after humiliation."
"If you're willing, from that moment on you could have two boyfriends."
My mind blanked for a second.
Then pain squeezed my heart.
Shen Zong seemed to like me far more than I had ever imagined.
It felt like if I just said the word, he would throw everything away and marry me without hesitation.
The price was too high.
My nails dug into my palms. I forced my voice to stay calm.
"Shen Zong, one Wen Zeyan is enough for me."