Chapter 2

I could almost recite every one of those words Shen Ruyan said.

She never even changed a single character.

As long as it involved Xue Heng, he always came first. One phone call from Xue Heng was enough to make her leave my side.

I just didn’t believe Xue Heng had no other friends besides Shen Ruyan. How could he always, so accurately, pick the exact time we were on a date to suddenly have some emergency?

Ridiculous.

I sat on the floor and took out all the alcohol I had prepared for the guests today, then drank bottle after bottle.

I copied one of Xue Heng’s old little tricks, took a photo, and posted it on Moments with the caption, “No matter how things turn, I’m still alone.”

The comments on my post blew up almost instantly.

“Got rejected again after proposing?”

“Not gonna lie, bro, how many times is this now? Even a stubborn cow should’ve been dragged back by now.”

“Don’t be sad. Wait till I’m off work one day, and we’ll get plastered together!”

I looked at the comments and felt a sudden sting of bitterness.

Just as I was about to turn off my phone, a message popped up from Shen Ruyan.

So she hadn’t been drunk. I thought she was drunk when she ended up in Xue Heng’s arms.

I opened it, and Shen Ruyan’s dissatisfied voice immediately came through the phone. “Xu Ze, what are you doing? Who are you trying to show that to so late at night? Are you indirectly calling me out?”

Hearing how little she cared, I remembered how worried she had been the last time Xue Heng posted a drinking photo, and how she had left me behind just to go pick him up.

I replayed Shen Ruyan’s words over and over, then poured myself more bottles of alcohol.

It felt like only this could numb my nerves and let me forget the pain for a while.

I wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes. Ten years. I had finally seen through Shen Ruyan’s feelings.

In her heart, no matter how well I did, I could never compare to the bond she had with Xue Heng growing up together.

That night, I didn’t wait for Shen Ruyan anymore.

In the past, whenever Shen Ruyan went out, I would leave a light on at home for her, worried that she’d come back to a dark house. I wanted to give her the feeling of home.

Even though Shen Ruyan never appreciated it and often didn’t come home all night, I still kept that habit.

Now that I thought about it, it was really ridiculous.

I got up clumsily from the floor and went back to my room, where I fell straight asleep.

The first thing I did when I woke up the next day was check the room, and the light in my eyes little by little faded away.

Sure enough, Shen Ruyan hadn’t come home last night.

I gave a quiet laugh. Xu Ze, what exactly are you hoping for?

Just as I stood up, Shen Ruyan swaggered through the bedroom door and asked, “Why have you gotten so lazy lately?”

“You’re only getting up now, and you didn’t even prepare breakfast.”

Shen Ruyan cared a lot about staying in shape. Except when Xue Heng asked her out, she basically didn’t eat anything after noon, so breakfast was especially important to her. It had to be nutritionally balanced, and I always handled it myself.

“I’m almost late for work. Just eat something yourself.”

My tone was very flat, and Shen Ruyan could tell something was off. She walked over to me, gently pulled me into her arms, and coaxed me, “Are you still mad about yesterday?”

“Ah Ze, I know you’re sad every time I reject your proposal, but my brother needs me. I can’t build my happiness on his pain. Do you understand?”

“And getting married is something both people have to truly want. If I married you in such a muddled way, you’d probably be unhappy too, right?”

Seeing that I still didn’t respond, Shen Ruyan continued, “Once Xue Heng finds his own happiness, we’ll get married too and have a big wedding, okay?”

If this had happened before, when Shen Ruyan spoke to me so gently, I definitely would have forgiven her without another word.

But now, all I felt was that her explanation was completely unnecessary.

I didn’t want to listen at all.

“Mm, got it.”