I stared at the message for a long time, puzzled by my own actions. I couldn’t figure out why I had asked Mi Cai yesterday to go back to the old house to retrieve those belongings that were hers. In fact, I could have easily had them passed on to her through CC. Thinking back, I realized I had been too indecisive and hesitant. Mi Cai, however, understood the essence of breaking up far better than I did. We shouldn’t have used excuses to meet again, because after meeting, there was nothing meaningful left to say—just some sentimental and bitter words.
I put my phone back into my pocket and turned to ask Jian Wei, “What were you just saying to me?”
Jian Wei was clearly trying to control herself as she replied, “I was reminding you to take your career seriously and not to disappoint our business partners. Do you understand now? If not, I can repeat myself!”
Grateful and sincere, I looked at Jian Wei and said, “Thank you for the reminder. I will definitely take my career seriously.”
Her expression finally softened slightly, and she quietly asked, “Do you have any channels for financing at the moment?”
I shook my head.
Jian Wei glanced at the calendar on the table in front of her, then said, “Alright then. Uncle Yang will arrive in Suzhou in five days. We can discuss things further when he gets here. For now, take these five days to relax, clear your mind, and when you return, I hope to see you at your best!”
I accepted Jian Wei’s suggestion. Rather than forcing myself to work under pressure and pain, it would be better to take a break before Yang Congrong arrived in Suzhou, find a place to unwind, and reflect deeply on my messed-up life.
…
After leaving Jian Wei’s advertising company, I called CC. We had agreed to go to the bank today to withdraw her 1 million yuan deposit. At 10:30, I met CC in front of the China Construction Bank. Without exchanging unnecessary words, we went straight to the counter, transferred the money into my account, and then combined the proceeds from selling the car and her remaining savings into one bank card. Finally, I handed her the key to the apartment along with the card.
As CC took everything from my hands, my heart immediately felt empty. I knew from now on, we would no longer have any connection. Our breakup was so clean and decisive, unlike some couples who, after breaking up, argue endlessly over material and emotional investments, going through the same cycle of pain over and over again.
After a silence, CC asked me, “What are your plans now?”
I forced a smile and asked in return, “When you say plans, do you mean my career or my love life?”
“Tell me about both.”
“For now, I have five days to go out and relax. Maybe when I come back, I’ll have some answers!”
CC, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally, muttered, “You’re lucky—you can take time off to relax. But she still has to face those tigers who are always ready to devour her.”
A complicated emotion welled up inside me. I stood there silently for a long while, ultimately saying nothing. When a taxi passed by, I raised my hand to hail it, said a brief goodbye to CC, and chose to leave—not because I was running away, because there was no longer any relationship or issue left between us.
…
Sitting in the taxi, I kept thinking about where I should go during these five days to relax. I wanted to go back to Xuzhou, but I couldn’t face my parents with the reality of my breakup from Mi Cai. I thought about going to a coastal city to see the sea, but then remembered this was peak travel season—crowded beaches wouldn’t give me much peace for reflection. I was left feeling lost and unsure of where to go.
That day, I stayed in a hotel working on a financing proposal until evening, when I finally snapped out of my work mode. But immediately afterward, I felt an overwhelming sense of pressure from escaping reality. I took several deep breaths, finally closed my laptop, and decided to go out for a walk.
Coincidentally, there was a plaza nearby where Mi Cai and I used to frequently play go-karting. After walking around for a bit, I unconsciously entered the familiar plaza, instinctively scanning the area for any aunties wearing red armbands. Once I was sure it was safe, I sat down on a bench, lit a cigarette, inhaled deeply, letting the thick smoke fill my lungs, and exhaled along with it all the inescapable sense of loss and suffocation.
The fountain in the plaza was still flowing, children were still playing with their go-karts, and the elderly were dancing, walking their dogs, and chatting. Yet this relaxed and harmonious atmosphere only intensified my loneliness. Still, I didn’t want to leave, watching everything in front of me almost masochistically.
My phone vibrated in my hand, and it took me a while to respond. Without checking the caller ID, I answered, and from the other end came Leyao’s voice. It meant that she had finally removed me from her phone’s blacklist before heading abroad!
“Zhaoyang, where are you now?”
Still in a daze, I couldn’t immediately recall my location. I looked around and finally answered, “At the plaza on Panmen Road.”
“Oh, then I’ll come find you.”
“What’s up?”
“Let’s talk in person.”
…
Half an hour later, Leyao finally arrived at the plaza wearing a jazz hat and sunglasses. She quickly spotted me in the corner and, after scanning the surroundings to make sure no one had recognized her, relaxed and walked over.
I shifted slightly to make room for her. After she sat down, I asked, “What’s so important that you had to find me?”
Leyao handed me a cardboard box. I took it and looked inside. Suddenly, a small white head popped out and let out a soft whimper, instantly snapping me out of my daze. I asked, “What the hell is this!?”
Without hesitation, Leyao reached into the box and pulled out a tiny dog, only slightly larger than a teacup, and said, “This is my teacup dog. Let the two of you get acquainted.”
I patted the dog’s head and said to Leyao, “What’s its name? It’s so small!”
“Jingang (Vajra)…”
“Are you kidding me? You named something this tiny ‘Jingang’? It’s not even as big as a mouse!”
Leyao ignored my surprise and replied, “I gave it a strong name so it would be easier to raise… Sigh! I’m leaving the country soon, so please take care of Jingang for me. I really hate to part with it. Even when I go to events, I carry it in my handbag!”
I shook my head repeatedly and refused, “You gave it a strong name, but something this tiny isn’t strong at all! It might not even know how to bark. I’m forgetful by nature—I might place it on the sofa and accidentally sit on it!”
“You can ask Mi Cai to help take care of it. It’s easy to raise. You can even bring it to work. Jingang is really cute and can cheer people up!”
At the mention of Mi Cai, I felt a sudden wave of sadness. After a pause, I replied, “She’s so busy with work she barely has time for herself. Why don’t you leave it with CC instead?”
“CC is allergic to pet hair… Otherwise, I wouldn’t have given such an unreliable person like you this responsibility!”
As Leyao and I were arguing, someone suddenly slapped my shoulder hard. I turned around and saw Xiaopangzi Wei Xiao grinning at me, holding a go-kart in his arms. Standing behind him was Mi Cai…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage