Time flew by, and mid-April arrived. The Qingming Festival holiday was over, and now what kept everyone going at work was the upcoming Labor Day holiday at the beginning of next month.
Twenty days had passed, and there was still no movement from the He family. Chi Shuo started to worry, afraid that once she got used to this life, suddenly a group of people would appear and separate her and He Lindi.
“It would be best if it rained heavily that day, a more sorrowful atmosphere,” He Lindi finished Chi Shuo’s thought. “Right?”
“Right.”
It was Saturday, their time to relax. Neither had any plans to go out; they just lounged at home.
Chi Shuo lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, and started imagining, “If that really happened, we could go try our luck in the entertainment industry. Do you think we could become famous instantly?”
He Lindi was playing a game, KartRider, her fingers constantly manipulating the controls on her phone screen. She wasn’t wearing headphones, multitasking as she listened to Chi Shuo.
“You becoming famous, I think that’s possible, but me, not so much.” He Lindi glanced at her. “I don’t have your natural acting skills. Remember how you fooled Xia Zhou and the others before?”
Chi Shuo waved her hand. “Didn’t Xia Zhou still figure it out?” She said, “Your cousin-in-law is really smart. I’m always surprised by her. Even though she can seem a bit ditzy sometimes, most of the time, her IQ is online.”
In front of Xia Zhou, Chi Shuo always felt like a transparent person, but Xia Zhou generally wouldn’t reveal anything or ask, a very safe place for sharing secrets. Chi Shuo felt completely at ease with her.
He Lindi sighed, returning her gaze to her phone. “I heard from Yue Ke these past two days that they’ve had a fight. I don’t know the specific reason, but they’re in a cold war now.”
Chi Shuo replied indifferently, “It was bound to happen. I always felt they didn’t argue enough.”
“We also haven’t argued much.” He Lindi added that, then turned off her phone. “Want to have a fight?”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Chi Shuo slapped He Lindi’s outstretched wrist. “Boring.”
She glanced at the time. “Time to go out. You’re going on a business trip to Qicheng tomorrow. Let’s go buy some snacks you like.”
Finally, a celebrity had scheduled an event, and He Lindi was hired to go to Qicheng to take photos.
“Okay.”
Lately, their life seemed to have entered a comfortable, old married couple mode. They went to the supermarket, planning to make a nice dinner, then went to the regular supermarket to buy He Lindi’s favorite candy and chips.
“Any gifts you want this time?” He Lindi asked. “You can’t say you don’t want anything again.”
Chi Shuo didn’t hesitate. “A box of chocolates. I forgot to buy them at the supermarket.”
“…Fine.”
There really wasn’t much time for intimacy. Monday morning, He Lindi got up at 7 AM. She lingered beside Chi Shuo for a while before getting up to wash.
Last night, they agreed Chi Shuo wouldn’t see her off this morning. After all, they could see each other again in four days. There was no need to replay a sorrowful farewell scene.
Having grown accustomed to spending every day together for the past twenty days, even though this business trip wasn’t sudden, Chi Shuo still felt a pang of emptiness upon waking up and seeing the vacant spot beside her. She reached out, placed her hand there, lingered for a while, and then got up.
He Lindi had already arrived at the hotel in Qicheng and sent Chi Shuo a selfie. In the picture, she was smiling brightly, her eyes curved into crescents.
Chi Shuo’s lips curved upwards slightly, replying to the message.
They had entered a four-day long-distance relationship again. Chi Shuo felt she was getting used to this; He Lindi’s work dictated it.
But Chi Shuo didn’t feel particularly unhappy. A little separation was beneficial for a relationship’s development.
Monday. Chi Shuo clocked in at work. After the meeting, she started her tasks.
It was her first day at work without He Lindi. Fang Xiuxiu clearly sensed something was off with Chi Shuo and, as the closest fan of their “CP,” cautiously asked, “Shuo Shuo, what’s wrong? Why so quiet?”
“Nothing.” Chi Shuo forced a smile. “Just that she’s on a business trip.”
“Okay, I get it.” Fang Xiuxiu made an “okay” gesture. “As long as it’s not a fight, everything’s fine. You two, lock it down for me.”
Chi Shuo couldn’t help but laugh. “Ever since you learned we were together, you’ve become obsessed.”
It was true. As long as it was a workday, Fang Xiuxiu would say “You two, lock it down for me” every morning, making Chi Shuo both amused and exasperated.
Fang Xiuxiu raised an eyebrow. “Want to hear the truth?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Since I was little, you and Teacher He are the closest same-sex couple I’ve ever encountered.”
“Before, whether on Weibo, in the news, or elsewhere, everyone always said same-sex relationships face many difficulties.”
“I hope you two don’t encounter any.”
Chi Shuo placed another candy from her drawer on Fang Xiuxiu’s desk. Her voice was gentle. “Thank you.” She said, “You and your boyfriend should also be happy.”
“Okay!”
Chi Shuo felt everyone she encountered at Xinyue, except He Xiuqi, was a good person. During these past twenty days, some colleagues had come to ask about her and He Lindi, and Chi Shuo openly admitted it.
Without He Lindi, Chi Shuo felt somewhat bored. After work, she said goodbye to Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai and went to Han Yu’s KTV.
Things were relatively smooth on her end, but Han Yu’s relationship with Bar Girl seemed a bit rocky; if they didn’t handle it well, they might break up.
Chi Shuo didn’t know the specifics yet; Han Yu hadn’t fully explained it, but it probably involved an “ex-girlfriend.”
“Fuck.”
“Where did she even hear I’m still entangled with my exes?”
Who messages their exes every day? Who has a ‘cutie’ nickname for their ex? Who plays games with their ex and forgets to reply to my messages?
As soon as she entered the private room, Chi Shuo was bombarded by Han Yu’s rhetorical questions, leaving her somewhat speechless, realizing this situation might be tricky.
An ex is always a thorn in a relationship, painful to remove, yet irritating to leave in.
This private room was where Han Yu had confessed her feelings. Nearly five months later, being there again felt completely different; the initial excitement was gone, replaced by a sense of melancholy.
She sat down and leaned against the sofa. “What did she say?”
“She said if I don’t delete my ex-girlfriends from my contacts, I’m worse than her.” Han Yu cursed again. “Fuck, I have six ex-girlfriends and I haven’t deleted any, but I haven’t contacted a single one! And she criticizes me for it? Just because I have more exes than her, it’s all my fault? I’m not even chatting, playing games, or eating with them!”
Han Yu finished her rant and took a large gulp of the beer already poured on the table.
“…” Chi Shuo frowned slightly, then patted Han Yu’s shoulder. “Want to go to the bar for a drink?”
Han Yu paused, then nodded.
Forty minutes later, they were at their usual bar. Alex seemed even more handsome than before. Since it had been a while since he’d seen Chi Shuo, he offered her a free drink.
Chi Shuo didn’t refuse, raised her glass to him, and then turned to chat with Han Yu. “You two have been in a cold war for almost a week?”
“Yeah.”
“Broke my cold war record.”
“…” Chi Shuo rubbed her forehead. “That’s a bit long.”
“Little arguments are fine, but I haven’t had such a big fight in ages. It’s a bit… interesting.” Han Yu lowered her head. “If she doesn’t apologize in a week, I’ll break up with her.”
Chi Shuo pursed her lips, then heard Han Yu continue, her voice choked with tears. “Please, I beg her to come back and apologize. I don’t want to break up with her.” She said, “Even if we do break up, can’t we at least have breakup sex?”
Chi Shuo: “…”
When Chi Shuo got home, she was still slightly tipsy, having had two drinks. Han Yu’s driver had brought her back.
He Lindi called while Chi Shuo was leaning against the sofa, waiting to sober up a bit before showering.
“Hello?” Chi Shuo’s voice was soft and languid from the alcohol.
“Drunk?” He Lindi asked.
“No.”
“Two drinks.”
“But it’s been a while since I’ve had two, so I’m feeling it.”
He Lindi sighed lightly. “Who were you with?”
“Han Yu.”
“I’ve been busy all afternoon, haven’t had time to look at my phone. Just about to head back to the hotel now.”
“Okay.” Chi Shuo replied, then suddenly opened her eyes. “Didi Mei Mei, can we please not fight?”
“…”
“Wait until I get back, and we can battle it out for three days and three nights. Whoever gives in first wears the sexy lingerie.”
Chi Shuo’s lips curved. She squinted slightly, looking at the ceiling light. “I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too.”
It was the third day without He Lindi. Chi Shuo was starting to feel incredibly uncomfortable, most noticeably when she woke up and instinctively turned to wake He Lindi up.
Empty.
Chi Shuo curled her fingers, pulled her arm back, and messaged He Lindi.
She didn’t know how people in long-distance relationships managed. Just these three days were unbearable.
But this day wasn’t very peaceful. Just before lunch, Chi Shuo received a call from her mother.
Her mother said, “Shuo Shuo, I have something to ask you. Let’s have lunch together.”
Even though her mother had apologized and seemed to have changed, Chi Shuo was still wary. “If it’s a blind date, then there’s no need.”
Her mother was silent for over ten seconds before replying, her voice choked with tears, “Your father is back. Shuo Shuo, come comfort me.”
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