Chapter 4

My legs had gone numb from squatting. Suddenly, I remembered that a resident had once seen a stray cat in the parking lot, so I headed to the underground garage.

To my surprise, I saw Chi Zhou’s ex-girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat, crying, while he spoke to her gently.

His usually cool and unruly eyes were softened by a smile.

In that instant, a tidal wave of pain crashed over me.

My heart no longer ached, but my lungs hurt terribly.

I pressed my mask tightly against my face, trying to stifle the violent coughs, and hid behind a pillar.

Tears and snot streamed down my face uncontrollably.

How pathetic. Luckily, he didn’t see me.

At that moment, more than sadness or anger, I just felt exhausted.

I wanted to run away…

But an endless, shapeless shadow loomed over me.

There was nowhere to escape.

In the end, I dragged my weary body home.

I’m not a cold-blooded person, but right now, I really don’t care where his cat has gone.

I just want to rest.

I’m so tired…

I walked into the guest bedroom, pulled open the drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe, and found Green Tea curled up inside, sleeping.

In that moment, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness it hadn’t run away.

It was then I realized that, deep down, I was still afraid of him getting angry.

It seemed to have become instinct.

An instinct etched into my bones.

Green Tea slowly woke up.

It looked at me innocently and meowed, as if apologizing.

I reached out to pet it, but before I could touch it, I started coughing, a metallic taste flooding my throat.

Green Tea meowed even more anxiously.

I gently stroked its head. Unusually, it didn’t dodge, and even nuzzled my palm with its head.

I picked Green Tea up. It was very obedient and didn’t struggle.

It actually doesn’t like being held. Even though it’s very attached to Chi Zhou, it still resists when he picks it up.

Yes, it’s a proud little cat.

Afraid of scaring it, I didn’t dare cough loudly.

As soon as I set it down, it moved away, keeping its distance.

I froze for a moment before realizing-

It was worried I’d feel worse.

When I was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, I didn’t cry. When Chi Zhou scolded me, I didn’t cry… But at this moment, I suddenly broke down in tears.

Even Green Tea cares, but Chi Zhou doesn’t.

It kept staring at me, its little face serious.

I told Green Tea, “I’m fine. I’m okay. I’m just sick, don’t worry.”

I took the diagnosis papers from the drawer, went to the kitchen, soaked them in the sink, then threw them in the trash-just like the ending of my life.

After pouring food and water for Green Tea, I started coughing violently.

I even coughed up blood, bright red liquid flowing endlessly from the corner of my mouth.

I collapsed by the toilet, sobbing uncontrollably.

If Chi Zhou were home right now, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much.

I really wanted to hug him.

He’s more effective than painkillers.

But he won’t come back. He’s comforting his crying ex-girlfriend.

Green Tea paced outside the bathroom, but never dared to come closer.

After I calmed down, I cleaned the toilet and myself, then sent Chi Zhou a message, telling him Green Tea had come home.

He didn’t reply.

I sat quietly in the living room, waiting.

By nine o’clock, he still hadn’t returned.

I hadn’t eaten all day.

I wondered if Chi Zhou had eaten?

He has stomach problems. He ruined his stomach drinking after breaking up with his ex.

We’ve been together for seven years, and I never managed to nurse his stomach back to health.

He doesn’t like my cooking, or me.

I’ve known that for a long time.

Because I’ve seen what he’s like when he truly likes someone.

But I never expected he’d reconnect with Liang Xiaoxiao.

Back then, their breakup was so ugly, as if they’d never speak again.

He’s always been so proud-could he really forgive cheating?

What were they doing in the parking lot now?

After seven years apart, they must have a lot to say.

My mind was a mess of thoughts.

I decided to make some porridge.

Around ten, Chi Zhou finally came home, carrying a faint scent that didn’t belong to him.

Green Tea ran over, circled his feet twice, and nuzzled him.

He crouched down, scooped it into his arms, and kissed its head gently.

The halo of the floor lamp bathed him in soft light.

I was so envious of Green Tea.

It had more courage than I did to get close to him.

I was jealous of Green Tea, too.

It only got lost for a little while, and it earned so much of his concern.

So what could Liang Xiaoxiao, who’d been lost for seven years, get from him?

Seven years of longing and love?

Three hours’ worth of sweet nothings?

I watched quietly, not making a sound.

“In a few days, I’ll send Green Tea away,” he said suddenly.

To Liang Xiaoxiao?

I didn’t ask.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to send it away.”

It doesn’t matter anymore, Chi Zhou.

The answers you give me-I don’t want them anymore.