Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Fu Jinhua and I were husband and wife by way of a business marriage.

Although we had known each other since we were children, we weren’t close.

After the wedding, he was busy with his career, and I was busy with mine.

Spending more time apart than together was the norm.

Especially over the past two or three months, Fu Jinhua had been tied up with overseas collaborations. Whenever he flew out, he would be gone for half a month or more.

My friends all teased me, saying this marriage was basically the same as not being married at all.

“I used to say the dream life was having a husband who never came home but still gave you money, but your husband is that good-looking. I honestly don’t know if him not coming home means you’re winning or losing.”

“…”

“Speaking of which, Yunshu, your married life is no different from being single. Every day it’s either work or business dinners. Aren’t you bored? Have you never thought about finding some other fun?”

Bored?

I supposed I was, a little.

So that day, when I happened to drive past the flower and bird market, I somehow found myself going in for a stroll.

When I came out, I had not only a bouquet of white lisianthus in my hand, but also an extra birdcage.

I had bought a plump, bright yellow bird.

The vendor said it was a Gloster Canary.

From inside the cage came lively chirping, clear and cheerful, and the sound made my heart lift along with it.

I didn’t bring the canary home. Instead, I settled it in a villa under my name and hired the housekeeper to take special care of it.

The marital home was where Fu Jinhua and I lived together.

I couldn’t just keep something there without asking him first.

On the day I officially became a bird owner, I shared my joy with my best friend.

For some reason, Lin Qinglan’s side was very noisy. She seemed unable to hear what I was saying and turned on speakerphone.

I couldn’t help raising my voice. “I said, I’m keeping a canary outside-”

For some reason, after I said that, her end of the line suddenly went quiet.

All the voices in the background stopped.

“Lin Qinglan?”

The person on the other end abruptly lowered her voice to a breathy whisper.

“Xie Yunshu, how can you just say anything without thinking? Couldn’t you at least ask me where I am first?”

“?”

What was wrong with keeping a bird?

“Am I not allowed to say that?”

Lin Qinglan said, “Keep your voice down. Is it something to be proud of?”

“…”

A few days after that call, I vaguely heard from other people that word had spread about me keeping a canary.

They even deliberately avoided me when they discussed it.

I was busy, though, and didn’t have time to look into what exactly they were talking about.

That day, when I came home from work and stepped through the door, I faintly sensed that something inside was off.

I looked up and saw a silent figure sitting on the living room sofa.

The man I hadn’t seen in half a month had come back without so much as a word.