Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I pulled the property purchase contract from my bag, tears splashing onto the paper one by one.

I hurriedly wiped them away with my hand, terrified of damaging the document.

I had always believed that Zhou Jinyan was afraid to bring up marriage because he was struggling financially, or because he was worried he wouldn’t pass muster with my parents.

He had heard everything clearly that day my mother called me.

“So what if his parents are deceased? His education is lower than yours, his salary is less than yours, and he has no house or car. What do you see in him? Is it just that face of his?

“With your qualifications, what kind of man couldn’t you find?

“Come home. I can introduce you to so many young, talented men, every single one of them better than him.”

I had covered the phone’s receiver. “Mom, he’s working on a project right now; he’ll get a raise next month. Besides, he’s ambitious and treats me well. I just like him.

“As for buying a house, the money we’ve saved together over the past few years is enough for a down payment. Our housing fund can cover the monthly mortgage payments after that. Things are getting better…”

After hanging up that day, I had crouched by the head of the bed and pulled out all my bank cards, spreading them out one by one. I looked up at him and said, “Let’s get married. I have the money. At worst, I’ll support you.”

Zhou Jinyan had looked slightly stunned, a flicker of an emotion I couldn’t decipher crossing his eyes. But all he said was three words: “Wait a bit.”

At the time, I thought he wanted me to wait for him to climb another rung on the ladder, to wait for him to marry me with pride and glory.

I hadn’t understood his expression back then. Looking back now, he was probably laughing.

Laughing at how naive and easily fooled I was. Laughing at how my heart full of passion wasn’t worth a single cent.

For days, I had been thinking about how to naturally give him this surprise.

But I never imagined that while I was dreaming of a warm future together, he was calculating how to extract himself from this game, this hoax.

It was truly pathetic. I laughed until the tears wouldn’t stop.

It took an immense amount of willpower to keep myself from pushing that door open.

I backed away step by step, the weight of the truth making it hard to breathe. I lowered my head and pressed the call button.

Looking up, I saw Zhou Jinyan raise a hand. Everyone went silent instantly.

I spoke, my voice sounding normal. “Are you still at work?”

Zhou Jinyan’s lazy voice came through the receiver. “Yeah. Probably another hour or two. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

I wiped away my tears. “I took a fall. I’m at the hospital…”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Zhou Jinyan sit up slightly.

“Which hospital?” He gestured for the person next to him to hand him his coat.

Zhou Jinyan hung up and crushed out his cigarette. A friend asked him, “Where are you going? You just got here.”

“My girlfriend is at the hospital. I’m leaving.”

“What kind of girlfriend is she to you…”

Before the man could finish, Zhou Jinyan gripped the doorframe and glanced back at him casually.

That look was devoid of emotion, as cold as a deep pool on a winter night. It cut the speaker off instantly, striking him with a sense of dread.