Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Li Shihao went into the bathroom to shower, while Zhang Qiong started a pot of instant noodles in the kitchen.
“This is what you’re treating me to?” Li Shihao walked into the kitchen, drying his hair with Zhang Qiong’s towel.
“It’s all I have in the house,” Zhang Qiong said, gesturing toward her neck and wrists. “You made me look like this, so I can’t exactly take you out to eat…”
Li Shihao replied, “Oh. I guess I used too much force. You should apply a cold compress.”
Zhang Qiong served a large bowl of noodles, ladled in several spoonfuls of broth, topped it with a poached egg, and set it down in front of Li Shihao.
“Eat. When you’re done, go take care of your business. I need to tidy up the house.”
Li Shihao was hungry. He picked up his chopsticks and finished the noodles and soup in just a few minutes.
“Wait a moment…” Zhang Qiong said. “I want to call her now.”
Li Shihao gave a grunt of affirmation, lit a cigarette, and watched her.
Zhang Qiong picked up her phone, hesitated for a second, and then dialed Huang Yuanrui via WeChat voice call.
“I’ve made up my mind. I’m not leaving. I’m staying at my current job, living in the same place, and my kids are staying in their current school. If you want to keep picking up dead rats, hiding in bathrooms, crawling into closets, and ducking under beds, then go right ahead! I’m going to buy some hand sanitizer in a bit; you can wash your hands after you pick up those dead rats, otherwise I’m afraid you’ll catch the plague. I’ll even wipe down the space under the bed and lay out a blanket for you so it’s cleaner when you sleep down there. If you need them, I can buy you a pair of gloves, otherwise all that frequent door-knocking is going to make your knuckles swell up like radishes. And don’t just sit around all day-save up some money. After all, you’re going to need a lot of injections to get rid of those dark circles under your eyes!”
Huang Yuanrui was stunned for two seconds before screaming, “Zhang Qiong, I’ll f*cking-!”
Zhang Qiong hung up the phone quickly before the woman could finish her string of curses.
Li Shihao burst into laughter, ash from his cigarette fluttering to the floor. Zhang Qiong couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
It had been a long time since she had laughed so happily. Looking at the blue sky outside the window, she felt a sense of clarity and relief wash over her.
After finishing his work, Qin Song opened Zhang Qiong’s Moments.
He wanted to see what she was up to-Zhang Qiong had barely replied to his messages all day yesterday.
After a moment’s thought, he dialed her number.
“Jiejie, you barely paid any attention to me yesterday. What were you busy with?”
Zhang Qiong remained silent on the other end of the line for a few seconds before speaking. “Let’s go back to our original relationship.”
Qin Song thought he had misheard. “What relationship?”
Zhang Qiong replied, “A superior-subordinate relationship.”
Qin Song sat bolt upright. “What do you mean? Are you breaking up with me? Why!”
“There is no ‘why,'” Zhang Qiong said. “I just feel that what we’re doing is wrong. We shouldn’t continue.”
“What’s wrong about it?” Qin Song demanded.
“An extramarital affair is wrong.”
“We’ve been together for so long and you didn’t think it was wrong, but now you suddenly do? Do you think I’m a f*cking idiot!”
Zhang Qiong stated calmly, “If something is wrong, it’s wrong no matter how much time passes.”
Qin Song began to lose control of his emotions. “Everything was fine the day before yesterday. We didn’t see each other for one day, and now you’re bringing up a breakup! Zhang Qiong, what are you trying to do?”
“Calm down,” Zhang Qiong said. “You’re too worked up right now.”
“How the f*ck am I supposed to be calm? You seem plenty calm! Does breaking up with me not hurt you at all?”
Zhang Qiong replied, “The pressure in my life is immense-so immense that I don’t have time for emotions. Things like happiness or sadness… those feelings seem very distant to me.”
“What pressure do you have? Are you saying I’m not good enough to you? Have I not been generous enough? I buy you everything-food, clothes, housing, transportation. From the first day we were together until now, which month have I not helped you pay off your debts? Aren’t I the source of income for your entire family of four? Tell me, what pressure do you have?”
“Do you realize how out of line you’re being by speaking like that?” Zhang Qiong asked.
Qin Song rubbed his eyes hard and took a sip of water. “Jiejie, I’m sorry. I was impulsive just now. Please don’t take it to heart. Can I take it back? Just pretend you heard a dog barking. I’m apologizing to you.”
“I won’t hold it against you,” Zhang Qiong said. “Just get your emotions under control, okay?”
Qin Song took a breath. “Jiejie… have you fallen for someone else?”