Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After hanging up on Ji Ting, a sudden, sharp cramping tightened in my lower abdomen.

Frowning, I rummaged through the house for painkillers.

I searched for a long time but couldn’t find any.

Only then did I remember that since marrying Song Zhiyuan, I hadn’t suffered from menstrual cramps for a very long time.

Over the years, he had meticulously corrected my lifestyle and eating habits.

The first time he discovered me in pain after we married, he took me to see a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine.

He then supervised me for six months as I drank herbal decoctions to improve my constitution.

Later on, he remembered my cycle even better than I did.

Though it was quite annoying at times, thanks to his intervention, I truly hadn’t experienced abdominal pain during my period in ages.

During this time apart, I didn’t have him by my side.

I had eaten too much takeout and cold drinks.

My sleep schedule was irregular.

My stomach, which hadn’t hurt in three years, suddenly decided to stage a revolution.

It really wasn’t giving me any face at all.

The pain was severe, so I had no choice but to grab my keys and phone to head to the pharmacy at the neighborhood entrance for some painkillers.

Realizing it was dark out, I didn’t bother changing.

I just threw a thin coat over my nightgown and headed out the door.

As I stepped out of the complex gates, I was surprised to find that Zhou Jin’s car was still there.

He was leaning against the car door, head down, smoking a cigarette.

Pale-faced, I froze in my tracks.

He looked up just in time, his gaze landing on my face.

“I’m just having a smoke before I leave,” he said stubbornly.

“I’m just buying some medicine before I go back,” I replied.

He lowered his head, looking at his black leather shoes. The dim yellow glow of the streetlamp hit his face, adding a touch of mystery to his already handsome features.

I slowly shifted my gaze away from him and walked toward the pharmacy not far away.

After a few steps, the sound of footsteps followed behind me.

I didn’t need to look back to know it couldn’t be anyone but Zhou Jin.

After I picked out the painkillers and was about to pay, Zhou Jin stepped ahead of me and scanned the code.

“My treat,” he said.

His move left me somewhat speechless.

Once we stepped out of the pharmacy, I sent him a red envelope in our group chat, designated for him to collect.

“I’ve paid you back.” Enduring the pain, I held my phone up to his face, signaling for him to accept the red envelope.

Naturally, Zhou Jin didn’t go into the group to collect it. Instead, he stared into my eyes and asked through gritted teeth, “Why did you get a divorce?”

I was stunned.

Zhou Jin asked again, “Why did you get a divorce?”

“Song Zhiyuan wanted it.”

“Does he have someone else?” Zhou Jin’s voice was laced with anger.

I thought of Song Zhiyuan bragging about his eight little mistresses and suddenly didn’t know how to explain something so ridiculous.

“It’s better this way,” I could only offer an awkward, self-deprecating smile.

Seeing me avoid the question, Zhou Jin didn’t push further.

I lifted the box of medicine in my hand. “I need to go home and take this.”

Zhou Jin followed behind me, looking like he wanted to say something.

I tried several times to persuade him to go back and stay with Ye Wanxin, but he played deaf and mute.

However, I was in too much pain to waste any more breath on him.

When we reached my front door, he had the sense not to follow me inside.

“Remember to drink plenty of hot water,” he urged, his face suddenly turning red.

“Scram!” I snapped.

Zhou Jin bolted instantly, moving incredibly fast.

In that moment, it felt as if time had rewound seven years.

He was still that same idiotic boy who, upon seeing me in discomfort, could only tell me to drink hot water.

Back then, we had even gotten into a fight over it.

I felt he didn’t value me and that his concern was incredibly perfunctory.

The next day, he waited downstairs at my dorm with my favorite dried plum and vegetable flatbreads.

The snow was heavy that morning.

A boy wearing nothing but a denim jacket stood in the blizzard, waving at me.

I scolded him with a face full of reproach, “Are you trying to get sick, wearing so little?”

As I spoke, I reached for his hand.

He pulled the steaming flatbreads from inside his jacket and handed them to me. “I waited in line for two hours to buy these. Is that ‘valued’ enough for you?”

His hands were cold and stiff; my heart ached so much that tears welled up.

But my mouth continued to scold him: “You idiot, why would you wait in line wearing so little? What if you catch a cold?”

“I’m not cold.”

The boy was incredibly stubborn, tilting his chin up as he said, “Only you girls are afraid of the cold!”

“Because of ‘cold palace’ issues, right? I know!” He grinned at me triumphantly.

Looking at the smart-mouthed boy, I couldn’t help but slap him. “Go to hell!”

“Attempted murder of your own husband!” Zhou Jin made a move to kiss me, but I nimbly dodged him.

Later, he did end up catching a cold.

With red eyes and a runny nose, he insisted he wasn’t sick, just that his nose was a bit stuffed.

In a fit of pique, I gave him two pairs of long johns.

When his group of brothers found out, he claimed it was a crowning humiliation. He said if I forced him to wear them, he’d rather use the long johns to hang himself.

I told him if he didn’t wear them, we were breaking up.

Then, he obediently put them on.

From then on, Zhou Jin earned the title of being ‘henpecked.’

At first, he was bashful and refused to admit it, but after being teased so much he grew a thick skin, he would tell everyone he met, “What’s wrong with being henpecked?”

“I’m so young and already have a wife giving me long johns. You single dogs probably don’t even have anyone giving you a second glance!”

Those beautiful moments slowly became the most important memories in the depths of my heart.

It’s just that no matter how beautiful a love is, there comes a day when it shatters.