It’s a mortifying moment. The three of us stand in the bright sunlight—he and Yu Yin are the engaged couple who have known each other for over a decade.
As I enter, Yu Yin sits by the hospital bed, smoothing her skirt hem with an elegant smile that hints at irony.
I wish I could disappear, but I walk to the table and place the soup down.
“Senior brother, drink the soup while it’s hot… I’ll come visit you another day.” I rush out without hesitation.
“Darling,” Ye Zhengchen calls me.
I turn back, giving him a stiff smile, then another for Yu Yin, my facial muscles numb.
“You two chat slowly; I won’t interrupt.”
After leaving, I close the door behind me.
Is this what being a mistress feels like?
Feeling depressed, I kick the hallway wall, pain shooting through my ankle. I hop and cry, thankful no one saw me.
Limping back to my apartment, the fragrance of pork ribs and winter melon soup lingers. I realize I haven’t eaten lunch, so I pour out the remaining soup, even chewing the bones, as the book says it’s good for calcium.
After finishing, I pull out the medicine box my dad prepared, find some red flower oil, sit on the bed, and massage my ankle.
While massaging, I curse Ye Zhengchen: why don’t you just die!
Just as I’m venting my frustration, my phone rings. The caller is none other than him.
Grinding my teeth in anger, I answer, “Hello.”
“The pork ribs soup was delicious. Will there be more tonight?”
“Yes, I’ll make soup with heartless radish and wolf heart.”
He laughs, and his clear laughter is pleasant, like a crisp stream.
“Want to come get some ingredients?”
“Your fiancée has left?”
“She’s gone and won’t come back.”
I’m speechless, lowering my head to massage the red flower oil on my ankle.
Seeing me silent, he apologizes: “Darling, I’m sorry. I promise this won’t happen again.”
“Mm.” I take a deep breath. His ability to send Yu Yin away doesn’t erase her existence; she will always be a knot in my relationship with Ye Zhengchen.
“Don’t you believe me?”
I shake my head. “I’ll bring dinner tonight.”
After hanging up, I continue massaging, my ankle burning hot.
