From Breakup to Vows, Marrying My Ex to Prove a Point - Chapter 3

The air froze. Mu Shi closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. He pulled down his mask, his voice colder than ice. “Give it to me, then.”

Of course, there was no invitation.

I grabbed my small purse, fumbled around inside for a moment, and then said, “I forgot to bring it.”

A faint smirk touched the corner of his lips. He turned and started to walk away.

I instinctively grabbed the hem of his coat again. “Who was that girl you were talking to just now?”

“My patient.” Mu Shi paused and looked back at me. “Miss Chen, it’s my work hours right now. If you’re not here for a consultation, please leave.”

His eyes were like a clear, cold pool, so calm that it seemed nothing could stir his emotions.

The only time I had ever seen him lose his composure was two months into our relationship.

It was our first kiss. I initiated it.

When the kiss ended, he steadied his slightly ragged breath, and his eyes, as he looked at me, seemed to hold shattered starlight.

Under the warm yellow glow of the streetlight, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pressed his face to my ear, and whispered my name, “Nanjia.”

I had never met anyone like him. Just the sound of him saying my name was enough to make my heart race, my face flush, and my knees go weak.

Now that we had broken up, would there be a day when he would treat another girl like that?

The mere thought of it was so painful I could barely hold back tears. My voice trembled as I asked, “Are you going to be with her?”

“Who?”

“Your patient.”

He didn’t answer. My heart sank. I turned and forced myself to walk away.

But Mu Shi caught up, grabbing my arm. He sighed when he saw my tear-filled eyes. “No.”

“Mu Shi, do you think I’m annoying?”

“No.” He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “It’s my lunch break. Let me take you home.”

A flicker of joy lit up inside me, and I quickly agreed.

Sitting in Mu Shi’s car, I was enveloped by the familiar, crisp scent.

He didn’t smoke. The car smelled clean, just like him.

I tried to make conversation. “Have you been busy these past few months?”

“It’s been okay, same as before.” He glanced at me quickly, his tone lukewarm. “But it looks like you’ve been having a good time.”

“How could I!” I quickly defended myself. “My cramps have been even worse these past few months. I haven’t been having a good time at all.”

He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I told you before not to have anything cold for a week before and after your period. And what happened? You’ve been drinking iced milk tea every other day. Of course you’re in pain.”

He knew I was drinking iced milk tea?

Could it be that he had zoomed in on every one of my Moments posts, even reading the label on the milk tea cup?

My spirits soared. I whined pitifully, “It’s because you’re not around to keep an eye on me.”

The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere in the car turned heavy.

I turned to see Mu Shi’s tense jawline and belatedly realized that we had, in fact, already broken up.

But I still liked him.

Mu Shi pulled up to the entrance of my apartment complex and said flatly, “You can get out here.”

I tried to invite him up. “Want to come up for a bit? My mom’s not home, and I have new bedsheets that look really nice.”

Mu Shi rested one hand on the steering wheel and turned to look at me, enunciating each word. “Since you’re getting married, why are you still trying to provoke me?”

“Chen Nanjia, I am not your toy.”

He had taken my angry words seriously. Seeing his cold eyes, I finally realized that I might have… taken my act a bit too far.

“…I’m not getting married. I just made that up,” I said in a small voice, tugging at his sleeve. “I came to find you simply because I wanted to see you.”

He pursed his lips and asked, “Who did you go win those dolls with the other day?”

I answered without hesitation, “My cousin.”

Mu Shi’s hand trembled slightly. Then he opened the car door. “Let’s go.”

I paused. “Go where?”

“I have to be back at work in half an hour. Didn’t you want me to walk you home?”

My gloomy mood instantly brightened. I answered with a loud “Okay!” and got out of the car with him.

I tentatively linked my arm with his. He didn’t pull away. Instead, he held my wrist and, just like before, leaned slightly to the side so I could hold on more comfortably.

He had taken off his white coat after leaving the hospital, revealing a cotton white shirt underneath. Brushing against his arm, I felt a soft warmth that spread through my heart.

My mind was racing. Just as I was about to speak, a familiar voice called out from ahead, “Jiejie.”

I looked up and saw Qin Xuan.

He was carrying a bag of sodas and jogged up to me. Just as he was about to speak, I cut him off. “Cousin, what are you doing here today?”

Qin Xuan looked at me.

I looked back at him, winking and making faces, trying desperately to give him a hint.

He raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, “Of course, I came to see my dear cousin.”

Then, he extended a hand toward Mu Shi. “Hello, I’m Chen Nanjia’s cousin.”

Mu Shi’s lips were a tight line. He shook Qin Xuan’s hand briefly before quickly pulling his own back.

He said to me flatly, “Since your cousin is here, I’ll head back to work.”

I clutched my phone and waved reluctantly at him. “Okay, then. You have to reply to my WeChat messages.”

Mu Shi said, “Okay,” turned, and walked away.

I kept my eyes on him until his back disappeared at the complex gate. Suddenly, I heard Qin Xuan’s voice beside me. “Can’t bear to see him go, huh? Cousin.”

I turned to see Qin Xuan smiling at me, his young face so close I could almost see the smoothness of his skin.

He was handsome, but not my type.

“Thanks for that,” I said. “But I’m going to make it clear to my mom that I’m not interested in your type.”

Qin Xuan was taken aback, probably not expecting me to be so blunt.

He looked down at me and smiled. “But what can I do? It seems I’m particularly interested in your type, Jiejie.”

I patted his head. “Be good.”

Qin Xuan: “?”

“Don’t go around calling just anyone ‘Jiejie.’ You’re still young, don’t be so cringey.”

With that, I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked away.