From Breakup to Vows, Marrying My Ex to Prove a Point - Chapter 4

I met Susu for dinner and announced to her, “I’m going to win Mu Shi back.”

“Why?”

“Because I like him.”

She gave me a look you’d give a fool. “If you like him, why did you break up with him in the first place?”

“Because he was so busy he forgot my birthday, didn’t reply to my messages, and stood me up countless times for dates we’d planned in advance…”

As I spoke, my voice trailed off, and I felt a wave of frustration. “But these three months apart, I’ve missed him so much.”

“So, if you get him back, will all those problems be solved? Will he be able to celebrate your birthday with you, go on dates, and reply to your messages instantly?”

I had no comeback.

Though Susu and I were friends, we were complete opposites.

I was dramatic, delicate, and had princess syndrome, acting on every whim. She was calm, perceptive, and saw things with piercing clarity.

“Mu Shi is a doctor. He’s busy, and he’ll probably be this busy for the rest of his life.”

“But you don’t even have a regular job. Apart from finishing a few art commissions each month, the rest of your time is free. Chen Nanjia, you need a man who can be with you all the time, and he can never be that person.”

I understood the logic.

I didn’t want to be this way, but this was Mu Shi we were talking about.

Feeling miserable, I took out my phone while Susu was in the restroom and sent a message to Mu Shi: “Are you on the night shift tonight?”

A few minutes later, he replied, “No.”

I wracked my brain for an excuse. “I just remembered I left something at your place. Can I come by tonight to pick it up?”

“Okay.”

I comforted myself: this was progress. At least he was replying with two words now, instead of just one.

After dinner, I said goodbye to Susu, went home, changed my clothes, and put on makeup.

I even spritzed on some perfume, dressing myself up like a seductive temptress, then took a taxi to Mu Shi’s place in my high heels.

But when I got to his door, I found he wasn’t home.

He didn’t reply to my WeChat messages, and his line was busy when I called. I waited foolishly at his door for half an hour, feeling more and more wronged. Finally, holding back tears, I started to walk downstairs.

As I reached the flowerbeds, I spotted a familiar car parked not far away.

Before I could react, two people got out of the car.

Mu Shi stood there, his back straight as always.

The night obscured his features, softening the cold, distant aura around him and giving him a captivating, ascetic charm.

And the girl standing in front of him, looking up as she spoke to him…

Wasn’t that his patient?

So Mu Shi wasn’t answering my calls because he was with her? Was he lying when he said he wouldn’t get involved with her?

I stood frozen, my mind blank, biting my lip so hard it hurt. By the time I snapped out of it, they had already walked away down a path on the other side of the flowerbeds.

It was probably too dark for Mu Shi to see me.

I wanted to run after them and demand an explanation, but I felt I had no right to. The sense of grievance grew, so I took out my phone, found the nearest bar on the map, and hailed a taxi.

I took a selfie at the entrance of the bar, carefully edited it, and posted it to my Moments, making sure to include the location.

In truth, this was my first time in a place like a bar, and I was a little nervous.

But the thought of Mu Shi lying to me made me feel wronged again.

I ordered a craft beer but didn’t dare drink it. I just held the glass and went to the bar counter to listen to the band sing.

After a while, a familiar voice sounded from behind me. “What a coincidence, Chen Nanjia. We meet again.”

It was Qin Xuan again.

He walked over with a drink, sat down across from me, and beamed.

I said slowly, “Actually…”

“Hm?”

“When my mom first introduced us, she said you were an honest and simple kid.” I glanced at his nearly empty glass. “You’re a really good actor.”

He protested dramatically, “I swear, Chen Nanjia, this is my first time in a place like this.”

I scoffed. A moment later, it hit me. “Why have you started calling me by my full name?”

“It was because you told me not to call you Jiejie the other day,” Qin Xuan said with a wronged expression. “It was the first time in my life anyone has ever called me cringey.”

I almost laughed, but the thought of Mu Shi stopped me. I took out my phone and checked it. WeChat was silent.

He hadn’t sent me a message or liked my post.

I looked at Qin Xuan. “Since you’re so obedient, how about you do me another favor?”

He leaned in like a large puppy, his eyes sparkling. “What is it?”

“Take a picture with me.” I needed to post again.

Qin Xuan and I leaned in close together. I opened a beauty camera app, spent a while finding the right angle, and just as I was about to press the shutter button, someone stood in front of us, blocking the already dim light.

My gaze shifted down to a pair of fair, slender hands.

Then, inch by inch, my eyes traveled up past a loose white t-shirt, a collarbone with a small mole, a prominent Adam’s apple, a tense jawline, and finally, a familiar, ice-cold face.

Mu Shi looked at me and curled his lip into a slight sneer. “Chen Nanjia, you have ten seconds to leave this place with me.”

I wanted to stand my ground and say, “What right do you have to tell me what to do?” But my intuition told me he was furious.

So I obediently put down the beer I hadn’t even touched and followed Mu Shi out.

Qin Xuan called after me from behind. To complete the act, I turned around and said in a heartfelt tone:

“Cousin, you’re a grown-up now, so I can’t control you, but you should still be mindful of your reputation. Go home early.”

He stared at me in shock. I saw him mouth four words: “You ungrateful brat.”