From Breakup to Vows, Marrying My Ex to Prove a Point - Chapter 6

I hadn’t been to Mu Shi’s place in three months, but it was still exactly as I had left it.

The apartment’s original decor was minimalist, but after I moved in, I bought a ton of miscellaneous things, even taking it upon myself to replace his sofa with a brightly colored one, which I then covered with plush toys.

He never got angry, just let me be, allowing me to gradually transform his sterile-style home into a gaudy, whimsical space.

Once, when Mu Shi was working overtime at the hospital, I invited Susu over.

After she walked in, she stared at the mermaid puzzle hanging in the entryway for ten seconds and then turned to me. “I’m genuinely curious why Mu Shi hasn’t thrown you out yet.”

At the time, I had proudly puffed out my chest and declared, “Because he loves me.”

But now, looking at the mermaid puzzle, so out of place with the black and gold entryway cabinet next to it, I suddenly understood what Susu meant.

“Maybe I should take this down. We can find something that matches the style better another day.”

As I reached to take it down, Mu Shi stopped my hand and shook his head gently. “No, leave it up.”

His palm was still warm. I was involuntarily reminded of the aggressive kiss in the car, and my face instantly flushed red.

Just as I was anticipating what might happen next, he nonchalantly let go of me and went to the kitchen to turn on the water heater.

“Go take a shower,” Mu Shi said flatly. “Your back is all sweaty.”

He said it so calmly that I felt steam rising from my head. I quickly fled to the bathroom.

After removing my makeup and showering, I realized I had taken all my pajamas with me when I moved out. With no other choice, I wrapped myself in a bath towel and went out, planning to ask Mu Shi for one of his T-shirts.

But he wasn’t in the living room or the bedroom.

After a quick search, I ended up at his study. As I was about to push open the slightly ajar door, I heard him speaking inside. “Don’t do this again. Your parents will worry about you.”

He must be on the phone.

After a moment of silence, his stern voice sounded again. “Of course, I will too.”

I froze with my hand on the doorknob, my heart turning to ice.

The sound of footsteps grew closer. Mu Shi opened the study door and was slightly taken aback to see me. “Are you done?”

“…Yeah.”

A lingering coldness remained in his eyes, as if he was in a bad mood.

After much hesitation, I swallowed the question I wanted to ask and stared at my toes. “I took all my pajamas home. Could you find something for me to wear?”

Mu Shi handed me a large T-shirt. I casually unwrapped the towel and slipped the shirt on.

When I looked up, Mu Shi had turned his face to the side, his ears a bright red.

I deliberately paraded around in front of him in the thin, loose T-shirt until his Adam’s apple bobbed and his gaze grew deeper.

Then I took a step back, increasing the distance between us. “I’m tired. Goodnight.”

“…”

The bed was made with the cotton Snoopy sheets I had bought.

The Samoyed plushie I had given him was placed by the pillow, and the scented candle I hadn’t finished was still on the nightstand.

In this familiar and cozy atmosphere, I slowly calmed down and began to think seriously.

He had already explained what happened with that girl earlier in the car. But I needed to understand that phone call in the study.

So, the next evening, I took a taxi to the hospital to wait for Mu Shi to get off work. As he appeared, I scanned the area.

“What are you looking for?” Mu Shi asked flatly.

“Your patient, Lu Yu.” I looked up at him. “Does she come to the hospital to find you often?”

“She used to. Now that she’s been discharged, she only comes occasionally.” Mu Shi took my hand and led me toward the parking lot. “Have you had dinner?”

“…Not yet. I spent the day packing some things at home, then I was drawing all afternoon.”

Mu Shi then took me to a nearby Hunan restaurant.

I loved spicy food, but he had always preferred milder flavors.

Throughout our time together, whenever we ate out, he almost always accommodated my taste.

I stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. Meeting Mu Shi’s questioning gaze, I said coaxingly, “My throat is a little sore today. I don’t feel like eating spicy food. Let’s go somewhere else.”

During the meal, I brought up Lu Yu again. “I think she likes you.”

“She’s only nineteen. It’s just a schoolgirl crush, nothing to worry about.”

Mu Shi fished two shrimp from the hot pot, carefully peeled them, and placed them in my bowl.

I clutched my chopsticks, feeling a little wronged. “But even if she only comes to see you occasionally, it still makes me unhappy.”

Mu Shi looked up at me, something flashing in his eyes. “I won’t see her again.”