No Girl Can Walk Away Smiling After Checking Her Boyfriend's Phone - Chapter 15
Unknowingly, a year has passed.
It seems that many things have happened this year.
Within this year, I went home twice, wearing that milk-gray scarf.
Later, I found out that the scarf wasn’t what I thought it was-my mom had knitted it for my brother, who then passed it on to me.
From the beginning, my mom had knitted the scarf for me.
Also, this year, I made a breakthrough at work.
After breaking up with Jiang Ling, I kept pushing myself to forget.
But after being together for so many years, traces of him inevitably remained in many parts of my life, making it far from simple to truly let go.
To distract myself, I volunteered to take on a new project, spending my days busy shuttling between the company and clients, with my life filled to the brim with work.
The unexpected reward was, besides the exceptional performance on the new project, I managed to get promoted twice within the year.
In such a whirlwind of busy days, it was only when I suddenly found myself idle one day that I realized I hadn’t thought about the past for quite some time.
Instead, my relationship with Qiao Yiqing gradually became more subtle.
When I returned late from work, he would drive to the company to pick me up.
On weekends, we would watch movies and play games together.
I could clearly feel that our relationship was growing closer.
Qiao Yiqing’s companionship and understanding helped me gradually find a comfortable state.
I realized that I seemed to be slowly accepting him.
The day I officially got together with Qiao Yiqing coincided with a company team-building event.
Due to my outstanding performance, I was transferred and promoted, and my colleagues made me drink a lot. Qiao Yiqing picked up the drunken me and brought me home.
At the moment he placed me on the bed, for some reason, I suddenly started crying.
Qiao Yiqing had no choice but to hold me in his arms, his voice inexplicably hoarse, “Why are you crying?”
Looking into his eyes, that subtle, indescribable feeling surged up once more.
I rested my head on his chest, wrapped my arms around his waist, and talked about many things.
My mom, Jiang Ling, Chen Rui…
These people I once loved, hated, and resented, and those things I couldn’t let go of, were peeled away layer by layer, gradually exposed in front of him.
I have always been very restrained, rarely having moments of emotional outburst, let alone such straightforward confessions.
But Qiao Yiqing always gives me a sense of peace.
In the end, he sighed, gently resting his chin on the top of my head, and told me softly and firmly,
“Some wounds are destined to be unforgivable, but even with hatred, we still have the right to love and be loved.”
That night, Qiao Yiqing didn’t leave.
……
Time flies, and today is my birthday.
Qiao Yiqing is cooking in the kitchen, with Chen Rui assisting him. Watching their busy figures, a strange feeling suddenly rises in my heart.
My mom favors boys over girls, yet Chen Rui is particularly good to me.
Over the years, Chen Rui has always been like a powerful beam of light, warming me.
Later, by a twist of fate, because he joined a new company, I met Qiao Yiqing again.
Qiao Yiqing is like the moon after the rain, respecting and accompanying me in a calm and gentle manner, making me feel comfortable and suitable.
And now, they have both become indispensable parts of my life.
Steady and full of a sense of security.
While they are still busy in the kitchen, I am in the living room opening an anonymous package.
It’s a ring.
Gently rotating the ring, I see two letters engraved on the inside, J&C.
Inside the package box, there’s also a small note that reads: Happy Birthday, wishing you peace year after year.
I am momentarily dazed.
Actually, I saw this ring a year ago.
That day, after taking a shower and looking for a hairdryer, I accidentally found it in the second drawer of Jiang Ling’s bedside table.
I had been waiting for Jiang Ling to speak up, even hinting at him intentionally or unintentionally.
But he never made a move.
At that time, I couldn’t understand why, even though he had already bought the ring, he was hesitant to propose.
Until later, when he accompanied me to watch a movie, and coincidentally, at the climax, the male lead knelt on one knee to propose to the female lead.
I finally mustered the courage, closed my eyes slightly, and asked him softly, “Jiang Ling, you bought a ring too, right?”
He didn’t answer.
Suddenly, I had a bad premonition.
Stiffly turning my head, I found him looking down at his phone, smiling at a video of that girl named Zhou Xuan.
I suddenly understood the reason for his hesitation.
(End)