Cracks in Paradise
656 Words
Episode 2 – “Cracks in Paradise”
The morning sun spilled into Li Xue’s office, glinting off the sleek glass walls of her growing company. She sat behind her desk, reviewing contracts, but her mind wandered.
Was it too soon to think about him?
A soft ping pulled her from her thoughts. A message from Lei Feng:
“Can we meet for lunch? I have something to discuss.”
Li Xue smiled at the screen. Something to discuss—he never called it anything trivial. Her heart fluttered as she typed back:
“Of course. I’ll meet you at the usual café in thirty minutes.”
At the café, he was already waiting, arms casually crossed, a half-smile on his face.
“You’re early,” Li Xue teased, sliding into the seat across from him.
“I like having time to think,” he replied smoothly. “Especially when it’s with you.”
She laughed, her fingers brushing against his as she reached for her coffee. “You always know how to make me feel special.”
They talked about everything—their favorite books, the upcoming wedding, small details for the honeymoon she secretly imagined.
“I was thinking,” Lei Feng said, leaning back in his chair, “maybe we could have a small ceremony instead of the big one we planned. You know… simple, intimate.”
Li Xue frowned slightly. “Simple? But we’ve been planning the big wedding for months. Why change it now?”
“Just… less stress,” he said quickly. “I want us to focus on what matters, not the decorations or the guest list.”
She nodded slowly, but a tiny seed of doubt sprouted in her chest. He never used to worry about stress like this… why now?
Later that evening, they walked through the park near her apartment, the air crisp and fragrant with autumn leaves.
“Do you remember the little bench by the river?” he asked, his tone casual.
“Of course,” she said, smiling. “We sat there for hours last month. You read poetry to me, and I pretended to be annoyed, but I loved it.”
He chuckled, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I could never annoy you enough to stop loving you, you know that?”
Li Xue laughed, her chest swelling with warmth. “Good. Because I never plan to stop loving you either.”
For a while, they walked in companionable silence, hands intertwined, laughter spilling now and then.
But as they reached the café where they had first met, Lei Feng hesitated, glancing at his phone.
“Everything okay?” Li Xue asked, sensing the sudden tension.
He shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Yeah… it’s just… work,” he said, but his tone didn’t carry conviction.
Li Xue frowned, searching his eyes. “You’ve been… distant lately. Are you hiding something from me?”
He avoided her gaze. “I… I just have a lot on my mind. Nothing to worry about. Really.”
She nodded, forcing a smile, but her heart felt a pang of unease. Why do I feel like something’s changing?
As they parted that evening, Lei Feng hesitated at the door.
“Li Xue… I need to tell you something,” he said softly.
Her heart leapt. “Yes?”
He paused, swallowed hard, and with a faint, almost unreadable expression said, “I… I’m not sure we can do this the way we planned.”
Li Xue blinked, stunned. “What do you mean?”
He turned away slightly, his eyes clouded. “I… I need some time. Don’t worry, I’ll explain soon.”
And just like that, the first c***k in paradise appeared. Li Xue watched him walk away, clutching her purse a little tighter, the world suddenly feeling colder than it had that morning.
Something had changed. And she could feel it.
- Writer
