Chapter 6
975 Words
The phone was fixed. Life had to go on.
To save money, I started taking on freelance programming gigs online. I hadn't forgotten everything I learned in college, so I could barely make ends meet.
In my rented room, the smell of instant noodles mixed with the monotony of code had become my entire life.
That afternoon, I had just submitted a project. With the three hundred yuan I'd earned tucked in my pocket, I headed downstairs, planning to splurge at the corner store on a few packs of instant noodles and a sausage.
Just as I reached the end of the alley, a flashy red Porsche Panamera pulled up slowly in front of me.
The window rolled down, revealing a face etched into my very bones.
Du Wan Ning.
She took off her sunglasses and looked me up and down. Her brow furrowed, almost imperceptibly.
"Xiao Tong? What are you doing living in a place like this?"
There was no disgust in her voice, but rather a perfectly measured blend of surprise and concern, as if we were still the closest of lovers.
I clutched the three hundred yuan in my pocket and said nothing.
It had only been half a month since we broke up, but she seemed more radiant than ever. Her hair was newly styled, and I didn't recognize the watch on her wrist.
And me? I was in a faded T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops, looking like some jobless bum who’d just pulled an all-nighter at an internet cafe.
"How did you find this place?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse.
"I was just passing by and saw someone from behind who looked a lot like you. I didn't expect it to actually be you." She smiled, pushing the car door open and stepping out. "Want to talk?"
I looked at her, then at the luxury car behind her, and at the curious glances from people nearby.
"Let's just talk here."
"Here?" She glanced around, her eyes sweeping over the greasy pavement and the small stall selling phone screen protectors, before finally landing back on me. "Xiao Tong, we don't have to be like this. There's something I need your help with. Can we go to your place to talk? It's not convenient here."
I sneered inwardly.
Here we go again.
From delivering an ear pick to today's "inconvenience." I had become her tool for handling anything "inconvenient."
"Fine." I spat out the word and turned to walk toward my rented room.
I wanted to see what else she could possibly wring out of this stray dog.
When I opened the door, the damp, musty smell in the room made her instinctively cover her nose, but she hid it well. Her gaze just quickly swept over my small bed and the desk piled high with instant noodle containers.
She didn't sit down. Instead, she pulled a USB drive from her purse. "A very important financial file for my shop got corrupted. I've taken it to several places, but no one can fix it. I thought you might be able to help."
I took the USB drive and plugged it into my old laptop.
"What kind of shop?"
"A clothing boutique. It's a partnership with a friend," she said nonchalantly, but her eyes were glued to my screen.
I quickly cracked the file open with a small program I wrote. A stream of data scrolled across the screen.
I immediately saw the name on the document: Jiang Yuanzhou.
The man who had his arm around her in the private room, the one who had looked at me with such a scrutinizing gaze.
A wave of nausea churned in my stomach. I almost couldn't hold it in.
So, I was helping my rival.
I tapped away at the keyboard, my face expressionless. I saved the recovered file as a new copy, then pulled out the USB drive and handed it to her.
"It's done."
She took the drive, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise. "That's great! Xiao Tong, you're amazing."
She came over, naturally reaching out to pat my shoulder, but I sidestepped her.
Her hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on her face faded a little.
"Xiao Tong, I know you're still angry with me. But you can't force matters of the heart." She sighed, putting the USB drive back in her purse as if she had just made a decision.
"Oh, by the way. Yuanzhou and I are getting engaged next Saturday, at the Marriott Hotel. If you're free... you should come."
My fingers, tapping on the keyboard, froze.
It was as if all the sound in the world had vanished.
I stared at the financial report on the screen—Jiang Yuanzhou's financial report. Every number on it turned into a sharp knife, plunging precisely into my heart.
I could even hear the sound of the blade sinking into flesh, grinding against bone.
"Consider it... my compensation to you."
After saying that, she seemed to feel her words were inappropriate and quickly added, "I mean, we can still be friends."
I didn't look up. I didn't move.
She stood there for a moment, probably feeling she'd been snubbed, then turned and pulled open the creaking door.
"I'm leaving."
The door closed. The sound of her high heels faded down the hallway.
I remained in that same position for a long time before slowly lifting my head.
On the monitor, the recovered file was still sitting there silently.
I raised my hand and, with all my strength, deleted the file. Then I emptied the recycling bin.
After it was all done, I stared at my own hand. It was shaking uncontrollably.
I slowly curled into a ball, burying my face in my arms.
I finally understood. When your heart is truly shattered, you can't even cry.
- Writer
