The End of the Affair

A week later, Liu Ni Yi called me.

She said, "Xia Tian, I've broken up, so be prepared to pick me up at the train station tomorrow morning!" At that moment, I was in Wen Xi Cheng's apartment making ginger soup. Hearing her words nearly caused my phone to slip into the pot. Once I hung up, I glanced over at He Zifei, who was curled up on the sofa, nursing a cold and fever while drinking. It was the first time I realized that spring could also be a season of sadness.

The next morning, Wen Xi Cheng, He Zifei, and I headed to the train station together. After picking up Liu Ni Yi, we went straight back to the apartment. Liu Ni Yi and I shared a room, while Wen Xi Cheng was sent to the guest room, and He Zifei had been staying in the apartment since his breakup.

Liu Ni Yi quickly freshened up and then dragged me out shopping. By the time we returned that evening, she had vented quite a bit of her sadness. The two men in the apartment, waiting to be fed, looked at the various shopping bags and our tired faces and wisely ordered takeout. That night, the four of us drank a lot. When it ended, He Zifei pulled me out to the balcony, his eyes sparkling as he said, "Xia Tian, I've fallen for Liu Ni Yi at first sight!"

My only response was a series of coughs. I watched his excited back as he turned away, sighing at the moon and reflecting on how love is indeed a magical thing!

Liu Ni Yi stayed for a week, and every day, He Zifei took her out in different ways. As her departure approached, she said, "He Zifei, I acknowledge you as my brother!"

I exchanged a glance with Wen Xi Cheng, suppressing laughter. He Zi Fei appeared dejected but was forced to pretend to be very happy. When I sent Liu Ni Yi off to the train station, I told her, "Zi Fei likes you." She replied, "I can tell, but right now, I only like Xiao Shuai. His cheating is his problem; I can't betray my own feelings. He Zi Fei is a good person; please advise him to give up."

I was confused. "Why not? How will you know if you don't try?"

She smiled softly and said, "I didn't say it's impossible, but the timing just isn't right for him. If it were two years from now, I might accept him without hesitation; at the moment, my heart only belongs to Xiao Shuai!"

I gave her a hug, feeling helpless in my attempt to console her. When I shared this with He Zi Fei, he shrugged and said, "Then I'll wait for her for two years!" He Zi Fei truly kept his promise and waited for Liu Ni Yi for two years, but after Liu Ni Yi broke up with Huang Xiao Shuai, she rekindled her relationship with him, proving that love can be quite cruel at times!

At the beginning of April, I received a call for an interview from my current company. They had found my resume online and invited me for an interview in a guest room at the Shangri-La Hotel. Wen Xi Cheng accompanied me to the hotel and waited in the lobby while I went upstairs alone. The interviewer was Feng Su Chuan, the manager of the contracts department, who was hiring an assistant. He asked me several professional questions, and I believe my responses were quite good. In the end, he asked, "What do you consider your greatest strength?"

Such a question is standard in interviews, and I had prepared well for it. After pondering for a moment, I said, "I won't complain about overtime."

A spark of interest suddenly lit up Feng Su Chuan's eyes. He smiled but didn't elaborate further, simply telling me to await their notification.

Later, when he asked why I gave that answer, I replied, "During the half hour of the interview, you received six phone calls, all related to work, indicating that you are busy. One of them mentioned working all night, suggesting that this job often requires overtime, so I decided to take a gamble." Feng Su Chuan joked that I was being a bit clever. He mentioned that the real reason he decided to hire me was that he liked my personality and felt I was suitable for the assistant role.

After we started working together, he remarked that back then, my intentions were too obvious, like a child eager to show off, which he found rather touching.

Before the May Day holiday, I received a call from the HR manager confirming my position as Feng Su Chuan's assistant, set to start in August. After securing the job, Wen Xi Cheng promised he would find a way to be with me. During the May Day holiday, he took a trip to the United States.

The day he returned, it was a late flight, and I was at the apartment cooking for him. However, by six o'clock, I still hadn't heard from him. When I tried to call, his phone was off. My heart began to fill with unease, so I opened my computer and checked the news. Thankfully, there were no reports of plane crashes.

Around seven o'clock, I received a brief text message from him: "I'm with Zi Fei, will return later."

Wen Xi Cheng had previously mentioned that the apartment was too big and being alone could feel lonely. I sat in the living room, watching the sunset gradually disappear as the moon rose and the stars twinkled in the night sky. My heart felt heavier; it was indeed quite lonely. When Wen Xi Cheng and He Zi Fei returned, it was already past ten o'clock, and both had clearly been drinking. 

"Here, drink some water," he said softly, handing me a glass.

I took the glass and sipped carefully, feeling the warmth spread through me. "Thank you, I feel much better now," I replied with a small smile.

He watched me intently, worry lingering in his eyes. "You scared me last night. I thought…" He hesitated, his voice trailing off.

I reached out to touch his arm. "I'm sorry for making you worry. I'll be more careful from now on."

His expression softened, and he nodded. "Just promise me, if you ever feel unwell again, call me right away."

"I promise," I said earnestly.

A brief silence fell between us, and I could sense the unspoken feelings hanging in the air. It was both comforting and heavy. Finally, I broke the silence.

"So, when do we start planning for your trip?"

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know yet. There's still so much to figure out with my grandfather."

"Do you want to go?" I asked, somewhat hesitantly.

He looked down, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. "I do, but I'm also scared of leaving everything behind. Especially you."

My heart ached at his words. "You have to do what's best for your future. I'll be here waiting for you."

"Summer, can you really handle it?" he questioned, his gaze searching mine.

"Of course. Just think of it as an adventure for both of us," I reassured him, though uncertainty flickered in the back of my mind.

He smiled faintly, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I wish I could believe that."

I leaned forward, willing to be as honest as possible. "We'll make it work, won't we? And I'll be here, cheering you on from a distance."

His expression brightened a little. "Okay. If you're sure about this, I'll try to be brave too."

As we shared that moment, the reality of our impending separation loomed large, yet amidst the clouds of uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope. I was determined to stand by him, no matter what.

"Summer, you're awake. How do you feel? Do you want some water?" 

I shook my head, touched my forehead, and smiled. "The fever has gone down. I'm really feeling healthy now."

He let out a gentle sigh, released my hand, got up to pour a glass of warm water, and placed a straw by my mouth, saying hoarsely, "You scared me to death yesterday. You just fainted out of nowhere. No matter how much I called your name, Summer, I felt like you gave me a heart attack." 

As he spoke, he buried his face in my palm and rubbed against it like an abandoned puppy. His pitiful appearance nearly made me choke on my water. 

I set the cup down on the table beside me and stroked his hair, saying, "Xi Cheng, I really don't want you to go abroad. Can you reconsider?" 

"Can you please have a serious talk with your grandfather?" 

When people are sick, they feel particularly vulnerable. At that moment, I didn't want to be a sensible girlfriend; I just wanted him to stay by my side. Although I knew this request was putting him in a difficult position, a wave of disappointment washed over me when I heard his response. 

He replied, "Summer, the school over there has already contacted me. American universities are very flexible. As long as I have time, I'll come back to see you. I promise I'll return during winter and summer breaks and holidays. This year, I'll also go to your home for the New Year. I'm already starting to miss Uncle, Auntie, and Xia Lei." 

His lighthearted tone allowed my heart to gradually settle, and I smiled slightly and nodded. 

In that moment, I believed he was speaking from the heart and was certainly not lying to me. But he did not keep his promise, and all I could do at that time was wait helplessly for a promise that seemed devoid of hope. 

On the day Wen Xicheng left, He Zifei booked a van, and several close friends went to the airport. We formed a lively crowd in the terminal, with a strikingly handsome young man standing among a dozen casually dressed college students, drawing quite a few glances. Even two girls were whispering to each other. 

"Which star is this? I've never seen him on TV." 

"Probably from some idol drama; he's really good-looking and will definitely be famous in the future!" Everyone laughed heartily. Wen Xicheng turned to look at me, his eyes filled with warmth.

The atmosphere of departure was melancholic, but everyone wore smiles on their faces. I smiled too, trying hard to suppress my tears. Before leaving, Wen Xicheng hugged each person, and when it came to me, he held me tightly in his arms, bent down to whisper in my ear, "Summer, don't cry. My Summer is the strongest; she definitely won't cry. I'll be back soon! Wait for me!"

He turned around, walked a few steps, and waved his arm without looking back. As we went through security, we all saw him wipe his eyes with the back of his hand, and then I started crying. He Zifei's eyes also turned red; he gently patted my shoulder and said, "I really can't stand it!" I sniffed, looking at him with a smile, "Yeah, I really can't stand it. Zifei, should we go pull him out and beat him up?" He tilted his head, chuckling, "Sure, you wait; I'll go apply for a passport first." I couldn't help but laugh, and tears flowed down my cheeks.

Later, when Wen Xicheng called to tell me he was getting engaged to someone else that night, He Zifei slammed his fist against the door frame and angrily said, "I should have rushed in and dragged him out to beat him half to death!"

Wen Xicheng hadn't been in the United States long when everyone else gradually left school as well. I went home for half a month and then took my luggage alone on the train heading to Jiangnan. After renting a place and settling in, I officially became a part of the workforce.

Liu Niyi got into our school's graduate program. On the day she registered, He Zifei took leave to fly there to help her find a dorm and meet her advisor. They had lunch together, hung out with a few friends in the afternoon, and left by plane in the evening.

That night, while chatting with me online, Liu Niyi said, "Summer, I've been moved." 

"So, break up with that jerk who once cheated on you and accept Zifei; he's definitely a reliable man!" 

"I can't, Summer. Xiaoshuai is really nice to me right now, truly wonderful, so much that it hurts. Besides, he's my first love; I love him!" 

"Niyi, do you really love Huang Xiaoshuai, or are you just unwilling to let go of your first love?" 

After a long silence, Liu Niyi finally replied, "I can distinguish between gratitude and love." 

I had nothing to say and felt a pang of sympathy for He Zifei.

He Zifei's job was demanding; he was at the construction site every day with hardly any time off. I called him to discuss Liu Niyi. 

I said, "Zifei, don't be too persistent. I know Niyi's personality; she's definitely the type who won't change her mind until she hits a wall. Unless her boyfriend cheats again, she won't leave him." 

On the other end of the line, He Zifei's voice was low and slow, tinged with sadness as he replied, "Summer, I'm the same way. Unless she truly marries someone else, I won't give up either." 

A pang of pain struck me, and I softly asked, "Why bother?" 

He sighed, "Yeah, why bother? But I have no choice. If I could have chosen not to love, I wouldn't have fallen in love in the first place!" 

"If I could have chosen not to love, I wouldn't have fallen in love in the first place!" What a helpless yet poignant statement. Later, I candidly told Liu Niyi, "If you miss Zifei, one day you will regret it!" 

Not because he was my close friend, but because he was a man who would genuinely make the woman he loves happy! 

However, Liu Niyi's stubbornness left me speechless. After that, she not only changed her phone number but also severed all contact with He Zifei. 

In a fit of unreasonable hope, I wished Huang Xiaoshuai would cheat again, but unfortunately, he didn't.

venture capital firm, allowing them to expand and thrive. Despite their success, Feng Suchuan often reminisces about those simpler times, reflecting on how hard it was to balance personal and professional lives.

As the days turned into weeks, I found myself more absorbed in my work, partly due to the challenges presented by Feng Suchuan's high standards but also because of the excitement that came with being on the cutting edge of our industry. The projects kept piling up, each more complex than the last, yet the satisfaction of brainstorming solutions and bringing ideas to fruition kept me motivated.

In conversations with colleagues, I learned more about Feng's past. He is a man of few words but commands respect effortlessly. People often say he has a knack for quickly cutting through bureaucracy, allowing projects to progress at an impressive pace. There's an undeniable charm in how he handles situations, making even the most mundane tasks feel like part of a grand pursuit.

By then, my birthday had slipped into memory, and life continued to unfold. Each day shifted between moments of productivity and bouts of reflection, particularly regarding my feelings for Wen Xicheng. His calls continued, tracing the lines of our conversation with warmth, yet I couldn't shake the nagging thought that perhaps I should be moving on. After all, time must march forward, even when the heart hesitates. 

And so, surrounded by the ebb and flow of work and fleeting feelings, I found solace in the cocoa-rich sweetness of the chocolates, each bite a reminder of the connections that define us, whether across oceans or within the confines of everyday life. [To be continued...]

Feng Suchuan was a manager in the contract department of a multinational corporation that had gone public domestically, where he was also the most valued subordinate of his boss.

However, I heard rumors that his relationship with his girlfriend was troubled. After Feng Suchuan left the company to join his current boss in this city, they ended up living apart. Despite the intense and exhausting work that accompanied the company's growth, he still made a point to see his girlfriend on Saturdays, even after pulling two all-nighters in a row. However, his girlfriend grew increasingly indifferent, and at one point, they even considered breaking up due to another man's involvement.

Although they reconciled, Feng Suchuan no longer took the initiative to reach out to her. Their conflicts became more pronounced, and his personality changed; he grew silent and gloomy, putting nearly all his energy into work.

After learning all this, I secretly observed him for a long time, surprised to see such a sentimental side to him. His face always bore a somewhat distant, proper smile, and his sharp eyes exuded intelligence. Even after we got together, I couldn't detect any trace of the deep love or hurt that might have lingered within him. Had he truly forgotten? Had he changed? Or was he simply hiding it too well? I had no desire to explore; everyone has a corner in their heart they prefer others not to touch, such as a failed first love.

As Christmas approached, Wen Xicheng told me, "Summer, there's a two-week holiday for Christmas. I've already booked my flight; I can go back next week. Are you happy?" Sitting in my office chair, I held my phone and chuckled, "Happy." "I've prepared a gift for you; I'll give you a surprise then!" "What gift?" Wen Xicheng laughed, "If I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise! My girl is still so silly! That's wonderful!" That day was sunny, just like my cheerful heart.

We had been apart for half a year, and we could finally meet again; it felt wonderful!

On Christmas Eve, I was restless all day, continually checking my phone. Every time I received a message notification, my heart would skip a beat, but by the time I finished work, I still hadn't received a call from Wen Xicheng. At that moment, I naively thought he wanted to surprise me, imagining he was waiting downstairs at my office or outside my apartment. That night, I didn't wait for Wen Xicheng, and of course, there was no surprise. As I repeatedly dialed his phone number, it remained off. My heart gradually shifted from unease to worry. When the midnight bell rang, I felt a pang of panic.

The next morning, I called He Zifei. It took him a while to answer, and when he did, his voice was unusually hoarse. "Summer, what's up?"

"Zifei, has Xicheng contacted you?"

"Isn't he with you? He told me a few days ago he was going back. Hasn't he arrived?"

"No. When was the last time you spoke with him?"

He Zifei fell silent for a moment, then said, "I think it was a week ago."

My heart sank a little. "Me too. Zifei, do you think something might have happened?"

"It won't. Maybe the flight is delayed; when we chatted, he mentioned there was heavy fog in New York these days."

"But his phone has been off."

"Maybe it's just out of battery. Summer, don't worry; everything will be fine."

I listened to his voice, which carried a tone of exhaustion. After a pause, I asked, "Where are you?"

He Zifei didn't answer, and I could hear the wind blowing in the background. My heart suddenly tightened. "Are you at Nizi's school?"

He remained silent, his breath somewhat heavy. After a while, he said calmly, "She didn't return to the dorm last night; she hasn't come back all night. The people in her dorm said her boyfriend came over."

I felt a warmth fill my eyes. "You waited downstairs in her dorm all night?"

"Yeah," he replied softly, his voice still hoarse.

I took a deep breath and said, "You stay put. I'll call her!"

"Don't!" He Zifei interrupted me. After pausing to gather his thoughts, he added, "Don't call. I only took a day off, and I'll be heading back soon."

I sighed, "Zifei, don't be so reckless in the future."

He chuckled softly and replied, "Yeah, Summer, don't mention this to her. I'm on my way to the airport. Merry Christmas!"

I choked back my emotions and said, "Merry Christmas!"

On Christmas Day, I still hadn't received a call from Wen Xicheng, and then he lost contact completely. His phone was always off, and there was no response to my MSN messages or emails. Three days later, I called He Zifei again. "Zifei, something must have happened to Xicheng. Can you help me get in touch with him?"

He Zifei paused for a moment and said, "I'll give it a try." A day later, he told me, "Summer, I've tried all the contacts, but there's still no news from him." I stared blankly ahead for a while before saying, "I want to go to the United States, Zifei. I need to find him."

"Is it easy to get a visa?" 

He Zifei was silent for a moment before responding, "I'll find a way. Xia Tian, don't worry. There will definitely be a solution!"

But obtaining a visa wasn't easy. Without a guarantor, without a recommender, and without relatives or friends in the United States, it was completely unrealistic for two newly graduated university students like us.

After a month of anxious waiting, we finally received news about Wen Xicheng. One day before I finished work, I got a call from He Zifei, saying he was waiting for me downstairs.

We had dinner and returned to my apartment, but He Zifei seemed particularly quiet. I went to the kitchen to brew some tea while he stood on the balcony smoking. After a long time, he returned to the living room, took out his laptop, opened his email, and turned the screen toward me without saying a word. His face was tense and his expression gloomy.

I turned my head in confusion and then froze.

Sender: Wen Xicheng.

"I'm getting engaged."

"Tell Xia Tian not to wait for me. I'm sorry!"

I can no longer recall how I felt upon reading this message; perhaps it was a feeling I didn't want to remember. People often choose to forget things that are too painful.

After reading it, I turned to He Zifei and said, "The email might not have been sent by him."

He Zifei swallowed hard and replied, "He called me to confirm the email."

"Give me his phone number."

"I called him; it was from a payphone."

In that moment, I felt a surge of resentment. I exclaimed, "How dare he treat me like this? Even if he wants to get engaged to someone else, he should inform me in person."

"Zifei, respond to the email and tell him that unless he speaks to me face-to-face, I won't give up. He will always bear the weight of a girl's expectations!"

He Zifei forwarded my exact words to Wen Xicheng via email. Wen Xicheng didn't reply and never called me. It felt as if all rational thought had escaped me, and I became fixated solely on the idea of going to America.

I asked Feng Shuchuan for help. He said it wasn't impossible, but the process would take time—at least three months—with a high chance of a visa denial. I said I was fine with that; as long as I could go to America, I would wait three years if needed.

Later, Feng Shuchuan recalled how I was during that time, remarking, "You were like a different person!"

I believe all my irrationality and obsession during my life were concentrated in that period.

I didn't wait for a visa to go to America, but I did receive a call from Wen Xicheng.

I remember it clearly: it was a weekend, a sunny day, and when the phone rang, I was taking clothes out of the washing machine. I set the laundry basket down and picked up the phone, then froze.

The first six digits of the phone number displayed on my phone were "+001212." I knew it was an international call from New York, USA. I had been anticipating this call, but when it finally came, a wave of fear washed over me.

I pressed the answer button and didn't say anything. The person on the other end fell silent for a moment before softly saying, "Xia Tian, it's me!"

Instinctively, I covered my mouth and crouched down. Wen Xicheng's voice was unusually deep, his tone calm, devoid of any emotion.

I remained silent, tears welling in my eyes.

After a brief pause, he continued, "I'm getting engaged. I won't be coming back. Forget about me."

Tears streamed down my cheeks; my heart felt hollow, and even breathing became difficult. I found my voice and choked out, "Why?"

The other end fell silent; after a long pause, he finally said, "I don't want to spend my life carrying a girl's waiting, Xia Tian. I want to live more easily. So do you!"

A few seconds later, I heard a beep from the receiver—Wen Xicheng had hung up just like that, offering me no explanation, no comfort, not even a chance to ask him who he was getting engaged to, whether that girl was American, if she was beautiful, and if she could love him like I did. 

And did he love her? 

He said he was getting engaged, that he wouldn't be coming back, that I should forget him, that he didn't want to carry my wait through life, that he wanted to live more easily. 

When I shared these words with He Zifei, he remained silent for a long time before saying, "Xia Tian, he has betrayed you; he is no longer my brother. Wipe your tears and live well. One day, you will forget!" 

I replied, "Zifei, I want to forget him!" 

He responded, "I understand!"

After that, I never heard Wen Xicheng's name again. I tried my best to live, but the first year passed in utter chaos. 

That year, I lost more than ten pounds. 

That year, I cut off contact with all my friends. I made He Zifei promise not to tell Liu Niyi; I was afraid of her comfort, afraid to hear that name. 

That year, I worked overtime every day, becoming Feng Shuchuan's right-hand assistant, the youngest supervisor in the company.

That year, I learned to hide my sadness. 

That year, I became strong!

Feng Shuchuan was the only one in the company who knew about my heartbreak, but he never offered me comfort. During that time, he treated me to meals every day, and we hardly spoke at the dining table. We sat in silence, eating quietly, which allowed me to contemplate my troubles. Many times, I would come to my senses and realize he had already opened his computer and was busy with work, but he never interrupted my thoughts. 

I was very grateful to him!