4

4

Early the next morning, upon waking, I started packing my luggage.

Lin Feng opened the door and returned, his expression full of exhaustion.

Seeing that I didn't go over to help him with his coat like I usually do, he seemed somewhat puzzled, catching glimpses of me several times.

The silence in the air seemed to make him a bit uncomfortable.

"Yesterday, Nuannuan was crying and fussing, wanting me to stay with her, which delayed me a bit."

I was a bit surprised; it was the first time he had ever explained anything to me throughout our years together.

"Hmm."

I glanced up at him, and my indifferent response made him slightly awkward.

To break the awkwardness, he clumsily pulled a ring out of his pocket.

"Sining, this is a gift for you. You've always wanted a ring, right? Well, I've got it now. Try it on and see if you like it."

His tone seemed slightly ingratiating.

A gift?

The receipt had a line of small print, indicating the purchase was made half an hour ago.

Looking at this diamond ring that's the same as the one on Lin Nuan's finger, I felt like laughing.

Even in terms of gifts, I ended up with second-hand ones.

I didn't say anything, just stared directly at him.

I felt like he definitely had something he wanted to tell me.

"Nuannuan said she's about to graduate from college, and she wants to intern at our company, to be my assistant. Can you give up your assistant position for her?"

"Don't worry, I'll discuss it with the boss and assign the business work to you. She will manage my logistics."

As he said this, his gaze was somewhat evasive.

I smiled bitterly inside; so even this second-hand gift had already been secretly tagged with a price.

"Sure."

I nodded calmly.

Not only the job, but even you—I can give her because once tonight is over, I will be leaving tomorrow.

"You… you agreed?"

Perhaps my resolute response caught him off guard, as Lin Feng glanced at me several times with the corner of his eye.

Then he couldn't help but speak up again.

"Nuannuan is my sister, and yours too. Family should take care of each other."

"Oh, and tomorrow at ten in the morning, let's make a trip to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get the marriage certificate."

Get the marriage certificate?

"Lin Feng, we..."

I hadn't finished speaking when his phone rang in the next second.

Seeing that the caller ID was Lin Nuan, he looked at me sheepishly before immediately moving aside with the phone covered.

On the phone, Lin Nuan weakly said she had a fever and was too weak to take care of herself alone.

After Lin Feng hung up the phone, he hesitantly looked at me: "Uh... Nuannuan is having some issues, she can't handle them alone, I need to go take care of her."

I swallowed back the words I had prepared to say, nodded and replied: "No problem, go ahead. Come back early tonight, I have something to tell you."

My understanding made him feel relieved at once.

He nodded, said to wait for him to come back, then grabbed his clothes and rushed out the door.

"Bang!"

When the door closed, the photo frame that had hung for five years suddenly fell to the ground after he left.

The glass shattered into a web-like pattern.

The photo in the frame captured our sweet kiss.

It was also my WeChat profile picture.

In the photo, I was wearing a wedding dress, surrounded by an aura of happiness.

At that time, Lin Feng told me, even though we hadn't gotten the certificate, he would definitely marry me; I was his one and only bride in this life.

After his 99th broken promise, those words now seemed so ironic.

The shattered web resembled my broken love.

I originally planned to end this relationship in person, to give my five years of feelings a dignified conclusion.

But now it seems, I ultimately don't have that chance.