03
The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I started packing my luggage.
I was only halfway through when Lin Xi returned home looking exhausted.
A strong scent of cologne entered with her.
I was slightly stunned by the overwhelming fragrance.
Lin Xi's skin is delicate and sensitive, allergic to many cosmetics; she despises the smell of perfume the most.
Because of this, in the years we've been together, even using shampoo would earn me a scolding from her, so I never used any skincare products.
Now it seems she didn't hate cosmetics; she just didn't like me using them.
Seeing me packing my luggage as she entered, she paused for a moment, "Lu Chen was too late sobering up last night, so I went to a hotel alone and didn't come back."
I looked up at her, somewhat surprised.
This was the first time in our three years of marriage that she had voluntarily offered me an explanation.
I nodded, without speaking.
She slowly walked up to me, lowered her eyes, and asked, "Are you packing because you have a work trip?"
I nodded, "Sort of."
Upon hearing my words, for some reason, she seemed to sigh with relief, and continued, "I have something to do today; I just came back to grab something, won't be having lunch."
"Okay."
I didn't look up and continued packing my luggage by myself.
I originally planned to tell her over lunch that I had quit my job, officially putting an end to our eight-year relationship. But it seems there's no chance now.
After speaking, Lin Xi took a red bag, picked up the clothes hanging by the door, and hurried out.
"Clatter!"
The photo frame, hanging on the door frame for eight years, suddenly fell to the ground as she left.
Glass shards scattered everywhere.
I looked over; it was a photo of Lin Xi and me at our first concert, both of us clasping hands with wide smiles.
That day she promised me that no matter how busy she got, she would accompany me to a concert every year. But since Lu Chen became her apprentice, she forgot all of this.
In the empty room, the clock ticked away.
After a long silence, I finally cleaned up the glass shards, then threw that photo full of happiness, along with my lingering reluctance, into the trash.