5

05

At 11:00 PM, Lin Xi unusually returned home.

She entered, took off her coat, and when she was about to hang it behind the door, she noticed where our photo used to hang was now bare. She paused for a moment, stunned.

"Why is our photo behind the door gone?"

She didn't even put her coat down, and with a hint of panic, she walked to the bedroom to ask me.

"It fell and shattered."

Upon hearing this, her gaze shifted to the broken glass in the trash bin at the door, her expression relaxed, and then she placed her coat aside, taking out a bag with a Gucci belt inside.

"Yesterday, I didn't have time to give you the gift as promised. Today just happens to be our third wedding anniversary, so here's a belt for you. Happy anniversary."

She put the belt on the bed, and for a moment, I wondered if I misheard something?

Three years of marriage, and she actually remembered our anniversary?

But seeing the receipt showing the purchase record from half an hour ago, I suddenly realized it was probably Lu Chen's three-year anniversary post that reminded her, so she bought it while on her way home.

But she didn't know, I already have two belts of this style in my wardrobe.

I didn't say anything, just looked at her directly.

"By the way, it's almost year-end. This year's airline awards, could you give it up? Lu Chen has been in the industry for three years, and his biggest wish is to win the airline's best like you. You've been winning it for several years in a row. Can you let him have it this year?"

While saying this, her expression seemed a bit hesitant.

Inside, I smirked bitterly. Turns out this handy gift had already been marked with a price in secret.

"Okay."

I nodded calmly.

Not just this year, next year, the year after, and in the future, I won't compete for the airline awards with him at all, because after tonight, I'll be leaving tomorrow.

"You... you agreed?"

It seems my straightforward reply caught her off guard; Lin Xi glanced at me several times out of the corner of her eye.

Then she couldn't help but speak again.

"Lu Chen is my apprentice; it's right for me to take care of him. Plus, you're sort of like half his mentor too. That's how it should be."

"By the way, I'm not flying tomorrow, so let's go to the civil affairs bureau in the morning to get our marriage certificate."

I didn't say anything.

She seemed to have just recalled that I was packing my luggage today, paused, and then gently asked, "I almost forgot, are you resuming flights tomorrow? What time is the flight?"

"3 PM."

I looked at her, ready to take this last chance tonight to tell her I was leaving, but before I could continue, her phone rang again.

It was Lu Chen's call; a weak voice came from the other end. Lu Chen had twisted his ankle and couldn't move easily, calling Lin Xi for help.

After hanging up, she looked at me nervously, "Uh... Lu Chen's in a bit of trouble, he can't handle it alone. I might have to go over."

While saying this, she unusually carried a tone seeking approval.

I swallowed the words already on my lips, then forced a smile and nodded, "It's okay, you go ahead."

My words seemed to relieve her.

She immediately got up, and before leaving, she said again, "You'll be fine by 3 PM, tomorrow at 10 AM we'll go to get the certificate. You can trust me, no matter what happens, I'll make it."

I couldn't help but smirk bitterly; she still hadn't given me the chance to break up with her face to face.

The next morning.

I packed my luggage, didn't go to the civil affairs bureau, and headed straight to the airport.

Until noon, I didn't receive any call from Lin Xi asking why I didn't go to the bureau.

By the time I was about to board my flight that afternoon, Lin Xi finally sent me a message: "Sorry, Lu Chen's not feeling well today, I just took him to the hospital. I couldn't make it for the certificate today, but when you return, I'll go with you to the bureau first thing."

Looking at this message, my heart was already unmoved.

As expected, for the 18th time, she still didn't go to get the certificate.

"No need, Lin Xi. I've already resigned, soon flying to Paris, and after today, we won't see each other again."

I sent her the final text, ready to turn off my phone.

But in the next second, the long-silent chat box vibrated frantically.