Chapter 1.2 She had been alone for a long time

The woman saw Jian Meng and then noticed Ji Jing’an’s expression. She seemed to understand something and tactfully withdrew. However, as she passed Jian Meng, she shot her a peculiar look, studying her for a moment.

Jian Meng pretended not to notice, her gaze fixed calmly on Ji Jing’an.

Ji Jing’an’s expression was slightly dark and unreadable. Only when the woman closed the door did he finally lift his cold eyes to look at Jian Meng.

“Why are you here?”

It was him asking, but Jian Meng was the one who suddenly felt helpless.

“You haven’t come home for a long time.”

“So what?”

“So, I came to see you.” Jian Meng’s throat tightened as she uttered each word, her chest filled with an ache. “Were you… discussing work? Did I interrupt?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ji Jing’an lowered his head, flipping through the documents before him. He let out a sarcastic laugh. “You don’t trust me, so you came to the office yourself?”

“No, that’s not it.” Jian Meng wanted to explain, to say that she missed him, missed him so much. But when she looked up, all she saw was the coldness in Ji Jing’an’s eyes.

She stood there, lost and at a loss for what to do. It wasn’t until Ji Jing’an told her to sit that she snapped out of it.

As she sat down, Ji Jing’an glanced at her and suddenly asked, “What happened to your hand?”

Jian Meng looked down. Her delicate hands were covered with small cuts.

“I was repairing the porcelain set. I accidentally cut myself.”

Ji Jing’an glanced at her wounds, his expression barely changing. “Just replace it with a new set. Anyone who didn’t know might think I’m mistreating my own wife.”

Jian Meng lowered her head without a word, gently rubbing her wounds. She silently asked herself if he really didn’t remember.

“Ah Jing,” Jian Meng whispered, realizing she hadn’t called him that in a long time, “Yesterday was my birthday.”

Ji Jing’an paused, lifting his gaze to her. “Really? What do you want?”

Jian Meng was stunned, speaking slowly. “I don’t want anything, I just, I…”

“What’s with your hesitation? If you want something, just say it. Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you.” Ji Jing’an resumed working on his documents, as if willing to grant her any request, but completely oblivious to what she truly desired.

“Ah Jing… I want you to come with me to the hospital for a follow-up. The doctor said my blood results weren’t good.”

“I’m going abroad soon. I’ll ask Xiao Shen to go with you. He’s more attentive than I am, and he’ll let me know if anything comes up.”

“Xiao Shen…” Jian Meng murmured softly.

Perhaps Ji Jing’an sensed something was off. He set down the documents and walked over to her.

“Meng Meng, I know you’re upset, but I’m really busy. Besides, if something breaks in the future, just throw it away and replace it. It’s a waste of time and effort to fix it.”

It was then that Jian Meng truly understood. He really didn’t remember.

Of course, broken things should just be replaced. It didn’t matter what they symbolized.

After a long pause, she finally replied, “It’s fine.”

It doesn’t matter.

No matter what Ji Jing’an said or did, whether good or bad, it didn’t matter anymore.

Ji Jing’an arranged for Xiao Shen to take Jian Meng home, and she obediently complied. She fell asleep in the car midway through the trip.

In her dreams, she vaguely saw the Ji Jing’an from many years ago.

Back in college, Ji Jing’an was the most handsome guy in the economics and management department, but he came from an ordinary family. By sophomore year, he was already working part-time at an accounting firm to make money. At that time, he was just as passionate as he is now, though not as ruthless.

Jian Meng was a literature major, known for her excellent writing and cool, ethereal demeanor, making her the object of admiration for many male students. She met Ji Jing’an while interviewing him for the campus newspaper as the student representative of his department, and Ji Jing’an fell in love with her at first sight.

At first, Jian Meng had no feelings for Ji Jing’an. It wasn’t until she fainted from anemia one day and Ji Jing’an carried her all the way to the campus medical office that she began to fall for him.

When they first started dating, Ji Jing’an was incredibly cautious around her. He wouldn’t allow a single tear to fall from her eyes. As he said back then, Jian Meng was as fragile as a white rose.

After graduation, Ji Jing’an insisted on moving to Shanghai to pursue his career. Jian Meng wanted to stay in their small city, but she couldn’t bear to be apart from him, so she followed him to the challenging life in Shanghai.

Jian Meng worked as an editor for a local print media outlet, while Ji Jing’an received an offer from a large corporation, starting as the lowest-ranking intern. His salary was barely enough to cover their basic living expenses, and they rented a basement apartment, living off eight-yuan stir-fried rice meals. Yet, those days were filled with happiness.

Later, they registered their marriage, and Ji Jing’an bought her a small silver ring. There was no wedding.

At 23, Ji Jing’an said to her, “Meng Meng, one day I’ll buy us a house and throw you a grand wedding. Trust me.”

Now, at 28, Jian Meng no longer wanted anything. She only wished she could go back.

Back to the days when Ji Jing’an’s eyes were filled with nothing but her.

Some people spend their entire lives chasing romance, hoping only to live a simple, quiet life with their lover, supporting each other through thick and thin.

But some people lose themselves bit by bit in the relentless pursuit of the future.

Jian Meng had once wondered if perhaps she and Ji Jing’an were never meant to be, that they should never have been together.

Ji Jing’an was so outstanding. In just a few years, he had risen from a white-collar worker to a team leader, then to a director, manager, and eventually started his own investment company, becoming its CEO. He climbed the ladder of success effortlessly.

They now had a house, a bigger ring, and a luxury car… but no wedding.

Ji Jing’an always said, “Just wait a little longer. I’m really busy.”

Jian Meng returned home and looked at her bland, uninspired reflection in the bathroom mirror. No wonder people always…

She couldn’t believe she was still Ji Jing’an’s wife. No wonder he didn’t want to see her anymore.

Suddenly, a stream of blood began to drip from her nose, staining the expensive white dress she was wearing.

Feeling dizzy, Jian Meng nearly collapsed. She clutched the sink desperately, turning on the faucet to wash the blood from her nose.

Her mind blurred as countless thoughts flashed through her head, but she couldn’t grasp a single one.

So, this was it. She had been alone all along.