Qian Wang slept soundly, even on a night burdened with heavy thoughts.

So when he woke up early in the morning and saw that the room, aside from his own bed appeared almost ransacked, he was left speechless. It wasn’t until he heard some commotion and noticed Zhao Ziqiang hurrying in, out of breath as he folded blankets, that the events of the previous night came rushing back. He looked at Zhao Ziqiang, innocence written all over his face.

“I and Sun Kan…we didn’t go all the way…”

Qian Wang had a knack for short-circuiting his brain with his first thoughts upon waking, which could be quite frustrating. Yet today, Zhao Ziqiang remained surprisingly composed.

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, he replied, “The house isn’t mine, so I packed my things. I was planning to say goodbye once you woke up.”

Qian Wang rubbed his temples, a small gesture he made when feeling overwhelmed.

“Zhao Ziqiang, can we clarify things before making any decisions? Running away from home isn’t exactly manly.”

Upon hearing the words “not exactly manly,” Zhao Ziqiang nearly burst out laughing.

“It’s not like I’m running away from home; I’m just moving out of the house I’ve been staying in.”

Qian Wang scoffed and began gesturing with his hands. “I told you to calm down so we could talk this through. You know, when people are impulsive…”

Zhao Ziqiang couldn’t help but find humor in Qian Wang’s elegant negotiation stance, reminiscent of a lecture, and he decided to interrupt the righteous man.

“I just want us to part on good terms, Qian Wang. We’re over.”

Qian Wang watched as the man at the door casually waved and turned to leave, as if he were watching a melodramatic soap opera. He had considered the possibility that Zhao Ziqiang might stir up trouble, start a cold war, or even find someone else to spite him. But he never expected Zhao Ziqiang to break up with him so effortlessly and with such ease.

It was only then that he felt a mix of quiet frustration and regret, realizing he might have gone too far…

Zhao Ziqiang felt that he had salvaged his dignity pretty well in the end. Although he had been cheated on, at least he had remained loyal, and for the first time in his life, he had been the one to initiate a breakup.

He packed his clothes and daily necessities into a single suitcase, but the kitchenware he had accumulated over the years took up several large boxes. When he contacted a moving company, they hiked up the prices under the pretext of the New Year, so he had no choice but to rent a delivery truck from the street. Excitedly rubbing his hands together, he pulled the boxes towards the door, only to be startled by the person waiting outside.

Sun Kan stood there, looking pitifully thin and dressed in barely any clothing, staring at Zhao Ziqiang as he opened the door. Just when Zhao Ziqiang thought he might faint at any moment, Sun Kan spoke up:

“Brother Zhao, please… let me be with Professor Qian!”

Zhao Ziqiang immediately felt three imaginary black lines slide down his forehead, as if he were some old-fashioned matchmaker from the past. And for some reason, hearing Sun Kan sweetly call him “Professor Qian” made him think of Qian Xuesen…

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes in exasperation and amusement, then reached into his back pocket for the keys.

“Hey, Professor Qian owns two properties in total. You already have one key, and this is the key to the other one. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness—goodbye!”

Zhao Ziqiang spoke nonchalantly as he walked past Sun Kan towards the exit.

“Don’t close the door yet! I still need to come back for something. By the way, Professor Qian isn’t wearing any clothes in the inner room, so you better hurry!”

Turning around and heading downstairs, Zhao Ziqiang’s sharp gaze gradually dulled. He realized that the feeling of being replaced was more painful than betrayal itself.

Back inside, Sun Kan had already disappeared from sight, most likely into Professor Qian’s bedroom. Zhao Ziqiang thought to himself as he moved his belongings.

Sitting in the open-top delivery truck, the icy wind from the melted snow cut like knives against his face. He found himself covering one side while neglecting the other, regretting that he had stuffed the scarf his sister knitted for him at the very bottom of the pile. He also regretted that, out of pride, he had left the big cotton hat Qian Wang gave him seven years ago in the closet.

Returned to His Parental Home.

Zhao Mama didn’t ask anything. With a blank expression, she opened the door and watched as the driver helped carry the items in and out.

It wasn’t until Zhao Ziqiang sat on the sofa, resting and drinking water, that she finally asked softly, “What happened?”

“We broke up.”

Zhao Mama sighed.

“After causing such a stir for so many years, it’s good to finally come to terms with it,” she said, then turned and walked toward the kitchen. Zhao Ziqiang leaned back against the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling light, murmuring to himself, “So it turns out everyone knew it was me who hadn’t figured things out.”

Outside, the heavy snow that had just stopped began to fall again. This winter had been one of constant repetition. Zhao Ziqiang pressed his aching heart, thinking that feelings and pain, if they keep repeating, would only drag him deeper. The only way to escape was to pull himself out completely. He regretted saying ‘I love you’ to Qian Wang every night for the past seven years. Slowly, he leaned to one side and collapsed onto the sofa.

“Twenty-seven isn’t too late.”

Zhao’s mother peeked through the door crack, watching her son Zhao Ziqiang, who seemed as though he had lost his soul. Her eyes, filled with a bittersweet ache, were on the verge of tears. This was her son, the first time he had been this heartbroken.

After Zhao Ziqiang left, Qian Wang lay down, resting a hand on his forehead, narrowing his field of vision. His mind was a muddled mess, as if the command center hadn’t accepted the reality of Zhao Ziqiang proposing a breakup and then leaving. He clearly knew it was his fault, yet he couldn’t help but feel as if he were the one betrayed and abandoned.

Sun Kan rushed in excitedly and threw himself onto Qian Wang. Frowning, Qian Wang looked down, seeing the amazement and joy in Sun Kan’s eyes.

“He’s gone! He’s gone! Teacher, you’re mine now!”

Qian Wang stared blankly at the boy in his arms, realizing his wish had come true. But why did he suddenly feel sad?

The manager listened with a smile as Zhao Ziqiang submitted his resignation report. After hearing everything, he promptly stamped it with an “Approved.” Zhao Ziqiang nodded in agreement, bowed, and left to complete the necessary procedures.

Half an hour ago, Zhao Ziqiang called his uncle, and the conversation went as follows:

“Uncle, I want to resign.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really like this profession. I want to change career.”

“Is it related to your professional field?”

“No.” Professional field… does he want me to become a tomb raider?

“What is it, then?”

“New Oriental Culinary Academy.”

“……”

Zhao Ziqiang thought about his interests and life direction in the years since graduating, and realized that after removing Qian Wang from his life, his only remaining passion was cooking and making meals for Qian Wang.

He couldn’t continue living at his parents’ house, nor could he go on as a mere shell of a person without purpose. He wanted to live well in the future and completely erase Qian Wang from his heart.

At the very least, he still needed to care for himself as he did for Qian Wang and also show respect to his parents and protect his sister.