Chapter 1.1 She had been alone for a long time

The doctor urged Jian Meng to go for a recheck, saying her blood cell index was off and needed further testing.

Jian Meng agreed verbally but didn’t take it seriously. She had been anemic for many years, and every annual checkup showed no issues. She just didn’t want to waste time going to the hospital.

Besides, Ji Jing’an would come back tonight.

It wasn’t a certainty that he would return, he had just said before hanging up the phone in the morning, “I understand.”

That should mean… he would come back.

In fact, Jian Meng sensed something.

But after being together for ten years, married for seven, Jian Meng couldn’t believe that Ji Jing’an didn’t love her. She had exchanged her entire youth for him.

From the age of 18 to 28.

Jian Meng thought that that man would definitely remember today was her birthday.

The clock in the living room ticked away until 1 a.m., and the man still hadn’t returned.

They had a big argument half a month ago, and since then, they hadn’t contacted each other.

Jian Meng was really scared, so she called him.

The call connected, and she heard a woman’s laughter on the other end, followed by Ji Jingnan’s hoarse voice.

“What’s the matter?”

Jian Meng kept reassuring herself that it was nothing, just asking, “Can you come back tonight? I’m not feeling well lately.”

“I understand.”

Then he hung up, and until now.

The reason for their argument was because Jian Meng found lipstick on Ji Jingnan’s collar. Ji Jing’an explained it was accidentally stained at the company’s annual meeting, but Jian Meng wasn’t foolish. The two of them started arguing.

In a fit of anger, Ji Jing’an threw many years ago, the porcelain Jian Meng had made herself, pointing at her and calling her “crazy woman.”

He slammed the door and left, leaving Jian Meng standing there, staring at the shattered porcelain on the ground, her eyes empty, thinking about some things.

That set of porcelain was the first gift Jian Meng gave Ji Jingnan.

Some things are precious when you love them, but perhaps over time, they naturally turn into rubble.

She regretted arguing with him, she didn’t want him to leave.

But it had been half a month since she could reach his phone again.

Jian Meng waited until later, all the way until 3 a.m. before she realized her birthday had passed, and understood that Ji Jing’an wouldn’t come back.

She lit candles, made a wish, then cut the cake haphazardly without ceremony, took a piece and ate it hungrily, cream smearing her lips.

She was just like on any other birthday, wishing Ji Jing’an good health every year.

May he be safe and sound, so he always would.

It’s just that it seemed like all the luck had truly gone to him.

Somehow, tears started falling, pattering down. Jian Meng wiped them away casually and continued eating the rest of the cake.

The dim light in the living room illuminated Jian Meng’s slender figure, looking so fragile.

“At twenty-eight, happy birthday.”

The words fell, and Jian Meng smiled sadly.

Jian Meng knelt in front of the dressing table, rummaging through drawers in the morning. She wanted to put on makeup, but realized all her cosmetics had expired, with only a few still usable. So, she ended up just applying a primer and lipstick.

She used to be meticulous and loved to look beautiful, but five years ago, Ji Jingann, who had started as a company white-collar worker, had been promoted to deputy director, earning more and more. He didn’t want her to suffer, so he asked her to quit her job and stay at home to enjoy the good life.

As Jian Meng went out, she suddenly felt that she was too pale, even though she hadn’t applied much sunscreen. Her cheeks were slightly sunken, and her eyes were dark, giving her a sickly appearance.

She thought maybe it was because she had been staying at home for too long.

Today, she deliberately wore the white dress that Ji Jing’an had bought her last year. For some reason, the dress was much bigger, hanging loosely on her body. Maybe she had lost weight.

Jian Meng didn’t think much of it, she carefully dressed up, just to go see Ji Jingnan.

She hadn’t gone out for a long time, so she took a taxi to the building where Ji Jingnan’s company was located. She couldn’t even find the entrance.

The receptionist, a girl in her early twenties, looked at Jian Meng and asked in confusion, “Who are you looking for?”

“Oh, I’m looking for your Mr. Ji.”

Ji Jingnan, Mr. Ji.

“Do you have an appointment?”

Jian Meng hesitated slightly, then said, “I’m his wife.”

The girl was visibly stunned, seemingly not expecting that the person in front of her was the boss’s wife. In her impression, Mr. Ji seemed to be single.

Besides, the woman in front of her was cold and plain, not at all like a CEO’s wife.

“Okay, I’ll take you up now.” The girl’s attitude became much more enthusiastic, she hurriedly pressed the elevator button, and after Jian Meng got in, she pressed the top floor.

Jian Meng was brought to the door of the CEO’s office. The girl smiled and left, but looked back several times before leaving.

Jian Meng gently knocked on the door, and a man’s voice came from inside, “Come in.”

It was Ji Jingnan.

Jian Meng pushed open the door, her face unconsciously lifted into a smile, but it stopped abruptly as she entered.

Ji Jing’an was sitting in a chair, a woman in a black, fitted dress was leaning against him, looking at something on the computer together. They were very close, and the woman’s golden curls were hanging down by Ji Jingnan’s face.

Ji Jing’an looked up, seemingly surprised to find Jian Meng there. He quickly and subconsciously avoided the woman.

“Vivian, we’ll discuss the plan later, you go back first.”