Six years later, I reunited with my ex, Alex. It happened outside a Dairy Queen. I was squatting by the door, trying to beat the heat, when I saw him rushing by. I grabbed his arm. "Buy one get one free Blizzard. Wanna split?" He lowered his phone, his gaze sweeping over the "Couple's Special" banner. "Oh," I said, realizing. "So, back together?" Alex narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Sure. But let's keep it low-key." "I'm keeping a canary in a gilded cage recently. She gets jealous easily." I froze. He turned around. "By the way, pack the ice cream to go. She loves it." 1 Before I could react, the cashier had already packed two Blizzards with a beaming smile. "You two look great together! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!" Alex showed no emotion. He took his share and walked away. His Rolls-Royce was parked by the curb. It was scorching hot. I squatted by the entrance of a fruit shop to steal some AC, licking my melting ice cream. Before he left, he looked at me with a half-smile. "Girlfriend, need a ride?" I glanced at his passenger seat. Pink cushions, cute plushies. Marked territory. Every inch of it screaming ownership. "No thanks," I said slowly. "My place is close..." Before I could finish, he sped off, leaving me in a cloud of dust. "Hey, don't block the door!" "Ah, sorry." My legs were numb from squatting. I stood up too fast, and the Blizzard slipped from my hand, splattering onto the pavement. Damn. What a waste. I traded a boyfriend for this? I smacked my lips in disappointment and turned to walk home. My rental apartment was simple and clean. I quietly took down an old photo from the wall. High school sweethearts. The boy in the photo had eyes curved in laughter, a brilliant smile, holding the girl's hand like it was a treasure. In contrast, the girl was expressionless, cold. I stared at it for a moment, then threw it in the trash. Tsk. I looked so miserable back then. No wonder he dumped me. "Meow." The stray calico I picked up rubbed against my leg. I opened a can of wet food for it. Buy one get three free at the supermarket yesterday. Being poor makes you stingy. Missing a deal feels like physical pain. I kinda regretted not asking for a breakup fee back then. Just then, a strange number called. I picked up. It was Alex. His voice was still cold. "We're back together, aren't we? Add me back on WeChat." "Don't you know calling is a hassle?" I mumbled an "Oh." Before I could say anything else, a girl's spoiled voice came through the line. "Mr. Shen, I'm hungry..." He hung up immediately. Beep. Beep. Beep. Actually, the "back together" thing was a joke... I wanted to tell him to forget it. But remembering the voice on the other end, I couldn't bring myself to call back. I searched for his WeChat ID. Account deleted. Phone number, disconnected. I lay on my bed, clutching my phone. Alex forgot. He was the one who deleted me six years ago. 2 I remembered his old number and added him. He accepted quickly but didn't say a word for a long time. I quietly scrolled through the six years he was gone. His feed was silent, monotonous. Until last year. A girl in a red dress appeared, full of life, reminding me of him from before. From that day on, Alex posted more. His smiles weren't as radiant as before, but they were filled with a quiet happiness. I was dazed. Halfway through scrolling, the screen went blank. He must have remembered. He blocked me. I slowly finished my instant noodles. Thrown the phone aside, wrapped myself in the quilt. Sleepless all night. For the next few days, we both acted like nothing happened. I prepped lessons, went to school, fed the cat. A two-point line. He was busy with his company, international negotiations. Occasionally, I saw him on TV. Alex Shen, the new tech tycoon, rising alone, swallowing company after company. My friend, Linda, sometimes brought groceries to visit. We'd sit on the sofa, eating watermelon and watching the news. His success made many socialites restless, throwing olive branches his way. "Mr. Shen, you've rejected all marriage proposals. May I ask why?" a bold reporter asked. Alex narrowed his eyes, composed and distant. Yet, a flicker of tenderness passed through his eyes. "I have a girlfriend." Everyone guessed it was the girl in the mansion. Only Linda poked me, asking hesitantly. "You just said you got back together. Is he going to marry you?" "After all, his pursuit of you back then was legendary. The whole school knew." I stared at the polite, cold man on the screen. I shook my head. I knocked on her head. "Idiot. Who gets a girlfriend over an ice cream?" Alex didn't care about me at all. "I know, but he's the Alex who loved you the most in the world!" She counted on her fingers. "Skipping class together, claw machines, first kiss." "Every time you gave him a look, the icy school god would come wagging his tail." The memories felt distant. "By the way, tell me the truth. Did you really cheat on him?" I hummed, shaking my head honestly. Linda fell silent, changing the subject. "It's okay. Don't be sad. We don't need men." I looked up, speaking slowly. "I was fine to begin with." She choked, put on an apron, and went to cook. "Tsk. Knew you were heartless. Come help." I thought things would continue as usual. Until one night, he texted me first. [Dinner tomorrow night?] [I'll wait downstairs.] I saw the message after my shower. Right. Since the breakup six years ago. Maybe I got old and lazy. I stayed in this small apartment where we once lived together. I stared for a while before remembering to refuse. [No, I'm busy tomorrow.] His reply was brief. [I'll wait three minutes.] Indifferent, distant, impatient. I remembered. He wasn't the Alex who followed my every whim anymore. But I really didn't want to eat this meal. I thought for a moment, typing. [Ah, sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just rare for ice cream to be on sale, and it was so hot...] [I only knew you on the street. Dragging a stranger to split the bill is weird. At least we used to date...] [Let's just break up. Good for you, good for me, good for everyone.] The more I typed, the messier it got. I deleted everything. Sent one sentence. [That day I said getting back together was a joke. Sorry.] I waited with my phone for a while. He didn't reply. I sighed. Those lingering feelings from six years ago... let's just let them go. 3 I didn't take it seriously. He probably couldn't be bothered and blacklisted me again. But when I came back from class in the afternoon. I ran into Alex right at the gate. He leaned lazily against his car, attracting a crowd of girls. "It's Alex Shen! He's so handsome!" "Yeah, the top scorer from eight years ago!" Alex stared blankly at the sycamore trees on campus. I quietly tried to walk around him, but he called out. "Xu Mo." "Long time no see. So you've been teaching at River City High all this time." River City High was our alma mater. Teasing flashed in his eyes. "What? Nostalgic? Can't let go?" I gave a dumb "Ah." "Yeah, I can't let go. They offered double the salary." Alex's face darkened. "Heh. You love money as much as ever." He couldn't read my expression. He opened the car door and got in. "Get in." I said slowly. "I really don't want to go..." Alex rolled down the window coolly. "Seafood boil is 50% off today." I whispered without confidence. "Can we get takeout?" He looked like he was going to laugh from anger. "Whatever." I hopped into the back seat. He changed cars today. A Porsche Cayenne. Looked rarely driven. No pink decorations in the passenger seat. Alex drove quietly. I leaned against the window, both of us silent. Honestly, I didn't understand why he came. I said it was a joke. He didn't seem like the type to pester. He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. Then he irritably pulled out a cigarette. My eyes flickered. I opened my mouth. He held the cigarette pack and accidentally hit a button. A cutesy, spoiled female voice rang out. "Dear Mr. Shen, are you in a bad mood again?" "Don't smoke, okay? I'll sing you a song." "Two tigers, two tigers, run fast..." I froze. He froze too. He put the cigarette back instinctively. A smile rippled in his eyes, terrifyingly warm. Leaving me truly restless. We arrived quickly. A seafood stall by the sea. Alex went to order. I leaned on the railing, enjoying the breeze. A drunk fat guy walked up and put his hand on my shoulder. "Yo, beauty. Where's your boyfriend?" I quietly pushed his hand away and moved further. He persisted. In the struggle, I met Alex's gaze not far away. He watched quietly. Until some college guys stepped in to stop it. Alex slowly walked over. Maybe they knew him. The drunk sobered up instantly. "Mr. Shen, is she your woman? I just..." He smiled and patted the fat guy's shoulder. "You bullying her has nothing to do with me." I stared at him. He shrugged, eyes full of coldness. "What? I said we're back together. I didn't say I'd be good to you." With that. Alex took the seafood and beer and walked away. 4 He leaned back in the wicker chair. I stood, refusing to sit. "Eat something first. The takeout bag won't fit it all." I finally felt something was weird and asked quietly. "Mr. Shen, did you see the message?" He looked at me calmly, speaking casually. "What message? I don't have the leisure to stare at your chat box all day." I still didn't move. He got impatient. "Are you eating or not?" I looked down. These were my favorites. I was hungry. I reached out and tasted a skewer. The spice made tears flow instantly. "Cough, cough." "Not good?" He scrutinized me brazenly. "Oh, I forgot. This is my preferred taste." "I used to always accommodate your preference for mild broth. How about you compromise this time?" I stayed silent, rinsing it in my water cup. Still spicy. But besides that, fresh, tender meat. He squinted at me for a while, then raised his hand for the waiter. "Another round of everything on the table. Non-spicy." He paused. "And a strawberry mousse." I took out a wet wipe and said slowly. "No need. I want to go home." Alex raised an eyebrow. "What? Feeling wronged already?" Actually, it was okay. Just the spice burning my stomach slowly reached my heart. Uncomfortable. Wanted to go home immediately. Too lazy to even pack leftovers. He stood up too, pushing the plates away. Lazily said, "Let's go then. I'll drive you." I opened my mouth. Guessing my refusal, he added. "It's ten miles to the city." "You have no sense of direction. Want to walk until dawn?" Alex naturally took my hand. I struggled uncomfortably. As always, he gripped tighter. I couldn't break free, so I gave up. Before leaving. I took out my phone to take a picture, wanting to share the hidden gem with Linda. Alex, who was spacing out, suddenly reached out. Slapped my phone away. "Don't take pictures!" His voice was loud, attracting attention. Everyone looked over. He said coldly, "If she sees the photo, I have ways to ruin you." I froze. It took a moment to react. The phone hit the ground. Screen shattered. I bent down to pick it up, wiping off the dust. Pity. It was a new phone. I said slowly. "I didn't want to take a photo with you. Or post it online." "I just thought the food was good and wanted to come back with a friend." Alex's eyes flashed with guilt, then turned cold again. He pursed his lips. "I'll buy you a new one." "Yours was old anyway. Last year's model." I shook my head silently. "No. There's no reason for you to buy me things." "I'll call a friend to pick me up. Mr. Shen, help yourself." Alex narrowed his eyes, sneering as he grabbed my wrist. "No reason? Didn't you beg me to get back together?" I realized belatedly and let out an "Ah." I held up my phone. "Didn't you read the message I sent? I was really just joking." "What are you talking about?" He frowned, opening his phone. My messages were set to "Do Not Disturb." Who did it was obvious. I apologized. "Sorry. I just wanted to split the bill. If I caused a misunderstanding, I'm really sorry..." "Xu Mo!" He interrupted me with a dark face. Almost gritting his teeth. "So, it was just for an ice cream?" I blinked blankly. "Yeah." "...Fine. Xu Mo. Good job." He laughed coldly. Kicked the tree next to him hard. Sycamore leaves fell like rain. Covering me. "Do you know? Every time I see that indifferent look on your face, I want to strangle you." He seemed to finally lose his temper. "Who else would want a patient with emotional detachment disorder like you, except me?" "Don't regret it." Alex left coldly. I stood there. Passersby looked at me strangely, whispering. "So she's emotionally detached. Can't love." "Poor boyfriend. Putting up with a selfish, cold partner. No wonder he's mad." "Please, can these people not date and ruin others' lives? Go to a mental hospital..." I lowered my head. Alex was angry again. The breakup six years ago was still vivid. He was angry and pleading then too. "Xu Mo, why do you never say you love me!" "Say it! Why am I always the proactive one? Why do you always seem not to care about me!" "Did you want to break up long ago?" He smashed his fist on the table. Loud and hoarse. People everywhere. Glass cut his hand, staining it red. His eyes were red too. I was truly scared stupid. I didn't know how to respond. Seeing him like that, I was terrified. Childhood memories flooded back. I covered my ears and screamed. "Then let's break up." With that sentence, everything finally returned to calm. But later, even though I took a lot of medicine, it didn't work. When I went to find him again, he had a new lover. Someone who knew how to love him. It started drizzling. I lied. No one was coming to pick me up. I quietly knocked on the clinic next door. "Doctor, can emotional detachment be cured?" A man in a white coat was leaning against the door. He glanced at me and drawled. "Find me and it's guaranteed. Just learn three sentences from me." I widened my eyes. He coughed. "First sentence: I love you." Me: "???" I looked closely at the man. Pale skin, tall and slender, hands in his coat pockets. Cold features, but eyes bright as stars. Shiny and gentle. I was dazed. Too beautiful. I was afraid I walked into a host club...
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "385895", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel