A precise search on any real estate website actually reveals that apartment in Building 7. And it's far below market price; overnight, it's already garnered over a dozen listings. Gu Heping, upon seeing this, exclaimed, "Brother Zhou, how about I pay in full, no problem?"
Zhou Qishen yelled a big "Get lost!" "That's my wedding room!"
Old Cheng laughed and said, "Don't get angry yet, think about how to coax your wife."
In the car, Zhou Qishen called Zhao Xiyin. She didn't answer. Gu Heping asked, "Shall I take you back to Fanyue?"
Zhou Qishen thought for a moment and said, "Let's go back to Courtyard No. 1."
He was right; Zhao Xiyin really was in this house.
Zhou Qishen entered the password, and the door opened with a click. The house hadn't been lived in for a long time, and the air was slightly stuffy. Fortunately, a cleaning service came regularly each week, so it remained clean and tidy. The bedroom light was on, and a warm yellow glow shone through the narrow crack in the door, like something out of a past life dream.
Zhou Qishen gently pushed open the door and saw Zhao Xiyin standing in front of the wardrobe. The bed was piled high with clothes, pants, and other miscellaneous items. Two suitcases on the floor were already full, but Zhao Xiyin was still busy.
"Xiao west," Zhou Qishen called to her.
Zhao Xiyin ignored him, treating him like air, and carried the things out of the wardrobe in one go.
Zhou Qishen walked over and grabbed her wrist.
"Let me go!" As if a switch had been flipped, Zhao Xiyin struggled fiercely.
Zhou Qishen naturally wouldn't let it go, his tone relaxed and a smile on his handsome face, "Didn't I come back safe and sound? You're really willing to sell our wedding house? If you're going to sell it, then sell it. I'll buy it and transfer the ownership to you. Okay, baby?"
Zhao Xiyin turned her face away, her long hair falling to her shoulders like a black half-fan, perfectly covering her eyes and nose.
Zhou Qishen took a step forward and reached out to hug her.
Zhao Xiyin stubbornly dodged, maintaining this posture and refusing to compromise.
When Zhou Qishen realized something was wrong and turned her face towards him, he found that Zhao Xiyin was already in tears.
Silent, haggard, and repressed. Her eyes, usually cold and clear, were glistening with tears, revealing a heartbroken expression. Zhou Qishen felt a pang of anxiety and pain in his heart. "Xiao west."
Zhao Xiyin pushed him away and calmly questioned, "So, in your eyes, what kind of existence am I?"
Zhou Qishen said firmly, "We are husband and wife."
Zhao Xiyin's gaze was sharp as a blade. "What kind of couple can only share the good times, but not the bad?"
"No, this happened suddenly, but I can handle it within my capabilities. I don't want to distract or worry you."
"Within my capabilities." Zhao Xiyin lowered her head, chewing over and repeating these words, then gave a bitter laugh. "So in your understanding, we only use this standard to measure our relationship, right?"
Zhou Qishen's heart sank. "That's not how it is."
“That’s exactly it.” Zhao Xiyin questioned relentlessly, each word cutting to the bone. “Because you can solve it, because you’re capable, because you’re used to facing things alone, because I’m your lover, you love in your own way. These are your excuses. You’ve cast me out of your life, you’re striving for the image of a perfect husband, and you think it’s for my own good—Zhou Qishen, this isn’t for my own good, this is your selfishness, this is that you never considered me the person you wanted to spend your life with.”
Zhou Qishen's face was ashen, a fire burning in his chest, ready to ignite, to argue righteously, to retort with conviction. But the words, reaching his throat, inexplicably slipped back down. He didn't want to admit that, at this moment, he tasted the most genuine response—a hint of his own guilt.
Zhao Xiyin looked at him, her eyes sharp and direct, like a demon-repelling mirror. "This time you're in jail, and you have the ability to handle it. So next time, if you get sick, you have the money to solve it. If you encounter trouble, you have the connections to solve it. If you meet an admirer, you have the wisdom to solve it. All those 'you have' and 'you can't' are just reasons to hide things from me and push me out of your life."
"Zhou Qishen, but I'm not that kind of person at all; it's you who's mistaken me for one!"
Zhao Xiyin squatted on the ground, burying her face in her arms, and could no longer hold back her sobs: "The essence of marriage is not about conforming to the world, but about supporting and helping each other, don't you understand?!"
Zhou Qishen staggered, his temples throbbing with pain as if pierced by a hundred needles.
He seemed to understand, to understand the root cause of his previous failed marriage, and to understand why Zhao Xiyin had left step by step in the past.
This time, Zhao Xiyin didn't let him coax her, nor did she give him a chance to explain. She saw through the essence, cut to the bone, and laid bare the unspoken barriers between them. When she left, Zhao Xiyin had already composed herself. Her calmness contrasted sharply with Zhou Qishen's panic and confusion.
Before closing the door, she paused, but without turning her head, and said, word by word, "Brother Zhou, we've broken up and gotten back together twice, it's not like there won't be a third time."
The lock clicked shut, like a sharp blade sheathing itself, a resounding and powerful sound.
——
When she got home, Zhao Wenchun was practicing calligraphy. She was surprised to see her come back alone and subconsciously looked back. "Qishen didn't come with you?"
Zhao Xiyin dragged her suitcase, the wheels making a dull thud on the ground. She gave a muffled reply, then walked over to look at the words Teacher Zhao had written.
-The most fleeting things in life are youth and beauty; rosy cheeks fade from the mirror, and flowers fall from the trees.
Wherever I go today, I seem to be surrounded by sadness and loss. Zhao Xiyin put down the paper, still praising, "Teacher Zhao, even if you don't teach, setting up a calligraphy stall is a good skill."
Zhao Wenchun chuckled, "Sure, you two can have any of the unsold ones."
Upon hearing that person's name, Zhao Xiyin's mood noticeably cooled. She lowered her head and said, "Dad, I'm tired. I'll sleep for a while."
Zhao Wenchun noticed that her daughter was in a bad mood and wondered if they had argued again.
Sure enough, not long after, Zhou Qishen called home. His tone was normal; he only asked if Zhao Xiyin had arrived home yet. Relieved, Zhao Wenchun didn't say anything more. Zhao Wenchun called out to him worriedly, "What's wrong with you two?"
Zhou Qishen said, "It's alright, Dad."
Tsk, exactly the same answer as Zhao Xiyin.
Zhao Xiyin didn't wake up until 5 p.m. She told Zhao Wenchun she wouldn't be eating at home, and then went out to Wangjing.
Su Ying's residence was in a high-end residential area. It looked unremarkable, but the security service was excellent. When the time came, the house was filled with the aroma of cooking. Qiao Shinan was cooking in the kitchen, looking like a domestic gentleman, which was quite different from his usual elite image.
Su Ying always spoke her mind directly, "Are you sick again? You look terrible."
Zhao Xiyin was in low spirits and didn't try to appear cheerful, saying, "Something happened at home."
"Do you need any help?"