Chapter 3

In the darkness, my phone buzzed with a message from that minor celebrity.

I opened it and saw a picture of Jiang Tingzhou with disheveled hair heading to the shower.

The bed beside him was a mess.

"I almost forgot, you're autistic, you can't understand."

"Let me be kind and tell you, I slept with your husband.

And it was your husband who initiated it."

"He really enjoys sleeping with me."

I turned off the phone, feeling nauseous but unable to vomit. I may struggle with some things, but I'm not oblivious.

When I used to be with Jiang Tingzhou, our bed would be messy too.

I ignored her, turned over, and continued to sleep.

The next day, I slept in late.

Jiang Tingzhou was still not home; the maid said he was busy with work at the company and didn't have time.

Yet, the minor celebrity's social media clearly showed pictures of them at the beach together.

They're all lying to me, thinking I'm an idiot.

While eating, my phone suddenly rang; it was Ji Qingxu's call.

I answered, and his clear voice came through the line:

"Zhi Yuan, I'm back."

I was stunned for a long time before remembering I had promised to marry him.

"I don't want to marry you, " I said.

The person on the other end paused for a moment, then laughed:

"Alright, then let's not get married. Since you've been going through a tough time, how about we visit the doctor first?"

"No, I don't want to go to the hospital, " I stubbornly replied.

The doctors there only make me relive things I don't want to remember.

They call it desensitization therapy, a process to help me face difficult memories.

I don't like it.

"Then we won't go to the hospital. Haven't you divorced?

Why not move in with me?"

I fell silent, not wanting to engage with him.

He's so annoying now, even more than those doctors.

"No, I don't want to live with you. I disli-"

"I've prepared a conservatory for you at home, with many exotic flowers flown in from abroad.

You've never seen them. Are you sure you don't want to come?"

He interrupted me.

Ever since I lived with Jiang Tingzhou, he had used his pollen allergy and the notion that flowers attract bugs as reasons to send away all the plants I had nurtured.

He said they would continue to bloom elsewhere.

He said I shouldn't confine flowers to pots...

So, all my plants were taken away.

But Ji Qingxu said he has flowers at his place.

If there are flowers, then maybe it's not so bad.

"Alright, then get ready and come pick me up."

He chuckled on the other end:

"Okay."

After hanging up, I went to pack my things; the maid had already left.

Over the years, the maids at home would leave after finishing their work.

The doctors said it's best not to have strangers at home.

So, the maids became part-time workers.

I packed my luggage and sat on the sofa waiting for Ji Qingxu.

After a while, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door to find Ji Qingxu standing there with a warm smile:

"I'm here to bring you to your new home."