Tu Li vaguely felt something wasn’t right.

There was an inexplicable strangeness she couldn’t describe. Chen Yi wasn’t right—he had completely changed since Miao Jing came back.

Chen Yi and Miao Jing didn’t act like siblings. Anyone could see their relationship was quite distant, even less close than Chen Yi was with his friends. They were actually completely unrelated people, yet they lived under the same roof.

Late at night, there was movement from next door. Chen Yi called Miao Jing out, and they stood talking on the balcony behind closed doors. Tu Li couldn’t guess what they were discussing, but their few exchanges in the living room—that tone, that attitude—Tu Li could hear and see it all through the door crack.

When did Lu Zhengsi leave? Why did he leave so suddenly?

She had already undressed, then had to forcefully put her clothes back on to go home—quite an awkward scene. Tu Li’s high heels nearly stabbed holes in the ground as she smiled coldly, mocking Chen Yi about whether he was a real man or had some hidden ailment. His expression was even colder than hers as he impatiently snapped: “Why don’t you find someone better? What’s your type—I’ll call right now, and have them sent to your bed. Rich, handsome, or just never goes soft?”

“Chen Yi!” Tu Li’s face flickered between red and green. “I’ve been completely devoted to you, doing everything to please you, always available when you call. I’ve never wronged you—what do you mean by saying this?”

“I don’t mean anything. You haven’t wronged me, and I haven’t wronged you. Did I not pay enough or not satisfy you enough?” The bastard brazenly said, his expression cold and hard. “That should be enough.”

Tu Li clenched her teeth silently, her face frost-covered.

Chen Yi parked his car at the residential building, his tone arrogant and disdainful: “Let’s just end it here. We can part on good terms. You won’t have trouble finding someone better, and I’m fucking tired of it—can’t get it up for you anymore.”

Those words cut too deep. Tu Li smiled coldly and sneered: “Are you a eunuch? Can’t perform like this?”

“Yeah, I’m a eunuch, so what?” Chen Yi ran his tongue along his teeth, his expression frivolous. “Letting you go early, giving you an out—isn’t that good?”

She had already removed her makeup, her face pale and transparent, and even her bright red lips faded to white. Hearing Chen Yi’s words, her eyes first ringed with red. She held her chin high without saying a word, forcing herself to maintain three parts dignity, wrenched open the car door, and got out. Her retreating figure was enchanting and graceful as she clicked away toward home.

Chen Yi lazily leaned against the car window finishing his cigarette, finally throwing the butt down before turning back.

Miao Jing’s door was tightly shut, completely quiet—probably already asleep. He wearily rubbed his face, sitting frowning in the living room until midnight before returning to his room. The next morning when he got up, Miao Jing hadn’t left yet. She stood by the dining table in an intellectual, elegant professional suit, taking small bites of a rice ball. Seeing Chen Yi standing in the doorway, she asked if he could drive her to the company—headquarters personnel were visiting today, she had a PPT presentation, it was raining outside, and it would be inconvenient to catch the shuttle in high heels.

He coldly grunted in agreement, first going to the bathroom to wash up. Glimpsing Miao Jing standing nearby waiting for him, he went back to his room with a toothbrush in his mouth, stripping off his T-shirt as he walked, casually tossing it onto the sofa. He came out bare-chested and changed into a black hoodie, the hem sliding over smooth, tight muscles, shoulder bones creating angles. Standing before Miao Jing with an impatient, defiant air, he said gruffly: “Let’s go.”

It was still early, autumn rain falling lightly, not many cars on the road. The car flew along quickly. Miao Jing asked him to slow down, but Chen Yi didn’t respond, lowering his eyes, and not bothering to talk to her.

“The weather’s bad, please slow down a bit.”

“So much nonsense—why don’t you just take a taxi?” His tone was cold. “It’s my car, I know what I’m doing. If you want to ride, just sit quietly.”

Miao Jing pressed her cherry lips together, finally falling silent, her curved lashes lightly fluttering as she turned to look out the window.

Arriving at the company, Miao Jing had barely gotten out and stood up, not even having time to open her umbrella, when the black Cadillac had already disappeared in a cloud of dust, not pausing for even a moment, splashing a few drops of water onto her skirt hem.

Chen Yi was angry.

–

The home’s atmosphere cooled in step with the cold air, not quite freezing but chilly enough to need an extra light jacket.

Chen Yi wasn’t in a good mood, sitting at home with a sour face, sprawled with legs spread playing games and smoking. When Miao Jing came home from work and saw him there, she asked what he wanted for dinner. Without looking up, he said: “Can you make dragon liver and phoenix marrow?”

“No, I can’t,” Miao Jing replied calmly. “I don’t know how.”

“Oh really?” He curled his lip, eyes fixed on his phone. “I fucking thought you could do anything.”

He just wanted to needle people. Miao Jing ignored his cold words, simply cooking two bowls of noodles and calling Chen Yi to eat. He came over leisurely, letting out a cold sneer, his eyelids lifting with exceptional indifference. He picked up his chopsticks to eat, his temples pulsing as he ate—who knows to what degree he was stifling his anger. When Miao Jing later asked him to fix the washing machine’s water pipe, he refused outright, telling her to do it herself.

“You’re so capable and studied engineering—is fixing a washing machine too hard?”

“I’m busy, stop fucking bothering me! Get lost!!”

Full of suppressed irritation.

Miao Jing silently walked away, took the clothes from the laundry basket in the bathroom—all his—and threw them at his head one by one.

Her tone was cold: “If you’re so capable, wash your clothes.”

“Miao Jing.” Chen Yi closed his eyes containing his anger, pulling the clothes off his shoulder, and clenching his jaw as he glared at her ferociously. “Are you tired of living?”

“Yes, is there a problem?” She smiled slightly, standing with hands on her hips, still maintaining her elegant and extraordinary temperament, the corners of her eyes tilting up. “What can you do to me?”

Think he can’t handle her, does she?

His brows furrowed tightly, his gaze sweeping over her delicate figure, his eyelids suddenly dropping as he stood up abruptly and strode out the door, slamming it shut—heading to the pool hall.

–

Tu Li had been cooped up at home for several days without any news. She called Chen Yi to ask if he wanted to break up. On his end, mahjong tiles clattered noisily as he impatiently said yes and hung up directly.

Everyone at the mahjong table was friends, and hearing this, they all gathered around grinning.

“Brother Yi, breaking up?”

“Got a problem with that?” Chen Yi raised his eyebrows with a lewd smile. “Any objections?”

“Sister Li is so beautiful, great figure—you’re willing to give that up?”

“What’s there to give up? Beautiful women are everywhere.”

“When has Brother Yi ever lacked women? Women throw themselves at him.”

“Sister Li was the longest relationship, right? We all thought she’d tie Brother Yi down, thought we’d see you two get married. Seems a shame to break up like this. Brother Yi, Sister Li cared about you.”

“Brother Yi, I have a goddaughter who’s quite pretty too—are you interested? I can bring her out to meet you sometime?”

“All of you get lost!” Chen Yi smiled with a cigarette between his lips. “When did I ever talk about marriage? Never had any hope for that in this life—just getting by is enough.”

Tu Li lay disheveled at home, thinking and thinking, then called Miao Jing. Her thoughts had taken eighteen turns—wanting to ask if she knew whether Chen Yi had other women, what they had talked about on the balcony, about things from their past.

Miao Jing was buried in revising blueprints and didn’t like having vague conversations with people: “Sister Li, there are some things I don’t know, and for the rest, you can ask Chen Yi directly—after all, your relationship with him is more direct.”

She hung up the phone.

At this point, Tu Li noticed Miao Jing’s cold aloofness. Living with Chen Yi, she didn’t even know his daily comings and goings or who he contacted—was it that she truly didn’t know, or was she simply too lazy to care, unwilling to tell?

Tu Li finally called Bo Zai. He spent the most time with Chen Yi, and while tight-lipped, he was still honest and helpful—she could get some information from him. Bo Zai had also heard about Chen Yi breaking up with Tu Li and knew she was upset, but he hadn’t seen any other women around Chen Yi. When Tu Li asked about Miao Jing, Bo Zai recalled that their relationship wasn’t particularly good, but they had lived together for three years, with Chen Yi providing Miao Jing’s tuition and living expenses.

“No adults, just the two of them living together?” Tu Li twirled her hair tie with her finger. “What about Miao Jing’s mother? When did she leave? Why didn’t she take Miao Jing with her?”

The matter of Wei Mingzhen’s absconding with money was something Chen Yi didn’t want people to mention. Bo Zai hemmed and hawed, unwilling to speak clearly: “I’m not too sure either. Anyway, Miao Jing stayed in Teng City. Brother Yi usually lived elsewhere, only coming home on weekends. I know during holidays and festivals, they spent them together.”

“Brother Yi used to always talk about driving Miao Jing away. He was always impatient whenever they called each other. Later, when Miao Jing graduated high school and got into a really good university, she never came back and never contacted us again. I only knew she returned to Teng City when you asked me.”

Tu Li hung up the phone feeling quite puzzled.

She contacted Chen Yi again, her tone sweet and coy: “Are you free? I want to come to your place to get my things back.”

Chen Yi was playing pool, distracted: “Sure, come over tomorrow.”

–

For this meeting, Tu Li got eyelash extensions and dyed her hair, applying flawless glamorous makeup. With her dance background, her figure was curvaceous and alluring. She changed into a tight-fitting bodycon dress, remembering Chen Yi indeed liked this style before. Making herself stunningly beautiful, she took a taxi to Chen Yi’s home.

Chen Yi had been at the pool hall the previous night and had just gotten up not long ago. Opening the door to see Tu Li, he lazily made way for her.

“Where’s Miao Jing?”

“Out dating Lu Zhengsi.”

He and Miao Jing were cold toward each other. Miao Jing ignored him completely, going about her normal work life, dating after work. They hadn’t properly spoken for several days. The washing machine’s water pipe remained broken with no one fixing it. Miao Jing had given up, not tidying the house for days, and Chen Yi was too lazy to do anything—after so many years apart, they had gotten used to living like this. Suddenly coming together, changing living habits, then changing back—it all felt completely wrong.

Tu Li smiled brightly, lifting the food container in her hand and placing it on the table: “It’s almost eleven, have you eaten yet? I packed some food—all things you like. Want to try?”

Chen Yi sprawled his long legs out, lounging casually in the chair, his black eyes glancing sideways at her. Those gloomy eyes seemed to see right through her thoughts: “Get your things yourself.”

He was lazy and listless like he had no bones: “Let’s part on good terms. Neither of us owes the other anything, and we never explicitly said where this was going. I’ve spent plenty of money on you these past two years—that should be enough compensation.”

Tu Li’s mouth twitched slightly, but she finally smoothed her expression into a sweet smile: “I haven’t said anything, why so eager to cut ties?” She giggled as she handed him chopsticks. “Have some food first, no rush. I brought alcohol too—want some?”

Chen Yi lazily curled his lips, revealing a slightly cold smile: “What? A farewell meal?”

“Isn’t it? Parting on good terms, right?”

They started eating. Chen Yi stopped after two bites. Tu Li got up to get a bowl from the kitchen, her dress brushing past. A bowl of oil-splashed beef spilled on the table, the oil splattering onto Chen Yi’s clothes.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry.” Tu Li giggled. “Go change your clothes.”

“Take your things and leave. I need to go open the pool hall later, won’t see you out.”

Chen Yi threw down his chopsticks and got up to shower and change. Coming out of the bathroom, the dining table had been cleaned. Walking to the bedroom, someone was rummaging through the wardrobe—a slender figure in a light-colored long dress. Seeing him, her eyes brightened as she smiled: “Does it look good?”

Chen Yi’s eyes contracted slightly.

Her rose-colored lips, paired with the flowing look back, pearl earrings, hair loosely pinned up, the long dress wrapping her figure—both fullness and slenderness subtly visible.

It was one of Miao Jing’s regular dresses hanging on the balcony, silky and light material, airy cut. Tu Li spread the skirt, blinking: “Does it look good? My clothes got dirty too, so I borrowed Miao Jing’s dress.”

His thick eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at her heavily, saying nothing.

Tu Li laughed softly, swaying her waist as she approached, her perfume rich, her enchanting figure pressing against his back, her words seductive: “Chen Yi…”

Her chin slid and rubbed, creating a ticklish sensation, her laughter alluring to the bone. “This dress doesn’t look like much hanging up, but it looks quite good when worn. It’s especially tight around the waist and chest. Miao Jing is so thin, with hardly any flesh in these areas. I’m not wearing anything underneath, it’s so confining.”

Chen Yi closed his eyes slightly, his Adam’s apple rolling.

Delicate hands: “Isn’t this quite spirited?”

Taking his hand, placing it on her curved figure: “See, isn’t Miao Jing’s dress quite narrow?”

Red lips against his ear: “It’s been so long, and it’s not like we haven’t done it before… Let me help you release some heat?”

Chen Yi opened his eyes, his gaze heavy, face slightly red, suddenly throwing off her hand. Tu Li used the momentum to pull him down onto the bed. The dress was thin, soft, and slippery, the scene enchanting. Messy hair covered the woman’s charming features, leaving only parted red lips, and pink tongue slightly pressed. He only looked once at that half-hidden, extremely coquettish face—his breathing instantly became rough, his body taut as a bow, embraced by those delicate hands around his neck as he fell heavily.

Passionate kisses turned, Chen Yi’s back breaking out in a sweat. Tu Li pulled at his clothes and heard his belt click. Tu Li reached to get protection from the drawer, reaching to help him put it on. Chen Yi’s body suddenly stiffened, sweat bursting from his scalp as he pushed away the person in his arms, stumbling back a step. His face red yet heavy with dejection, he stared at the woman on the bed with her dress half-lifted, his eyes flashing white as he hoarsely spoke: “Get out.”

Tu Li’s face turned ashen as she bit her lip and rolled her eyes skyward.

His chest heaved violently, eardrums pounding: “Take off the dress.”

Tu Li stripped in front of him, changing back into her clothes, her voice slightly cold and full of mockery: “Chen Yi, what exactly is your relationship with Miao Jing? It can’t be ordinary, right? Getting this hard, yet living like a monk since she came back?”

Chen Yi’s eyes instantly turned gloomy as he coldly stared at Tu Li without speaking, directly twisting her out the door.