After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 28

Fàn Qingyu didn’t hear it. Her swaying silhouette disappeared into the crowd. Jing Xiao stood still, staring in the direction she left. Her eyes were dry, loose strands of hair brushing against her cheek. She casually tied her hair into a low ponytail. Suddenly, a cool drop hit her forehead — it seemed like the start of rain.

Jing Xiao wiped her forehead. After a long hesitation, she deleted the photo Ouyang Fei had just taken.

Tonight’s memories… better not to leave any trace.

Jing Xiao didn’t want to disturb anyone anymore. The joy filling the scene had nothing to do with her. She squeezed her way out of the bustling venue and left alone through a narrow path.

Behind her, fireworks still bloomed brilliantly, filling every dark corner of the sky — but they no longer belonged to her.

She glanced back one last time, her throat refusing to make a sound. Sourness welled up inside her. Her lips trembled as she finally pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Fàn Qingyu.

[Let’s break up.]

She didn’t know when Fàn Qingyu would see it. Jing Xiao didn’t bother to think about it; she emptied her mind and focused on admiring the night scenery.

But she had barely taken two steps when her phone rang. She picked up without thinking.

On the other end, Fàn Qingyu no longer cared about her image, screaming hoarsely:
“Jing Xiao! Have you had enough? What exactly do you want?!”

Jing Xiao turned off the speakerphone and dug at her ear with her pinky.
“My ears aren’t deaf. Keep your voice down.”

Fàn Qingyu ignored her words, even more furious:
“Stop throwing tantrums already. Where are you? I’ll come get you!”

Jing Xiao was stunned, her eyes widening. After a pause, she let out a bitter laugh, pushing away the hair tickling her forehead as she asked:
“Miss Fàn, even now you still think I’m just throwing a tantrum? Tell me, between the two of us, who’s really the one throwing tantrums?”

Fàn Qingyu didn’t want to argue. She hung up.

The sky turned a dusky pink, and with that drop of water earlier, Jing Xiao knew it was going to rain. She cursed under her breath and turned back the way she came.

With Fàn Qingyu’s distinctive looks and figure, Jing Xiao quickly spotted her again. She wasn’t with Pei Lü but stood alone, gazing at the fireworks.

The smile on her lips had vanished, replaced by bitterness. The driver hadn’t arrived yet, leaving the “young miss” a little time to grieve in peace.

Jing Xiao suddenly appeared by her side, arms crossed, and asked seriously:
“Fàn Qingyu, do you really think I’m throwing a tantrum?”

Fàn Qingyu forced away the few tears in her eyes, straightening her posture.
“Otherwise? Do you seriously want to break up with me?”

Jing Xiao: “And what if I do?”

Fàn Qingyu replied instinctively: “Impossible.”

Jing Xiao pressed: “Why not? I have joy, anger, sorrow too. I can’t endlessly tolerate you.”

Fàn Qingyu propped her chin in her hand.
“I just don’t believe you’ll leave me.”

Jing Xiao raised a brow.
“And why’s that?”

Fàn Qingyu, confident: “Intuition.”

This time, Jing Xiao didn’t hesitate. She strode forward, ignoring Fàn Qingyu’s calls, and soon found herself by a wild river along the road. A muffled thunderclap sounded. Lightning split the sky, illuminating her pale face.

There were no gut-wrenching sobs, no urge to drown herself in alcohol or cigarettes. Jing Xiao only felt an overwhelming sadness flood her body like a tide. She wanted to vent it, but there was no outlet.

The night stretched endlessly. Jing Xiao didn’t want to return to the villa. She wandered aimlessly through the streets, checking her phone from time to time. Still the same — no calls from Fàn Qingyu.

She knew Fàn Qingyu would never be the one to make peace. Which meant they were truly over.

Raindrops as big as beans began to fall, quickly turning into a downpour. Jing Xiao let the storm drench her completely, not seeking shelter, as if the rain could wash away every trace of Fàn Qingyu from her.

She recalled moments from the past as the streets shifted from crowded to pitch black. Streetlights went out. Her calves grew sore, her clothes heavy from the rain.

Eventually, the rain stopped, leaving her heart numb.

With no one around, Jing Xiao leapt into a puddle, splashing water almost as tall as herself. There was no one left to upset, no one’s opinion to care about.

Tonight, she was simply Jing Xiao.

She walked further into the city. Warm air hit her face. She turned her head and saw breakfast shops opening, lively with chatter.

She bought two sugar buns, and casually asked the lady boss:
“Auntie, what time is it now?”

“Five-thirty. Why?” the woman replied.

“I see.” No wonder she felt so bone-tired.

They say an autumn rain brings a deeper chill. The cold wind made Jing Xiao shiver. Ouyang Fei’s house was nearby. Not knowing if Ouyang Fei had come home last night, she decided to try her luck.

Ouyang Fei lived low-key, in a modest villa community. Jing Xiao, familiar with the way, soon reached her door and rang the bell.

Ouyang Fei hadn’t planned on getting up, but the noise annoyed her so much she finally stomped downstairs, grumpy. With heavy morning temper, she cursed aloud:
“Damn it, who the hell this early…”

“Me,” Jing Xiao answered, drenched and bedraggled.

Ouyang Fei, moderately nearsighted and still half-asleep, squinted at her from a distance. Thinking it was just another lovers’ spat, she teased:
“Yo, did your young miss kick you out again?”

Jing Xiao wasn’t in the mood for banter. Only then did Ouyang Fei realize something was wrong.
“Why are you soaked?”

Jing Xiao’s lips twitched. Her voice was hoarse:
“Long story. Can I crash at your place for a few days?”

Ouyang Fei didn’t ask further. She pulled her inside.
“Staying at mine now, huh? Fine. Go shower and sleep.”

Still yawning, she led Jing Xiao to the bathroom, tossed her some clean clothes, and went back to bed.

Exhausted, Jing Xiao rinsed off quickly and collapsed into the guest room bed.

Her sleep was uneasy. She kept dreaming of Fàn Qingyu — her face, her expressions. Until, in one dream, Fàn Qingyu coldly told her to get lost. Startled, Jing Xiao jolted awake.

The sun was high. She glanced at the clock — already ten. She’d barely slept four hours, not nearly enough. Her eyes stung, her head dizzy.

“You’re awake?”

The familiar voice made her jolt again. Fàn Qingyu stood in the room. Rubbing her eyes, Jing Xiao pulled the covers back over herself.
“Guess I’m still dreaming.”

Fàn Qingyu lifted her blanket.
“What are you talking about?”

Jing Xiao looked terrible. Her face was sallow, gray shadows under her eyes, lips cracked pale. Her hair, half-dry, was messy from the pillow. Seeing this, Fàn Qingyu softened her tone:
“You didn’t come home last night. Ouyang Fei told me you were here.”

Jing Xiao’s throat burned raw. She swallowed as if knives were cutting it, her cheeks feverish. Finally, she forced out:
“This has nothing to do with you.”

Sensing something off, Fàn Qingyu reached toward her forehead.

Jing Xiao dodged sharply.
“Don’t touch me.”

Fàn Qingyu’s hand hovered in midair before she awkwardly withdrew it.
“Fine, I won’t. But are you running a fever?”

Jing Xiao knew her body well. She explained seriously:
“It’s not a fever. It’s something carried over from my old time zone. They call it a susceptibility period.”

Fàn Qingyu sighed.
“Talking nonsense already, and you say you don’t have a fever.”

She rubbed her tired eyes. She’d worked overtime until dawn, then rushed straight here. Equally exhausted, she assumed Jing Xiao was just delirious.
“Alright, alright. I won’t touch you. I’ll make you something warm for your throat.”

Jing Xiao shook her head.
“No.”

Fàn Qingyu frowned.
“Eat a little, at least.”

Eat something cooked by an ex? What a joke.

She suddenly remembered — she hadn’t told Ouyang Fei she and Fàn Qingyu had broken up.

All Jing Xiao wanted now was sleep. Irritated, she muttered:
“We already broke up. I’m not eating food made by my ex.”

Fàn Qingyu assumed she was still sulking.
“Fine. Your ex will go cook. Eat or don’t, up to you.”

She left, closing the door. Jing Xiao vaguely overheard her conversation with Ouyang Fei.

Fàn Qingyu: “Xiaoxiao has a fever. Mind if I use your kitchen?”

Ouyang Fei teased:
“Making food for Xiaoxiao, huh? Sure. As long as I get a share.”

Fàn Qingyu agreed:
“You’ll have some too.”

Normally, adults wouldn’t say such things, but as they passed each other, Ouyang Fei looked uneasy, yet still said:
“Treat Jing Xiao better. She gave up too much for you.”

Fàn Qingyu replied simply:
“Okay.”

Jing Xiao pulled the covers over her head, baffled.

Why was Fàn Qingyu sometimes good, sometimes bad? Why did she believe Jing Xiao could never leave her? Why couldn’t she bow her head when she should, but show up uninvited when she shouldn’t?

Thinking of this, Jing Xiao drifted back to sleep.

When she woke again, it was afternoon. After eight solid hours, her body felt lighter. She stretched and glanced at the clock, assuming Fàn Qingyu had left. She slipped on ill-fitting slippers and headed to the living room.

But contrary to her expectation, Fàn Qingyu was still there. She sat with Ouyang Fei on the sofa, chatting quietly. On the table was a large porcelain pot with two small bowls.

Ouyang Fei’s bowl held some white residue. She licked her lips and said:
“Finally awake? Come taste your wife’s cooking.”

Jing Xiao lifted the lid. A fragrant sweetness filled the air. The pear had been cut into neat pieces, simmered with sticky white fungus, and Fàn Qingyu had even added fritillaria for her throat.

Jing Xiao poured herself a glass of warm water, gulped it down, and her throat felt much better. She corrected coldly:
“She’s not my wife. At best, my ex.”

Fàn Qingyu’s smile froze. She had brushed off all the earlier words as sulking, but this one she couldn’t ignore.
“Why won’t you eat it?”

Jing Xiao set down her cup.
“Because I don’t eat food made by an ex.”

Ouyang Fei quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Don’t say that. Come on, try some. She reheated it several times. I had some — it’s really good.”

Jing Xiao shrugged.
“I said it already. I don’t eat food made by an ex.”

Support After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It