After Failing to Reverse the Plot, I Made My Escape - Chapter 12

[Wailing: My wife has not replied to me for five minutes and twenty seconds. Does he not love me anymore? TAT]

Yu Fuqiu sat there for a very long time, until the sun dipped below the horizon and pulled his shadow into a long, thin line.

His long hair fell forward to conceal the expression in his eyes, casting a lonely shadow over his face. The bracelet on his wrist accentuated his slender frame. Under the warm yellow light, his faint blue veins were almost visible through his nearly transparent skin. It felt as though a single gust of wind might shatter him.

“Is it already this late?”

Yu Fuqiu took a deep breath and patted his cheeks. “Pull yourself together, Yu Fuqiu. There are still so many people who love you, and you still have Chun-chun.”

He switched off the lights of the shop. This corner was tucked away at the turn of a small alleyway. The location was not ideal, and the items inside were not expensive, but back then, it was the best food they could afford to eat. As soon as the lights went out, the surroundings were plunged into darkness. The only source of light had been extinguished by his own hand.

Standing on the flagstone road, his nose caught the fragrance unique to this season, and a slight ripple disturbed the stillness of his heart. Suddenly, a breeze blew past. Because he was dressed thinly, he could not help but pull his coat tighter around him.

“I will have to wash this before I return it to him,” he thought.

Alone in this narrow alley, he looked up. Ahead stood magnificent, glittering skyscrapers. He seemed to stand at the very junction where the grey world met the shadows. His silhouette was stretched infinitely until it merged into the gloom. The surroundings were silent and deserted, with only the biting night wind brushing past his frail figure.

He felt a sudden sense of displacement, unsure of where to go next. He had left the cat at the shop because Jiang Tingzhi was allergic to cat hair at home, even though he was not sure if Jiang Tingzhi would even return tonight.

It was nearly eleven o’clock, yet his phone remained silent. Yu Fuqiu suddenly felt a wave of discomfort. Just a few weeks ago, Jiang Tingzhi was always by his side. Once it passed nine o’clock, he would be bombarded with messages. First came the texts, then the calls, and finally the video chats.

[Wife, wife, {cat tilting its head} where are you?] [Who are you with?] [Do you still remember the Tingzhi by the shore of Daming Lake?] [Wailing: My wife has not replied to me for five minutes and twenty seconds. Does he not love me anymore? TAT]

The vibration of the phone felt like a fragment of an illusory dream.

Buzz. Buzz.

Sensing his phone actually vibrating in his pocket, a surge of wild joy flashed through his heart. Was Jiang Tingzhi looking for him? Could it be? He impatiently grabbed his phone, only to find the screen submerged under countless push notifications. At the very top was a Weibo post from Jiang Tingzhi tagging him.

@Jiang Tingzhi: Today marks our fifth year of marriage, which is one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six days spent together. Having you for so many days and nights feels like a dream. It feels like the MVP settlement screen at the end of a game, or like the happy reunion at the end of a story.

Winter is so late this year. I still remember that day in Hangzhou five years ago when we went to get our marriage certificate during the first snow. You were running toward me, and your cheeks were flushed red from the cold. Back then, your eyes were curved like crescents and were more radiant than all the lights in the city. You said you were looking forward to this year’s winter because you finally had a home.

Therefore, I will leave a light on for you everywhere. I will stay for you and always stand behind you. I will do it every time, including this one. I love you, @Yu Fuqiu.

Postscript: To let everyone see how well my wife eats and how much he loves me, I will reluctantly show off my assets!

Below the text was a nine-grid photo layout. In the very center was a photo Jiang Tingzhi had taken of him while he was asleep. In the photo, Jiang Tingzhi’s hand was intertwined with his, and their wedding rings sparkled on their ring fingers. Half of Yu Fuqiu’s face was buried in a soft pillow, showing only his slightly parted crimson lips and fair jawline. Jiang Tingzhi was also in the shot, his eyes turned toward the side and his lashes lowered. His handsome profile was clearly visible on the other side of the photo. His gaze was so tender it seemed it could melt into water. He looked at nothing else except Yu Fuqiu.

[User Comment: Holding the ‘Zhi-Qiu’ flagship high!] [User Comment: Oh my god, I must say that even though Qiu-qiu only shows this much of his face, he is still stunningly beautiful. I am licking the screen!] [User Comment: President Jiang seems to love Qiu-qiu so much, but what should I do now that Qiu-qiu is married?] [User Comment: This is like a golden mountain at sunrise! Qiu-qiu must stay happy and joyful forever!]

He quickly trended on the hot search list. Immediately after, he discovered that the official account of the Changqiu Group was hosting a live stream.

[Live] Changqiu Group: Fireworks are launched for you @Yu Fuqiu.

Yu Fuqiu’s heart jumped. Subconsciously, he clicked the link. Instantly, the phone screen lit up with a real-time live broadcast of the very alley where he was standing. The lens accurately captured his figure standing in the night. The darkness washed over every corner, but the camera locked onto him alone. There were no lights and no echoes. He stood there like a forgotten painting. Even the wind seemed to brush past him with a reluctant gentleness, as if it were afraid of shattering that solitary shadow.

The comment section of the live room had already exploded, scrolling at a staggering speed.

[User Comment: It really is Yu Fuqiu. I have not seen him in forever.] [User Comment: Why is he alone? Where is Jiang Tingzhi?] [User Comment: I am dying of sweetness! This is late-night sugar. It is a good thing I did not go to bed early.]

Yu Fuqiu stared blankly at the screen, then looked up at the deserted surroundings. A strong sense of unease spread quietly. His long eyelashes fluttered nervously, and he bit his lip anxiously. Was Jiang Tingzhi here?

Before he could react, a loud “Whiz-Bang!” sounded.

The garish city lights began to dim, and the first streak of light pierced the silent night sky, blooming into a red glow at its peak. Brilliant golden light spread out like a giant canopy, instantly illuminating Yu Fuqiu’s upturned, startled, and delicate face. He did not notice that the moment the camera froze on his face, the comments experienced a strange lull.

Countless magnificent fireworks vied to ascend, exploding into a myriad of patterns against the ink-blue sky. There were hearts, stars, and cascading waterfalls of light. They painted the entire night sky as bright as day, creating a dazzling and breathtakingly beautiful scene.

The light of the fireworks flickered on and off, reflected in Yu Fuqiu’s clear pupils, yet they held no warmth. He stood alone in the alley, looking up at the grand, exquisitely brilliant spectacle being performed for him. It was beautiful. It was truly beautiful. But the person who should have been by his side did not appear.

He looked down at the live stream on his phone. The comments were still frantically scrolling with words of envy and praise for their “divine love.” Yet at this moment, he could not stop shivering from the cold.

The fireworks continued to bloom tirelessly, and the massive sounds nearly burst his eardrums. Yu Fuqiu slowly lowered his phone, no longer looking at the celebratory remarks. As a professional actor, he knew he should face the camera and give a shy smile. Instead, he just stood there quietly. The night wind blew his long hair, hiding his profile in the shifting shadows. The light shattered into tiny stars in his eyes. He lowered his gaze slightly, looking as if the surrounding festivities had nothing to do with him. He was only a foil to this grand clamor.

He reached out his hand to gently catch a speck of cold dust falling from the firework explosions. Eventually, after all the fireworks had faded and the night sky returned to its heavy silence, the live room closed. Yu Fuqiu remained alone, standing there for a very long time.

The city lights remained bright, but they were separated from him by an invisible pane of glass. From beginning to end, Jiang Tingzhi never showed up. This romance, which had caused a sensation across the internet and cost a fortune, was nothing more than a cold and noisy wind blowing past his side.

He pulled his clothes tighter and exhaled a puff of white mist. His long lashes trembled.

“This winter, why is it so cold?”