Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today? - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: He is Throwing a Fit He Has No Right to Throw

“Yes, I’m sleeping alone.” Chen Kongqing was a bit puzzled. Why was Dr. Xu asking this? Was he worried that talking would disturb someone else?

To ease the man’s doubts, he added an extra emphasis: “There’s no one else with me, Dr. Xu, don’t worry.”

The moment he said it, he felt something was off… it sounded a bit ambiguous. Why should Dr. Xu “be worried” about whether there was someone else in his bed?

Feeling a delayed wave of embarrassment, Chen Kongqing coughed twice: “I mean… feel free to speak…”

That felt a bit more correct.

The male voice on the phone paused for a few seconds before answering: “Good.”

“It’s nothing. It’s just that after you left, the kitten was a bit restless. It seemed to be looking for you.” Xu Jingmo’s voice relaxed, like someone surfacing for air after being submerged in a suffocating, dull sea.

“Maybe it’s because my scent is gone,” Chen Kongqing replied. “Don’t animals rely on scent?”

He was actually quite surprised. After all, he and the kitten had only known each other for a few hours. Would it really depend on him already?

“I have classes tomorrow morning, but I’ll come pick it up and take it to the hospital in the afternoon,” Chen Kongqing said proactively. He liked the feeling of being needed. Being depended upon proved he wasn’t truly alone. Even if it was just a kitten, it made him happy.

“There’s a pet hospital right near my hospital. I’ll take it there; it’s on my way,” the man said, his voice as pleasant as ever. “If you want to see it, just go straight to the pet hospital.”

Chen Kongqing thought about it—that worked too. He had a presentation to give tomorrow; his mentor wanted him to report on a project, so he might not be free until quite late.

Chen Kongqing: “Okay. Sorry to trouble you again, Dr. Xu.”

Xu Jingmo: ” ‘Black Cat Detective’ is quite cute. I’m happy to look after him.”

Black Cat Detective.

It took Chen Kongqing a moment to realize Dr. Xu was talking about the kitten. He couldn’t help but let out a light laugh.

The man on the phone seemed to catch his mood and chuckled along. As the laughter died down, the silence was filled only by the sound of their synchronized breathing.

Chen Kongqing was about to say goodnight and end the call when a voice came through the receiver first: “Has Ling Xiao… left?”

Chen Kongqing stiffened slightly, clutching the blanket at his chest. “Yes. His competition is coming up, so he has a lot of training lately.”

Xu Jingmo: “You and him…”

With just those three words, Chen Kongqing knew exactly what Dr. Xu was asking. It wasn’t strange for him to ask; Chen Kongqing had said he would think over Dr. Xu’s previous suggestion.

“He’s changed a lot recently. His temper is much better, and he keeps inviting me to his basketball games.” In the past, Ling Xiao almost never invited him to games; Chen Kongqing could vaguely sense that Ling Xiao didn’t want him appearing in his social circle.

Chen Kongqing let out a sigh. “To be honest, I have a feeling I can’t quite describe.”

Even though Ling Xiao was improving, it still felt wrong. Like a bubble, a phantom—something that would pop at any second.

“What kind of feeling?” Before Chen Kongqing’s words could even settle, Xu Jingmo pressed for an answer.

Chen Kongqing felt his mind clutter up again. After a pause, he only said: “I think… I want to try one more time.”

Following that was a heavy silence. It was so quiet that even the sound of breathing felt intrusive.

“I see. As a doctor, I respect your decision.”

Chen Kongqing didn’t know if it was his imagination, but the voice through the receiver sounded muffled and heavy again, as if he had sunk back to the bottom of the ocean.

Xu Jingmo: “Then get some rest. You have class tomorrow morning.”

“You too, Dr. Xu. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

The call ended. This time, the silence was absolute.

Xu Jingmo stared at the screen, at the “rabbit’s” WeChat profile picture: a Trumpet Creeper (Lingxiao flower).

Why did that flower have to be everywhere?

What about him? What was he to Chen Kongqing?

A blue vein throbbed at the man’s temple, and his brow twitched. He was throwing a fit of nameless anger—a fit he had absolutely no standing to throw.

It started with that phone call, those greasy “babes,” the braised pig’s trotters, and now this “try one more time.” There was even that scar on the boy’s leg that felt like a needle in his lungs.

He couldn’t think about it anymore. His face taut, the man finally lit a cigarette in the dark night. White smoke swirled toward the ceiling. He looked down at the tiny crimson glow at the end of the cigarette.

Forget it. At least he got a “goodnight” this evening.

…

The next day, the rain finally stopped, and the sun came out. Streaks of light filtered through the bedroom curtains, gently climbing onto the young man’s cheek.

Chen Kongqing climbed out of bed, his body feeling unusually relaxed. He realized that every time he slept after talking to Dr. Xu, he seemed to sleep a bit better.

Was this the charm of a psychiatrist? If someone married a psychiatrist, would they never have to worry about insomnia again? But then, could a psychiatrist read minds? Could nothing be hidden from them?

He wished he could read minds too; then he could see what was inside Ling Xiao’s heart.

With these stray thoughts, he arrived at school. He had a full morning of classes. As soon as they ended, he bolted down his lunch and ran to the lecture hall to prepare for his presentation.

“Kongqing, the equipment is all set up for you, and the microphone is ready,” Gao Tianyou said, jumping down from the stage.

“Thanks, Tianyou.” Chen Kongqing was busy rehearsing with his report.

“It’s nothing.” Gao Tianyou was a computer science major, so this was second nature to him. “By the way, you know the basketball team is holding a league? Playing against Kunming University of Science and Technology and the Medical University. It’s a big deal. Ling Xiao should be playing; let’s go watch together.”

“Sure,” Chen Kongqing said, his eyes never leaving the paper.

“You don’t seem as clingy with Ling Xiao lately,” Gao Tianyou said with a gossiping grin.

“Mmm… not really. The department has just been busy,” Chen Kongqing replied offhandedly, his mind entirely on the report.

Just then, his phone—which he had tossed aside—began to ring. Coincidentally, it was Ling Xiao.

Chen Kongqing picked up: “Hello, Ling Xiao…”

Gao Tianyou raised an eyebrow nearby.

Ling Xiao: “Where are you?”

“I’m at…” Before he could finish, Gao Tianyou chimed in loudly:

“Your boyfriend is in the South Building lecture hall! He’s giving a speech on stage in a bit—he’s impressive! You want to come listen?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Chen Kongqing said, embarrassed, trying to stop his friend’s rambling. He pulled the phone closer: “Is something the matter?”

Ling Xiao: “You’re giving a speech?”

“Mm, just a report, not really a speech.” Chen Kongqing bit his lip and asked again, “Is there something you need?”

Ling Xiao: “Nothing. I’m training, otherwise I’d want to come hear it.”

“You wouldn’t like it. It’s all research on Chinese herbal medicine. You hate herbs so much; you wouldn’t enjoy it.” The words came out almost instinctively.

In that instant, Chen Kongqing suddenly realized something. A long time ago, across many small moments, the rift between him and Ling Xiao had been widening. He had simply used an overflow of love to cover the crack, pretending it wasn’t there.

But the rift was already too wide to mend.

Ling Xiao seemed stunned for a few seconds. He was wondering—did he really hate herbs that much? Not necessarily. He had just deliberately used that to make Chen Kongqing feel bad. Back when Gu Chengjing cut him off from abroad, he was genuinely angry and had no other outlet. Chen Kongqing had happened to stumble into his world at that time, like a sponge absorbing all his toxicity.

He had been intentional about it; he thought sponges didn’t have tempers. More than that, he still liked Gu Chengjing. But now, he couldn’t quite define his feelings for this “sponge.”

“Ling Xiao, I’m about to start, so I’ll let you go.” The “sponge” on the phone sounded calm and composed.

And in the next second, he hung up the phone. This was likely the first time Chen Kongqing had ever proactively hung up on him.

Half an hour later, Gao Tianyou sent Ling Xiao a video. In the video, Chen Kongqing stood in the center of the lecture hall holding a microphone. Though his clothes weren’t flashy, his manner was elegant as he confidently and fluently presented his research. The PPT displayed theoretical data that Ling Xiao couldn’t understand at all.

Ling Xiao began to realize, very slowly, that inside this sponge was hidden a brilliant and rare gemstone—one that anyone would love.

…

The sky had darkened before he knew it. In Kunming during winter, the days were always short. Chen Kongqing hadn’t expected the meeting to run so late. After the session, his mentor took him to chat with several senior professors. By the time he left the hall, it was already dinner time.

Chen Kongqing hurriedly opened his phone. He had several messages from Dr. Xu.

Lnk: [I’ve taken “Black Cat Detective” to the hospital for a check-up.] Lnk: [Photo.jpg] Lnk: [No need to rush over.] Lnk: [“Black Cat Detective” doesn’t seem to like this name. He’s hissing at me.] Lnk: [Video.mov]

Chen Kongqing clicked the video and saw the kitten baring its claws, only to be immediately held by the vet nearby. He laughed and typed: [I just finished a report meeting. Are you guys still at the pet hospital?]

A few minutes later:

Lnk: [Just got home.] Lnk: [“Black Cat Detective” is in good health, just a few parasites. The vet gave me deworming medicine; just need to use it on schedule.] Lnk: [He’s asleep in his bed now.] Lnk: [Video.mov]

In the video, the kitten was sleeping soundly in the bed Chen Kongqing had bought.

Azurite: [Sorry to trouble you again, Dr. Xu.] Azurite: [How much was the check-up? I’ll pay you back.]

Dr. Xu had helped so much; he couldn’t let him spend his own money too. Fortunately, he had received a prize for a school lab project today, so he was relatively well-off.

Lnk: [No need for money.] Lnk: [Treat me to a meal some other day?]

Azurite: [Sure.] Azurite: [What would you like to eat, Dr. Xu?]

Lnk: [Braised pig’s trotters.]