Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today? - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: “Let’s Break Up.”

Chen Kongqing arrived at the coffee shop just in time.

Sitting at an outdoor table, Ling Xiao had already spotted him and abruptly stood up, as if welcoming him.

Chen Kongqing locked his phone screen, tucked away his tangled emotions, and walked forward. As he got closer, he noticed a wound on Ling Xiao’s cheek—a bruise mixed with a bit of purplish-red. It was clearly an injury from a physical altercation.

Chen Kongqing’s gaze paused briefly on the wound before he sat down directly.

Ling Xiao looked at the youth before him. Compared to yesterday, Chen Kongqing’s state was much better; his skin looked hydrated, showing a bit of healthy color.

Has he calmed down? Ling Xiao fantasized, hoping this “sponge” could still tolerate him as before, or perhaps even offer some concern.

So, when Chen Kongqing stared at his injury, Ling Xiao could clearly feel his own heart skip a beat. He desperately hoped Chen Kongqing would ask how he got hurt or if it was serious.

In the next second, Chen Kongqing indeed opened his lips: “Finals are coming up and I’m quite busy, but I will move my things out of the apartment as soon as possible.”

The expression on the man opposite him froze, and his voice sounded somewhat distorted: “Wh—what?”

Chen Kongqing frowned slightly and repeated: “I mean, I will move my things out as soon as possible.”

“You’re moving out?” Ling Xiao repeated with a questioning tone.

Chen Kongqing’s brow furrowed deeper. He had doubts about Ling Xiao’s comprehension skills. No wonder the man always bought him things he was allergic to. Previously, he had been sad, thinking Ling Xiao didn’t care about him. Now he felt he might have wronged the man—perhaps Ling Xiao simply couldn’t comprehend what an “anthocyanin allergy” meant.

“Why?” Ling Xiao asked again.

Chen Kongqing let out a helpless sigh: “To move out.”

Ling Xiao: “Just because of what happened yesterday? I apologize to you, Kongqing. I… I was a bastard.”

Chen Kongqing actually didn’t want to mention yesterday, nor did he want to recall that scene. Although he no longer felt that throb of affection for the man in front of him—and even his hatred had subsided into a form of calm—the memory of that image still made his stomach turn with nausea.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Chen Kongqing uttered four cold words.

“Kongqing… I have many flaws, but I will change. Can you forgive me just this once?” Ling Xiao hadn’t expected himself to speak such humble, pleading words—especially to this “sponge.”

But for some reason, looking at Chen Kongqing’s cold and resolute face, a wave of unprecedented panic surged in his heart. The taste of being about to lose something forever. He couldn’t stand it.

“Ling Xiao, you don’t need to beg for my forgiveness.” Chen Kongqing looked at the man. That outstanding, youthful face was handsome enough that even the injury couldn’t hide it. But it also couldn’t hide the underlying repulsiveness.

“Since I’m afraid you won’t understand, I’ll make it clearer,” Chen Kongqing said with a faint expression and an equally calm tone. “Let’s break up.”

The man opposite him froze for a long time. A look of panic appeared on his face, followed by something more distorted: “No…”

“Are you trying to get me to promise something? Do you want more? I promise I’ll break it off with Gu Chengjing. From now on, I’ll treat you well…”

“No.” The youth spoke again, decisively. “I don’t want any promises. I just want to break up.”

It had snowed a little in Kunming yesterday. Although there was no accumulation, the temperature was very low. Ling Xiao was either frozen by the cold or silenced by Chen Kongqing’s words. In any case, the man remained frozen in the leisure chair for a long time.

“I met with you primarily to say this. I will move my things out of your house as soon as possible. Let’s not contact each other anymore.” After saying this, Chen Kongqing prepared to get up and leave.

“Don’t… don’t go!” Ling Xiao’s voice rose several decibels. “I don’t agree.”

Fortunately, there were no other students or passersby around, or they would have certainly become the center of attention.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree.” Chen Kongqing was not flustered by the man’s outburst. He responded firmly, “On my end, we are already over.”

Ling Xiao fell silent again. The “sponge” had almost never shown a hard side in front of him before; he had always gently absorbed all of Ling Xiao’s thorns. Even when he was pierced, he never complained. This had made Ling Xiao forget that Chen Kongqing was not a sponge to be kneaded at will.

It was because of love, wasn’t it? Because he loved him, he didn’t care? So now, did he truly not love him anymore?

He didn’t dare think further; he simply couldn’t accept it. Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, the youth prepared to leave again.

“Chen Kongqing!” Ling Xiao stiffened his neck and let out a breath. “Wait… wait a minute.”

Chen Kongqing remained patient: “Is there anything else?”

“Where are you going to move? Winter break is almost here. Applying to move back to the dorms would have to wait until next semester.” Ling Xiao spoke as if he had found a strategic point of attack. “Just stay at my place. If you don’t want to see me, I can just not come back. Don’t you usually have a tight budget anyway…”

It was true that the semester was almost over. Even if he could return to the dorms, he could only stay for a few days. Chen Kongqing had considered this problem, but he had never even included the option of staying at Tianyue Apartments in his considerations.

“Classmate Ling doesn’t need to worry about that. I’ll solve my own housing issues.” Chen Kongqing stood up.

Ling Xiao also stood up hurriedly. The phrase “Classmate Ling” echoed in his ears like a knife to the heart.

“Chen Kongqing…” He wanted to say more, but in the end, he only managed three weak words: “I am sorry.”

Chen Kongqing didn’t want to hear it. He turned and left cleanly, without staying for even a second.

“I received that bouquet of flowers. Thank you. I lost the game that day… and I did many things wrong. I’m sorry…”

Ling Xiao repented behind him, his tone sounding particularly pitiful. Chen Kongqing, however, didn’t want to listen. He quickened his pace to leave the area where he had to breathe the same air as Ling Xiao.

He walked down the shaded avenue of the school, his steps lighter than ever before. This was Nanshan District in Kunming, during a winter that had just seen snow. He walked on the asphalt road still carrying the scent of snow.

He confirmed it: he was completely, utterly over Ling Xiao.

…

In the afternoon, after processing a set of difficult data, he didn’t bury himself in the lab. He had to go back to the apartment first to pack. He certainly couldn’t move everything today, but he wanted to organize his medicine and some daily clothes first. He hadn’t had time to find a new place yet and decided to transition in the lab for a few days.

Ling Xiao likely hadn’t returned to the apartment either; everything inside was exactly as it was when he left two days ago. Those two pots of Trumpet Creeper flowers he had meticulously cared for for so many days had finally withered. It probably happened yesterday, during Kunming’s first snow.

Chen Kongqing walked over, looking at the withered leaves scattered on the floor and the bare branches that had turned a dull brown. He had indeed been taking care of them carefully—remembering to bring them inside every time before going out. Since they hadn’t been looking well, he had kept them indoors, strictly following temperature and humidity guidelines, fertilizing, pruning, loosening the soil, and protecting them from pests…

But perhaps, as his Master had said, a “Ling Xiao” (Trumpet Creeper) flower simply cannot be kept. It wasn’t his fault.

After packing some daily necessities, the youth threw the two withered plants into the trash bin downstairs. On the way to the lab with his bags, Chen Kongqing suddenly remembered that he seemed to have… forgotten to reply to Dr. Xu’s message.

He hurriedly pulled his phone out of his pocket just as Gao Tianyou called.

“Tianyou, what’s up?” he answered.

“Nothing, just checking on you.” The male voice on the phone was very concerned. “You and Ling Xiao… you broke up, right?”

“Yeah. I just packed some things. I haven’t finished, but I’m moving out first,” Chen Kongqing replied. His voice didn’t carry the exhaustion of being worn down by these messy affairs; instead, he sounded relaxed.

Gao Tianyou sighed: “If I’d known he was this kind of person, I definitely would have…”

“By the way, Tianyou,” Chen Kongqing suddenly remembered the injury on Ling Xiao’s face. “The wound on his cheek—did you hit him? I know you feel it’s unfair for me, but let’s not have a conflict. I’m worried he’ll report it to the school…”

Gao Tianyou was a loyal person who often got into conflicts for his friends, and he had suffered for it before. Chen Kongqing was worried.

“It wasn’t me. By the time I found out about his bastardly behavior, he was nowhere to be found.” Gao Tianyou spoke, his tone suddenly becoming a bit excited. “But I know who hit him. Guess.”

Chen Kongqing froze and lowered his eyes. He thought of that person, but he didn’t want to say the name. After a few seconds: “Gu Chengjing?”

“Damn, don’t mention that guy. It wasn’t him… that idiot is still being good to Ling Xiao. Birds of a feather. ” Gao Tianyou grew angrier as he spoke, letting out a few more curses.

“Then… who was it?” Chen Kongqing pursed his lips.

“Forget it, you’ll never guess. I’ll just tell you.” Gao Tianyou stopped teasing. “It was Xu Jingmo! The one we met last time—that very polite, classy guy… Ling Xiao’s cousin. I heard he hit him really hard; Ling Xiao couldn’t stand up for quite a while.”

When Chen Kongqing heard the name “Xu Jingmo,” his brain stopped for a few seconds.

Dr. Xu? Dr. Xu actually used his hands to hit someone? And he hit his own cousin?

Chen Kongqing processed this information for a long time, so much so that he didn’t hear a word of the chatter Gao Tianyou said afterward. His mind could only hold one point of information: Dr. Xu had hit Ling Xiao.

This was even more surprising to him than the fact that Dr. Xu smoked. Or rather, it was unbelievable. Before he could recover, his phone rang again.

This time, it wasn’t Gao Tianyou. It was Xu Jingmo.

The moment he saw the caller ID, Chen Kongqing froze again. After a few seconds, he pressed the answer button.

“Dr. Xu…” he paused.

“I saw you hadn’t replied to the messages. Are you finished with your work?” The male voice on the phone also paused for a moment before speaking.

His tone was very gentle. It was hard to imagine the man on the phone raising his fist.

“Yes, I just finished.” Chen Kongqing didn’t care if it was abrupt; his mouth opened without his command. “I want to ask Dr. Xu something.”

Xu Jingmo: “Go ahead.”

Chen Kongqing opened his lips, hesitating for a few seconds. “The injury on Ling Xiao’s face—did Dr. Xu do that?”

There was a moment of silence on the phone, followed by a very, very light laugh. It was the kind of laugh that was somewhat helpless. After the laugh, the man’s tone was relaxed, but his voice sounded heavy and fragile—like a glass standing on the edge of a table, ready to shatter at any moment.

“It was me. Do you want to settle the score with me for him?”