Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today? - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Brushing Against a Certain Bulging Spot

In truth, he had thought about it for a long time downstairs.

To be precise, he had been thinking about it for days. When he heard Dr. Xu’s final answer tonight, he understood it wasn’t intentional, so he said it was fine. But after saying it, the Rabbit’s chest felt like it was blocked by a tangled mess of yarn, knotted and chaotic. It felt suffocatingly uncomfortable.

And then…

He didn’t know how he ended up running upstairs or why he said those things. After speaking, he froze in place.

The surroundings were quiet, and the light was dim. Chen Kongqing had come up in a hurry and hadn’t turned on the hallway light. In the bedroom, only a small lamp was lit; its weak glow was mostly blocked by the tall, solid “iron plate” standing before him. There was only a faint, ghostly light.

He couldn’t see the other man’s face or expression clearly. He could only smell it—that faint scent of Earl Grey. And he could hear the sound of their intertwined breathing.

Having finished his speech, the Rabbit felt like a battery running out of power. He paused for a long while, biting his lip to make excuses for the silent “iron plate”: “I know work changes are normal… I shouldn’t have come to question you, Dr. Xu. Sorry, I’ll leave now.”

The Rabbit turned around dejectedly, preparing to flee in embarrassment.

At the same time, his hand was caught. Not his wrist, but his hand. Several fingers and the back of his hand were enveloped by a warm, broad palm. It felt as if a surge of scorching emotion was being transmitted directly into the Rabbit’s heart.

Chen Kongqing didn’t move his captured hand, but for a moment, he forgot to turn around.

“So, you want to spend the New Year with me, right?” Xu Jingmo finally spoke. His usually steady voice actually wavered slightly.

The Rabbit’s lips moved, and he spoke softly, with a hint of a small temper he didn’t even realize he had: “What’s the use of wanting it?”

Dr. Xu still has to go on duty.

He suddenly remembered that day when Ling Xiao blocked him in the dormitory building and said people like him deserved to spend the New Year alone. At the time, he just thought Ling Xiao was being hysterical; he didn’t think there was actually anything wrong with himself.

But Ling Xiao’s words seemed to be coming true. Was there really something wrong with him? Was he that annoying?

The Rabbit’s ears drooped, and his back curved slightly. Even from behind, one could tell this was a wounded rabbit. The hand being held obediently began to struggle slightly.

Xu Jingmo’s Adam’s apple moved. He gripped the hand that wanted to escape even tighter.

Backing him, the Rabbit opened his lips again in disappointment: “Ling Xiao said…”

Hearing those two words, Xu Jingmo instantly entered a state of high alert: “What did he say?”

“He said people like me… just deserve to spend the New Year alone.” The Rabbit’s voice was very light, very weak, and even trembled a bit.

Such a soft voice, yet it seemed capable of piercing through the hard “iron plate” behind him.

Chen Kongqing turned around, looking truly puzzled, and spoke with total sincerity: “Dr. Xu, am I really a very bad person? Is this… my problem? But… wasn’t he the one who cheated? Why…” Why does it feel like it’s my fault?

Before he could finish, the man in the doorway suddenly reached out his arm. He slid it past the Rabbit’s slender waist, pressing his palm against the Rabbit’s thin back.

Chen Kongqing only felt an irresistible force pull him into a hot, firm embrace.

It was so hot. Both hot and tight. The density of the hug was so thick he could barely breathe. He had hugged Dr. Xu before, but never… never this closely.

His back was held tight, a scorching palm pressing against the Rabbit’s protruding shoulder blades. Chen Kongqing tilted his chin up, trying to catch a bit of oxygen in this sealed embrace; his breathing had long since lost its rhythm.

“You are very good. He’s talking nonsense. You haven’t done anything wrong, Chen Kongqing.”

The size difference between them was too great. The Rabbit was small, completely enveloped in his arms. One of Xu Jingmo’s arms could easily encircle the entire Rabbit.

Chen Kongqing heard the man’s answer. He also heard, pressed against his ear, Xu Jingmo’s heartbeat.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Steady and powerful.

Then, his head was rubbed. A dry, warm palm pressed against the back of the Rabbit’s round head, fingers sliding into his slightly chestnut hair.

“Chen Kongqing, you are very good.” Xu Jingmo pressed against the top of the person’s head. Soft strands of hair brushed against his chin, grazing his lower lip almost imperceptibly. “You are the best.”

In the distant past, he had also doubted himself. But the little rabbit who had to look up to see his face had told him: “Big brother, you are the best, best big brother. Even if you didn’t get first place this time, you are still the best!”

…

Chen Kongqing was still listening to Xu Jingmo’s heartbeat. He heard the man’s firm affirmation.

“The best.” Such a subjective evaluation, a word a child would use. But it came from Dr. Xu’s mouth.

For some reason, the malicious words Ling Xiao had left in his heart and ears until today were suddenly wiped away at this moment. The sound was gone, the tone was gone, the meaning was gone.

The Rabbit’s eyes curved. He didn’t hold back his response, reaching out to press his hands against the man’s broad back: “Thank you, Dr. Xu.”

Xu Jingmo felt the soft contact on his back, carrying a bit of warmth. He truly wished time would stop at this very second.

They hugged like this for quite a while. Eventually, Chen Kongqing belatedly realized something. Holding each other like this, for so long… was it a bit inappropriate?

Perhaps the embrace was too comfortable; he had forgotten to think about it. Just as he was about to struggle a bit, the man holding him spoke again: “When did he say that to you? That day at the supermarket?”

Chen Kongqing shook his head, his face brushing against a certain bulging spot.

Only after he brushed against it did he realize where he had touched… but Dr. Xu didn’t seem to have any… visible reaction.

“…” The Rabbit had to force himself to stay calm. “No, it was before winter break started, I ran into him at school.”

Xu Jingmo: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was nothing. I… forgot. It’s just because of the New Year thing today that I remembered it again.”

Fine, he had actually remembered it all along. But now, he had truly forgotten.

“We’ll spend the New Year together, Chen Kongqing.” Xu Jingmo twisted a strand of the Rabbit’s hair with his fingertips. “You won’t spend the New Year alone.” Never again.

Mm, Dr. Xu is touching his hair again, speaking so gently about spending the New Year together.

This was simply “foul play.” It left him in a complete daze. He was sent back to his room in a daze, said goodnight to Dr. Xu in a daze, and then lay in bed hugging his old carrot plushie in a daze.

He felt a bit sorry for Dr. Xu; the new carrot was better in every way—softer and sturdier—but… he was still used to sleeping with the old one. After all, he’d held it for so many years; he couldn’t change now. Even if it was flat and old, he still liked this carrot the best.

The Rabbit hugged this carrot of unknown origin and finally closed his eyes.

Upstairs in the bedroom, Xu Jingmo was still awake. He had just finished a phone call and was sitting at the edge of the bed, his left hand open. A faint medicinal scent still lingered between his fingers. The sensation of hair passing through his fingers seemed to remain in his palm.

…

The 29th day of the 12th lunar month.

Originally a day for family reunions and joy. Ling Xiao, however, was forced to kneel in the hall. A man of his age, actually forced to kneel in the ancestral hall? He hadn’t even kneeled like this as a child.

He wasn’t submissive at all. He tried to get up secretly but was sternly shouted down. It was Xu Qingyang—Ling Xiao’s maternal grandfather, and Xu Jingmo’s grandfather.

“Keep kneeling!” Xu Qingyang walked into the ancestral hall. “While you’re back in our hometown, you will come here and kneel every day.”

“Grandpa, I… what did I do wrong?” Ling Xiao frowned, complaining indignantly. “Why make me kneel alone? It’s not even time to sacrifice to the ancestors…”

Though resentful, he didn’t dare defy the white-haired elderly man before him. The old man was advanced in age but remained the highest-ranking authority in the family. Forget him—it wouldn’t even be out of the question for the old man to make his parents kneel here…

“If I make you kneel, there is a reason for it.” Xu Qingyang snorted coldly, his expression serious. “At school, you were messing around with multiple people—it’s simply scandalous. And you think you’re in the right? Do you think just because you’re in Kun City, far away, we can’t control you?”

Ling Xiao’s pupils shrank. “Wh… what? Grandpa, who told you such nonsense? There’s… there’s no such thing.”

“You don’t need to know who told me. Just look at how guilty you look; I know I’m right.” Xu Qingyang paced back and forth, sighing in disappointment. “Ling Xiao, look at your siblings and cousins. Is any of them like you? Even if they aren’t all wildly successful, which one isn’t upright and honorable?”

The young man kneeling on the floor went silent, wanting to speak but stopping. “I…”

“Your parents are on the plane. When they get back, I’ll discuss with them how to educate you.” Xu Qingyang looked at the stubborn brat kneeling on the floor and left helplessly.

Ling Xiao grit his teeth, fuming. The person who could report him to Xu Qingyang—there was no need to guess who it was. He had originally wanted to report Xu Jingmo to Xu Qingyang, but he hadn’t expected Xu Jingmo to beat him to the punch…

Now, if he reported anything, it would look like retaliation. Besides… Xu Jingmo had always been highly praised by the family, the most successful of the younger generation. Xu Qingyang adored him.

Everyone was deceived. Everyone thought Xu Jingmo was a man of integrity. Including him.

Then he suddenly remembered: today was New Year’s Eve. Xu Jingmo hadn’t come back. Where would he be? Who was he with?

Was he with Chen Kongqing?

Ling Xiao clenched his fists, feeling the veins in his forehead about to burst.

…

At that moment, Chen Kongqing had just woken up, rubbing his temples. Last night Dr. Xu said they’d spend the New Year together, but it was very quiet outside right now. It didn’t seem like anyone was there.

Maybe he was just humoring him last night; after all, Dr. Xu really did have work.

Forget it. The Rabbit bit his lip and coaxed himself to get out of bed. Spending the New Year alone was no big deal.

Chen Kongqing washed up, changed into a set of new clothes, and came out of the bedroom. “Black Cat Detective” was currently bathing in the sunlight by the window, its tail wagging contentedly.

Chen Kongqing was about to walk over to pet the cat when the sound of the door opening came from the entryway.

But it seemed that it wasn’t just that door opening. A heart that had been sealed for a long time seemed to be being pried open as well.