My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The Journey. “To Live”

I served the rice and presented the bowl to Phoebe, taking another bowl of steaming hot soup for her to choose from. Phoebe was accustomed to my service, treating everything as a matter of course. This habit was the result of years of accumulation. We both loved enjoying this brief moment of understanding: she liked my attentiveness, and I liked her savoring this unique attention.

Thinking back to when we first met, she always refused the food I made. Even if she ordered special gourmet dishes delivered from a hotel, she wouldn’t give the food I cooked a second glance. It wasn’t until she grew fond of my cooking, telling me that the taste of home wasn’t something just anyone could provide. Receiving such affirmation from her after countless twists and turns felt far more satisfying than winning the lottery.

I leaned on the dining table, staring intently at her. This scene occurred at every meal: the inevitable need for affirmation. Every time, my heart would race, afraid she might frown or put down her chopsticks the next moment. But thankfully, Phoebe always nodded along with my anticipation, uttering the word “good.”

I opened a bottle of red wine and toasted to this popular festival. I held her hand, wanting to say something, and Phoebe tilted her head, expecting it. Yet, I found myself speechless. Having passed the age where love is only heard through words, I realized that speaking sweet nothings had become a challenge. In the end, it was she who spoke first: “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Cheers.”

“Are you really not going to say anything?”

“Saying ‘I love you’ ten thousand times is not as good as the morning-to-night companionship over three meals a day. We’re already an old married couple; if I say too many mushy things, you might get annoyed. I can’t promise how wonderful the future will be, but I can promise that my devotion will last longer than you imagine—a lifetime is too short.”

The corner of Phoebe’s mouth remained faintly curved, and that expression was enough for me. After losing the challenge to Guan Shuyun time after time, I still chose to believe. Even with their frequent interactions, even though Phoebe still refused to explain anything, the loyalty of our love demanded my trust. I had to believe that she loved me; she absolutely loved me.

The Qixi dinner concluded in a warm atmosphere. I stood lost in thought at the kitchen sink until Phoebe’s sudden embrace startled me. She leaned against my back, humming a gentle tune. I washed my hands, turned around to hold her, and said calmly, “If you’re tired, lean on me. Sometimes I think, maybe I should be more responsible, like a man, and my embrace should be stronger and safer. Actually… I’m not doing a good job at all…”

Phoebe put down the dishes and dragged a stool closer, pressing tightly against my shoulder. She replied with her unique cool-toned affection: “My dear precious one, you are good enough. You’ve given me everything I want. What more could I ask for?”

“But my ‘rubber band’ student, you’re about to snap yourself. I don’t know what to do!”

“Then it must be because my ‘busybody’ student is overthinking things~ Be good, stop worrying. I’ve just been too busy lately, but it will pass. Don’t look so glum~”

Phoebe reached out to pinch my nose and rub my face, gently comforting me. Then she tightly hugged my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder, looking incredibly at peace. I should have enjoyed the current tranquility, yet I frowned slightly, deep in thought. I knew these trivial domestic matters couldn’t compare to the success she pursued in her career. It was as if I was born to live for the kitchen, and she was born to exist for the study. A distance separated us—the distance between home and company—but this distance wasn’t measured in kilometers.

I sensed something with a tremendous gravitational pull attempting to separate me and the woman I loved, but this feeling wasn’t solely brought about by Guan Shuyun. I just couldn’t describe it or find the source…

…

“You Feifan! Why are you spacing out? Rest stop! Take the exit now!”

Qiu Qi shouted loudly. I quickly looked up at the road sign but didn’t have time to change lanes and missed the rest area. Qiu Qi angrily turned her head, resting it on her hand as she complained, “I just want to use the restroom, why is it so difficult! I’m telling you, if my bladder bursts, you’re going to pay!”

“Oh no, just hold it a little longer!”

“I noticed you’re always zoning out. Don’t lose focus while driving! There are two lives here!”

I pursed my lips, staring straight ahead, yet my emotions were calm. Finally, I posed a question to Qiu Qi: “Qiu Wuming, how did you survive the days after you lost her?”

Stumped by my question, Qiu Qi remained silent for a long time. Thinking I had said the wrong thing, I turned on the car’s CD player to ease the atmosphere. But Qiu Qi answered then:

“Everyone who loses love will suffer a serious illness, just like you are now. I told you, you’re sick. The only cure for this illness in the world is time. Time is a good thing; it will make your heart indifferent—no pain, no itch, no joy, no sorrow. But once you lose, we all learn to hide our hearts, guarding them carefully, just so we don’t feel that unforgettable pain again. If you ask me how I got through it, I can only say I lived through countless cycles of drunken stupor and sober awakening in dreams. Crying until the tears ran dry, hurting until I was numb. Eventually, all feelings disappeared, even memories grew vague, until everything returned to peace.”

So, the current Qiu Qi was the most at ease. What a wonderful state of no pain, no itch, no joy, no sorrow. I truly envied her. Qiu Qi took out her phone, looked through something, and then tapped the window, changing the subject: “The scenery along the way is endless. Don’t keep your eyes on the past. The mountains and rivers passing by are what’s worth paying attention to. Trust me, you can’t miss these beautiful sights.”

I turned my head to look at the scenery outside. The music was soothing, accompanying the cool crispness of the high autumn air. The trees on the mountains were a mix of yellow and green, framed by the blue sky and white clouds. It was indeed a waste not to look.

It wasn’t even noon yet when we successfully arrived in Ya’an. My impression of this small city was still stuck on the earthquake from several years ago. Now, the small city still held its vibrancy, as if everyone had forgotten the dust of that disaster. After checking into the room, Qiu Qi started chattering about what to eat for lunch: “If we don’t have a bowl of tata noodles and dry-braised Ya’an fish, it’ll be a wasted trip. Come on, big sister will take you to eat something delicious!”

So, she took me to an old, established eatery. The storefront was small, filled with the smoke of years, but the place was packed with diners and very lively. It seemed we hadn’t come for nothing. To judge a restaurant’s reputation, you look at how patient the people waiting are. It wasn’t even mealtime, and the place was already full. Qiu Qi boldly chose a table occupied only by a couple, shamelessly asking, “Can we share a table?”

The young couple was enthusiastic and quickly cleared half the table for us. The boy’s face was boyish, and the girl was a little shy. To prevent the atmosphere from becoming too awkward, the boy curiously asked, “Are you here for tourism?”

I was about to light a cigarette, but realized it was better not to in a public place, so I put the pack away and politely replied, “Yes, we are. Are you two tourists as well?”

“No, no, we’re locals.”

I smiled and pointed at the girl: “Your girlfriend?”

The boy giggled, blushing deeply, and kept nodding. The girl handed us tissues, signaling for us to wipe the table, timidly not daring to say much. After Qiu Qi ordered a few specialty dishes, we became two brightly shining light bulbs. The boy was enthusiastic, telling us about the nice places and good food in Ya’an. When the food arrived, we encouraged the couple to join us and enjoy the table full of dishes.

Qiu Qi slurped the tata noodles, exclaiming how spicy they were, but the chili oil poured over them looked incredibly enticing. I also buried my head in the food, eating heartily. Accompanied by the young couple’s innocent displays of affection, the meal was exceptionally satisfying. Watching their interaction was quite thought-provoking. Perhaps Qiu Qi felt the same way: the times that can’t be satisfied by money and material things are the most unforgettable, because everyone is simply focused on love.

When it was time to say goodbye, we insisted on paying for their meal. This was probably the brief, passing fate of meeting on a journey. Yes… it was a happy one.