Chapter 078　 In the end, marriage and kids are more important, aren't they?

  *

  The daytime train was empty, giving off a surreal feeling. When the carriage emerged from the underground tunnel, the blinding sunlight forced Li Chengshi to squint.

  "Don't block her way."

  He kept asking himself: Am I blocking her?

  Perhaps.

  If it hadn't been for that accident caused by the toxic mushrooms, they probably wouldn't have had any chance for a romantic entanglement. Zhao Nanfeng brought work back to Anliang, and Zhao Nanfeng invited her to Japan; even if she accepted for the sake of money and her career, at her core, she certainly didn't hate him. As long as he slowly pursued her after his divorce, Su Xian would surely reconcile with him.

  Even when he had broken up with Su Xian before, he had stood righteously between her and Zhao Nanfeng, claiming he didn't want her to repeat her mistakes or get hurt a second time. But now, it seemed a bit redundant.

  If he hadn't existed, she might not have needed an abortion at all. They might have just gotten married and had the child, living a happy life from then on.

  **

  In the afternoon, Su Xian was checking the schedule with Zhao Nanfeng when she noticed the corner of his mouth was red and swollen.

  "What happened?"

  "Someone cut me off aggressively while I was driving. I slammed on the brakes, and my face hit the steering wheel."

  Su Xian laughed mockingly and turned to leave.

  Watching her back, Zhao Nanfeng thought: It seems that little dummy didn't press her for the truth. He preferred opponents like this---those with low resilience and high self-esteem. They couldn't handle the slightest setback and were the quickest to give up.

  It would be best if Li Chengshi left a breakup note and did that whole "melancholic disappearance" act---not replying to messages, not answering calls, and giving Su Xian a headache. Then she would feel it wasn't worth it and realize she might as well focus on her career.

  If he could push things to that stage, victory would be in his hands.

  *

  Back at her desk, Su Xian checked her phone. Half an hour ago, she had sent a message to Li Chengshi asking about his check-up results at the clinic. He had replied, saying the doctor said it wasn't a major issue and prescribed some medicine.

  Relieved, she threw herself into work. Two promising projects had just entered their radar: a municipal-funded library in Sendai and a new concept high-end youth apartment in Kichijoji. They needed to actively fight for these opportunities, so there was a lot of preparatory work to do.

  Just as it was time to clock out, Zhao Nanfeng came over and said, "Go home early today. Don't you have a patient at home?"

  "Heh, aren't you kind-hearted?"

  "I've always been."

  *

  Opening the door, Su Xian immediately sensed something was wrong. Li Chengshi’s slippers were sitting in the entryway. Did he go out to buy groceries? She had clearly told him she would buy food on her way back.

  She dialed his number, but the ringtone echoed from the kitchen. She walked over and saw Li Chengshi’s phone on the dining table, resting on a beautiful card. It read: Let’s break up. I’m not worthy of you. I can’t pay back your 1 million, but I’ve left the money in my salary account for you; the PIN is the same as you know. I’m going back to China. Don't contact me again.

  Flipping the card over, his bank card, her credit card’s supplementary card, and the ring were taped to the back.

  Su Xian trembled with rage. "What is this? If you’re going to break up, at least do it in person! You little bastard, what are you doing?!"

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  She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged half of it, forcing herself to calm down.

  He wasn't an unreasonable child; there had to be a reason. And the only reason she could think of was: she had terminated his child.

  She immediately dialed Zhao Nanfeng’s number.

  *

  Here it comes.

  Zhao Nanfeng looked at the caller ID on his screen, but he was in an elevator and it wasn't convenient to answer. By the time he stepped out of the elevator, reached his front door, opened it, and walked in---roughly one minute---Su Xian’s anger had reached its boiling point.

  "Zhao Nanfeng, you scoundrel! What did you say to Li Chengshi?!"

  He held the phone away from his ear. "What’s wrong with him?"

  "He left a note saying he’s breaking up with me!"

  He felt a secret thrill. As expected, this boy who had never experienced anything major had made the most unwise choice. He feigned concern, "Where did he go? I’ll go with you to find him."

  "What! Did! You! Say! To! Him!" Su Xian’s voice was laced with a chilling ferocity.

  "I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you. Just calm down."

  *

  Su Xian downed the other half of the cold water.

  "He found out about the abortion."

  "Are you out of your mind?! Why did I ask for your help? Wasn't it specifically to hide it from him!"

  "I know that, of course. I didn't tell him; he found out and came to me to confirm it."

  "Don't you dare lie to me! How could he possibly know?!"

  "It was likely Yoshida Wakaba who told him something. But he was so emotional that he didn't give me the details."

  "And how did Yoshida Wakaba know? Did you tell her?"

  "I’d like to know how she found out too, but she isn't answering my calls."

  Su Xian remembered that the day Li Chengshi broke the cup was the same day Yoshida Wakaba resigned. At that moment, she had been moving recycling trash to the pantry. "Give me her phone number. I’ll ask her myself."

  "Su Xian, does it matter ow* he found out? This morning, he intercepted me in the parking lot with the clinic’s documents to interrogate me. I couldn't keep hiding it for you, so I had to admit it. But even if the child was gone and he was angry or hurt, would he really break up over just this?"

  *

  "Over just this? Zhao Nanfeng, this isn't a small thing!" Su Xian felt there was no point in talking to him further. She hung up and sent a video call request to Li Xiao, but it rang for a long time without being answered until the system prompted that the user might be unavailable.

  She guessed that Li Chengshi must have told her not to answer.

  That little bastard is truly cold-hearted.

  She was losing her mind. She let out a scream into the empty air, her emotions instantly turning to disappointment.

  Yes, I dropped his child.

  But to just walk away without a word? At least wait for me to get home so you can scold me! We're adults, what can't be talked out?

  Her eyes welled up.

  In the end, marriage and kids are more important, aren't they? Dating and all that are just the foreplay. If it can't transition into the traditional value system, it's all wasted effort, isn't it, Li Chengshi?

  She slumped helplessly on the sofa, covering her eyes with the card, but tears continued to slide out from beneath it.

  *

  The doorbell suddenly rang.

  Su Xian jumped up from the sofa to open the door, hoping it was her "puppy" coming home after throwing his tantrum. But when she opened the door, it was Zhao Nanfeng.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked irritably.

  "You weren't answering my calls; how could I be at ease? Let me in first." He gestured to some pedestrians passing by who were staring at them.

  Su Xian pulled the door open and let him in.

  He looked around. "This is my first time at your place. Have you been crying?" He lowered his head to look closely at her face.

  "So what if I am?" Su Xian took a few steps back and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Find yourself a pair of slippers." She then turned toward the fridge to get him some water.

  *