Contrary to Ren Ying's expectations, the hours passed swiftly, and it was finally time to head to the restaurant for her highly anticipated birthday dinner—a moment she had eagerly awaited for months, which she no longer wanted.
Given that she wasn't expected back home until dinner anyway, she decided to shoot a message to Wen Jie, letting him know he should head to the restaurant alone and wait for her there. Although she desperately wanted to discuss the issues that weighed on her mind, Ren Ying found herself unable to shake the feeling that delaying her confrontation with her boyfriend might be the wiser choice. It offered her a chance to cool off and reflect on things more thoroughly.
"I wonder if he, too, didn't return to our apartment after he left," Ren Ying mused as she entered the upscale restaurant.
Inside, a handsomely dressed, cheerful young host warmly welcomed her and promptly guided her to the table she had reserved. To her surprise, Wen Jie was already seated there, and it seemed he had been waiting for quite a while. His disinterested demeanor was evident as he absentmindedly fiddled with a piece of bread, suggesting he might have been bored to tears.
"Hi."
Ren Ying greeted Jie with a warm smile and settled into her seat behind the elegant, dark wooden table. She accepted the menu handed to her by the host, who then discreetly departed, granting the couple a moment to peruse their dining choices.
"Hey there, and Happy Birthday, Ying Ying," Jie chimed in, his voice tinged with a hint of remorse. "I wanted to get you some flowers, but, well, your favorite flower shop had already closed by the time I got there."
Ren Ying, ever understanding, replied in a nonchalant tone. "No worries at all. You must've had a busy day."
As she spoke, she keenly observed her boyfriend's face, detecting a subtle hint of irritation amidst his striking features. His restless, averted gaze added to the atmosphere of awkwardness that had settled between them.
Finally, Jie turned his deep, serious gaze towards his girlfriend and posed a question, his tone carrying an undertone of seriousness and a chill,
"Yin Ying, did you happen to go through my things today? My clothes, or... my art supplies?"
Strangely, Ren Ying couldn't contain a brief chuckle that escaped her lips but quickly regained her composure, realizing the oddness of her reaction. She then silently delved into her bag, retrieving a leather-covered box and setting it squarely on the table before her.
"Why? Did you misplace something?"
In a sudden, almost jerky motion, Wen Jie extended his right hand towards the box, but Ren Ying promptly withdrew it, instinctively holding it close to her chest.
Now, it was Jie's turn to scoff.
"Seriously? Come on, Ren Ying, that's not yours."
"Well, it's not exactly yours either. After all, you didn't pay for it."
Wen Jie raised his eyebrows, his face a blend of astonishment and annoyance as he inquired,
"How did you find that out? Wait, don't tell me you went snooping, Ren Ying. I didn't think you'd stoop to that level," Jie remarked with a hint of disbelief.
Ren Ying's eyes widened in shock at his reply.
"What? What are you trying to say?"
In response, Jie let out a tired sigh and shook his head disapprovingly.
"It doesn't really matter. I received that watch as a gift, okay? So, can you please give it back, Ren Ying?"
Ren Ying rested her hands atop her knees, her fingers restlessly tracing the supple surface of the leather-covered box. She mumbled to herself, a hint of sarcasm in her voice,
"Well, at least one of us still gets gifts..."
Then, she lifted her gaze, locking eyes with her boyfriend.
"So, spill it. Who was that woman in the green dress?"
Once more, a sour expression crossed the man's face. He paused, seemingly pondering whether the question warranted a response. After a moment, he let out an exasperated sigh, his tone even more irritable now,
"Well, I was actually planning to wait until tomorrow, considering it's your birthday and all, but since you've brought it up... I've been sort of seeing someone else lately," Wen Jie confessed.
Ren Ying tightened her fists and shifted her gaze downward, focusing on the rich, dark wood of the table as Wen Jie elaborated,
"Her name is Huang Ling. She happens to be the eldest daughter of the Huang family and also happens to own the Rainbow Art Gallery – you know, the one where I've been trying to sell my recent works."
"So, when your paintings didn't sell, you decided to sell yourself instead, huh?"
The man furrowed his thick black eyebrows, leaning across the table with his sharp eyes locked onto his girlfriend. His voice took on a sharper, angrier tone,
"What? You did not just say that, Ren Ying. Do you think the world is that straightforward? Do you genuinely think someone like me can achieve success without any internal connections? Hard work isn't everything, Ren Ying, and you're well aware of it!"
Ren Ying couldn't help but chuckle once more.
"Hard work? Success? When was the last time you genuinely put in some elbow grease, Wen Jie? You bounce from one canvas to another, throw tantrums every time they turn down your paintings, and spend weeks laying on your ass, glued to the TV with 'artist's block,' which seems to happen every single month!"
Jie clenched the table's edges, his knuckles whitening as he struggled to contain another outburst, and retorted with an almost hiss,
"What about you then? You're supposed to be my inspiration, someone who supports me through thick and thin, and looks out for me when I'm low, but you're never around when I need you! And do you know why? Because you're always working, Ren Ying. You're doing everything under the sun for your boss, except perhaps wiping his ass. But have you ever done anything important for me?"
"What did you just say?"
For a moment, Ren Ying questioned her sanity, wondering if she had somehow slipped into a state of delusion. She simply couldn't fathom that someone she had loved for so many years, and had tirelessly supported so that he could wholeheartedly pursue his passion, would level such an outrageous accusation at her.
Throughout the day, she had successfully contained her anger on numerous occasions, but that single remark shattered her resolve. Now, she could feel her anger truly building, reaching a boiling point.