A heavy silence fell across the room. Han Chen set his chopsticks aside and stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'm tired," he said flatly, without meeting her eyes, and walked away.
Feng Mian sat there, watching him leave. She didn't know exactly what she had been expecting, but it certainly wasn't this blatant dismissal. He hadn't even acknowledged her words. She swallowed back the lingering hurt, refusing to let it settle too deeply.
Without another word, she gathered the empty dishes and carried them into the kitchen. She cleaned up, each task feeling mechanical, her mind numb as she finished tidying.
When she finally went to the bedroom, the silence felt even heavier. He didn't returned to the bedroom the whole night, and by the time she woke up the next morning, he wasn't in the apartment either.
The morning sun filtered into the living room, casting a soft glow over everything. Feng Mian sat on the couch, her phone in her hand, deep in thought. She stared at the screen, her mind torn as she debated her next move. After a moment, she typed out a message, her fingers hovering before she finally pressed send: Why are you doing this?
She set the phone aside, waiting, trying to keep her emotions in check. A few seconds later, her phone buzzed with a reply. She picked it up, reading his response: I've sent the locations. Pick one for the trip.
Feng Mian stared at the message, her confusion quickly turning to frustration. This was unlike Han Chen. She had reached out, hoping to break through the barrier between them, to find some clarity. But once again, he had brushed her off, refusing to acknowledge the weight of her words.
Han Chen stared at his phone, seated at his desk in the office. Since last night, his mood had been off, though he couldn't pinpoint why. Feng Mian's suggestion lingered in his mind, unsettling him in a way he didn't quite understand. An unfamiliar sense of dread tightened in his gut.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts.
"Come in," he said, his tone clipped.
His secretary entered, giving him a polite nod. "Sir, it's time for the meeting with the investors."
Han Chen barely looked up. "Right. I'll be there in a moment." He sat up straight.
The secretary hesitated, noting his expression. "Is… everything alright, sir?"
Han Chen's eyes flicked to the side, then back to his phone. "Fine. Just
go ahead. I'll join shortly."
The secretary nodded, sensing it best not to push, and left the room quietly.
Feng Mian sat across from Lin Jia in a quiet cafe, the soft hum of background chatter blending with the clinking of cups. She had asked Lin Jia to meet her, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. Now, as she sat there, she found herself finally letting it all out, her voice calm but tired as she explained everything to her friend. Lin Jia listened intently, her face growing serious with each word, offering a silent support as Feng Mian laid her feelings bare.
Lin Jia thought for a moment, then leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Feng Mian, if you're really thinking of leaving this marriage, I'll support you all the way," she began, watching Feng Mian carefully. "But… are you sure? Is this something you've thought through, or is it just… frustration talking?"
Feng Mian looked down at her cup and gave a faint smile, more tired than anything else then nodded slowly. "It's not sudden, Jia. I've been thinking about this for a while. You know, I used to find joy in the little things—trying to make him happy, hoping he'd notice me. But now…" She paused, her gaze drifting out the window. "Now, I don't even have the strength to hope for that."
Lin Jia studied her friend carefully, concern flickering in her eyes. "So you're… done?"
Feng Mian sighed, a deep, weary sound. "I don't know what else there is to hold onto. It's no secret his heart belongs to someone else. I used to feel jealous… but now, even that feels pointless. I'm just tired, Jia."
Lin Jia watched her friend, sympathy and sadness etched on her face. She could see how deeply tired Feng Mian was, and it hurt to see her like this. She reached across the table, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "If you're ready to let go, then I'm with you. Whatever you decide, I want you to be happy, even if it means walking away."