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墨書 Inktalez
As the waiter cleared away the plates, I was engrossed in the information about office buildings.
I wasn't deceiving Lu Qingyu about the studio; he probably just couldn't imagine that I was planning to open a clothing studio. It had been my dream since college, but I had given it up due to health reasons. Now, it was time to start anew.
My name is Xu Weiwei, and my connection with Lu Qingyu began in high school. That year, he stood on the podium in a faded school uniform, sunlight streaming down on him, as if he were cloaked in a golden aura. He was so dazzling, like a shining star that drew everyone's gaze. Meanwhile, I was just an ordinary girl standing in the corner, silently admiring him.
I always thought that he and I were like two parallel lines, destined never to intersect. Until one day, a basketball came flying straight at me. I shut my eyes in fear but felt a warm embrace shield me tightly. It was Lu Qingyu. He used his body to block the incoming basketball for me. From that moment on, I knew my heart could never beat for anyone else.
Later on, we both got accepted into the same university—he majored in finance while I studied fashion design. He would quietly make me a cup of hot milk when I stayed up late working on design sketches; he would accompany me on walks around campus when I couldn’t engage in vigorous exercise due to my health; and when others mocked me, he would firmly tell me that I was the best.
After graduation, he proposed to me. Kneeling on one knee with a sparkling diamond ring in hand, his eyes were filled with deep affection and hope. He said that marrying me in this lifetime was his greatest fortune. I accepted his proposal, believing that we would always be happy together.
After we got married, he continued to treat me with unwavering kindness. He remembered all my preferences and prepared surprises for my birthday; he took care of me closely whenever I fell ill. I once thought this was the most beautiful aspect of love.
Until Zhang Rong's appearance shattered all my fantasies.
That night, Lu Qingyu came home very late. He carried a faint scent of cologne that wasn’t from my usual fragrance. When I asked him about it, he said it was from an accidental encounter during a social event. I didn’t press further; I trusted him. However, from that day on, he started coming home later and later, and the scent of cologne grew stronger each time.
I began to doubt, to feel uneasy, and to be afraid. It wasn't until that day when I saw him with Zhang Rong that I realized everything had just been self-deception.
In the law firm, the bright fluorescent lights were somewhat blinding. I handed over the documents in my hand, and across from me, Lawyer Chen adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and began to review them.
"There are no major issues with the share transfer and divorce agreement," he said, looking up with a hint of curiosity in his gaze behind the lenses. "However, I suggest you handle the share transfer first before discussing the divorce."
I nodded. "Then let's proceed with the share transfer."
"Should we inform Mr. Lu about this?" Lawyer Chen's tone carried a note of caution.
My tone remained unchanged. "No need. This was transferred to me before we got married; I can handle it as I see fit."
My phone buzzed in my bag. I took it out and glanced at the message from Lu Qingyu. "Wife, I've sent the driver to pick you up."
"Okay." I lightly tapped on the screen to reply and then looked up at Lawyer Chen. "Please don't take any action on what we've discussed today."
"Understood." Lawyer Chen smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. "Rest assured, confidentiality is our specialty in this line of work."
Stepping out of the law firm, the sunlight outside was blinding. I raised my hand to shield my eyes; Driver Xiao Li had already parked at the entrance.
I opened the car door and got in, casually turning on my tablet to browse through some office building listings I had been interested in recently. The driver Lu Qingyu assigned to me had been with me for three years and was accustomed to my quiet demeanor.
The car drove smoothly along the road.
"Madam," Xiao Li suddenly spoke up. "Would you like to stop by the hospital first? Mr. Lu mentioned you have a follow-up appointment today."
"No need." I didn't lift my head, my fingers sliding across the screen.
"Just go home directly."
When I returned home, Aunt Zhang had already prepared dinner, all my favorite dishes.
I had just sat down at the dining table when Lu Qingyu's call came in.
"Wife, I'm going to work late tonight, so I won't be back for dinner."
His voice carried a hint of apology.
"I have a day off tomorrow. How about I accompany you to look at the office building?"
"No need, I've made plans with Lin Yue."
I replied lightly.
"Your work is important."
"Just remember to take your medicine on time."
He reminded me.
"I asked Aunt Zhang to make soup; make sure you drink it."
After hanging up, I looked at the steaming bowl of soup in front of me, feeling a wave of irritation.
Lu Qingyu was always like this, remembering what I liked and disliked. Even the housekeeper tailored her work to my habits.
But now, looking at all this, I could only sneer coldly.
I picked up my phone and saw that Lin Yue had sent me a photo.
In the picture, Lu Qingyu was pushing a shopping cart, standing next to his white moonlight—Zhang Rong. They stood together in the baby products section of the supermarket, looking so... harmonious.
"Do you want me to keep following them?" Lin Yue messaged me.
"No need."
I put down my phone and opened my computer.
"Help me get in touch with that investor from the design circle we talked about before."
"So soon?" Lin Yue sounded surprised.
"Yeah, time waits for no one."
I opened the design software I hadn't touched in a long time and began sketching. Over the years, I had never given up on design; it was just that Lu Qingyu didn't know. He thought I was doing it for leisure, just as he believed I would always be that patient who needed his care.
My phone buzzed again; it was a video call request from Lu Qingyu.
I looked at myself in the mirror, adjusted my expression, and then pressed the answer button.
"My dear, it looks like I might have to deal with things at the company until very late."
On the other end of the video call, Lu Qingyu appeared somewhat fatigued.
"Get some rest; you don’t need to wait for me."
"Okay."
I smiled gently.
"Take care of yourself too."
After hanging up the video call, I continued to focus on my drawings. The bowl of soup on the table had completely cooled, but I had no desire to drink it.
Lu Qingyu stood in the empty living room, clutching the divorce agreement, his fingertips trembling slightly. He suddenly turned and rushed into the bedroom, yanking open the wardrobe door. All of my clothes were gone, not even a single strand of hair left behind. The photo frame on the bedside table had been replaced with a picture of him alone instead of our original couple photo.
Pulling out his phone, he began frantically dialing my number.
"The number you have dialed is switched off."
The cold mechanical voice repeated over and over, like a dull knife cutting deeper into his already wounded heart.
In a fit of rage, Lu Qingyu slammed his phone onto the floor, trying to release all his pent-up anger, but the sound of the shattered screen only added to his frustration. He stormed out of the house, heading straight for Lin Yue's place.
"Where is Weiwei?"
His voice was hoarse, eyes bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept for days.
Lin Yue looked up at him coldly.
"How dare you come looking for her?"
There was no hiding her disgust in Lin Yue's tone.
"Lu Qingyu, do you even deserve it?"
"When you were holding another woman in your arms, did you think of Weiwei?"
"When you took another woman for check-ups and childbirth, did you think of Weiwei?"
"Get lost!"
After venting her anger, Lin Yue slammed the door shut, ignoring Lu Qingyu who had collapsed onto the ground outside. He opened his mouth but found he didn’t even have the courage to retort because every word Lin Yue said was true.
Returning home, Lu Qingyu sank onto the sofa, his gaze falling on the divorce agreement on the table. Looking at the photos of him and Zhang Rong behind it, he wondered… how could he have someone else? He had clearly loved me so much; he still remembered how fast his heart raced when he successfully proposed, feeling momentarily deafened and dazed.
He remembered just holding me and spinning in place. He also recalled how every time my heart ached, I would curl up into a ball, and he could only squat by the bed, watching me, wishing he could take my pain away. Why would he forget these things?
Suddenly, he stood up, grabbed the car keys, and rushed out the door. He drove aimlessly through the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of me. At every street corner and in every coffee shop I liked, he searched meticulously but found nothing.
Standing on the street, watching the ebb and flow of people, Lu Qingyu suddenly felt an unprecedented loneliness wash over him. He pulled out his phone, opened the photo album, and scrolled through our pictures together. Each photo reminded him of the happiness we once shared and the despair he now faced.
Lu Qingyu crouched down, cradling his head in his hands, letting out a suppressed roar that sounded like a wounded beast struggling for survival. His shoulders shook violently as tears streamed down his cheeks, falling to the ground where they were quickly dried by the cold wind.
He didn’t know where he was headed; he just drove instinctively, hoping to find any trace of me. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen—it was Zhang Rong calling. Without hesitation, he hung up and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. At that moment, all he wanted was to find me; everything else felt insignificant.
The car passed by every place we had once visited together, yet I remained elusive. With each passing moment, Lu Qingyu's heart sank deeper into despair, overwhelmed by emotions that crashed over him like waves. He stopped the car and leaned against the steering wheel, his shoulders trembling violently.
Tears blurred his vision, but he stubbornly refused to wipe them away. In that moment, he finally realized that he might lose me forever.
When I received the green book, it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. The tension in my nerves finally relaxed, and I felt light as a feather. Lu Qingyu agreed to the divorce only because Lin Yue had found him and told him this was the only way to see me again.
Stepping out of the civil affairs bureau, the sunlight was somewhat blinding.
"Weiwei..."
"I..." Lu Qingyu behind me seemed to want to say something more; his voice trembled slightly.
"Congratulations on having a son."
I simply smiled at him; those words pierced his heart like a knife.
"Weiwei, I was wrong. I won't acknowledge that child; there won't be anything like this in the future. I only want you—truly."
Lu Qingyu stumbled over his words as he stepped forward to grasp my hand tightly but was forcefully pushed away by Lin Yue.
His eyes were filled with regret and pain, but what did it matter? The harm had already been done, and no amount of remorse could make up for it.
"Lu Qingyu, I don’t love you anymore. Please let go."
Under Lin Yue's protection, I got into the car and watched in the rearview mirror as Lu Qingyu gradually faded from view, my eyes filled only with a longing for the future.
Back at the studio, Xiao Zhang rushed over with an excited expression. "Boss, boss! Big order! Big order!"
I paused for a moment. "What big order?"
"The villa design project for Li! The bid you submitted has been accepted!" Xiao Zhang was so excited he could hardly speak.
I took the contract from him and saw the amount written on it; my heart raced. This money would not only help my studio get off the ground but also establish a reputation in Li's circle—it was like a timely gift!
To meet the deadline, I worked several all-nighters in a row, losing weight in the process. Strangely enough, my inspiration flowed continuously; every time I thought about taking a break, new ideas would pop into my head as if someone were urging me on.
In just a few days, I submitted the revised proposal to Li, my eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. The proposal received positive feedback, and everything proceeded smoothly according to plan, allowing my tense nerves to relax slightly.
Just when I thought everything was improving, Lin Yue informed me that Lu Qingyu had been inquiring about my recent situation. He even tried to find me through various connections. Lin Yue also mentioned that he hadn't registered his marriage with Zhang Rong and barely took care of their child.
Hearing this left me unfazed; I told her not to waste any more time concerning herself with Lu Qingyu. Whether he was good or bad was no longer my concern. I had always believed in parting amicably.
But Lu Qingyu did not share this sentiment. One night, I was working late. As I stepped out of the studio, a cold breeze swept over me, making me shiver.
Lu Qingyu's car was parked by the roadside, its headlights illuminating my face. He got out of the car and walked up to me. "Weiwei, we need to talk."
The comments suddenly flooded in:
"Supporting Role has agreed to divorce; why isn't the male lead trying to comfort the female lead? Why does he keep seeking out Supporting Role?"
"How did the plot development go so off track?"
"Supporting Role decided to divorce so easily; is there something fishy going on?"
"Supporting Role hasn't done anything wrong; her husband cheated—how pitiful."
"But those who are pitiful must have something despicable about them."
The long-lost barrage of comments appeared suddenly, and I rubbed my forehead. But to Lu Qingyu, this seemed like impatience on my part.
The steps that were originally meant to approach halted in place, the person looking awkward and restless, much like a large dog that had been abandoned by its owner, now trying to get close again.
I tightened my brows, feeling a surge of irritation wash over me.
“Lu Qingyu, we are already divorced.”
I emphasized each word, trying to make him wake up to reality.
“I know, Weiwei…”
He lowered his head, his voice soft, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pleading.
“I know I was wrong. Can you give me another chance?”
A wave of exhaustion crashed over me, leaving me with no strength even to brush him off. Since our divorce, Lu Qingyu seemed like a different person, lingering around me every day, either apologizing or begging for reconciliation—more clingy than a piece of chewing gum.
I had initially thought he was just unwilling to accept being dumped, but now it seemed things were not that simple.
“Lu Qingyu,” I said coldly, devoid of any emotion. “It’s over between us; you don’t need to cling to me anymore.”
“Weiwei,” Lu Qingyu suddenly looked up, his eyes rimmed with red. “I know I was wrong; I even…”
“Even cheated,” I interjected flatly, completing his sentence for him.
“I know.”
His face turned pale as if all the blood had drained from it.
“Weiwei,” his voice trembled. “I’m begging you, give me one more chance. For the sake of our ten years together, can you forgive me just this once?”
I stared at him silently, my heart as still as a stagnant pond, stirring not a single ripple. Ten years—yes, we had once been so good together that I could never have imagined he would cheat or have a child with another woman. But what was the outcome?
“We’re done; please don’t come looking for me again.”
I turned and walked away, unwilling to say another word to him. But just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
“Qing Yu.”
I turned back to see Zhang Rong standing not far away, wearing an expression of pitiful innocence on her face. She was dressed in a simple white dress that made it hard to believe she had just given birth; instead, it accentuated her fragility even more.
I had to admit that Zhang Rong indeed had an alluring face; it was no wonder Lu Qingyu couldn’t resist her.
“I… I didn’t mean to follow you; I just missed you so much, and the baby misses you too…”
I watched as a flicker of hesitation crossed Lu Qingyu’s face, and the last shred of my lingering affection vanished completely. After I left, Lu Qingyu seemed to awaken from a dream, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Zhang Rong.
“Did you do this on purpose? Did you intentionally show up in front of Weiwei at this moment?”
Zhang Rong was startled and took a few steps back, shaking her head in panic.
"No... it's not like that. I really miss you..."
Lu Qingyu forcefully shook off her arm. "The money I owe you will be given, but if I see you in front of Weiwei again, I won't spare you or your child."
"That child is yours too!" Zhang Rong cried, kneeling on the ground with tears on her face.
"Only Weiwei can have my child. If you behave yourself, I might let you go; otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
With that, Lu Qingyu left, leaving Zhang Rong with a cold expression.
Lu Qingyu was dead.
A car accident.
The news hit me like a dull knife, dragging back and forth across my heart.
"Weiwei, are you okay?" Lin Yue's voice carried a hint of concern.
I shook my head, forcing a bitter smile.
"What could possibly be wrong with me?"
Lin Yue hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I heard that his mistress tampered with his car, causing the brakes to fail."
My heart sank suddenly, a chill creeping up from my feet.
The woman who claimed to love Lu Qingyu had pushed him into the abyss of death with her own hands.
My mind went blank—why?
Why did Zhang Rong do this?
Lin Yue seemed to guess what I was thinking and sighed before speaking again.
The police found out the reason; it was simple—ridiculously simple.
Zhang Rong had given birth to a child for Lu Qingyu, but he refused to marry her.
She hated him for his ruthlessness and thus took action against him.
I listened in a daze, feeling it was absurd—unbelievably absurd.
Just because of this?
What kind of reasoning was this? A life could be taken over such a trivial matter?
On the day of Lu Qingyu's funeral, I attended.
In the black-and-white photo, he still looked spirited and full of life.
I stood among the crowd, watching from afar with mixed feelings swirling inside me.
I offered a bouquet of white chrysanthemums as a tribute to our lost youth and as a final farewell.
As for my design studio, although it had gone through some storms, it gradually found its footing again.
The sudden barrage of comments that had appeared before never came back again.
It seemed as if she had suddenly appeared just to remind me of something.
Everything I wished for came true, and I had no regrets about what I gained.
Extra Chapter
The first time I saw Xu Weiwei was during the first semester of High School Year One. I stood on stage as a representative of outstanding students, speaking to a crowd of over a hundred people. Among them, my eyes immediately landed on a girl standing at the edge.
Her face was somewhat pale, and her figure was frail, resembling a delicate white flower swaying in the wind. For some inexplicable reason, she captured my heart at first glance.
Our next encounter was when I saw her nearly get hit by a basketball. I still don’t know how I managed to run so fast, but in an instant, I was by her side.
“Are you okay?” I asked nervously.
She looked up at me, her clear eyes resembling those of a frightened deer, timidly shaking her head. Seeing her look like a little rabbit unconsciously made me smile.
“It's good that you’re fine. Just be careful next time.”
Slowly, we became more familiar with each other. Watching her work hard to study just so she could attend the same university as me was heartwarming.
The plot progressed smoothly; she succeeded. And I… succeeded too.
I successfully proposed to her, excitedly spinning her around in my arms. Weiwei had health issues, so after we got married, I took precautions to ensure she wouldn’t get pregnant. The doctor said that after another year of care, Weiwei would be able to live like a normal person without worrying about her heart problems.
When I heard this news, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night. Gently holding her close, I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Watching her furrowed brow as she was disturbed from sleep made me feel completely at ease.
Everything felt perfectly normal until one day when our company hired a new secretary. She seemed like an ordinary person who shouldn’t have been able to enter our circle. But the moment I saw her resume, my mouth seemed to move on its own as I ordered below.
“Arrange for her to be by my side.”
I still remember the shock on Assistant Xu ’s face when he heard that, but he didn’t say much more.
Little by little, this girl named Zhang Rong infiltrated my life. Behind Weiwei’s back, I set up a home for her outside and even… had a child with her.
It felt as if “I” was being pushed out, and no matter how hard I tried to stop it, it was futile. Weiwei, being so intelligent, eventually found out.
She handled everything calmly—divorce, starting a company. I had always known that Weiwei was this capable.
Weiwei was determined to divorce me, and I had no choice but to agree; only then could I see her. When I finally met Weiwei, I realized that I could somewhat control myself. I apologized to her repeatedly, begging for her forgiveness. Yet, she merely looked at me coldly, saying nothing.
After all, given what I had done, how could she ever forgive me?
Zhang Rong came to see me with a child. I looked at the child but felt no stir of emotion within me. This child was the flesh and blood of Zhang Rong and me, yet I felt no paternal love at all. In fact, I felt a bit of disgust towards him. Because of him, I had lost Weiwei.
Zhang Rong cried and pleaded with me to marry her. I looked at her and suddenly laughed. "Marry you? What makes you think I would ever marry you again?" I pushed her and the child away. I didn’t want to see them anymore.
Then I found myself floating in the air—oh, it turned out there had been an accident. There was no sadness; after all, I had already signed an agreement that everything of mine would unconditionally go to Xu Weiwei.
As I floated in the air, I noticed some comments that seemed to belong in an online forum.
"The male lead actually died!"
"The female lead killed the male lead? How is that possible?"
From their words, I learned that this was a fictional world where Zhang Rong and I were the main characters of a novel. I had abandoned my beloved Xu Weiwei for a stranger like her.
I could only lament what a bizarre imagination this author had. How could I possibly abandon my beloved Weiwei for someone unknown?
As my form grew fainter, I took one last look at Weiwei, who was still drawing.
Goodbye, Xu Weiwei.
Goodbye, my dearest love.
(The End)
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