The second after my year-end bonus hit my account, a text message leaped into my eyes: "Your account has been charged $20,000. Balance: $0.50. Merchant: [Speed Demon Motorcycles]." Immediately following was a WeChat from my landlord. "Chloe, rent is due tomorrow. With utilities, it's $1,200." My hands trembled as I hurriedly called Liam. I heard his excited voice: "Babe, how did you know I bought a new bike? Wait, I'm coming to pick you up right now. Let's go for a ride!" "Liam, you used our down payment money to buy a motorcycle?" He was completely oblivious to what he had done, just kept bragging about how cool his bike was. I was utterly exhausted. "Liam, let's break up!" 1 Hearing this, Liam was stunned. His voice on the phone still carried a trace of disbelief: "Honey! Are you crazy with joy? Talking nonsense!" I looked up at the messages on the screen. From 18 to 28, we had walked together for ten years. Countless times I dreamed of having our own home, of making it to the end. For this, I scrimped and saved, buying groceries at the evening market just to save a few cents. But every time there was a little money in our joint account, Liam would spend it. Now, after painstakingly saving enough for the down payment, my dream was shattered in a second. "Liam, do you remember what we agreed the joint account was for?" The other end of the phone paused. "Chloe, I just wanted to give you a surprise. The house won't run away, but if I didn't buy this bike now, this model would be discontinued!" "I even joined a biker gang. When we get married, I'll have the convoy pick you up. Just thinking about it is so cool!" "Gotta go, I'm coming to find you right now!" He hung up first. My heart sank to the bottom. Even through the screen, I could imagine his radiant look. Countless disappointments gathered and condensed in my heart bit by bit, gradually disintegrating my inner persistence. Half an hour later, Liam arrived. He leaned against the motorcycle, wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses, looking like a bad boy, attracting quite a few girls. "Honey, look, isn't it cool? I tell you, I've looked at this bike so many times, and today I finally got it!" "I even told them..." I wasn't in the mood. "Enough!" "Liam, I'm tired. I don't want to persist anymore!" I looked at him calmly. "You knew clearly that I wanted a home! But what about you? You spent all our money. Rent is due tomorrow. Can your motorcycle prevent us from sleeping on the streets?" Hearing this, Liam chuckled: "Just for this? Didn't you say you could accept a naked marriage?" "Carrying a mortgage after marriage, we won't be free to go anywhere in the future!" "Chloe Jiang, you said our souls were compatible. Why have you changed now?" "Also, you're always about daily necessities! Paying rent a few days late won't kill you!" "Life is short, only thirty thousand days. Why be so tired?" I shook my head. "No need. I don't want to wait anymore, and I don't want to be evicted in the freezing cold." "Liam..." "Alright, I get it. Isn't it just rent, utilities, and the down payment! I'll return it, okay!" He kicked the motorcycle as if venting his anger. Looking at him, I only felt like he was a stranger. I turned and left. Behind me came Liam's roar: "Chloe Jiang!" I didn't look back. Ten years of relationship, we broke up and got back together many times. Each time, I adjusted my state, wanting to go on together. But this time, I really couldn't adjust. I glanced at the various renovation materials and renovation influencers on my phone, thought about it, and kept them. Liam didn't want to settle down, but I did. At this moment, a WeChat from my colleague, Sarah, popped up. "Chloe, about the thing I told you last time, you should reconsider. The salary is 30% higher than now. Although we'll be in different places, we can still meet during breaks." The assignment Sarah mentioned, I had politely declined three months ago. Back then, I wanted to settle down here, didn't want a long-distance relationship. But now, I called back immediately. "Sarah, I agree. Please arrange it for me as soon as possible. If possible, I can go over the day after tomorrow!" On the other end, Sarah was a bit surprised. "Chloe, no need to be in such a hurry. Have you discussed it with your boyfriend?" "No need to discuss. We broke up." Hearing this, Sarah was silent for a moment before saying: "Okay, I'll apply for you right now. Once approved tomorrow, you prepare. Report for duty the morning after tomorrow!" I agreed. After hanging up, I took a deep breath. Then thinking of something, I called Liam, but no one answered. Since I was leaving, the apartment had to be returned. "Liam, I'm not living in this apartment anymore. Figure out the rent yourself!" I also messaged the landlord, informing her I wouldn't rent anymore. As for whether Liam wanted to stay, that was his business. I got up and started packing. The branch company was in the neighboring city, 16 minutes by high-speed rail, not too far. But my time was tight, so I discarded many things I didn't need. Being with Liam for ten years, we had long infiltrated each other's lives. It wasn't that easy to separate clearly. But I didn't have time. I could only pack my own things and sell whatever else I could. Keeping clothes and daily necessities, other gifts and such were half-sold half-given away. Soon, I received transfers on my phone. The errand runner also came to pick up the items. The living room suddenly became much emptier. It was already early morning when I finished everything. I leaned back on the sofa with a long sigh, my eyes bloodshot. Liam hadn't come back yet. But I only had five or six hundred dollars in hand. Renting an apartment over there and living expenses, this money wasn't nearly enough. Helpless, I could only borrow a thousand dollars from a platform. As soon as it arrived, it went into the joint account. The next moment, Liam sent me a message, "Honey, I knew you couldn't bear it, that's why you gave me a thousand. Don't worry, I'll definitely remember to pay the rent this time!" "I've already contacted the landlord. Guaranteed to pay tomorrow." I subconsciously wanted to deny it, but thinking about it, forget it. If he's willing, let him live there himself. Anyway, I'm not renting anymore. "Transfer $500 to me, I have an urgent use!" But Liam didn't reply for a long time. I called, no answer. At that moment, I broke down. Replying instantly when receiving money, but not answering calls or messages when I asked for money. I was furious, but because it was too late, I could only let it go. Luckily, I had enough for the ticket. The next morning, Sarah notified me that the application had been approved. Just report before 10 am tomorrow. But Liam still didn't reply. Yet I saw his live video on his WeChat Moments. He rode his motorcycle to the winding mountain road, racing with a group of motorcycle enthusiasts. Watching that face flash by in the video, wanton and flamboyant, smiling brightly like stars. The men and women surrounding him all looked at him with adoring eyes. Liam loved this atmosphere. He was the focus of this group, enjoying the pleasure brought by such stimulation. But behind this life was my calculation of every penny. I saved enough for a computer, but Liam took it to buy a DSLR camera in a blink of an eye, saying he could take photos of me when traveling. But in ten years, we almost always traveled short distances to surrounding cities, spending no more than a few hundred each time. That DSLR had long been collecting dust in the drawer. I saved three thousand dollars to pay the deposit, but Liam took it directly to book a luxury cruise trip, saying it was for our seventh anniversary. He held my hand and said: "Chloe, didn't you always hope we could have a destination wedding? Let's start with a cruise trip!" That time I couldn't bear to see him disappointed, so I could only comfort myself that money could be saved again. This time I finally saved enough for the down payment, and the apartment I liked was negotiated to the lowest price, just waiting for the procedures. Liam completely shattered my plan. His future was all about enjoying the moment, never preparing for risks. I couldn't always be his safety net. I sighed deeply, sent the word "break up" directly to Liam, and blocked him. When I checked out and got on the train with my luggage, Sarah sent me a message with the new company address, reminding me that the company had a dormitory. Rent saved. But just after getting off the train and emerging from the crowded crowd, I found my down jacket slashed. Feathers flew out, and even the phone in my pocket was gone. I broke out in a cold sweat. All information and data were in the phone. More desperately, I hadn't written down the company address, only knowing it was roughly on Huafei Road. In that instant, I could only go to the railway police to explain the situation. Borrowed their phone to report losses one by one, which took two or three hours. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky. My tears fell involuntarily. The policewoman next to me pitied me and gave me $50. I thanked her profusely, left her phone number, and rushed to the new company. Finally reported and checked in, bought a new phone, and then had time to report safety. Several text messages popped up on the phone. "Chloe Jiang, what are you fussing about! Didn't I say I would pay the rent? Why did you leave?" "How can you be so cruel? The landlord said you quit the lease. What about me?" "Alright, stop talking. Transfer $800 to me quickly. I want to continue living here." Seeing this, I calmly turned the phone over and started logging into the computer to recover data. The dormitory had no heating. Except for a bed, there was nothing. Very crude. It was snowing outside, and it was as cold inside as outside. I wrapped myself in the quilt and shrank on the bed, reviewing all the data of the new company. Until late at night, I felt hungry, my nose was stuffed, and my head hurt badly. Seemed like I caught a cold. I ordered medicine delivery online. While waiting, I boiled hot water. Result just plugged in the kettle, the circuit breaker tripped! Sparks flew, scaring me into almost screaming. After pitch darkness, a knock came from outside, "Delivery!" I fumbled to take out my phone and turn on the flashlight. Just opened the door, a figure rushed in, choking my neck tightly.
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