The fourth year of being Zoe's substitute. She returned to the country in person. Liam Sterling dumped me without hesitation, swiftly getting back together with her. At a friend's gathering, he raised his glass to sincerely wish me a good man in the future. I smiled and toasted back, wishing him the same. Everyone present thought I was putting on a brave face. Even Liam thought so. Until one late night. His best friend, Lucas, updated his Instagram. In the photo, seventeen-year-old Lucas stood next to the equally seventeen-year-old me. And his caption was: "Broken mirrors will eventually be reunited." The likes and comments from mutual friends. Exploded in the next minute. ... Perhaps I had a premonition. So when Liam proposed breaking up, I actually breathed a sigh of relief. "Chloe, I'm sorry." "If there's anything I can do to compensate you, just ask." The words were spoken to me. But Liam's gaze drifted past me, landing on the clock hanging on the wall. It was almost nine o'clock. He and I both knew very well that Zoe's flight would soon land in this city. "Let's talk later, I just came back from overtime, quite tired." I bent down to untie the straps on my high heels, my voice soaked in fatigue. There's an unwritten rule between adults. No contact for three days means automatic breakup. And Liam and I had accumulated countless three days. So my sentence was a response to his offer of compensation. But Liam misunderstood. He stopped me from entering the bathroom, looking serious. "Let's clear it up tonight, I don't want to meet Zoe with ambiguity." The overhead light cast an anxious shadow on his prominent brow bone. I suddenly remembered a night a few years ago. Under such light too. Liam held my hand, insisting on the title of boyfriend. I stopped my steps. Quietly stared at him for several seconds. "Break up, right? I agree." Seemed unexpected that I would be so straightforward. Liam was stunned. His Adam's apple rolled slightly. "Don't you have anything to say to me... even scolding or hitting me is fine." I wanted to laugh listening to this. But the corners of my mouth were too heavy to lift. Finally, I just lifted my chin, pointing behind him. "Liam Sterling, it's almost nine." Implication being, he should go. A trace of complexity flashed across Liam's face. As if he wanted to say something, but was covered by greater urgency. Finally, he picked up his coat and pushed the door open to leave. From opening his mouth to disappearing, the whole process took less than thirty seconds. This is the weight of me and Zoe on the scale in his heart. After facing this disparate contrast again. I leaned against the cold wall. Laughed very lightly. Chapter 1 My relationship with Liam. He was the one who actively entangled first. After our first meeting, he pursued me almost frantically. I asked him the reason many times. Every time, he categorically said it was love at first sight. Yes, love at first sight. I gradually got used to him appearing in front of me on time every day. Also let down my guard. Letting him get closer and closer to me. Just the only strange thing was. After getting together, he would often stare at my face distractedly for a long time. I asked him what was wrong. Liam didn't answer, only whispered in my ear that he loved me so much. At that time, I really thought I was loved. The change happened on an unremarkable weekend. While tidying up. I accidentally knocked over a box in his study. Photos inside scattered all over the floor. I squatted down to pick them up, only to find they were all intimate photos of Liam and another girl. On the back of the photos was written the same sentence. "Liam Sterling and Zoe want to be together forever." The girl's eyebrows and eyes were surprisingly similar to mine. I looked for a long time before realizing in hindsight. What his so-called love at first sight really meant. I proposed a breakup. But unexpectedly, during the holidays that year, Liam chased to downstairs of my parents' home. The winter night temperature dropped below zero, he just stood in the wind all night. When I went out in the morning and saw his face turned blue from cold. I still softened after all. I accepted his clumsy explanation and stuttering promises. But towards this relationship, there was finally a few points of distrust added. Later, friends around got engaged and married one after another. Occasionally Liam also half-jokingly mentioned our future. I always changed the topic tracelelessly. Later he stopped mentioning it, just treated me more attentively and thoughtfully. Until one time I came back from a business trip in the early morning. Saw him forcing himself to stay awake sitting at the dining table waiting for me, with a bowl of warm Lobster Bisque by his hand. At that moment, a place in my heart suddenly softened. I thought, maybe getting married isn't so bad. The sadness was real. But I really loved him too. Just when I almost made up my mind. The news of Zoe returning to the country spread. Liam suddenly became very busy. Phone always silent, messages often replied overnight. He still came home, but like bringing back an empty shell. Until recently when Zoe's flight information was completely confirmed. Liam finally stood in front of me. Said that sentence of breakup that we both tacitly understood. Chapter 2 I agreed to the half-month project inspection proposed by my boss during the day. Originally considered that I couldn't handle the intensity of continuous work. But now I changed my mind. Maybe busyness is the best way to fill the emptiness of heartbreak. Handing over work with colleagues was already late at night. Should have put down the phone and slept well. But I ghost-driven opened Instagram. Liam and Zoe's hand-holding photo pierced into my eyes without warning. His caption was: "Glad didn't arrive late, hope won't be late again in the future." Heart felt like being smashed heavily by a blunt instrument. I turned off the screen abruptly. Then kept eyes open till dawn. High-intensity work indeed makes people forget everything. In the half month of business trip, I lost seven pounds. Busy enough to have almost no gap to think of Liam. Only occasionally when thoughts wandered, there would be a moment of trance. The day of return. Friend sent a message, reminding me of the time and place of the gathering tonight. I knew there was a high probability of seeing Liam again on such an occasion. Perhaps, also Zoe. But I didn't plan to avoid. I wasn't the one in the wrong. I couldn't cut off all contact with mutual friends just because I broke up with him. Thought for a moment, I typed a word in the chat box. "Okay." ... Light in the private room was blurred, voices noisy. When pushing the door open, several gazes fell on me. Before I could see the figures clearly, I heard Liam's voice first. He probably drank. Tone higher than usual, carrying a bit of urgency. "I waited for Zoe for so many years, this time she's back, I will absolutely not miss again." A calm deep male voice interrupted him. "So, you can end the previous one with peace of mind?" "Liam, is feelings just a game to you?" Liam seemed stumped. Silent for two seconds, then retorted slightly irritably. "Lucas, not everyone is like you, years passed still obsessed with a first love who has no news. I'm different from you, I know what I want." The man didn't speak again. Air suddenly quieted somewhat tensely. Liam probably realized his slip of tongue, reached out to put arm around that person's shoulder. "I said wrong, punish myself a drink. You just came back, don't let my business spoil the fun..." Unknown who whispered a reminder. "Chloe is here." All voices stopped abruptly. Liam looked up, panic flashed on face. And in the sofa corner. That man who had been hidden in the shadow, slowly raised his head. Profile clear and handsome, eyebrows deep. Those eyes looking at me, just like before. Actually Lucas. Really him. My breathing stopped in this second. The world also seemed to be pressed mute by someone. Only the heartbeat, knocked heavily on eardrums once. And again. Chapter 3 "Let me introduce, this is my friend Lucas." Liam reacted first. He pretended nothing happened, pulled Lucas to me. "He was abroad these years, just came back recently." "Wanted to introduce you before, but every time he came back you were away, quite unfortunate..." Liam drank, and was a bit guilty. Said quite a lot. But I didn't listen to any. Just staring blankly at the person in front. Didn't expect years passed. We actually reunited in such a situation, by mistake. Thinking of what he just said. That faint ripple in heart, soon returned to silence. Everyone in this world is qualified to judge others' feelings. Only he, is least qualified. I didn't intend to dig up old matters on such an occasion. Hid all emotions on face, just pretended not to know. Only nodded to Lucas. "Hello, Lucas." ... Atmosphere of gathering remained somewhat subtle. Everyone thought this awkwardness came from my breakup with Liam. I didn't want to care, found a quiet corner to stay alone. Lucas sat diagonally opposite me. His gaze fell over from time to time, deep enough to be hard to ignore. My heartbeat was a bit messy. Didn't notice Liam sat next to me. "Chloe, I sorry you in this relationship, any request you just..." He lowered voice, tone sincere. I listened but felt annoyed. Twitched mouth corner, moved aside, distancing from him. Didn't fulfill promises when together, why say these words after breakup. "No need, wish you and Zoe grow old together." I hate using quarrels to demand an answer already clear. Since can't keep, better let go with dignity. Strange thing is. Hearing me finish this sentence, light in Liam's eyes dimmed for a moment. But soon, he returned to normal, raised wine glass said. "Then... also wish you find true love in future." More gazes gathered. I maintained last dignity, picked up wine in front. When gaze swept past behind Liam, I saw Lucas. He was quietly looking at me. Brows slightly frowned, eyes complex making me unable to understand. Just for that moment, all suppressed grievance and incomprehension suddenly surged up. Why is it always me getting hurt? Where exactly did I do wrong? Cold liquid slid down throat, carrying burning pain. I put down glass, excused myself to restroom. When getting up to leave, I could feel gazes behind. Lucas's, Liam's, others'. Door closed behind. Also separated vague discussions in private room. Chapter 4 "Did Chloe's eyes look red when she went out just now?" "Must be holding on hard, four years, how can be so easy to let go." Liam listening, suddenly froze. He turned to the speaker, tone a bit urgent. "Did she really cry just now?" Other party stunned by his question, mumbled: "Just... eye rims a bit red, maybe saw wrong." Liam wanted to ask more, private room door pushed open. I came back, face showing no abnormality anymore. "I still have work unfinished, leaving first, you guys have fun." I picked up bag, smiled to friends. Liam stood up immediately. "Chloe, I send you..." Before voice fell, his phone rang. Moment screen lit up, his eyes obviously dodged. Even didn't see name, I guessed who. Private room too quiet. Causing female voice in phone also clearer. "Liam, my stomach hurts... can you come back?" It was Zoe. Heart seemed pricked gently by fine needle. Not deep, but pain clear. Liam held phone, looked at me again. Face written full of dilemma. I lazy to watch anymore, turned pulled door left. ... In private room, Liam watched door close, trace of annoyance flashed on face. He seemed to explain to himself, also to others. "Zoe hurts badly every period, I really have no way..." Lucas who kept silent suddenly stood up, picked up coat. Liam stunned, subconsciously stopped him. "Where you going?" "Leaving." Lucas tone very light. "Wait!" Liam like grasping life-saving straw, tone carried trace of pleading. "Lucas, this is mountain top, unsafe for her a girl drank to go down, you help me send her, okay?" He knew Lucas cold nature, dislike contacting unfamiliar people. Original didn't hold much hope. But Lucas steps stopped. Quiet few seconds, he opened mouth, actually agreed. "Okay." I underestimated difficulty of hailing car on mountain. After being cancelled three times in a row. A car slowly stopped in front of me. Window lowered, revealing Lucas's face. "Get in, I send you back." This person's tone attitude didn't change a bit from years ago. Wind strong on mountain, blowing bones painful. I didn't be pretentious, pulled door sat in. Beside still familiar woody scent. My mind trance, turned head, whispered address. Continuous half month high intensity business trip, plus emotion consumption tonight, body reached limit long ago. Just drove down mountain road, I fell asleep groggily. Dream bumpy, like back to past. That time I also always fell asleep beside him. Every time wake up covered with his coat. And he quietly read beside, waiting me wake naturally. "Why not call me?" "Saw you sleep soundly, couldn't bear." Dialogue in memory blurry. Then picture shattered, became boundless quarrel crying. Brow tight, I woke up. Car already stopped. Outside window was my familiar apartment building. I sat straight suddenly, suit jacket on body also slid down. Movement woke Lucas napping beside. "Thank you sending me back." I didn't want ask extra words. Hurriedly untied seatbelt, reached to pull door. Door motionless. I paused action, turned look Lucas. He also looking at me. Gaze heavy, like bottomless sea in night. After few breaths. He opened lips, tone obscure. "Why so thin?"
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