Just before Christmas, my boyfriend of seven years suddenly told me he bought a Mercedes. I was stunned. We didn't have much money. We had been scrimping and saving for years to afford a wedding. And he spent it all in one go? Later, I thought maybe he did it to save face when driving me back to my hometown for the holidays, so I reluctantly accepted it. But just as I was about to put my luggage in the trunk, he looked at me blankly and said, "You should take the train. I have to pretend to be Julie’s boyfriend again this year. Taking you along would be inconvenient." The next day, he posted on social media: "Finally got the Mercedes my future mother-in-law dreamed of. Just don't know when I can officially marry you into the family." He got 99+ likes and blessings. Meanwhile, because I couldn't get a train ticket, I had to take an illegal cab and got into a serious accident on the highway. 1 I lay in the hospital for three days. The first thing I did when I woke up was call my boss. "Boss, does that offer to transfer me to the branch office still stand?" "Of course, as long as you're willing to go." My chest ached. But I chose to leave without hesitation. After hanging up, I realized Seth had called me twenty-nine times. A sneer curled my lips. It must have been hard for him. It's the holidays; everyone is busy. He had to accompany his fake mother-in-law, and his crush of over a decade. Yet he still remembered to call me. Just as the thought crossed my mind, Seth’s thirtieth call came through. As soon as I answered, he started yelling. "Sue, what kind of game are you playing not answering the phone? Do you know that three days ago, some scammer claiming to be a cop called me saying you were in a car accident and told me to go to the City Hospital?" "If I weren't smart, I would have been tricked." "Tell me, did you hire someone to trick me just to ruin my gig as Julie’s fake boyfriend? You're too much." Thanks to his reminder, I realized I had been in a coma for three days. The aftereffects of the accident hit me then. My head throbbed. I replied casually, "Oh, okay, I got it. If that's all, I'm hanging up." I hung up. But a second later, Seth called again. "Sue, why did you hang up on me? Are you trying to be unreasonable again?" "Do you have to ruin everyone's holiday?" Listening to his accusations, my grip on the phone tightened. I couldn't hold back. "Seth, I was in a car accident. My head hurts like hell right now, and I really don't want to argue with you. If you want to vent, wait until I'm discharged." There was a suffocating silence on the other end. Maybe Seth never thought the accident was real. After all, in the seven years we dated, he pretended to be Julie’s boyfriend every Christmas. Because of my jealousy, I argued and fought with him countless times. He was used to thinking I was just causing drama during the holidays. So if I didn't answer the phone, I must be giving him the silent treatment. If the police called, it must be a scam I orchestrated. While I was lost in thought, Seth’s voice finally sounded. "Give me the hospital address. I'm coming over now." He hung up hurriedly. Tears welled up in my eyes. Seth, Julie, and I grew up in the same neighborhood complex. We were childhood friends. During the years Seth chased after Julie, I chased after Seth. Until seven years ago, after being rejected by Julie for the hundredth time, a disappointed Seth came to me. "Sue, I can date you, but I have one condition. As long as Julie needs me to pretend to be her boyfriend, I won't marry you." I agreed. I thought as long as I could warm his heart, he would be mine sooner or later. But in the seven years we dated, I tried everything to move him. Yet Seth never once offered to take me home. In the eyes of everyone in our complex, he and Julie were the couple. And I, his girlfriend of seven years, was at best a childhood friend. Even when I threatened him with the baby in my belly. The next day, Seth handed me an abortion consent form. "Sue, go to the hospital and get rid of it. My parents think my girlfriend is Julie. I can't marry you right now." He was terrifyingly affectionate. And I was in agonizing pain. I actually didn't understand why I loved Seth so much. Maybe because when I was little and my stepmother beat me, only he took me into his home, applied medicine to my wounds, and gave me food. But until this life-threatening accident. I suddenly realized. Love that you have to beg for isn't love; it's just a scumbag. 2 Seth said he was coming. But he didn't arrive until 8 PM the next day. Seeing his dusty, weary appearance, I almost felt sorry for him. After all, from the phone call yesterday until now, he had been busy. Busy helping Julie choose a wedding ring. Busy helping Julie’s mom buy groceries for the New Year. Busy playing mahjong with Julie’s relatives. Julie’s social media feed was flooded with pictures of Seth pleasing her family. As soon as he entered the ward, Seth loosened his tie, threw it on the extra bed, and said, "Why are you so stupid? Taking an illegal cab." "Making me drive back and forth during the holidays." He walked to my bedside and opened a bottle of water for himself. I listened to him gulping down the water, looking at my reflection in the glass window under the fluorescent light. Was I not miserable enough? So Seth didn't even ask how I was. But I was pretty miserable. Half my face was swollen like a pig's head, and my forehead was wrapped in gauze. The only explanation was that Seth found my accident annoying. Annoying enough that he, my boyfriend of seven years, had to drive 30 miles at night to see me. While I was lost in thought, Seth finished his water, turned around, and tossed a ring in front of me. "Here, didn't you want a customized ring three years ago? Consider this my apology for causing your accident." I instantly saw the capital letters engraved on the ring—"JY." My name is Sue. But I knew the letters stood for "Julie Young." This ring was identical to the one Julie posted on her social media, where she and Seth were cheek to cheek. Maybe the pain in my chest was too intense. I held the ring and said, "Seth, you can't just give rings randomly unless you're getting married." Seth was slightly stunned. The next second, his face turned cold. "Dropping hints again? Sue, how desperate are you to get married? I told you long ago, as long as Julie needs me to play her boyfriend, I won't marry." "Enough. I know you're in a bad mood because of the accident, but that's no reason to threaten me with marriage." My heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. Just as I was about to say, "Fine, let's break up then." Seth’s phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and answered anxiously. "Hello, Julie? What, your mom wants me to come back and play mahjong with Aunt May? Okay, wait for me, I'm coming home right now." After hanging up, Seth picked up the water bottle he just drank from and said urgently, "I asked the doctor just now. Your accident didn't hit any vital organs. It looks serious, but your life isn't in danger." "I found you a caregiver. You stay in the hospital peacefully. I'll come pick you up when you're discharged in three days." With that, he turned to leave. Before stepping out, he didn't forget to turn back and instruct me: "Rest well since you're injured. Don't cause drama. Tossing and turning during the holidays isn't good." 3 During my three days in the hospital, Seth never came back. He only sent me a WeChat message every midnight asking if my wound still hurt. I didn't reply to any of them. Before, I clung to him because I craved the only warmth I had ever known growing up. I pestered him, held on tight. But now, I almost lost my life. What use was that tiny bit of warmth? Until the day I was discharged, Seth finally drove his new Mercedes to pick me up. Seeing me standing there without getting in. Seth looked impatient. "What are you standing there for? Get in." "I have to go back and accompany Julie to her aunt's house for New Year's greetings." His matter-of-fact tone reminded me of when he was choosing the car model. He would ask me every day with his phone. "Sue, what do you think of this model? Is this color good? Driving this Mercedes back to the complex should give us a lot of face, right?" I thought he had made up his mind to tell his parents about our relationship. Until the day we went to the dealership to place the order, I hugged him excitedly. "Seth, take me for a spin later, okay?" Seth looked at me coldly. "Sue, stop messing around. I bought this car so Julie would have face when we go back to our hometown for the New Year." "Julie hasn't even sat in it yet. How could I let you sit first?" With that, he left me at the dealership and drove off alone. Before, no matter how wronged I felt, I would endure it. But after a brush with death. I suddenly felt that this Mercedes was a bit dirty. I subconsciously turned to look at Seth. "This Mercedes cost 400,000. 100,000 of that was mine. Think about when you can pay me back." I thought it through. Since Seth felt this car was bought for Julie. Then asking for my 100,000 back wasn't too much. Seth was surprised. "Sue, you're asking me to pay you back 100,000?" His questioning tone made my chest ache. But I had endured pain worse than this. So I immediately pulled out the list on my phone. "Although the 400,000 for the car was on my card, I've calculated every transfer you made to me in these seven years. It adds up to exactly 300,000. So it's only right you pay me back 100,000." Seth didn't expect me to present him with a ledger. His face turned ashen. "Sue, I think the accident knocked your brain loose." "You're calculating money with me? We've been together for seven years." With that, he got into the driver's seat and drove his new Mercedes away. Watching his car leave, bitterness welled up in my heart. Maybe only at times like this would Seth remember I was his girlfriend of seven years! After all, in these seven years, every Christmas, he would spend half a year's salary buying gifts for Julie and groceries for her family. Playing the part of Julie’s boyfriend to the fullest. But when we returned to the city where we worked, even if I bought slightly more expensive skincare products. He would nag for half a day. Saying I spent money recklessly and didn't consider our future marriage at all. 4 I took a taxi back to the complex. As soon as I entered the yard, the uncles and aunties basking in the sun asked enthusiastically, "Sue, heard you got into a car accident on your way home. Are you okay?" I smiled and curled my lips. "I'm fine. I've been discharged." Just as I finished speaking, one aunt leaned in and asked, "Sue, you, Seth, and Julie all work in the same city." "Do you know when Julie and Seth are getting married? Honestly, those two have been dating for so many years and still haven't married. Their parents are worried sick." My chest filled with bitterness. Yes, everyone in the complex thought Seth and Julie were a couple. Because Julie’s parents pushed for marriage very hard. Julie didn't want to get married, so she asked Seth to be her fake boyfriend. He played the role for ten years, longer than the time Seth and I had been dating. I suppressed the bitterness and smiled, "Should be soon. After all, they bought wedding rings this year." With that, I turned and went up the dilapidated stairs. Just as I reached the third floor, I heard a coquettish voice coming from a half-open door. "Seth, you're too much. You even won against my mom. Don't forget she's your future mother-in-law." My heart tightened instantly. Especially seeing Julie leaning her whole body on Seth behind the mahjong table through the crack in the door. A stinging pain spread in my chest. And at the same table, besides Julie’s parents, were Seth’s parents. Hearing Julie’s complaint, Seth’s mom laughed immediately, "Julie, you're our future daughter-in-law. What, you only help your own mom and not your future mother-in-law?" Seth’s mom’s teasing made the whole table burst into laughter. Listening to the laughter inside, needle-like pain pierced my heart. I didn't understand why I was the one who had to hide in the dark. Pale-faced, I suddenly pulled the door open and walked in. "Heard the noise from far away, just wanted to come see." Seeing me enter, Seth’s face darkened instantly. Julie also trembled, but in a moment she composed herself and walked towards me with a bright smile. "Oh, Sue, you're discharged. I heard you got into a car accident on your way back." "When did you leave the city? You should have told me earlier. I would have asked Seth to pick you up." "Then you wouldn't have had to take an illegal cab and get into an accident." I clenched my palms tightly. Julie knew about my relationship with Seth long ago. But she still recklessly accepted Seth’s gifts. Let Seth play her boyfriend. I suppressed the anger in my chest and said, "I wouldn't have had to take an illegal cab, but wasn't my boyfriend borrowed by you to play your New Year boyfriend to deal with your parents?" Dead silence in the air. The sound of mahjong tiles inside stopped instantly. Seth suppressed his anger and walked towards me. "Sue, come with me for a moment. Let's talk." Saying that, he dragged my hand and went up to his house on the 4th floor. As soon as we entered, Seth looked at me furiously. "Sue, you won't stop even after a car accident. How long are you going to cause trouble?" "Do you know doing this will bring bad luck to Julie? You know her mom is pushing for marriage." I met Seth’s gaze and sneered, "So, just because I have no dad to love me, no mom to care for me, and no one to push for marriage, you treat me like a stinking rat that can't see the light, refusing to tell your parents that I am your girlfriend of seven years." Veins popped on Seth’s forehead. "Sue, why can't you stop even after an accident?" "I don't want to argue with you. Your dad and stepmom probably went back to her parents' house, so no one is home. Don't stay here. Go back to the city." "Lest you make unreasonable trouble again." I wanted to leave anyway. After all, every year I was willing to come home was for Seth. This place wasn't my home. Suppressing the pain in my heart. "Don't worry, I'll take a bus and leave this afternoon." Hearing me say this, a trace of surprise flashed across Seth’s face. You know, in previous years, I argued with Seth countless times because he was too close to Julie. Every time we argued until we were red in the face, Seth would yell at me to go back to the city early. But I never agreed to leave early once. I don't know if Seth noticed something wrong with me, but he walked over and hugged me. "Be good. I know you're mad at me for not driving you back and causing your accident. I apologize, okay?" But in a moment, he was startled by the sound of the door opening. He pushed me away in panic and said to his mother who entered, "Mom, why did you come up? I was explaining the misunderstanding to Sue." "She must have thought I liked her because I helped her a few times in the city, and deliberately wanted to ruin my relationship with Julie." Seth’s mom’s face was exceptionally gloomy. "Since it's a misunderstanding, go down quickly. Julie is being scolded by her mom right now." My heart ached like death. Even my back, which hit the corner of the table when Seth pushed me, throbbed with pain. But Seth didn't look at me once. He left me and hurried out the door. As soon as Seth left, his mom looked at me coldly. "Sue, I watched you grow up. I thought you were just introverted, but I didn't expect you to be so shameless, acting like a mistress just like your mom, ruining Seth and Julie’s relationship." "Look at yourself. With your family background, do you think just because you seduced Seth, I would let you into my house?" Tears instantly slid down my cheeks. I didn't expect that after dating Seth openly for seven years, I would end up with the title of a mistress. I sneered and met Seth’s mom’s gaze. "Auntie, have you ever thought that I am Seth’s girlfriend, and have been dating him for seven years?" "But don't worry, after today, I won't be anymore." With that, ignoring the shock on her face, I turned and left Seth’s house. When I returned to my house, I started packing. I turned and left the complex where I grew up. Maybe after leaving this time, I really won't come back. Left behind with me was Seth, who gave me the only warmth I knew.
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