After I forgot to text him "goodnight," he broke up with me. Again. "All you care about is that stupid internship!" "Quinn, believe it or not, one word from me and you're done in this city!" I'd been pulling overtime for three months straight, just trying to secure a full-time offer. Exhausted, I hung up the phone. Suddenly, a stream of comments—like a live chat or "bullet screen"—floated across my vision: [What is wrong with our Baby Girl? She didn't apologize and hung up first! That's too much!] [The Male Lead stayed up 30 minutes past his bedtime waiting for her 'goodnight'! He acts tough, but he was just waiting like a puppy.] [He's just a tsundere! He even swallowed his pride and called his dad for her sake.] [Our avoidant king is just insecure. He needs reassurance!] While I hesitated, a message from HR popped up: [Ms. Quinn, our headcount for the Shanghai office is full. Would you consider transferring to Shenzhen?] 1 Shenzhen? Before I could process it, harsh messages flooded my screen: [Internship is more important than me?] [Quinn, we're done!] [No, YOU'RE done!] [Wait for your termination notice.] I typed out an explanation and hit send. Red exclamation mark. Luke had blocked me. I couldn't even count how many times he'd done this. The floating comments, however, were overwhelmingly on his side: [Tsundere King blocked Baby Girl again. He did it himself, but now he's regretting it. Gonna stare at his phone all night. So cute!] [Baby Girl, go add him back! He's about to cry! So angsty, hug him!] [He just has a sharp tongue. He loves her to death. His mom hates that she's an out-of-towner, but he insists on being with her. If that's not love, what is?] I couldn't be bothered to read anymore. This wasn't the first time. Last time, we were traveling abroad. He wanted to see a local show. Due to traffic and weather, we were five minutes late. Luke threw a massive tantrum, blaming me for not leaving earlier: "If you reminded me three hours ago, we wouldn't be late!" "Why didn't you check the weather? Why didn't you plan better?" "You don't care about what I want at all!" "Let's break up!" Late at night, on a foreign street. He left me there. He took all our cash. Unfamiliar place, language barrier, and news of missing female tourists everywhere. Terrified, I sent him message after message, apologizing, begging him to come back. Halfway through, he blocked me. At that moment, several local men started walking toward me. My face went pale. Luckily, two Chinese tourists passed by and helped me. When I got back to the hotel, Luke was sound asleep. I knocked; he didn't answer. I knew if I got the front desk to open the door, he'd make a scene. Too exhausted to fight, I curled up on the lobby sofa and slept. The next day, Luke found me. Seeing my haggard face, he apologized profusely. "I was just mad last night. The breakup was just talk." "Quinn, I won't do it again. I'm just insecure. Forgive me, okay?" "Babe, as long as you look at me, I'll always bow down to you." But later, it was me bowing down countless times, racking my brains to coax him. He'd just say, "Apologies need sincerity. I don't see you reflecting." He practically wanted me to kneel. Four years. We were about to graduate. Many couples split up around this time. Maybe it was time for us, too. 2 A few days later. The overtime crunch eased up. I went back to campus. Downstairs at the dorms, I saw Luke. I wasn't narcissistic enough to think he was there for me. Sure enough, a moment later, my roommate, Chloe, came flying down the stairs. She "tripped" midway and fell right into Luke's arms. The comments arrived on cue: [Male Lead is pulling this stunt again to make Baby Girl jealous.] [He only sees the Female Rival as a fellow villager. Zero feelings.] In front of me, Luke scooped Chloe up princess-style, saying he'd take her to the infirmary. Chloe blushed, pouting, "I don't need the infirmary. Didn't we say we'd go to the amusement park?" "Luke, are you backing out?" Luke glanced at me from the corner of his eye, then said, "No backing out." [He asked her out in a fit of anger and now he regrets it, but he's riding the tiger and can't get off! LOL so funny.] [He's dying for Baby Girl to stop him! One word from her, and he'll dump the rival and become Baby Girl's puppy!] [Chloe is just a tool!] Freshman orientation night. Chloe had set her sights on Luke when he breakdanced on stage. Even after we started dating, she didn't give up. She always spoke to him in their hometown dialect. She didn't know I understood it. Luke used to say, "If you can't understand my family, how can we have a future?" I learned it for him. My major didn't require me to stay in Shanghai. I fought to stay for a future with him. I told him all this, but he seemed to have forgotten. Hours later, I saw Chloe's WeChat Moments. Amusement park photos. Intimate, blindingly bright photos. Someone commented: [Isn't Luke's girlfriend Quinn?] Chloe replied: [She's just Luke's simp. Since when did Luke admit to dating her?] [Ask him if you don't believe me!] Seconds later, Luke replied: [Yeah.] My breath hitched. So all my compromises, in his eyes, were just me being a simp. Maybe that wasn't enough. That night, Chloe sent me a video. It was in a hotel. Chloe asked Luke, "Have you ever taken Quinn to the amusement park?" Luke, in a bathrobe, walked toward the camera. He sneered, "Why bring up that country bumpkin on our date?" I had asked Luke to go. He said amusement parks were scams for little girls, tickets overpriced. But today, he showed me he could accommodate others. Just not me. Luke glanced at the camera. He knew what Chloe was doing. He laughed and pulled Chloe by the waist. Video cut. Simultaneously, a text from Luke arrived: [The half-box of 001s from last time, I bought them. Bring them over.] 3 Luke sent the hotel address. After thinking it over, I decided to go. To put a period on this four-year relationship. Comments flew across my vision: [Video cut as soon as he pulled her! He pushed her away!] [He doesn't want to sleep with her! His brain is full of Baby Girl, waiting for her to come!] [Guarantee: the moment Baby Girl arrives, he kicks the rival out. Those condoms are for Baby Girl!] I knocked for a long time. No one opened. Through the door, I heard giggling and playing. The comments said it was all an act for me. In the class group chat, Chloe dropped a livestream link. Title: "Simp Delivery Service." The camera was pointed at the hotel door. Before I could react, the door swung open. Chloe's face appeared. My face appeared on the livestream. Chloe aimed the phone at me: "Look everyone, it's the 21st century, and we still have live-in maids—" Blatant humiliation. I slapped the phone out of her hand. Luke, silent until now, grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing! You hit people now?" "Apologize to Chloe!" [He's sulking again! He was clearly happy to see her!] [He's just stimulating her, forcing her to soften up.] Luke gripped my hand tight, strength overwhelming. While I was immobilized, Chloe slapped me across the face. Slap! The sound echoed in the corridor. Luke looked stunned for a second. Chloe giggled. "Okay, I forgive you." "That was the latest model phone. You got off easy." Her phone had landed on soft carpet. Not a scratch. Luke let go, looking uncomfortable. "You started it." In that moment, I lost all strength. Arguing was meaningless. My pursuit of a dignified ending was a joke. I silently pulled the half-box of condoms from my pocket and handed them over. Luke's face went black. "Quinn, what is this?" I smiled. "Didn't you ask me to bring them?" His expression was terrifyingly dark. Next moment, he pulled Chloe into his arms right in front of me. Chloe poked his chest. "Little Luke, I'm not part of your flirtation games." Luke scoffed. "Flirtation? Does she deserve it?" "Looking at her makes me sick." I watched expressionlessly. A flash of panic crossed Luke's eyes. "Fine!" "Quinn, don't you dare regret this!" He squeezed the words through his teeth. The door slammed in my face. The comments exploded: [What is wrong with her! Wasn't she here to make peace?!] [Male Lead is really mad now! To make her bow, he's sacrificing his body!] [Nooo, stay pure! It's all because she won't apologize!] [It's definitely fake! Even if they do it, it's just practice to serve Baby Girl better later. Skip if you don't like!] My stomach churned. Disgusting. If love requires infinite retreat and loyalty tests, I don't want it. I had no reason to stay. I pulled out my phone and emailed HR: [I accept the offer. I look forward to the position in Shenzhen.] 4 Jobs were hard to find. Aside from Chloe, my other roommates were prepping for grad school or civil service. My internship was at a top industry firm. HR said the Shenzhen branch desperately needed a fresh grad with my project experience. But when I went back to the office... Chloe was sitting at my desk. A colleague whispered that Luke's dad, CEO Lu, personally approved her. "Heard she didn't even interview. Lu just signed off!" The comments told me CEO Lu was Luke's divorced father. I went through three rounds of interviews. I performed poorly once and almost cried. At a dinner, Luke had comforted me: "Who cares about that company! Forget them!" His friend said, "Luke, didn't you say you knew someone inside? Help Quinn out." I had paused, hopeful. Luke said righteously, "Don't pull that crap!" "Asking me to use connections? I'm not that shameless!" "If she gets in, it's on merit. Otherwise, no one will respect her!" I nodded, agreeing. Even felt ashamed for hoping. Luckily, I passed. Now, Chloe sat there. A slap in my face. Colleagues gossiped: "Heard Lu's estranged son reached out. Said if his girlfriend gets the internship, he'd go to his dad's birthday party..." Seating was assigned by management. I found an empty desk. Even with my retreat, Luke's revenge followed like a rabid dog. He texted: [Lost your desk?] [I'm petty. Offend me, and you won't have a good time.] [Believe it or not, I can kill your full-time offer too?] Soon after. CEO Lu walked over. "Little Qin, hand over your project to Chloe." The project was in wrap-up. I had worked overtime constantly, no weekends. I helped colleagues too. No complaints. I learned a lot. This was my capital for the Shenzhen transfer. I stood up. "Mr. Lu, I've been on this project from the start. I don't want to hand it over." Chloe looked at me, feigning shock. "Quinn, you're just an intern. How much did you really do? Don't take credit for everyone's work." Lu frowned. "Interns don't get a say!" "If you don't like it, leave!" The comments appeared again: [Just bow your head, and everything is yours!] [The project, the father-in-law's favor... Luke is his only son!] [Stop being dramatic, or you'll lose everything!] 5 The night I resigned. Luke's friend called. "Quinn, why haven't you made up with Luke?" "Small fights are fun, but this is dragging on." "You know how much he likes you." "Men need to save face. You gotta give him an out..." I hung up. [Why is she so stubborn?] [I feel like the Male Lead is a bit much...] [Fair point: besides being tsundere, he has no flaws. She's punching above her weight and acting high and mighty.] Punching above my weight? Where? Height? That's it. I laughed bitterly at the comments. I used to think his "tsundere" side was cute. Before we dated. He took the last chicken leg in the cafeteria. Seeing my disappointment, he gave it to me, claiming he hated it. His roommates cheered. They said he fell for me at first sight and gave me the leg. Another time, English speech contest. Luke's English was great. The counselor wanted to give him the spot. He insisted on giving it to me. I said let's compete fairly. He went on stage and sang a song, forfeiting. Everyone praised his chivalry. Giving up glory for me. I was moved. To honor his sacrifice, I practiced non-stop. Didn't eat. During that time, Luke argued with me. "You care more about the contest than me." "Did you forget who gave you the spot?" I coaxed him constantly. Worked myself into a fever. Later, I found out— He really hated chicken legs. And his English? Great at written tests. Terrible speaking. I stopped going to the internship. Word got to Luke. He scoffed. "Who cares. Don't tell me." "Probably got caught slacking and fired for incompetence." A roommate told me this. I said, "Thanks, but don't tell me about him either." My roommates were worried. Graduation was looming, I had no job, no boyfriend. I said, "It's fine. Gold always shines." Leaving the company meant the internal transfer to Shenzhen was void. But I contacted the Shenzhen manager directly. Started the interview process from scratch. I was nervous, but I had to try. Couldn't put all eggs in one basket. I applied everywhere. Colleagues referred me. While I hustled, Luke and Chloe were inseparable on campus. Chloe bragged, "Luke is chasing me. Haven't said yes yet!" I turned around whenever I saw them. I know, I'm weak. I couldn't just walk past them indifferently. Four years. Breaking the habit was hard. But I had to adapt. To life without Luke. Days blurred into interviews and tests. I thought of Luke less and less. Once, reciting interview points while walking, I bumped into them and didn't even notice. When I realized it, I hadn't thought of him in ages. Hearing his name didn't sting anymore. Just as I was healing, Luke called late one night. "Are you serious?"
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