After the breakup, Tu Li didn't contact Miao Jing, and Miao Jing didn't ask about her either—remaining as silent as Chen Yi. Their identical reactions were precisely what made it eerie, the very evidence. Tu Li frequently reached out to Lu Zhengsi, urging him to probe Miao Jing's odd behavior, insisting that he stir up some commotion rather than let things slide.
Lu Zhengsi scratched his head, genuinely unable to spot any strangeness in Miao Jing's actions. The only peculiar thing was his own role as her boyfriend. They came and went together, and though they hadn't progressed to kissing, they had linked arms and held hands. Miao Jing's body language was exceptionally natural and gentle.
She had a way of making everything seem effortless, without a hint of guilt. Lu Zhengsi couldn't help but think Tu Li was being overly suspicious, yet he also felt some of Miao Jing's behavior was indeed too aloof. Not wanting to confront her yet, he decided to wait and observe further.
—
Aside from overtime at the company, Miao Jing occasionally went out with Lao Tan to dine and socialize with suppliers or sales teams. As the department's visual representative with solid professional skills, she was highly presentable.
That evening, they visited a local signature restaurant. As the group settled in, Miao Jing, as the lady, went out first to order. Coincidentally, the floor manager was her high school classmate who came over to greet her. Miao Jing was initially taken aback but gradually recalled her as a female classmate from those days. After graduation, she had lost touch with most classmates, keeping in contact with only a handful of close friends; others had become vague and unfamiliar.
In the eyes of ordinary classmates, Miao Jing was indeed an elusive and mysterious figure. They exchanged pleasantries, chatting about school memories and current work lives, when the topic suddenly shifted to Chen Yi. It turned out he was a regular at the restaurant, and the classmate remembered him vividly because he had once attended a parent-teacher meeting at Miao Jing's school during high school.
Back then, Chen Yi must have just turned eighteen or nineteen, dressing in a black suit, trousers, and polished leather shoes to appear mature. Though his features still held a touch of youthfulness, his demeanor was bold and spirited. Sitting beside Miao Jing, he kept one hand in his pocket, feigning composure, his sharp brows slightly furrowed as he tapped the report card with slender fingers. Turning to speak to Miao Jing, his voice—hoarse from a night of smoking and drinking—carried a smooth, raspy tone that made the nearby female classmates hold their breath.
"I recognized him the first time I saw him and went up to talk, asking if he was Miao Jing's brother. He paused for a moment, then walked away without a word—I thought I'd mistaken him for someone else. Later, when he paid the bill, he asked if I was your classmate. I said yes, and only then did he smile."
"He was here just a couple of days ago with some friends, had quite a bit to drink. I noticed he sounded a bit nasal, so I had the kitchen prepare him a bowl of ginger soup."
Miao Jing listened with a smile, attentive to her classmate's words. After a few more exchanges, Lu Zhengsi emerged from the private room to check on her ordering, interrupting their conversation. The classmate thought to exchange WeChat later, but the dinner dragged on with Miao Jing busy socializing, and they never got the chance to connect.
It had been four or five days since that heavy rainstorm. The two shared an unspoken agreement not to contact each other. Miao Jing pulled out her phone, glanced at it, then tucked it back into her bag, turning to chat with her colleagues.
Coincidentally, the next day—Documents and packages delivered to the company were all placed at the designated delivery point in the security office. Lu Zhengsi went to collect packages every noon, and when he saw parcels for colleagues in his department, he would greet them and pick them up on their behalf. By chance, he spotted several documents belonging to Miao Jing, including a registered express mail from a hospital. Lu Zhengsi glanced at it unintentionally and pondered for a moment.
These documents were delivered to Miao Jing’s desk. She had been in meetings all afternoon, too busy to open them. After work, when everyone had left, Miao Jing took a breath, poured herself a glass of water, and used a paper knife to open the stack of documents. A medical report slipped out and fell onto the desk.
"Engineer Miao, did you have a recent medical check-up?" Lu Zhengsi turned his head and asked, "Has the company arranged any recent health examinations?"
"It’s not my medical report. It’s someone else’s."
She flipped open the cover and scanned the lines of the report calmly, her expression composed. Yet as her eyes moved across the page, they softened, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly, revealing a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Is it Yi Ge’s?"
"Yes."
After reading through the report, Miao Jing placed it in her desk drawer. Lu Zhengsi pretended to ask casually, "Yi Ge… is he alright? Is he in good health?"
Lu Zhengsi had been mulling over Miao Jing’s earlier remark about "a family member being seriously ill," harboring a fantasy: Could it be that Chen Yi had contracted some unspeakable serious illness, leading to his breakup with Tu Li? And that was why Miao Jing wanted him as a boyfriend?
"He’s fine, he’s okay." Miao Jing tapped the desk with her pale, slender fingers and thought for a moment. "By the way, has Tu Li been in touch with you recently? How is she doing? Is she alright?"
"We’ve been in touch occasionally. She seems to be doing fine too…"
Miao Jing gave him a slight smile. "Thank you for bearing with it. I’ve caused you trouble."
"What trouble? I… I’m actually quite willing to do this."
Miao Jing pressed her lips together, her eyes curving into a smile.
Miao Jing never expected to receive a medical report. In the end, she sent a message to Chen Yi, saying she needed to go home over the weekend to pick up some things. Chen Yi was indifferent, telling her to let him know in advance as he would be resting at home.
Coinciding with the weekend, Lu Zhengsi had errands in the city. Knowing Miao Jing was going home to collect her belongings, he drove her there.
They knocked on the door for a long time before Miao Jing finally called Chen Yi. His voice on the phone was hoarse and heavy, like shifting sand, as if he were disoriented and unaware of the time. Chen Yi pulled on a hoodie and sweatpants to answer the door, his chin shadowed with stubble, looking utterly exhausted. His dim, weary gaze swept over Lu Zhengsi, and he gave a slight nod. "Come in."
Miao Jing shot him a sidelong glance without exchanging any pleasantries, heading straight to her room to pack. Lu Zhengsi tried to accommodate both sides, helping Miao Jing while making small talk with Chen Yi.
The atmosphere at home was quiet and subdued. Chen Yi stood idly by, leaning lazily as he chatted with Lu Zhengsi, asking about work, recent busyness, and the weather.
From the way Miao Jing was packing, it was clear she intended to move back to the company for good.
There were too many things to take. Lu Zhengsi first helped carry two already packed storage bags down to the car. With only the two of them left in the house, Miao Jing continued packing in her room while Chen Yi stood watching from the doorway.
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