Chapter 12: Don't Contact Me Anymore

I smiled bitterly to myself, thinking that I must have ignored the almanac today when I stepped out. To run into such a spoiled young lady. Yet, I wasn’t truly angry with her. Although we seemed to be about the same age, to me, she was just a child whose mind hadn’t fully matured.

After a moment of contemplation, I quietly began to share my story. My student days, the passing of my parents. Then marriage, followed by divorce. And now, abandonment once more...

But I didn’t mention my health issues. I spoke slowly and carefully, hoping my wounds might bring her some comfort. I too needed a channel to vent. Apart from Liu Zhuyin, there was no one else in my life. No one to confide in. Confiding in a stranger, it turned out, wasn’t so bad.

I talked for quite a while. At first, she looked disdainful, then surprised, and finally, tears streamed down her face, her nose running, sobbing uncontrollably. “You… how could you have suffered so much…”

She was still a kind-hearted girl. I handed her a tissue with a touch of helplessness. Finally having a chance to relax, and this is what I encountered?

“Uh... it’s okay,” I murmured, unsure what to say. But she grabbed my arm.

“I’m sorry, I... I apologize for my earlier attitude. Please don’t take it personally.”

“Compared to what you’ve been through, what I have is nothing,” I replied.

Her mood calmed considerably, and I breathed a sigh of relief. She then opened up.

“My family is happy. My parents love each other dearly; they both love me.”

“Our family is well off, everything is good...”

“Compared to you, I really am lucky.”

“Only recently, they keep pressuring me to go on blind dates — it’s so annoying!”

She really was fortunate. Raised under the protective wings of her parents. Among all the people I’d seen, those who maintained a childlike innocence mostly lived happy lives. After all, someone is always there to bear the burdens and guard that pure land.

“Hmm... just give it a try,” I said casually. “You never know; you might meet the right person.”

I gave a perfunctory response, but she was adamant.

“What’s the point of looking? They’re all jerks.”

“Relying on their family wealth, partying every night, like mad dogs—if it’s a woman, they jump at her.”

“Besides, do you think they really like me? They just want me because I’m pretty, or for my family background.”

“Who would want a relationship like that? Would you?”

That was the truth. A loveless marriage was worse than none at all. I was the perfect example.

She went on by herself, and I occasionally offered brief replies. From her words, I learned her name was Luo Mingzhu, the eldest daughter of the Luo family, with a strong background even more influential than the Liu family.

Likewise, she was out to clear her mind.

In this, we were quite alike.

When we landed, I thought I could finally shake her off, but to my surprise, we had booked the same hotel. So... inexplicably, I ended up with a companion.

Perhaps her incessant chatter dispelled a shadow in my heart.

After just one day, I began to adapt.

I unlocked my phone to see a flood of missed calls. Apart from Liu Zhuyin’s, there were calls from Mrs. Liu and the company. I ignored them all, savoring a relaxation I hadn’t felt in years.

At home, Liu Zhuyin was furious.

“Why aren’t you back yet?”

“Not even replying to messages—what exactly are you doing?”

She felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart.

The next day, she rushed to the company. Of course, my absence brought a mountain of work. She worked all day, rubbing her temples, her anger dissipating somewhat.

“Has Gu Yichen always worked like this for the past five years?”

Assistant Sun Tao nodded with a bitter smile. “This is actually light compared to before. Two years ago, during the economic crisis, the Liu Corporation was affected.”

“When Gu was busy, he wouldn’t eat all day, just drinking meal after meal...”

“There were so many times he ended up in the hospital for gastric lavage.”

Liu Zhuyin’s eyes widened. “What? Why didn’t I know this?”

Even the assistant was at a loss. The couple shared a bed, yet she knew less than the assistant. What else could he say?

“I haven’t cared enough about him.”

“He hasn’t told me anything either!”

She sighed, guilt finally showing in her eyes.

“By the way, can you get in touch with him? Tell him... tell him I’m waiting for him to come home.”

This made the assistant’s eyes widen in shock.

In five years, he had never seen the young lady behave like this. Not only did she never show concern for Gu, she hadn’t even cast a glance his way. Now... it was like the sun rising from the west.

But he was even more embarrassed.

“Well... Miss, you don’t know yet?”

“Know what?”

He nervously took out a file.

“Gu Yichen has resigned. He’s no longer with the Liu Corporation.”

Liu Zhuyin’s face changed dramatically.

“You... you said what? He resigned?”

“Who approved this?”

The assistant pointed upward. Liu Zhuyin immediately understood and went to the top floor—to Mrs. Liu’s office.

She pushed the door open and confronted her.

“Mom, did you agree to Gu Yichen’s resignation?”

She was furious. Angry that Gu Yichen had acted on his own, throwing a tantrum and quitting at such a time. Angrier still that her mother had consented and kept it from her! If she hadn’t asked today, she’d have remained in the dark.

Mrs. Liu looked at her daughter with a weary smile.

“If Gu Yichen wanted to leave, how could I force him to stay?”

“That doesn’t mean he can just do as he pleases! What about the company’s many issues if he leaves?”

Mrs. Liu gazed at her daughter’s expression and understood why Gu Yichen was so determined to leave.

“Ah Yin, in your eyes... what is Gu Yichen?”

“Your nanny? Your subordinate? Just a tool to make money for you?”

After these questions, Liu Zhuyin froze.

“Mom, what are you saying? He’s my husband!”

Mrs. Liu sneered, unable to help but defend Gu Yichen.

“I don’t see you treating him like a husband.”

Liu Zhuyin was indignant but was cut off by her mother.

“Enough. It’s too late for all this now.”

“I don’t want to get involved in your affairs anymore, nor can I.”

Having hit a brick wall with her mother, Liu Zhuyin grew even angrier and stormed home.

Upon entering, she saw the empty house and her stomach growled rebelliously. For some reason, that spark of anger in her heart faded away.

In the end, all that was left was a sigh as she went to the kitchen and made herself a simple bowl of noodles.

She couldn’t help but remember that whenever she came home, Gu Yichen would have dinner ready for her.

His cooking was excellent. Although she never said it, in her eyes, no restaurant could compare to his dishes.

Over the years, he had been flawless in his care for her.

Thinking of her mother’s words today, a pang of guilt stirred within her.

“Sigh...”

She took out her phone and sent Gu Yichen a message.

But in the chat window, she had typed many apologies, only to delete them all.

In the end, she simply sent one sentence:

“When will you come back? We need to talk.”

Across the Atlantic, I received this message and frowned.

Talk?

What was there left to talk about between us?

She wasn’t wrong, and neither was I.

It was best we parted.

Still, I replied to her with one sentence.

“There’s nothing to talk about. We’re already divorced.”

“Don’t contact me anymore.”