Volume One, Chapter Three: Shen Zhiyi, Didn't You Come Back Together?

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Bo Congnan spoke with anger, and if this had been before, I would have kept silent. After he finished speaking, his rage naturally subsided. Therefore, Bo Congnan did not notice the absence of my voice and felt nothing unusual. He pushed open the door, cursing as he walked, “Shen Zhiyi, do you know what your biggest flaw is?” “It’s being too stingy! Xiang Yijie is your sister. The MB competition is so important; what’s wrong with me going to accompany her?” He loosened his tie. “Do you think I’m scared of being threatened with death?” “I’m telling you, Shen Zhiyi, even if you really die, it’s your own fault! People who recklessly risk their lives deserve no pity, even in death!” I listened as my fingers clenched tighter and disappointment surged, almost spilling out of my soul. How could he say such words to curse me... Bo Congnan didn’t realize anything was wrong; his anger vented at the empty air was somewhat ridiculous. But Bo Congnan, I never scared you—I really am dead. After a long while, Bo Congnan finally reacted; the entire bedroom fell into an eerie silence. He abruptly stopped speaking and then looked around. At first glance, the bedroom seemed unchanged, decorated festively for the wedding. Yet near the bathroom door, a part of the wall was missing something. Calling out my name repeatedly, Bo Congnan moved closer. No response came. When he finally saw the ground beneath the wall, he froze, apparently taken aback. The floor was littered with shards of glass. Shen Zhiyi had smashed the framed wedding photos! Bo Congnan silently stared at the scattered fragments and torn photographs, speechless for a long while. I slowly approached the wall and crouched down, gazing at the broken glass. The wedding photos had been taken in several sets; I had carefully chosen this one to hang in the bedroom. Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to smash the frame and tear the photo apart. Bo Congnan, surprised? I looked up to meet his gaze, wanting to see his reaction. Unexpectedly, his eyes had grown cold without me noticing. He called out to housekeeper Wang, “Who tore the photo?” Busy cleaning, Wang was unaware I had torn the photo and quickly shook her head, saying, “No... it wasn’t me, sir, I don’t know anything.” Bo Congnan glanced at Wang. Though she was old, she wasn’t so careless as to be unaware of such matters. He asked again, “You said madam was home. Where is she?” Wang looked toward the bedroom but saw no sign of me. “Maybe she went out.” Not come back? And smashed the wedding photos? “Hmph.”

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Bo Congnan sneered coldly, “Shen Zhiyi, you really have guts.” With that, he took out his phone and called me. Only now was he thinking of calling me; my phone was probably destroyed by the killer. After all these years together, I had never seen Bo Congnan’s phone. Unexpectedly, his contact for me was saved as “Wife.” I stared at those two words. The emotions I had calmed earlier surged back again. I wanted so badly to ask him what I truly meant to him. But alas, I would never get the chance. The phone rang for five seconds without being answered. Before, whenever Bo Congnan called, no matter what I was doing, I would answer immediately. This was the first time the call rang for five seconds without anyone picking up. Bo Congnan’s patience with me was always thin; he hung up after the sixth ring. He tossed the phone onto the sofa, showing no intention to call again. Seeing this, Wang suggested, “Sir, maybe madam didn’t hear it. Why not try calling again?” Bo Congnan loosened his cuffs. “If she doesn’t answer, forget it. Who cares about calling her?” He was too lazy to placate a woman. Wang said, “It’s so late, and it’s unsafe outside. Madam might—” Without turning his head, Bo Congnan walked toward the bathroom. “If it’s unsafe, that’s her own fault. None of my business.” His tone was harsh, scaring Wang into silence. I crouched in the corner, eyes fixed on the shattered wedding photo on the floor. We used to be so happy. Bo Congnan, when exactly will you realize I’m already dead? I sat on the bed and tilted my head, watching Bo Congnan’s sleeping face. He slept so soundly, a slight smile on his lips—likely savoring the memory of a kiss with Meng Xiangyi. The winter sun had come out, rare and warm. Bo Congnan habitually turned over under the covers, reaching out to hold someone beside him. “Wife, it’s so cold~” His arm touched something icy. Drowsily, he shifted and found the coldness remained. The man slowly opened his eyes to find the space beside him empty. His mind blanked for half a second. Sometimes Bo Congnan was really like a child—quick to anger, quick to forget. Overnight, he had forgotten yesterday’s unpleasantness. He seemed surprised that I hadn’t come home. But he didn’t know—I could never come home again. After his usual morning routine, Bo Congnan went downstairs for breakfast. Wang placed the prepared meal before him.

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He glanced over with little enthusiasm and asked, “Why no soup dumplings?” His favorite were crab roe soup dumplings. I used to suffer from insomnia and would often prepare the ingredients late at night so someone could steam them fresh for his breakfast. But now that I was dead, how could I make him soup dumplings? Wang, busy clearing snow from the yard, didn’t turn her head. “Oh sir, the soup dumplings were always prepared by madam ahead of time. At my age, I can’t make such delicate treats.” “If you want them, you’ll have to wait for madam to come back and make them.” “...” Bo Congnan said nothing, just sipped his milk. After a moment, he asked, “When madam left, did she say when she’d return?” Wang fiddled with the snowblower. “No, I don’t even know when madam left.” Bo Congnan took out his phone and opened the distress message I had sent him. More than ten hours had passed since I sent it. Still no return. I propped my head up, studying him. Did he finally remember me? He opened the contacts and scrolled to “Wife.” Those two words appeared on the screen. Just as he was about to press it, Fang Lanru’s call came through. Bo Congnan answered, “Mom, what’s up?” “Xiang Yi won the championship. You should bring Zhiyi home to celebrate as a family.” I stood beside Bo Congnan, hearing every word clearly. As a mother, she did not blame her son-in-law for abandoning her daughter at the wedding. Instead, she was busy celebrating her other daughter’s victory. Snow fell throughout the night. The scene outside the window chilled me to the bone, body and soul. After hanging up, Bo Congnan grabbed his suit jacket and headed out. Before leaving, he told Wang, “If madam returns, let me know.” How laughable. Bo Congnan, if you cared whether I came home, why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you actively worry about my safety? The car soon stopped at the Shen residence. Fang Lanru waited at the door early. Though she disliked me, she treated Bo Congnan, her golden son-in-law, well. She glanced at the empty passenger seat, frowning deeply, clearly displeased. “Shen Zhiyi, didn’t come back with you?”