Chapter 14: The Breakup in Progress 5
Time, like sand in an hourglass, slowly trickled down, taking with it not only time but also all of Ning Qingqing’s passion for this relationship.
She didn’t know how long she had been walking until she realized she had already passed her apartment complex and arrived at a small commercial area one subway stop away.
It was rush hour, so the commercial area was filled with people hurrying by – office workers, couples, each with their own destination.
Ning Qingqing stood dazed in the center of the commercial area for a while before turning towards a cake shop.
It was her 25th birthday; she needed to say goodbye to the past nine years and embrace a new life.
She could cry, she could be sad, but she couldn’t not love herself.
Ning Qingqing went inside and chose a fruit cake – an 8-inch, formal birthday cake – and ordered candles and a sparkler. Carrying it, she walked towards home.
Behind her, Qin Yan Yue, her little shadow, followed, picking up her phone to report to her cousin: “Sister-in-law bought a birthday cake. Is it her friend’s birthday or hers? But she doesn’t seem to have made plans with anyone.”
Gu Youchen replied: “It’s her birthday.”
At a club in Beishi, Gu Youchen pushed open the door and walked out, his assistant, Zhou Luo, following behind, “Mr. Gu, tomorrow is a crucial day for the project. If you’re not here, our chances of success will be greatly reduced!”
Gu Youchen didn’t stop walking. “Try your best to explain to the client; I trust your abilities.”
Zhou Luo looked miserable. “Mr. Gu, Shen Corporation is also competing. While their overall strength is inferior to ours, they have more experience in this field, and we don’t have any advantage.”
Gu Youchen said, “I’ll try to stall for time. I’ll be back after I’ve taken care of things.”
Zhou Luo was depressed, “Okay, Mr. Gu, I’ll do my best…”
Gu Youchen said as he walked, “I’ve arranged for Zhou Linghang to come over tonight. Although his family is in other fields, he has connections. You guys go to the meeting together tomorrow.”
Zhou Luo nodded, “Okay.” His confidence slightly recovered.
When Ning Qingqing returned to the apartment complex, Gu Youchen was driving to the private airport.
All the evening flights to Di City were sold out, so Gu Youchen used the group’s private jet in Beishi.
By the time he boarded the plane and soared into the sky, Ning Qingqing’s takeout had arrived.
She opened each box, placing the food into her new set of celadon tableware, with the cake in the center.
The table was full of food, exceptionally plentiful.
Ning Qingqing opened the candle box, placing the number 2 and 5 candles on either side of the cake, and a sparkler in the center.
Putting on the birthday tiara the cake shop gave her, Ning Qingqing lit the candles, then turned off the lights in the apartment.
After lighting the sparkler, the beautiful flame burned above the cake. In the flickering light, Ning Qingqing closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and made a wish—
“May my family and friends be healthy and safe.”
“May I soar in my own sky after 25.”
She opened her eyes and blew out the candles.
The sparkler burned out, leaving only a little black ash, caught in the wrapper to prevent it from falling on the cake.
Ning Qingqing removed the candles and sparkler, cut herself a piece of cake.
“Qingqing, happy birthday!” she said to herself.
She carefully ate the cake and the takeout dishes, until her stomach was full.
At that moment, the phone on the table rang. It was her mother.
“My baby, happy birthday!” Ning Ruoyun, almost fifty, was still a frequent flyer. She had just landed and was at Manhattan airport.
“Thank you, Mom.” Ning Qingqing’s throat tightened.
She hadn’t felt anything before, but hearing her mother’s voice, she wanted to cry.
Trying to prevent her mother from hearing the tremor in her voice, she asked, “Where are you?”
“There’s a project in Manhattan that requires my personal attention. Sigh, Qingqing, I heard from Nie Yu that you’re planning to come back, is that kid not lying to me?” Ning Ruoyun asked.
Ning Qingqing said, “No, I feel my current job isn’t suitable for me anymore, I want to try something new.”
“Okay, then Mom will wait for you.” Ning Ruoyun said, then turned to look to the side, suddenly stunned. After a moment, she coldly laughed, “Guess who I saw? Your father!”
Ning Qingqing was startled, “Ah, he’s in Manhattan too?”
“Heaven knows what he’s doing.” Ning Ruoyun and her husband divorced 20 years ago. She got custody, and their daughter took her surname.
When they were still married, they fought every day. After the divorce, they occasionally interacted in business, meeting only to bicker. They could never be peaceful.
Ning Ruoyun decided to ignore that man on her daughter’s birthday, saying, “Qingqing, are you at your apartment?”
Ning Qingqing said, “I’m at my apartment.”
“Okay, Mom bought you a birthday present; it’ll be delivered soon.” Ning Ruoyun said.
“Mm, thank you, Mom!”
As soon as Ning Qingqing hung up, her phone rang again, this time it was her father, Tan Haize.
“Qingqing, happy birthday!” Tan Haize was only cheerful in front of his daughter, “Dad’s on a business trip, I’ve arranged for someone to deliver your birthday present. Are you home?”
The lines were almost identical to her mother’s!
Ning Qingqing said, “I’m at my apartment.”
“Oh, are things okay with Xiao Shen?” Tan Haize, even though he remarried and had another family, had always kept an eye on Ning Qingqing.
“Mm, pretty good, thank you for the gift, Dad.” Ning Qingqing said.
“Why are you so formal with Dad?” Tan Haize laughed. “Dad’s on a business trip to Manhattan, heh, guess who Dad saw?”
Ning Qingqing’s gloomy mood was somehow amused by her parents’ words, “You saw Mom, because she just called me and said she’s on a business trip to Manhattan.”
“Oh—” Tan Haize was regretful, “I was a step too late.” He lost the competition.
Ning Qingqing couldn’t understand their rivalry, instead saying, “Then take care of yourself on your business trip.”
“Mm, I will, you’re so thoughtful, my daughter!” he sighed.
After his second marriage, his current wife had given him a son, nine years younger than Ning Qingqing, who was in his rebellious phase, constantly getting called to school.
They chatted for a couple of minutes before hanging up.
The room was suddenly quiet again.
There’s a lyric that says “The most frightening thing is sudden quiet,” Ning Qingqing looked at the table full of food. No matter how much she ate, she could only manage a small portion.
There was still a lot of cake left, she carefully packed it and put it in the refrigerator.
After cleaning the table, she started cleaning the apartment.
They say that being busy helps you forget time, but housework always comes to an end.
When she finished everything, the feeling of emptiness was even greater than before.
The city outside had gradually quieted down. Even this bustling metropolis has its time to sleep. Occasionally, people working late or returning from gatherings passed by, before the streets finally returned to stillness.
Ning Qingqing looked at the wall clock; only half an hour until midnight.
She knew she wouldn’t get an answer after all.
Or rather, the silence was Shen Zhiqian’s final judgment.
She went to the study, found a suitcase, and put the photo frame of them in it.
Photo frames, gifts, one by one, containing memories of many moments in her youth.
One suitcase wasn’t enough; she took another and another, realizing how much they had accumulated together over the years.
After filling two large suitcases, half the apartment’s furnishings were gone.
Ning Qingqing locked the two suitcases and placed them in the corner.
At that moment, Gu Youchen was driving from the private airport. Qin Yan Yue said that Ning Qingqing had entered the apartment complex and hadn’t come out.
The girl was persistent; she had been squatting at the entrance of the complex, still not leaving, and had been playing with the stray dogs at the entrance with the security guard.
When Gu Youchen arrived, Qin Yan Yue was yawning at the security booth.
He quickly asked the girl to wait in the car.
Soon, the Qin family’s car arrived and took Qin Yan Yue home.
Gu Youchen stood at the entrance of the complex and called Ning Qingqing.
In the apartment, Ning Qingqing heard the sound of her phone ringing next door, and subconsciously glanced at the wall clock.
It was exactly 12 o’clock.
She quickly went to the next room and picked up her phone.
The screen displayed – The joke-teller who loves tiramisu.
Was it Gu Youchen? The light in Ning Qingqing’s eyes completely extinguished.
At that moment, the hands on the wall clock had just passed midnight.
Her birthday was over; her phone only had Shen Zhiqian’s “Happy Birthday” message from more than ten minutes ago, and the Porsche car key on the table.
Her nine-year first love ended in this way.
Ning Qingqing didn’t answer Gu Youchen’s call; she had no energy to deal with anyone.
When the call automatically ended, Ning Qingqing picked up her phone, opened the chat window with Shen Zhiqian, and sent him a message—
“Zhiqian, let’s break up. This is a decision I’ve carefully considered. No matter what you think, it’s over between us. I wish you all the best in the future.”
As she clicked send, Ning Qingqing realized her hands were trembling violently.
The message had been sent, the time displayed was 00:01.
It was over. On the first day of her 25th year, she severed the past and stopped waiting for someone.
Her dignity allowed her to let go of a difficult past, opening a new, unknown chapter in her life.
Author’s Note:
Gu Youchen: I waited! Although I couldn’t enter the apartment complex, I can still celebrate! Thank you to the little angels who cast kingly votes or poured nutrient solution for me between 2022-05-27 20:05:29~2022-05-28 20:19:20!
Thank you for pouring nutrient solution: Yuan Yuan 28 bottles; Jiusa 10 bottles; Watching the court flowers fall 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!