Chapter 8

Chapter 8

08. The Invitation

Xu Chi was relieved that Ling Yu didn't follow him. Even so, when he returned to his hotel room, he felt completely drained and slowly slid down against the door.

He was exhausted, not just physically.

Xu Chi knew that his current behavior was wrong. What he should be doing now was not avoiding the issue but facing Ling Yu directly to bring closure to their ten-year relationship.

But he couldn't do it. When facing Ling Yu, he no longer wanted to say a word, nor did he want to see the subtle impatience on Ling Yu's face.

All he wanted was a divorce.

Xu Chi didn't know how long he had been sitting against the door. He buried his head in his knees, feeling completely drained. He thought that such an intense day and night of sightseeing was indeed too much for him.

Now that he had stopped, the exhaustion from the day and night hit him hard, making him wish he could fall asleep immediately.

Suddenly, a knock at the door drew Xu Chi's attention. He tensed slightly but didn't move, only asking, "Who is it?"

"Hello, Mr. Xu," came the polite and cheerful voice of a hotel attendant from outside the door. "You forgot something at the front desk. I've brought it to you."

Xu Chi didn't remember forgetting anything, but his mind was hazy, and he couldn't think of anything else. So he responded and got up to open the door.

With a soft click, the door opened. The first thing Xu Chi saw was Ling Yu standing outside, holding a huge bouquet of roses. Behind him were two hotel attendants pushing a cart with a cake and long-life noodles.

The two attendants were young, around twenty years old, dressed in their uniforms and wearing light makeup. Their faces lit up with excitement, exuding boundless energy.

One of them said, "Mr. Xu, this is from your husband. Happy birthday."

Xu Chi was silent for a moment. He knew it wasn't the attendants' fault. He and Ling Yu were legally wed, and as long as Ling Yu showed proof, the hotel attendants had no reason not to help him.

Looking at the two young women's uninhibited smiles, Xu Chi knew they must have found this very romantic, perhaps even sparking dreams of love.

Xu Chi's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing, only thanking the two women, "Thank you."

The attendants pushed the cart into the room and said with a smile, "We hope you both have a wonderful evening."

As the two young women walked away, Xu Chi could hear the excitement in their whispered voices. But only he knew that there was no happiness in his heart, nor did he find this romantic.

He only felt exhaustion and a sudden wave of sorrow.

The cake on the cart was exquisite and beautiful, with candles casting a warm yellow glow. But the light did not warm Xu Chi's heart; instead, it reminded him of more bitter memories. Xu Chi felt as if he had returned to half a month ago, on his birthday.

Not long after seeing off Ling Yu's parents, Xu Chi and Ling Yu moved into a villa in Four Seasons Cloud Top. Their material life had improved, but the gap between them seemed to widen.

Ling Yu became busier than before, often leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. The time they could spend alone together became less and less. Because of this, Xu Chi cherished the moments when Ling Yu was resting, but he soon realized that even during those times, they barely spoke.

Ling Yu's responses to Xu Chi's daily sharing became increasingly perfunctory, often just a simple "Hmm" or "Oh." After a few times, Xu Chi stopped sharing. Ling Yu began to shut himself in his study, only appearing during meals.

Ling Yu no longer worried about whether Xu Chi would feel lonely staying home alone. He no longer took time to accompany Xu Chi for walks, shopping, cooking, or even chatting while doing the dishes.

Even the daily morning and evening kisses they had agreed upon had disappeared one day without notice.

Ling Yu always seemed to be busy, completely absorbed in his work.

One morning, Ling Yu left without eating the breakfast Xu Chi had prepared. Xu Chi sat alone at the dining table, finally realizing that something had quietly changed between him and Ling Yu.

This realization left Xu Chi unsettled for days. Since being with Ling Yu, he had never doubted their relationship. He told himself that Ling Yu's hard work was all for their small family.

He shouldn’t stay shut in at home all day; he should find something to do, otherwise it’s easy to let his thoughts run wild.

Xu Chi decided to make some changes. Just a few days before his birthday, he accidentally saw a golden wedding banquet invitation in Ling Yu's study.

The invitation mentioned bringing a partner, and the banquet day happened to be his birthday.

Xu Chi felt a bit pleased; this was an opportunity. He planned to go to the banquet with Ling Yu that evening, and after it ended, they could take a walk and enjoy the breeze.

There probably wasn’t enough time to prepare a cake, but it didn’t matter. Just a hug and a light kiss would suffice, and Xu Chi would be satisfied.

Xu Chi hadn’t been out in a while. For the banquet, he took the time to iron a suit he hadn’t worn in ages.

On the day of the banquet, Ling Yu’s assistant brought something over in the evening. Xu Chi went downstairs for a glass of water and, upon returning, happened to hear the assistant ask outside the study, “Mr. Ling, is Mr. Xu ready?”

Xu Chi was about to say he would go change when he heard Ling Yu say, “He’s not going.”

Xu Chi was stunned. He had been looking forward to this for so long, but Ling Yu hadn’t planned to take him. But why? The invitation clearly stated that partners were welcome.

Hearing Ling Yu’s words, both Xu Chi and the assistant were taken aback: “But…”

Ling Yu glanced at the time and said, “It’s time, let’s go.”

Hearing the commotion in the study, Xu Chi didn’t know what came over him. He slipped away unnoticed.

After Ling Yu and the assistant left, Xu Chi sat in front of the carefully ironed suit in the wardrobe for a long time. He was utterly confused, not understanding why Ling Yu had made this decision unilaterally without consulting him.

He felt awful, struggling to catch his breath, and couldn’t help but tug at his collar, only to realize he was wearing a low-neck shirt that couldn’t constrict his neck.

Xu Chi stared at his hanging hand, and a faint hope flickered in his heart. Perhaps Ling Yu was worried that he wasn’t used to going out after being indoors for so long and didn’t want to put him in an awkward position, hence the decision.

Yes, that must be it.

And there was another possibility: Ling Yu had prepared a birthday surprise for him and was afraid that going along would spoil it.

Xu Chi quickly reassured himself and waited patiently at home. But that day, it wasn’t until past eleven forty that a heavily drunk Ling Yu was brought back by the assistant.

After seeing off the assistant and looking at the heavily drunk Ling Yu, Xu Chi’s heart ached. He started to realize that the adult world is far from simple, especially for someone like Ling Yu, who runs his own business and has to shoulder everything, bearing a lot of pressure. He really shouldn’t overthink things.

Xu Chi helped Ling Yu out of his clothes and used a wrung-out hot towel to gently wipe Ling Yu’s face.

Ten years had passed, and Ling Yu had matured from the young man he first met, but he was still the one Xu Chi loved the most.

Seeing Ling Yu frown uncomfortably, Xu Chi got up to fetch the hangover soup he had prepared earlier from the kitchen.

This was a routine Xu Chi had developed over the years. Whenever Ling Yu had a banquet, he would always prepare hangover soup at home and wait for Ling Yu to return.

Previously, when Ling Yu returned, he was mostly conscious and would drink the hangover soup before washing up and going to bed. This situation hadn’t happened in a long time.

Xu Chi gently urged Ling Yu to drink the hangover soup. Ling Yu mumbled, “I won’t drink.”

Worried that Ling Yu would wake up with a headache the next morning, Xu Chi couldn’t help but poke him, and Ling Yu opened his eyes.

Looking into Ling Yu’s unfocused pupils, Xu Chi’s heart skipped a beat, and a long-distant memory quickly surfaced.

Back when Ling Yu was starting his business, he came home late one night, heavily drunk, and deliberately refused to drink the hangover soup, insisting that Xu Chi coax him.

Xu Chi cooperated warmly, coaxing him gently, and after finishing the hangover soup, Ling Yu would hug Xu Chi and say, “Thank you, wife.”

This memory was so tender and sweet that Xu Chi's heart melted, and the coldness from the evening instantly faded away.

Xu Chi smiled faintly and moved closer. "Ling Yu..."

But Ling Yu turned over, his voice cold and impatient. "I said I don't want it, take it away."

Because they were so close, Ling Yu's arm accidentally bumped Xu Chi as he turned, spilling some of the lukewarm hangover remedy.

The warm soothing broth soaked Xu Chi's hand and the bedding, and it also dampened his heart. Hearing this obviously annoyed tone, Xu Chi's first thought was that Ling Yu might not have recognized him.

However, Ling Yu had already closed his eyes impatiently and snapped, "Turn off the light."

Xu Chi stayed still, holding the bowl. Ling Yu repeated, his voice sharper, "Xu Chi, turn off the light."