Chapter Six: You Dream If You Think I'll Get Jealous

After shouting those words, even I was stunned. It turned out that once love fades, words I had never imagined saying before could come out so easily, without a trace of regret—in fact, my heart felt much lighter.

After speaking, I no longer looked at Xu Zhixia’s face, nor did I pay attention to the few male models around us who looked dumbfounded. I turned and left the private room.

In the corridor, I heard Xu Zhixia angrily cursing and the sound of things being thrown and smashed inside the room, but what did that have to do with me?

Stepping out of the bar and standing on the bustling street, I was momentarily dazed. I instinctively looked up at the sun in the sky. What once felt warm and bright now only seemed glaring.

Although it was summer, I felt a chill all over, so cold that I shivered involuntarily.

Suddenly, a coat was draped over my shoulders. The familiar scent of jasmine wafted into my nose. Without turning, I knew who it was.

“You’ve been following me all this way?” I asked.

“What else? I was afraid you’d lose control and hurt yourself. Get in the car first, then we’ll talk.”

Ji Le waved the car keys in front of me. A silver SUV by the roadside flashed its headlights. She stepped forward and opened the passenger door for me.

I wanted to refuse, but seeing the curious glances from passersby, I reluctantly got into the passenger seat.

“You look like a ghost caught between worlds. If someone calls the police on you again, I’m not going to bail you out.”

Hearing this, I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, cheekbones protruded sharply, and my face was hollowed. I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

“Indeed, neither living nor dead.”

Just as I closed the door, Ji Le suddenly leaned in closer. Her face, more radiant and composed than in our university days, suddenly loomed large before me. I could even smell the jasmine scent from the ends of her hair and her coat.

For some reason, my heart pounded fiercely. I held my breath and stared at her without blinking, unsure of what she intended.

“My car’s seatbelt is tricky to fasten. Let me do it for you. Don’t overthink it.”

At the sound of the click, I looked down to see the seatbelt snug across my chest. I sighed in relief, but immediately felt embarrassed by the absurd thought that had just flashed through my mind.

So many years had passed—there was no way Ji Le still hadn’t let me go.

Ji Le started the engine and glanced at me. “Where do you live? Do you have a first aid kit at home? I’ll take you back so you can treat your wound. You’re bleeding so much—did you really get angry enough to do this for a woman?”

Only then did I remember the injury on my hand. My clothes were stained with mottled blood. No wonder Ji Le worried I might get arrested.

Maybe my heart had grown numb, so the pain barely registered. I covered the wound with my other hand to avoid dirtying her car and gave her my address.

---

“Sorry for dirtying your coat. Take it to the dry cleaners—I’ll transfer you the money.”

Ji Le laughed suddenly, as if she’d heard a funny joke, but her words held no humor.

“Jiang Jian, as far as I know, stomach cancer doesn’t cause memory loss. I’ve deleted you for years—how did you manage to transfer me the money?”

Her words made me even more embarrassed. Our breakup had been far from graceful. I knew I had wronged her and had thought about making amends, but all I got in return was a red exclamation mark and a phone number that would never connect again.

“I… I’m sorry. Back then, I…”

Before I could finish, Ji Le interrupted.

“There’s no point in bringing up the past now. I’ll just say I was young and inexperienced and ran into a scoundrel.”

“Our relationship now is just doctor and patient. Don’t put pressure on yourself.”

“Yeah, I’m the scoundrel. This is my karma.”

I smiled bitterly, regretting that I had hurt Ji Le for Xu Zhixia, and regretting the wasted years with Xu Zhixia that had destroyed my body.

As the atmosphere in the car grew heavy and nobody spoke, my phone suddenly rang.

It was the special ringtone I had set for Xu Zhixia. I pulled out my phone and saw it was her calling. She must be so angry that she actually called me first.

I hung up immediately, but she called again within seconds.

Xu Zhixia rarely called me first. If I didn’t answer, she probably wouldn’t contact me again until I reached out to her. For her, calling me was probably the greatest act of concession.

The ringtone that used to make my heart flutter now only annoyed me.

“Why don’t you answer? Afraid she’ll soften and you’ll go back to her?” Ji Le’s voice dripped with sarcasm, sharp and unpleasant. I switched off my phone. “Ignore it.”

Back at my place—though it was more like a place I had depended on for years rather than a home—I invited Ji Le to sit on the sofa.

“Want something to drink? There’s mango juice in the fridge.”

“I’m allergic to mango…”

Meeting Ji Le’s resigned glance, I stopped opening the fridge and poured her a glass of water instead.

---

“I—I forgot. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You never really remembered anything about me anyway.”

“Find the first aid kit. I’ll treat your wound. Infection would be worse, and your current state probably can’t handle even the slightest ailment.”

I fetched the first aid kit from the cabinet, and Ji Le skillfully cleaned and bandaged my wound.

Just as I was about to thank her, the door’s electronic lock clicked open. Xu Zhixia, reeking of alcohol and supported by Xiao Zhu, staggered inside.

Our eyes met, and she widened hers in shock.

First surprised, then furious, Xu Zhixia kicked off her high heels and hurled them at me.

“You bitch! How dare you push for a divorce? So you’ve already found yourself a wild vixen! A bitch’s a bitch—an insatiable, ungrateful wretch!”

I dodged coldly. “Xu Zhixia, what kind of drunken nonsense is this? You see dirt everywhere but your own heart. Can’t I have a friend of the opposite sex?”

Xu Zhixia shoved Xiao Zhu aside. “Let’s go. This has nothing to do with you anymore.”

“Yes, Madam Xu.”

After Xiao Zhu left, Xu Zhixia walked barefoot toward me, raising her hand to slap me.

There was no way I would take it lying down. I grabbed her wrist and threw her off. She stumbled into the table, then fell to the floor, utterly humiliated.

Sitting on the floor, Xu Zhixia looked as if she couldn’t believe I would strike her in front of another woman, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Jiang Jian, you’ve lost your mind. I’m telling you, your little game of playing hard to get won’t work on me. You just make yourself look like a ridiculous clown!”

“You think bringing some wild woman around will make me jealous? Dream on!”

Watching Xu Zhixia’s near-mad state, I felt no pity—only deep disgust. I could no longer see even a trace of the radiant sun she once was.

Frowning, I picked up the untouched glass of water on the table and splashed it in her face.

“You’d better sober up properly!”