Chapter 1 — The Light Outside The Door

The day Co Dien Chu and I divorced, Beijing poured the first rain of winter. The light in the Civil Affairs Department was so white it was blinding. His signature movements were fluent and decisive, the sound of the pen rustling sounded like a verdict. I watched his hand write the final stroke — clear joints, black cufflinks, not even a trace of hesitation stopping at the tip of the pen. When I went out the door, I bumped into his friend. That person pulled him back, an exaggerated look on his face: "Just let him go? No regrets, right?" Co Dien Chu had one hand in his trouser pocket, his black high-collar evening coat accentuating his jawline as sharp as a da.a.o. He didn't even bother to look at me. His tone was bland as if he was saying that the weather was very nice today: "It was originally a contractual marriage arranged by adults, there is no such thing as regret or no regret." I stood three steps behind him. Rainwater dripped from the eaves, falling on the handle of my suitcase. I heard it very clearly. Every word. There is no such thing as regret. Okay. I pulled my suitcase, without turning back, walked straight into the rain. This marriage lasted 2 years and 3 months. Living together under the same roof, but in different rooms, no one crossed the line. You're busy with your Co empire, I'm painting mine. The most intimate contact between us was roughly one winter night when he came home too late from working overtime, I fell asleep on the living room sofa, and woke up the next day with an extra blanket on my body. I don't know if he covered it for me, or if it was my aunt who helped. I never asked. Now there is no need to ask anymore. * 【Chapter 1】 The day I moved out of the Co family's house, I only brought my own belongings. Two suitcases, one bag of art supplies, one laptop. When arriving neatly, when leaving is clean and decisive. Khuong Nhiem drove to pick me up, scolding Co Dien Chu on the way. "Bad man, pretending to be a cold-blooded bastard. Two years, you've served him for two years!" I leaned my head on the passenger seat, watching the rain outside the window. "It doesn't count as serving. It's just a contract, each person gets what they need." "Each person gets what they need?" Khuong Nhiem slapped the steering wheel hard, "How many social parties did you stop for him? When old lady Co was sick in the hospital, who was the one who didn't leave even half a step, taking care of her for a week? He took away your 'need', then what did he give you?" I said nothing. What can I give? An additional card, I have never used it. A title that no longer exists. And that sentence too —— There is no such thing as regret. “I found an apartment for you, facing south with a balcony, very suitable for drawing.” Khuong Nhiem's voice calmed down, "Nhuoc Diem, starting today, you only live for yourself." I said "yes". The corners of the lips suddenly curled up. It's been two years. Finally, I can paint until midnight without having to intentionally turn down the sound, without having to pretend to be a dutiful wife at the Co family's parties every weekend, without having to suppress my heartbeat every time I accidentally come home——Wait. Heart rate? No, there isn't. Never before. The new apartment is very small, only about forty square meters. But the balcony really faces south, when the sun is beautiful it is very suitable for drying paints. I set up my easel and started taking orders. The days passed more peacefully than I expected. There is no news of Co Dien Chu. Your name in my phone book has been deleted. WeChat also deleted. Clean and tidy. The first week passed. The second week passed. Life is like a glass of water, bland, but at least not bitter. The only unusual thing is —— Khuong Nhiem sent a screenshot for the third time. It's Tran Man Ninh's circle of friends. The photo was taken at a high-class party,

She wore an emerald green two-strap dress, standing less than half a meter next to Co Dien Chu. The status line only had a wine glass emoji. "Look at this bitch." Khuong Nhiem sent a voice message, "As soon as you left, she immediately grabbed you." I looked for about three seconds. Then turn off the photo. “It has nothing to do with me.” “You——” “It really has nothing to do with it.” I placed the phone face down on the table, picked up the paintbrush. But I stared at the picture frame in a daze for ten minutes, unable to draw a single stroke. …It doesn't concern me anymore. Really. * 【Chapter 2】 I shouldn't have known about this chapter. It was later that Lam Tu reported to me, it was the old lady Co who told me, it was a lot of broken pieces put together, and I learned how Co Dien Chu's life was in those two weeks. Third day after divorce. Co Dien Chu opened the refrigerator. Inside are neatly arranged seven fresh-keeping boxes. Each box has a label —— Monday: Beef brisket in tomato sauce. Tuesday: Lightly stir-fried peeled shrimp. Wednesday: Stir-fried vermicelli with spicy and sour minced meat. I prepare before leaving. It's become a habit. At the end of each week I will make food for the following week and put it in the refrigerator, you just need to reheat it to eat. At that time, I thought, after all, it's the last week, I'll just finish this round and that's it. Lam Tu said, when Co Dien Chu opened the refrigerator, he stood there stunned for a long time. Then he closed the cupboard and ordered food from outside. Those seven cans of food were left alone until they expired. He also didn't throw it away. Thursday. 2 am. Co Dien Chu lost sleep. His bedroom is the master bedroom, mine is the guest room. In the middle, one wall away. Over the past two years, I have had a habit —— painting until late at night, turning on a small warm yellow night light. The light from that lamp penetrated through the door and crept out into the hallway. He lay on the bed, eyes wide open. The hallway was dark. There was no light at all. The next day at work, Lam Tu discovered that Co Dien Chu's eye bags were dark, he drank three cups of espresso in a row, and his temper was so bad that it made the entire senior management team tremble with fear. Saturday. Co Dien Chu saw a white MINI in the company's basement parking lot. The design is exactly the same as my car, the color is the same, even on the rearview mirror there is the same chain of keychains hanging. Like a ghost, he followed that car through three streets. Until the car stopped, an unfamiliar woman got out. Lam Tu on the other end of the phone line heard a very long silence. Then Co Dien Chu said: "Postpone the meeting to the afternoon." Then hung up. Day ten. Co Dien Chu walked into the guest room. The room has been emptied. I brought all my personal belongings. There was only one book left on the nightstand —— “The Little Prince”, because I forgot it. On the lining page there is a small rose that I drew on a whim. Lam Tu said, he brought that book back to the Master's room. Place it right next to the pillow. Fourteenth day. Company year-end party. Someone asked Co Dien Chu: "Mr. Co, why didn't your sister-in-law come?" The whole hall fell silent in an instant. Co Dien Chu's hand holding the glass of wine stopped. "Divorced." After saying that, he gulped down the entire glass of strong wine. That night, for the first time, Lam Tu saw Co Dien Chu drinking so much that he couldn't stand. He leaned against the back seat of the car, loosened his tie, and closed his eyes. Suddenly he opened his mouth, his voice was very soft, as if he was muttering to himself: "Lam Tu." "General Co." "...Where did she move to?"