Chapter 14 — When the Ex Returns

Inside the art gallery, hidden behind the throng of visitors, Fu Tu Shen watched silently as Lam Thoi Ha and her companion chatted happily. To any observer, they looked like the perfect match. On the university campus, Fu Tu Shen stood beneath the shade of the trees, observing the pair as they walked, their conversation never straying from academic pursuits. In the cultural district, he tracked their movements as they carefully chose gifts for one another, their fingers eventually interlacing in a quiet, intimate gesture. The distance between them was closing with every passing day; it was obvious to everyone that their bond had transcended mere friendship.

Fu Tu Shen felt like a man begging for what he could never have, lurking in the shadows, his heart roiling with a bitter, fermenting sorrow. Yet, he possessed no standing to intervene. To the current version of Lam Thoi Ha, he was nothing more than the man who had once wounded her deeply. The turning point arrived the day she accepted Shen Yen Thu’s confession. Hearing the news, Fu Tu Shen rushed to the scene in a panic, only to witness Shen Yen Thu kneeling on one knee. In that split second, the image mirrored a memory from when he was eighteen: the day Lam Thoi Ha, face flushed with courage, had confessed her feelings to him.

Back then, paralyzed by his own internal turmoil and unable to face his own heart, he had lashed out at her with cruel words. He had seen the way her face had drained of color, the flicker of profound loss in her eyes, yet he had told himself it was for the best. He had convinced himself that he would never love Lam Thoi Ha, viewing her only as a younger sister. Now, the boomerang of time had swung back with a vengeance. The arrogance of his youth had transformed into a jagged blade, carving a hollow chasm into his chest. He was consumed by a maddening jealousy, yet he lacked the strength to alter the course of events. His reluctance to let go, however, refused to be extinguished, burning within him like an inferno. As the day of his scheduled departure drew closer, Fu Tu Shen finally reached a desperate decision.

Following her acceptance of Shen Yen Thu, Lam Thoi Ha spent weeks being teased mercilessly by her roommates. “Our Thoi Ha is truly something else, capturing the heart of senior Shen! We are green with envy!” they would chirp. “You used to tell us we were imagining things, but it seems our intuition was sharp and accurate after all.”

Unable to escape their relentless ribbing, Lam Thoi Ha promised to buy them gifts just to secure her freedom from the dormitory. As she made her way to meet Shen Yen Thu, her mind drifted to his gentle nature. Unlike the imposing, volatile presence of Fu Tu Shen, Shen Yen Thu’s kindness felt like a spring breeze, enveloping her completely. He never pressed her on topics she wished to keep private, offering only patience and warmth until she felt ready to share. He cared for the smallest details of her life, sharing stories and laughter that drew her ever closer to him. By the time he confessed, her heart was already his.

Lost in these reflections, she failed to notice the growing agitation nearby. Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the air. The bustling street erupted into chaos. Amidst the stampede of panicked crowds, a dark figure struck Lam Thoi Ha from behind, knocking her into unconsciousness. Her last fading thought was the desperate cry of Shen Yen Thu, his voice slipping away into the void.

When she finally stirred, half a day had passed. The first sight to greet her was the tall, rigid silhouette of Fu Tu Shen. “Thoi Ha, you’re awake. Are you hungry? Shall I go and cook something for you? I remember you used to love the sweet and sour pork ribs I made when we were children…”

Lam Thoi Ha cut him off without a moment’s hesitation, her gaze burning with resentment. “Fu Tu Shen, let me go! If you release me now, I can pretend none of this ever happened.”

He ignored her completely, continuing to dab at her hands with a damp cloth. “Thoi Ha, don’t cause a scene. I’m just cleaning your hands.”

Her patience reached its breaking point. She shoved him away with all her strength. “Fu Tu Shen, I have made myself perfectly clear. There is no future for us in this lifetime.”

A flicker of raw agony crossed Fu Tu Shen’s face. His eyes searched hers, brimming with a desperate, crushing pain. “Stay with me for just three days, Thoi Ha. If after three days your opinion of me remains unchanged, I will let you go.”

Lam Thoi Ha stared at him, then replied, “Very well.”

For the next seventy-two hours, Fu Tu Shen exerted every ounce of his effort into the role of a devoted lover. He escorted her through the ornate cultural districts of Moscow, posing for photos at famous landmarks favored by couples. He exhausted his supply of foreign currency at luxury boutiques to purchase a ring engraved with their initials. On the evening of the third day, he poured his entire spirit into orchestrating a grand fireworks display. Under the vast, starlit sky, he gazed at her with performative adoration, whispering the most sincere words of love he could muster. Yet, Lam Thoi Ha’s reaction remained chillingly indifferent, as if she were merely listening to a mundane weather forecast; she did not even deign to lift her eyelids.