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In the early autumn of Danjiang, the leaves were turning yellow, and the wind was refreshingly cool.
Chen Ningxi sat inside her boyfriend Guo Heming's car, her face pale and her chest feeling tight.
Just monts ago, she had found a box of Durex hidden in the car's glove compartnt and realized there were three less than the quantity marked on the package. She knew they hadn't used them together, as they had agreed not to cross that line before marriage.
So, Guo Heming had cheated.
Stunned, she struggled internally, debating whether to break up in a big fight or just endure it, pretending nothing happened. After all, they were planning to get married.
Suddenly, the car door on the driver's side opened, interrupting her thoughts.
"Did you wait long?"
Guo Heming got into the car, completely unaware of Chen Ningxi's odd behavior, while she felt a chill deep in her heart, even finding his hand on her head repulsive.
Chen Ningxi dodged his touch, which made Guo Heming finally notice sothing was wrong. He asked with concern in his eyes, "What's wrong?"
Looking at the gentle and considerate man before her, she only felt her blood running backward, her whole body cold. Usually, he treated others with elegance, but being a lawyer, he was fierce in argunts.
In that instant, Chen Ningxi decided to suppress the matter for now. Without any concrete evidence, he wouldn't admit to anything, given his arguntative skills. Besides, both families were already preparing for the wedding. If she wanted to end this relationship respectfully, Chen Ningxi needed solid proof to sha Guo Heming thoroughly.
Chen Ningxi shook her head, "Nothing, just a bit tired from work lately."
"I told you not to work so hard, work will never end, just take it easy," Guo Heming advised with the air of soone who knew better.
The car soon rged onto the main road from the residential area's side road, the speed swiftly picking up.
"How many days? When are you coming back?" Guo Heming asked.
If she hadn't discovered his cheating, Chen Ningxi would have been pleased with her boyfriend's thoughtfulness. But, having found out, it was a different story.
She looked calmly at the man she saw as deceitful and unfaithful, unable to hold back her resentnt as she unhappily questioned, "Why the sudden concern about when I'm coming back?"
Guo Heming paused; her normally mild deanor turned sharp suddenly.
Yet, considering she had just said she was tired, he didn't think too much of it, attributing it to work stress.
Guo Heming explained, "I've got a mountain of cases to handle lately. I just wanted to check the timing so I could plan around it. If I'm not busy, I can pick you up; if I am, I'll arrange my work ahead of ti and then co to get you."
Whether busy or not, you are always my priority, a scoundrel does know how to please you.
She replied, "No need to pick up, everyone will be taking the company's car back."
Chen Ningxi, after graduating from college, entered Danjiang's power supply company and progressively worked her way up to beco a departnt head due to her excellent skills. Guo Heming was a senior partner at Fengze Law Firm. Outwardly, they seed like a perfect match — a talented man and a beautiful woman.
But Chen Ningxi knew she was just drifting along with the current, adhering to the saying that one should do what fits their age.
Watching classmates and friends step into marriage one after another, she felt she should find soone to marry as well.
Introduced by others, she went on a date with Guo Heming, who was praised as a promising young man. Her first impression was decent; Guo Heming was polite and gentle. Over ti, she didn't find him annoying — it wasn't love, nor was it quite like, just less objectionable than other matches.
Guo Heming said, "No way, my girlfriend must be treated with chauffeur pickup and drop-off service."
Normally, Chen Ningxi would have responded with a hug, but today she couldn't bring herself to embrace a man who betrayed her, finding him filthy.
"Oh, when you co back, let's go away for a few days," Guo Heming suggested.
Chen Ningxi, preoccupied, couldn't focus on his travel plans. She constantly sensed an intimate aftermath scent inside the car and imagined over and over the scene of him sweating it out with another woman in this confined space. Her stomach churned, and she barely suppressed the acidic surge by covering her mouth.
She replied, "...We'll see."
"Don't we'll see now, just take a leave of absence when you return, and we will hit the road for a spontaneous trip," Guo Heming, one hand on the steering wheel, used the other to reach over and grab her hand, aiming to bring it to his lips, but Chen Ningxi pulled it back.
She reminded, "Focus on driving, watch the road."
Guo Heming assud she was being shy, "You always hold back and put on airs, but we're bound to get married sooner or later. What's there to be shy about?"
Chen Ningxi crossed her arms and looked out the window. The glass reflected her face of suppressed anger, while her mind sketched out a scene of him using that hand to touch another woman. As she dwelled on the details, she almost wished she could throw that box of condoms right at his face.
After all, she held back.
Her clenched fingers slowly relaxed, and as she reopened her eyes, she was calm again.
The two were introduced by prominent and reputable individuals. Guo Heming, adept at sophistry and social skills, was regarded as very decent and reliable by outsiders and her parents, marking him as an ideal future son-in-law. Without concrete evidence, a break-up on her own terms would likely be dismissed, with others assuming it was just another childish excuse for not wanting to get married while focusing on her career.
"Ning Xi."
"..." Chen Ningxi snapped back to reality.
Guo Heming, looking ahead, muttered to himself, "Near my law firm, there's a new developnt, ready-to-occupy. I checked the sample apartnt, there was one with 180 square ters, I think it's nice, four bedrooms, two living rooms, two bathrooms, could be our marital ho.
Oh, one of the rooms could be my study. I'd like to have a full wall bookshelf there. Just imagining it makes feel good. Once you're free, shall we go take a look?"
Chen Ningxi found it extrely laughable how a man secretly cheating could plan a future with her so smoothly without batting an eye.
She replied, "We'll talk when I get back."
Hearing her soft voice, Guo Heming glanced through the rearview mirror, noticing Chen Ningxi's poor complexion. He reached out to feel her forehead, asking, "Feeling unwell?"
Chen Ningxi turned her head to avoid his touch, speaking in a flat voice, "No."
"How co you look so listless?" Guo Heming continued with concern, "Did you catch a cold last night?"
"No, just tired from work," Chen Ningxi replied, annoyed.
Guo Heming patted her hand, "You've worked hard, Mr. Chen."
Chen Ningxi furrowed her brows, feeling disgusted by his touch, yet Guo Heming continued his chatter, oblivious.
"My mom called last night. She's found a few good wedding dates with soone's help. I'll send them to you later; see which day suits us so we can start preparing.
We can take out a loan for an apartnt near my office for our marital ho, so during the wedding we can initially stay at your place. My apartnt is smaller than yours, not quite right for using as a marital ho. My mom also ntioned that you're not young anymore and even qualify as a senior maternal age, so she suggested we start preparing for a baby right after the wedding. This would lower your childbirth risk, plus she and dad could help with the child while they're still energetic.
You can rest assured, once the child is born, we'll leave them to my parents to raise, so it won't interfere with our work or our lives together. Look how excellently they raised , I'm very comfortable leaving the child with them."
Chen Ningxi turned her face away. Guo Heming, noticing her gaze, asked, "What's wrong?"
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