One day, Su Qing went to meet a client. By the time their discussion ended, it was already lunchtime.
She decided to eat outside before returning to the office and grabbed a quick meal at a street-side eatery. After finishing, she realized it was still a bit early to go back to work.
Noticing an imported supermarket nearby, she thought she might as well browse and pick up something for her son. Just as she was about to enter, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Looking up, she recognized Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji was carrying two large shopping bags, while a stylishly dressed female Homo sapiens clung affectionately to his arm. The two were chatting and laughing as they exited the supermarket.
Su Qing rubbed her eyes, wondering if her vision was blurry. But upon closer inspection, it was undeniably Xiao Ji. Had she been just a minute or two faster, she would have run into them head-on.
The two Homo sapiens walked cheerfully to the parking lot in front of the supermarket. Xiao Ji loaded the bags into the trunk, then wrapped an arm around the woman's waist, guiding her into the passenger seat. He even protectively shielded her head with his hand to prevent her from bumping it against the car roof.
After fastening her seatbelt, he got into the driver's seat and drove off.
That car had been part of Su Qing's dowry. Back then, her parents had spent nearly all their savings—over 200,000 yuan—to buy it, believing Xiao Ji's family was well-off and wanting her to hold her own in the marriage. With Xiao Ji's family owning a house, the car ensured Su Qing wouldn't be looked down upon.
After marriage, the car had practically become Xiao Ji's personal vehicle. Su Qing rarely drove it, except when visiting her parents. Her workplace was conveniently located—just a few minutes' walk to the subway, which took her straight to her office building. Driving seemed unnecessary, especially since Xiao Ji's commute was longer.
Never had she imagined that her own car would now carry another woman in the passenger seat—the seat that should have been hers. Watching that woman sitting where she belonged, Su Qing felt her heart twist violently, as if swelling to burst from her chest, then constricting her throat until she could barely breathe.
Dazed, Su Qing stood frozen, watching helplessly as the car sped away. A stabbing pain spread through her entire body. Her heart felt as though it had been shredded by a blender, then stomped on mercilessly.
The sky, which had been clear and boundless just moments ago, suddenly darkened. Thunder rumbled ominously. Su Qing remained rooted to the spot for several minutes, oblivious to the hurried pedestrians and vehicles brushing past her. Everything around her moved, yet she stood still.
It all felt like a dream—she couldn't tell whether she was trapped in it or awake.
Minutes later, heavy raindrops began pelting down, sending passersby scrambling for cover. Only when the cold rain stung her skin did she realize this wasn't a dream. Heaven had struck her with a bolt from the blue, and as if unsatisfied, now thundered and poured relentlessly, drowning her in misery.
Drenched and disoriented, she finally hurried toward the subway station.
Wiping her face, she couldn't tell whether the wetness was rain or tears. The icy droplets mixed with her scalding tears, carving rivulets down her cheeks.
Soaked to the bone, she boarded the subway. Suddenly, it dawned on her—the woman was the same one she'd seen in that video. They were still together. Xiao Ji had never ended things; he'd been lying to her all along.
She had been kept in the dark, foolishly believing he had changed. Instead, he had played her for a fool while she continued to trust him blindly.
A sharp pain gripped Su Qing's chest, twisting her stomach into spasms. Clutching her abdomen, she felt nauseous, as if her insides were churning. She fumbled for a tissue from her bag and pressed it to her lips.
Regret consumed her. Why hadn't she charged at them and slapped those two cheaters? Why had she hidden like an idiot, letting them escape?
Just fifteen minutes ago, she had thought herself a happy woman. Now, she realized she was the most pitiful, wretched Homo sapiens alive—deceived and manipulated by this man. In mere minutes, her happiness had shattered.
What she had believed to be unshakable bliss had crumbled in an instant, leaving her feeling as though the sky had collapsed.
Happiness and disaster were like a double-firecracker—one explosion in the heavens, the next on the ground. Before she could even cover her ears, her heart was left bleeding.
Dripping wet, she muddled through the rest of her workday in a haze, then numbly made her way home. Standing at her doorstep, she hesitated for two full minutes before finally unlocking the door and stepping inside.
The moment she entered, her son, cradled in her mother-in-law's arms, giggled and reached out for her. Gazing at his sweet, innocent smile, her heart ached unbearably. Forcing a smile, she picked him up.