Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

She tucked her body and stared blankly ahead. There was no emotion or focus on her eyes.

She had no idea how long it had been as seconds turned into minutes. All she did was stared blankly at the empty table even if there was nothing on it.

The buttery smell still lingered in the air. It had vanished in Xia Ruoxin’s world. Maybe she wasn’t meant to celebrate her birthdays.

Chu Lui woke up early in the morning where everything was bright and warm. He walked out, and when he saw Xia Ruoxin laying on the sofa, he sneered. She was laying on the sofa, tucked like a helpless child, in the same clothes as yesterday. There were visible tear stains on her pale face. She seemed to have cried even in her sleep.

He has finally robbed her of all her smiles.

At this moment, Xia Ruoxin felt an intense presence. She opened her red and swollen eyes to find a man standing in front of her.

“You must be hungry. I will prepare breakfast for you.” She stood up and forced a smile. It was a bitter and shy smile just like last night as though they had not fought the fight. Was that even a fight?

“No need.” Chu Lui answered, “You don’t have to cook for me in the future. I won’t eat.” He made his way out as soon as he finished talking. Xia Ruoxin held onto his clothes.

“Ah Lui, it is not good to go without breakfast. It’ll only take a while to prepare. Just a short while.” Her fingertips were turning white from holding on. She was afraid that once he leaves, she would never be able to catch up with him again.

Chu Lui stopped in his tracks and turned around. There was not an ounce of love from the last time in his eyes. Xia Ruoxin was shocked, and she suspected she had seen wrongly.

“I told you I won’t eat. You cook, you eat.” He lowered his head and stared at her fingers. He suddenly grabbed her cold hands. After a second, he pulled it off hard. The strength he used hurt her fingers.

He was the same as the night before. Heartless, indifferent, and cruel.

Xia Ruoxin hid her hand behind her back and rubbed her fingers with the other hand. As she lowered her head, she sniffed. Then, a tear fell rapidly, slicing the air that she was breathing, and landed on the floor.

She walked over to the window and the panel. From afar, a luxurious sports car sped away from her view. Just like his silhouette earlier.

She placed her fingers on the cold glass, and she rested her face on it. Tears of sorrow fell on the pale face.

What had she done wrong so wrong that they had to revert to the past?

She opened the door to their bedroom. It was untouched since yesterday. There was no mistress or master. Their wedding portrait was still hanging on the wall, but the bride was not Xia Ruoxin.

She might be the most pathetic wife. Her husband and her sisters’ wedding portrait remained hanging on the wall of her bedroom. Seeing it again had caused her heart to hurt badly. She sat by the bed and took out her sketchbook. This time, a cold and hard man appeared from within.

She drew a few lines, but she realized her fingers had started shaking.

She thought that the cold war between them was only for this one day, or maybe for a few days. She was wrong. The duration of Chu Lui being home grew shorter. He never set foot in the room again.