Lu Xiuyan spent seven years as Qi Hangui’s substitute.
He took the drinks in his place, stayed up all night for him, and cleaned up every mess he made. He even knew the name of Qi Hangui’s first love better than his own birthday.
Seven years.
He swallowed the word “love” again and again until he was bleeding from the stomach.
Qi Hangui never said he liked him. Late at night, he only gripped the back of Lu Xiuyan’s neck and said, “Be good.”
And Lu Xiuyan really did obey him for seven years.
Until the car accident
Qi Hangui took a knife for him, then woke up in the hospital and forgot him.
That would have been bad enough.
But Qi Hangui mistook someone else for him.
And that person said, “Lu Xiuyan, you can leave now.”
Lu Xiuyan smiled, took off the plain ring on his finger, and disappeared into the rainy night with his suitcase.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t given Qi Hangui a chance.
Qi Hangui had thrown him away with his own hands.
But three months later, Qi Hangui, his memories restored, came looking for him. His eyes were red as he asked:
“Lu Xiuyan, tell me again. Who do you belong to?”
Lu Xiuyan leaned against the doorframe, his voice soft.
“Mr. Qi, you’ve got the wrong person.”
You used to call me a substitute.
Now your first love has told me herself that when you first met me, you said “Stay” not because of anyone else.
It was because I was me.
All along, he was the only one kept in the dark.
Now it was Qi Hangui’s turn to learn what it felt like to chase someone he could never win back.
I want nothing from you anymore.
I’m just waiting for you to get on your knees and beg me to come back.
