Rose Cage

(A story about getting back together after a breakup)

Yu Qiu Chi reluctantly took part in a street-interview challenge: call her ex-boyfriend and tell him she was getting married.

Calmly, she spoke into the phone on speaker: “I'm getting married.”

A scoff came from the other end, and then he hung up.

*

The editor-in-chief asked Yu Qiu Chi to interview Meng Xing, a writer who had become famous a few years earlier.

After finally arranging a time to meet, Yu Qiu Chi discovered that the writer Meng Xing was the ex-boyfriend she'd broken up with years ago.

His smile didn't reach his eyes. “Congratulations on your wedding.”

Yu Qiu Chi didn't reply. She just kept her head down and asked the questions she'd prepared.

“Your early short story about a particularly painful breakup really struck a nerve. The way you described the male lead being suddenly dumped was especially vivid and emotionally compelling. A lot of readers are curious: did you go through something similar?”

Only after reading the question with a blank expression did Yu Qiu Chi realize what she'd asked.

Her ex-boyfriend sneered. “Aren't you the one who knows best?”

He immediately stood up and said, “My home doesn't welcome married people. Please leave.”

“Don't worry. I'll leave as soon as the interview is over.”

Her ex-boyfriend took a bottle of disinfectant from the cupboard and sprayed the entire room, especially the places where she'd been.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant.

Yu Qiu Chi suddenly remembered when they used to be together.

She'd asked, “What would you do if I suddenly disappeared?”

He'd turned to her and asked earnestly, “Are you going to leave me?”

She'd nodded.

“Then I...” He thought for a long while. “I'll never want to see you again. Whenever I do, I'll spray you with disinfectant. I'll disinfect everything and live for ten thousand years.”

[Note] One-on-one romance, happy ending, no angst.

Theme: Don't lend money. Treasure your life.