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The Backup Plan
When Ethan Lu dumped me for the third time to get back together with Joanna Qin, I finally realized how pointless it all was.
As he was leaving, he said, "Moi, go find yourself a boyfriend. I won't be coming back this time."
I smiled and nodded. "Okay."
He thought that as long as he looked back, I'd always be there waiting.
But later, when he and Joanna broke up again and he came looking for me, he found me downstairs kissing my boyfriend, completely lost in the moment.
In the thick of the night, Ethan Lu saw the girl who used to speak so softly to him now gently coaxing another man.
"Nathan, stop being jealous, okay? I stopped liking him a long time ago..."
1
I was about to make a wish when Ethan zoned out for the third time.
Absentmindedly, he pulled out his phone, unlocked it, locked it again, over and over.
Finally, the screen lit up with an incoming message.
His furrowed brow instantly smoothed.
While everyone was singing Happy Birthday, Ethan just walked out of the room.
The singing trailed off awkwardly.
The girl beside me touched my arm with concern. "Moi, are you okay?"
I smiled bitterly.
What could possibly be wrong?
After all these years, scenes like this had become all too familiar.
People in the private dining room had already started whispering.
"I just saw on Instagram—Joanna got back to the States a couple days ago."
"Ethan probably picked her up from the airport, right?"
"Obviously. Everyone knows how much he treasures her."
"Keep it down, don't let Moi hear."
"So what if she hears? If you're going to be someone's backup, you need to know your place. When the real deal comes back, what chance does she have?"
As the chatter grew louder, the door swung open from outside.
Ethan had returned—but Joanna was with him.
Both wore black cashmere coats.
Ethan was tall and handsome, Joanna slender and stunning.
They truly were the perfect couple.
Everyone crowded around them. "Ethan!" "Joanna!" The greetings came enthusiastically.
I stood off to the side, tactfully keeping my distance.
Until Ethan called my name. "Moi."
The room fell silent.
They looked at me—Ethan Lu's girlfriend, at least in name.
Joanna also looked at me, then unhappily pulled her hand away from Ethan's.
2
Ethan shook his head helplessly, almost indulgently.
After whispering something to her that made Joanna smile, he finally walked over to me.
"Moi, I need to talk to you."
I looked up at him.
After a long moment, I asked softly, "Can't it wait until after I cut the cake?"
Ethan avoided my gaze. "Moi!"
"Fine." I put down the knife and fork, waiting for him to speak.
"You know Jo has always been in my heart."
He frowned slightly as he looked at me. "And honestly, you're just not my type."
"These past few days together have been... boring."
"Are you breaking up with me?"
Ethan nodded without hesitation. "Moi, go find yourself a boyfriend."
"I won't be coming back to you anymore."
This wasn't the first time he'd said something like this to me.
Before, when he said it, I'd always stubbornly shake my head.
But this time, I smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Ethan frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But Joanna had already lost patience. "Ethan Lu, are you done yet? How long does it take to break up?"
He said nothing more, just turned and left with his arm around Joanna.
I clenched my hands tightly, my fingertips digging into my palms.
Yet I felt no pain.
Finally, I couldn't help but look up at his retreating back.
Each step was decisive, final.
I counted—it took him eleven steps to leave the room.
When those eleven steps were over, I felt like I'd finally, truly let go.
3
Once Ethan left, everyone else scattered too.
I looked at the cake in front of me, cut a slice, and put it on a plate.
Then I opened a bottle of wine.
In the end, I didn't touch the cake, but I finished the wine.
Throwing on my coat, I left the room. In the distance, someone was setting off fireworks.
I stopped to watch for a while.
When the fireworks bloomed across the sky, lighting up the darkness, I also saw Joanna nestled in Ethan's embrace.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, her smile radiant.
And Ethan held her tightly, lowering his head to tenderly kiss her forehead.
Today was my birthday.
But these fireworks weren't for me.
I laughed at myself and turned away, stumbling forward.
Along the way, some drunk men tried to stop me. "Hey beautiful, wanna have some fun?"
I tried pushing them away but couldn't. Fear and panic rose in my chest.
Except for Ethan, I didn't know anyone here.
But should I call Ethan for help?
While I hesitated, Ethan had already left with Joanna in his arms.
And the man in front of me had grabbed my wrist tightly, trying to pull me into his embrace.
I struggled desperately, but I was too drunk to have any strength.
Just as his hand was about to reach my waist, in the deep night, I caught sight of a familiar figure.
Nathan Xu wore a dark gray long coat, a cigarette between his fingers, apparently on a phone call.
The ember glowed and faded between his slender fingers.
Mottled light and shadow fell across his chiseled profile—perfectly sculpted features.
Without thinking, I called out loudly, "Dr. Xu..."
4
When Nathan's gaze turned toward me, those deep eyes looked like cold stars in the dark night—no warmth, no emotion.
But after a moment's hesitation, he hung up the phone and stubbed out his cigarette, walking toward me.
The drunk men seemed to realize he was wealthy and well-connected.
They smartly let go and walked away.
But as soon as they released me, my legs gave out.
Nathan reached out and steadied me. "Stand up straight."
I thanked him softly, trying to steady myself.
But I kept swaying, nearly falling several times.
Nathan frowned and had to support me again. "Where's Ethan? Isn't he with you?"
"We broke up."
He seemed to laugh, or maybe I imagined it.
"Don't you two break up every other day?"
I looked down, staring at my feet.
That sour, bitter feeling spread from my chest all the way to my throat.
When I spoke again, my voice was hoarse. "We really broke up this time. We're not getting back together."
Nathan seemed completely uninterested in hearing about this.
He checked his watch and said coldly, "Can you get home by yourself?"
"My stomach hurts..."
"Your gastric ulcer just healed. I'd suggest drinking less."
"But it's my birthday today."
I looked up at him with reddened eyes. "Dr. Xu, I'm in a bad mood, that's why I drank."
Nathan said nothing.
But clearly, his gaze seemed to soften somewhat.
"I'll take you home first."
"I don't want to go home."
Nathan glanced at me, his eyes darkening slightly. "Then what do you want to do?"
"Dr. Xu."
"Yes?"
"It's my birthday. I don't want to be alone."
Nathan was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Get in the car first."
"I'm not going home."
Nathan gripped the steering wheel with one hand and glanced at me. "I know."
5
To be exact, we kissed in the underground parking garage.
He had leaned over to unbuckle my seatbelt.
As he leaned in, his prominent nose inadvertently brushed against the top of my head.
"Dr. Xu..."
Slow from the alcohol, I looked up at him blankly, forgetting to move away.
Nathan looked at me but didn't pull back either.
His gaze gradually burned hotter, making my mouth go dry.
I couldn't remember who kissed whom first.
By the time I came to my senses, Nathan had already cupped the back of my head, deepening the kiss.
Ethan and I had broken up and gotten back together several times over nearly a year.
We'd held hands. He'd kissed me too. But because he didn't really like me, his kisses were always just fleeting touches.
But Nathan kissed deeply.
So deeply that I was almost breathless before Nathan stopped.
In the dim light of the car, he lowered his head, his forehead lightly touching mine.
"Moi, you're supposed to close your eyes when you kiss."
"Why?"
Nathan kissed me again. "Because when you look at me like that, I can't wait until we get home."
This kiss was long and comfortable.
I couldn't help but moan softly, raising my hand to run my fingers through his thick, dark hair.
"Nathan, don't rush... we have all night."
I didn't want to be someone's pathetic backup anymore.
Didn't want to be at someone's beck and call.
I knew that completely getting over someone you truly cared about was incredibly hard.
So I didn't want to leave myself an escape route.
I didn't want to give myself a way back.
After tonight, Ethan and I would be over forever.
Maybe I'd been too repressed all these years.
So when I finally let loose while drunk, I went all the way.
6
Nathan brought me to his bedroom. As he stood by the bed unbuttoning his shirt, he suddenly stopped and looked down at me. "Moira Jiang, if you regret this now..."
I reached up and hooked my arms around his neck. "Dr. Xu, do doctors really chicken out at the last minute?"
Nathan said nothing more, but his obsidian eyes suddenly blazed with fire.
He pinned my wrists above my head, kissing me deeply and dominantly.
Most surgeons had deft, skilled hands.
And Nathan was definitely among the best.
As I floated up into the clouds, an absurd thought even crossed my mind.
With hands like his, he could probably catch even the most slippery fish bare-handed.
Otherwise, how could he so precisely catch my little fish right now?
"Moi..."
Another burning kiss fell, Nathan's teeth grazing my earlobe, his voice husky. "Say my name, Moi."
I moaned softly with discomfort. "Nathan, Nathan, I can't take it..."
Kisses like raindrops fell on my lips again. "Good girl, I'll give you everything."
7
Late into the night, rain began falling on the terrace outside.
The delicate flowers were drenched by the early winter rain.
Inside, however, was a different kind of drenching spring warmth.
But after the spring came, someone's mood was strangely complicated.
Nathan was craving a cigarette. He took one out but didn't light it.
He hadn't expected this.
Moira Jiang and Ethan Lu had been on and off for three years.
Yet they'd never crossed that line.
8
When I woke the next day, it was already bright outside.
Nathan had the day off and had already prepared breakfast.
After washing up, I sat down at the dining table.
As he handed me hot milk, I asked tentatively, "Dr. Xu, can I take a picture?"
Ten minutes earlier, someone had sent me a screenshot.
Last night, Ethan had posted on Instagram: "After all this time, it's still you."
The photo showed him and Joanna holding hands under the fireworks.
Someone in the comments had apparently asked about me.
Ethan had replied: "Don't mention her anymore. Jo won't like it."
"Picture of what?" Nathan cut a slice of bread and placed it on my plate.
The hands that usually held a scalpel now held a knife and fork—each finger still elegant and strong.
I suddenly thought of last night, when those same slender fingers had been driving me wild.
Dr. Xu, who seemed so refined and untouchable in public, had been so unrestrained in bed.
And the things he'd whispered in my ear at the height of passion—I could barely think about them now.
I turned my face away and coughed lightly. "I want to take a picture of your hands."
Nathan didn't respond.
But after setting down the bread, he didn't withdraw his hand.
Slowly, I took out my phone, snapped a photo, then asked, "Can I post it on Instagram?"
Nathan methodically peeled a hard-boiled egg. "I'm single."
"Hm?"
He glanced at me and handed me the peeled egg. "Do whatever you want."
9
I posted on Instagram: "Bread cut by beautiful hands somehow tastes even better."
The photo featured Nathan's criminally gorgeous hands.
Within seconds, like cold water hitting hot oil, my phone exploded.
In the WhatsApp group chat with Ethan's fair-weather friends, someone immediately screenshot my Instagram post.
"Is this real or Photoshopped?"
"Gotta say, those hands are pretty nice."
"Didn't know Moi had it in her."
"It's probably just some stock photo she found online to make Ethan jealous."
Ethan: "Childish."
"Ethan, what do you think?"
"What if it's real though? Moi's not ugly—she's got that fair, delicate skin that guys like."
Ethan: "She wouldn't dare."
"Hard to say. Even the most patient person has limits."
"Ryan said the same thing back then."
Felix Fu: "Exactly."
Ryan Zhou: "..."
"Ethan, if Moi really started dating someone, would it bother you?"
Ethan: "I told you. She wouldn't dare."
"True. If she really dated someone else, she'd lose her backup position too."
Ethan: "Tell her to stop playing these games. She's not Joanna—I don't fall for this crap."
After replying, Ethan tossed down his phone and lit a cigarette.
Playing these tricks—how stupid can you be, Moira Jiang?
10
My phone was flooded with messages, all asking what that Instagram post meant.
I scrolled through them casually but didn't reply.
That afternoon, Nathan got called in for an emergency surgery.
"Rest at home. I'll pick you up for dinner when I'm done."
He changed clothes, grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door.
But I quickly followed him out. "I want to go back to the restaurant for a bit."
Nathan changed his shoes while glancing at me. "Something wrong?"
I bit my lip, not meeting his eyes. "Ethan's stuff is still there. I need to pack it up and have his assistant pick it up."
Nathan's voice was calm. "Mm. I'll drive you."
"Nathan, he and I never... we never did anything..."
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.
Actually, Nathan had probably just brought me home on a whim, out of curiosity.
I didn't need to explain any of this to him.
"I know."
Nathan looked back at me, his expression unexpectedly gentle. "I'll pick you up after work tonight."
After dropping me off at my small bistro, Nathan drove to the hospital.
I started packing up Ethan's things.
In my small family restaurant, I'd kept a room specifically for him.
Sometimes he'd entertain close friends here.
Occasionally he'd even spend the night.
But we'd never lived together.
He'd held me, kissed me.
Once, when he was drunk, we'd almost gone all the way.
But in the end, I'd heard him mumbling Joanna's name in his delirium.
In that instant, I'd suddenly sobered up.
The body doesn't lie.
Physical reactions can never be faked.
Maybe that was the moment I truly woke up from this messy love affair.
Ethan didn't love me. He didn't even like me, not even a little.
I packed up all his belongings one by one.
Then I called his assistant.
"Jason, when you have time, could you please come pick up Mr. Lu's things?"
"Miss Jiang, please hold on a moment."
"Okay."
A few minutes later, Jason called back.
"Miss Jiang, Mr. Lu says to leave everything there."
"Mr. Lu says you're still friends and he'll continue supporting your business."
"That's not necessary."
I smiled. "Please come get his things anyway, to avoid complications."
"Miss Jiang..."&l