Eight Years for Freedom

Went to my hairdresser's wedding with my boyfriend of three days of cold war.  

He was in the best man's group and I was in the bridesmaid's group. 

When we played the game, he lost. 

He was penalized for carrying all the bridesmaids down the stairs.

He laughed and carried everyone but me. 

One of the sweet looking bridesmaids suddenly asked him, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

He looked at me, “No.” 

The girl was enthusiastic and bold, “Then can I chase you?”  

He smiled a gentlemanly smile, “Of course. 

Suddenly, I feel meaningless. 

1

I was standing outside the crowd at the wedding setup. 

I couldn't help but follow Gu Xiao's figure.

He was wearing a well-tailored black suit, with a straight posture and a gentle smile. 

He was standing with the maid of honor.  

The bridesmaid was holding a red balloon in her hand, smiling with arched eyebrows and flushed cheeks. 

From time to time, she lowered her head and pursed her lips, looking shy and sweet. 

Gu Xiao's gaze always fell on her, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth. 

My heart felt like it had been gripped hard by something, and my breathing was a little stagnant. 

Was I too sensitive?

Suddenly, Gu Xiao took the bridesmaid's cell phone, squatted on the ground, and took pictures of the bridesmaids. 

The bridesmaids various actions, Gu Xiao is also all of you patience.  

But this spring when we went to soft-shelled turtle to see cherry blossoms, he was impatient. 

“What's there to photograph.” 

He reluctantly took a few shots, I look, are blurred figures.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness in my heart. 

Originally, I thought that this wedding would be the turning point of our relationship. 

He had said that he would give me a surprise at the wedding. 

We know it well.  

8 years in love. 

He would propose to me when he grabbed the hand bouquet. 

But now he was standing next to another girl, smiling so naturally. 

The bride patted my shoulder from behind, interrupting my thoughts, “Shen Yue, you're finally here! Busy man, when are you going to invite me for a wedding drink?” 

Her tone was flirtatious, but it made me even more nervous.

I barely pulled out a smile and said perfunctorily, “It should be soon.”

Following my line of sight, she also saw Gu Xiao.  

Then she excitedly waved at him, ''School Grass! Shen Yue said that you guys are getting close?” 

Her voice was crisp and loud, drawing sideways glances from the people around her. 

I subconsciously pulled on her wrist, trying to stop her from continuing. 

Gu Xiao heard the sound and turned his head to look over.

His gaze lingered on my face for a split second, then he coldly moved away. 

His tone was calm but detached, “Don't start a scene.”

My best friend smiled awkwardly and signaled me with her eyes.  

“Break up?” 

I smiled bitterly. 

“We had a fight, it's going cold turkey.” 

My best friend patted me on the shoulder in a comforting gesture. 

2

At the reception, a small game was arranged.

Gu Xiao lost.  

The punishment was to carry us three bridesmaids downstairs. 

He laughed and carried everyone, except me. 

He gasped slightly, “Sorry, I can't carry you anymore.”

It was then that the bridesmaids noticed me and looked at me curiously for a few moments. 

Softly, she asked, “Excuse me, do you know each other?” Ṭŭ̀ₐ 

Gu Xiao barely hesitated and faintly spat out two words, “Hair boy.”

My heart felt like it had been stabbed hard by something again, and the pain spread.  

He actually didn't recognize our relationship. 

I forced a smile and nodded, “Yeah. 

If you want to hear embarrassing stories about his childhood, you can come and ask me.”

Gu Xiao probably didn't expect me to reply like this. 

The smile suddenly tightened.

I asked back, “What's wrong?” 

He said with anger, “Shen Yue, don't go too far.”  

What am I going overboard for? 

Am I so afraid that I'll tell him the embarrassing things he did in the past. 

At this moment, the bridesmaid broke the awkwardness between us. 

She blinked her eyes and smiled sweetly, ''Really? That's great! I was just about to learn more about him.”

She turned her head to Gu Xiao with a hint of playfulness in her eyes, “Then can I chase you?” 

Gu Xiao didn't look at me, but just slightly hooked the corner of his mouth, his tone relaxed, “Of course.”

At that moment, I felt like my world collapsed.  

Gu Xiao had a handsome face, and over the years there were countless butterflies who wanted to jump on him. 

But he refused with unshakable firmness every time. 

“Sorry, I'm married.” 

We hadn't been in a relationship for long. 

And he already had me in his marriage. 

Gave me enough security.

Now it's just a “hairy guy”.  

I tried to reassure myself in my mind that he must have deliberately pissed me off. 

He couldn't really be doing this to me. 

However, the uproar around me was like a sharp knife piercing into my heart.

“Add WeChat, add WeChat!” 

Those who were watching were not too busy.

Gu Xiao smiled as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, opened the QR code, and handed it to Tang Ran with incomparable naturalness. 

His smile still had a hint of shyness.  

Like the year of my junior year of college, I was ready to apply to study abroad. 

When he learned about it, he pulled me to the grove. 

“Yueyue, I like you, I've liked you for many years.”

“Will you be my girlfriend?” 

Before I could say yes, he suddenly came closer and kissed the side of my face.

At that time, he smiled the same way.

At this moment, as I stood by, I suddenly felt that everything had become tasteless and even a bit ridiculous.  

Eight years of feelings, once a little bit, in this moment seems so pale and powerless. 

I used to think that our relationship is indestructible. 

Now it seems to be as fragile as a piece of thin paper that can easily be torn apart.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself calm. 

“Come on, group photo!” The photographer shouted. 

We quickly gathered around the bride and groom. 

The girl who had just confessed to Gu Xiao took advantage of the confusion and pushed me.  

When I turned around, she had already stuck to Gu Xiao and stood beside him. 

Originally, the bride, Yanyan, was our mutual best friend. 

During our college days, we agreed to be her best man and maid of honor respectively in the future.

A few days ago.

Gu Xiao and I fell in love with the eighth anniversary of the anniversary, but the company temporarily arranged for me to go abroad on business. 

Because of this sudden assignment, a heated argument broke out between us.  

Gu Xiao blamed me for breaking my promise, while I tried to explain. 

“It was a sudden arrangement at work, it's not like I intentionally wanted to not go.” 

I tried to explain, “Gu Xiao, I'll make sure to rush back right after I finish settling the branch. 

Don't be angry, okay.” I coaxed. 

But he was extremely angry, “Company! Company! Can't the company function without you, Shen Yue?

Shen Yue, you don't even look in the mirror, you're just a graduate of a non-profit institution, don't think too highly of yourself.”

My hand holding the suitcase lurched.  

At first, I was willing to coax him. 

It's because on one hand, I did break my promise first. 

On the other hand, I understood that he was so angry because he cared too much about our anniversary.

I ẗū́ₓ told myself that I cared because I loved. 

But that statement woke me up with a slap in the face. 

Maybe it was an impulse, a slip of the tongue. 

But it was like a sharp knife that viciously stabbed me in the deepest pain of my heart.  

I had the opportunity to enter the 211 college. 

The night before the college entrance exam, Gu Xiao and his mother had another argument over his father's infidelity. 

He chose to leave home. 

His mother found me. 

As his neighbor and friend, we were really close during that time.

Fearing for his safety, I went out to look for him for three whole hours without a second thought.

As a result, I caught a cold and developed a high fever during the exam, which affected my performance.  

Only then did I go to the local school with him. 

After the argument, Gu Xiao once again blacked out all my contacts. 

I didn't take it too seriously, it's not the first time. 

He is a little childish, I am willing to tolerate.

But, when I brought to him to buy the value of the Rolex. 

When returning from a business trip. 

Pressing the password.  

But prompted me the password is wrong. 

I knocked on the door, no one answered. 

The whole banquet, I do not know what to eat, heavy hearted.

Watching Yanyan happily married to her beloved, how can not touch. 

But as soon as I thought about the moment, my eyes couldn't help but moisten.

In the next interactive session, the host began to throw dolls.  

Gu Xiao quickly grabbed the Kitty cat doll. 

Kitty is my favorite doll, and our home is filled with all kinds of pink Kitties. 

Some of them were given to me by him in college, and some were carefully selected when we traveled to Japan together. 

There are also many that he specially recycled from various places at a high price. 

I gently wiped away the tears in the corners of my eyes and was about to get up.

But I saw him hand the doll to another bridesmaid without hesitation, his eyes full of favor.

Those eyes had belonged to me once upon a time.  

My body stiffened and I slowly sat back in my seat, my mind a mix of emotions. 

It was so ironic. 

But how can you put down a five-year relationship just like that? 

I held on to one last ray of hope in my heart. 

Maybe Gu Xiao was really just deliberately pissing me off, wanting to teach me a lesson. 

After all, this isn't the first time he's done this.

Unwillingly, I tried to add Gu Xiao's contact information again.  

Sent a message: “Gu Xiao, I know it's wrong, can you pass me a bit?” 

I thought that he should just want me to bow down. 

However, this message was like a stone sinking into the sea, without any response.

Gu Xiao went to the restroom, and I was sitting alone with mixed feelings. 

At this time, the bridesmaid suddenly came over and said softly, “My name is Tang Ran, tell me something interesting about Brother Gu.”

Sizing me up, “Has he ever been in love, what kind of girl does he like.” 

I raised my head and was about to respond when I saw her pause after looking into the distance.  

Suddenly splashing the coke in her hand on herself. 

I froze and looked at her blankly, not understanding what was happening at all. 

I was about to get up to get some toilet paper. 

Gu Xiao rushed in from behind and pushed me away.

I was knocked into the next seat and red wine spilled all over me. 

His tone was sharp and angry: “Shen Yue, you have to distinguish between occasions when you play with your temper, don't you see where you are today?” 

He painfully took off his suit and wrapped it tightly around Tang Ran, as if she had suffered some great indignity.  

“What did I do?” I asked justifiably, my heart full of incomprehension and aggression. 

“How dare you argue? You threw coke on Tang Ran and you still have a point? Apologize to Tang Ran!” Gu Xiao's voice was cold and hard, his eyes full of reproach. 

I looked at him incredulously, after knowing and loving each other for eight years, how could he not know what kind of person I am?

Splashing wine and being jealous is the kind of thing I can't possibly do, nor do I care to do it. 

Tang Ran, however, pinched her throat at this time and said softly, “Brother Gu, it was my own hands that shook and accidentally splashed the coke on my skirt, so don't blame your sister for meťù⁼.” 

My heart sank, this kind of green tea plot that I've only seen in novels was actually stumbled upon by me in reality.

“Apologize, I'll say it again.”  

Gu Xiao grabbed the white wine on the table and filled it up for me, “Drink and show your sincerity.” 

Tears almost fell from the corner of my eyes, “Gu Xiao, you know, I can't drink.” 

He wouldn't be unaware that I have a bad stomach and can't touch alcohol at all. 

“How come? Didn't you drink a lot at a party not too long ago.” He said coldly.

The time he was talking about was when I accompanied him to a drinking party.

He had taken a cephalosporin for a cold and couldn't drink, but he couldn't put off the investor's wine.

So I grabbed the glass and volunteered to drink it all.  

That night, my stomach burned so badly that he squatted by the bedside to feed me water in spite of the 39-degree fever. 

He also promised, “Yueyue, don't drink it anymore, I can't bear to part with it.” 

But it's only been a few months and he's forgotten.

Seeing my face hesitant, Tang Ran suddenly fell into tears and hid in Gu Xiao's arms, sobbing in a low voice: “Brother Gu, don't make it difficult for your hair.” 

There were already whispers around. 

I took a deep breath and picked up the glass of white wine, ''It's impossible to make me apologize, but today is Yanyan's wedding, I can drink the wine.

However, Gu Xiao, after drinking this cup, we are done.”  

A hint of hesitation flashed in Gu Xiao's eyes, but he didn't stop it. 

I finished the glass of white wine in one gulp, and my throat and stomach burst into flames. 

“Let's go, I'll take you to change your clothes.” Gu Xiao's voice rang in my ears, but it was addressed to Tang Ran. 

As I watched, Gu Xiao took Tang Ran and left the wedding site early.

I stood where I was, my heart mixed, but I also felt a sense of relief. 

Perhaps this relationship should have ended a long time ago.

5  

The hustle and bustle of the wedding had just cleared when a sharp cramping pain did come from the pit of my stomach. 

It was as if there were countless sharp blades churning in my abdomen. 

In this helpless moment, I subconsciously took out my cell phone and dialed Gu Xiao's number.

However, the phone came from the other end of the cold tone - he has long pulled me into the blacklist. 

At that moment, even for no apparent reason, a little hatred was born. 

I thought indisputably, if I really have an emergency, what should I do?

I forced myself to endure the pain and stumbled towards the elevator.  

Every step felt like stepping on cotton, vapid and unreal. 

I couldn't help but begin to doubt myself. 

How did an eight-year relationship get to this point?

Which step went wrong? Is it that I don't deserve to be loved. 

In a daze, I pushed open the door.

The scene in front of me made me like a lightning strike, the whole person froze in place.

There was an ambiguous sound coming from the presidential suite, and that sound was like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into my heart.  

I couldn't believe my ears and looked down at the room card in my hand, repeatedly confirming that I hadn't gone to the wrong room. 

“Brother, be gentle.” A delicate female voice came from the room with a hint of petulance. 

“Don't say anything.” It was Gu Xiao's voice, low and urgent. 

My blood seemed to freeze at this moment.

The heart felt like it was being clutched tightly by an invisible hand, almost unable to breathe.

My ears buzzed and my mind went blank. 

“Brother, what are you afraid of? I've already unlocked the door, no one will hear.”  

Tang Ran's voice sounded again, with a hint of smugness and teasing, as if she was showing off her victory. 

I stood outside the door, the room card in my hand almost deformed by my squeezing, my fingertips white from the force. 

Eight years of relationship, once promises and sweetness, completely collapsed into ashes at this moment. 

Those former vows, those times spent together, seemed to have become ironic jokes. 

Gu Xiao, we are completely over.

I copied the vase at the entrance hall and smashed it hard on the ground.

With a loud 'bang', the ambiguous sounds in the room came to an abrupt end.

How much I loved before, how much I hated at this moment.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

Tang Ran was sitting on top of Gu Xiao, disheveled and with an unfading blush on her face.

Even though I had long guessed what they were doing, the moment I witnessed it, I still felt a wave of nausea.

My stomach turned over and even breathing became difficult.

“Gu Xiao, changed your clothes to the bed Ṫũ⁺?” I spoke coldly, my voice carrying suppressed anger and disappointment, “You're disgusting.”

Tang Ran scrambled to pull the quilt around herself, putting on a terrified look, but her eyes flickered with a hint of smugness.

I couldn't help but sneer, ''Ms. Tang, what are you pretending at this moment? Aren't you purposely letting me come to see this play?”

My chin lifted towards the hidden door of the room, the door wasn't even unlocked, all this was just to let me 'happen' to bump into it.

“Ms. Shen, you're just one of Brother Gu's youngest friends, why do you still need to report his personal affairs with other women to you?” Tang Ran raised her chin, her tone full of provocation, “I think you're the one who's meddling, Miss Shen.”

I ignored her and turned my gaze towards Gu Xiao.

He was lazily leaning against the bed, his face not the slightest bit flustered at being caught in the act.

Instead, with a bit of teasing, he lightly glanced at me, “What are you doing here? Catching an adulterer?”

His tone was relaxed as if none of this mattered.

There was also a hint of mischievous flirtation.

“You can't wait to roll in bed with another woman, can you?” I couldn't help but question.

Gu Xiao patted Tang Ran and softly said, “Baby, go out for a bit and wait for me in the living room.” Tang Ran reluctantly got up and left the room, wrapped in the quilt.

As soon as the door closed, Gu Xiao suddenly reached out and pulled me into his arms.

I tried to break free, but his strength was so great that I couldn't Ŧŭ̀₊ move at all.

“What are you doing!” I yell down through gritted teeth.

He leaned close to my ear, his breath warm, “Angry? It's not like we're really doing anything.”

I looked at him viciously, everything in front of me, do you want me to pretend to be blind?

Did Tang Ran's clothes disappear by themselves?

I raised my hand and fiercely slapped him. “Gu Xiao, you are shameless!” My voice trembled, but my words were clear.

He was not amused, but instead forcefully clasped the back of my head and kissed me.

Once upon a time, when we quarreled, we used to be like this.

Resolving conflicts with kisses.

Gu Xiao knew how to please me in bed.

But this time, I closed my eyes, and my mind was full of that scene just now - him naked, Tang Ran sitting on top of him, with ambiguous traces on her lips.

I violently pushed him away, my voice cold as ice: “Break up, Gu Xiao.”

“I feel sick.”

He froze for a moment, then laughed as if he had heard some kind of joke: “Think it over, Shen Yue. Your mother is still lying in the ICU, with your little income, how long can you last?”

It was as if I really knew him for the first time.

Incredulously, I looked at him, “You want me to beg you? You threaten me?”

He shrugged, his tone flirty, “That's not true. It's just that I feel that if it's a breakup, I have to be the one to initiate it first.”

“Not to mention, after so many years of relationship, you're willing to part with it?”

What makes him think that even if he cheated on me, I would still love him.

I snorted, my tone firm, “Do you think you can hold me? Gu Xiao, when I say break up, it will be a break up.”

“Wait.” He suddenly called out to me, his eyes falling on the high fashion dress on my body, the necklace around my neck, and the bag in my hand, “This high fashion dress of yours, the necklace, and this bag, are all mine. Keep it.”

I squeezed the bag in my hand tightly, my knuckles white from the force.

All the aggression, anger and resentment exploded at this moment.

Maybe