CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 349: BREAKING FREE

The deep night was steeped in darkness, the moon’s light cold and clear.

In the brightly lit living room, Sun Wen released the bag in his hand, which clattered onto the table.

It was filled with cash, stack upon stack neatly bundled as Xu Wei had given him, now returned to her in the same manner.

Xu Wei looked up, and the tall man seemed to finally find relief, straightening his back a bit more. He exhaled a long breath, turned to look at her, and fell silent with pursed lips for a moment.

"We no longer have any financial ties," Sun Wen said.

This relationship was finally over. He had gained a lot but had also lost plenty.

Now everything was coming to an end, and aside from the feeling of liberation, there was a touch of hollowness in his heart.

"It’s over?" Xu Wei asked.

"It’s over."

"Looks like your gym is doing pretty well."

"It’s not too bad."

If he hadn’t been so eager to settle Xu Wei’s debt, he would have already been preparing to open a branch by now—during the initial phase of the gym’s construction, he launched a presale event to recoup some capital. He didn’t use it to repay the debt, but instead, he invested everything back into the gym, upgrading the decor yet another level. There weren’t many competitors around the location he’d chosen. The only gym that had invested more than him was an old establishment, not only with outdated equipment but also with outmoded gear. As long as it wasn’t refurbished, none could outshine his.

Fortune comes in cycles, and in a way, he had encountered a benefactor, although this benefactor was a bit unconventional.

Sun Wen stood there for a moment, then turned and sat down next to Xu Wei. His hand reached under the hem of her clothes. Xu Wei made no move, turning her head to look at him with a smile, "Aren’t you going to keep your distance from me and then we’ll never see each other again?"

"That’s what I thought."

"And then?"

"One can deceive others, but not oneself. The fact that you’ve kept me is true, and how far I’ve run is also true."

Pausing, he continued, "Now... our relationship has gone back to how it was in the bar, right?"

Xu Wei laughed, "Stockholm syndrome?"

"...It’s not."

Sun Wen wasn’t entirely sure what his feelings were. He had thought it all through before: once he repaid the money and regained his dignity, he would cut off contact forever and bury this Chapter of his life as if it had never happened.

He could embrace a new life, letting bygones be bygones.

Now, Sun Wen’s thoughts had changed. They had altered the moment he saw Xu Wei. Repaying the money was just to end this Chapter, but his dignity wasn’t fully reclaimed. He was still a man who had been kept by this woman, a plaything for a number of years—though she never intentionally made him do anything intolerable, the fact remained the fact.

An equal relationship made him feel better; at least when he was with her, he could truly feel he’d stood up, rather than scampering away after being kept for a while.

Xu Wei sat on the couch, leaning back slightly, her face still adorned with that indifferent smile. She wasn’t too concerned about Sun Wen’s thoughts. She was not the type to be sore about losing, but she was a bit surprised and pleased now.

Yes, Sun Wen was making a bet, wagering that his gym wouldn’t lead him to ruin again, having nothing left to lose. Xu Wei was betting too, only she didn’t clench her teeth and go all in as he did. She was more like someone watching a pet struggling to break free from its leash, out of boredom. If it broke free, she’d let it go; if it didn’t, she’d keep it around, occasionally throwing it a bone when she felt good, kicking it out when bored—If she won, Sun Wen would be tied here, waiting for the day she grew tired of him; if she lost, she’d have to find another pleasing plaything.

Sun Wen had fought an impressive battle, breaking free from the shackles she placed on him before she grew weary of him, leaving her slightly regretful.

It was time to find another.

Tracing her finger along Sun Wen’s face, Xu Wei half-closed her eyes and looked towards the ceiling light, pondering for a moment before saying, "Didn’t you say before that you wanted to be your own person?"

"Mmh, I said so."

"You’ve gotten your wish."

"Of course."

"Hehe... carry me inside."

...

Tonglin Road.

Qin Guanglin was also asking He Fang about Sun Wen.

"How would I know? You’ve only mentioned a few times about the things he’s done. I think he’s not a good person. You should hang out with him less."

"Which few times? Can you recap?"

"Ah... just all that messy stuff, getting cozy with wealthy women. You know all about it, right? Later, you mentioned he’d come into money, turned his life around. Every time he shows up, he’s got a different girlfriend. It’s disgusting. Move aside, I’m going to be sick."

...

To wrap oneself in the hide of the wrapped?

Qin Guanglin was somewhat at a loss for words, but the pity he felt in his heart had vanished without a trace. Life is what you make of it, and with arms and legs, it’s no one else’s fault.

And since he’d turned his life around, there was even less need for sympathy.

Still, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The older you get, the fewer friends you have—to be precise, someone like him would find his circle of friends shrinking as he aged.

Social interactions too simplistic, and not the type to frolic in bars and KTVs with friends like Gao Xin and Zhang Dongming, Qin Guanglin preferred solitude. He found pleasure in painting and reading alone, and noisy environments were hard for him to adapt to—nor did he want to force himself to fit in.

Xiao Yu, on the other hand, enjoyed a wider range of pastimes, whether quietly fishing or joining friends and colleagues at lively events. With a good tolerance for alcohol, he felt right at home in these settings, and the conversations were always pleasing... pah, getting off track.

In short, Qin Guanglin was somewhat of a loner. Many adults are, and after declining invitations too many times, friends stop calling. It’s true what they say, "Birds of a feather flock together," but he’s a decent person. Because of this, he didn’t cut off ties completely. Friends remained friends, and on the off chance there was a proper event, they’d still get together, chat, and shoot the breeze, but the relationship wasn’t as deep as with Xiao Yu—thinking twice before lending money.

He was content with this. Colleague relationships were quite nice: one step closer was a friend; one step further, a stranger—a perfect balance.

You only need two or three close friends.

He Fang was probably much like him. The relationships between adults can be complex or simple. A small, clean social circle and clear interpersonal relations—they were kindred spirits, both preferring quiet and disliking troubles. That’s why they got along so well and enjoyed this kind of life.

Life is short, and even the plain days seem too few—no time to be bothered with all that mess. "Life is short, enjoy it while you can," has different meanings to different people. Some feel a colorful life is the only way to live, while others can’t see the appeal in a bland existence, so they go their separate ways, maybe crossing paths occasionally, but quick to part again.

Just like Sun Wen and him, destined to drift apart until they lose contact.

Outside the window, the moon was bright, and the wind was cool, with the mottled shadows of trees gently swaying in the breeze, resembling a huge monster rearing its head in the dark.

Qin Guanglin stood on the balcony for a while until He Fang called him over to massage her legs. Then he gathered his thoughts, returned to the living room, squatted in front of the sofa, and gently massaged He Fang’s slightly swollen legs.

Pregnant women always have one issue or another, and he had long mastered the right pressure to apply.

"When are you leaving your job?" He Fang asked about something else she cared about.

"Soon, very soon... after the official handover at the end of the month."

It was mid-September, half a month since Qin Guanglin had submitted his resignation, and roughly four months until He Fang’s due date.