After returning home, I lay on the sofa, staring blankly at the wall.

I stared for a long time, and my eyes became tired. I closed them.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I remembered the day in the second year of high school when he confessed to me.

At that time, a group of friends surrounded me, cheering and making a fuss.

I was so nervous that I couldn't see anyone clearly except him.

My best friend stood beside me, happily recording a video of my confession.

All I heard was him saying the word "okay."

Until recently, I stumbled upon that video from long ago.

In the crowd of onlookers, I saw Zhao Shanshan's figure.

Before Xu Qin agreed to be with me, he looked up and glanced in her direction.

When he said that word, Zhao Shanshan lowered her eyelids and walked away.

Now, thinking back, shortly before Xu Qin and I confessed to each other, Zhao Shanshan got together with the guy from the neighboring class.

At this point, I tugged at the corner of my lips, threw my phone aside, and felt a cotton-like blockage in my heart, suffocating me.

It turns out that all this time, I have always been her substitute.

Just a shield he used to make her jealous.

Like a clown, I revolved around him, only to realize in the end that it was a one-woman show.

No wonder, even though Xu Qin and I have never broken up, his classmates think we broke up a long time ago because of his indifference.

I took a deep breath, intending to throw the tangled mess of thoughts out of my mind when my phone rang.

Hearing the ringtone, it took me a moment to realize it was my phone.

Because the special ringtone I set for him never rang.

I let the phone ring for a while before opening my eyes and picking it up.

I didn't speak, I waited silently for him to speak.

Xu Qin spoke, "Why aren't you home?"

I looked up at my current house, then glanced at the time on my phone.

It was six-thirty in the evening.

He actually came home.

How long has it been since he came home this early? It's really rare.

I lowered my gaze, tapping unconsciously on the empty right hand without a ring on the table. "Have you made up your mind? If you have, sign it. Whenever you're free, let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau together."

On the other end of the phone, Xu Qin took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone, "Are you throwing a tantrum because of Zhao Shanshan?"

I paused for a moment, gripping the phone tightly, and my tone turned cold, "Shouldn't I be angry, Xu Qin?"

In all these years from the time I pursued him until now, I have never used this tone to speak to him.

I've always spoken softly in front of him, never raising my voice or shouting.

There was silence on the phone.

I lightly tapped the table and said, "

Or do you think I should watch you and Zhao Shanshan be together and offer my blessings?"

"Should I still be happy, or should I suppress it? Because from beginning to end between us, I have always been the one trying to please you. Whoever falls in love first, has to lower their head to the other person, right?"

"Do you think I have no feelings?"

I walked to the window and looked at the vast night scenery outside. "You don't have to pretend to like me and spend time with me every day. Let's sign the divorce agreement and go our separate ways."

After I finished that long speech, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

Just as I was about to hang up, there was a rare tension and strain in his voice, "Who agreed to get a divorce?"

"Where are you now?"

When he asked the last question, I felt a dull ache in my heart, absurd and ironic.

I heard him say something that sounded like concern for the first time, but we had already reached this point.

I said, "The evening isgetting late. Let's talk about it when you come home."

Without waiting for his response, I hung up the phone and stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance.

My mind was filled with a mix of emotions - anger, sadness, and a deep sense of betrayal.

As I stood there, I made up my mind.

No more waiting, no more being someone's substitute.

I would find my own happiness, even if it meant letting go of the person I had loved for so long.

A tear rolled down my cheek, but this time, it wasn't because of heartbreak. It was a tear of strength and determination.

As the night grew darker, I wiped away the tear and took a deep breath.

It was time to face the truth, to face my own feelings, and to move forward.