The second time, I swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills. He broke in at the last moment, holding me and crying, admitting his mistake.
But don't worry.
There will be a third and fourth time.
On my birthday, Xie Rongyu finally had some time to spend with me.
Just as I was about to cut the cake, his phone buzzed.
"Let me take this call, " he said, flashing a smile that still held traces of tenderness.
I nodded, watching him pick up the phone.
"Hello?" I heard Gao Ting's voice on the other end, filled with panic and tears.
"Rongyu! Mingwei is threatening to jump off the building! She's emotionally unstable and insists on seeing you. No one can get close to her... "
The phone crackled with sharp noises, followed by Xue Mingwei's hysterical cries.
"Rongyu... Are you with Shen Zhiyuan? Have you abandoned me?"
Her voice was piercing, as if it could shatter eardrums. "I knew it... I knew that wretched woman... "
Xie Rongyu's face turned pale instantly. He spoke frantically into the phone, "Mingwei, calm down, I'll be there soon... "
I instinctively grabbed his wrist, "Rongyu, the Xue family has professional help available at all times, and their security system... "
Xue Mingwei suddenly screamed, and the sound of glass shattering came through the background.
"Why did Shen Zhiyuan take you away? Today marks our fifteenth anniversary of knowing each other!"
On the phone, Gao Ting's voice rose sharply, "Is Shen Zhiyuan stopping you from coming? Mingwei is about to die, and she still... "
"Enough!" Xie Rongyu frowned, his tone displeased. "Mingwei is in real danger now!"
But he softened his tone immediately, reaching out to touch my face.
"Please understand, I'll be back soon."
I turned my head to avoid his touch.
Gao Ting's voice came through the phone again, "Rongyu, hurry up!
Mingwei is already at the edge of the rooftop! She said... she said if you don't come soon... "
Xie Rongyu's eyes turned red.
"Zhiyuan, we'll talk about your birthday later. Mingwei is more important now. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."
He rubbed his forehead wearily, "I promise, after this, I'll spend quality time with you."
I sneered, "That's what you said last time, and the time before that."
"This time it's real."
He grabbed my shoulders, but his eyes kept darting to the door.
"I swear, once Mingwei is stable, we'll go on a romantic getaway... "
Before he could finish, angry curses from Gao Ting erupted over the phone.
"Shen Zhiyuan, you shameless woman!
Why do you have to antagonize Mingwei at this moment?"
This was followed by violent coughing. "Rongyu... I... I feel so dizzy... "
"Mingwei! Hang in there!"
Xie Rongyu shouted into the phone, losing all his usual elegance and composure.
On the other end, Xue Mingwei's heart-wrenching screams were followed by a heavy thud.
Gao Ting's voice was urgent, "Mingwei has slit her wrists!
Blood is everywhere! You need to come quickly!"
"Rongyu... save me... " Xue Mingwei's voice suddenly weakened.
Xie Rongyu took a deep breath, "Stay home, I'll be back as soon as I'm done."
As the door slammed shut, I heard myself say, "If you walk out now, it's over."
The only response was the "ding" of the elevator descending.
"System, " I stared at the mess covering the table, "I give up."
There was a time when he would feel guilty all night for breaking a promise, rushing back just to apologize.
When did even pretending to care become too much of a bother for him?