Chapter 1, Pulling the Trigger (Part 1)

After a prolonged drought in late autumn, an unexpected torrential rain fell on this day

She tightly clutched two marriage certificates, not bothering to close the drawer, and turned to run out the door. After exiting the elevator, she realized she had forgotten to take her umbrella as well

Alright, Xiaoying, since you want to know, I will tell you. My today is your tomorrow

Once, Bai Yuan and Yan Nan Nan were the couple she believed to be the most loving and well-matched in the world

Bai Yuan casually wore a trench coat, and due to not shaving, getting a haircut, or deliberately grooming himself, he appeared somewhat haggard and weathered.

Xuan Xiao, Xuan Xiao, Xuan Xiao... She repeated this name in her mouth, suddenly standing by the roadside, motionless

On the staircase, a distinguished man dressed in a black shirt hurriedly descended, surveying his surroundings. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze fell upon a slender figure outside the door

Red Road is the nickname given by the citizens to the government-dense Binjiang Road. On that road, there are government offices, courts, the Judicial Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, and nearly all departments and agencies associated with the Communist Party. At No. 1 on that road, there is a twenty-four-story office building available for sale. The first to fourth floors belong to the Xuanshao Road Bridge Studio

A bright flash of lightning streaked outside the window, and she instinctively flinched, taking a step back. Turning around, she set down her teacup and sensed that someone was standing outside the door

After a long time, she numbly raised her arm and touched her face, which felt cool; there were no tears, and her heart did not ache as if it were being cut.

Bai Yuan bitterly tilted the corners of his mouth, patted her shoulder, "That's good, I should be leaving now." He set down the teacup and walked towards the door

Chi Xiaoying got out of the car and ascended the steps.

She raised her head and smiled, "Bai Yuan, what brings you here?"

"Bai Yuan, did you come through the rain just to tell me this?" Bai Yuan reached for the car door, but Chi Xiaoying called out to him.

Building A, 20th Floor, is her home

She quickened her pace, frantically walked to the middle of the road, and raised her hand to stop the cars

Outside the upscale residential area, there were many taxis, and she did not get caught in much rain before getting into a car

"What, can't I come to see my junior?" Bai Yuan joked as he walked in, shaking off a few raindrops from his hair

Chi Xiaoying blinked in confusion, wondering if the question had been asked the other way around

This home was just moved into last year, and everything is brand new. The largest room has been converted into a study, where useful documents and some texts are stored in the drawers of the study's bookshelf

Bai Yuan is the director of the demolition office of the Urban Construction Bureau in this city, young and capable, highly valued by leadership, with an immeasurable future, and is always accompanied by a dedicated vehicle for transportation

She carefully took out the slightly curled red booklet, in duplicate. She slowly opened it.

I ... ... am good!

She saw him open his mouth and walk towards her, all eyes suddenly turned to her as he approached

The driver glanced at her pale face and let out a displeased grunt

Bai Yuanjiang turned his head back, his expression somewhat conflicted. He withdrew his hand and pulled her to stand under the porch. After hesitating for a while, he spoke up.

She did not know how she returned to the office, how she packed her belongings, or how she greeted her colleague next door. By the time she realized it, she was already walking on the street

Nannan, her classmate and close friend

Finally finishing his speech, Bai Yuan waved his hand at her, and the car door opened once more. Before it closed, she vaguely caught a glimpse of a strikingly beautiful face inside the car, but she could not see it clearly as the vehicle drove away

It is very quiet here, with cars moving slowly, and the sound of honking is not heard

Nan Nan and Xuan Xiao seem to have gotten together without anyone knowing when it happened, and it seems to have been for a while. I have been busy with work and social engagements, and she is also a very busy person, so I didn't notice anything unusual until the day before yesterday when she mentioned wanting a divorce, and that was when I found out. They agreed to get divorced at the same time, and then they would be together. I suspect you, like me, have been kept in the dark, so I wanted to let you know that Xuan Xiao will likely approach you soon. Xiao Ying, you must hold on...

Is she getting old? She raised her hand to stroke her cheek.

The marriage certificate is not considered a very useful document and is placed at the very bottom of the drawer

The people in the room suddenly raised their heads in unison, all turning towards the staircase leading to the upstairs office

Chi Xiaoying pressed her hand against her chest, has she been shot

Who is Xuan Xiao, and what is her relationship with her? A question suddenly arose in Chi Xiaoying's mind

At last, she no longer owed him anything. Chi Xiaoying let out a relaxed sigh, a faint smile blossoming at the corners of her mouth

Chi Xiaoying glanced at the dense curtain of rain outside and said, "However, with such heavy rain, your special visit to see me has taken me by surprise. Are you looking for the dean? Unfortunately, she has gone to Tianjin for a meeting"

"Xuanxiao Road Bridge Studio," she said to the driver

Life is always armed and ready, while fate unexpectedly pulls the trigger. No one knows from which direction the bullet will come, only hearing the sound of their own heart hitting the ground

Is the Xuan Xiao that Bai Yuan mentioned her husband? She somewhat regrets not asking clearly just now

Bai Yuan took two big sips of tea, pressed his lips together, and furrowed his brow in irritation, "It's better if you don't know the reason, it's quite damn funny." He scratched his head and looked at her with concern, "Xiao Ying, are you okay?"

Chi Xiaoying was taken aback, her mouth opened slightly, and after a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, "Why ... ... is that?"

"You are risking your life." A taxi screeched to a halt, the driver stopping the car in front of her with a fierce expression on his face

It was not yet four o'clock in the afternoon when the sky darkened without restraint. The wind soon followed, as if it had conspired with the rain, blowing and washing away, seeking to strip away the warmth that one clings to in their heart.

Four years ago, she was truly just a girl, inexperienced and naive

The wind grew increasingly fierce, and the rain pelted down heavily against the car windows. The driver made a turn, and the view immediately opened up.

Is it a coincidence that the names are the same, or did she mishear it

Xuan Xiao, her husband of four years

She hurriedly apologized, got into the car, and urgently stated the address

Her fingers brushed against the cold photograph, and she held her breath. Is the man sitting beside her really her husband?

Chi Xiaoying stood in a daze as she saw him off downstairs. Across from the main entrance, a black sedan was parked.

Oh, it's the front page headline on Red Road! the driver joked with a smile

With a "ding," the elevator opened, and she hurriedly rushed inside, colliding head-on with a person who was just about to exit.

Twenty-seven, a number that is far from twenty and close to thirty

On that day, in a hurry to collect the certificate, the couple did not realize they needed to prepare two passport photos. They casually took a picture at the marriage registration office, without changing clothes or putting on makeup, both looking serious and stiff, rivaling the tough guys on the wanted list

She did not look up, pressed the door close button, and stared at the number keys, counting the floors

That is Xuan Xiao, the husband she has shared a bed with for four years, and she is certain of it

She poured him a cup of hot tea, and steam filled the air. Bai Yuan, through the mist, had a change in expression as he gazed deeply at her, sighed, and said, "Xiao Ying, I have divorced Nan Nan"

Xuan Xiao has grown five years older, now exuding a shrewd demeanor that is both mature and composed, with sharp and confident features.

The exterior may deceive the eyes of others, but it cannot deceive oneself

The sky was overcast, but the Xuanyao Studio was brightly lit. The staff were either engrossed in their blueprints or gathered in front of their computers, and no one noticed Chi Xiaoying standing outside the door

Of course, it can be done anytime and anywhere. Bai Yuan is Chi Xiaoying's senior in university, three years her senior.

What is the rush, go reincarnate! On a rainy day, no one's temper is particularly good

As the lights begin to glow, the spacious road surface is washed clean by the rain, reflecting the tall and majestic poplar trees on either side.

The office is not far from home; usually, she walks to work, and it only takes a quarter of an hour by car to get there

Do not speak in such diplomatic terms; there must be some reason behind it said Chi Xiaoying

Chi Xiaoying held a cup of green tea, gazing at the raindrops sliding down the glass window, lost in thought. The glass reflected her short hair, which had grown to her shoulders, softening her slender and melancholic face considerably. Her colleagues remarked that she now resembled a girl just out of school, to which she always responded with a faint smile

Chi Xiaoying slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest

The elevator stopped on the 12th floor, and she stood at the elevator entrance, rubbing her hands together.

The way home seems to have become much longer than usual. The umbrella is too flimsy, its frame nearly falling apart, trembling and swaying in the rain

She stood there, without pushing the door, without making a sound, her hands tightly clutching two marriage certificates

The sensation of being shot is not pain, but rather a sense of release

The fate has come to an end, fortunately there are no children, which saves a lot of trouble. Bai Yuan pretended to be relaxed as he spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders, but the fatigue in his eyes was hard to conceal

Uh?

The sound of the rain was too loud, and Chi Xiaoying's ears buzzed. She watched Bai Yuan's mouth move, but could not hear what he was saying.