Chapter 13: A Kite With A Broken String

"Team leader Jun?...Team leader Jun!"

A male researcher used his knuckles to knock on the table in front of Jun Youyue, finally waking her up from her dazed state

Even though she woke up, Jun Youyue was still half-conscious.

She took the materials handed over by the other party, moved mechanically, looked indifferent, and didn't say a word.

Normally, she would at least hum.

The male researcher felt mixed emotions, as being ignored didn't feel good.

In fact, Jun Youyue has been in this state since Wednesday.

She wasn't focused on her work, her attention wandered, and she often stopped abruptly, lost in thought.

Her attitude was extremely perfunctory, and she would procrastinate on studying new data, leaving it on the table and be in a daze instead.

It makes people feel that she is not worthy.

If it weren't for the fact that she hadn't made any mistakes in her work... The man lowered his gaze, hiding the emotions he shouldn't have.

"Leader Jun, I'm leaving first." He said, and before leaving, he cast another glance at Jun Youyue who seemed lost in thought.

Jun Youyue put away the materials by category, closed the door, and sat on the chair without knowing what to do.

She knew her state of mind wasn't right, and it wasn't suitable for doing complex tasks, so she had postponed many important tasks.

Experiments, on the other hand, could continue. That was her livelihood, a habit formed over many years of repetition. It didn't require much concentration; her body followed her memory.

Even during the most difficult times more than three years ago, she never stopped her research.

In the past, if she paused, she would become anxious and restless. There was always a voice in her head urging her to stay busy so she could stand firm, avoid any mistakes, and prevent herself from disappearing from the research institute like a burst balloon.

It's a habit now, and she didn't know what else to do if she stopped working.

But she also didn't know how to adjust.

The divorce agreement is still in her bag.

She wanted to tear it up and throw it away, but she couldn't dare to act rashly. In the end, she carried it with her, not wanting to look at it, let alone sign it.

And as soon as she was free, she wanted to turn on her phone.

Jun Youyue wasn't as reliant on her phone as many modern people are. To her, the phone was mostly just a means of communication.

Lu Xici is the only bright color on her phone. Her photo album is full of pictures of Lu Xici, and the memo also contains the itinerary she copied from Chaohua.

Jun Youyue flipped through her phone casually.

After a while, she clicked on Weibo, and inevitably saw the face that she had been thinking about for a long time day and night.

The only person she cares about is Lu Xici, and the topics she cares about are only related to Lu Xici.

Movies that Lu Xici has starred in, programs that Lu Xici has participated in...

If someone asked her about actors other than Lu Xici, even if it was the leading actors in "Bridesmaid", Jun Youyue would never know them.

She couldn't even remember their faces and their names were equally unfamiliar.

It's as if when she was watching a movie, she automatically blocked people other than Lu Xici, and there was only that bright color in her vision.

With her red lips gently pursed and her charming peach blossom eyes, Jun Youyue seemed to be on a solitary island, calmly enclosing herself in her own little world, focusing only on one thing.

Other areas have nothing to do with her.

She is used to it and enjoys it.

Lu Xici is her only connection with the outside world, like the string holding a kite.

Jun Youyue has always been elusive in this world.

Now, Lu Xici unilaterally cut the string, resolute and decisive, not giving Jun Youyue's kite even the slightest chance to reconnect.

Jun Youyue was left with confusion.

She had called Lu Xici, not blocked, but the call went unanswered. WeChat, on the other hand, was blocked.

She couldn't enter the Lu's house, probably because of Lu Tingyi's order. She looked at the Lu's house from a distance last night, and was promptly escorted back home—the marital home Lu Xici left her—which no longer felt like a home.

No family, no Lu Xici, only her own place, at best a residence, not a home.

It has been three days, and Jun Youyue hasn't even caught a strand of Lu Xici's hair.

She left so resolutely that it even made Jun Youyue doubt.

If Lu Xici really didn't want to see her.

If she truly suddenly disliked her and wanted to separate from her. Should she fulfill her wishes?

After all, she would be happier that way.

As for what she should do, should she have a good cry, keep Lu Xici in her heart, or should she work tirelessly to erase such a vivid image from her mind?

Jun Youyue didn't know.

Perhaps it wasn't evident from her appearance, but she had always been easygoing, never competing or arguing with anyone. The thing she hated most was getting into arguments. Arguing leads nowhere, and drains one's energy and spirit.

That's why she likes science, because the facts are indisputable so there was no controversy.

If there is, then it is not accurate enough, and efforts are still needed to dig out a more accurate truth.

Academically, Jun Youyue is undoubtedly excellent. She entered the junior class of Peking University at the age of 14 and entered graduate school at the age of 22. These achievements were rarely achieved by anyone in the past few decades.

But Jun Youyue is as incompetent as a novice when it comes to emotions.

She looked down at the red exclamation mark on her phone. That exclamation mark was as glaring and terrifying as a snake's fang, piercing Jun Youyue's heart.

She sat there in a daze for a while, and finally switched to the SMS page and sent a message to her sister.

Her sister's name was Jun Youning, and she differed from Jun Youyue by just one character, but their personalities were worlds apart.

God probably gave Jun Youning the only EQ of the Jun family, and gave Jun Youyue half of the IQ she deserved, making her look lively and mediocre, not like the Jun family at all.

She was quite content with being ordinary. She had learned from her mother and sister's experiences, and leading a peaceful life was her greatest wish.

Jun Youning found it hard to believe this news as well.

In her memory, the little sister from the Lu family had a fondness for Jun Youyue.

Jun Youyue probably didn't know, but from a young age, little Lu Xici was very attached to Jun Youyue, following her everywhere.

Even though Jun Youyue didn't talk to her much, she was persistent in chasing after her.

At the puberty stage, every time the two families met, the little girl would timidly follow behind Jun Youyue, looking at her with reverent eyes that Jun Youyue could not see.

From that time on, Jun Youning could see restrained affection in Lu Xici's eyes.

This feeling of admiration didn't disappear when she grew up, and Jun Youyue got help from the Lu family because of this.

Although the agreed marriage made the relationship between the two of them a little awkward, when Jun Youning visited her sister last year, she could still see the same fondness in Lu Xici's eyes as when they were young.

As for what Jun Youyue thinks...

If she really had no affection for Lu Xici, she wouldn't have come to her in such a panic.

Listening to her little sister finally speak such a long passage, at least twenty words, Her emotions were complex.

This child seemed so scared that she was able to speak.

"Anyway, you should calm down first," Jun Youning, who was six years older than Jun Youyue and had a normal level of EQ, coaxed her sister with a few sentences.

Jun Youyue had talked herself out, so she fell into silence, her brows furrowed, looking pitiful.

"What do you want now? Do you still want to fight for it?"

Logically speaking, if two people were in love and one of them suddenly changed their mind, excluding unexpected circumstances like illness, there was a high chance that they had found a new love.

Jun Youning didn't know the details of her sister's marriage, but she didn't want to think Lu Xici was that bad.

Even if it was an arranged marriage, does that mean they should just go their separate ways without discussing anything?

Jun Youyue must be very hurt.

"No." She didn't necessarily have to fight for it. If her presence was a burden to Lu Xici, then it might be better for her to leave.

Fortunately, Jun Youning is her sister, otherwise, there would be no way to chat today.

"You want to ask her why?"

"Mm."

Jun Youning thought about it for a while and guessed that it was Lu Xici who blocked Jun Youyue and refused to meet her.

"I'll try talking to her mother. You focus on your work. How about we go out for a meal tonight?"

"Okay, thank you."

Jun Youyue was even polite with her own sister.

Jun Youning was used to it and replied with a casual "It's okay."

After hanging up the phone, Jun Youyue took a deep breath.

Her sister's words at least gave her a lighthouse of hope.

As long as there is a possibility of solving the problem, she won't think about it anymore and can deal with her accumulated work without distraction.

* * *

Rewind to the night three days ago.

After leaving their marital home and getting into her car, Lu Xici couldn't hold back any longer.

She pulled the curtain between the front and back seats, sobbing softly.

In her heart, she still hoped that Jun Youyue would come to find her, salvage the situation, and make her persistent pursuit of Jun Youyue seem less ridiculous.

But Jun Youyue didn't say a word, she was like a kite with a broken string, maybe she even thanked the wind for breaking her bondage and returning to her freedom.

But now that she has made up her mind to end this eight-year unresponsive crush, she can no longer have illusions.

Her mom was right, she is only 23 years old, so why hang herself on one tree?

With so many people in the world, she refused to believe that she couldn't find someone else to love.

After all, long-term pain is worse than short-term pain.

Lu Xici cried for a while, then clicked on Jun Youyue's WeChat with sobs, and blocked her.

As for the phone call, Lu Xici's hand trembled for a moment, but ultimately, she decided to keep it on.

Back at Lu's house, Lu Tingyi comforted Lu Xi for a while.

The mother and daughter shared some heartfelt words, and then Lu Tingyi coaxed Lu Xici to go to bed.

After coaxing her daughter, Lu Tingyi clicked on a profile picture labeled "Liu", and sent a message there.

[Liufeng, my daughter finally figured it out. Ask your daughter if she is still interested in A'Ci.]

Since the girl said she wanted to go on a blind date, she as a mother, must give some support and act.

Liufeng's daughter was someone she knew as well, a good-looking and promising young woman. 

She still remembered that when Lu Xici was starting college, that girl had once confessed to her. She could be a top candidate for a blind date.

One candidate wasn't enough for Lu Xici.

With this in mind, Lu Tingyi logged on to the blind date app she had downloaded for a long time, entered the women's section, and began to help Lu Xici pick potential candidates.

Author's Note:

Song Liufeng pointing at Jun Youyue: She cheated

Jun Youning pointing at Lu Xici and said: She cheated