Unforgettable in the End

Xiao Yao was a 24-year-old belly dance instructor in Beibin City. Before a car accident at 19, she had been a two-year consecutive campus beauty queen with a perfect figure and many suitors. The accident caused severe injuries including uterine damage, which left her infertile, and hormone treatments made her gain weight. She weighed 130 jin at 175 centimeters, with a belly natural for her dance. She endured fourteen blind dates, but only Shen Mingzhe accepted her infertility. Shen was remarrying, with a young son and a mother suffering from stomach cancer. They went from a blind date to an engagement in one week. Xiao Yao’s parents, both with heart conditions, were thrilled and supported the couple lavishly, paying for Shen’s mother’s medical expenses and giving him branded items.

Xiao Yao dedicated herself to the relationship, caring for Shen’s son and his mother. Shen was often absent on business trips. On Christmas Day, they flew to Lijiang for wedding photos. While Xiao Yao was ready, Shen was missing. She found him passionately kissing a woman wearing the photo studio uniform. She recognized the woman as his ex-wife. Xiao Yao confronted him. Shen said, “You only want marriage; I can give you marriage. Don’t worry about the rest.” Xiao Yao slapped him hard, tore off her veil, said she hoped he would remarry his ex-wife, and returned to Beibin alone.

That night, feeling that marriage was confusing and frustrating, and realizing she was only 24, Xiao Yao walked into a bar called Missing U near her apartment. She ordered vodka and quickly became dizzy. She noticed a handsome man watching her from a booth. When their eyes met, she felt comforted and walked toward him but tripped and fell into his arms. The man, Zhuang Lingyun, ended up back at her apartment with her.

The next morning, Xiao Yao woke finding a naked man beside her, his back and shoulders scratched. Zhuang complained she was a brutal woman who nearly broke his waist. She gave him money to leave, but he returned with her key and cooked breakfast. While they ate, Shen Mingzhe entered. Angry, he grabbed Xiao Yao, but Zhuang struck his hand and pulled her behind him. Shen accused her of cheating and demanded repayment of the renovation deposit. Xiao Yao listed all the money her family had spent—over five hundred thousand yuan—and said he should return everything. Shen insulted her weight, calling her a sow and saying no one else would want her. Zhuang punched him, and Shen left.

Xiao Yao visited her parents that afternoon. They were happily preparing for the wedding. Not wanting to upset them because of their heart conditions, she could not tell them the truth and said she missed them. She stayed for dinner and returned home.

Back at her apartment, Zhuang Lingyun was at her door, claiming he had left his phone. She let him in, and he flirted with her, offering to support her and saying he liked her double chin. She pushed him out and locked the door, but he tricked her into opening it again. He warned about her keys, grabbed her wrist, then released her and left, saying “See you tomorrow.”

Later that evening, Xiao Yao’s mother called, crying that Shen had beaten her father and he was being sent to the hospital. Xiao Yao rushed out in a thin sweater and slippers. Snow was falling. While struggling to hail a taxi, Zhuang appeared, draped his coat over her, and drove her to the hospital in his bronze Toyota sedan. Xiao Yao thanked him and hurried inside, resolved to end her ties with Shen.