“I saw Captain Mark buy five or six jars of
snow cream a couple of days ago. Did you
く
use it up so quickly?”
“Ms. Yu, Captain Mark is so good to you.”
My hand froze while holding the items.
Mark had never given me snow cream, and I
haven’t been home for the last few days.
Thinking of the scent I smelled last night, I
knew.
The snow cream was for Sarah.
The snow cream that I could not get by taking
care of the house, doing laundry, and cooking
for five years.
Sarah can have five or six jars as soon as she
returns.
<
Not knowing if I felt more wronged or more
angry, I met the older woman’s envious gaze:
“Give me a jar of snow cream. I’ll buy it
myself.”
Fifth day at home.
I first went to the political commissar to get
the approved divorce application, then went
to the school to submit my resignation letter.
There weren’t many teachers in the office
since school hadn’t started yet.
I went to my desk to pack, only to find it piled
with things that weren’t mine.
Occupying the entire desk.
く
completely ruined when I took it out, leaving
creases that couldn’t be smoothed out.
My notebook was crushed underneath. It was
The teacher at the next desk told me:
“These things belong to the new Ms. Sarah.”
“Captain Mark moved them over himself when
you weren’t here, saying it was empty
anyway.”
The Ms. Sarah he was talking about was
Sarah.
She divorced her husband a month ago and
came back to Tianjin to work.
She’s currently a substitute teacher at the
school, a temporary worker.
<
Scoffing, I moved the things on the desk to
the ground and started packing.
Just as I was about to finish packing, a
surprised shout suddenly came from behind.
Sarah stood in the doorway, with Mark, who
said he would accompany me, behind her.
“Mark, look.”
“Why are my things on the ground?”
Mark walked in and immediately blamed me:
“Yu Nanging, it’s just a few things. When did
you become so petty?”
Sarah tugged on his sleeve, saying pitifully:
<
“I’m sorry, Ms. Yu. I just thought you weren’t
here these days, so I just used it temporarily.”
“I didn’t mean to make you angry and throw
my things on the ground…”
As she spoke, she was about to bow to me.
Mark immediately helped her up, his eyes
cold:
“Yu Nanqing, don’t go too far.”
“Sarah didn’t mean to. Get over it.”
How many times has he been angry with me
for Sarah’s sake?
I can’t remember.
r
Not wanting to be involved in this farce, I left
with the box in my arms.
I was tripped by a foot as I passed Sarah.
Mark’s eyes narrowed as he tried to help me,
but it was too late.
I fell to the ground, the contents of the box.
scattered everywhere, and my wrist was
scratched.
Mark stepped forward and reached out his
hand to me.
Then, as if he saw something, he picked up
two letters from the ground.
“Resignation letter? And another one is…”
<
I quickly stood up and snatched the letter
from his hand in a panic:
“I can clean it up myself. Don’t mess it up for
me.”
Not expecting me to react so strongly, Mark
stared at me in shock.
“You want to resign?”
I opened my mouth, not knowing how to
explain. Mark suddenly laughed.
“If you resign, won’t there be a job opening?”
“If Sarah gets a regular job, I’ll feel more at
ease.”
The words of explanation got stuck in my
く
mouth, and I gave him a deep look. I was too
lazy to pick up anything and left the office
directly.
After handing in my resignation letter, I
accidentally ran into the man holding a box
and waiting at the school gate.
Seeing me come out, Mark handed me the
box with a pursed lip.
“Your stuff.”
My expression softened, and just as I was
about to thank him, Mark continued:
“Can you write Sarah a letter of
recommendation? That way, she’ll have a
better chance of getting a permanent
position.”
A gust of wind blew, as if sand had blown
into my eyes.
I rubbed my sore eyes and said lightly:
“Okay.”
Consider it a repayment for the years of
marriage.
Getting the answer he wanted, Mark smiled,
then thought of something and asked me:
“What about you? What’s your new job?”
I turned my head and casually explained:
“A teacher at another school.”
Mark nodded, as if relieved.
He put down the box and hugged me.
“Nanqing, I’m lucky to have married you.”
“After I’m done with this, I’ll definitely take
you home and have a good drink with Dad.”
I leaned against him, my chest tightening.
It’s too late. Everything is too late.
Mark was about to say something when Sarah
came over.
“Mark, I’m not feeling well. Let’s go home
first.”
I glanced at her rosy complexion and took the
initiative to leave Mark’s arms.
く
As expected, he let go of me, looking
panicked.
“I’ll take Sarah home first. We’ll talk later.”
