“In the middle of the night, your boyfriend doesn’t feel comfortable letting a young girl like you out alone?”

I gave an awkward smile. “Oh, he is busy now.”

“After all these years, he must be your husband by now, right? You two are such a perfect match, handsome man and beautiful woman! Still two bowls of beef noodle soup?”

I curled my fingers. “Just one bowl... no, two. My hubby will be here soon.”

While waiting for the soup, I scrolled through my phone. In just a few moments, Daniel and Emily hit the trending list five times.

Their love was loud and proud, yet always dignified.

I skipped the hateful comments directed at me, staring blankly at Emily’s social feed instead.

Daniel had made her beef soup. The bowl was piled high with beef.

[Daniel said that girls should eat meat to replenish their blood and energy during their periods; you really don’t need to teach your lover.]

The comments section was filled with envy over Emily marrying such a good husband. Some even tagged me specifically.

[You can snatch a diamond ring, but you can’t snatch true love.]

That incident caused quite a stir.

To vent his anger at Emily, Daniel specifically used his connections to expose my dirty secrets.

That person had warned me. “Sorry, Felicia. The movie star is serious this time. I had no choice.”

I didn’t say much after hearing that, just smoked a cigarette.

The habit of smoking was cultivated through endless rounds of drinking. Daniel has high standards, so choosing scripts for him isn’t easy.

I worked hard at it. I could drink and smoke like a pro.

That’s when I built my connections and that’s when I developed my menstrual cramps.

Clutching my stomach, I called Daniel, “Have you finished comforting her?”

“Come join me for a bowl of beef noodle soup, okay?”

Daniel paused for a while and said, “Felicia, I don’t like beef noodle soup anymore.”

“I’m too exhausted today. I’ll make it up to you another day, okay/”

The call ended. I stared blankly for who knows how long until Emily posted another live photo. Daniel was eating her leftovers, looking helpless but indulgent.

[A husband eating his wife’s leftovers is the only natural thing.]

I looked at the two now-cold bowls of noodle soup and suddenly felt my stomach twist in pain.

The pain was so intense that I rushed to the pharmacy for medicine. But then, I bumped into Daniel buying condoms.