Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today?

Chen Kongqing has spent his life dedicated to two things: studying herbal medicine and loving Ling Xiao. During his sophomore year of college, he suffered a severe leg injury while protecting Ling Xiao. Because of this, Ling Xiao agreed to be with him. Even knowing the reason, Chen Kongqing was happy for a long time. But Ling Xiao wasn’t happy. He hated the smell of herbs and avoided visiting Chen Kongqing. In reality, Chen Kongqing harbored a shameful secret: he suffered from Skin Hunger (a physical longing for touch), yet Ling Xiao refused to get close to him. As his condition worsened and became unbearable, Chen Kongqing finally went to the hospital. That was the first time he met Xu Jingmo. The second time he met Xu Jingmo was at Ling Xiao’s birthday party. He discovered that his attending physician was actually his boyfriend’s older cousin. At the party, Ling Xiao remained cold, even saying in front of everyone, “The herbal smell on him is too heavy; it’s repulsive.” While those words chilled Chen Kongqing’s heart, Xu Jingmo was the only one watching him with steady, profound eyes. During their third meeting at a treatment session: Xu Jingmo: “You lied last time.” Chen Kongqing had lied, claiming his intimate relationship was fine. Xu Jingmo: “Please cooperate with the treatment from now on. Don’t lie.” Near the end of the session, the doctor gave his first piece of advice: “Actually, you could consider breaking up.” Over many subsequent sessions, the “selfless” doctor and cousin-in-law suggested breaking up again and again. Eventually, Chen Kongqing arrived for a session and said lightly, “I broke up. I was the one who initiated it.” The doctor’s reaction was calm, but his fingers paused on the keyboard for a long time. That day, as heavy rain fell, a black umbrella appeared over Chen Kongqing’s head. Xu Jingmo, now out of his white lab coat, offered a ride. Chen Kongqing: “Is the herbal smell on me too strong? I’m sorry.” Xu Jingmo (after a long silence): “It smells good. I like it very much.” Later, even after the treatment ended, Xu Jingmo remained in his life—helping him move, driving him to work, and bringing him coffee. Chen Kongqing: “Dr. Xu, you are such a good doctor.” Xu Jingmo: “Then can you give me a chance to be a very, very good boyfriend?” Xu Jingmo once thought he was morally bankrupt for falling for a patient who was dating his cousin. But the truth was… he had liked him first.