What ultimately caused their breakup? It seems it was around the time of the college entrance exams. Tang Xiaoxiao's plan was always to go to university, but Lin Jie had more on his mind. In those days, it was common for young people in their area to marry before the age of twenty. Many would hold their wedding in their hometown before reaching the legal marriage age and then register their marriage later. Unlike Tang Xiaoxiao, who was still in school, Lin Jie was already considered a working adult, ready to settle down and start a family. He had already told his parents about his relationship with Tang Xiaoxiao, and in his mind, only by marrying her sooner could he truly feel at ease. However, how could that be possible? Tang Xiaoxiao was only sixteen years old; her early relationship was behind her parents' backs, and she hadn't forgotten her responsibilities—she absolutely couldn't abandon her studies.
Tang Xiaoxiao still remembered their most intense argument. Lin Jie, his eyes bloodshot, yelled at her, "You got into university and just left! Four years! Going to such a faraway place! How many times will I see you? I have no idea who you've met or what you've done there!" Tang Xiaoxiao was stunned speechless upon hearing this. What did Lin Jie mean? Was he implying that she would do things she shouldn't have done if she was out of his sight? And meet people she shouldn't have met?
A sense of humiliation at not being trusted overwhelmed her, and the two had a big argument and parted on bad terms. Afterwards, Tang Xiaoxiao even directly broke up with him in a text message.
Lin Jie didn't try to stop her at the time, and the two didn't contact each other for more than half a month. After crying and feeling heartbroken, Tang Xiaoxiao considered this budding relationship completely over. With the college entrance examination approaching, she couldn't afford to be too distracted by matters of the heart.
About two weeks later, a girl from Tang Xiaoxiao's middle school classmate and neighbor, with whom she had a good relationship, learned that Tang Xiaoxiao had broken up with her boyfriend and strongly urged her to go out with him for the weekend to cheer herself up. Tang Xiaoxiao couldn't refuse, so she agreed. The two had known each other since childhood, and although they went to different high schools, they kept in touch frequently. After Tang Xiaoxiao started dating Lin Jie, she would often confide in her. When she arrived at the meeting place, she discovered that the girl had brought one other girl and two boys, all of whom were her classmates from school. Tang Xiaoxiao didn't think much of it, and the four of them went shopping and had dinner together. In the evening, they went to the skating rink and played for two hours before going home separately.
Tang Xiaoxiao didn't expect to receive a call from Lin Jie the very next day. On the phone, he said sarcastically, "Where did you go having fun yesterday? Who was that guy? Qiangzi (a friend of Lin Jie) saw him. You're so impatient, we've only been broken up for a few days and you're already looking for someone else?"
Tang Xiaoxiao was absolutely furious. She couldn't believe her first boyfriend could be such a narrow-minded and shameless person. After angrily berating him, Tang Xiaoxiao completely blocked all his contact information and never saw him again.
In her past life, after graduating, she only stayed at home for a few days before moving to another city. She rarely returned home for many years afterward, and even less so after getting married. Although her hometown and Lin Jie's were in the same small town, they never bumped into each other again. She only heard about Lin Jie's marriage from a middle school classmate when she returned home during her sophomore year winter break, but she didn't take it seriously. If she was somewhat heartbroken when they first broke up, Lin Jie's last phone call completely disgusted her. His image in her mind shattered, and she never wanted to mention that relationship, which felt like it was tainted with excrement, again.
After being reborn, her choices were different from those in her previous life. Instead of leaving for distant lands, she returned to her hometown to start a business, and there she encountered people she had never met before in her previous life.
However, Tang Xiaoxiao really didn't want this kind of reunion.
Tang Xiaoxiao couldn't quite remember what Lin Jie looked like in his youth, but she still recognized him now. The man opposite her was wearing a decent black suit, and his hair was neatly styled, making him look much more presentable than his former hooligan attire. However, the youthful spirit in his eyes was gone, and the excited expression on his face made Tang Xiaoxiao feel disgusted.
"It really is you! I almost didn't recognize you." Seeing Tang Xiaoxiao turn around, Lin Jie smiled. "Long time no see, you've become more and more beautiful."
Tang Xiaoxiao didn't say anything, gave a polite smile, and lifted her foot to leave.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Lin Jie hurriedly called out, reaching out to try and grab Tang Xiaoxiao's arm. Tang Xiaoxiao caught a glimpse of his movement, sidestepped him, and rolled her eyes in displeasure.
As if he hadn't noticed the expression on Tang Xiaoxiao's face, Lin Jie said very enthusiastically, "It's been so long! Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Let's have a meal together!"
"Sorry, I have something to do and don't have time. Besides, we're not that close." Tang Xiaoxiao showed no respect for the other person. She had been verbally insulted by the other person before, and even years later, she would still feel angry about it. How could this person have the nerve to pretend nothing happened in front of her now?
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