Sunshine, Souvenirs, and One Less Cheating Boyfriend

I had been with Leon for three years, from his sophomore to senior year.

Kelly was shocked and guessed that he must have given up his playboy ways for me.

I smiled and said nothing. Deep down, I knew he hadn't.

During the years we were together, the number of new girls added to Leon's phone never stopped growing. There were freshman girls who had just enrolled, senior girls from his band, campus belles from other institutions… His flirtatious nature never seemed to rein itself in.

The first time I found out, I was angry. Leon knelt on the ground and hugged me. He swore he'd never do it again. He said he loved me and begged me not to leave him. But not long after, I discovered him going to the hotel with the band's female bassist.

So, it was the same cycle again. He apologized, and I forgave him.

Eventually, Leon seemed convinced that I would never leave him. So, he gradually became fearless.

Even when I caught him, he would just smile nonchalantly. "Come on, Xandra. I'm still young. It's normal to want to have fun, right? Why don't you wait for me? Maybe when I'm your age, I'll settle down."

Once, I saw one of his friends ask in their group chat, "Aren't you worried your girlfriend will get mad if you keep messing around outside?"

He replied, "No way. She's completely devoted to me. She can't leave me."

I pulled my hand out of Leon's and lay flat on my back.

Honestly, I understood why he thought that way. After all, for these past three years, I really had acted like I liked him a lot. But he had it wrong. The reason I didn't break up with him wasn't because I couldn't leave. It was because I didn't see the need to.

Leon liked to fool around, but he was careful about it. Where else could I find someone as handsome, as young, and with as much stamina as him?

I was 29 years old this year. I'd been working as an executive assistant for three years. The pressure from my job was intense. I needed some way to let off steam.

Picking up men outside would be too much trouble, and the quality would be inconsistent. Men in their early 20s were my best option. I needed someone whom I could rely on long-term without any burden to relieve stress.

Older men might have money, but that didn't mean they'd spend it on me. But a younger guy? His energy was something he'd genuinely put into me.

I enjoyed his body and his youth. Naturally, I had to give something in return—either money or taking care of him in his daily life. It was just a fair, equal exchange. I never felt like I was losing out.

As for his wandering heart, well, I didn't really care. After all, I had no intention of marrying him. Dating a younger guy was just for fun. But if I were to get married, I'd need someone reliable.

A younger guy might have stamina, but it wasn't just directed at me. It was directed at others, too.

I glanced at the calendar. There were two months left until my 30th birthday. By then, it would be time for me to find a proper man and settle down.

I looked at Leon with a hint of regret. He seemed to feel warm in his sleep and impatiently kicked off the blanket, revealing the clean lines of his obliques along his side, reminding me of how they tensed with force.

When I saw that young woman from the photos in my apartment, I froze for a moment, thinking I hadn't fully woken up.

Her blonde hair was now tied into a messy bun at the back of her head. She wore an oversized sweater that was so loose that I couldn't tell if she was wearing any pants underneath. It was matched with a pair of khaki, studded steampunk boots.

I stood there, stunned, as Leon casually put his arm around my shoulders and introduced her.

He said, "Hey, Xandra. This is my cousin. She's crashing here for a few days."

The young woman looked me up and down before reluctantly extending her hand. "Zoe Braun."

At that moment, I almost laughed out loud. I finally understood the saying that when people were speechless at a situation, they would end up laughing in exasperation.

How stupid did Leon think I was to come up with such a clumsy, perfunctory excuse? To think he actually brought the side piece he was cheating on me with into our home.

At the same time, I felt a bit envious of this kind of impulsive, go-with-the-flow relationship that young people had. It was obvious that after their ten days together, Zoe couldn't let go. So, she followed him here with all her things. Youth, indeed.

Maybe the situation had become so absurd that I couldn't even bring myself to feel angry anymore. I wanted to see just how far Leon could go beyond the limits of my understanding.

That evening, while we were eating together, Zoe sat beside Leon and looked at me. Suddenly, she propped her chin on her hand and talked to me.