When I Stopped Loving, I Stopped Crying

When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't tell if Chandler had stayed up all night or risen early.

"Are you heading to work today? Your leg isn't great; let me drive you," he offered.

Seeing me up, he stood, appearing awkward and uneasy.

"Yeah, there's a lot to catch up on," I replied.

"No need to bother. It's better not to be seen together," I insisted.

Chandler's place was quite a distance from my workplace. Initially, I used to ask him to drop me off,

but he always cited his celebrity status and hailed taxis instead.

After a few attempts met with no response, I stopped asking.

Deep down, I knew those were just excuses. He had no qualms sending Lily home countless times.

"It's fine. If we're seen together, it might as well be official," he replied.

Gathering my things, I balanced the bag in one hand and leaned on my crutch with the other.

"No need, I've already arranged for a ride," I insisted.

He remained silent but took the bag from me.

"I'll walk you to the car," he said.

I wanted to refuse, but seeing his somber expression, I swallowed my objection.

What was the point of arguing over trivial matters when we were about to part ways?

As we approached the car, the driver, noticing my condition, courteously stepped out and opened the door for me.

"Is this your boyfriend, miss? He seems really caring," the driver remarked.

I smiled at the driver's assumption.

"We're just neighbors. He's lending a hand out of kindness," I clarified.

Chandler froze, staring at me in disbelief.

He always said to keep a low profile when in public.

There was a lot of work to be done, especially the front-line experimental data - a headache.

I worked day and night in the laboratory and slept in the company dormitory at night.

Time passed quickly as I was immersed in the ocean of data, with no time to pay attention to the outside world.

One day at noon, during lunch with colleagues, one of them pointed enviously at a video on her phone.

"Wow, this is so sweet, childhood sweethearts, music couple goals!"

"It's said this pianist once boasted he would personally announce his significant other in ten years. Now at the last tour stop, he openly showed his affection on screen. I'm so jealous."

Out of curiosity, I leaned over to look.

On the screen, Chandler, dressed in a suit and tie, played the last piece sweating. Lily, in a white princess dress, held flowers and threw herself into his arms with tears.

Under the spotlight, the man and woman were a perfect match.

I looked down at my dusty work clothes, then curled my lips and smiled.

My sea of stars is much cooler than your stage.

Lily updated her social media promptly:

"A weary bird knows how to return home. You are my everlasting warm nest."

I smiled and deleted Lily.

Late that night, I received a call from him.

"It's so late. Why aren't you going home?"