When his business collapsed, when creditors surrounded his door, penniless, I stayed with him in that moldy basement for two years.

I spent my days on construction sites, inhaling dust, and my nights drawing and doing freelance work until three in the morning, giving him half to pay debts, half as start-up capital.

Back then, he said, "Lydia, you’re the strongest and most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Without you, I would have collapsed long ago."

Now, strength has become cold.

Beauty has become a lack of gentleness.

Time is a cruel magician, turning pearls to fish eyes, red roses to mosquito blood.

I didn’t say a word. I turned and went back to my room.

This time, I didn’t sleep.

I opened my laptop and pulled up the property ownership contract for this house.

Joint purchase.

The down payment was split fifty-fifty, and the mortgage payments had been made together.

Every transfer record was in my online banking.

I sent Ryan an email:

【Draft a property transfer agreement, and also, help me find out if there are any buyers urgently selling large apartments. Cash is fine, the price can be lower.】