On my birthday, my boyfriend set off the most dazzling fireworks for his childhood sweetheart.
在我生日那天，男友为他青梅竹马的恋人放了最耀眼的烟花。

A passerby captured the moment on video and quickly uploaded it online, where it quickly went viral, garnering an endless stream of well-wishes.
一位路人拍下了这一瞬间，并迅速上传到网上，很快就引起了病毒式传播，赢得了人们源源不断的祝福。

His friends joked about me, asking, "What do you think about this?"
他的朋友们拿我开玩笑 问我 "你怎么看这个"

I replied indifferently, "I just watched it. What else could I do?"
我淡淡地回答："我只是看了一下。我还能做什么呢？"

The video spread like wildfire online, with the comment section filled with praise for them as a perfect match.
这段视频在网上传得沸沸扬扬，评论区充斥着对他们完美搭配的赞美。

As I listened to the joyful laughter of the fireworks in the video, the feast in front of me only made my heart sink deeper.
听着视频中焰火欢快的笑声，眼前的盛宴只会让我的心更沉。

It was my birthday, and Alex had promised to come home early to celebrate with me, but he called in the afternoon to say he had an unexpected engagement and would be late.
那天是我的生日，亚历克斯答应早点回家和我一起庆祝，但他下午打来电话说他有个意外的约会，要晚点回来。

I believed him and was still looking forward to celebrating my birthday with him when he got back.
我相信了他的话，还期待着他回来后和他一起庆祝我的生日。

Little did I know, his "engagement" was to accompany his childhood sweetheart, Vivian, in setting off fireworks.
我不知道，他的 "约定 "是陪他的青梅竹马薇薇安一起放烟花。

How ironic it was.
这多么具有讽刺意味。

In the video, Alex's handsome face, usually aloof and cold, was filled with laughter, and his eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at Vivian.
视频中，亚历克斯平日里冷漠的英俊脸庞充满了笑意，他看着薇薇安的眼神充满了柔情。

This was a smile I had never received.
这是我从未有过的微笑。

Before this, I thought he was just naturally not a smiling person, incapable of expressing affection.
在此之前，我以为他只是天生不爱笑，不会表达感情。

I laughed in self-mockery, unwrapped the cake, and ate it in silence.
我自嘲地笑了笑，拆开蛋糕，默默地吃了起来。

The greasy, sweet taste spread in my mouth, but suddenly, it felt pretty pointless.
油腻的甜味在我嘴里蔓延，但突然觉得这一切都毫无意义。

I took my phone and called Alex.
我拿起手机给亚历克斯打了个电话。

He answered quickly, and his voice was as cold as ever. "What's up?"
他回答得很快，声音一如既往地冰冷。"怎么了？"

As he spoke, I could clearly hear the sound of fireworks in the background.
他说话的时候，我清楚地听到了背景中的烟花声。

After a two-second silence, I swallowed the cake in my mouth and asked calmly, "Where are you?"
沉默了两秒钟后，我咽下嘴里的蛋糕，平静地问："你在哪儿？"

"At the office. What's the matter." He seemed to have moved away from the riverside, and the sound of fireworks was gone.
"在办公室怎么了？"他似乎已经离开了河边，烟火声也消失了。

His voice was still calm, showing no signs of the panic one would expect when lying.
他的声音依然平静，丝毫看不出撒谎时的惊慌失措。

I glanced at the video on my tablet and felt even more disinterested.
我瞥了一眼平板电脑上的视频，感觉更没兴趣了。

"Let's break up."
"我们分手吧"

"You're making a fuss again."
"你又在大惊小怪了"

I sneered, "Browse the videos online more often, Mr. Internet Celebrity."
我冷笑道："多上网浏览视频吧，网络名人先生。"

With that, I hung up the phone.
就这样，我挂断了电话。

Since I had proposed the breakup, I shouldn't stay at his place any longer.
既然我提出了分手，就不应该再住在他家了。

I looked at the untouched dishes on the table, got up, and went to the kitchen to find some containers to pack them up.
我看了看桌上还没动过的盘子，站起身来，去厨房找了些容器把它们装起来。

Then I packed my belongings and took a taxi back to my small apartment, which I hadn't visited in a long time.
然后，我收拾好行李，打车回到我的小公寓，我已经很久没有去那里了。

Finishing all this, I took a taxi back to my small house that I hadn't visited in a long time.
做完这一切，我打车回到了好久没去的小家。

After I graduated from university, my parents bought me a small apartment in this city.
大学毕业后，父母在这座城市给我买了一套小公寓。

After getting together with Alex, he always said that our homes were too far apart, and it was troublesome for us to commute between them, so he asked me to move in with him.
和亚历克斯在一起后，他总说我们的家离得太远，来回很麻烦，所以他让我搬去和他一起住。

Actually, the distance between these two houses was just the distance between him and me.
其实，这两座房子之间的距离，就是我和他之间的距离。

We looked close, but our hearts seemed to be separated by the Pacific Ocean.
我们看起来很近，但我们的心似乎被太平洋隔开了。

Back in the long-lost small house, I tidied up simply and went to bed after washing up.
回到久违的小院，我简单收拾了一下，洗漱完毕就上床睡觉了。

The next day, I found only a few messages on my phone.
第二天，我发现手机上只有几条信息。

[What's the matter with you now?]
[你又怎么了？ ]

[Come back when you've calmed down. Don't be too willful.]
[等你冷静下来再回来 别太任性]

It seemed he came home last night and found out I had moved out.
看来他昨晚回家发现我搬出去了。

I didn't reply to his messages and just went about my own business.
我没有回复他的信息，只是忙自己的事情。

This kind of thing wasn't the first time it had happened.
这种事情已经不是第一次发生了。

Vivian would call him whenever something was wrong. She would even ask him to accompany her when she was awakened by thunder at midnight and couldn't sleep.
薇薇安有事没事就会给他打电话。她甚至会在半夜被雷声惊醒无法入睡时让他陪着自己。

I had questioned him and quarreled and argued with him.
我曾质问他，与他争吵、争辩。

But he said, "People with a dirty heart see everything as dirty."
但他说，"内心肮脏的人看什么都是肮脏的"。

Every time he abandoned me to go to Vivian, he would send me roses afterward to appease me. And I would continue to be deeply immersed in this relationship as if nothing had happened.
每次他抛弃我去找薇薇安，事后都会送我玫瑰花来安抚我。而我也会若无其事地继续沉浸在这段感情中。

But I was tired this time.
但这次我累了。

###Chapter 2
###第 2 章

As I stepped out of the company after work in the evening, I saw him standing outside.
傍晚下班走出公司时，我看到他站在外面。

Dressed in a suit, he had a handsome face and a tall and strong figure with excellent body proportions, just like a model on the runway. Passersby couldn't help but look at him.
他身着西装，面容英俊，身材高大魁梧，身材比例极佳，宛如天桥上的模特。路人都忍不住多看他几眼。

If it were any other day, I would have gone up to him and asked him to get in the car to keep others from looking at him.
如果是平时，我一定会走过去请他上车，不让别人看他。

But this time, I just wanted to pretend I didn't see him.
但这一次，我只想假装没看见他。

I walked towards the station on my own, and Alex quickly caught up with me. He didn't mention the incident and said calmly, "It's Jason's birthday today. He invited us to have dinner together."
我独自向车站走去，亚历克斯很快就追上了我。他没提那件事，平静地说："今天是杰森的生日。他邀请我们一起吃晚饭。"

I stopped and looked at him. "Sure."
我停下来看着他"当然"

We got in the car, and there was a silence inside.
我们上了车，车内一片寂静。

The wind blew in from outside the window, and I smelled a faint scent of jasmine.
风从窗外吹进来，我闻到了淡淡的茉莉花香。

It was the scent of Vivian.
那是薇薇安的气味。

The scent wasn't unpleasant. On a whim, I asked, "Do you like the smell of jasmine?"
香味并不难闻。我心血来潮地问："你喜欢茉莉花的味道吗？"

Alex's eyes flickered slightly. "It's okay."
亚历克斯的目光微微闪烁。"没事的"

"Really?" I thought, "Then why have I always smelled this scent on you before?"
"真的吗？"我想，"那为什么我以前总能闻到你身上的这种香味？"

I didn't say anything more.
我没有再说什么。

We arrived at the agreed hotel, where they had been waiting for a while.
我们到达了约定的酒店，他们已经在那里等候多时了。

Seeing us come together, Vivian was obviously surprised.
看到我们走到一起，薇薇安显然很惊讶。

"Good evening, Alex, Isabella. We've been waiting for you for a long time."
"晚上好，亚历克斯，伊莎贝拉。我们等你们很久了"

I smiled indifferently and looked at Jason. "I'm sorry. I came in a hurry and didn't bring a gift."
我无所谓地笑了笑，看着杰森。"对不起，我来得匆忙，没带礼物" "I'm sorry.我来得匆忙，没带礼物。"

Jason is Alex and Vivian's childhood friend. Alex always took me with him to their gatherings, and gradually we became acquainted.
杰森是亚历克斯和薇薇安的发小。亚历克斯总是带着我参加他们的聚会，渐渐地我们就熟悉了。

"I've given him a gift. You don't need to feel sorry."
"我给了他一份礼物你不必感到抱歉"

Alex led me to the table.
亚历克斯把我领到桌边。

The remaining two seats were opposite each other. I didn't know if they arranged it on purpose.
剩下的两个座位是相对的。我不知道他们是不是故意这样安排的。

I let go of his hand and walked straight to the seat opposite.
我放开他的手，径直走向对面的座位。

Alex's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything and sat down next to the empty seat beside Vivian.
亚历克斯的表情略有变化，但他什么也没说，就在薇薇安旁边的空座位上坐了下来。

I knew what his friends were thinking.
我知道他的朋友们在想什么。

They never approved of Alex and me being together and were always cold to me.
他们从不同意我和亚历克斯在一起，对我总是很冷淡。

Before, I wanted to get along with them, and I would give them gifts I carefully selected for every holiday.
以前，我想和他们好好相处，逢年过节都会送他们我精心挑选的礼物。

But I've never seen anyone really use the things I gave them. They probably didn't want to accept me from the bottom of their hearts.
但我从没见过有人真正用过我给他们的东西。他们可能从心底里不想接受我。

I was too naive to see such an obvious thing until now.
我太天真了，直到现在才发现这么明显的事情。

I didn't say a word and ate quietly.
我一言不发，安静地吃着。

Alex chatted with them with ease, peeling shrimp without stopping.
亚历克斯轻松地和他们聊天，不停地剥虾。

He never eats seafood unless someone peels the shell for him, and he will reluctantly try a bit because he finds it troublesome to peel it himself.
他从来不吃海鲜，除非有人帮他剥壳，他也会勉强尝一点，因为他觉得自己剥壳很麻烦。

However, he didn't mind the trouble now. He peeled a whole plate of shrimp, moved it in front of Vivian, and then slowly took a wet wipe and wiped his hands carefully.
不过，他现在并不介意麻烦。他剥了一整盘虾，端到薇薇安面前，然后慢慢地拿起湿巾，仔细地擦拭着双手。

This was a treatment I had never had.
这是我从未接受过的治疗。

Seeing this, I felt depressed.
看到这些，我感到很沮丧。

I decided to let him go, but I still felt sad when I really saw him like this.
我决定让他走，但真的看到他这个样子，我还是很难过。

Jason also noticed his actions. He looked at my expression and nudged Alex, teasing, "Don't favor one over the other. Peel some shrimp for your girlfriend too."
杰森也注意到了他的举动。他看了看我的表情，向亚历克斯挤挤眼，调侃道："别厚此薄彼。也给你女朋友剥点虾吧。"

Alex seemed to realize it for the first time, looked at the empty plate on the table, and said, "Order another plate."
亚历克斯似乎第一次意识到这一点，看了看桌上的空盘子，说："再点一盘吧。"

"No." I took a sip of my drink and said calmly, "I don't like shrimp."
"不喜欢"我喝了一口酒，平静地说："我不喜欢吃虾。"

"How about fish then?"
"鱼怎么样？"

"I don't like it."
"我不喜欢"

Alex looked at the table, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled. "What about chicken?"
亚历克斯看着餐桌，眉头微微皱起。"鸡肉怎么样？"

"I don't like it either."
"我也不喜欢"

He looked surprised, seemingly not expecting me to say this without hesitation.
他一脸惊讶，似乎没想到我会毫不犹豫地说出这句话。

Meeting his gaze, I took a napkin calmly, wiped my mouth, and added, "I don't like anything you said."
迎着他的目光，我平静地拿起餐巾纸擦了擦嘴，补充道："我不喜欢你说的任何话。"

"Isabella, are you angry?" Vivian said cautiously, "Why don't you eat this plate of shrimp? Please don't be angry with Alex."
"伊莎贝拉，你生气了吗？薇薇安小心翼翼地说："你为什么不吃这盘虾呢？请不要生亚历克斯的气。"

###Chapter 3
###第 3 章

Her timid look made me look like the bad guy.
她胆怯的样子让我看起来像个坏人。

"How could I be angry? Please enjoy your meal. I just remembered I have some unfinished work, so I'll take my leave."
"我怎么会生气呢？请慢用。我刚想起还有些工作没做完，就先告辞了。"

With a calm smile, I picked up my bag, ready to leave.
我淡然一笑，拿起书包准备离开。

"Come on, are you still upset about Alex setting off fireworks for Vivi?"
"拜托，你还在为艾丽克丝为薇薇放烟花的事生气吗？"

Jason mentioned deliberately, his gaze filled with provocation.
杰森故意提到，目光中充满了挑衅。

Hearing him bring up this, Vivian spoke up, "I'm sorry, Isabella. I was in a mood back then, and Alex just wanted to cheer me up with that. Alex, you should apologize to Isabella."
听到他提起这件事，薇薇安开口说道："对不起，伊莎贝拉。当时我心情不好，艾利克斯只是想用这个让我开心一下。亚历克斯，你应该向伊莎贝拉道歉。"

Alex frowned upon hearing this, "I just set off some fireworks. Why should I apologize?"
亚历克斯听后皱起了眉头："我只是放了些烟花而已。我为什么要道歉？"

His words caused the atmosphere to freeze.
他的话让气氛一下子凝固了。

Vivian smiled subtly at me from where he couldn't see, as if silently declaring her possession over Alex.
薇薇安在他看不到的地方对我微微一笑，似乎在无声地宣布她对亚历克斯的占有。

It was laughable. The person who did wrong had no idea that he was in the wrong.
这是可笑的。做错事的人根本不知道自己做错了。

Just like before, he never realized his own faults.
就像以前一样，他从未意识到自己的缺点。

He thought he could just casually appease me and move on from this.
他以为他可以随随便便安抚一下我，就能从这件事中走出来。

I smiled, "Yes, you're right. The fireworks were quite a spectacle. Keep it up next time."
我笑着说："是的，你说得对。烟花很壮观。下次继续吧。"

With that, I left without looking back.
就这样，我头也不回地离开了。

The moment I closed the door, I heard Vivian's voice. "Alex, go apologize quickly. Isabella is obviously angry."
关上门的一瞬间，我听到了薇薇安的声音。"亚历克斯，快去道歉。伊莎贝拉显然很生气。"

"Don't mind her. She'll be fine in a few days."
"别管她。她过几天就会好的"

His words stabbed at me like a sharp sword.
他的话像一把利剑刺向我。

What on earth had I done before to make him so confident?
我之前究竟做了什么，让他如此自信？

I walked out of the hotel slowly.
我慢慢走出酒店。

The cool breeze of the early autumn night was refreshing.
初秋夜晚的凉风沁人心脾。

I strolled along the bustling streets, with couples passing by, their affectionate displays genuinely enviable.
我漫步在熙熙攘攘的街道上，一对对情侣擦肩而过，他们深情款款的样子着实令人羡慕。

Before Vivian came back, Alex and I were just like them.
在薇薇安回来之前，亚历克斯和我也和他们一样。

We held hands tightly, unwilling to let go for fear of losing each other.
我们紧紧地握着手，不愿松开，生怕失去对方。

So, why did things turn out this way?
那么，事情为什么会变成这样呢？

I felt heavy breathing, a bit suffocated.
我感到呼吸沉重，有点窒息。

Seeing an ice cream truck on the side of the road, I thought for a moment and bought an ice cream.
看到路边有一辆冰淇淋车，我想了一会儿，买了一个冰淇淋。

The moment I got the ice cream, I suddenly remembered his words vaguely.
拿到冰淇淋的那一刻，我突然依稀记得了他的话。

"You know you get a stomachache from eating ice cream, but you still can't resist it."
"你知道吃冰淇淋会胃痛 但你还是无法抗拒"

I took a bite in a daze, and it was salty.
我迷迷糊糊地咬了一口，咸咸的。

"Your ice cream tastes off," I said to the ice cream truck owner, my voice trembling.
"你的冰激凌味道不好，"我对冰激凌车主说，声音有些颤抖。

The owner glanced at me and handed me a tissue. "Miss, maybe you need to wipe your tears first."
店主瞥了我一眼，递给我一张纸巾。"小姐，也许你需要先擦擦眼泪。"

I looked up, my eyes blurred, and I realized that tears had fallen on the ice cream.
我抬起头，眼前一片模糊，才发现泪水已经落在了冰淇淋上。

No wonder it tasted salty.
难怪味道咸咸的。

I sniffed, turned around, and went home.
我闻了闻，转身回家了。

I received a message from Alex as soon as I got home
我一回家就收到了亚历克斯的信息

[Have you arrived home?]
[你到家了吗？ ]

I glanced at it and didn't reply.
我瞥了一眼，没有回答。

Soon, he sent another message: [Everyone didn't have a good meal because of you today. Let's invite them to dinner another day.]
很快，他又发了一条信息[今天因为你，大家都没吃好。改天请他们吃饭吧]

I still didn't reply to him.
我还是没有回复他。

He seemed to have lost patience and called me directly.
他似乎失去了耐心，直接给我打了电话。

I put down my phone and turned a deaf ear.
我放下电话，充耳不闻。

When I came back after washing up, the phone had already fallen silent.
当我洗漱完毕回来时，电话已经关机了。

Before going to bed, I habitually browsed through the WhatsApp statuses and unexpectedly saw a photo Vivian posted five minutes ago.
临睡前，我习惯性地浏览了一下 WhatsApp 的状态，意外地看到了小薇五分钟前发的一张照片。

The driver was driving in front, and Alex and Vivian were sitting in the back seat of the car.
司机在前面开车，亚历克斯和薇薇安坐在车后座。

In the photo, he was resting his eyes languidly, while Vivian was shyly looking at the camera in a posture that leaned against him.
照片中，他慵懒地闭着眼睛，而薇薇安则以一种靠着他的姿势羞涩地看着镜头。

The caption of the photo was: [It turns out I am still your first choice after so many years.]
照片的标题是：[这么多年过去了，原来我还是你的首选]

I gave a self-mocking smile and replied to her: [Congratulations.]
我自嘲地笑了笑，回复了她[恭喜]