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I Broke Up Over Hot Pot and My Boyfriend Realized Too Late
Novelix
new
Completed
I used to think the loneliest thing in the world was eating hot pot by myself. Jack promised that would never happen. Ten years later, I sat alone at our favorite restaurant while he celebrated with the young student he'd spent years putting first. He didn't even remember our anniversary. When she caused a scene, he once again left me to deal with the hurt alone. I didn't beg him to choose me. I accepted an overseas promotion, packed my things, and left. By the time he realized our relationship was over, my flight had already taken off—and someone else was finally showing up for me.
Chapters (3)
第1章
I finished the project at two in the morning and reached for my phone to ask my boyfriend, Jack, to celebrate over dinner.
Then I remembered we hadn’t spoken in nearly two weeks.
Our daily message streak had been dead for three years. The last thing he’d sent was: *Don’t be mad about that little thing, Anna. I have to help my grad student prep for a competition. Don’t wait up. I’ll bring you milk tea.*
He’d been busy helping the young woman. I’d been busy working late, racing deadlines, and squeezing onto the subway.
I’d forgotten to reply. I’d also forgotten what our last fight had even been about.
Maybe I’d faded out of his life without either of us noticing.
I went to the hot-pot place we used to love. The server recognized me and looked past my shoulder.
“Just me,” I said. “We broke up.”
The words came easily. That surprised me.
She seated me at our old booth. Across from me sat an empty place setting.
When Jack and I had just started dating, I’d sent him a meme ranking loneliness. Eating hot pot alone was number eight.
“You’ll never get that far,” he’d texted. “I’ll always be there to cook your tripe.”
For years, we’d eaten hot pot together. Then I’d started doing everything else alone: commuting, working late, birthdays, anniversaries—even trying on wedding dresses.
I lowered a slice of beef into the bubbling broth.
Did this count as breaking up?
第2章
We had never said the word *breakup*. I couldn’t remember the last fight. I only remembered slamming a door while Jack went back to his lab.
That night, he came home with the milk tea he’d promised. I didn’t drink it. He didn’t ask why.
We became polite roommates who took turns replacing the trash bag.
One evening I stood outside his office while he laughed gently with someone on a video call. I went in for my charger. On the screen was his student, Lily Chen. He nodded at me and went straight back to her presentation.
In bed, a pillow’s width separated us. I watched the back of his head and wondered whether he’d turn around if I spoke.
By morning, he was gone. Breakfast sat on the table with a note: *Meeting tonight. Don’t wait for dinner.*
The server came by with a pot of broth. She mentioned our couples’ membership card was about to expire.
Before I could answer, the bell above the door jingled.
Jack walked in with Lily. She wore a camera around her neck and tugged at his sleeve.
“Stand by the light, Professor. I need a picture.”
“You’ve been working too hard. You look thinner,” he said.
She laughed. “You’ve spent three years helping me. I had to celebrate my award with you.”
Then she glanced at him. “Isn’t today your anniversary with Anna? Is she okay with this?”
“She knows I’m busy,” he said. “She won’t mind.”
He finally saw me. “Anna. You’re here.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Having hot pot.”
It was our tenth anniversary. Neither of us had remembered.
第3章
Lily peered into my pot. “A two-flavor broth? That’s adorable. Eating hot pot alone—what level of lonely is that?”
She raised her camera and took a picture.
“Delete it,” I said.
She looked at Jack.
“It’s just a photo,” he said. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
I stood and reached for the camera. Lily stepped back. Her elbow knocked the sauce dish, and hot oil splashed across the table. My wrist stung.
“Oh, Anna, are you okay?” Lily said.
Jack moved toward me, then glanced at her. “Take care of it yourself. I’ll settle her in next door and come back.”
He followed Lily to another table.
A server brought burn cream. “About the membership card…”
“Don’t renew it.”
I opened a message to my boss: *Give me the partnership. I can’t afford hot pot anymore.*
I looked up and saw Jack glancing over with the patient smile he used when he expected me to calm down on my own.