The Ex's Tears Are So Hot - Chapter 7

The moment Lin Shen appeared, Xie Zhixin’s internal warning bells blared. A strong sense of unease surged within him. He had never liked this man—nor the overly familiar dynamic between Lin Shen and Guan Jinnian, where teasing and banter flowed too easily.

Completely oblivious to Xie Zhixin’s frosty demeanor, Lin Shen greeted him enthusiastically, “Hey, hey, Teacher Xie! I’ve heard so much about you. Could I get your autograph? My sister’s a huge fan.”

Although Xie Zhixin had no desire to engage, he forced a polite nod for the sake of Guan Jinnian. “Hello,” he replied, voice cool and detached.

Just then, Guan’s mother emerged with a warm smile. “Ah, Xiao Lin, you’re here! You’ve become even more handsome. Your mom was just talking about you the other day.”

“Auntie, sorry I haven’t visited in a while,” Lin Shen said, handing over two bags. “This one’s from my mom, and the other has some seafood snacks I picked up during a recent coastal business trip—thought you might enjoy them.”

“You really didn’t need to bring anything, silly boy,” she said with a laugh.

“It’s nothing much…”

While the two exchanged pleasantries, Xie Zhixin quietly pulled Guan Jinnian aside, gripping his wrist a little too tightly.

“Who is that?” he asked urgently.

Guan Jinnian tried to shake off his grip. “He’s a friend. Didn’t I mention him before?”

“When did you two get so close? I’ve never heard of him,” Xie Zhixin demanded, his brows knitted together.

Seeing the jealousy all over his face, Guan Jinnian’s heart sank. He didn’t want to explain—especially when his wrist throbbed from the pressure.

Apparently, Xie Zhixin still hadn’t realized they were no longer together.

“I don’t think it’s your business who I spend time with anymore,” he said coldly.

Xie Zhixin froze, and his grip slackened. Guan Jinnian seized the chance to pull away.

“We’ve already broken up,” Guan Jinnian reminded him flatly, rubbing his sore wrist. Whatever softness he’d felt earlier had completely vanished.

Xie Zhixin caught sight of the red mark on Guan Jinnian’s skin and looked shaken. He reached out instinctively to soothe it, but Guan Jinnian evaded him.

His hand lingered in the air for a moment before he drew it back in defeat, murmuring, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“It’s fine,” came the indifferent reply.

Just then, Guan’s mother called out from the house, beckoning them in for dinner.

Guan Jinnian answered and walked ahead.

“Your nickname is too cute—Nianzai?” Lin Shen chuckled, sidling up to him.

“Weren’t you calling me Brother Guan earlier?” Guan Jinnian shot him a look.

“Well then, Brother Nianzai it is!” Lin Shen laughed louder.

The two chatted and joked on their way inside, while Xie Zhixin trailed behind in silence, her face half-obscured by shadow.

“Xiao Xie?” Guan’s mother noticed his absence and called back.

He snapped out of his daze and forced a hoarse, “Coming, Auntie,” pushing down the turmoil in his chest.

Guan Jinnian paused slightly at the threshold, glancing back out of instinct—but quickly turned away again, pretending not to care.

Throughout dinner, Xie Zhixin barely touched his food, while Guan Jinnian acted as if nothing was amiss—eating, drinking, laughing. He didn’t spare Xie Zhixin so much as a glance.

Xie Zhixin, still clinging to the idea that Guan Jinnian would eventually tend to his moods, grew gloomier as the evening wore on. But this time, his sulking was met with cold indifference.

Even the others began to sense the tension. Guan’s mother tried to break the ice with some polite conversation, and Lin Shen made jokes, but neither could dispel the suffocating air around the table.

Only when Xie Zhixin excused herself to get more rice did the tension finally lift.

“What’s going on with you two?” Lin Shen asked under his breath.

“None of your business,” Guan Jinnian muttered flatly.

Right then, Xie Zhixin returned—and just as Lin Shen changed the subject, Xie Zhixin suddenly leaned forward and placed a rib into Guan Jinnian’s bowl.

Without looking up, Guan Jinnian pushed it away into the waste dish and picked up the conversation as if nothing had happened.

Trying to lighten the mood, Lin Shen continued, “Remember that guy from the basketball court? Well, tonight—”

A sharp clatter interrupted him. Chopsticks hit the edge of a porcelain bowl. Everyone looked up. Xie Zhixin’s hand was clenched so tightly around her chopsticks that her knuckles had gone pale.

Finally, Guan Jinnian turned to look at her, expression unreadable.

He set his utensils down and said flatly, “I’m done. Enjoy the rest of your meal,” before standing up and leaving the table.

Panic set in for Xie Zhixin. She abandoned all sense of decorum and chased after him.

Inside the bedroom, Guan Jinnian was about to shut the door when Xie Zhixin forced his way in.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked, though the answer was obvious.

Guan Jinnian was too drained to even raise his voice. “What exactly do you want?”

Xie Zhixin moved closer, eyes burning with jealousy. “You knew I was upset, yet you acted so close with him. Do I mean nothing to you?”

That pushed Guan Jinnian over the edge. He actually laughed, a sharp, bitter sound.

“What right do you have to interrogate me?” he asked mockingly.

“Last I checked, we’re no longer together—”

Before he could finish, Xie Zhixin closed the distance and kissed him harshly, taking what he wasn’t offered.

Guan Jinnian tried to resist, turning his head, but Xie Zhixin held him in place, pressing their mouths together in a bruising kiss.

“Mmm—mmph!”

He kicked and shoved, but the more he struggled, the tighter Xie Zhixin held on—gripping his wrists, forcing his mouth open, trying to consume every breath he had.

Eventually, when Xie Zhixin paused to let him breathe, Guan Jinnian took the opportunity and shoved him away with all his might.

Silence fell.

His lips were swollen, his breathing ragged. He didn’t even look at Xie Zhixin.

“Xie Zhixin,” he said softly, as if the very act of speaking drained him. “You keep asking why I broke up with you.”

“Well, this is why.”

“You never listen. You only care about what you want, how you feel.”

“I’ve been exhausted for a long time.”

Xie Zhixin was struck dumb.

Guan Jinnian looked up at her one last time. His gaze was like a wall—cold and impersonal.

“Please leave.”

When Xie Zhixin opened his mouth to protest, Guan Jinnian’s stare silenced him.

That look hit harder than any insult.

“I’m sorry,” Xie Zhixin whispered, his voice cracking. “I’m sorry, I’ll go.”

He left in a daze, guilt hanging heavily over him.

Guan Jinnian sat on the edge of the bed, drained, the fight finally gone from him.

The phone rang suddenly, startling him. It slipped and smacked against his knee, drawing a wince.

He bent to pick it up—and that’s when the first tear fell.

Just one tear, but it broke the dam.

By the time the ringtone stopped, he was trembling, tears streaming freely.

When the screen finally lit up with a notification, he wiped his face and picked it up.

[Missed call: Unknown Number]

He dialed back.

“Hello, is this Mr. Guan Jinnian?”

“Yes, this is me.”

“Hi, my name is Huang, from the team behind the show Reunion Plan. We’re a relationship-centered reality show aimed at helping ex-couples work through unresolved feelings. We’d love to invite you to participate.”

Guan Jinnian was stunned. A show like that? For him?

Then it clicked—the real target was probably Xie Zhixin. Maybe the buzz online had reached the showrunners.

“I’m no longer in the entertainment business,” he replied, already turning the idea down.

“Mr. Guan,” Ms. Huang gently pushed back, “we understand, but think of this as a second chance—not just in love, but in life. These things pass quickly. We’re truly approaching you with sincerity.”

He hesitated. Just for a moment.

“…Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Guan. We promise we’ll be respectful.”

After a few more pleasantries, they hung up.

Then, another notification popped up:

[@XieZhixinv you follow has posted a new update on Weibo—check it out now!]