The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

"You know the password," Brandon stated, not as a question, but as a matter of fact.

"I... I don't know." Sophia felt a wave of panic, like she was trespassing into Brandon's private world.

She had no clue what the password was; it seemed like she was just fiddling with the lock out of instinct, not expecting the safe to actually swing open.

She didn't even know what the safe contained.

"Sorry about that," she mumbled an awkward apology, "I didn't mean to." Brandon gave her a reassuring smile. "No need to apologize, this stuff is yours anyway." "..." Sophia hesitated, glancing at the unlocked safe. She thought only people rolling in dough like him needed a safe.

Taking a peek inside, there wasn't much—sbank cards, IDs, a few certificates, and just a small jewelry box that looked like it could belong to a girl. No sign of Brandon's stuff.

"Do we... keep our stuff separate?" Sophia's voice trailed off, as she couldn't help voicing her confusion. She'd thought that in a marriage, there wouldn't be a 'yours and mine' or such clear boundaries.

Brandon caught the gist of her question, a bit surprised she'd noticed this first.

True, their stuff was kept separate, each having their own space, no interference.

It wasn't intentional, just never really crossed their minds before.

Back when they first got hitched, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

He bumped into her at the hospital, stumbled upon her pregnancy test results, and she was all at sea. He wanted to tie the knot, but never forced her hand.

She asked for a couple of days to think it over, and he agreed.

Those two days of waiting were pure agony for him.

Luckily, she cback with the answer he'd been dying to hear-she said yes to marriage.

She was the one who called him to meet, and over dinner she told him she agreed to the marriage.

Brandon still remembers holding his breath waiting for her answer.

He'd played out scenarios in his head, ways to convince her if she said no. Thankfully, her first words were "I agree to marry you," no strings attached.

His mind was so focused on the fact that she agreed, he overlooked everything else.

He was so worried she'd back out, he just coolly nodded and said, "Great, let's get the paperwork done after we eat." She just looked at him, surprised, then gently nodded back, "Okay." After the meal, he took her to the registry office, got the marriage certificate, and then they went back to her place. She packed up her stuff, and that night they moved into their marital home.

It was like they were ticking off a contract-quick and efficient.

Her luggage was simple, just one suitcase.

Maybe because they skipped the gradual dating and getting-to-know-each-other phase, their lightning-fast marriage had this weird dynamic of being both close and distant.

He was always cool and detached, never really tried to close the gap between them.

After she tried to bridge the distance and couldn't, she gradually gave up.

He didn't notice that their boundaries were different from other couples, nor did he pay it much mind. He was so wrapped up in work that he got used to this hands-off arrangement.

Until she suddenly brought up divorce.

After the split, that sense of boundary was even more pronounced due to the divorce papers.

Even living together again, she didn't want to get too entangled, and he didn't dare to push too hard. So, they continued this hands-off approach from their marriage.

Now, facing Sophia's puzzled look, a thousand explanations flashed through Brandon's mind, but he chose to simply nod and be honest, "Yeah." But Sophia didn't press further, just murmured an "Oh," her attention drifting to the jewelry box in the safe. She hesitated, wanting to open it but feeling wary.

Facing these items that were supposedly hers, without any memory of them, gave her a sense of guilt, like she was snooping through someone else's private stuff.

Brandon saw her hesitation.

He put Theresa down, picked up the jewelry box, and opened it in front of her.

Sophia's gaze fell on the white jade necklace inside and she froze.

Brandon watched her face closely, noting every change in her expression.

But Sophia just stared at the necklace, her face a blank slate, as if lost in sdistant memory.

Brandon took the necklace and, holding each end, gently put it around her neck.

Sophia's eyes were fixed on Brandon's handsface, so close to her own.

His head tilted slightly, his eyes focused on the clasp at the back of her neck, his expression concentrated and serious.

"This was custom-made by my grandfather, said to protect and bring peace. Wear it well, don't take it off or lose it." "I don't need it. I have the bracelet you gave me; it's supposed to keepsafe. You wear the necklace; it should protect you." "If the bracelet could protect you, how did you end up hurt? Just wear it, no taking it off." "I don't want to." "If you dare take it off, I'll stop talking to you." "Then... I'll wear it for a few days. Once the Goddess of Mercy is watching over me, I'll give it back to you, okay?" "No deal." "Big brother..." "Alright, alright, if you want to give it back, you can. But for now, you'd better wear it." "Okay." Fragments of memory, a boy's resigned voice, and a little girl's coquettish, childish tone seemed to echo from afar.

The little girl, happy with the boy's concession, joyfully gathered her long hair draped over her shoulders, allowing the taller boy to lean in with the white jade necklace and carefully put it on her.

The boy, much like Brandon, was focused and serious as he did so.

Sophia couldn't see the boy's face clearly, but she vaguely felt that his eyes and movements were extremely careful and earnest. Sophia's eyes remained fixed on Brandon's handsface, just inches away.

Brandon had just clasped the necklace around her neck and was gazing down at her, seemingly lost in the way she looked with it on.

He seemed a bit out of it too, like he was caught up in ssort of memory, all dazed and dreamy.

"We..." Sophia instinctively reached to touch the white jade hanging around her neck. She wanted to ask him if they had known each other when they were kids, but before she could say a word, the doorbell chimed.

Sophia's gaze shot towards the living room.

Kent, who had been seated, was already scrambling to his feet to answer the door.

As the door swung open, a cheerful but somewhat weary male voice announced his arrival: "I'm here, spill it. What's the big surprise?" "Weren't we supposed to meet in the afternoon? What's got youing over so early?" Kent's voice followed, dripping with sarcasm as he weed the guest, e on in. And look at you, couldn't you tidy yourself up a bit? You look like a hot mess." Why bother sprucing up just to see Brandon? That would just bum him >ut, wouldn't it?" Don's voice, thick vith a yawn, mingled with the sound of him taking off his shoes. "Where's Brandon anyway? He's alright, right? Kent: "He's fine, as good as gold." Don: "What do you mean 'as good as gold'? Yesterday at that big event, he just ditched everyone, leaped off the stage, and bolted out, calling out Sophia's nlike a madman. You call that fine?" Sophia glanced at Brandon, unaware of this incident; he hadn't mentioned it to her.

Brandon looked unfazed.

"I was sure it was you I saw," Brandon said in a hoarse voice.

Sophia's throat tightened inexplicably.

At the entryway, Don continued in a hushed tone, full of emotion: "If it really is Sophia who'se back, then I get it. Wouldn't matter if he left a Crowd behind on a school et stage or even a New Year's gala stage, I'd understand. But Brandon knows the score better than anyone, how could Sophia possibly..." His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Sophia and Brandon standing by the bedroom door.

Don's stride halted abruptly, his eyes locked on Sophia standing beside Brandon.

Kent also noticed his reaction and, unable to help himself, smiled at Don and said, "Don, Brandon's not crazy. Sophia's back." The words "Sophia's back" suddenly choked Don up.

et Disbelieving, he stared at Sophia, who was smiling awkwardly but warmly at him, then turned his questioning gaze to Brandon. Seeing the peace and smile on Brandon's face deepened the lump in Don's throat. His eyes moved back to Sophia's familiar face, from her slightly ufortable gaze to the white jade necklace around her neck, to her fingers unconsciously still clutching the white jade, and then to her eyes, filled with a hint of bewilderment. Don's eyes reddened as he turned his head slightly towards the window.

It was Sophia, and it was Yolanda.

They both hade back.

They had returned in a way that caught everyone off guard.