Forgiveness doesn’t even co into play.
Shen Qingqing simply feels that for people who are not on the sa wavelength, being able to walk a part of the journey together is already a blessing.
As for anything beyond that, there’s no need to force it anymore.
When she was abroad, she’d been constantly hoping for her illness to heal and to finish her studies so she could return to her ho country.
Just as that wish was about to co true, Zhou Hansheng wanted to stay abroad to pursue further studies.
He didn’t plan to settle abroad forever, but when he would return was utterly uncertain.
Shen Qingqing could understand Zhou Hansheng’s desire to further his studies and pursue better opportunities.
So, she initiated their breakup.
Zhou Hansheng disagreed, firmly believing that her eagerness to return was influenced by the Jiang Family.
He wanted her to try reducing contact with the Jiang Family, to make new friends, and to integrate into the local way of life.
The mont that left Shen Qingqing most despairing was when Zhou Hansheng said, "I was able to go abroad for you. With your abilities, as long as you’re willing, I’m sure you can adapt to life here too. Just give it one effort, for . Can you?"
She took a deep breath, dispersing the voice lingering in her head.
She doesn’t want to recall the days of that period anymore.
"We’ve already broken up."
Zhou Hansheng let his hand fall by his side, his tone bitter. "It’s my fault for not considering your feelings. Third ti’s the charm—can you not sentence to death so quickly?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head. "I tried, but I found I couldn’t do it."
The confusion in Zhou Hansheng’s eyes showed he didn’t quite understand what she ant.
Shen Qingqing’s days abroad, focusing on treating her illness and studying, were relatively easy.
But the final few months truly had many unpleasant incidents.
To balance work and life, Zhou Hansheng had arranged for her to move to a new apartnt. It was around that ti he began intercepting the letters from the Jiang Family to her.
As for why the Jiang Family hadn’t received her letters, Shen Qingqing didn’t know.
She didn’t dare investigate deeply either.
The new apartnt turned out to be the beginning of a nightmare.
Perhaps because Zhou Hansheng was often away, or perhaps for other reasons, the landlord’s son started harassing her.
The worst incident involved the man breaking the lock on her apartnt door.
If not for her upbringing in the Jiang Family, being exposed to knowledge on how to protect herself, Shen Qingqing didn’t dare imagine what might have happened that day.
She resolutely insisted on returning ho, but Zhou Hansheng’s solution was simply to change her lodging again.
On the surface, she said nothing, but the thought of breaking up was growing stronger within her.
She kept telling herself, over and over, Zhou Hansheng had done so much for her; she shouldn’t end the relationship impulsively.
She followed his advice, trying hard to blend into the local way of life.
Until that day, when she saw Zhou Hansheng at the hospital, treated like the center of the universe.
With his outstanding abilities, he was admired by his ntors, respected by his colleagues, and appreciated by his patients as an excellent doctor.
If he continued his studies, his future could be incredibly promising.
As for her... it was exceedingly difficult to find a respectable job. Over ti, the most likely outco for her would be to marry Zhou Hansheng, living off him like a parasitic plant, depending on him for sustenance.
Just the thought of this chilled her.
If she lacked even the basic ability to survive, how would she deal with sudden changes in life?
Would she have the strength to handle them?
The answer was obvious. So, she brought up returning ho again.
Shen Qingqing’s thoughts drifted back to that day, with everything that happened still vividly clear.
That day, Zhou Hansheng was expressionless.
He asked her, "Are you still unable to forget Jiang Zhixun?"
Shen Qingqing had no idea why he was so insistent on competing with Jiang Zhixun.
"I want to return ho simply to live a more aningful life—it’s not because of him."
Zhou Hansheng didn’t believe her. "If it’s not for him, there’s no need for you to insist on going back. You enjoy painting; you can continue developing your hobby here. When conditions allow, I’ll help arrange an art exhibition for you—you can still find aning here."
Shen Qingqing’s linguistic talent, so advantageous before, held no edge here.
But she was skilled in many areas. Wherever she was, as long as she was willing, she believed she could still shine.
The process might be a bit more challenging, though.
Shen Qingqing shook her head. "Two people who cannot stand as equals find it very hard to reach the end together. Hansheng, let’s just stop. No more dating, and let’s cancel the marriage plans too."
For the first ti, Zhou Hansheng got angry at Shen Qingqing.
"Have you really moved on from Jiang Zhixun? Why is it you can use the money he gave you, but with mine, you feel burdened?"
"Shen Qingqing, is your desire to leave here because you can’t integrate into the environnt, or because you just want to get away from ?"
Shen Qingqing answered, "I want to return ho."
Zhou Hansheng’s face turned icy. "Let’s revisit this topic when you’ve cald down. I’m very busy for now and won’t be coming back."
He left their ho.
Shen Qingqing also took her suitcase and headed to the airport.
Zhou Hansheng didn’t lose his desire to pursue further studies, and Shen Qingqing didn’t believe he really couldn’t live without her.
His abrupt return took Shen Qingqing by surprise.
She’d already said everything that needed to be said during that ti.
Whether Zhou Hansheng had taken it to heart was his problem.
The first ti they argued, Zhou Hansheng had accused her of being cold-blooded.
Shen Qingqing herself admitted that not only was she cold-blooded, but also selfish.
She truly couldn’t bring herself to compromise unconditionally.
No matter who the other person was!
Zhou Hansheng’s expression was sorrowful, clearly recalling that day’s events.
"The mont I walked out the door, I regretted it. But I didn’t dare return, afraid you’d bring up leaving again. I thought that by dragging things out, over ti, you would accept this path."
But he hadn’t expected her determination to return ho to be so resolute.
She left as soon as she made up her mind.
Zhou Hansheng asked Shen Qingqing, "When I ca ho and didn’t see you, do you know how scared I was? I thought sothing bad had happened to you. I searched everywhere nearby until I noticed your clothes were gone—that’s when I knew you had gone back ho."
Shen Qingqing apologized. "Not telling you my exact departure date was my fault, but I don’t regret my decision. I enjoy this job."
Zhou Hansheng stared at her in a daze.
The face was the sa, but there was an undeniable difference compared to when she was abroad.
Here, she seed to belong more.
She was more confident.
She shone brighter.
"I won’t force you. Whatever you want to do, I’ll agree to it. I won’t return abroad either. Tomorrow, let’s go get our marriage certificate. Then we’ll pick a good day for the banquet..."
Shen Qingqing cut him off, "We’ve already broken up."
Zhou Hansheng couldn’t accept their breakup, especially when he saw the way Jiang Zhixun treated her, his rationality collapsing bit by bit.
"I don’t agree."
Shen Qingqing felt a headache coming on.
Why were the n she encountered all so stubborn, one more than the other?
"A relationship is a matter for two people, but breaking up only requires the decision of one. We walked this path together and had good mories; let’s part on good terms."
After all the effort he had put into winning her over, how could Zhou Hansheng just let go?
During that ti, he hadn’t missed the signs of Shen Qingqing’s unease. But he dearly wanted to seize the opportunity to pursue further studies, and beyond that, he could provide for Qingqing.
It didn’t matter whether she had a job.
Even without the advantage of language, she could paint, she could play the violin... Things she was proficient in and loved.
Zhou Hansheng admitted he’d acted out of selfishness.
And he once pressured her into compromising by using his own "sacrifices" as leverage.
That was wrong!
"I didn’t think things through, I’m sorry."
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