Jiang Zhixun’s gaze unsettled Shen Qingqing for a few monts.
The concern in his eyes wasn’t feigned, and there was sothing else—sothing different from before.
It almost felt like these three years of separation had all been just her illusion.
Shen Qingqing suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
If only she hadn’t stepped forward back then and insisted on marrying Jiang Zhixun.
Things wouldn’t have turned so awkward.
Now, they could neither be family nor act like strangers in the usual sense...
Even after the divorce, figuring out how to balance her relationship with the Jiang Family elders was going to be a challenge.
If she got too close, she’d seem naive.
If she kept her distance, she’d appear ungrateful.
Shen Qingqing truly regretted it all.
Marrying Jiang Zhixun didn’t just tornt the two of them.
Even the elders were caught in a difficult position because of it.
Jiang Zhixun, sitting across from Shen Qingqing, saw the dull look in her eyes, her unfocused gaze, and felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.
She was only twenty when she married him—just a young girl.
He had left without a second thought, never taking her feelings into account.
If her illness had anything to do with him, what face did he have to try to make this marriage work again?
She probably associated him with nothing but painful mories.
How could she possibly agree to give him another chance?
The tension between them was palpable, even the strangers sharing the sa private room could sense it.
The others exchanged glances but said nothing, the awkwardness weighing heavily in the air.
Shen Qingqing didn’t want to drag others into it, nor did she want to beco a spectacle.
She closed her book and prepared to go to bed.
Seeing what she intended, Jiang Zhixun crouched down in front of her and took off her shoes, neatly placing them to one side.
Since Shen Qingqing had started regaining mobility, unless Jiang Zhixun was away for training, putting on and taking off her shoes was sothing he insisted on doing for her.
Even though Shen Qingqing repeatedly said she could manage with one hand.
Still, Jiang Zhixun persisted, not giving her the chance to refuse.
This sa scene had played out countless tis, yet Shen Qingqing still felt unaccustod to it.
After three years of the silent conflict, to be honest, she and Jiang Zhixun had grown far apart.
If not for the pending divorce, she doubted they’d even find anything to talk about while being in the sa space.
They were husband and wife, yet not even as close as ordinary friends.
Maybe it was because Jiang Zhixun had a stronger capacity to adjust; he could quickly change his attitude toward her.
But she couldn’t do the sa.
Looking at Jiang Zhixun’s attentive deanor, Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but overthink.
Would he change his attitude again after just one night’s sleep?
Just like three years ago, on the second day of their marriage, when she was abruptly inford that Jiang Zhixun had left Beijing for the distant Northwest.
From beginning to end, Jiang Zhixun hadn’t given her a single mont to prepare.
It happened three years ago.
And it was happening three years later as well.
If it were the past, Shen Qingqing might have considered approaching him, trying to give them both another chance.
But now, she was truly exhausted.
In a quiet voice, she thanked Jiang Zhixun. When he reached out to help her, Shen Qingqing lay down before he could.
Her movent was natural, but Jiang Zhixun knew she did it on purpose.
The hand he extended froze for a couple of seconds before he slowly withdrew it.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he suppressed the lump in his throat.
Jiang Zhixun said nothing and returned to his bed, staring blankly out the window.
...
The divorce had already been finalized in conversation, and along the journey, Shen Qingqing barely initiated any conversation with Jiang Zhixun.
Jiang Zhixun wasn’t much of a talker to begin with, and with Shen Qingqing constantly rejecting his attempts to get closer, he felt at a loss for what to do.
They rely went on like this, awkwardly tolerating each other, until they returned to Beijing.
Shen Qingqing refused to go back to the family compound.
But Jiang Zhixun wouldn’t let her return to her rental apartnt either.
Even before leaving the train station, they had a disagreent over this, neither willing to compromise an inch.
Shen Qingqing knew that if she returned to the compound, the family elders would definitely try to persuade them to stay together.
Now, with just one final step to go, she didn’t want her efforts to go to waste.
So until all was settled, she absolutely wouldn’t go back!
"Tomorrow morning at nine, et at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Let’s get the divorce certificate before the holiday break," she said.
Her first words were about the divorce again.
Jiang Zhixun’s eyes flared red with anger.
She was the one who wanted to get married.
Now she was the one who wanted a divorce.
Every ti, it was sprung on him suddenly, without giving him any ti to think it over.
Was there anyone else as unreasonable as Shen Qingqing?
Frustrated beyond asure, his tone turned cold, "After the New Year, we’ll deal with it. That’s what you said before too."
Shen Qingqing didn’t understand what he was dragging this out for.
"If it’s going to happen anyway, it’s better to resolve it sooner and spend the holiday in peace," she replied.
The mont the words left her mouth, she saw Jiang Zhixun’s expression visibly darken.
"In peace?"
Jiang Zhixun let out a bitter laugh, "Since when is divorce a good thing worth celebrating?"
Shen Qingqing didn’t understand why he was angry.
Divorce would indeed attract gossip, and it wasn’t exactly sothing to be proud of.
But knowing Jiang Zhixun’s personality, he shouldn’t care about that stuff.
If he did, he wouldn’t have left so abruptly back then.
Requesting a transfer to the Northwest at the last minute was bad enough, but then he stayed away for three years without returning ho.
He must have known how much gossip his actions would provoke; it was impossible he hadn’t thought of it.
So if nothing fazed him, why wasn’t divorce considered a good thing for him?
After all, Jiang Zhixun didn’t like her.
And he couldn’t stand this marriage!
Shen Qingqing’s face remained calm, "Not being trapped in the grave of marriage—isn’t that a good thing?"
The grave of marriage...
Jiang Zhixun let out a self-deprecating chuckle. She was surprisingly accurate.
Their three-year marriage had indeed felt like a grave.
"After such a long ti without being cleaned, are you sure your place is even livable?"
Out of spite, Jiang Zhixun deliberately emphasized the words "your place."
Shen Qingqing wasn’t stupid; she could hear the sarcasm in his tone.
But to her, that tiny rented apartnt was indeed her ho.
"I’ll stay at a guesthouse for now," she replied.
The guesthouse was near her rental place. A night’s stay cost only two yuan, sothing she could easily afford.
Once her place was tidied up, she could move back in without any issues.
Jiang Zhixun couldn’t understand why she was being so stubborn.
Before they married, she had been close to the Jiang Family, getting along well with the elders.
Did divorce an she would sever ties with the Jiang Family entirely?
Once they exited the train station, Jiang Zhixun denied Shen Qingqing any chance to refuse.
With a forceful tone, he said, "You’re coming back to the compound with ."
Shen Qingqing refused. "Give my luggage."
Jiang Zhixun, inherently domineering, wouldn’t budge.
It didn’t matter that Shen Qingqing was injured; even if she were perfectly fine, he wouldn’t let her live alone during the New Year.
Curling his lips into a faintly amused smile, he warned, "The divorce certificate isn’t in your hands yet. You better stick close to , or I might just skip the Civil Affairs Bureau, and then all your excitent will be for nothing."
Shen Qingqing panicked, "Jiang Zhixun, what’s that supposed to an?"
"Co ho with ."
His voice was curt and decisive, leaving Shen Qingqing no room to argue.
Her breathing grew heavy as she glared at Jiang Zhixun with hatred.
Three years ago, to escape this marriage, he had fled to the Northwest.
Now, just when they were finally about to divorce, he was threatening her like this.
What exactly did he want?!
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