Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun ca downstairs one after the other, just as the dumplings were ready.
Even though only one of her hands was functional, Shen Qingqing didn’t just sit and wait for the al but went to the kitchen to help carry the dumplings.
The dumplings were served on a plate, making them easy to carry.
Madam Jiang shot her son a look, signaling him to take the plate from Shen Qingqing’s hands.
Jiang Zhixun gave it a casual glance.
But he didn’t take it.
Instead, he went to the kitchen and brought out the steaming hot chicken stew.
Even Father Jiang thought his son lacked awareness, not to ntion Madam Jiang.
That perpetually cold face—if you didn’t know better, you’d think Qingqing owed him money.
And yet, he still had the gall to refuse the divorce?
Father Jiang shook his head and motioned for Shen Qingqing to take a seat. "Let Zhixun bring out the rest."
Elder Jiang chid in, "Right now, you’re injured. Your most important job is to recover. Anything that needs doing, make that brat do it; you don’t need to lift a finger."
Listening to the elders, Shen Qingqing didn’t return to the kitchen for the bowls and chopsticks.
She sat down in her usual spot, smiled at Elder Jiang, and said, "I had another X-ray taken before I ca back. The doctor said it’s healing well, so there’s no need to worry."
Bone injuries are no small matter, Elder Jiang replied, "Don’t rush back to work for the ti being. Put it on hold for a while."
When she moved out of the Jiang Family compound, the excuse Shen Qingqing had given was that it was more convenient for work.
Now Elder Jiang was telling her to set work aside for the mont, implicitly suggesting she stay ho for a while longer.
Shen Qingqing’s goal was divorce, not cutting ties with the Jiang Family elders.
As long as she got the divorce certificate, the rest didn’t matter.
So she nodded. "I’ll get it checked out again after the New Year, and if things are fine, I’ll consider going back to work."
Madam Jiang’s face lit up with joy upon hearing that.
As long as Shen Qingqing wasn’t in a rush to leave, there was still room to work things out.
She served Shen Qingqing a bowl of chicken soup and even added a drumstick.
The chicken was fatty, producing a shiny, golden broth that slled incredibly appetizing.
Knowing that Shen Qingqing didn’t like overly greasy foods, Madam Jiang carefully skimd off the top layer of chicken fat while ladling the soup.
"Look at you, you’ve gotten so thin these past few days. You need to eat more and put so weight back on."
Shen Qingqing thanked her, "Mom, you should eat too. Don’t just fuss over ."
Madam Jiang suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
If the couple really got divorced, would Qingqing still call her "Mom" in the future?
If the answer was no, wouldn’t she lose a daughter?
Of course, people prioritize their own, and in Madam Jiang’s eyes, her biological son Jiang Zhixun was most important.
But that didn’t an she had no genuine affection for Shen Qingqing.
After all, she had watched the girl grow up. No matter how good another woman might be, she could never compare to Shen Qingqing.
Under the table, soone kicked her foot.
Madam Jiang turned her head to glare at her husband. "Just eat your food properly."
Father Jiang wanted to eat his food in peace too, but his wife’s emotions were written all over her face. How was anyone supposed to enjoy their al like this?
Clearing his throat, he looked over at his son. "Qingqing’s only got one working hand. Help her with the dishes."
Jiang Zhixun hadn’t co ho in three years. Besides the dumplings and chicken soup, Madam Jiang had prepared other dishes too.
The roast duck was freshly purchased from a restaurant, still warm and fragrant.
There was also a dish of stewed pork with vermicelli, which was genuinely tricky for Shen Qingqing to handle with just one hand.
Jiang Zhixun gave a noncommittal response, his deanor detached. Even Madam Jiang couldn’t tell whether he agreed or not.
Her eyes flitted between the couple, and she let out a quiet sigh in her heart.
If only the two of them could live harmoniously and have a couple of kids, gatherings like this would undoubtedly be as lively as they could be.
Unfortunately, things had turned out like this.
Shen Qingqing kept her head down, sipping her soup.
Jiang Zhixun ate silently too.
The elders wanted to talk but couldn’t co up with a suitable topic.
The atmosphere was tense and awkward. Even as composed as Shen Qingqing was, she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable, as though she were sitting on pins and needles.
She just wanted to finish eating and return to her room as soon as possible.
There were two small bowls in front of her—one filled with chicken soup, the other with dumplings.
She also had a small dish of vinegar for dipping the dumplings.
With just these few items, it was enough for her to eat her fill.
So she didn’t reach out for any other dishes.
Suddenly, a roasted duck leg landed in her bowl.
The at was plentiful, the skin perfectly crisp, with an inviting golden color.
Jiang Zhixun spoke calmly, "Didn’t you say before that you were craving roast duck? Eat it while it’s hot."
Shen Qingqing froze. "When did I ever say I wanted roast duck?"
When she went to the Northwest, all she could think about was getting a divorce.
How would she have the headspace to crave things like that?
After three years of the silent treatnt, Jiang Zhixun now suddenly "buttering her up" in front of the elders made him feel awkward, so he made up an excuse offhand.
Turning to look at Shen Qingqing, he t her puzzled gaze and unexpectedly found himself wanting to laugh.
Amid this amusent, there was also a pang of sourness.
These past few days, Shen Qingqing hadn’t given him so much as a pleasant expression, so much so that now, just her being willing to talk to him left him feeling oddly content.
Looking into her beautiful eyes, Jiang Zhixun said earnestly, "You ntioned it when you were still groggy from the anesthesia after surgery."
Shen Qingqing felt a wave of embarrassnt. She couldn’t recall whether or not she had said any other nonsense under the anesthesia.
She didn’t dare ask further, afraid she might hear sothing even more mortifying from Jiang Zhixun.
She quickly lowered her head to eat, but a heat rising from within her seed impossible to suppress, surfacing in waves.
Her mind involuntarily conjured up the scene he spoke of, and her embarrassnt only grew.
Jiang Zhixun noticed her ears gradually turning red and suddenly felt a sense of relief.
On the entire journey back, he had been the only one holding his anger in.
Shen Qingqing had acted so composed that he thought she was heartless—completely indifferent to everything!
Jiang Zhixun placed another piece of roast duck in her bowl. Shen Qingqing refused, moving her bowl slightly away as a clear gesture of rejection.
"Why aren’t you eating? Should I help jog your mory about what happened then?"
Jiang Zhixun’s eyes narrowed mischievously. It was teasing, but with a hint of malice.
"Back then, you cried and said..."
"Can you shut up already?"
Shen Qingqing’s expression turned ugly, her embarrassnt palpable, as though her wounds were being laid bare for everyone to see.
Jiang Zhixun may not have ant any harm, but Shen Qingqing wasn’t thick-skinned enough to treat it like a joke.
Her reaction caught Jiang Zhixun off guard.
Nervousness, helplessness, and confusion surged all at once.
Jiang Zhixun realized he must have said the wrong thing. He opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to say anything further.
The atmosphere grew even colder.
Madam Jiang quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. "People under anesthesia don’t even know what they’re saying. You brat, if you want to joke around, wait until after dinner when you’re in your room. We don’t want to hear Qingqing’s private matters."
As she spoke, she ladled another serving of chicken soup for Shen Qingqing. "The weather is so chilly—you should drink sothing warm. Keeping your body warm will help you recover faster."
Given Shen Qingqing’s usual deanor, she wouldn’t typically lose her temper in front of the elders over such a minor issue.
No matter how upset she was, she usually held it in.
But this ti, she couldn’t hold back, which highlighted just how upset she truly was.
Originally, Madam Jiang had wanted to persuade Shen Qingqing not to go through with the divorce. Now, she didn’t dare utter a single word on the subject.
She was afraid that if Shen Qingqing stayed angry, it would only strengthen her resolve to leave.
She shot her son a look, urging him to serve Shen Qingqing more food.
Jiang Zhixun lowered his gaze and didn’t move.
He didn’t understand what was wrong with him, why he kept provoking Shen Qingqing again and again.
But every ti she got angry, he regretted it...
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