The more Jiang Zhixun spoke, the heavier Shen Qingqing’s heart grew.
"You investigated ?"
"Qin Wenqiang said you went to the hospital."
Noticing Shen Qingqing’s expression darken, Jiang Zhixun said sternly, "I didn’t pry into your privacy. I hope you’ll be honest and explain everything clearly."
Shen Qingqing’s gaze was filled with doubt, unsure if it was Qin Wenqiang who saw her at the hospital,
or if Jiang Zhixun had instructed him to investigate.
Not wanting the matter to delay the divorce, she restrained her impulse to curse. "I’m perfectly fine now. Other than the broken bone, there’s nothing wrong with . If your eyes aren’t malfunctioning, you should be able to see that."
She still wanted to keep it a secret.
Jiang Zhixun clenched his molars tightly and reminded Shen Qingqing, "Can I see psychological issues with my naked eyes?"
Madam Jiang had originally been contemplating whether to feign illness herself to muddle through today.
With the civil bureau closed during the holidays, even if Qingqing was eager, she wouldn’t be able to get divorced in the coming days.
As long as ti passed, there would be room for change, and perhaps she might even change her mind.
If worse ca to worst, she could send Zhixun back to the Northwest for the ti being or continue pretending to be ill.
In any case, she was absolutely unwilling to agree to the divorce.
She was willing to do anything, no matter how shaful, to reconcile the couple.
But now, hearing her son inquire about Shen Qingqing’s illness, Madam Jiang grew curious and perked up her ears to listen.
She had been in Beijing this whole ti and knew nothing about Qingqing being sick.
How had Zhixun, all the way in the Northwest, found out about it first?
Shen Qingqing’s denial put Madam Jiang at ease.
But before her heart could settle completely, she heard the term "psychological illness."
Madam Jiang, with little else to occupy her ti, paid close attention to health-related news.
She had, of course, heard about the existence of psychological illnesses.
Though she didn’t entirely understand how severe they could be,
an illness, by its very nature, must affect a person’s health.
Back then, they had brought Shen Qingqing into the family compound to take good care of her.
If she were to encounter unexpected difficulties, wouldn’t they be failing Professor Jiang and his wife?
Madam Jiang grew anxious and could no longer fake illness.
She quickly asked Shen Qingqing, "What kind of psychological problem is it? Qingqing, if you’re unwell, why didn’t you tell ? I could’ve accompanied you to the hospital."
Soone who is sick is at their most vulnerable, and Qingqing going to the hospital alone must have been unbearably distressing.
Won understand won best. Qingqing was already feeling wronged, and being ill with Zhixun away and not even reachable by phone must have made everything worse.
No wonder Qingqing wanted a divorce!
Previously, Madam Jiang had been puzzled—after enduring three years of this, why, just before the New Year, when Zhixun was possibly coming ho for a visit, could Shen Qingqing not wait a little longer and instead rush off to the Northwest to initiate divorce proceedings?
Now Madam Jiang understood.
She must have received a diagnosis, been overwheld with emotion, and imdiately purchased a train ticket.
She hadn’t wanted the young couple to divorce before, and now she wanted it even less.
First, because her conscience couldn’t bear it.
Second, because she worried about Shen Qingqing living alone with her illness.
"Have Zhixun go to your rental place and bring back your things, and then we’ll go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination to identify the root cause. That way, we can apply the appropriate treatnt, don’t you agree?"
Shen Qingqing hadn’t wanted the Jiang Family to know about her illness.
But now, she changed her mind.
If she could use Jiang Zhixun’s guilt to achieve her goal, then so be it.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze shifting slightly.
She didn’t disclose that it was amnesia but described the situation as being severe.
"I’ve been suffering from insomnia for a very long ti. At first, it was just a lack of energy—I constantly felt dizzy and had headaches. Later, my limbs went numb, and I kept making frequent mistakes at work. I went to the hospital for tests, and the doctor said my condition was poor. It’s caused by accumulated emotional stress, and I need therapy as well as to stay away from people and situations that drag down emotionally. Otherwise, it will get worse."
Both Madam Jiang and Jiang Zhixun stood there, stunned.
Especially Madam Jiang.
She had thought psychological problems were simply about feeling unwell, overthinking things, and making oneself unhappy.
She hadn’t realized it could be this serious.
It was affecting her physical health and work!
As for the people and situations Shen Qingqing said brought her down emotionally, wasn’t it obvious who she ant?
At a loss for what to do, she turned to her son, hoping he could co up with a solution.
Jiang Zhixun’s hand, buried in his coat pocket, clenched tightly, and turmoil surged within him like a tidal wave.
He had considered various possibilities but hadn’t anticipated that Shen Qingqing’s condition would be this dire.
His eyes stung inexplicably, and he struggled to steady his trembling voice as he asked hoarsely, "Why didn’t you tell ?"
If he had known Shen Qingqing was ill, he would have taken leave and returned ho.
No.
If he had known his selfishness would cause Shen Qingqing so much harm, he wouldn’t have left for the Northwest without a word three years ago.
It was his fault.
He had hurt Shen Qingqing.
And now, it seed there was little chance of salvaging things.
Seeing him only worsened Shen Qingqing’s condition, and that wasn’t the outco he desired.
Jiang Zhixun felt an unbearable weight in his chest, and only by breathing deeply could he alleviate it sowhat.
He had never wanted to hurt Shen Qingqing.
Not once!
Shen Qingqing curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Would you even answer my calls? And those letters I wrote—did you even read them?"
Jiang Zhixun wanted to refute her.
There were tis he answered her calls; he worried that if sothing happened in Beijing and he missed it, there might be dire consequences.
The tis he didn’t answer were because he was busy.
As for the letters, he had read them, but Shen Qingqing hadn’t ntioned her illness.
When he thought about it, her calls and letters had stopped before she even went to the hospital for a checkup.
Jiang Zhixun’s anguish deepened.
He exhaled heavily, saying, "It’s my fault. I’m sorry."
He wanted to hold Shen Qingqing’s hand and tell her that no matter what the problem was, they could face it together.
But Shen Qingqing recoiled as if avoiding a plague, instantly taking two steps back.
"If you want to get better, just go through with the divorce. Stop trapping in this cage. If you keep tornting like this, I don’t know what might happen next."
Her expression was cold, and her words were rciless.
She spoke without the slightest regard for Madam Jiang’s presence.
She likened their marriage to a cage, leaving Jiang Zhixun with no choice but to comply with her demand for divorce.
Could he really confine her?
Her condition was already so severe.
As Shen Qingqing had said, if things continued, who knew how much worse her situation might beco?
The approach Madam Jiang had thought of now had no room to take effect.
She was scared too.
If pushed too far, what if Qingqing did sothing desperate? Then she would forever bear the bla.
In a low voice, she asked, "How do you treat this illness? Does she have to see a doctor? You’ve been away in the Northwest for so long and even got into an accident... Do you feel unwell anywhere besides your broken bone?"
As she spoke, Madam Jiang was on the verge of tears.
She had thought that as long as there were no physical injuries, it wouldn’t be a big problem.
She hadn’t realized that emotional distress could lead to such serious consequences.
She had been pressuring Qingqing to have a child all this while.
And she had been so self-satisfied, thinking herself an open-minded mother-in-law who wasn’t overly demanding.
Now she wondered if Qingqing’s illness was partly her own fault.
Looking at the expressions on the mother and son’s faces, Shen Qingqing knew her strategy was working.
She pressed her advantage, warning Jiang Zhixun, "When the divorce certificate is in my hands, I’ll go to the hospital. If you delay, then delay all you want. Worst case, I’ll die from this illness. Honestly, living with you isn’t much different from being dead."
With that, she turned around and walked out.
Even her retreating figure radiated coldness.
Jiang Zhixun panicked. Right now, all he wanted was for Shen Qingqing to get treatnt.
He didn’t want her to keep fighting with him.
If this was the outco she desired, he was willing to cooperate.
He walked heavily upstairs, gathered the necessary docunts for the divorce,
and, without wasting ti or saying another word, chased after Shen Qingqing out the door.
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