Chapter 2: The Meeting

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Qingqing Shen hadn’t received any news, yet she unexpectedly ran into Zhixun Jiang in the cafeteria. A few comrades trailed behind him, dusty and weary, clearly just back from a mission. At first, Zhixun didn’t notice Qingqing. She didn’t see him either. She was quietly sitting in a corner, her slender, fair hand holding a steamed bun as she ate in silence. Although she kept a low profile, she still attracted attention. The comrades began to tease, “We haven’t seen this female comrade before—whose family member came to visit?” “She’s really beautiful. Wonder if she has a boyfriend. If not, Old Jiang, you should try to win her over.” “You’re already twenty-eight and still single; you’ll end up alone if you keep it up!” “Come on, she looks like a perfect match for Old Jiang. There’s a saying—‘a talented man and a beautiful woman’!” Zhixun lifted his eyelids slightly, wanting to warn them not to make baseless matchmaking assumptions. His gaze passed over the comrades and landed on Qingqing. The young woman wore a black wool coat, her hair tied up in an irregular bun at the back of her head, seemingly carelessly done but neat, exuding a casual, lazy charm. A gray scarf wrapped around her neck left only her pale face fully exposed to the air. The weather was good, sunlight falling gently upon her, making her appear warm and radiant. Her attire was unlike anyone else’s here, as if she had wandered into a world that wasn’t hers, utterly out of place. To Zhixun, it was exactly the same. Words hovered on his lips but remained unsaid; his expression grew heavy. His sharp eyes met hers as Qingqing, immersed in her own world, looked up instinctively along the source of his gaze. Their eyes locked, and she saw the man she hadn’t seen in a long time. Her heart involuntarily rippled. Compared to three years ago, he was much darker. Perhaps from losing weight, his facial features were more defined, radiating an unstoppable sharpness that made his aura even colder. Zhixun was five years older than Qingqing. When she entered the Jiang family, he had already enlisted in the army. Their interactions were few, but during his home visits, Zhixun’s expression was gentle. He would ask about her studies and buy her supplements. Sometimes, unsure what to get, he simply gave her money and tickets to buy whatever she liked. Even though he rarely smiled, his presence wasn’t cold. It was entirely different from now. Clenching her chopsticks tightly, Qingqing thought of her illness, and the ripples of heartache gradually settled.

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Zhixun had family, friends, and countless admirers who came after him. Healthy in body, successful in his career, his future was limitless. It was more fitting for her to care about herself. Qingqing’s mood steadied; she loosened her grip on the chopsticks, the corners of her mouth lifting into a perfect curve. Seeing her smile brightly and even wave at him, Zhixun’s gaze turned colder still. He stepped toward the corner where Qingqing sat. The comrades looked on, confused and shocked. “What’s going on? Is she an old acquaintance of Old Jiang?” “Maybe she’s a younger sister-in-law. Come on, let’s go say hello.” “Old Jiang’s expression looks scary; don’t let him frighten the lady to tears.” Qingqing remained seated, calm as she watched Zhixun approach. The closer he came, the more obvious the chill on his face became. Even prepared as she was, Qingqing felt a prick in her heart. When he reached her side, she stood and called out, “Brother Zhixun.” Stress often triggered physical ailments. Unsure if it was the cold or the unfamiliar environment, on her first day in the Northwest, Qingqing had a high fever. Now that her temperature had dropped, her voice was still hoarse, carrying an innocent, pitiable tone. Zhixun furrowed his brows tighter, asking coldly, “Why are you here?” Qingqing wanted to get straight to the point—she was here to divorce him. But Zhixun’s comrades had followed him, cutting off her chance to speak. One patted Zhixun on the shoulder, disapproving. “Old Jiang, talk things through calmly; don’t scare the lady.” Another apologized to Qingqing, “Old Jiang’s temper is like that; don’t take it personally.” Qingqing nodded, “Sorry for coming so suddenly.” Lin Zhidong, one of Zhixun’s comrades, gave a knowing look. “You’re here to see Old Jiang, right?” “Yes.” The two clearly knew each other. The comrades exchanged glances, excitement evident. Lin Zhidong winked at Zhixun. “You’re the only son in the family; everyone knows that. So, this lady is…” Their implication was clear to all. Qingqing confirmed one thing: Zhixun hadn’t revealed his married status to anyone, not even his close comrades. Perhaps only his superiors knew about his marriage.

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The curve on her lips stiffened for a moment—just a moment. Qingqing smiled and said, “My name is Qingqing Shen, and I am Brother Zhixun’s…” She was interrupted by Zhixun. “Who says a sister has to be biological?” His expression was cold and distant, not reflecting any close bond with Qingqing. There was even an indescribable sense of resistance and rejection. The others, perceptive as they were, realized their relationship was strained and refrained from teasing. Lin Zhidong awkwardly rubbed his hands together, preparing what to say, worried Qingqing might lose face. But Qingqing had endured worse. When Zhixun silently left for the Northwest and didn’t return for three years, she had been mocked relentlessly by rivals, called a fool chasing an empty dream. Though she married into the Jiang family, she hadn’t won Zhixun’s heart and would eventually be cast aside. Bearing strange looks for three years, she had learned to face it calmly now. She felt no shame. Smiling, she said, “I came to see Brother Zhixun about something important. Once it’s done, I’ll return to Jing City.” So she really came from Jing City—no wonder she dressed fashionably and looked so fair and clean. Compared to them, weathered by wind and sun year-round, she was polished and refined. Lin Zhidong scratched the back of his head. “You two talk, we won’t disturb.” As they turned to leave, Zhixun called out, “Not eating?” Lin Zhidong was married and had a sense of propriety. He sensed the odd atmosphere between Zhixun and Qingqing and didn’t want to interfere, fearing his good intentions might backfire. “We’ll sit over there,” he said, pointing to the farthest corner, clearly giving Zhixun and Qingqing space to talk. Qingqing said nothing. Divorce was private; she disliked exposing her personal affairs or causing a scene. A dignified and peaceful separation was what she wanted. Zhixun, usually emotionally steady, seemed to lose all his composure upon seeing Qingqing. She wanted to send the others away, but he insisted they stay. “I have nothing to say to her. You all stay so she won’t feel awkward.”