Chapter 4: Misunderstanding

Jiang Zhixun surmised that Shen Qingqing had come to the Great Northwest to conceive a child with him. After all, his mother had brought up the subject many times before. When she mentioned going to the guesthouse, he immediately associated it with the acts necessary for procreation.

His gaze toward Shen Qingqing turned subtle, tinged with an inexplicable, indefinable irritation.

"In such a hurry?"

"Yes, it's very urgent."

Jiang Zhixun stared at her steadily for a few seconds, his tongue pressing against his cheek. Finally, he said impassively, "I don't have time."

Shen Qingqing grew anxious. "I really have something important to discuss!"

If it were truly important, she should have called instead of traveling all the way from Beijing to the Great Northwest. Three years had passed since they last met, and now she appeared just to have a child? What did she take him for?

Jiang Zhixun repeated his stance, "After you finish eating, I’ll take you to the train station. This is no place for you."

Shen Qingqing's eyes grew moist. She knew she wasn't welcome and had no intention of staying long. She only wanted a divorce.

"Just half an hour."

Her expression was filled with grievance, yet her eyes flashed with stubbornness. It was as if she were saying that if he didn't agree, she would hold her ground until the end.

Jiang Zhixun gritted his teeth. He set down his chopsticks, his eyes devoid of any warmth as they rested on her. He stretched out his long legs in a casual, indifferent manner.

"Is half an hour enough?"

Shen Qingqing did not think his heart had softened or that he was showing mercy to talk things over properly. She turned her head, using the act of adjusting her scarf to quietly exhale and suppress her surging emotions.

She didn't say it was enough, nor did she say it wasn't. Mimicking his cold demeanor, she replied, "That depends on your choice."

If he agreed to the divorce, they might resolve it in under five minutes. If he refused, dragging it out would surely take quite a while.

As soon as this thought arose, she pushed it aside. Jiang Zhixun should be the one most eager for a divorce. Back then, Grandpa Jiang had seen through her feelings and orchestrated things behind the scenes to bring them together. Jiang Zhixun had neither liked her nor wanted to marry. It was only when Grandpa Jiang fell critically ill that he conceded, hoping to spare the old man any regrets. Unexpectedly, once their marriage certificate was issued, the grandfather’s condition improved.

Even now, Jiang Zhixun believed they had colluded to trick him into marriage. That was why, for the past three years, he had never once initiated a phone call or written a letter. He only sent his monthly allowance like clockwork. It was exactly two hundred yuan each month—he likely kept only a few small change for himself.

Shen Qingqing didn't believe he did this because he truly regarded her as a revolutionary partner. Given his personality, he would have surrendered his salary regardless of who was listed on the marriage certificate. But that was all there was to it. Winning his heart was impossible.

A bitterness welled up in Shen Qingqing's heart. Jiang Zhixun had never treated her poorly. Before they married, he had stated he would only ever see her as a younger sister. After the wedding, though he never returned home, he had faithfully deposited his allowance into her account.

Shen Qingqing lowered her head, half her face buried in her scarf. Therefore, a peaceful divorce was the best choice for both of them. She would not hinder his future, but she would no longer wait foolishly for him to come home.

Her eyelashes were long; as she lowered her gaze, they looked like two small fans, shielding the expression in her eyes. Jiang Zhixun couldn't read her. Seeing her looking like a soft, fragile thing, he felt an inexplicable constriction in his chest.

"Did my mother tell you to come?"

Shen Qingqing shook her head quickly. "No, I wanted to come myself."

Her mother-in-law had indeed suggested she find Jiang Zhixun, but the implication was for her to conceive as soon as possible and return to Beijing to carry the child. In the eyes of the older generation, marriage was for a lifetime. Though they were pessimistic about the marriage, no one had ever suggested divorce. Once a child was born, Jiang Zhixun would have no choice but to come home—that was her mother-in-law's exact sentiment.

Setting aside whether Jiang Zhixun would agree, Shen Qingqing could not bring herself to use a child as a bargaining chip.

Jiang Zhixun didn't believe a word she said. Three years—over a thousand days and nights. If she had really wanted to come, would she have waited this long? Irrationally, his agitation grew; he had been perfectly fine before she appeared. Not wanting to be affected by her, his desire to send her away intensified. He didn't even finish his meal; he snapped the lid onto his lunchbox and rose to leave.

"I will call my mother and tell her my sperm quality is poor, so she can give up on the idea of having a grandchild. You go back today; don't worry about not being able to explain yourself."

Shen Qingqing choked on his words, breaking into a violent cough. Her eyes widened in horror. She couldn't tell if she was more shocked by his claim about his sperm quality or by his misunderstanding of her intentions. Whether the former was true or not, she didn't know, but the words were incredibly crude. Moreover, she wasn't here for a child!

Shen Qingqing tried to speak, but her throat was too constricted to utter a word. She was already unwell, and the coughing brought physiological tears to her eyes. It was agonizing.

Jiang Zhixun’s hand, resting on the lunchbox, rubbed against it a few times, but he remained where he was. He watched as her face flushed red from the coughing, crystal-clear tears sliding down her cheeks to her chin, then dripping into her scarf and vanishing.

Jiang Zhixun had excellent vision; even from a distance, he could see the redness at the corners of her eyes. She was beautiful, but her nature was too gentle; with red eyes, she looked incredibly innocent. His jaw tightened instantly, and his hand tightened around the lunchbox unconsciously.

"Brother Jiang, why are you bullying this comrade?"

A woman with ear-length hair, wearing a thick padded jacket, appeared in his line of sight. Judging by her attire, she was likely a relative of someone in the compound.

Shen Qingqing, not yet recovered, immediately turned to face away from them. That red tint became even more apparent. It was because of this turn that Jiang Zhixun noticed for the first time that Shen Qingqing had become much thinner compared to three years ago. Even in her heavy coat, she looked frail.

Jiang Zhixun recalled what his mother had said—that she had moved out of the family compound, claiming it was for the convenience of her work...

"Brother Jiang, do you know this comrade?"

"Yes."

The newcomer was Lin Zhidong's younger sister. Seeing Jiang Zhixun’s gaze fixed on the woman, Lin Fengmian’s internal alarm bells went off. She had come to the family compound to help her sister-in-law with the baby, and that was how she had met Jiang Zhixun. She had fallen for him at first sight.

She had seen many women try to get close to him, but he had never entertained any of them. Even when the most beautiful star of the song and dance troupe arrived, he maintained that same icy attitude. Yet now, he was actually speaking to a woman—and they seemed to have a deep connection!

Lin Fengmian intentionally blocked Jiang Zhixun’s path to prevent him from getting closer to the woman who had suddenly appeared. Her eyes, fixed on Shen Qingqing, held curiosity and a clear, palpable hostility.

Shen Qingqing turned and caught the look. Naturally, she understood that this was yet another admirer of Jiang Zhixun. Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she looked at Jiang Zhixun. "Can we talk alone?"