After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?-Chapter 98 You’re Pretty Stupid

In the end, Qin Wenqiang’s family of three didn’t stay for dinner.

It was still the four of them at home.

On the surface, it looked no different from the past three years, but with Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing divorced, many things had changed.

Madam Jiang could no longer harp on about sending Shen Qingqing to join the army or urging her to have children.

Father Jiang and Elder Jiang only wanted Shen Qingqing to focus on getting medical treatment.

As for other matters, they would discuss them later.

Everyone says divorce is shameful, yet this holiday season, Shen Qingqing felt relieved.

It was so much better than agonizing over whether Jiang Zhixun would come home or having to swallow her pride to ask for a child!

After dinner in the courtyard, Shen Qingqing was about to return to her rented place.

Knowing how stubborn she was, Madam Jiang didn’t stop her this time.

"Stay for a little while longer. Your father has arranged for someone to take you home."

Shen Qingqing didn’t refuse. "I’ll take a walk outside with Grandpa first."

Elder Jiang had a habit of taking post-dinner strolls.

Madam Jiang opened her mouth as if to say something—perhaps to mention that Zhixun would be calling home later and that Qingqing could wait to chat with him for a bit.

But in the end, she just waved her hand. "Go ahead."

Elder Jiang was still in good health and didn’t need Shen Qingqing’s help. The two strolled and chatted as they walked.

"Have you wrapped up your work yet?"

Shen Qingqing shook her head. "Not yet. My boss specially assigned me a translation draft. I need to finish it before I can take a break."

That wasn’t entirely true, but not entirely false, either.

Elder Jiang wasn’t so easily fooled. "If you don’t want to come back to the courtyard, then don’t. It’s no big deal. We’re all in Beijing; it’s not like we’re separated by thousands of miles. If we miss you, we’ll just visit you where you live."

For the first time, a family elder supported her decision instead of endlessly urging her to return to the courtyard life.

Shen Qingqing felt touched.

Playfully, she said, "Once I’m done with work, let’s go hiking, or maybe go fishing..."

Elder Jiang seemed intrigued. "You’re already living the good retired life in advance."

Shen Qingqing couldn’t hold back her laughter. "Young people are supposed to work hard—just don’t think I’m slacking, okay?"

Elder Jiang often said things like that.

Youth is for hard work; enduring some hardship is no big deal.

If not for Jiang Zhixun getting married to Shen Qingqing and then leaving her behind without bringing her to join the army, Elder Jiang would have proudly supported him serving in the Northwest.

"Your health is your greatest asset. Take a couple of years to recover. If your condition improves dramatically, you can go back to work and fight as hard as you like. You’re still young—there’s no need to rush. Just take it one step at a time."

"If worse comes to worst, Grandpa has his retirement pension saved up. I can support you for your entire life if it comes to that."

The darkness clouding Shen Qingqing began to dissipate little by little, and this connection was why she couldn’t completely sever ties with the Jiang Family.

Although she had some unhappy moments with Madam Jiang in the past, she understood Madam Jiang’s longing for a grandchild.

Aside from that one issue, Madam Jiang had treated her fairly well in all her years with the Jiang Family.

Just as Shen Qingqing was about to say something, she saw Yang Fen walking toward her and had to stop.

Yang Fen had a faint smile on her face. "Qingqing, I need to talk to you. Could we have a chat?"

Back in school, Shen Qingqing and Yang Fen were classmates.

But their relationship was mediocre at best.

After Yang Fen’s sister-in-law gossiped about Shen Qingqing a few times, Qingqing had naturally distanced herself from her.

They hadn’t interacted in the past three years. Shen Qingqing didn’t believe Yang Fen would come to her for anything important.

"What’s the matter?"

Yang Fen glanced at Elder Jiang out of the corner of her eye.

She had always feared this elder since she was a child, thinking he was very stern.

In Elder Jiang’s presence, she barely dared to speak.

She pressed her lips together. "It’s a private matter. Can we talk somewhere else?"

Elder Jiang wasn’t overly rigid. He could tell the girl from the Yang Family was afraid of him.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Go ahead and talk. I’ll keep walking a bit further."

Only after Elder Jiang walked off did Yang Fen let out a sigh of relief.

Shen Qingqing was patient, but only in certain situations.

Right now, she wasn’t in the mood to waste time. "What do you want?" she asked directly.

Yang Fen, being naturally introverted and almost invisible in the courtyard, suddenly felt a little nervous under Shen Qingqing’s gaze.

She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, as if unsure how to begin.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally spoke. "I’m going to the Northwest." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Zhixun didn’t even finish celebrating the new year before returning to the Northwest. Word was he and Shen Qingqing had another falling-out.

Yang Fen figured Jiang Zhixun likely wouldn’t return to Beijing for the next few years.

Though it felt a bit despicable to seize this opportunity, Yang Fen wanted to pursue a relationship with Jiang Zhixun.

She had already submitted her application.

The Northwest was short of medical staff. As long as she was willing, she could definitely head over to be with Jiang Zhixun.

Shen Qingqing found the situation baffling. "That’s your own decision. As long as you’ve thought it through, it’s fine."

Yang Fen took a deep breath and confessed directly to Shen Qingqing, "I’ve liked Brother Zhixun longer than you have."

Shen Qingqing froze momentarily, unable to process it for a second.

Yang Fen watched her intently, bracing herself for the possibility Shen Qingqing might hit her.

But Shen Qingqing simply nodded indifferently. "Who you like is your personal business. It has nothing to do with me."

Yang Fen couldn’t understand why Shen Qingqing was so calm.

"You don’t care about Brother Zhixun at all."

Her accusation left Shen Qingqing even more perplexed. "Whether I care about him or not is my own business. I don’t meddle in your feelings, so please don’t overstep and judge my life."

Yang Fen clenched the hem of her clothes tightly. "I didn’t understand before why Brother Zhixun didn’t like you. But now I kind of get it. Shen Qingqing, you’re truly heartless."

Even though they were divorced now, Brother Zhixun was still her ex-husband.

Hearing another woman admit she liked him, Shen Qingqing showed no reaction at all.

A woman so cold-hearted—how could anyone live with her?

Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh. "You like Jiang Zhixun, but do you have to insult me to prove your point? How does that benefit you?"

"Besides, whether I’m good or not isn’t up to you. The facts speak for themselves. I’m beautiful, performed well at school, excel at work, and earn a good salary. None of those will disappear just because you badmouth me."

Yang Fen’s expression twisted slightly. She couldn’t figure out where Shen Qingqing got the confidence to proclaim such things so frankly.

Shouldn’t one be humble? Wasn’t she afraid others would overhear and gossip about her behind her back?

Yang Fen wasn’t as articulate as Shen Qingqing and found herself momentarily speechless.

Shen Qingqing didn’t bother being courteous. "If you think belittling me aligns you with Jiang Zhixun and brings you closer to him, then you’re truly an idiot."

Jiang Zhixun might not like her, but he didn’t like gossipy women, either!

Yang Fen’s face alternated between red and pale shades.

"I can’t argue with you, and I’m not interested in debating."

Shen Qingqing had no patience for nonsense and lifted her foot to leave.

But Yang Fen blocked her path.

"You and Brother Zhixun are divorced now. I hope you’ll keep your distance from him in the future. Don’t contact him again. If possible, I’d prefer you stay away from the courtyard entirely. After all, this is his family’s home, and your presence drives him away..."

"You weren’t willing to sacrifice for Brother Zhixun, but I am. I’ll go to the Northwest. I’ll pursue him."

"Shen Qingqing, please don’t show up in our lives again."