After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?-Chapter 61 Have a Good Year

Jiang Zhixun’s gaze unsettled Shen Qingqing for a few moments.

The concern in his eyes wasn’t feigned, and there was something else—something different from before.

It almost felt like these three years of separation had all been just her illusion.

Shen Qingqing suddenly felt a wave of sadness.

If only she hadn’t stepped forward back then and insisted on marrying Jiang Zhixun.

Things wouldn’t have turned so awkward.

Now, they could neither be family nor act like strangers in the usual sense...

Even after the divorce, figuring out how to balance her relationship with the Jiang Family elders was going to be a challenge.

If she got too close, she’d seem naive.

If she kept her distance, she’d appear ungrateful.

Shen Qingqing truly regretted it all.

Marrying Jiang Zhixun didn’t just torment the two of them.

Even the elders were caught in a difficult position because of it.

Jiang Zhixun, sitting across from Shen Qingqing, saw the dull look in her eyes, her unfocused gaze, and felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.

She was only twenty when she married him—just a young girl.

He had left without a second thought, never taking her feelings into account.

If her illness had anything to do with him, what face did he have to try to make this marriage work again?

She probably associated him with nothing but painful memories.

How could she possibly agree to give him another chance?

The tension between them was palpable, even the strangers sharing the same private room could sense it.

The others exchanged glances but said nothing, the awkwardness weighing heavily in the air.

Shen Qingqing didn’t want to drag others into it, nor did she want to become a spectacle.

She closed her book and prepared to go to bed.

Seeing what she intended, Jiang Zhixun crouched down in front of her and took off her shoes, neatly placing them to one side.

Since Shen Qingqing had started regaining mobility, unless Jiang Zhixun was away for training, putting on and taking off her shoes was something he insisted on doing for her.

Even though Shen Qingqing repeatedly said she could manage with one hand.

Still, Jiang Zhixun persisted, not giving her the chance to refuse.

This same scene had played out countless times, yet Shen Qingqing still felt unaccustomed to it.

After three years of the silent conflict, to be honest, she and Jiang Zhixun had grown far apart.

If not for the pending divorce, she doubted they’d even find anything to talk about while being in the same space.

They were husband and wife, yet not even as close as ordinary friends.

Maybe it was because Jiang Zhixun had a stronger capacity to adjust; he could quickly change his attitude toward her.

But she couldn’t do the same.

Looking at Jiang Zhixun’s attentive demeanor, Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but overthink.

Would he change his attitude again after just one night’s sleep?

Just like three years ago, on the second day of their marriage, when she was abruptly informed that Jiang Zhixun had left Beijing for the distant Northwest.

From beginning to end, Jiang Zhixun hadn’t given her a single moment to prepare.

It happened three years ago.

And it was happening three years later as well.

If it were the past, Shen Qingqing might have considered approaching him, trying to give them both another chance.

But now, she was truly exhausted.

In a quiet voice, she thanked Jiang Zhixun. When he reached out to help her, Shen Qingqing lay down before he could.

Her movement was natural, but Jiang Zhixun knew she did it on purpose.

The hand he extended froze for a couple of seconds before he slowly withdrew it.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he suppressed the lump in his throat.

Jiang Zhixun said nothing and returned to his bed, staring blankly out the window.

...

The divorce had already been finalized in conversation, and along the journey, Shen Qingqing barely initiated any conversation with Jiang Zhixun.

Jiang Zhixun wasn’t much of a talker to begin with, and with Shen Qingqing constantly rejecting his attempts to get closer, he felt at a loss for what to do.

They merely went on like this, awkwardly tolerating each other, until they returned to Beijing.

Shen Qingqing refused to go back to the family compound.

But Jiang Zhixun wouldn’t let her return to her rental apartment either.

Even before leaving the train station, they had a disagreement over this, neither willing to compromise an inch.

Shen Qingqing knew that if she returned to the compound, the family elders would definitely try to persuade them to stay together.

Now, with just one final step to go, she didn’t want her efforts to go to waste.

So until all was settled, she absolutely wouldn’t go back!

"Tomorrow morning at nine, meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Let’s get the divorce certificate before the holiday break," she said.

Her first words were about the divorce again.

Jiang Zhixun’s eyes flared red with anger.

She was the one who wanted to get married.

Now she was the one who wanted a divorce.

Every time, it was sprung on him suddenly, without giving him any time to think it over.

Was there anyone else as unreasonable as Shen Qingqing?

Frustrated beyond measure, his tone turned cold, "After the New Year, we’ll deal with it. That’s what you said before too."

Shen Qingqing didn’t understand what he was dragging this out for. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"If it’s going to happen anyway, it’s better to resolve it sooner and spend the holiday in peace," she replied.

The moment the words left her mouth, she saw Jiang Zhixun’s expression visibly darken.

"In peace?"

Jiang Zhixun let out a bitter laugh, "Since when is divorce a good thing worth celebrating?"

Shen Qingqing didn’t understand why he was angry.

Divorce would indeed attract gossip, and it wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.

But knowing Jiang Zhixun’s personality, he shouldn’t care about that stuff.

If he did, he wouldn’t have left so abruptly back then.

Requesting a transfer to the Northwest at the last minute was bad enough, but then he stayed away for three years without returning home.

He must have known how much gossip his actions would provoke; it was impossible he hadn’t thought of it.

So if nothing fazed him, why wasn’t divorce considered a good thing for him?

After all, Jiang Zhixun didn’t like her.

And he couldn’t stand this marriage!

Shen Qingqing’s face remained calm, "Not being trapped in the grave of marriage—isn’t that a good thing?"

The grave of marriage...

Jiang Zhixun let out a self-deprecating chuckle. She was surprisingly accurate.

Their three-year marriage had indeed felt like a grave.

"After such a long time without being cleaned, are you sure your place is even livable?"

Out of spite, Jiang Zhixun deliberately emphasized the words "your place."

Shen Qingqing wasn’t stupid; she could hear the sarcasm in his tone.

But to her, that tiny rented apartment was indeed her home.

"I’ll stay at a guesthouse for now," she replied.

The guesthouse was near her rental place. A night’s stay cost only two yuan, something she could easily afford.

Once her place was tidied up, she could move back in without any issues.

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t understand why she was being so stubborn.

Before they married, she had been close to the Jiang Family, getting along well with the elders.

Did divorce mean she would sever ties with the Jiang Family entirely?

Once they exited the train station, Jiang Zhixun denied Shen Qingqing any chance to refuse.

With a forceful tone, he said, "You’re coming back to the compound with me."

Shen Qingqing refused. "Give me my luggage."

Jiang Zhixun, inherently domineering, wouldn’t budge.

It didn’t matter that Shen Qingqing was injured; even if she were perfectly fine, he wouldn’t let her live alone during the New Year.

Curling his lips into a faintly amused smile, he warned, "The divorce certificate isn’t in your hands yet. You better stick close to me, or I might just skip the Civil Affairs Bureau, and then all your excitement will be for nothing."

Shen Qingqing panicked, "Jiang Zhixun, what’s that supposed to mean?"

"Come home with me."

His voice was curt and decisive, leaving Shen Qingqing no room to argue.

Her breathing grew heavy as she glared at Jiang Zhixun with hatred.

Three years ago, to escape this marriage, he had fled to the Northwest.

Now, just when they were finally about to divorce, he was threatening her like this.

What exactly did he want?!