After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?-Chapter 84: Must You Go?

After Shen Qingqing left, Madam Jiang went to clean the room.

Not sure if she would come back, she didn’t rush to put away the bedding.

For the New Year, the family had bought a lot of snacks like melon seeds, peanuts, and candies.

Madam Jiang placed a plate of them in the wedding room, thinking Shen Qingqing could eat them while sitting on the sofa reading.

Aside from the matter of divorce, Shen Qingqing was very firm.

In other aspects, she didn’t overthink things to cause trouble for herself or others.

When Madam Jiang brought food to the room, Shen Qingqing would eat it.

Although Shen Qingqing cleaned the room every day, a few melon seed shells had still slipped down to under the sofa and hadn’t been swept away.

Her fracture hadn’t fully healed; she couldn’t handle delicate tasks, and Madam Jiang understood.

Without saying a word, she moved the sofa, intending to clean the hard-to-reach corners.

She spotted a notebook fallen between the cracks and picked it up.

No need to think—it was obvious whose item this was.

She quickly dusted off the cover and had been wondering what excuse to use to send Zhixun to Qingqing’s side.

Now it was easy—like dreaming and being handed a pillow.

Holding this notebook, Zhixun would have a valid reason to go find Qingqing!

Madam Jiang carefully wiped the notebook cover clean without flipping through its contents.

She had no interest in the children’s diaries.

After tidying the room thoroughly, she heard footsteps upstairs and knew it was her son returning.

Without hesitation, she walked out of the wedding room with the notebook.

She mumbled, "Qingqing left a notebook here. I don’t know if she urgently needs it. You go ahead and make a trip to return it to her."

Jiang Zhixun glanced at it indifferently.

It was the notebook he had temporarily kept before.

Back then, Shen Qingqing had cherished this notebook, not even letting him take a peek.

Why had she now left it behind at home?

Carelessly retracting his gaze, he entered his own room. "If you want to send it, send it yourself."

Madam Jiang froze.

Frustrated, she said, "Do you still want to remarry or not?"

"What’s the use of me wanting to? She’s unwilling, so I’d better not go and make myself unwelcome."

While speaking, he packed his own clothes into his bag.

Madam Jiang’s intended words changed into a question, "Aren’t you on a one-month leave?"

"Something came up."

"What is it?" Madam Jiang pressed further.

His comrade from the Northwest had arrived in Beijing. He had even said in the morning that he would invite them over for dinner after their matchmaking meeting tomorrow.

Why was he suddenly leaving now?

Jiang Zhixun didn’t answer; he merely continued packing his things.

"Again! Always like this!"

Madam Jiang was about to be driven mad by him.

She hurled the notebook at Jiang Zhixun, saying, "None of you put my mind at ease! What’s wrong with this home? Speak plainly! Don’t always pull this leaving-home stunt!"

Jiang Zhixun sighed helplessly. "It’s really something urgent."

"What urgent matter? Explain yourself!"

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t possibly say that only by leaving would Shen Qingqing return.

Although his mother cared deeply for Shen Qingqing, saying something like this would only stir discord between them.

Because of something that had happened three years ago, his mom had complained about Shen Qingqing once.

If he added fuel to the fire, Shen Qingqing might truly sever her ties with the family.

Jiang Zhixun pursed his lips tightly and, after packing his clothes, finally said, "A last-minute task."

Madam Jiang was half-convinced.

But she knew her son well—once he decided on something, it was hard to change his mind.

Her eyes suddenly turned red.

"When are you going to transfer back to Beijing? Qingqing is still sick, and if something happens to her, we wouldn’t know what to do!"

Jiang Zhixun’s mind was unsettled, to the point that the veins on the back of his hand protruded.

He didn’t want to leave at this moment either.

But Shen Qingqing was stubborn, and he had no other solution.

He couldn’t let her continue living outside.

Besides, Jiang Zhixun had his own selfish concerns.

As long as Shen Qingqing lived in the compound, any man pursuing her would have to deal with the elders first.

He didn’t want Shen Qingqing to remarry.

"I’ll come back during my next leave. You should call Shen Qingqing and ask her to move back home. If she doesn’t listen..."

Jiang Zhixun stopped mid-sentence.

If Shen Qingqing wouldn’t listen, what could he do?

Travel all the way back to Beijing and forcibly bring her home?

He swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "Just talk to her nicely. She’ll definitely listen."

When dealing with elders, she wasn’t as resistant.

Unlike him—whenever he spoke, Shen Qingqing would react with rejection and coldness.

How long it would be until his next leave, no one knew.

Madam Jiang also wanted Shen Qingqing to move back home.

In certain ways, she was in sync with her son’s concerns.

Now that Qingqing was single, other men had the right to pursue her.

If she kept living outside, who knows when she might be taken away?

Afraid that expressing her worry would hurt her son’s feelings, Madam Jiang kept it to herself.

She asked, "Do you have to leave today?"

"Yes."

Madam Jiang wanted to persuade him further but didn’t want to interfere with what might be an actual assignment.

She had no choice but to go downstairs to prepare some food for him to eat on the train.

Shen Qingqing’s notebook and bankbook were placed together.

Jiang Zhixun stared at them for a long while, then suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh.

Was it going to kill her to spend his money?

Why was Shen Qingqing so adamant in refusing?

Feeling stifled, he stuffed both the bankbook and notebook into his luggage bag.

He carried his belongings downstairs.

"Mom, I’m leaving first. Please let Grandpa and Dad know."

Madam Jiang called out to him from the kitchen, "Wait a moment. I’ll steam some buns for you."

"No need; I’ll buy food when I’m on the train."

"The food sold on trains isn’t as tasty as homemade ones."

Suddenly, she remembered Sister-in-law Wang had taken care of Shen Qingqing before, and she hadn’t prepared a gift for her yet.

"Mom, please come with me to the Friendship Store to help pick out a gift for Sister-in-law Wang."

Since Sister-in-law Wang had looked after Shen Qingqing for a while, Madam Jiang also thought a thank-you gift was appropriate.

Suddenly, she wasn’t in a rush anymore. "Then go find Elder Jiang first and inform him. I’ll get everything ready, and we’ll head out together afterward."

Jiang Zhixun put down his luggage and headed out to find Elder Jiang.

The compound was very safe; Elder Jiang enjoyed taking walks outside every day.

Jiang Zhixun followed the usual route Elder Jiang took for his walks and bumped into Yang Fen midway.

People in the compound—both adults and children—knew each other, so when Yang Fen called out to him, Jiang Zhixun stopped.

"Brother Zhixun, when are you returning to the Northwest?"

Jiang Zhixun wondered why she was asking this.

"Today."

Yang Fen fiddled nervously with the hem of her clothes and asked again, "When will you transfer back to Beijing?"

This was a personal matter, and Jiang Zhixun wasn’t interested in discussing it with others.

"I’m not sure."

His face showed no expression, and his tone was calm, but Yang Fen could feel only distance from him.

He was like this with everyone.

But toward Shen Qingqing... it was different.

She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and gathered her courage.

Shen Qingqing and Brother Zhixun were already divorced—this was her last chance.

If she waited until Brother Zhixun remarried, she would surely regret it.

"I want to work there as a nurse. Brother Zhixun, what do you think?"