CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 263: NEVER GOING BACK

Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun were still newlyweds, thinking initially that being apart for three months would be tough.

Turns out, they were both so busy with work that Shen Qingqing didn’t have time to overthink.

It was only at night, before bed, that she would wonder what Jiang Zhixun was doing.

Is his work going smoothly?

Is he healthy?

In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed.

There were only a few days left until the three months were up.

Which meant that Jiang Zhixun would soon be finishing his assignment and coming back to Beijing.

Meanwhile, the research project Shen Qingqing was involved in had made significant progress.

To relieve stress, after work, Shen Qingqing and her colleagues decided to go out for dinner.

"Should we have hot pot or roast duck?" Li Xue asked.

Shen Qingqing and her colleagues unanimously chose the latter, "Hot pot is best enjoyed when it’s cold."

"Alright, I’ll make a reservation over the phone."

Besides roast duck, they could order other dishes, and chipping in about ten bucks each would be more than enough.

So, they gave the money to Li Xue first, ten bucks per person, and they’d settle up afterward.

For many people, ten bucks was quite a sum.

But Shen Qingqing had always believed in being economical when necessary and spending when needed, so she didn’t feel the pinch.

Everyone in the same office shared this spending philosophy, which is why they could occasionally gather for meals.

They talked about life together.

Talked about work.

It was a good way to strengthen their bond and relax a bit.

Shen Qingqing wanted to stop by the dorm, "I’ll grab a few things, and after dinner, I’ll head back to the compound."

She hadn’t been home for a long time, and now that she had the time, she wanted to visit the elders.

Li Xue said, "Let’s meet at the East Gate later on."

Shen Qingqing’s dorm was close to the East Gate, "Alright, I won’t take more than ten minutes."

"No rush, take your time."

Shen Qingqing grabbed her things and left the office first.

A man appeared in her line of sight.

He leaned casually against the railing, head down, holding something in his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

It wasn’t until he heard footsteps that the man looked up.

"Qingqing, long time no see."

His voice was gentle.

It was Zhou Hansheng.

Seeing him at the office entrance was somewhat unexpected for Shen Qingqing.

Yet, in a way, it wasn’t surprising.

His family was all in Beijing, so returning to the country was normal.

She nodded, asking like a normal friend, "When did you come back? Did you need something from me?"

Her tone remained as gentle as ever.

But Zhou Hansheng couldn’t muster any happiness.

This implied that in Shen Qingqing’s heart, he was no different from anyone else.

When she and Jiang Zhixun broke up back then, her emotions were greatly stirred.

Always gentle to others, she would give Jiang Zhixun the cold shoulder, even scolding him.

Compared to that, Zhou Hansheng had to admit that Jiang Zhixun was the most special person in Shen Qingqing’s heart.

Even though they were abroad, relying on each other for years, having a romantic relationship, and nearly getting married.

He still couldn’t replace Jiang Zhixun as that special someone.

When Shen Qingqing had her birthday, he calculated the time to send a gift back.

It was an attempt to give them both a way out.

If Shen Qingqing reached out to him, he would suggest getting back together.

In the end, he received no response.

Shortly after, he heard from family that she had remarried Jiang Zhixun.

Zhou Hansheng had long recognized reality, but still couldn’t help feeling sad.

He didn’t know what was going on with himself at that time, to even think of demanding reciprocity from Qingqing.

Even during conflicts, he treated her coldly.

She was the girl he worked so hard to win over, yet didn’t cherish...

Bitterness welled up in Zhou Hansheng’s heart.

He didn’t have Jiang Zhixun’s luck, which allowed Shen Qingqing to turn back.

Nor did he have the full support of elders to help him win back Shen Qingqing.

He just lost to Jiang Zhixun.

Shen Qingqing looked at him calmly, without urging, just quietly waiting for him to speak.

Under her gentle gaze, Zhou Hansheng swallowed and finally regained his composure.

He fiddled with the item in his hand, "I’m getting married."

Shen Qingqing was surprised for a moment, but then found it normal.

Zhou Hansheng was already in his thirties, considered a late marriage.

"Congratulations."

They once had a relationship, but after breaking up, there was no need to dwell too much on each other’s marriages.

After all, life goes on.

You can’t be bound by past people and events forever.

Zhou Hansheng pursed his lips and handed the invitation to Shen Qingqing, "If you have time, come for a drink."

Shen Qingqing took a look.

The address was at a newly opened hotel, but the date wasn’t on a Sunday.

It was just three days later.

"Unfortunately, the project I’m working on isn’t finished yet; there’s likely a meeting on that day."

When they were abroad, Zhou Hansheng was very busy.

Whenever there was a conflict, he used work as a response to Shen Qingqing.

Now she was doing the same.

Zhou Hansheng wasn’t sure if Shen Qingqing truly couldn’t find the time.

But he knew that regardless of the circumstances, Shen Qingqing wouldn’t attend his wedding.

A flash of disappointment passed through his eyes.

He... merely wanted a legitimate reason to see Shen Qingqing.

Not actually intending for her to attend the wedding.

Pressing his lips together, he forced himself to appear indifferent, "I heard you and Jiang Zhixun remarried?"

Shen Qingqing nodded, "You were abroad, and I didn’t want to interrupt your work, so I didn’t invite you."

Zhou Hansheng felt a pang in his heart.

He wanted to say his life wasn’t only about work, and as long as Shen Qingqing asked, he’d definitely come back.

But saying this now was meaningless.

Slightly smiling, he joked lightly, "I thought you would never go back to old love."

If not, why didn’t she give him a chance?

Not even one.

She was really ruthless...

Shen Qingqing looked completely at ease, "I also thought I wouldn’t go back to old love, but as it turns out, people change."

Zhou Hansheng remained silent, then asked after a while, "Is he treating you well?"

"He is, very well."

Shen Qingqing was very satisfied with her marriage to Jiang Zhixun; she couldn’t predict the future, but at the moment, she felt very happy.

A successful career, a harmonious family.

It was the life she wanted.

They hadn’t been apart for even a year, but for some reason, Zhou Hansheng suddenly felt so distant from Shen Qingqing.

As if they no longer shared any common topics.

Zhou Hansheng smiled bitterly; he shouldn’t have come this time around, as it only made him face reality without any other benefits.

"You seem to have other things to do, so I’ll be off now."

Shen Qingqing held the invitation, "Alright, I wish you and your partner a happy marriage."

She had completely let go of everything abroad.

The good, the bad.

She let it all go.

But for Zhou Hansheng, it felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart.

Not having married the person he most wanted to marry, how could he be happy?

He nodded briefly at Shen Qingqing and left in a hurry, his retreating figure seeming embarrassed, almost like he was fleeing.

Li Xue came out of the office, "Isn’t that the Zhou family’s son? Why is he here?"

Seeing the invitation in Shen Qingqing’s hand, "My husband mentioned that Doctor Zhou is getting married; I didn’t expect you to know each other."

Li Xue wasn’t familiar with Zhou Hansheng, but her husband had dealings with the Zhou family and she had seen him before.

"I heard Doctor Zhou had a lady he fancied..."

Li Xue regarded her with suspicion, "Teacher Shen, could it be you?"

Shen Qingqing didn’t have much to hide, "Former boyfriend."

This answer wasn’t surprising; if she were an eligible bachelor, she would certainly like Shen Qingqing.

She was both beautiful and talented.

What kind of man would remain unaffected by her?