Chapter 3: Family Members

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Shen Qingqing originally wasn’t embarrassed. But when Jiang Zhixun said that, her small, palm-sized face suddenly flushed red. Her ears burned as if about to bleed. The redness spread down her neck, hidden by the scarf. Shen Qingqing quickly lowered her head, using the scarf as a shield to quietly exhale, trying to control her shame. Seeing her ears flushed bright red, Jiang Zhixun finally realized what he had said. A look of regret flashed in his eyes, mixed with some irritation. His hand, stuck in his pocket, clenched and unclenched, but in the end, he said nothing and took his lunchbox to get food. Their comrades were also very uncomfortable. One by one, they deeply regretted coming to watch Jiang Zhixun’s drama unfold. Leaving now was awkward, staying was even more so. Leaving would embarrass the female comrade; staying… seemed even more embarrassing! Lin Zhidong nudged them, laughing heartily, “Comrade Shen, let’s get our food first, we’ll come back and talk to you later.” Without waiting for Shen Qingqing to respond, they slipped away after Jiang Zhixun. That man really lacked loyalty—he almost made the female comrade cry and then escaped so quickly! With no outsiders around, Shen Qingqing pulled back her scarf and took deep breaths, finally letting the burning embarrassment dissipate. She had expected Jiang Zhixun to treat her coldly, but hadn’t imagined he would humiliate her in front of others. She thought she could remain indifferent, but the truth was, her eyes were heavy with tears, her nose tingling with sorrow, and she felt so wronged she wanted to cry. She exhaled deeply several times. Shen Qingqing told herself that once divorced, everything would be better. She would never see Jiang Zhixun again! Seeing Shen Qingqing lower her head and press her fingers to her eyes, Lin Zhidong bumped Jiang Zhixun’s shoulder while getting food. “Your sister hasn’t ended up crying, has she?” Jiang Zhixun glanced carelessly, replying offhandedly, “She’s not my sister.” Lin Zhidong’s eyes darkened with meaning. Sometimes she was, sometimes she wasn’t—what exactly was going on here?

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“Even if she’s not your sister, you can’t bully a female comrade. You just haven’t met my wife—if anyone dared talk to her like that, they’d be scrubbing the washboard on their knees all night.” Jiang Zhixun’s eyes turned cold. “Nonsense. Even food won’t shut you up?” Lin Zhidong, rather than stopping, pressed on, asking the question Jiang Zhixun had been avoiding. “Have you ever dated that comrade?” Jiang Zhixun was transferred to the Northwest three years ago. Handsome and a skilled fighter pilot, many female comrades lined up from the Northwest all the way to Beijing just to hold his hand. It was normal that Comrade Shen liked him. Over the years, Lin Zhidong had witnessed how Jiang Zhixun rejected female comrades. His intuition told him Jiang Zhixun’s attitude toward Comrade Shen was unusual—like he was deliberately bristling, trying to hurt. It didn’t seem like hatred, more like some tangled love and hate. Meeting Lin Zhidong’s suspicious gaze, Jiang Zhixun’s thin lips moved slightly. “Imaginative.” He and Shen Qingqing had a marriage certificate, but it was an arranged marriage; they had indeed never dated. Jiang Zhixun didn’t know why Shen Qingqing had come, but recalling a recent call, he began to suspect. His mother wanted them to have a child. His expression grew more irritated. All his life decisions had obeyed his elders’ arrangements. The only time he rebelled was when he requested to transfer to the Northwest. Three years had passed, and he still hadn’t figured out how to handle his marriage with Shen Qingqing. He thought they would live apart in peace, interfering with each other no more than necessary. Unexpectedly, Shen Qingqing pursued him here. The calm was shattered, and the rebellion buried deep inside quietly surfaced. Jiang Zhixun thought he had to find a way to send Shen Qingqing back to Beijing. It would be best for both of them to live their separate lives peacefully. “That’s not right.” Lin Zhidong slapped his forehead. “If she’s not your family, how could she get in here?” Jiang Zhixun gave him a cold glance. That single look confirmed Lin Zhidong’s suspicion. “So Comrade Shen really is your family?” If not, why wouldn’t he deny it? Sister… a “sister” from different fathers and mothers—no blood relation at all! Lin Zhidong glanced at Shen Qingqing and asked suspiciously, “You don’t like my brash real sister, but with someone as beautiful and gentle as Comrade Shen, you still treat her coldly? Old Jiang, are you sick or what?”

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Jiang Zhixun gave him a frosty look, and Lin Zhidong stopped staring at Shen Qingqing. Patting Jiang Zhixun’s shoulder, he said, “Since she’s your family, treat her better. Comrade Shen’s a young woman who came all the way from Beijing—who knows how much hardship she’s endured.” Jiang Zhixun grew even more annoyed. “She’s bringing this on herself; I never asked her to come.” Lin Zhidong was momentarily speechless and shook his head. “Things are different now. If a female comrade doesn’t want to live with you, she might even ask for a divorce. My wife brings it up several times a year—I don’t dare make her angry. Look how long it’s been since you came home. Comrade Shen hasn’t blamed you.” “But you,” he added, “you greet her with a cold face every time. No wonder Comrade Shen cried.” Lin Zhidong, having been through it himself, could see the female comrade was truly aggrieved. Speaking earnestly, he said, “We won’t meddle in your marriage. If you have issues with Comrade Shen, talk it out. Women are sensitive; control your temper.” Saying this, he took his lunchbox and left, calling the comrades away and avoiding the table where Shen Qingqing sat. Many people had seen the earlier scene. Jiang Zhixun was already a well-known figure with many watchers. Now, Shen Qingqing had also become the center of attention in the canteen. Feeling scrutinized, Shen Qingqing was restless and couldn’t eat. She had planned to discuss divorce here but now found herself unable to voice it. She packed the leftover bun into her lunchbox and was about to return to the guesthouse. Jiang Zhixun sat opposite her. His cold, handsome face was less irritated but the aloofness had only thickened. “Eat. When you finish, I’ll take you to the train station.” Without waiting for a reply, he began eating. Years of habit made him eat quickly, but never rudely. On the contrary, his striking looks and commanding presence made his big bites seem pleasant to watch. In her younger, less mature days, Shen Qingqing had secretly observed the way he ate. Now, she didn’t look at him; her fingers unconsciously fiddled with the aluminum lunchbox lid. “I have something important to talk to you about. After you finish eating, can you come with me to the guesthouse?” Jiang Zhixun had to return to Beijing with her to finalize the divorce. His work was special; he couldn’t just leave at will. If he didn’t return, she would be stuck here with him. This time, she must get divorced!