Shen Qingqing hadn't received any prior notice, yet she unexpectedly ran into Brother Zhixun in the cafeteria.
He was accompanied by a few comrades, weary and dusty, looking as though he'd just returned from a mission.
At first, Jiang Zhixun didn't notice Shen Qingqing.
Nor did Shen Qingqing notice him.
She was seated in a corner, quietly eating her meal with a slender, fair hand holding a steamed bun.
Though her demeanor was understated, she still attracted attention.
One of his comrades teased, "Never seen that female comrade before. Whose family member came to visit?"
"She's beautiful! Wonder if she has a partner already. If not, Old Jiang, maybe you should pursue her."
"You're already twenty-eight. If you stay single, you'll die lonely someday!"
"Come on, you two look pretty well-matched. What's that saying… A talented man and a beautiful woman!"
Jiang Zhixun's eyelids flickered. He wanted to warn them against matchmaking for fun.
His gaze passed over his comrades, and his peripheral vision settled on Shen Qingqing.
The young woman was dressed in a black wool coat, her hair entirely tied up into an irregular bun at the back of her head.
It looked as though it had been casually gathered before stepping out, yet it wasn't messy, exuding a kind of effortless laziness.
A gray scarf wrapped around her neck, leaving only her fair face exposed to the air.
The weather was lovely, with sunlight settling on her.
She appeared warm and cozy.
Her attire and demeanor starkly contrasted with everyone else here.
As if she had mistakenly strayed into a world that didn't belong to her.
Utterly out of place.
To Jiang Zhixun, that's precisely what it felt like.
The words he'd intended to say were left unsaid, and his expression grew impossibly stern.
His gaze was so piercing that Shen Qingqing, lost in her own world, instinctively raised her eyes to follow its source.
Their eyes met, and she saw a man she hadn't seen in a long time.
Her heartbeat, against her will, rippled with a faint tremor.
Compared to three years ago, he had become much tanner.
Perhaps due to weight loss, his facial features appeared sharper, exuding an irresistible edge.
His overall presence had grown colder and harder.
Jiang Zhixun was five years older than Shen Qingqing.
When she joined the Jiang Family, Jiang Zhixun had already enlisted in the army.
Their interaction was limited, yet when he returned home for visits, his expressions were warm.
He'd ask about her studies.
He'd also buy her nutritional supplements.
Sometimes, when unsure what to buy, he would simply give her money and ration tickets, letting her purchase whatever she liked.
Even though he wasn't particularly talkative, his presence didn't feel cold or distant.
It was vastly different from now.
Shen Qingqing clenched her chopsticks tightly, the thought of her illness calming the ripples of heartache within her.
Jiang Zhixun had family, friends, and countless admirers chasing after him.
He was healthy, successful in his career, with boundless prospects ahead.
She decided it was better to focus her sympathy on herself.
Shen Qingqing's mood returned to composure, her grip on the chopsticks loosening as a graceful smile curved on her lips.
Seeing her smile so brightly, she even waved at him.
Jiang Zhixun's gaze grew colder.
He strode towards the corner where Shen Qingqing sat.
His comrades, confused and alarmed, murmured, "What's going on? That female comrade is a friend of Old Jiang?"
"Could she be his wife? Let's head over and say hi."
"Old Jiang's expression is intimidating. Don't let him scare her to tears."
"..."
Shen Qingqing remained seated, unmoving.
She calmly watched Jiang Zhixun approach, his cold aura growing stronger the closer he got.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, Shen Qingqing's heart felt as though it had been pricked by needles.
When he stopped in front of her, she finally stood up.
She called out softly, "Brother Zhixun."
Stress often makes the body prone to problems.
Whether it was the cold weather or the unfamiliar environment, Shen Qingqing had developed a high fever on her first day in the Northwest.
Her temperature had dropped now, but her voice was still slightly hoarse.
It carried an air of vulnerability and pity.
Jiang Zhixun furrowed his brows deeper, his tone icy as he asked, "Why are you here?"
Shen Qingqing wanted to get straight to the point and explain her purpose.
She was here to get divorced.
But Jiang Zhixun's comrades interrupted her before she could speak.
One comrade patted Jiang Zhixun's shoulder, disapprovingly chiding him.
"Old Jiang, whatever you have to say, say it nicely. Don't scare the female comrade."
Another apologized to Shen Qingqing, "Old Jiang is just like that. Comrade, please don't take it personally."
Shen Qingqing nodded, "I came unannounced, sorry for the inconvenience."
Jiang Zhixun's comrade Lin Zhidong seemed to have caught on, his expression dawning with realization. "Comrade, you're looking for Old Jiang, right?"
"Yes."
The two indeed knew each other.
Jiang Zhixun's comrades exchanged knowing glances, their eyes lighting with excitement.
Lin Zhidong gave Jiang Zhixun a conspiratorial grin, asking slyly, "You're the only son in your family, we all know that. So this female comrade is…"
The implication was clear to everyone present.
Shen Qingqing also confirmed one thing.
Jiang Zhixun hadn't mentioned his marital status to anyone. Even his close comrades were unaware.
Perhaps only his superiors knew about his marriage.
The smile on her lips momentarily stiffened.
But it lasted only an instant.
Shen Qingqing continued smiling and said, "I'm Shen Qingqing. I'm Brother Zhixun's…"
Jiang Zhixun interrupted her, "Who says sisters have to be biological?"
His expression was cold and unapproachable.
There was no trace of intimacy between him and Shen Qingqing.
In fact, there was an underlying sense of resistance and rejection.
Everyone present was perceptive enough to observe the poor dynamics between the two, refraining from further teasing.
Lin Zhidong rubbed his hands awkwardly, searching for the right words to ease the situation, fearing Shen Qingqing might feel embarrassed.
Shen Qingqing had experienced humiliation before.
When Jiang Zhixun had left for the Northwest unannounced and stayed away for three years, she had weathered ridicule from her adversaries.
They mocked her, saying she was chasing an empty dream.
Though she had married into the Jiang Family, she hadn't won Jiang Zhixun's heart and would inevitably be cast aside.
For three years, she endured their judgmental stares.
Now, she had learned to face it all with composure.
She didn't find it humiliating.
With a calm smile, she said, "I came looking for Brother Zhixun on an important matter. Once it's done, I'll return to Beijing."
So she really did come from Beijing. No wonder the female comrade looked so stylish and fair-skinned.
Compared to her, they—weathered by years of sun and wind—were downright coarse.
Lin Zhidong scratched the back of his head, "Alright, we'll let you two talk. We won't interrupt."
He was about to leave but was stopped by Jiang Zhixun.
"Not eating?"
Lin Zhidong was married.
By now, he sensed the tension between Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing was off.
He didn't want to meddle, fearing his good intentions might backfire.
"We'll sit over there."
He pointed to the farthest corner, clearly intending to give Shen Qingqing and Jiang Zhixun space to talk.
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
Divorce was a private matter; she didn't like airing her personal affairs for others to see.
She also disliked chaotic confrontations.
What she wanted was a calm and dignified separation.
Jiang Zhixun was usually emotionally steady, but seeing Shen Qingqing had sent all his calm and rationality flying out the window.
She wanted others to leave, but he insisted on making them stay!
"I have nothing to say to her. Stay here, so the female comrade doesn't feel awkward."