After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?
Chapter 147 One Should Have a Child

Chapter 147: Chapter 147 One Should Have a Child

When she woke up, the sky had already turned pitch black.

Feeling a bit of pain in her stomach, Shen Qingqing had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, a trip to the bathroom confirmed her period had arrived.

During her four years abroad, perhaps due to acclimation issues or other reasons, her periods had been irregular.

This time it came nearly a week early.

She had just landed in Beijing the day before, unprepared for it, and had to use tissues as a makeshift solution.

After tidying up quickly, Shen Qingqing headed out to buy sanitary pads and dinner.

The place she stayed was conveniently located in the city center, only a few minutes’ walk to the mall.

After not returning for four years, Beijing had changed greatly—calling it "ever-changing" wasn’t an exaggeration.

Shen Qingqing walked along, observing her surroundings.

Though it was dark, with pedestrians and streetlights around, it didn’t feel particularly frightening.

She successfully bought what she needed and even stopped at a newly opened private restaurant for wontons.

The portions were generous, the taste delicious, with a rich broth made from bone stock—aromatic and savory.

Though she had indulged herself at the Jiang Family earlier that afternoon, it was rare to enjoy food she craved, so Shen Qingqing finished the entire bowl.

Afterwards, she felt a twinge of guilt—after all, she would be going straight to bed soon...

To aid digestion, she took a loop around outside before heading back to her lodging.

From afar, she spotted someone standing under the shadow of a tree downstairs.

The figure was tall and upright, with a faint red glow at his fingertips—a cigarette in hand.

Shen Qingqing paused mid-step, debating whether to go up and greet him or pretend she hadn’t seen him.

Before she could decide, the man, who had been looking down, turned his gaze towards her.

His eyes were sharp, and even the darkness of night couldn’t suppress the intensity within them.

Shen Qingqing instinctively froze on the spot.

Jiang Zhixun hadn’t expected Shen Qingqing to go out—he thought she had stayed in her room the whole time.

Caught mid-smoke by Shen Qingqing, he looked visibly flustered, like a child caught doing something wrong.

He hastily extinguished the cigarette, waving away the lingering smoke.

Quickly, he walked up to Shen Qingqing, stopping with a two-person distance between them, and explained, "I—I don’t usually smoke much... I won’t do it again."

Shen Qingqing nodded. "That’s your own business."

Jiang Zhixun pressed his lips together, clutching the extinguished cigarette butt in his palm.

If this had been the past, Qingqing would’ve told him smoking was bad for his health...

Calming himself, he asked nonchalantly, "Why are you going out so late? Is there something important?"

The hotel she stayed in offered excellent service and had an in-house restaurant. If she wanted, the staff could have delivered meals to her room.

Shen Qingqing didn’t ask why he was here, nor did she want Jiang Zhixun to inquire into her affairs.

Her tone wasn’t warm. "Just buying something."

Jiang Zhixun’s gaze dropped, catching sight of the bag in her hand, but its contents were unclear.

"Next time, don’t go out alone. If you need anything, let me bring it to you."

Shen Qingqing’s eyes revealed confusion. "Are you always this considerate to every woman?"

Jiang Zhixun froze briefly.

There weren’t any "other women" around him.

The only one who ever held special meaning was Shen Qingqing.

He replied dryly, "It’s not safe for women to go out at night alone."

Even with good public security, vigilance was still necessary.

Shen Qingqing thanked him for his reminder but felt there wasn’t much left to say between them.

"I’ll head upstairs now."

Whether he stayed or left had nothing to do with her.

Jiang Zhixun had seen various versions of Shen Qingqing—those who liked him, and those who distanced themselves from him...

The current Shen Qingqing wasn’t rejecting his proximity outright, but her indifferent attitude unsettled him deeply.

He didn’t dare get closer.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to fully stay away.

He felt like he was losing his mind!

Jiang Zhixun stepped half a stride forward, his stubborn gaze locked onto Shen Qingqing’s face.

He looked directly into her eyes.

Just like four years ago, her eyes were large and bright, impossibly clear for someone who had been hurt.

With a slight upward tilt at the corners, they carried a cold arrogance.

Just meeting her gaze was enough to pull him in.

Jiang Zhixun thought of a rose campion flower.

Not as intense as a rose, but equally enchanting, with a rich fragrance.

And, of course, thorns...

"That day, I didn’t know you were leaving the country. I was still fantasizing that when you woke up and tasted the meal I made, you might think better of me."

Back then, he had just discovered that Qingqing suffered from amnesia.

He had rushed back from the Northwest, spending an entire night outside her door to come to one conclusion.

No matter how many times Shen Qingqing forgot him, he would never give up.

Now that her illness was cured, he wasn’t about to give up either.

Jiang Zhixun stepped another half stride forward, crossing over the "line" of safety.

Shen Qingqing frowned. "There’s no need to bring up the past."

"Alright, I won’t."

Jiang Zhixun responded quickly.

Lowering his eyes, he took in Shen Qingqing’s current appearance. Right now, her face was bare, a stark contrast to the refined elegance she exuded earlier that day at the compound.

Her casual languor now reminded him of her younger self—that was the impression Shen Qingqing left on him at this moment.

Jiang Zhixun’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he said only, "Go on up. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning."

Shen Qingqing looked at him in confusion, unsure what game Jiang Zhixun was playing.

Coming to find her at night—was it just to say that?

No, if she hadn’t happened to go out, they might not have even crossed paths.

They were grown adults.

A man waiting outside a woman’s building late at night—it was obvious what it implied, and Shen Qingqing understood.

If there was no intention of remarriage, there shouldn’t be unnecessary interactions.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Qingqing decided it was better to make things clear. "The money I owe you, I’ll send it to you through the bank or deliver it back to the compound. I can take care of myself and don’t need help from anyone, so... unless it’s something important, Brother Zhixun, there’s no need for you to come look for me."

Her tone was soft, and her face even carried a polite smile, but her words were as cutting as a blade.

Before coming, Jiang Zhixun had already braced himself for this kind of attitude from her.

Afraid she’d be upset, he hadn’t gone upstairs.

Now that he’d seen her, she was pushing him away.

Jiang Zhixun pressed his tongue against his cheek, his large hand opening up. "Alright, repayment it is."

The response caught Shen Qingqing off guard, leaving her stammering. "I... I don’t have it now."

She still had some money on her, but until she received her salary, she also needed to live.

Repaying the debt immediately wasn’t an option.

Amusement flickered in Jiang Zhixun’s eyes. "Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the school. During onboarding, they’ll likely let you know when salaries are issued. You won’t need to bother with bank transfers or trips back to the compound. If I’m on leave, I’ll come by to collect it; if the timing doesn’t work, we’ll handle it later."

Shen Qingqing’s expression shifted. "That’s too much trouble."

"It’s no trouble."

Shen Qingqing exhaled a deep breath. "Divorced couples with no children to co-parent—I don’t see why we should meet so often."

"Don’t worry. I’ll return every penny, with interest."

The words stabbed Jiang Zhixun’s heart.

Regret surged within him.

Those three years, he should’ve seized the time to have a child!

A child as a bond would’ve surely improved their current situation.