After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?
Chapter 157 I Am Free from Guilt

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 I Am Free from Guilt

The words "ex-husband" were emphasized heavily.

There was a hint of mockery in the tone.

Shen Qingqing raised her eyes and saw Zhou Hansheng’s mother.

The other woman was dressed in an elegant long dress, her hair meticulously tied back, her gaze indifferent, making her seem rather difficult to deal with.

Shen Qingqing smiled and said to Madam Jiang, "You and Brother Zhixun go ahead and eat, I’ll step outside to chat with Mrs. Zhou for a bit."

Mrs. Zhou wasn’t pleased with her arrangement, though her expression revealed nothing and she still maintained a faint smile.

"These are your family members too. What can be so private that it needs to be said outside?"

Jiang Zhixun furrowed his brow.

He hadn’t anticipated Zhou Hansheng’s family treating Qingqing like this.

He’d assumed everyone in the Zhou Family had the same temperament as Zhou Hansheng.

A surge of anger welled up inside him.

Yet, fearing it might make Shen Qingqing uncomfortable, he didn’t let it show.

Jiang Zhixun stood up, extended his long arm, pulled over a chair from the side, and placed it at the main seat.

Then he called for a server, asking them to place the menu in front of Mrs. Zhou, "A restaurant is for eating, would you like to order a few more dishes?"

His attitude was entirely that of someone acting as Shen Qingqing’s family member.

Mrs. Zhou was infuriated.

Yet, as a scholar, she couldn’t lose her temper in public.

She ignored Jiang Zhixun and turned her gaze to Shen Qingqing instead.

"Weren’t we going out to talk? What’s the holdup?"

The interrogative tone carried clear impatience.

Jiang Zhixun pressed his tongue against the side of his cheek; ever since Shen Qingqing arrived at the compound at age fifteen, she’d never been subjected to such indignity!

"You said it yourself, we are Qingqing’s family, no matter what you want to say, there’s no need to avoid us."

Jiang Zhixun smirked slightly, "Rest assured, confidentiality is what we Jiang Family members excel at. We won’t gossip unnecessarily. Whatever you’d like to discuss with Qingqing, you can say it openly and boldly."

He pulled the chair back slightly, "Please, have a seat."

Mrs. Zhou, her own words twisted against her, almost lost control of her expression.

Her gaze darted back and forth between Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing.

This man protected Shen Qingqing so fiercely—who would believe they were completely over?

She’d never approved of her son chasing Shen Qingqing before.

But he refused to listen!

And now look—what a mess!

Madam Jiang silently cheered for her son; this boy still knew how to defend Qingqing and hadn’t sunk beyond saving.

With a bright smile, she said, "You must be Doctor Zhou’s mother? No wonder Doctor Zhou is so talented and handsome—it runs in the family."

Jiang Zhixun wasn’t pleased.

Why was she complimenting Zhou Hansheng now?

Madam Jiang invited Mrs. Zhou to sit and asked, "Are you here for dinner too?"

The other party’s overly pleasant attitude left Mrs. Zhou unwilling to seem inferior. She had to suppress the urge to berate Shen Qingqing.

She replied with a restrained "Mm," "Hansheng returned to the country unexpectedly, and we hadn’t prepared anything to eat at home, so I came out to pick up some cooked dishes."

As she spoke, Mrs. Zhou’s gaze fell on Shen Qingqing’s face. Seeing her unchanged expression, she knew her son had met her already.

Mrs. Zhou wasn’t sure what had transpired between her son and Shen Qingqing recently.

But judging by her son’s state, they’d had some sort of conflict.

Shen Qingqing had hurriedly returned to Beijing, and her son had chased after her from far away.

Such a big matter already had Mrs. Zhou feeling upset.

And now, stepping out to see Shen Qingqing dining with her ex-husband’s family—how could she endure this?

"Doctor Zhou returned?" Madam Jiang asked.

"Mm, he came back today."

Madam Jiang’s mood grew uneasy. Qingqing had said he wouldn’t return...

She also said she wouldn’t get married...

With the two living in separate countries, a breakup seemed to be implied.

How did he return all of a sudden?

Madam Jiang’s good mood gradually dissipated. If this were true, could Qingqing and Zhixun reconcile?

Mrs. Zhou had plenty to say to Shen Qingqing, but with the Jiang Family present, some things couldn’t be openly expressed.

Seeing Jiang Zhixun’s intimidating demeanor, she knew that if she spoke ill of Shen Qingqing, this man wouldn’t leave her any dignity.

Mrs. Zhou’s eyes flashed with mockery.

She’d always said divorced women were not worth pursuing!

After sitting for less than a minute, her expression turned neutral as she stood up. "I won’t disturb your meal any further. Come by the house tomorrow—I have some things to discuss with you."

Shen Qingqing had listened to Madam Jiang in the past because the Jiang Family raised her.

But with Mrs. Zhou, as long as she maintained politeness, she wouldn’t force herself to oblige in other matters.

"I have a meeting at school tomorrow, so I likely won’t be able to make time."

"School?"

Shen Qingqing maintained a composed expression. "Yes, I’ve started a job at Beijing University as a professor."

Mrs. Zhou froze momentarily. No one had informed her of this matter. Were it not for this chance meeting with Shen Qingqing, she would still be oblivious!

A professor at Beijing University—undeniably a good position. If Shen Qingqing weren’t the family’s "quasi-daughter-in-law," Mrs. Zhou might have genuinely admired her.

But now, the situation was different.

She scrutinized Shen Qingqing, seeking flaws rather than strengths.

After all, living under one roof as a family depended heavily on one’s shortcomings!

"You’re not going back to Britain with Hansheng?"

"No, I’m not."

Jiang Zhixun’s eyes flickered, his fingers curled slightly.

He suggested to Shen Qingqing, "I’ll go buy a few bottles of soda. Since you’re busy with work and might not have time later, perhaps it’s better to address everything at once rather than leave room for constant summons from the elders."

The word "summons" dripped with sarcasm.

Mrs. Zhou’s face flushed.

She mentally cursed Jiang Zhixun for being rude. If it were Hansheng, he wouldn’t speak to elders like this.

Jiang Zhixun left.

Taking Madam Jiang along with him.

They agreed to return in ten minutes.

With no third party present, Mrs. Zhou’s speech lost its restraints.

The faintly polite smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression that made her look increasingly harsh.

"You’re not going back to Britain. What do you expect Hansheng to do? You’d leave him alone in a foreign country? His work is so demanding—who’s going to take care of him?"

Shen Qingqing remained seated, slightly turned toward Mrs. Zhou, meeting her gaze head-on.

"First, Mr. Zhou and I are no longer together."

"Second, I am not his appendage. Wherever he goes doesn’t dictate where I go."

"Third, Mr. Zhou is an adult. Even without me, he’s fully capable of taking care of himself. I am not his nanny."

Shen Qingqing spoke each word deliberately, her tone steady. The more Mrs. Zhou listened, the colder her expression grew.

She offered a reminder, "Hansheng went abroad because of you. Now you’re severing ties—isn’t that a bit cold-blooded?"

In the past, Shen Qingqing had thought the same, often feeling she owed Zhou Hansheng something.

In matters of the heart, she’d always placed herself in a lower position.

Shen Qingqing replied, "He went overseas to further his studies. He gained professional knowledge, broadened his horizons—all of which are his own achievements. I didn’t waste his time or hinder his career; instead, he’s now ahead of his peers."

"Auntie, I think you ought to thank me."

Mrs. Zhou looked utterly incredulous. "Are you insane?"

If not insanity, how else could she have uttered such nonsense?

Shen Qingqing’s long fingers toyed absentmindedly with the tea cup she held.

"A good partner fosters growth. I believe I’ve achieved that. I haven’t held Zhou Hansheng back; I can stand by my conscience."

"He went abroad for you!"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.