Li Qiurong glanced at her son, then at Xu Nianqing.
She directly took Xu Nianqing's hand and chatted about family matters. Xu Nianqing naturally let her aunt hold her hand, occasionally responding to Li Qiurong's questions.
It was evident that she was genuinely engaging with Li Qiurong.
Chen Jinzhao couldn't interject at all.
Looking at the scene before him, it truly had a harmonious family feel.
In the past, he had dreamed of such a day.
However, now Chen Jinzhao felt a sense of daze, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
He knew this wasn't real.
"Jinzhao, you don't seem very welcoming?" Xu Nianqing said with a half-smile. Chen Jinzhao mumbled, "That's not what I meant."
He still hadn't figured out what was going on.
A moment later.
Chen Jinzhao looked at the table next to him, "You were supposed to meet someone today, right? Why didn't your friend come?"
Xu Nianqing's red lips parted slightly, "For you, I canceled."
Chen Jinzhao: "..."
Well!
In front of this woman, he was completely without any temper.
Xu Nianqing acted very naturally in front of them. She sat at the table with them and shared dinner, appearing to be Chen Jinzhao's real girlfriend and winning Li Qiurong's favor.
What made Chen Jinzhao even more exasperated was that Xu Nianqing even seriously discussed dowry matters with Li Qiurong, which intrigued Chen Jinzhao.
What was this all about?
After dinner.
Chen Jinzhao and Xu Nianqing escorted his mother to Ninghai South Station. It only took half an hour to return to the county from the city, and Li Qiurong didn't want to trouble her son by staying in the city.
At parting, Li Qiurong held Xu Nianqing's hand and urged her to quickly achieve a positive outcome with her son.
Xu Nianqing readily agreed.
Only after Li Qiurong entered the ticket gate did Chen Jinzhao's smile fade. He walked out of the high-speed rail station without a word and lit a cigarette for himself.
Xu Nianqing walked up and unceremoniously took the cigarette from his mouth.
Chen Jinzhao looked displeased and glared at Xu Nianqing.
After extinguishing the cigarette, Xu Nianqing said calmly, "When did you pick up these bad habits? When we were dating, I remember you as a clean-cut young man. After so many years apart, you've become quite disheveled, a far cry from the impression I had of you."
"What business is it of yours?" Chen Jinzhao retorted impatiently.
"What? Are you still angry with me?" Xu Nianqing was very frank. Chen Jinzhao replied without politeness, "If I say I'm not angry, would you believe me?"
Xu Nianqing shook her head.
"Then why did you ask?" Chen Jinzhao said.
Xu Nianqing stared at the unshaven Chen Jinzhao, her smile gradually fading, "If, and I'm just saying if, I still like you now, would you be with me?"
Chen Jinzhao was stunned, his heart in turmoil.
He lowered his head and looked at the surrounding scenery, "Where are there so many 'ifs'? I've let go. Let the past be the past."
"I heard you became a professor at Ninghai University. Congratulations."
"I'm a security guard at a company, and it's quite good. We both have bright futures."
Xu Nianqing chuckled.
From what she knew of Chen Jinzhao, he was definitely speaking in anger.
"Then, do you still like me?" Xu Nianqing looked at Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao dared not meet her gaze, not wanting to fall back into it.
After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head.
Xu Nianqing's expression clearly showed a hint of disappointment, which quickly vanished. She murmured, "I was indeed in the wrong back then. Later, I heard you joined the army, and the words I wanted to say couldn't be spoken. The reason I'm saying this is just to tell you the truth; I had my own difficulties."
"Jinzhao, I'm sorry."
Chen Jinzhao felt a pang of bitterness.
What was the use of saying these words now? So many years had passed, and those who should have moved on had already done so.
Xu Nianqing turned her head away and said to Chen Jinzhao, "Get in the car, I'll take you home."
Chen Jinzhao was initially reluctant. Xu Nianqing said, "We may not have a chance to see each other again in the future. Let me give you a ride."
This sentence softened Chen Jinzhao's heart.
Xu Nianqing's car was not as luxurious as Yu Mengzhi's, but it was still worth hundreds of thousands. When she learned that Chen Jinzhao now lived in an old neighborhood in the old city, her heart felt a touch of sadness.
Chen Jinzhao had been a top student back then, consistently ranking first in his grade.
If that incident hadn't happened, Chen Jinzhao would have surely been able to pursue postgraduate studies and become a disciple of a renowned academic, with an immeasurable future.
The more she thought about it, the more complex Xu Nianqing's emotions became.
After Chen Jinzhao got out of the car, Xu Nianqing followed him. Chen Jinzhao stopped, "You can drop me off here. I can walk the rest of the way myself."
This sentence had a double meaning.
Xu Nianqing remained silent and simply followed behind Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao became increasingly annoyed and even a little angry.
Fine!
Since you're following me, then I'll make you pay a price!
Chen Jinzhao returned home, and Xu Nianqing indeed followed him in. Seeing this, Chen Jinzhao walked to the living room and locked the door, his intention quite clear.
He wanted to startle Xu Nianqing.
In front of Xu Nianqing, Chen Jinzhao took off his shirt. Any normal woman would understand what this meant.
To Chen Jinzhao's dismay, Xu Nianqing was surprisingly unfazed.
Could it be...
This was what she meant?
Chen Jinzhao frowned, naturally not believing that Xu Nianqing still harbored feelings for him after so many years. He only thought that Xu Nianqing had become a promiscuous woman.
The kind of woman Chen Jinzhao disliked the most.
Xu Nianqing saw the ghastly scars that appeared on Chen Jinzhao's body, like repulsive centipedes that were shocking to behold.
These scars must have been from his time in the army.
If it weren't for her...
Ultimately, it was her fault.
The light was dim.
Chen Jinzhao couldn't clearly see Xu Nianqing's expression. He said playfully, "I've already taken my shirt off, what are you still standing there for?"
The next moment.
Xu Nianqing directly threw herself into Chen Jinzhao's arms.
Chen Jinzhao's mind didn't register what was happening. Xu Nianqing gently stroked his scars with one hand and began to sob softly.
Shortly after, Xu Nianqing raised her head, her eyes red and tearful.
Chen Jinzhao couldn't stand to see a woman cry, especially one in his arms. He wanted to push her away, but Xu Nianqing held him tightly.
"Xu Nianqing, you..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Xu Nianqing's red lips主动* moved forward, sealing Chen Jinzhao's mouth.
The surging blood in Chen Jinzhao's body rushed to his head, making him lose his last shred of reason, and he passionately kissed his former lover.
Xu Nianqing was exceptionally proactive, constantly challenging Chen Jinzhao's boundaries.
How could the virile Chen Jinzhao withstand such provocation? He directly swept Xu Nianqing into his arms and headed towards the bedroom.
Xu Nianqing in his embrace had a flushed complexion, her beauty intoxicating, making it even harder for Chen Jinzhao to resist.
Her charming and seductive words echoed in Chen Jinzhao's ears.
"Jinzhao, I want you..."