Chen Jinzhao's inner defenses were completely shattered.
He began his next move, and Xu Nianqing let him have his way. However, just as Chen Jinzhao had half-undressed her, Xu Nianqing suddenly began to sob.
Her soft whimpers reached Chen Jinzhao's ears, dousing the fire in his heart.
For some reason.
Yu Mengzhi's figure flashed in Chen Jinzhao's mind, and he even felt a twinge of guilt, wishing he could slap himself.
If Xu Nianqing was going to act like this, why was he playing along?
Didn't he find it absurd?
Chen Jinzhao made no further moves, but stood there foolishly, motionless.
Xu Nianqing got up and hugged Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao instinctively wanted to push away this woman who wasn't thinking clearly, but Xu Nianqing held him very, very tightly, her body trembling slightly.
She was afraid.
Chen Jinzhao had no idea what was happening and could only let Xu Nianqing hold him like this.
After an unknown amount of time, Xu Nianqing actually began to undress herself. Chen Jinzhao's fire had already been extinguished, and the impulse from before was gone. He raised his hand and grabbed Xu Nianqing's wrist, "Are you crazy?"
"I was just scaring you earlier. You should leave quickly, I don't want to see you again."
Xu Nianqing's expression froze.
With her tear-filled eyes, she stared at Chen Jinzhao. Seeing this, Chen Jinzhao averted his gaze, "What's in the past is in the past. I won't blame you. That was my own choice, it has nothing to do with you."
At first.
Chen Jinzhao had indeed only intended to scare Xu Nianqing.
Who knew this woman would take it seriously and almost make Chen Jinzhao lose control.
Now that he had sobered up, he would naturally not do such a foolish thing again, lest he remain entangled with Xu Nianqing.
As Chen Jinzhao said, let the past be the past.
Why look back?
Xu Nianqing sat on the bed and sobbed, her head bowed. After about two minutes, she raised her head, wiped the tears from her eyes, and smiled, "Jinzhao, you're a good person. I almost made a mistake."
"Thank you."
Hearing these words, Chen Jinzhao felt a sense of loss.
This woman clearly hadn't changed her mind and was only using him as a tool for emotional release. He didn't want to be such a fool.
Chen Jinzhao got up and returned Xu Nianqing's clothes to her, saying in a low voice, "Put on your clothes quickly. Let's not see each other again from now on. Not even as friends. I don't want any more accidents."
Xu Nianqing looked up, "Chen Jinzhao, do you have someone you like?"
When asked this question, Chen Jinzhao's gaze involuntarily shifted from his first love. Before he could speak, Xu Nianqing knew what was going on.
"Congratulations."
"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself from now on."
Xu Nianqing put on her clothes and gradually disappeared from Chen Jinzhao's sight.
Chen Jinzhao felt something and went to the balcony to light a cigarette and look down. After walking a few steps, Xu Nianqing suddenly stopped and then turned her head to look up at the balcony.
At this moment.
Their gazes met.
Despite the distance, Chen Jinzhao felt the sadness in Xu Nianqing's eyes, which made his heart clench.
Xu Nianqing quickly withdrew her gaze, and her figure gradually faded into the night.
Chen Jinzhao's vision was no longer occupied by Xu Nianqing, and he felt an instant emptiness in his heart. He took a drag on his cigarette and scratched his scalp, "This woman, she just left without a second thought when she broke up with me, and now she's pulling this stunt."
A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.
He walked back to the living room.
Chen Jinzhao took out a 500ml bottle of Erguotou from the cabinet and leaned on the balcony, drinking alone.
Only the strong alcohol could numb him.
Under the fierce assault of the alcohol, Chen Jinzhao gradually fell asleep, so much so that he didn't notice his phone vibrate several times.
He woke up the next day.
Chen Jinzhao rubbed his heavy eyelids and picked up his phone to check.
There were more than ten missed calls, all from the same unfamiliar number. It was likely Xu Nianqing's number.
Besides that.
There was also a text message. Chen Jinzhao opened it, and a few lines of text appeared before his eyes.
"Jinzhao, I'm getting married."
"I'm sorry for what I did to you in this life. If there is a next life, I want to be your wife."
"I called you more than ten times, but you didn't pick up."
"I thought that meeting you again in the vast sea of people was a fated arrangement. So I mustered up the courage. As long as you answered my call, I would abandon everything to be with you."
"I wish you happiness. We shall never meet again."
Boom!
Chen Jinzhao's head exploded!
No wonder Xu Nianqing was so proactive last night. All the unreasonable events had extremely reasonable explanations.
He subconsciously called Xu Nianqing, wanting to ask her about her feelings.
"Hello."
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service..."
Chen Jinzhao didn't believe it and tried a few more times, but still got the "number no longer in service" prompt.
He patted his swollen head forcefully and muttered, "I should have known. She's a woman who considers the consequences of everything she does. How could she do something so absurd and against common sense?"
"I misunderstood her..."
Chen Jinzhao sat by the bed with a vacant gaze, smoking several Baisha cigarettes before recovering.
He had the urge to go find Xu Nianqing, but he suppressed it.
If Chen Jinzhao were still a college student, he would have done so without hesitation. But now that he had fallen into depravity, there was no need to drag Xu Nianqing down further.
It was better to be realistic.
Chen Jinzhao glanced at the time, took a quick shower, and went out to work.
Life went on as usual, doing what needed to be done.
He reached the ground floor.
Chen Jinzhao's steps suddenly slowed. Not far away, three figures stood, looking towards the staircase.
The old man at the forefront was one of the people Chen Jinzhao wanted to avoid the most.
As for the two people standing beside the old man, they were likely his bodyguards, and their strength should not be underestimated.
Chen Jinzhao quickly averted his gaze and, as if he had seen a plague god, lowered his head and walked quickly towards the bus stop at the entrance of the old residential area. The old man sighed and waved to the two short-haired young men beside him.
A moment later.
The two young men blocked Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao took a step to the left, and they followed him to the left.
Behind them.
The old man walked over with agile steps, then patted Chen Jinzhao's shoulder, "Little Chen, why do I feel like you don't really want to see this old man who is about to retire?"
"Is the old man really that scary?"
Chen Jinzhao asked doubtfully, "Uncle, who are you looking for? Are you mistaken? I don't know you."
The old man chuckled and walked ahead, saying, "The greenery in this community is nice. Little Chen, accompany me for a few walks. It won't take up too much of your time."
He gave Chen Jinzhao no choice. His words were an order.
Facing the imposing old man, Chen Jinzhao could only step forward and walk alongside the old man on the tree-lined path of the community.
"Little Chen, it's been three years."
"In these three years, this old man has thought of you day and night. It's time for you to return to the organization, isn't it?"