Shen Qingqing first went to the post office and made a phone call to her supervisor to coordinate work matters.
Translation work could be done anywhere, as long as she regularly mailed the manuscripts back.
But she couldn't return to Beijing in the near future, so urgent tasks could only be reassigned to others.
Shen Qingqing was highly capable, fluent in three foreign languages, and greatly admired by her supervisor.
If not for her parents passing away early and halting her education in languages, she might have become even more accomplished.
The supervisor knew that Shen Qingqing's trip to the Northwest was to handle household affairs. She needed time, so he approved her leave without hesitation.
He didn't ask about her family matters, only gave her a reminder.
"Take care of everything before coming back. Otherwise, having things on your mind will affect work efficiency."
With the supervisor's words, Shen Qingqing felt much more at ease.
After discussing work matters, they exchanged a few pleasantries before ending the call.
From the compound to the county town took over two hours. If she managed her time well, Shen Qingqing could return to the compound the same day.
But she didn't want to push herself.
After all, returning only meant being alone in her room.
She might as well be kinder to herself. If she missed the bus, she could stay at the county guesthouse.
Everything could go with the flow.
She planned to first go to the supply and marketing cooperative to shop.
Besides her daily necessities, she needed to buy two health supplements to deliver to the Lin Family later.
The small county's supplies couldn't compare with Beijing's, and Shen Qingqing didn't know what the cooperative stocked.
She could only go and see first and then decide what to buy for the Lin Family that would be more appropriate.
Shen Qingqing wasn't familiar with the routes, so asking for directions took some time.
When she finally arrived at the cooperative, she spotted Jiang Zhixun and Lin Fengmian from afar.
They were standing side by side at the counter.
Lin Fengmian tilted her head back, looking at Jiang Zhixun with a radiant smile, saying something unknown.
Jiang Zhixun maintained his usual cold demeanor, occasionally nodding to show he was listening.
It was as if a stone had been thrown into her once calm heart.
By the time she realized it, Shen Qingqing had already turned and left the cooperative.
She didn't want to ask why Jiang Zhixun was here, nor did she want to know why Lin Fengmian was by his side.
That day in the cafeteria, Lin Fengmian's attitude had already explained everything.
Shen Qingqing chuckled bitterly at herself. Showing up at the cooperative now meant inviting trouble.
Lin Fengmian was hostile toward her.
Jiang Zhixun wanted to keep his distance from her.
She might as well be self-aware and not bother them.
Like she was escaping from a terrifying flood or beast, Shen Qingqing walked faster and faster, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Zhixun felt something and turned to look back.
"Brother Jiang, what do you think of this fabric? I want to make Xiao Bao a set of clothes for the new year."
Lin Fengmian didn't notice Jiang Zhixun's odd reaction, holding up a piece of cotton fabric enthusiastically in front of him.
Initially, she had wanted to stay away from Brother Jiang but couldn't find Shen Qingqing after looking around.
Seeing Brother Jiang shopping at the cooperative, she followed him inside.
Unconsciously, she ended up striking up a conversation again.
Now, Lin Fengmian didn't want to act coy anymore. She hadn't crossed any lines, so why feel guilty?
If Shen Qingqing had a problem, that was her own narrow-mindedness!
The pedestrians passing by the cooperative's entrance weren't Shen Qingqing.
Jiang Zhixun withdrew his gaze.
If she wasn't in the cooperative, perhaps she had gone to the bookstore or post office?
Based on Jiang Zhixun's understanding of Shen Qingqing, apart from these places, he couldn't think of others.
He quickly bought two cans of food, intending to take them to the Lin Family when he had dinner there.
Seeing Jiang Zhixun about to leave, Lin Fengmian bit her lip.
She put down the fabric in her hand.
"Brother Jiang, are you going to look for Mister Shen? I'll go with you."
Afraid Jiang Zhixun might refuse, she quickly added, "The more people, the easier it'll be."
Jiang Zhixun glanced at his watch.
If he delayed any further, he wouldn't catch the bus back to the compound.
If Shen Qingqing were wandering around outside alone, his father would tear him apart with scolding.
After hesitating for a moment, he agreed to Lin Fengmian's suggestion.
But he still gave a reminder, "Qingqing is soft-hearted, sensitive, and prone to tears. When you see her, don't speak harshly to her."
Lin Fengmian's expression froze.
Though she hadn't studied much, she could understand the message.
Her lips twitched, and she pinched her palm forcefully to suppress the surge of bitterness in her heart.
"Brother Jiang, are you blaming me? That day in the cafeteria, I thought Mister Shen was pestering you, which is why I..."
Jiang Zhixun replied indifferently, "I'm not blaming you. I should've explained things earlier."
Lin Fengmian was sharp-tongued, always relentless.
Yet she became an exception in front of Jiang Zhixun.
She was terrified of him thinking she was crude and disliking her.
That day in the cafeteria, when she saw Jiang Zhixun's strange attitude toward Shen Qingqing, her anxiousness drove her actions.
Being criticized by her brother didn't faze Lin Fengmian.
But hearing Jiang Zhixun say this to her left her feeling deeply aggrieved.
That day at the cafeteria, wasn't it Jiang Zhixun who had first made things difficult for Shen Qingqing?
She stood on his side—what was wrong with that?
A sourness crept into the tip of her nose, and she suddenly felt the urge to cry.
Lin Fengmian took a sharp breath. "Brother Jiang, no matter whether you believe me or not, if I had known Mister Shen was your partner, I wouldn't have said those things."
Jiang Zhixun neither confirmed nor denied her statement.
"It's getting late. Perhaps you should head back first, so your brother and sister-in-law don't worry."
He left with the items in his hand before her.
Lin Fengmian found herself caught in a dilemma—not knowing whether to leave or stay.
This only deepened her sense of grievance.
She'd said she would help look for Shen Qingqing—why had he suddenly changed his mind?
Could it be he was afraid Shen Qingqing would be upset if she saw them together?
Or was he worried she might say something harsh and scare Shen Qingqing?
Thinking about Shen Qingqing's delicate demeanor, Lin Fengmian's grievance transformed into disdain.
That kind of woman was surely skilled at pretending to be pitiable!
She could shed just a few tears to make men feel sorry for her.
She must have complained to Brother Jiang behind her back; otherwise, why would he suddenly say such things?
She had to see for herself—when they found Shen Qingqing, what Brother Jiang would do!
With that, she jogged after him.
There wasn't much to do in town, and Shen Qingqing didn't know where to go.
She didn't want to run into Jiang Zhixun and Lin Fengmian.
At the compound, she would cooperate with her mother-in-law's wishes and pretend to be an ordinary married couple with Jiang Zhixun.
That would repay the Jiang Family for raising her over the past few years.
But out here, she didn't want to make things hard for herself.
They were getting divorced soon—there was no need for unnecessary involvement.
Walking past the cinema, she decided to buy a ticket.
When the movie ended, they must have left town by then.
But this meant she'd miss the bus back to the compound and would have to spend the night in town.
Before leaving the compound, Shen Qingqing had already told Xiao Li at the guesthouse that if she didn't return, she'd be staying in town and didn't need to be found.
Feeling unburdened, Shen Qingqing entered the screening room with her ticket.
She didn't know that Jiang Zhixun had searched everywhere, including the park and the state-owned restaurant.
He almost went to report her as missing to the authorities.
Seeing Jiang Zhixun's urgency over Shen Qingqing, Lin Fengmian couldn't help feeling upset.
She remarked sarcastically, "Since she came early, maybe she bought her things and went back to the compound. Brother Jiang, don't rush. Check the compound first."
Jiang Zhixun's expression turned icy.
Returning to the compound and not finding Shen Qingqing, his aura became utterly intimidating.
Xiao Li felt puzzled. "Mister Shen said she'd stay in town for the night. Captain Jiang, didn't she tell you?"
Jiang Zhixun stormed out in silence.
Borrowing a vehicle, he headed back to the town again.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The man slammed his palm on the steering wheel forcefully. "Shen Qingqing, you've really grown wings!"