Lectured by Mrs. Li, Jiang Zhixun awkwardly touched the tip of his nose.
He tried to explain himself, "She doesn't listen."
The tone of blaming a child made Mrs. Li's mouth twitch.
In her heart, she thought, "Those who know the situation understand they're a married couple; those who don't might think it's an elder scolding a child."
She cleared her throat, "Speak nicely. If you do, your wife will naturally listen."
Hearing 'wife' again and again, Jiang Zhixun felt even more uncomfortable.
With an outsider present, he couldn't bring up the matter of the train, so he just stood by the bedside, wanting to see how long Shen Qingqing would keep being stubborn.
Shen Qingqing had a fever, and it came in waves.
Her body felt cold, and she instinctively curled up.
Originally, she had planned to wait until Mrs. Li, who had arrived earlier, left the ward after finishing her IV drip, and then talk to Jiang Zhixun about divorce.
Unexpectedly, she fell asleep in a daze.
Jiang Zhixun checked his watch several times. Mrs. Li from the neighboring bed had already left, but Shen Qingqing still hadn't emerged from under the blankets.
He knocked on the bedside table, "Shen Qingqing, the matter's not settled yet—running away won't help!"
The air was quiet; no one responded.
Jiang Zhixun's brows furrowed deeply. After a moment's hesitation, he lifted the blanket.
When he saw what was under the blanket, the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.
Shen Qingqing's cheeks were flushed with an unhealthy red, her breathing was labored, and because of the earlier tussle, a few strands of hair had fallen loose.
They stuck messily to her face and neck.
Jiang Zhixun instinctively checked her IV-dripped hand; it wasn't swollen, nor had the blood backflowed, which made him inexplicably exhale in relief.
He carefully adjusted her hand to secure the IV line, ensuring she wouldn't accidentally knock it.
Then he pulled the blanket back over her, covering her tightly except for her small face.
Though he lacked experience caring for others, Jiang Zhixun was practical and meticulous; the entire process didn't disturb Shen Qingqing.
After finishing, he sat back down in the chair.
His gaze wandered aimlessly before it unconsciously settled back on the hospital bed.
This fragile side of Shen Qingqing—Jiang Zhixun had never seen her like this before.
In his mind, he guessed that perhaps she was frightened during the train ride, hadn't rested well, and combined with her inability to acclimate to the environment out here in the Northwest, had fallen seriously ill.
The emotions stirred up by Shen Qingqing slowly receded.
Jiang Zhixun rubbed his temples.
He shouldn't have lost his temper at Shen Qingqing.
As long as he reduced the opportunities to interact with her, and she saw no hope, she would naturally return to Beijing.
Suddenly, Jiang Zhixun recalled the words his mother had said over the phone.
Divorce...
If Shen Qingqing wanted a divorce, he would agree.
If she didn't, they would continue as before. He would send her allowances on time.
As for whether their marriage was a calculated arrangement when they first obtained their marriage certificate, Jiang Zhixun no longer wanted to think about it.
He didn't plan on marrying again, nor did he harbor feelings for anyone, so there was no question of keeping someone else waiting.
As long as Shen Qingqing didn't feel like she had been wronged, then between them... let it be.
He stayed by the hospital bed for a long time. Only after the IV fluid had finished and the needle removed did Jiang Zhixun pat Shen Qingqing's shoulder.
"Wake up. Go back to the guesthouse to sleep."
Perhaps it was due to weakness or the effects of the medication, Shen Qingqing slept heavily.
Only when the man's voice reached her ears did she gradually regain consciousness.
In front of her was a cold, handsome face—the very face she had once imagined and dreamed of countless times. Shen Qingqing blinked.
"Jiang Zhixun?"
Jiang Zhixun looked at her blankly, "Still groggy from sleep?"
Shen Qingqing's expression gradually cleared as she quickly sat up, instinctively reaching for the pocket of her coat.
Inside was a small notebook and a pen—tools she carried with her to jot down important matters at any time.
Just in case she happened to forget them and caused other troubles.
Jiang Zhixun gave her a skeptical look. "I never noticed you were so scatterbrained before. Does your head still feel dizzy?"
Shen Qingqing bent down to put on her shoes and replied without looking up, "Then just think I'm dizzy."
Though her tone seemed calm, for some reason, Jiang Zhixun felt like there was a hidden sharpness to her words that made him uncomfortable.
He turned away, taking a deep breath to remind himself not to argue with a sick person.
Shen Qingqing had already slipped on her shoes and was now wrapping her scarf.
Her silence made Jiang Zhixun feel like something was off.
Rubbing his fingers, he suddenly spoke, "Mom wants you to call her back."
Shen Qingqing paused momentarily while tying her scarf.
She hadn't talked about the divorce with the Jiang Family, fearing opposition from the elders.
After all, very few people around her had divorced, and the older generation found it hard to accept such things.
But now that she was here in the Northwest, it was inevitable they'd find out. It would be better to confront them directly.
Shen Qingqing grabbed her belongings and left the ward before Jiang Zhixun.
At the nurse's station, she borrowed a phone to dial the number she had memorized by heart.
Not far away, Jiang Zhixun stood holding a lunch box, neither too close nor too distant.
The weather was cold, and the contents of the lunch box—a few steamed buns—had already gone cold. Shen Qingqing hadn't taken a single bite.
Jiang Zhixun suddenly felt like laughing.
It was ridiculous of him to worry about Shen Qingqing going hungry and to go out of his way to buy her food.
She didn't appreciate it at all!
A cold draft crept up from behind him. Shen Qingqing could sense Jiang Zhixun watching her.
But she didn't look back, nor did she care to guess at his mood.
Holding the phone receiver, she waited for Beijing to answer.
Madam Jiang had put so much effort into worrying about the young couple's marriage and had been waiting anxiously for Shen Qingqing's call.
As soon as the phone rang, she picked up immediately.
Hearing Shen Qingqing's voice, the weight on her heart lessened slightly.
"If you were going to see Zhixun, why didn't you tell us in advance? If I'd known, I would've gone to the train station to send you off and brought some local specialties for Zhixun."
When Shen Qingqing came to the Northwest, she hadn't brought anything other than her daily essentials.
She didn't plan to stay long, intending to leave as soon as the matter was resolved.
Since they were getting divorced, she naturally wouldn't bother with unwelcome gestures.
She firmly believed that even if she brought gifts, Jiang Zhixun wouldn't eat a single bite.
"It was a last-minute decision to come, so I didn't tell you."
Madam Jiang didn't press further on the matter. "Zhixun hasn't been home in three years. You should persuade him to come back for the New Year this year."
Shen Qingqing responded with a vague "Mm."
Whether or not Jiang Zhixun returned home for the New Year didn't concern her, nor did she have the energy to persuade him.
While internally considering her wording, she casually gave Madam Jiang a perfunctory reply.
On the other end of the line, Madam Jiang silently cursed. "These two! Why do they both have this personality?"
They're so good at brushing people off!
No wonder three years had passed, and their marriage was still an unresolved mess.
Not like others who quarrel on the pillow and make up by the bed!
"Zhixun is worried you won't adapt to the environment there and has already decided to apply for a transfer back to Beijing. While you're over there, be mindful of what you say and do; don't cause any drama that might affect his job."
The words Shen Qingqing had been about to say were swallowed back down.
Noticing the silence, Madam Jiang continued talking as if on autopilot: "Three years—long enough. The patriarch is getting old. While he doesn't say it aloud, in his heart, he wants Zhixun to come back."
"Qingqing, for the sake of our family having cared for you all these years, can you compromise with Zhixun this time?"