After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?-Chapter 76 Guilt

Shen Qingqing stood on the balcony for a few minutes, feeling cold. Just as she was about to turn and go back inside, she saw Jiang Zhixun holding her clothes.

Looking closely, he was even holding her intimate garments, his expression perfectly calm.

Shen Qingqing’s eyelids twitched, feeling utterly exasperated.

Her blood rushed straight to her head.

Her face flushed instantly.

There was embarrassment, but even more, there was anger.

This man was meddling with her things again!

She questioned harshly, "Jiang Zhixun, what are you doing?"

The man’s demeanor remained as indifferent as ever. "Doing laundry."

As he spoke, he stuffed all the clothes into a basin and turned on the faucet to rinse them.

He looked back at Shen Qingqing, his eyes containing an eagerness to please.

But in Shen Qingqing’s eyes, this was pure provocation!

It was too late to pull the clothes back out. Shen Qingqing was about to faint from anger.

"Jiang Zhixun, you’re just my ex-husband now. Can you recognize your place? Without my permission, can you stop doing things like this?"

Whenever she got angry, Jiang Zhixun would feel guilty.

He awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose. "The clothes had been in the closet for so long; they’re a bit dirty. It’s better to wash them all, or they’ll be uncomfortable to wear. Since your hand’s not convenient, I’ll wash them for you. Then, whenever you need them, they’ll be clean in the closet."

Shen Qingqing’s breathing grew heavy, clearly furious.

She pointed to the intimate garments. "We’re already divorced. Can you stop being a pervert?"

Jiang Zhixun had washed her clothes many times before; it had almost become a habit.

He simply didn’t think much about it earlier.

But now, his emotions were complicated. Without that marriage certificate, was he no longer allowed to do many things?

Pressing his lips together, he said, "I won’t touch them next time."

Shen Qingqing felt like she was punching cotton. She achieved nothing but being mad out of her mind.

Jiang Zhixun didn’t want her to stay upset, worried that her illness might worsen.

He quickly changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I’ll go to the state-run restaurant and buy you something to eat. After I finish the laundry, we’ll go back to the compound together."

Shen Qingqing caught on at once.

She suddenly realized why Jiang Zhixun was acting this way—he was afraid she wouldn’t return to the compound.

This man was truly calculating!

She let out a cold laugh. "I thought you were really being thoughtful."

The words "thoughtful" were bitten sharply, full of sarcasm.

Jiang Zhixun’s skin was thick enough. "What do you want to eat?"

Shen Qingqing didn’t respond and started walking out.

Jiang Zhixun reacted quickly, grabbing the keys from the table before she could.

He was afraid that once she left, she wouldn’t let him back in.

He said uncertainly, "I’ll hold onto them so they don’t get lost."

Shen Qingqing took a deep breath to restrain the urge to start cursing.

She’d lived with the Jiang Family for so many years, how had she failed to notice Jiang Zhixun’s true nature—so shameless!

Shen Qingqing had already exited, so Jiang Zhixun hurriedly put on his coat, locked the door, and followed her.

He didn’t know where Shen Qingqing was headed, he just knew he couldn’t let her out of his sight.

He had to keep her under close watch to be able to function properly.

Ever since her illness, Shen Qingqing realized how important health was.

No matter how angry she was with Jiang Zhixun, she wouldn’t jeopardize her health.

She went directly to the nearest state-run restaurant and ordered herself a bowl of beef noodles.

The weather was freezing, and her mood was terrible. She just wanted something warm to eat.

As she was about to pay with money and food stamps, Jiang Zhixun beat her to it.

"I’ll have the same as her."

The server, noticing that the two were acquainted, took Jiang Zhixun’s money and stamps and directed them to find seats while they waited.

With the New Year drawing close, many people were on holiday, and the state-run restaurant remained crowded.

Fortunately, they had avoided peak hours and were able to find a vacant table.

Jiang Zhixun deliberately lagged a few steps behind. Once Shen Qingqing sat down, he chose the seat opposite her.

He didn’t say a word, just sat there quietly.

Shen Qingqing didn’t tell him to leave. She knew it wouldn’t help.

It would only give the people around them something to gossip about.

She sighed quietly.

From the beginning, she didn’t want her illness to become known because she feared Jiang Zhixun would latch onto her.

And the elders... once they found out about her health issues, they would likely nag her endlessly.

But if she didn’t say anything, Jiang Zhixun would drag his feet and refuse to go to the civil affairs bureau.

Plus, Madam Jiang served as his accomplice.

If it weren’t for her illness forcing Jiang Zhixun into action, she might never have gotten him to agree to the divorce certificate.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess. She didn’t know what to do to untangle this knot.

Shen Qingqing suddenly felt a headache coming on.

She raised her hand to massage her temples.

Jiang Zhixun immediately grew alarmed. "Does your head hurt again?"

Shen Qingqing snapped impatiently, "Can you stop bothering me?"

"Alright, I’ll stop," Jiang Zhixun said, moving back to his seat and trying not to agitate Shen Qingqing further.

Her emotions were extremely unstable, a stark contrast to the good-tempered person she had once been.

In the past, Jiang Zhixun might have gotten angry, thinking Shen Qingqing was being ungrateful.

But now, all he felt was heartbreak and regret.

Qingqing was ill, so she couldn’t control her emotions.

And the root of all this was his own selfishness and irresponsibility.

Jiang Zhixun said nothing more, but the guilt in his gaze deepened. Besides giving Shen Qingqing money, he didn’t know what else he could do to make amends for his mistakes.

Being on the receiving end of his apologetic stare put Shen Qingqing in an even worse mood.

She didn’t need Jiang Zhixun’s guilt.

All she wanted was for them to go their separate ways, never crossing paths again.

The two of them sat there, the tension between them palpable.

Finally, when the server called out, "Beef noodles are ready!"

Jiang Zhixun got up, saying, "I’ll get them."

Though his family was well-off, Jiang Zhixun had never been pampered a day in his life.

Years of training had roughened his hands, giving them a layer of calluses.

Carrying two bowls of beef noodles, he didn’t feel the heat at all and set them steadily in front of Shen Qingqing.

Seeing her still cold and indifferent, he sighed helplessly. "Don’t be stubborn. Your health is important."

Shen Qingqing sneered. "Don’t flatter yourself."

She wouldn’t spite herself just to make a point with him.

Your body is your own—it’s the foundation of everything!

Shen Qingqing picked up her chopsticks and started eating, and Jiang Zhixun couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Back in the Northwest, there had been several times when she didn’t eat properly.

Back then, he had been powerless. Thinking about it now, he deeply regretted it.

With her already being ill and having endured so much anger, who knew how it had affected her condition?

The more he thought about it, the more worried Jiang Zhixun became.

But Shen Qingqing refused to go to the hospital, and for now, he had no idea what to do.

Like Shen Qingqing, Jiang Zhixun was also frustrated.

Especially knowing that once his leave ended and he returned to the Northwest, it might be a long time before he could come back to Beijing. This made him increasingly anxious.

He was terrified.

Terrified that Shen Qingqing’s condition might worsen when he wasn’t around.

Terrified that something might happen to her.

The last time he had left Beijing, he had been so resolute. Now, he was equally consumed by fear.

But it was all his fault. He didn’t even have the right to complain.

The usually straight-backed Jiang Zhixun suddenly slumped, consumed by helplessness.

He really didn’t know what else he could do.