After Divorce: Why My Aloof Ex Starts Chasing Me?-Chapter 86 Can’t Control Her Forever

Madam Jiang had just finished packing the food when Jiang Zhixun and Elder Jiang walked through the door.

Because of what happened three years ago, Elder Jiang had come around. No matter what the young people wanted to do, he wouldn’t interfere anymore.

He didn’t want to make things worse and let Qingqing suffer again.

Watching his grandson prepare to leave, he couldn’t hold back a word of advice, "Take care of yourself over there, and also, if Qingqing doesn’t want something, don’t keep pushing her around."

Jiang Zhixun replied sulkily with a grunt.

He didn’t dare hope for much now; he just wanted Shen Qingqing to get better.

He didn’t want her to stay angry at him and worsen her condition.

Madam Jiang left two steamed white buns for Elder Jiang. "Dad, just make do with these for now. Zhixun and I are heading out and don’t know when we’ll be back."

Elder Jiang waved her off. "Don’t worry about me. When it’s mealtime, I’ll head to the cafeteria myself."

Three years ago, during Elder Jiang’s grave illness, everyone had thought he wouldn’t make it.

No one expected that as soon as Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing registered their marriage, Elder Jiang’s condition would improve drastically.

To this day, it had remained stable.

Three years ago, Jiang Zhixun had been trapped in his stubborn thoughts, convinced that everyone was scheming against him.

Only now had he come to his senses, realizing just how wrong he had been.

His elder’s recovery was clearly something to celebrate.

What was he even competing with Shen Qingqing for?!

He’d made such a mess of things that Shen Qingqing didn’t even want to see him now.

And all of it—he had brought upon himself.

"Take care of yourself."

Elder Jiang didn’t want to argue with him. "The family is so large; nothing will go wrong. You just focus on what you need to do."

Jiang Zhixun wasn’t much for words. Even saying goodbye, he didn’t know what to say.

He picked up his luggage and left home with Madam Jiang.

Elder Jiang stood at the gate, watching as the mother and son left, before turning back into the house.

Sighing, he muttered to himself, "I wonder what New Year will look like next year."

If Qingqing didn’t forgive Zhixun, there probably wouldn’t be a day of true warmth and liveliness in this home.

...

With his mother’s help, Jiang Zhixun didn’t have to agonize over picking gifts.

Under Madam Jiang’s guidance, he bought Sister-in-law Wang a silk scarf and a box of assorted pastries.

The pastries came in a variety of flavors—a very respectable gift.

After finishing their errands, Jiang Zhixun was about to head to the train station.

Madam Jiang wanted to spend more time with her son.

Even though he kept refusing, she still followed him to the train station.

It wasn’t until Jiang Zhixun had bought his ticket that Madam Jiang came to terms with the reality—her son was really heading to the Northwest.

Farewells were always sentimental, and Madam Jiang couldn’t hold back her tears.

She kept repeating, "You have to come home the next time you’re on leave. Don’t be like before, going years without coming back."

Jiang Zhixun nodded.

Not wanting his mother to be too upset, he simply changed the subject.

He handed her a passbook. "Use this money for Qingqing’s treatment. From now on, I’ll send my monthly allowance home."

Afraid that Shen Qingqing wouldn’t accept his money, Jiang Zhixun gave her a reminder: "Don’t let her know it’s from me."

In the military, Jiang Zhixun had nowhere to spend his money.

Giving the passbook to his mother surprised no one, least of all Madam Jiang, who wasn’t worried that he’d go hungry or be unable to afford anything.

"Qingqing hasn’t touched any of mine or your father’s money in years. Even if we kept it from her, she might still refuse to accept it."

Jiang Zhixun thought it over. "Then just say it’s from Uncle Shen."

Madam Jiang didn’t think that was a good idea.

"Her parents’ inheritance already belongs to her. I handed it all over to her on her eighteenth birthday."

If a misunderstanding arose, making Qingqing think the Jiang Family had taken the Shen Family’s money, that’d only make things worse.

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t come up with a solution right away.

In the end, he said, "Then once she returns home, make more nourishing meals for her. Use this money for that."

For now, it was the only way he could show care for Shen Qingqing.

Even without him asking, Madam Jiang would do it anyway.

The family didn’t lack money, and they didn’t need their son’s allowance to sustain them.

But knowing the money would be spent on Shen Qingqing made Madam Jiang accept it.

Zhixun wasn’t in Beijing. If he didn’t put in effort in other ways, how would Qingqing ever feel his kindness? How could she possibly come back to him?

"The next time you’re on leave, make sure to come back. You should also write to Qingqing. Whether or not she replies, you must keep trying. Otherwise, what if she really remarries?"

"Mom..."

Jiang Zhixun’s tone was helpless.

Shen Qingqing’s current attitude already had him on edge.

The word "remarry" was something he couldn’t bear to hear.

He couldn’t accept it!

Madam Jiang’s sharp tongue didn’t hide her soft heart. "You’ve brought this on yourself. A perfectly good wife, and you drove her away. What’s the point of panicking now?"

Jiang Zhixun was full of regret.

But what good was regret?

Now, all he could do was give Shen Qingqing time to cool off and hope they’d have a chance to talk.

Still worried, he added, "Mom, speak to her sooner. And about her hand—she’ll need to go to the hospital for a follow-up and an X-ray."

Whenever Shen Qingqing came up, Jiang Zhixun would get caught up in a stream of words, nothing like the man who, three years ago, walked out of Beijing without a second glance.

That made Madam Jiang equally sorrowful.

All she wanted was for her son’s marriage to be harmonious. Since he loved Qingqing, staying with her was what mattered.

She comforted him, "I’ll take good care of Qingqing and say nice things for you. Don’t worry, no matter who tries to pursue her, I’ll turn them away for you."

Jiang Zhixun felt somewhat embarrassed.

He knew it was a bit underhanded, but he was genuinely afraid that Shen Qingqing might marry someone else.

"If someone starts pursuing her, call me."

Seeing her son like this was rare, so Madam Jiang asked, "When will you finally return to Beijing? Qingqing’s an adult. Once or twice, she might accommodate us, but if this drags on, she’ll get fed up. We can’t control her forever."

Jiang Zhixun understood all that. He also desperately wanted to return to Beijing.

But it wasn’t possible right now.

The duration of his missions could vary—it might be days, months, or even years.

He had no definitive answer to give.

"We’ll just have to take things one step at a time."

Given the nature of his work, Madam Jiang couldn’t press him any further.

One, her son wouldn’t tell her exactly what he was doing.

Two, she didn’t want to nag and annoy him. freewёbnoνel.com

She patted the military coat on his back. "No matter how healthy you are, remember to dress warmly and eat well. Your health is your real capital. If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you come back to see Qingqing?"

"Hmm."

Jiang Zhixun responded absent-mindedly.

His mind drifted to the thought that he was nearing thirty. If his health failed, he truly wasn’t worthy of Shen Qingqing.

He had bought his ticket at the last minute, and it was a standing ticket with a rushed departure time.

After exchanging a few words with his mother, it was time to go.

"Call me if anything comes up."

Madam Jiang nodded repeatedly. "Take care of yourself over there."

Jiang Zhixun boarded the train.

Unlike when he fled Beijing last time, his emotions this time were filled with reluctance.

He wanted to stay longer, to steal just a few more glimpses of Shen Qingqing.

Jiang Zhixun felt a deep sense of melancholy. He didn’t know how Qingqing had felt three years ago, when she’d learned he left Beijing.

But he had an inexplicable feeling that, back then, Shen Qingqing must have been even more heartbroken than he was now.