Translator: Henyee Translations   Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Qiao ignored Wen Luâs words and looked at Shao Jingmo. âAre you really not going back?â
Shao Jingmo changed his grip on the cue stick and didnât look at Qiao Qiao, who was standing at the side. He held Wen Luâs hand and walked to the other side. âYou can go back first. You donât have to wait for me.â
Qiao Qiao stood rooted to the ground in a daze. Her hands and feet were as cold as ice, and she let the wind mess up her hair.
She didnât know how sheâd left the field.
She didnât know how she got home.
Just like that, the afternoon passed in a daze.
Shao Jingmo did not return even after dinner. Mother Qiao asked, âIs Jingmo having a business dinner today?â
Qiao Qiao shook her head.
Mother Qiao said, âThen why didnât he come back?â
Qiao Qiao said, âl donât know.â
Mother Qiao did not speak anymore. She turned to look at Father Qiao and asked softly, âShe looks like sheâs in a bad mood. Theyâre probably bickering again. â
Father Qiao said the truth, âOne is in his early thirties and the other is in her early twenties. Do you expect them to respect each other for the rest of their lives? It would be strange if they didnât quarrel.â
ââ¦â Mother Qiao was speechless and scolded softly, âl asked you to comfort your daughter, not make sarcastic remarks.â
Father Qiao corrected her. âThatâs not sarcasm. Thatâs the truth that people who have been through it can see. Itâs not a big deal. Itâll be fine in two days.
Didnât the two of us go through it like this?â
Mother Qiao stopped talking and ate in silence.
After dinner, Qiao Qiao went back to her room. It wasnât that she was sleepy. She just didnât want her family to see her break down and doubt herself. It was a mess. She couldnât control it herself. She could only hide and not let them see or worry.
Shao Jingmo did not come back very late tonight.
It was exactly ten oâclock. She sat on the tatami in front of the window and watched the car drive into the front yard. After the car stopped, Shao Jingmo got out of the car. Time passed. She calculated when Shao Jingmo would return to the bedroom. Hearing the door close, she got out of the tatami, put on her slippers, and went out.
Standing outside Shao Jingmoâs door, she hesitated for a long time before she mustered the courage to knock. After three knocks, the door opened.
âLittle Uncle.â She smiled and tried her best to sound normal.
Shao Jingmo had no intention of turning his body to let her in. He asked her, âWhat is it?â
Qiao Qiao took the initiative to ask, âCan I go in?â
She realized that she had been much humbler in this relationship recently. In the past, she could enter and leave his bedroom whenever she wanted. She had never asked for his wishes. At this moment, she still had to get his permission before she dared to go in.
Fortunately, Shao Jingmo moved aside. âCome in.â
Qiao Qiao was overjoyed. She went in obediently first. When Shao Jingmo closed the door, she secretly hugged him from behind. âl just missed you. I wonât ask you about today. Not a word. I promise.â
Shao Jingmo covered the back of her hand with his palm, pried open her arm, and turned around. Disappointment appeared on her face, but he didnât seem to see it. His expression was cold enough to keep her at bay for a thousand miles. âYou can ask about this afternoon.â
Qiao Qiao shook her head and smiled. âIâm not asking. I know you were just putting on an act. I understand now, and I wonât be jealous.â
Shao Jingmoâs gaze flickered and he did not look at her. His tone was so cold that it was unreasonable. âIâm not putting on an act.â
Qiao Qiao stiffened. She didnât actually believe it, but she couldnât suppress the dull ache in her heart. She couldnât understand why he had to say that.
When she spoke again, her voice was more muffled. âl said I wouldnât be jealous. Iâm very sensible now. I wonât mess with you, and Iâll try not to be willful in front of you. Donât say these things to anger me, okay?â
She reached out tentatively and gripped a little of his cuff.
Shao Jingmo raised his hand to avoid it. He walked past her and went to the bedside table to get a box of cigarettes. He turned around and went to the
French window. He took out a cigarette from the box and lit it. He took a puff.
When Qiao Qiao was around, he rarely smoked. Second-hand smoke was too harmful. He cared a lot about her health. Earlier, it had been out of frustration, but after reason, he stubbed it out again.
Qiao Qiao walked over slowly. Seeing the cigarette he had stubbed out, she felt a little relieved. She asked him in a low voice, âHas something happened to the company recently?â
âNo,â he said.
Qiao Qiao asked again, âThen why do you look so frustrated?â There was a two-minute silence in the air. He didnât answer. Qiao Qiao couldnât help but ask again, âIs it about the Bai family?â
Shao Jingmoâs eyes did not move. She felt that she should have guessed correctly and continued, âYou said three days last time, but itâs already three days. Is it still not resolved? Actually, thereâs no hurry. Iâll be obedient during this period and definitely not interact with anyone in the Bai family.â
âQiao Qiao,â Shao Jingmo called to her.
Qiao Qiaoâs reaction changed from a little stunned to surprised. âYou never call me Qiao Qiao. You always call me Qiao Guigui.â
Shao Jingmo turned to face her. âIâll call you Qiao Qiao from now on.â Qiao Qiao shook her head. âNo, I just like hearing you call my nickname.â
âIâm not calling you that anymore. Itâs not suitable,â he said.
Qiao Qiao was stunned for a while. âLittle Uncleâ¦â
She didnât lose control of her emotions or throw a hysterical tantrum, let alone question him. All her reactions were well behaved. She just wanted him to see the change in her. However, she did not understand why Shao Jingmoâs attitude towards her had changed so much since she came into contact with Bai Chen last time!
She thought that they would be fine in two days. When Shao Jingmoâs anger subsided, they would be fine.
However, for the past few days, Shao Jingmo had always treated her with a lukewarm attitude. Other than really wanting to teach her at work and being very strict with her, she did not feel any love from him.
She didnât understand why this was happening. She lowered her head and said, â1 already know my mistake. Why are you still so angry? Iâ
Before she could finish, Shao Jingmo interrupted her. He said, âLetâs get a divorce..