Chapter 210 - 210 203 The First Initiative After Breaking Up (First

Chapter 210: 203: The First Initiative After Breaking Up (First Update) Chapter 210: 203: The First Initiative After Breaking Up (First Update) Wen Changling’s face was cold. “I have company.”

“Who did you come with?”

A white car facing in the direction of Xie Shang flashed its headlights, and its owner revved the engine and drove over. It wasn’t until it drew closer that it slowed down.

Xie Shang got a clear view of the person in the car.

The car stopped but didn’t approach too closely, staying a few meters away. Jiang Chengxue rolled down the window and sat waiting inside.

“I’m leaving first.”

Before she had taken a step, Xie Shang grabbed Wen Changling’s arm.

She turned her head, her gaze fierce. “What the hell do you want?”

Xie Shang stared straight ahead, his eyes locking with the person in the car. Their gazes clashed like two kings of the forest encountering each other. One was overly vigilant within his marked territory, not tolerating any intrusion, while the other tested and patrolled the borderline back and forth.

“Don’t get in his car,” Xie Shang’s tone was cautious, so he added softly, “Okay?”

“Mind your own ‘business’.”

“It’s none of your business.”

Wen Changling shook off Xie Shang’s hand and got into Jiang Chengxue’s car.

Jiang Chengxue pulled up the corner of his mouth, gave Xie Shang a smirk, then stepped on the gas pedal and sped away.

Wen Changling was in the car, yet it moved so fast.

Xie Shang was well-versed in criminal law, but he wasn’t an attorney with a very high threshold for principle. Sometimes he found the law-abiding society tiresome as there were so many things he couldn’t do.

Meng Duolan came over: “Was that Miss Wen just now?”

She hadn’t gotten a clear look at the person, but she had heard about Xie Shang’s ex-girlfriend at the Qin family’s celebration. Xie Shang only had Wen Changling as a significant other, and it was he who got dumped.

What was so special about Wen Changling that made Xie Shang so unable to forget her?

“Miss Meng,” Xie Shang’s tone was polite, but distantly standoffish, “please do not inquire into my personal matters.”

Meng Duolan was momentarily at a loss for words.

She had only asked about Miss Wen, and he treated it as a personal matter.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I’ll be leaving first, please excuse me.”

*****

Wen Changling returned to Lotus Pond Street.

She asked Jiang Chengxue to stop the car at the alley entrance without driving in.

“Thank you for the ride.”

She said politely, “Goodbye.”

As she pushed the car door open, ready to get out, a force that was neither too heavy nor too light hooked onto her bag from behind.

She looked back and saw the pendant on her bag’s zipper being held and toyed with by Jiang Chengxue. “Leave me your contact information.”

Wen Changling hesitated for a few seconds before handing over her phone.

He dialed his own number, hung up after it connected, and started to save his contact in her phone, without looking up at her. “Will you get back together with Xie Shang?” he suddenly asked.

He was a strange man, a suspicious man, the kind that would give you the creeps if you thought about him too deeply.

“It’s inappropriate for you to ask that,” Wen Changling was more reserved and calm in front of strangers, not showing too much emotion. There was a barrier in her eyes that kept distance, “I’m not familiar with you.”

Jiang Chengxue returned her phone, smiling. It wasn’t gentle, but it made him seem much less threatening, “Then what would it take for us to become acquainted?”

Wen Changling glanced at her phone.

In the contacts, he had saved his own name, three characters, Jiang Chengxue.

“You like playing with clowns; I don’t.”

Wen Changling pulled the pendant from Jiang Chengxue’s fingers and pushed the car door open, exiting the vehicle.

He didn’t hurry to leave, sitting in the car, watching her walk away. It wasn’t until she was out of sight that he opened the most recent call at the top of his call list on his phone.

“You will come to play with me.”

*****

During the dinner, Wen Changling had already informed Granny Zhu that she would come over later. Even from outside, she could smell the fragrance of the soup.

As she pushed open the door, the tabby cat appeared first.

“Meow.”

“Huahua,” she knelt down, softly stroking the cat’s head, and said cruelly, “You’ve gotten fat.”

“Meow.”

If Huahua could understand human speech, she might scratch her.

Granny Zhu followed the sound and came over, “Changling.”

“Granny.”

Tongtong was there too, dutifully calling Wen Changling sister.

Granny Zhu whispered, “A guest has arrived.”

Wen Changling entered the yard and saw Qin Qi.

“Uncle Qin.”

Yesterday, Qin Qi had asked about Wen Changling’s past. She mentioned Granny Zhu’s place. Today, he paid a visit, and his fatherly persona seemed well established.

Why did Qin Qi value her? Wen Changling didn’t think it was because of “blood ties.” Having seen the interactions between Qin Qi and Qin Ke, she even felt that Qin Qi might be someone who had no need for familial affection.

So why then? Based on Qin Qi’s self-interest, Wen Changling could only think of one possibility: investment. He was investing in a “daughter” for future resource exchanges, enhanced by her presentable appearance. At the last birthday banquet, Qin Qi seemed quite willing to match her with Wu Yue.

This time, Qin Qi had brought many valuable gifts, which Granny Zhu did not want to accept. Wen Changling pulled Granny Zhu to the side, suggesting she accept them all and later exchange them for money at the neighboring Ruyi Pawnshop. Donating the money was also an option.

Qin Qi stayed for dinner. Wen Changling had already eaten outside, so she only drank a little soup. After dinner, Qin Qi drank tea in the yard. The tea at Granny Zhu’s house was homemade, osmanthus tea.

“Did you have dinner with Chairman Jiang?”

Wen Changling looked puzzled.

Qin Qi explained, “My secretary happened to be dining there too.”

“He had helped me out, so I invited him to dinner.”

“You knew each other before?”

Qin Qi was sharp, the material of a businessman.

Wen Changling disclaimed any close relationship, “Not familiar.”

“Chairman Jiang is a very capable person,” said Qin Qi casually as he sipped his tea, “If you can get along with him, you might consider making his acquaintance.”

He was indeed investing in her.

Despite his young age, Jiang Chengxue was already the chairman of a publicly listed company, indeed someone worth courting.

“Changling, would you like to work at Huaqi?”

In Qin Qi’s eyes, Wen Changling was just a nurse with no high academic qualifications—Nurse Wen. “What could I do if I went there?”

“You could join a department you’re interested in, or you could hold a nominal position like Qin Ke,” he suggested.

Wen Changling struggled for a while before saying, “I’ll consider it.”

He came at it again with his paternal facade, “Sorry for letting you suffer before. Once you’re in the company, I’ll be able to take good care of you.”

Wen Changling remained silent. In front of Qin Qi, she couldn’t feign the obedient daughter.

“Changling, about your mother,” Qin Qi’s expression turned mournful, “why did she commit suicide?”

Wen Changling met Qin Qi’s gaze, watching his expression change, “Because my brother was gone.”

Qin Qi sighed deeply.

He tried to recall carefully but realized he could no longer remember Wen Yuan’s face, remembering only her beauty, fairy-like. She stood on the terraced fields of the tea garden, wearing a hat, more beautiful than the famously scenic Wind Town.

Suddenly, Wen Changling pointed to a vine in front of them and asked Qin Qi, “Do you recognize this plant?”

Qin Qi looked toward the vine twining around the branches.

“My mother committed suicide by ingesting this. It’s called Hooked Cymbidium, also known as Broken Heart Grass in folklore, the whole plant is poisonous.”

Qin Qi gazed at it intently.

Wen Changling said, “Look, it’s blooming.”

It was actually blooming, loosely scattered, with yellow flowers. The flowers of Hooked Cymbidium resembled honeysuckle, hence people often ate it by mistake.

Qin Qi left, and Wen Changling spent the night at Granny Zhu’s house. It had been a while since her last visit, but it hadn’t been that long—Hooked Cymbidium was blooming, Huahua had grown fatter, Granny Zhu seemed to have more white hair, things and people alike. She wondered if the neighboring Ruyi Pawnshop was still doing as poorly as ever.

It was cool sitting on the old bamboo bed this season; Granny Zhu gave Wen Changling a cushion and an old-fashioned hot water bottle. Holding the hot water bottle, she lay down to aid digestion.

How annoying, it was another starry night.

On starry nights, she always did foolish things, like now. She pressed a series of numbers on her phone, intending to hang up when she realized what she had done, but the call connected.

“Hello?”

Wen Changling didn’t say a word, resigning herself by spreading her hands beside her in surrender, playing dead. But her head uncontrollably inched towards the phone, close enough to hear.

How could someone’s voice be so pleasant.

“Changling.”

It was the first time Wen Changling had initiated contact with Xie Shang since their breakup.

She remained silent, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional meowing of a cat reminding Xie Shang that the phone line was still open; he didn’t know if she was listening.

“Changling.”

Wen Changling resignedly picked up the phone, “I dialed by accident.” Hearing Xie Shang’s voice angered her a little, “I’m hanging up.”

“Don’t hang up.”