To Xing Zheng, Qiao Wei was no different from a stranger. If it weren't for Xiao Shu stirring up this affair, she wouldn't even exist in his memory. Therefore, his attitude towards Qiao Wei was the same as towards any stranger, "You are Qiao Wei."
The surprise in Qiao Wei's eyes shattered upon hearing this cold remark, quickly replaced by disappointment. She said bitterly, "You don't remember me."
Xing Zheng gave a blunt "Mm," showing no regard for her feelings. Qiao Wei suddenly smiled again, sighing, "Your attitude towards me is still the same as before." Even if he didn't remember, he was still this indifferent.
"Why are you looking for me?" Qiao Wei knew her place. A man who was so indifferent to her, who didn't even remember her, showing up unannounced, could never be for "reminiscing."
Although she liked Xing Zheng, she wasn't so blinded by emotion as to lose her head. "Shall we sit and talk? I'll make you a cup of coffee."
A few minutes later, Qiao Wei came out with two cups of Americano. She sat opposite Xing Zheng and said, "I don't know if your tastes have changed."
She remembered his favorite coffee was Americano. Xing Zheng's tastes hadn't changed, but he didn't drink the coffee. He simply said to her, "Xiao Shu is your ex-husband."
Qiao Wei was likely surprised that Xing Zheng would bring up Xiao Shu. She felt a bit taken aback, "He is. Are you looking for me because of him?"
"How did you get divorced?" Xing Zheng asked instead of answering. "I don't like him," Qiao Wei was very frank. "When I was with him, it was out of spite. Do you remember? I went to the hospital with you, and you found out. You warned me that if I continued to follow or harass you, you would call the police."
She had confessed to him then, but after listening, he still threatened to call the police, pushing his unreasonableness to the extreme. She was hurt and dejected, and out of spite, she got together with Xiao Shu.
Xiao Shu had been pursuing her for a long time. People couldn't escape impulse. After being rejected by Xing Zheng like that, she desperately wanted to prove that she was also loved. Xiao Shu was indeed very good to her at first. After being hurt, having someone care for and comfort her could indeed bring solace.
Qiao Wei had also wanted to move on and live a good life with him. She gave up her chance to pursue postgraduate studies and returned to Kyoto with Xiao Shu. They got married, and she thought a new life was about to begin.
Unexpectedly, after marriage, Xiao Shu became increasingly suspicious. He would always mention Xing Zheng intentionally or unintentionally, as if testing her. Even though Qiao Wei kept telling him she was trying to let go, he continued this behavior.
One time, Qiao Wei saw news about Xing Zheng starting a business in a alumni group and said a few more words. Xiao Shu saw it, and the two of them erupted into conflict. Qiao Wei wanted a divorce then, but she was pregnant and couldn't, so she had to wait until the child was born.
During this period, she and Xiao Shu quarreled almost every day. They agreed not to argue in front of the child. They dragged it out until Xiao Mu Tian was three years old, and they finally divorced.
Xiao Shu took custody of the child, and Qiao Wei couldn't even visit. She was weak and powerless against Xiao Shu and feared being threatened if she went back, so she had to cruelly sever ties with her child. After the divorce, she spent over a year drifting before deciding to continue her studies.
Qiao Wei told Xing Zheng everything. Xing Zheng then understood the reason for Xiao Shu's hatred towards him. "He thinks you divorced him because of me."
"Perhaps partly," Qiao Wei said. "In the beginning, we were just acting out of spite."
"Whatever happens between you two is your business. Don't involve me or my people," Xing Zheng had little patience for Qiao Wei. "I don't know you."
Qiao Wei's face turned pale. Although her psychological resilience had improved over the years, hearing such decisive words from the man she had liked for so long, how could she remain unmoved? She caught the emphasis in Xing Zheng's words, "What did Xiao Shu do to you? You and Miss Jiang..."
"I don't lay hands on children," Xing Zheng did not answer Qiao Wei's question. He said to her, "I won't let Xiao Shu off. You deal with the child."
"Wait," Qiao Wei was bewildered. "What did Xiao Shu do? Did he harass Miss Jiang? But I saw him with a new girlfriend recently."
Qiao Wei remembered the news about Xiao Shu having dinner with his new girlfriend and Xiao Mu Tian. The woman's back didn't look like Jiang Chu Bi. Why was Xing Zheng so angry?
"New girlfriend?" Xing Zheng's tone was dangerous and disdainful. "He's worthy?"
Qiao Wei thought of something. "The one in the news, is she yours?"
Xing Zheng remained silent. Qiao Wei asked again, "Is it the one you mentioned back then?"
Lin Mei was nestled on the bed in the master bedroom, holding her phone and chatting with Lan Lan and Feng Feng in a group. The things she had seen in the guest room earlier had impacted her too much. As she chatted, she felt a sense of floating, a profound unreality.
After explaining the matter in the group, Lan Lan, in her usual style, exclaimed with profanity, "Holy shit! He hid it so deeply? How can I not feel he's a bit of a pervert?"
Taking her homework, swapping her extracurricular books... these unspeakable little tricks made it hard not to associate him with a perverted stalker. If he went further, would he steal clothes? Perhaps Xing Zheng had actually done something like that!
Although Feng Feng had guessed that Xing Zheng had feelings for Lin Mei, she hadn't expected that the seed was planted in his youth. If bystanders were this surprised, Lin Mei, as the person involved, must have been even more astonished. "What are you thinking now? Do you want to ask him?"
Lin Mei had no clue. If she asked, Xing Zheng's mouth... would he admit it?
If he hadn't said anything for so long, how could she get it out of him by pressing?
Lan Lan: "Ask! Ask him clearly. Why didn't you say you liked me earlier? And what about those past events? Make him explain them to you one by one!"
Lin Mei hesitated for a long time, "I don't know how to ask."
She had little experience being proactive in relationships. Her only relationship was when Chen Qixian confessed his feelings to her. During their relationship, she rarely asked Chen Qi questions like "Do you love me?" Her nature made it difficult to say such "mushy" things.
Lan Lan and Feng Feng had been Lin Mei's close friends for many years, so they understood her nature. It was difficult for her to be proactive, and besides, if Xing Zheng had a crush, he should be the one to make the first move.
Lan Lan offered Lin Mei advice, "Bait him, make him talk to you first! Train him into a lapdog! Make him wag his tail at you every day!"
Lin Mei couldn't imagine the scene. Even reading the text made it seem difficult. "I don't have that ability. I'm no match for him."
At least, up to this point, she had never truly controlled Xing Zheng, let alone imagined training him into a lapdog.
Feng Feng spotted a blind spot, "Since he liked you from that time, he probably hasn't dated anyone, right?"
Lan Lan: "Ooh, a virgin, that makes it even easier!"
Lan Lan and Feng Feng offered Lin Mei many suggestions, and Lin Mei looked through them one by one, feeling overwhelmed.