After Breaking Up, I Married the Dying Tycoon in a Flash-Chapter 357: Awaited Years (Part 18)

"You are my husband, what’s wrong with you going on my behalf?" Wen Jiao said: "Zhaoli, I want you to go for me."

Shen Zhaoli looked at Wen Jiao for a long, long time without uttering a word.

That night, when Shen Zhaoli held Wen Jiao as they fell asleep, he couldn’t help but ask: "Jiaojiao, don’t you want to see him at all?"

Wen Jiao said: "I don’t."

"Why?"

"Because it’s pointless," Wen Jiao said: "He’s already part of the past."

Shen Zhaoli had thought of many responses, considered what Wen Jiao would say to him upon learning about this, but he never imagined that she would have him go in her place.

"Jiaojiao, don’t you have anything you want to say to him?" Shen Zhaoli’s voice was hoarse as he raised his hand and gently stroked Wen Jiao’s hair with an overly gentle gesture: "If you have something to say, you can go see him."

"Shen Zhaoli, I really don’t," Wen Jiao said: "It’s very good now, I want to spend a peaceful life with you, I already feel very content." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Under the light, Wen Jiao’s eyes were bright.

She looked at Shen Zhaoli, earnest than ever, "What I want is the life I have now."

It was late at night, Xiangjiang Hotel, top floor private room.

When Shen Zhaoli pushed the door open, Wei Shuqian had already arrived.

The man’s appearance was even more icy than before, his whole being emitted an air of hostility from the inside out.

When he looked toward the door, there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes, but the next moment, upon seeing that it was Shen Zhaoli, the anticipation in his eyes dimmed.

He lowered his eyes, composed, very calm, "Jiaojiao is unwilling to see me."

It was merely a statement.

Shen Zhaoli sat down opposite Wei Shuqian and said: "These past few years, the situation overseas has been quite chaotic, hasn’t it?"

"Yeah," Wei Shuqian said: "It’s all settled now, I can control the situation."

This was indeed the reason why Wei Shuqian had come back to find Wen Jiao; he didn’t want Wen Jiao to risk even the slightest danger by his side.

"What would you like to eat?" Shen Zhaoli paused then said: "Wen Jiao often comes to this restaurant, there are many dishes here that she loves."

Wei Shuqian pinched the bridge of his nose, speaking indifferently: "Anything will do."

Both men scarcely spoke, and the atmosphere grew somber.

After a long while, once the dishes were served, Wei Shuqian finally looked at Shen Zhaoli, his voice slow, very calm, "I won’t stay long this time, I want to see Wen Jiao once, and after that, I will leave."

"It’s not just about seeing her once, is it? You want to persuade her to leave with you, right?" Shen Zhaoli revealed Wei Shuqian’s intention, he smiled calmly and spoke softly: "Wei Shuqian, Wen Jiao won’t leave with you."

A fierce look flickered through Wei Shuqian’s eyes.

He knew that Wen Jiao and Shen Zhaoli had been separated for many years, he was also confident that when Wen Jiao married Shen Zhaoli, she might not have loved him.

Shen Zhaoli was nothing more than the choice Wen Jiao settled for when she hit a low point in her life.

Thus, he didn’t think there was any aspect in which he was inferior to Shen Zhaoli.

"Whether she will leave with me or not is not for you to tell me," Wei Shuqian said, enunciating every word, as cold as ice, "Shen Zhaoli, I thank you for taking care of Wen Jiao all these years, but now, I want to give Wen Jiao an opportunity to choose again. Wen Jiao’s reluctance to see me is only out of gratitude to you, not wanting to hurt you, but Shen Zhaoli, that’s not love."

He was extremely stubborn, each word he uttered hitting precisely on the deepest concerns of Shen Zhaoli.

Shen Zhaoli knew that if Wen Jiao did not say it herself, Wei Shuqian would not give up.

Shen Zhaoli did not have much confidence in his heart.

People make rational decisions, but if they truly face someone who provokes irresistible emotions, then all those decisions could be overturned.

However, Shen Zhaoli wanted to take a gamble.

So, he looked at Wei Shuqian, with the corners of his lips slightly raised, smiling, "Do you dare to wager with me?"

"Wager on what?"

"I’ll call Wen Jiao over, and we’ll let her choose herself, do you dare?"

Wei Shuqian’s demeanor was cold as water, his gaze on Shen Zhaoli unwavering, his eyes determined to win, "I dare."

Shen Zhaoli smiled, and in front of Wei Shuqian, he dialed Wen Jiao’s number, putting the call on speakerphone.

She answered quickly, from the other end of the line came a gentle voice, "Zhaoli, are you coming back?"

Shen Zhaoli saw Wei Shuqian’s brow twitch, a strong emotion seeming to flicker across his eyes.

For probably the first time, he felt so directly the so-called change in circumstances.

"Wei Shuqian has left, and I’ve had too much to drink. Can you come pick me up?" Shen Zhaoli paused momentarily, then softly added, "I want to see you sooner."

Wen Jiao’s voice was teasing, she said, "Shen Zhaoli, how old are you to still play the coquette so adroitly?"

"Yes, I am being coquettish." Shen Zhaoli’s eyes were warm as he nodded, his handsome eyes slightly lifted, looking at Wei Shuqian across from him, he slowly said, "So, will you come?"

Wen Jiao agreed, saying she would leave now.

Shen Zhaoli hung up the phone, calmly stating, "Let’s wait."

Wei Shuqian’s lips were white from pressing them together.

He began to speak, his voice raspy, "When we parted back then, it was out of necessity."

"Mr. Wei, life is filled with many necessities," Shen Zhaoli spoke composedly: "You have had necessary moments in the past and there will be more in the future. So, will you give up every time?"

"Why say such disheartening words?" Wei Shuqian scoffed, his eyes red, he choked out, "You are not me, you don’t know how hard it was for me to make that decision."

"I don’t know," Shen Zhaoli conceded. "But if it were me, I wouldn’t choose this path. I would choose to stand by Wen Jiao’s side, even if it meant utter ruin."

Wei Shuqian really couldn’t understand how Shen Zhaoli could put such selfishness into words so righteously, "Have you thought about Wen Jiao? If you truly had nothing, dragging Wen Jiao down would only make her suffer with you."

"Isn’t being abandoned painful?" countered Shen Zhaoli, his retort sharp and biting.

Wei Shuqian’s face turned pale, his handsome features clouded with gloom. He looked coldly at Shen Zhaoli, hands clenched into fists, his voice cool and detached, "That wasn’t... abandonment."

"Do you think it matters what you think? Wen Jiao feels that she has been abandoned," Shen Zhaoli spoke evenly: "Mr. Wei, Wen Jiao’s life might seem perfect, free from suffering, but she has also had moments of despair and helplessness, needing someone who will stand by her side regardless if it’s a path of knives or a flourishing garden ahead."

Wei Shuqian shook his head, scoffing repeatedly, looking disdainfully at Shen Zhaoli, he said, "Young Master Shen has never known hardship, right? You don’t understand how desperate a life with nothing can be. Wen Jiao will understand my position; my necessity back then wasn’t my true intention."

Wen Jiao would understand.

But that didn’t mean Wen Jiao would look back.

Shen Zhaoli looked at Wen Jiao standing at the door, rising to his feet, walked towards her under Wei Shuqian’s stunned gaze, he said, "Jiaojiao, you’ve arrived."