After Breaking Up, I Married the Dying Tycoon in a Flash-Chapter 358: Yearning Through the Passing Years (Nineteen)
Shen Zhaoli looked at Wen Jiao standing at the door, got up, and under Wei Shuqian’s stunned gaze, walked towards the latter. He said, "Jiaojiao, you’re here."
Wen Jiao’s hands were somewhat cold; she let Shen Zhaoli take her hand and walk her to sit opposite Wei Shuqian.
"He insists on seeing you. I think there are some things you two need to clear up face-to-face, or he won’t be satisfied," Shen Zhaoli said, looking into Wen Jiao’s stunned eyes. "Jiaojiao, take your time talking; I’ll wait for you outside."
The astonishment in Wen Jiao’s eyes deepened.
Shen Zhaoli got up, released her hand, and left the private room.
Shen Zhaoli is fundamentally a proud man; he can accept that Wen Jiao does not love him and stays with him for weighing the pros and cons, but he cannot accept that sympathy is part of those reasons.
For Shen Zhaoli, sympathy is unbearable.
The reason he left was to let Wen Jiao make decisions without his interference, to decide as she pleases.
The door closed, and the atmosphere fell into dead silence.
Wei Shuqian looked at Wen Jiao calmly, like an old friend not seen for many years, and spoke, his tone casual, "Jiaojiao, have you been well these years?"
"Very well."
"I heard your father passed away. I thought it must be hard for you to accept, so once I finished what I was handling, I came to see you immediately," Wei Shuqian said, watching Wen Jiao, who had cut her hair short making her already small face look even more gaunt.
She was looking down, lost in thought.
Wei Shuqian’s throat moved rapidly, some words brewing for a long time, now finally finding a chance to be spoken, he said, "I know you are still angry with me for leaving back then, but at that time, I was powerless and helpless. Being with you would only bring you danger."
"Then congratulations on now having great power, unstoppable," Wen Jiao picked up the teacup, toasting to Wei Shuqian, "This drink to you."
"Jiaojiao, I didn’t mean that..." Wei Shuqian’s eyes reddened, he paused, then said slowly and arduously, "I want to tell you, if you don’t like Shen Zhaoli, I can help you divorce him. I know your relationship hasn’t been good these years, Jiaojiao, I don’t want you to be unhappy for the rest of your life."
Wen Jiao silently watched him.
Wei Shuqian was pained by Wen Jiao’s gaze, he laughed self-deprecatingly and whispered, "You must think what I’m saying now seems hypocritical? Jiaojiao, but I truly am not saying these nice things to make you happy, nor am I trying to use this opportunity to get you back, I just hope you can live freely and happily."
"Wei Shuqian, do you think freedom means happiness?" Wen Jiao softly countered.
Wei Shuqian’s hand slowly clenched into a fist, his voice raspy, "I think, they are related somehow."
"Unrelated," Wen Jiao said. "Love cannot be absolutely free. To love someone is to want to stay by their side, in such a case, there is no freedom."
Wei Shuqian heard the word ’love’ from Wen Jiao’s mouth.
She said it too calmly.
"Do you love him?"
"Of course I love him."
Wei Shuqian’s eyes reddened unbearably; he silently watched Wen Jiao, and after a long while, he closed his eyes heavily.
How could it be love?
Wei Shuqian had thought of many answers, none of which involved love.
"You say you love him, what about him do you love?" Wei Shuqian finally opened his eyes, his eyes bloodshot, "Wen Jiao, you really are moved, because this person stays with you unconditionally, so you are moved."
Wen Jiao thought, maybe Wei Shuqian’s words were also Shen Zhaoli’s inner torment.
Moved out of gratitude?
Wen Jiao still wouldn’t compromise her whole life just because she was touched.
"It’s not because I was touched." Wen Jiao said, "When we first got together, he did a lot for me, making artificial snow in summer, bunches of jewelry, exquisite garments, and various thoughtful arrangements. He did all this to make me like him, but I wasn’t moved, I loved him simply because he understood me."
"Don’t I understand you?" Wei Shuqian’s heart was deeply stabbed.
"When you were leaving, I told you, if you walk out that door, from then on, our fate ends. Shuqian, I wasn’t speaking out of anger, I meant every word."
Wei Shuqian looked at Wen Jiao, only to feel that the woman in front of him was so distant at that moment.
He gave a bitter smile, all his obsessions turned to ashes, no longer having the strength.
He said, "Jiaojiao, I came to find you, not to reconcile, but because I was afraid... you were unhappy. I didn’t want you to marry someone you don’t love and waste your life. But now, you say you love him..."
Wei Shuqian slowly stood up, silent, watching Wen Jiao with a calm smile amidst her complex gaze, he said, "Then I wish you both grow old together, Jiaojiao, I’m sorry, I was wrong back then."
Wen Jiao thought, why bother distinguishing right from wrong? A lot of things are just about different perspectives.
Wen Jiao didn’t want to dwell on right or wrong either.
She looked at Wei Shuqian, and after a long while, she said softly, "Wei Shuqian, I’m happy we were together once."
Shen Zhaoli stood in the corridor, looking at the starry sky outside the window.
Shen Jinci just put Bian Xiao to sleep and called to ask about Wei Shuqian.
Shen Zhaoli smiled nonchalantly, saying, "Oh, your good buddy, he’s talking with Jiaojiao right now."
On the other end, Shen Jinci was silent for a moment.
He said, "Shen Zhaoli, how dare you?"
Listening, Shen Zhaoli felt as if hit by a dull thud, somewhat pained, he masked it, and in a muted voice said, "Brother, do you all really think Jiaojiao doesn’t like me?"
"Zhaoli..." Shen Jinci sighed, he said, "Don’t overthink it."
Shen Zhaoli’s smile remained, he raised his face, watching the sky, with a certain tone, "Jiaojiao loves me."
On the other end, Shen Jinci was silent for a moment.
He said, "That’s Wei Shuqian."
"Hmm," Shen Zhaoli said, "I know."
"You shouldn’t have let Wen Jiao meet him alone; after so many years, imagine how deep Wei Shuqian’s obsession with Wen Jiao has become," Shen Jinci always rational, spoke sharply from a rational perspective.
Shen Zhaoli knew all this.
"Wen Jiao is also a person of deep fixation," Shen Zhaoli retracted his gaze, his eyes and brow lowering, his tone persistent, "If today, Jiaojiao can leave with me, then from today onwards, Wei Shuqian is history."
Shen Jinci finally understood, Shen Zhaoli was taking a risk.
Shen Jinci didn’t know what to say, one was his brother, the other his friend.
Shen Jinci fell silent, paused, then said, "This weekend, bring Wen Jiao for a meal together."
Shen Zhaoli was silent for a long time, until he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned around and saw Wen Jiao walking towards him.
Shen Zhaoli’s smile lightly touched his lips, he said, "We’ll be there."
