Chapter 17: Rebellious Bone

“Jiang Zhixun, can you have some shame?”

Shen Qingqing kicked the front seat in irritation.

Jiang Zhixun looked perfectly composed as he gripped the steering wheel, preparing to start the car.

Their names were both written on the marriage certificate; it wasn't something that belonged to Shen Qingqing alone.

How was he being shameless?

He glanced back at her. “If there’s a next time, I won't come looking for you.”

“I never asked you to.”

Jiang Zhixun gritted his teeth. “Fine. It was my meddling.”

Shen Qingqing wanted to say something more, but the car suddenly surged forward.

Due to the inertia, she was thrown back into the rear seat.

The incident happened so abruptly that Shen Qingqing’s face turned deathly pale with fright.

One hand gripped the car window while the other braced against the seat.

“Jiang Zhixun, you bastard!”

Her voice was too small, drowned out by the roar of the engine.

Only when the car speed leveled out did her tension begin to dissipate bit by bit.

If Jiang Zhixun hadn't come to pick a fight, she would still be living peacefully in the guesthouse right now.

Thinking of this, Shen Qingqing felt a profound sense of grievance, and her eyes suddenly grew moist.

She pulled her coat tight around her, leaning into the shadows, losing all desire to speak to Jiang Zhixun.

Hearing heavy breathing, Jiang Zhixun thought she was crying again and looked at her through the rearview mirror.

But she was leaning against the seat with her head turned, her long hair obscuring half of her face; he couldn't see her expression clearly.

His hand on the steering wheel rubbed against the leather.

In the end, he said nothing.

He also didn't intentionally accelerate to scare her again.

The atmosphere was as cold as if it had been frozen, unlike how a normal married couple should be.

Jiang Zhixun inexplicably thought back to the times they spent together in Beijing.

Shen Qingqing wasn't a talkative girl; there were several times he drove to the school to pick her up where they barely spoke, but the atmosphere back then was different from now.

He had been very relaxed then, unlike now, with his mind in a chaotic mess.

Once they were out of the county town, Jiang Zhixun couldn't help himself and looked at Shen Qingqing through the rearview mirror once more.

There were no streetlights, and the interior of the car was pitch black; Shen Qingqing was still holding the same posture as before, making it even harder to see her expression.

Seeing nothing, Jiang Zhixun’s long fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly.

A few minutes later, he said awkwardly, “I don't want to meddle in your business either, but it isn't safe for a female comrade to live outside alone.”

Shen Qingqing still ignored him.

Jiang Zhixun had a cold temperament and never took the initiative to explain himself to others.

Yet, he had broken that rule several times because of Shen Qingqing.

Since she didn't appreciate it, Jiang Zhixun stopped seeking trouble for himself.

He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek; the little girl looked soft-tempered and easy to talk to, but he hadn't expected her to be so rebellious!

They remained in this stalemate until they reached their destination.

As soon as the car stopped, Shen Qingqing’s eyes snapped open, filled with a calm stillness.

Without hesitation, she pushed open the car door, grabbed her belongings, and walked away.

From beginning to end, she didn't say a single word.

Jiang Zhixun sat in the driver's seat without moving, his gaze fixed heavily on Shen Qingqing's retreating figure.

She was wearing a black coat, looking as if she were about to merge into the thick darkness of the night.

All alone, she looked somewhat pitiful.

At the same time, she gave off the illusion that she was someone he could never grasp.

The irritation in Jiang Zhixun's heart became uncontrollable. In his line of sight, Shen Qingqing had already entered the guesthouse.

The man abruptly pushed open the car door.

If she insisted on having to have a child before she'd stop throwing tantrums, then fine, she could have one!

It would be just enough to deal with his family, saving him from the pressure of the elders, which made her not even dare to return to the compound.

It wasn't safe for a female comrade to live alone outside, after all.

***

Shen Qingqing had intended to go straight upstairs, but she unexpectedly saw Lin Zhidong and Zhou Xiaomei in the first-floor lobby.

Upon seeing her, the couple both breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though Xiaomian had sworn to the heavens that she hadn't seen Shen Qingqing and that Shen Qingqing's refusal to return to the guesthouse had nothing to do with her, the couple didn't fully believe it.

After all, Xiaomian had returned with Jiang Zhixun; perhaps Comrade Shen had misunderstood something and was unwilling to come back.

Knowing that Jiang Zhixun had gone to the county town to look for someone again, the couple had thought it over and left the child in Lin Fengmian's care while they came to the guesthouse to wait for them.

Seeing Shen Qingqing walk in carrying her things, Zhou Xiaomei hurriedly asked, “Comrade Shen, you didn't run into any trouble today, did you?”

Shen Qingqing was surprised. “Someone said something happened to me?”

Zhou Xiaomei teased, “No one said something happened to you, but Captain Jiang was incredibly anxious. He searched all over the county town, and when he couldn't find you, he almost went to report it to the public security bureau!”

Lin Zhidong nodded in agreement. “Luckily he found you, otherwise he would have cried from worry.”

He thought to himself: *Old Jiang clearly seems to care a lot about Comrade Shen, so why is he still bickering with her?*

If he didn't wake up soon and Comrade Shen left him in anger and never came to the Northwest again, it would be too late for him to regret it.

He caught sight of Jiang Zhixun walking in from outside with a dark expression.

Lin Zhidong put an arm around his shoulder. “Your wife rarely visits, and instead of accompanying her to the county town, you stayed behind. That's your fault. If you keep pulling that long face, I'm going to have to criticize you.”

Jiang Zhixun brushed his hand off.

“Aren't you leaving?”

Lin Zhidong's mouth twitched. “If you don't listen to the advice of your elders, you'll suffer the consequences. Go ahead and continue being a block of wood; just don't come crying to me later.”

Jiang Zhixun said nothing, but the expression on his face said it all.

He had always been the type to bleed but never shed tears.

Crying? Impossible!

Seeing that Jiang Zhixun had things to discuss with Shen Qingqing, Lin Zhidong and Zhou Xiaomei knew it was best not to stay and act as third wheels.

Zhou Xiaomei said to Shen Qingqing, “Don't forget to come over for dinner tomorrow.”

Shen Qingqing nodded in agreement.

Lin Zhidong pulled his wife away.

Once they left, Shen Qingqing also turned to go upstairs. A conflicted expression appeared on Jiang Zhixun's face.

Finally, a look of determination flashed in his eyes.

He stepped forward to follow her.

As soon as they entered the room, Shen Qingqing reached out her hand. “Give it here.”

The marriage certificate was an important document that would be needed during a divorce; she had to keep it in her own hands to feel at ease.

Jiang Zhixun gave her an imperceptible glance. “Is it really that important?”

Shen Qingqing's tone was serious. “It is.”

The man gave an inexplicable huff.

He pulled the marriage certificate from his coat pocket and handed it to her.

Shen Qingqing immediately put it away.

She had originally intended to put it in her leather suitcase, but fearing she might forget it or be unable to find it when needed, she had simply placed it together with her letter of introduction.

She performed these actions with a very serious expression, making it clear she was terrified of losing the certificate.

Seeing Shen Qingqing carrying the marriage certificate with her, Jiang Zhixun became even more certain that she had come this time specifically to have a child.

His fingers curled slightly.

He turned to walk toward the door.

Thinking Jiang Zhixun was leaving, Shen Qingqing ignored him and continued organizing her things.

She checked the door lock to ensure no one would suddenly barge in.

Jiang Zhixun took a deep breath.

He quickly stripped off his military coat and walked toward the bed. His body was so tense that the veins on his hands stood out prominently.

They wound up his arms and finally disappeared into his cuffs.

Underneath the coat, he was only wearing a shirt.

The lines of his muscles were faintly visible, revealing his robust physique.

He casually tossed the coat onto a chair.

He was contemplating what his first step should be.

Shen Qingqing, who was squatting to organize her luggage, looked back at him. “Aren't you leaving?”

Her tone wasn't particularly kind; Jiang Zhixun felt that Shen Qingqing was still angry.

Though he didn't know exactly what she was angry about.

His hands clenched and then relaxed as he said dryly, “I'll help you apply some medicated patches. Once I'm done, I'll leave.”