Chapter 92 Xu Qingwan Seven Years Later

It was already dusk when Zhong Yuanxin arrived in Jiangning.

The wind at the high-speed railway station exit was biting; as she pulled a scarf from her bag and wrapped it around herself, her phone rang.

Director Xu Qingwan said she was waiting in the parking lot on the left. Looking back, Zhong Yuanxin saw a white Volvo S60 with its hazard lights flashing.

Dragging her suitcase over, she opened the car door. The woman in the driver's seat turned her head, and the two of them stared at each other across the center console for several seconds.

"You haven't changed at all." Zhong Yuanxin spoke first, her eyes curving with the joy of reunion.

Director Xu Qingwan was a bit thinner than seven years ago, with shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark gray trench coat over a white shirt, with a tiny silver brooch pinned to the collar.

"You too, even prettier, with the charm of a married woman; you must have Yu Liang completely smitten." Director Xu Qingwan smiled at Zhong Yuanxin, squinting her eyes as she spoke.

Her smile was faint. Zhong Yuanxin recalled their college days; every time she finished a phone call with Yu Liang in the dormitory, Director Xu Qingwan would smile at her just like that.

"Still so improper." Zhong Yuanxin pursed her lips and reached out to pinch Director Xu Qingwan's cheek, afraid she might spout something risqué again.

Director Xu Qingwan reached out to block her, letting out a delicate laugh.

The Volvo drove out of the parking lot.

Zhong Yuanxin, having fastened her seatbelt, turned her head and caught a glimpse of Director Xu Qingwan's slender, fair fingers on the steering wheel. Her ring finger was bare, which made her heart skip a beat.

The two chatted along the way as the car entered Jiangning County and turned into an old street lined with phoenix trees.

"Sister, park over there. That barbecue place is delicious; let's go grab a bite." Zhong Yuanxin turned back and pointed the way.

She accompanied Yu Liang back to Jiangning every holiday, so she was very familiar with the county town.

Director Xu Qingwan stretched her neck slightly, caught sight of the "Old Han Barbecue" sign, turned the steering wheel, and parked the car in a roadside spot.

The two got out of the car, stepped onto the sidewalk, and arrived at the entrance of the barbecue shop.

The storefront wasn't large, with a plastic canopy extending from the entrance. Inside were seven or eight low tables, and several were already occupied at this hour.

"Do you still remember this place?" Just after sitting down in a corner, Zhong Yuanxin asked, implying something deeper.

"Hmm." With a soft reply, Director Xu Qingwan lowered her eyes. How could she not remember?

That summer during their junior year, she, Chen Ang, and the couple Yu Liang were drinking here. Chen Ang had gotten drunk and didn't know the way home.

When the landlady brought over the barbecue, she took an extra look at Director Xu Qingwan and asked with a smile why she had brought a friend today.

Director Xu Qingwan said it was her college roommate, so the landlady enthusiastically gave them a few extra skewers.

"Oh, so not only do you remember, but you come here often?" Once the owner left, Zhong Yuanxin looked at Director Xu Qingwan with a teasing smile.

"I live nearby. A couple of times when I worked late, I just grabbed a bite here." Director Xu Qingwan spread her hands and answered helplessly.

Zhong Yuanxin pursed her lips upon hearing this, clearly not believing her.

"How did your Yu Liang agree to let you stay with me for a few days? Can he take care of Xiaomi by himself?" Director Xu Qingwan changed the subject.

"What, can't I have some private time just because I'm married? It's not like I'm having an affair. Besides, we're in his hometown; I might run into my mother-in-law as soon as I step out." Zhong Yuanxin shook her head with a smile.

Director Xu Qingwan laughed along.

The two chatted lightheartedly, and before long, the ordered barbecue was served one by one.

Zhong Yuanxin picked up a beef skewer and looked up at Director Xu Qingwan. "How have you been these past few years in Hong Kong?"

Hearing this, Director Xu Qingwan's hand, reaching for her teacup, paused inadvertently. "Quite well. Going to work, getting off work, and running by the beach on weekends. By the way, the sea in Hong Kong is bluer than in Bin City."

Zhong Yuanxin seemed not to notice her state; while eating the beef skewer, she added, "The dishes I posted on my social media the other day were all made by me. How about that? Did they make you hungry?"

"I don't believe it. The young lady can cook now?" Director Xu Qingwan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her slender, delicate fingers and brought a skewer to her mouth.

"Don't you believe it. I was hosting someone that day, and that person ate until their mouth was dripping with grease." Zhong Yuanxin didn't mention the person, just the event.

Director Xu Qingwan responded with a smile and lowered her head to continue eating.

Even if they avoided that name, he was like a stone at the bottom of a river—even if not mentioned, he was still there, and the current would always bump against him as it flowed by.

"Qingwan." Zhong Yuanxin put down her skewer and looked at her. "Do you want to know about what he's been through all these years?"

Director Xu Qingwan stopped what she was doing and didn't speak, seemingly waiting for Zhong Yuanxin to continue.

"He hasn't been doing well." Zhong Yuanxin said, watching her. "After you left, he got married, and his wife had a child."

Director Xu Qingwan's movements paused, and she seemed to freeze completely.

A second later, she coughed, pulled out a napkin, and turned to cover her nose and mouth.

In the final moment as she turned, Zhong Yuanxin seemed to see that her eyes were red.

"But, I only recently found out that he was set up; that child isn't his."

Like a bolt from the blue, Zhong Yuanxin's words once again made Director Xu Qingwan stiffen.

She turned around and picked up the cup on the table to take a sip.

This time, Zhong Yuanxin clearly saw her fingers gripping the cup tighten suddenly, leaving distinct white marks on her natural, unpolished fingernails.

Director Xu Qingwan suddenly lowered her head, her eyelashes casting a small shadow on her cheeks.

After a few seconds, she spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse. "He should have discovered it sooner; he used to be so smart."

"It's not too late now." Zhong Yuanxin breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the teapot to pour her half a cup of tea. "He's going to divorce her. That woman won't get anything."

Director Xu Qingwan raised her head. Something in her eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed, like a shooting star that vanished into the void before one could make a wish.

Zhong Yuanxin didn't know Chen Ang, but she knew him very well.

The night seven years ago—the love and hate she and he had experienced.

"Sister Xin." She spoke, her voice very soft. "Some things are in the past once they've passed. If he's doing well, I'm happy for him. Whether he marries or divorces, that's his business. My life and work here are quite good, and I don't want to ask about anything else."

Zhong Yuanxin opened her mouth but didn't continue.

Some things cannot be forced.

She understood Director Xu Qingwan; this woman had always been stubborn—the more you pushed her, the more she would retreat.

The two didn't reminisce any further and, after eating hastily, returned to Director Xu Qingwan's place.

It was a two-bedroom apartment, with a small but very tidy living room.

Zhong Yuanxin changed into slippers and walked inside, her gaze stopping on the balcony, where several pieces of children's clothing were hanging and swaying gently in the night breeze.

There were jackets, undershirts, small socks, and so on.

She stood in the center of the living room, her feet as if nailed to the floor.

She turned to look at Director Xu Qingwan, who was bending over to place her suitcase against the wall and met her gaze as she straightened up.

"Qingwan, you have a child too."

"Hmm."

"When did this happen? Are you married?"

Director Xu Qingwan let out a laugh without answering.

After pointing out the bathroom door to her, she walked straight to the balcony to take down those clothes and folded them one by one.

Zhong Yuanxin didn't go to the bathroom; instead, she sat down by the sofa and watched her fold the last pair of small socks.

The question stuck in her throat was never asked.

At that moment, a sudden feeling of regret welled up in her heart; she didn't know whether she should tell Yu Liang about this.