Lin Fengmian's gaze darted between the two of them.
She nonchalantly said, "Is there anything I can't hear?"
Saying this, she nudged Jiang Zhixun with her elbow, "Brother Jiang, don't you think so?"
Jiang Zhixun stepped aside.
His face was expressionless, and he spoke with a calm tone.
"Men and women are different, be mindful of the impression you leave."
Lin Fengmian clicked her tongue, "When you came to my house and ate the meals I cooked, why didn't you mention the difference between men and women then?"
Jiang Zhixun and Lin Zhidong were friends, and indeed, he had gone to their house for meals twice before.
Lin Fengmian had a teasing expression, but her hands were tightly clenched with tension.
"Brother Jiang, could it be that you've taken a liking to this young lady, so you're intentionally keeping your distance from me?"
Jiang Zhixun frowned, "Don't make baseless assumptions."
Lin Fengmian pressed on, "Then why are you suddenly so cold to me, isn't it because you're afraid the young lady will misunderstand?"
Jiang Zhixun didn't answer her, instead turning to ask Shen Qingqing, "What do you want to talk about?"
Shen Qingqing understood Jiang Zhixun's temperament.
He would never get so close to any young woman.
Nor would he speak in such a familiar manner.
Shen Qingqing didn't doubt Jiang Zhixun's character, but they had been apart for three years, and now she knew nothing about Jiang Zhixun's matters.
Thus, she couldn't understand why this young lady could speak to Jiang Zhixun in such a friendly tone.
She pressed her lips together.
In her heart, she told herself that these matters had nothing to do with her.
All she wanted was a divorce certificate.
Seeing Jiang Zhixun's demeanor, he wouldn't go to the guesthouse with her, nor to any secluded place.
Perhaps he was intentionally keeping his distance, fearing she really had come for the child.
Since he wasn't willing to cooperate, she had nothing to worry about.
After all, once they divorced, the news would spread just the same.
By then, she would already have returned to Beijing, and none of these storms here would affect her.
Wiping away her discomfort, Shen Qingqing looked at Lin Fengmian, who stood between them.
She gently said, "Comrade, could you give us some space to talk?"
Lin Fengmian's temperament was completely different from Shen Qingqing's.
In the residential compound, she had a nickname, "Little Pepper."
Although young, just twenty, her temper was not small, and she was quite bold.
Even the battle-hardened aunties had no choice but to concede to her.
Lin Fengmian already had animosity towards Shen Qingqing, and hearing this, she immediately became displeased.
With her arms crossed and chin raised, she said, "This is a canteen, a public place, why should I leave?"
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly and fixed her gaze on Jiang Zhixun, "Are you sure you want me to say it here, in front of everyone?"
Jiang Zhixun didn't know what he was thinking; by the time he realized, he had already sat back in his original seat.
He touched his nose.
Restraining the urge to get up and take her out of the canteen.
He watched Shen Qingqing leisurely, "Go ahead, it's not something that can't be seen."
"Exactly, whatever it is, say it here, we can all bear witness!"
Lin Fengmian hurried to sit beside Jiang Zhixun.
She wore a smile on her face.
But in Shen Qingqing's eyes, there was an air of showing off.
A narrow rectangular table divided them into two camps.
Under the gaze of others, Shen Qingqing felt both embarrassed and sad, as if she were being interrogated.
She was Jiang Zhixun's wife, yet she didn't even have the opportunity to speak with him alone.
This marriage had long since lost its meaning.
Although Lin Zhidong and the others had sat on the other side, they were still keeping an eye on Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing's situation.
Seeing his sister appear, Lin Zhidong had a bad premonition.
They had just learned that Jiang Zhixun was married; from Xiao Mian's behavior, it seemed she didn't know a thing.
Seeing her sit beside Jiang Zhixun, flaunting an attitude towards Shen Qingqing, Lin Zhidong felt terribly embarrassed.
He wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
It's bad enough that she's interfering with a couple's conversation!
He didn't even bother to eat and quickly ran over to drag Lin Fengmian away.
"Your sister-in-law is sick today; she's taken leave from the dance troupe. Go back and help her with the child. I'll come back after picking up my lunchbox."
After completing his tasks, Lin Zhidong had gone home once.
Because of her period, his wife was suffering from severe back pain and could only rest at home.
His sister had to take care of the child and do chores; it was exhausting.
To give them a break, he went to the canteen to fetch meals to bring home.
He had originally planned to stay home and have the meal with them, but something came up, and he was called to the boss's office.
This delay brought him to now.
Lin Fengmian, having rarely seen Jiang Zhixun, was naturally unwilling to leave.
She clung tightly to the table leg with her toes.
"I'm here to help with the child, not sold to you. Can't I even have a little personal time?"
In public, Lin Zhidong couldn't forcibly drag her away.
He sighed, "Why are you so oblivious, don't you see Miss Shen and Old Jiang have things to say?"
Lin Fengmian pouted unhappily, "How am I oblivious? I didn't cover her mouth, nor did I stop her from talking to Brother Jiang."
Saying that, she glanced at Shen Qingqing out of the corner of her eye.
The more she looked, the more irritated she became.
She was all pretty and delicate, wearing trendy clothes, clearly someone who only knew how to enjoy herself.
Her eyes were red and puffy; anyone unaware might think Brother Jiang bullied her.
Secretly she cursed, such a faker.
Lin Zhidong felt a tingling sensation on his scalp; if they stayed any longer, Xiao Mian would undoubtedly make a fool of herself.
He pulled her arm again.
Still didn't budge.
Frustrated, he asked, "Is it your place to interfere when a couple talks?"
Lin Fengmian instinctively wanted to retort but was stopped in her tracks by the words "a couple."
Her eyes widened with disbelief.
Her toes loosened from the table leg, and with a gentle pull from Lin Zhidong, she stumbled a step.
Lin Fengmian's head was a jumble of confusion.
She muttered, "How could Brother Jiang be married? He's never mentioned his spouse, and he hasn't been home for three years. How could they be a couple..."
Lin Zhidong felt even more embarrassed.
"That's their private matter. Why are you so interested?"
He apologized to Shen Qingqing, "Miss Shen, my sister is just a bit thoughtless, speaking and acting carelessly. If she's offended you, please forgive her this once."
Shen Qingqing didn't want to cause any more trouble.
Nor did she want to dwell too much on things.
Anyway, once they divorced, these matters would have nothing to do with her.
She nodded toward Jiang Zhixun with her chin, "He didn't explain clearly, leading to the misunderstanding."
"Is this my fault?"
Shen Qingqing pressed her lips, "Isn't it?"
Jiang Zhixun looked at her with a hint of a smile, "Don't tell me I should have your name, Shen Qingqing, plastered on my forehead everywhere I go?"
Shen Qingqing wasn't foolish; she heard the sarcasm in his words.
After being humiliated by him several times, Shen Qingqing didn't want to endure this indignity any longer.
"As a married man, letting others know you've settled down, isn't that your responsibility?"
Jiang Zhixun gave a light snort.
It seemed like Shen Qingqing's scolding rendered him speechless.
Or perhaps he simply didn't take her words to heart.
Whatever the case, this didn't look like a normal married couple at all.
Jiang Zhixun glanced around, noticing everyone was perking up their ears to listen to their conversation.
While Shen Qingqing appeared calm, her eyes were filled with embarrassment.
The inner turmoil surged again within him.
As he stood up, he grabbed Shen Qingqing's wrist, "Come with me."