Chapter 64: Goodbye, Never Again

Looking at the contents of the lab report, listening to the doctor’s serious instructions.

Ma Lijun silently left the hospital.

She rarely became so bewildered.

She was supposed to return to the theater troupe that afternoon, but she took leave and left early.

After returning home, she looked around the small rented house she shared with her husband.

She sat silently on the sofa, lost in thought.

It wasn’t until the wall clock struck exactly six o’clock that the sound of the door lock turning echoed.

Zhou Ming, returning from the studio, saw his dazed wife as soon as he entered the room.

“You came back so early today?”

He noticed the sheet beside his wife’s hand, walked over, picked it up, and looked at it.

“This is…”

“I’m pregnant.”

Zhou Ming was stunned at first, then his face lit up with uncontrollable excitement.

“We have a chil…” 

He saw the faint expression on Ma Lijun’s face, and the smile on his face froze.

“I’m not prepared.”

“You don’t want her?”

The excitement on Zhou Ming’s face turned to astonishment.

“Not really… I don’t know either….”

Ma Lijun shook her head, her eyes revealing confusion, as if she were lost about the future—

“So, you never expected my arrival.”

When Zhou Qingying said this, she felt only a sense of relief.

The anxiety she had felt before coming to see her mother dissolved like a clot of congested blood fading away.

“At that time, I really didn’t expect to get pregnant; we were taking precautions.”

Ma Lijun picked up her coffee and took a sip, frowning as if the taste didn’t quite satisfy her.

“Qingying, before becoming a mother, I was an independent individual too.”

“Yes, after all, my arrival as a daughter was clearly untimely.”

Zhou Qingying recalled what her father had told her later.

“Your mother was preparing to star as the female lead in a play back then, and when she tried to return later, there was no position left for her in the troupe.”

In just a year’s time, everything seemed to have turned upside down.

Ma Lijun had also suffered from postpartum depression and eventually stayed home to recuperate.

Zhou Ming dashed back and forth between family and work, his worn-down spirit making him increasingly silent.

The whole household had only the crying infant Zhou Qingying as its lively element.

Listening to her daughter’s account, Ma Lijun also recalled the events from that period.

These long-sealed memories felt somewhat distant to her.

“I must have struggled a lot back then.”

She herself couldn’t quite remember how she had gotten through it—perhaps her brain’s self-protection had made her forget.

“Probably?”

By the time Zhou Qingying had memories, her mother didn’t smile much; the only place she could see her smile was on the theater stage.

The mother she longed for, the mother she imagined, were all shaped in that place where light and shadow intertwined.

However, calmly discussing the past with her mother like this now was something Zhou Qingying had never imagined.

From hearing Jiang Chen’s retelling to seeing her mother’s indifference with her own eyes.

“Hmm, after being abroad for so long, many things I only have vague memories of.”

“When I was little, I heard Grandma say that some people are born with thin mother-daughter bonds; the love they lack gets compensated from more people.”

So, her uncle and aunt, Grandpa and Grandma, and many relatives all doted on her doubly.

Ma Lijun gazed quietly at her daughter, as if listening to her tell a story that had nothing to do with herself.

“I have a starring role in a play in early August; if you’re willing, you can come watch.”

Zhou Qingying pulled a ticket from her small shoulder bag.

Ma Lijun took it, glanced at it, and placed it on the table.

“Then I’ll head out first.

Hope everything goes well for you.”

“You too; wish you success in your performance.”

Ma Lijun spoke as if sending blessings to an old friend.

Heh… When Zhou Qingying turned around, she revealed a self-mocking smile.

She walked out of the resting room, the noisy environment outside making her head throb.

By the time she came to her senses, she had already reached the theater’s main entrance.

Jiang Chen and Chen Ting, who had been waiting outside for her, came running up.

Chen Ting stuffed a wad of something into her mouth.

Zhou Qingying instinctively bit down, the rich cream filling her mouth.

“This is the cream puff brought by Aunt Jiang.” Chen Ting shook the bag in her hand.

“To be precise, it’s Chenchen’s older sister who ran the errand.”

Chen Ting deliberately emphasized the words “older sister,” and Jiang Chen puffed out her cheeks and punched her.

Only then did Zhou Qingying notice the two women standing in the distance.

“Shall we head back then?” Jiang Chen asked.

“No, I still want to hang out outside a bit more.

I heard… from here to there, it’s all President Wang’s family’s property.

Tsk tsk, so lucky for someone.”

Jiang Chen finally couldn’t take it anymore and pinched Chen Ting’s face, pulling it outward on both sides.

Chen Ting let out strange, wailing cries.

“Pfft hum.” Zhou Qingying chuckled lightly at first, but gradually, her eyes squinted in laughter.

She wrapped her arms around the two of them, one on each side, burying her head in the middle.

“Where should we go to have fun?”

“Yeah, yeah, we rarely get out; we definitely need to play more.”

Chen Ting chimed in.

Jiang Chen shook her head helplessly.

What opposing words could she even say?

Zhou Qingying released them and took her phone out of her bag.

“I’ll call Dad.”

“Okay…. I need to let my family know too.”

Jiang Chen quickly walked a few steps toward where her mom and Wang Ziyue were standing.

“Heading back?” 

Wang Ziyue asked first, ignoring the glance that drifted over from Jiang Xiaoyue.

“No, I still want to hang out more with Tingting and Yingying.

It’s still early…”

Jiang Chen looked at her mom.

Jiang Xiaoyue was holding a pack of tissues in her hand.

She pulled one out and wiped the sweat from her daughter’s temple.

“Mom will come pick you up later?”

“I can get back on my own; I’ll walk with them then.”

“Then be careful; don’t end up alone.”

“Don’t worry.

We’ll take the subway, then transfer to a bus to get home.”

“Call Mom when you get home.”

“Mm-hmm, then I’ll head over?”

“Go.” 

Jiang Xiaoyue patted the top of her daughter’s head.

From start to finish, aside from that initial response, Jiang Chen had barely looked at Wang Ziyue.

It was obvious she was doing it on purpose.

Wang Ziyue sighed lightly, then turned her head to see Jiang Xiaoyue staring at her.

“Chenchen alone…”

“She knows what she’s doing.

President Wang, thanks for today.”

“No trouble at all; after all, I invited you here, so I have to be a good host.”

Jiang Xiaoyue didn’t respond to this obvious attempt at flattery.

She just stared at Wang Ziyue for a while longer, until Wang Ziyue’s scalp tingled.

“So, President Wang, are you heading back next?”

“Uh, hehe… yes.

Shall I give you a ride, Auntie?”

“Little Chen doesn’t even need a pickup; I’m a grown adult—do you think I’ll get lost?”

“That makes sense.”

After circling around, Wang Ziyue finally understood Jiang Xiaoyue’s words.

“Then… see you next time.”

“Hmm, see you at the company.”

Wang Ziyue watched the departing back of her future mother-in-law (self-appointed) and felt a pang in her heart.

Although there was no real progress, seeing Jiang Jiang today had already been a win.

When she finally maxed out her favorability, hmm… she would definitely do this and then that…

Jiang Chen returned to Chen Ting and Zhou Qingying’s side.

“So, where should we go next?”

The sun outside was brutally hot.

Chen Ting, wearing an off-the-shoulder short-sleeve top and hot pants today, was finding it unbearable.

“I want ice cream.”

“Then how about DQ?” 

Zhou Qingying asked.

She and Chen Ting had gone to the one in the nearby mall plenty of times.

“I’m fine either way…” 

Jiang Chen was indifferent to sweets.

She suddenly remembered a few desserts Wang Ziyue had recommended before.

Does she like sweets?

“Hey, why’d you zone out?” 

Chen Ting waved her hand in front of her eyes.

“Heat got to me.” 

Jiang Chen fibbed, raising her hand to fan herself and block the blush rising on her cheeks.

“Oh~” Chen Ting didn’t call her out on it.

When Jiang Chen had gone over earlier, she had seen their interaction clearly.

Although they only exchanged one sentence from start to finish, Wang Ziyue’s gaze had never left Jiang Chen.

“Then let’s head out now.

Oh, right, a movie came out recently—didn’t people in class keep talking about it?”

“We just watched a play, and now a movie…” Chen Ting couldn’t sit still.

She actually wanted to go shopping for clothes; summer outfits were never enough.

“Then, Chenchen, do you think we should go see it?” Chen Ting hinted strongly, but Jiang Chen wasn’t looking at her at all.

Jiang Chen linked arms with Zhou Qingying and replied affectionately, “Today, I’m listening to Yingying.”

Zhou Qingying patted Jiang Chen’s hand with satisfaction.

“Two votes to one—follow the plan.”

“Revenge—this is your revenge on me, Chenchen.” Chen Ting scrunched up her face.

“Bleh~” Jiang Chen stuck out her tongue, making a face in high spirits.

“I don’t care; if there’s time after the movie, we’re going shopping.”

“Go by yourself if you want—”

Zhou Qingying grabbed one in each hand, soothing her two younger sisters as the oldest.

“Alright, if there’s still time, we’ll go stroll around.”

“Yingying, I love you!”

“Less sappy… Loving me won’t get you anywhere—who said I’m Chenchen’s simp?”

“Hahaha!”

Jiang Chen started laughing, and then all three burst into loud laughter together, drawing side glances from passersby.

Unrestrained and bold.

Yeah, there are still so many people who like me. Zhou Qingying wiped away the tears from her laughter, she thought.