CH 22.1

Chapter 22 Part 1

Shen Zhiqian smiled again, “Qingqing, this joke really isn’t funny.”

His tone was helpless and fragile, like a bubble that could burst with a poke, “Qingqing, I know that you are not someone who makes impulsive decisions. There aren’t any peers around you who are suitable in age for marriage and the relationship between us …”

He desperately tried to find a reason to convince himself, to let his torn heart calm down.

But at this moment, a male voice came from the receiver of the phone.

Because the speaker wasn’t turned on, the voice was low, but Shen Zhiqian heard it. The phone was indeed still connected and there was a man on the other end, and that voice was inexplicably familiar.

Ning Qingqing took a deep breath and prepared to turn on the speaker.

However, at this moment, the phone call was suddenly cut off.

She was startled and wanted to call back, but Shen Zhiqian spoke first, “Qingqing, don’t use your acting to trick me, let’s have a good talk.”

His under eyes were a bit dark, obviously, he hadn’t slept well recently.

In fact, back in Beishi the past few days, with the drinking that triggered his gastritis attacks, he was unable to rest properly.

Seeing that Ning Qingqing wasn’t responding, Shen Zhiqian lowered his voice, “Can we?”

It was already ten o’clock in the evening, so it was definitely impossible for Ning Qingqing to bring Shen Zhiqian home for a talk. She thought for a while, “En, then let’s go to the 24-hour coffee shop near here.” She needed to make her marriage clear, so as not to delay Shen Zhiqian’s time and feelings.

From her various minute actions, he could see that the warm affections of the past had begun to dissipate. The light in Shen Zhiqian’s eyes dimmed, but he still nodded, “Okay.”

At least she gave him the chance to sit down and talk.

The two got off the elevator together, opened the door of the building, and saw someone walking quickly towards them.

In the night, for a moment Ning Qingqing couldn’t see clearly.

Until the person stopped in front of her, “Qingqing, are you alright?”

Just now, Gu Youchen used his marriage certificate and his ID and even asked the security guard to directly search the Internet for his biography in the Encyclopedia of Finance and Economics. Only then was he able to successfully enter the community.

Looking at Shen Zhiqian who was easily let in, he felt a little sour for some reason.

The evening breeze blew against Gu Youchen’s tie, he straightened it and came to Ning Qingqing’s side.

Ning Qingqing was completely shocked. She looked at Gu Youchen, “You…didn’t you just finish the dinner over there?”

The moment Shen Zhiqian saw Gu Youchen’s, the spikes all over his body stood up.

His eyes were filled with fire, “Why are you here?!”

Moreover, how does he know Qingqing? The two seem to be familiar with each other!

“I’m going home. Do I need to ask for CEO Shen’s permission to do that?” Gu Youchen glanced at Shen Zhiqian lightly, and his eyes fell on Ning Qingqing, “Qingqing, come with me today.”

“Going home?” Shen Zhiqian sneered at Gu Youchen, “Aren’t you married, you—”

Before he finished speaking, Shen Zhiqian suddenly had a terrible guess!

And subsequently, Ning Qingqing concluded this conjecture, “He and I are married.”

“Impossible …” The smile on Shen Zhiqian’s face was deeper than before, and he looked at Ning Qingqing and Gu Youchen, “Even if you two know each other, how many days could it have been? Qingqing, don’t be stubborn. Don’t use other reasons to beat around the bush, I don’t believe-“

“It turns out that CEO Shen is the type who likes to deceive himself.” Gu Youchen said lightly, “CEO Shen can check to see if I’m married or not.”

Shen Zhiqian’s pupils trembled, and he stared blankly at Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing who were standing side by side. At this moment, he felt that something almost like his faith was collapsing little by little——

Could it be that the relationship he had always thought to be indestructible would really collapse because of the topic of marriage?

They were together for nine years, not nine days!

He didn’t know how to accept it until he saw the half-meter distance between Gu Youchen and Ning Qingqing.

Painstakingly, Shen Zhiqian seemed to have found a slight chance to make a comeback from these ruins.

He took a deep breath, “CEO Gu, I always thought that there was a healthy competitive relationship between us. If you have anything against me, target me and my company instead of Qingqing!”

In his last sentence, he strengthened his tone, and the forced smile on his face subsided, leaving only boundless coldness.

“CEO Shen, I will return the same words to you.” Gu Youchen’s expression was unaffected and calm, but there was also an undeniable strength in his eyes, “There has always been a healthy competition between us, but only on the business level. My marriage to Qingqing is my private matter. I chose her to be my wife, and it has nothing to do with the grievances between us.”

“It has nothing to do with grievances?” Shen Zhiqian’s chest heaved as if something was about to explode inside. He tried his best to restrain himself from attacking, “Who doesn’t know that I’m Qingqing’s boyfriend! We’ve been together for nine years! Where did you come from? You came to dig my wall while we were fighting?!”

Gu Youchen met Shen Zhiqian’s red eyes, stretched out his arms and brought Ning Qingqing behind him, and then said, “CEO Shen, you’re wrong. It’s beneath me to dig another’s wall. When Qingqing and I got married, you had already broken up. I pursued her, openly!”

Seeing Gu Youchen declaring sovereignty now by hiding Ning Qingqing behind him, Shen Zhiqian became furious.

He ignored Gu Youchen and called out instead, “Qingqing, I have something to tell you—”

“You probably don’t understand the person in front of you. Even if you’re angry with me, you can’t be together with a stranger like this.” Shen Zhiqian said in a coaxing tone, “You also know the relationship between him and me. He is just using you now. Qingqing, come back. Don’t be angry with me, okay?”

Towards the end, there was almost a bit of pleading in his voice.