Chapter 032 – If I Chase You, Would You Say Yes?

Father and daughter sat face-to-face, having a heart-to-heart. Shen Guiqi comforted his daughter and said,
“You don’t have to worry about me. After I resign, I’ll head back to our hometown for a while. Haven’t I always wanted to move your grandparents’ graves together? I’ve never had the time before, so now’s the perfect chance to finally do it.”

He continued,
“Also, the old house needs some repairs. Didn’t you say the roof was leaking? We won’t even be able to stay there during the New Year at this rate.”

Truthfully, Shen Guiqi had always wanted to return to their hometown. But over the years, in order to take care of Shen Qingli and support her education, he worked nonstop—even during holidays.

Shen Qingli’s eyes were red, her heart aching.
She whispered, “Dad, I’m sorry.”

Luckily, she had been reborn. This time, she knew how to avoid the risks. She wouldn’t foolishly believe that Jiang Junwen loved her, or that Gao Xuanzhen would accept her.

She had stupidly thrown herself in last time—and dragged her father down with her.

Over the years, Shen Guiqi had actually saved a good amount of money—enough to buy a small apartment in the outskirts of A City, paid in full.

And for a girl like Shen Qingli, a two-bedroom apartment was more than enough.

As for himself, he had already made plans. He’d return to their county town, maybe open a small shop, or go back to the countryside and plant trees. He’d be retiring in a few years anyway—his only priority was Shen Qingli.

As for Liu Lifen, if she wanted to stay here, she could.
Shen Guiqi could always visit. If she ever wanted to quit, he’d bring her back.

But no matter what, he would never allow Liu Lifen to interfere in Shen Qingli’s life.
That woman often didn’t know her place.

…

After Shen Guiqi left, Shen Qingli couldn’t sleep.
She was up all night.

In her past life, she had a five-year relationship with Jiang Junwen.
Although it ended poorly, during the relationship, at least on the surface, Jiang Junwen had treated her well.

What had truly hurt her was that Gao Xuanzhen had secretly drugged her, leaving her with lingering health issues—her periods had never been normal. And her father was mocked and looked down upon by the Jiang family.

Now, reborn and on a different path, she found herself anxious.

Anxious about an uncertain future.
And whether that car accident might happen again.

She sat up in bed. Outside, the croaking of frogs filled the air.
She turned on her bedside lamp, drew back the curtains, and opened the window.

A breeze carrying the scent of damp soil and faint floral fragrance flowed into her room.

She leaned on her windowsill, gazing out at the little garden.

And that’s when she saw someone sitting in the gazebo.

Under the dim light, she saw a man in a white hoodie and jeans, long legs stretched out, sitting on the stone bench.

He held a lit cigarette in his hand, smoke swirling around him as he looked directly toward her.

The moment she recognized Jiang Junwen, her expression froze—startled.
She quickly looked away and got up to shut the window.

She muttered to herself,
It’s 2 a.m. Why is Jiang Junwen still outside?
So creepy! Like a ghost haunting me!

Didn’t he drive out earlier?
Why was he back so soon?
Wasn’t he going to see Luo Shuyao?

When Shen Qingli went to shut the window, Jiang Junwen saw her.

He suddenly got up and strode over, his voice slightly hoarse.
“Shen Qingli, wait.”

But she didn’t wait. She kept trying to close the window.

Jiang Junwen had no choice but to rush over and press a hand against the glass.
He leaned slightly forward, face close to hers across the window.

His eyes were fixed on her, a faint smell of alcohol clinging to him.
He said in a low voice,
“Shen Qingli, be my girlfriend. How about it?”

Shen Qingli: “……”

Her face instantly turned cold. She stared at him and replied icily,
“No, thanks.”

Jiang Junwen looked stunned.
He clearly hadn’t expected her to reject him.

In their past life, he’d asked her the same thing—and she had said yes.

Irritated, he asked,
“Why are you rejecting me? Is it because of Pei Songjiang?”

He couldn’t think of any other reason.

But Shen Qingli was losing patience.
“This has nothing to do with Senior Pei.”

Her eyes narrowed coldly, and she sneered.
“Jiang Junwen, I just don’t like you. At all.”

She paused, then added,
“You’re honestly annoying.”

This was the first time Jiang Junwen had ever been told something like that.

He had always been the golden boy—pursued and adored by everyone.

A simple crook of his finger was usually enough to make girls throw themselves at him.

But Shen Qingli? She said he was annoying.

His face darkened. He stood there silently, as if he hadn’t even heard her, staring at her with a gloomy expression.

After a long pause, he finally came back to himself and realized his emotions were spiraling again.

He had come to talk to her calmly.

He took two more puffs of his cigarette, then crushed it into the damp soil beneath him.

Finally, he looked up and met her eyes.
His voice was low and unsteady.
“So… you’re blaming me for never truly pursuing you in the past, aren’t you?”

There was a complex, unreadable emotion in his voice.

Shen Qingli looked at him, her face expressionless.

It felt ironic. In her previous life, she had loved him so deeply, and he had never once seen her.

Now that she didn’t want him anymore, he was coming back to her.

How ridiculous.

She shook her head.
“No. Whether you pursue me or not, there’s no possibility between us.”

Jiang Junwen didn’t believe her.

In his mind, they were always a good match.
Shen Qingli had liked him—maybe she was just mad about Luo Shuyao.

He reached out, and in the night air, his finger gently hovered near her cheek, as if caught in some deep thought.

Then he said again, voice even lower,
“No matter what, I’ll still try to win you over.”

Shen Qingli: “???”

She frowned, disgusted, and said coldly,
“Are you deaf? I already clearly rejected you. We’re not even close—stop looking for me!”

She turned to close the window.

Just as she reached out, Jiang Junwen finally released his grip on the frame.

Click.
The window shut with a crisp sound.

Then, whoosh—Shen Qingli pulled the curtain closed.

Their line of sight was cut off.

Jiang Junwen stood silently in the night for a long while, staring at her window.

He had just gotten back.

Earlier, he’d gone to Luo Shuyao’s house and seen her pale face. Her mother said they weren’t going abroad anymore.

She hoped Jiang Junwen would marry Luo Shuyao. She hoped the Jiang family would help the Luo family through their crisis.

She even said that with the media reports—everyone now knew that he’d taken Luo Shuyao to a hotel and to his family home.

There were no other suitable men left for Luo Shuyao. Her mother wanted Jiang Junwen to take responsibility.

When he left the Luo house, he could barely breathe.

“Everything’s changed,” he muttered.

Shen Qingli had changed.
She no longer cared about him, no longer looked at him—no longer loved him.

And Luo Shuyao?

The white moonlight of his youth, the girl he had longed for over five years—turned out to be full of schemes and calculation.

He couldn’t help wondering—
If he weren’t the heir of the Jiang family…
Would Luo Shuyao have ever liked him at all?