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The driver took her to the designated place and kindly opened the car door for her.
“Thank you!” Xu Chunian was a bit surprised.
“You’re welcome, Mrs.”
Entering the café, she found a seat by the window.
The waiter handed her the menu, and Xu Chunian ordered a drink and a dessert, also placing an order for Shen Qingli.
“Thank you, that will be all for now.” Xu Chunian returned the menu to him.
“Alright, please hold on a moment.”
“Uh, no need to rush; I have a friend coming.” Xu Chunian waved her hand.
“Should I wait for your friend to serve everything together?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
…
By noon, Xu Chunian had still not seen Shen Qingli. Bored, she rested her head on the table, too anxious to send a message to urge her.
She suddenly recalled what Shen Qingli had said, “What kind of exquisite person are you planning to introduce to me this time?”
With her head drooping, she muttered, “What on earth is going on?”
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a striking figure appeared, dressed in work attire. The fitted shirt and pencil skirt accentuated her beautiful figure, and she stood in high heels, staring inside at Xu Chunian, seemingly lost in thought.
Finally, with a sigh, she turned and walked through the door.
Noticing a sound from across the room, Xu Chunian looked up in surprise, and indeed, it was Shen Qingli. She had changed but also seemed the same, now even more beautiful.
“Ali!”
At that moment, the waiter approached again. “Ma’am, would you like me to serve your order now?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Xu Chunian nodded eagerly, “Serve it now.”
In no time, everything was served.
“Ali, your favorite taro mousse.”
Looking at the dessert, Shen Qingli’s brow furrowed slightly, and she spoke, “Just tell me what’s going on; I don’t have much time on my lunch break.”
“Ali, this is going to sound ridiculous, but I’ll get straight to the point.” Xu Chunian paused, “I came here from when I was 18.”
Shen Qingli’s initially cold gaze gradually softened with concern.
Xu Chunian made a gesture as if to express her distress, “I know this sounds absurd, but do you remember? Back in sophomore year, after I confessed to Jiang Huaixu and we went out, he took me home, and then we went drinking. The next thing I knew, I woke up here.”
Shen Qingli pressed her lips together, “If you feel uncomfortable, you should see a doctor. My uncle works there, and if you need, I can help you make an appointment.”
Xu Chunian: “…”
Her uncle was the director of a mental hospital.
“Did Qin Yuan provoke you again?” Shen Qingli asked next.
“Qin Yuan? So my Husband’s name is Qin Yuan.”
Shen Qingli looked as if it all made sense, almost amazed, “You thought he was your Husband?”
“No… is he not?”
“You should really see someone about this hysteria.” Shen Qingli said, grabbing her bag and preparing to stand up.
“Wait.” Xu Chunian drooped her head, “Ali, apart from you, I really don’t know who else to turn to. I know this is hard to believe, but I truly don’t know how to make you trust me. You’re so good, and for you to think I’ve done something wrong to you, I’m really sorry, Ali. I don’t know what happened.”
Shen Qingli paused for a moment, biting her lip before finally sitting back down, though her tone remained stiff. “What do you want to ask?”
“Did I do something to hurt you?” Xu Chunian asked cautiously.
Shen Qingli’s expression hardened. “Yes.”
Seeing she didn’t want to discuss this further, Xu Chunian quickly changed the subject. “Then what happened with Jiang Huaixu? We had just confessed; we hadn’t even held hands before I ended up here.”
She looked regretful, wishing she had taken the chance to kiss him while under the influence of alcohol.
“You didn’t break up.” Shen Qingli said, her expression complicated. “You two are married.”
“Ah.” Xu Chunian barely had time to process this.
Shen Qingli continued, “You also have a child.”
“What?!”