Recalling my ex-wife and reconsidering our relationship as old friends

"That night, when Mei Rugu passed out drunk, she was still holding this card. But later, when she begged me to sign the agreement with you, she begged me with her mouth, but her hands wanted to tear up the card. That's when I knew how much pain she was feeling. So I asked for the card."

"She, she...thank you..."

"Mr. Qian, I agreed to her not only because of her, but also because someone else asked me for help before her."

"Anyone else?"

Xue Jiuyue nodded slightly, "Mr. Qian, do you know that Mei Rugu consulted a psychologist for your relationship?"

"There's such a thing? Why didn't she tell me?"

Xue Jiuyue didn't answer but continued to ask: "You always thought she was dismissive of your relationship? Ever since you got married?"

"How do you know?"

"The person who came to see me before Mei Rugu was her psychologist, my friend Li Jingzi." Xue Jiuyue felt uncomfortable when mentioning Liu Che.

Qian Jianjun thought of the beautiful woman who had helped Liu Che walk away. "Li Jingzi? Doctor Li, a colleague of Doctor Liu?"

Xue Jiuyue held back the pain and continued, "Yes, it's her! She told me about your relationship status. From a technical perspective, the problem between you two is a lack of communication. The deeper problem is that your love has nowhere to be released, and your need to be needed is not being met. Including the fact that you devote yourself to work, it is actually because you don't feel needed by Mei Rugu. And she doesn't want to give you this feeling. She feels that becoming your vassal will turn love into a compromise, a unilateral compromise on her part. After Li Jingzi knew about the agreement between you and me, she hoped to agree to let your needs be met with me."

"I...you..." Qian Jianjun was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

Xue Jiuyue continued, "For such a long time, you have taken such good care of me, and I am flattered. You are also very outstanding, and we have a lot in common. I admit that I have been moved and hesitated. But I can't get over the hurdle in my heart. I can't build my happiness on the pain of others..."

"No, you're not..."

Xue Jiuyue smiled and interrupted Qian Jianjun's words, "The more crucial reason is him! You know, Doctor Liu, I call him Xiao Ming. Because he can't see, he doesn't want to be a burden to me; because he treated me, he was afraid that I would be obsessed with him because of transference, so he loved me very secretly, to the point that I would doubt whether he loved me. Just like now, since I had the accident, I can't contact him anymore. I guess his old illness must have relapsed. When I was in a coma that day, he was powerless so he chose to let go."

Mr. Qiu had told Xue Jiuyue about the situation at that time, so Xue Jiuyue could guess it almost exactly.

Qian Jianjun recalled the cornea donation incident. "But you still doubt that the cornea was donated by him?"

"Yes! It's very likely him!"

"I can do it too..." Qian Jianjun was still a little unconvinced.

"I believe Mr. Qian can do it! I really do. And I'm still not sure whether it was Xiao Ming's donation or your efforts, Mr. Qian." Xue Jiuyue said sincerely, "I've strayed from the topic. What I wanted to say is that after I realized my feelings for Xiao Ming, I wanted to find an opportunity to make it clear to you, but I didn't expect that misunderstanding to occur. Just when I thought I couldn't fulfill the trust entrusted by Li Jingzi and Mei Rugu, this happened..."

“In between…?”

"Mr. Qian has taken such good care of me for so long, and I'm deeply touched but also overwhelmed. I've been able to accept this with peace of mind, and I've convinced myself that this busy schedule will allow Mr. Qian to escape from his constant work and social engagements, and at the same time, it will allow him to somewhat relieve his highest level needs. I've truly relied on you and needed you so much during this time. It's for this reason that I've chosen to tell you everything today, hoping Mr. Qian can forgive me."

"Xiaoyue, how can you talk about forgiveness? After all, we are friends. You are doing this for my own good. I understand. I should say thank you."

"I'm so happy that Mr. Qian thinks so. I chose to tell you now because I hope we can both see ourselves and our feelings clearly. Is Mr. Qian still avoiding her now?"

Qian Jianjun shook his head, realizing that Xue Jiuyue couldn't see him. He said in a low voice, "I won't run away anymore. You're right. There's really a lack of communication. In that moment, I rediscovered the me who vowed to give her a lifetime of happiness. I'm so ashamed. Thank you, Xiaoyue, thank you so much. You're the best psychologist."

"Actually, I'm not a psychiatrist. It's true that there's a lack of communication between you two, but Mr. Qian, why not ask yourself: Are you using excuses like being busy with work as an excuse to not listen? Perhaps you haven't even noticed these changes, but have unknowingly led us to this point?"

Xue Jiuyue's words hit the nail on the head, leaving Qian Jianjun feeling ashamed. "I, I... you're right."

"Since Mr. Qian has admitted it and is no longer trying to avoid it, I will tell you another secret." Xue Jiuyue smiled mysteriously.

"besides?"

"When Mei Rugu left Jianru, nine shareholders voted by secret ballot, and you won by one vote."

"That's right, I told you!"

"But Mr. Qian couldn't tell me that Mei Rugu didn't vote for herself, but for you!"

"What? How is that possible? She's always been at loggerheads with me. I always thought she was not a wife but a rival!"

"But the truth is, she invested in you! Because she loves the company, but she loves you more! She always believed that compared to the romantic you, she is more resilient and more capable of starting over."

"How is this possible?" Qian Jianjun still couldn't believe it.

"This is what Li Jingzi told me the morning I was in trouble. She asked Mei Rugu why she didn't tell you. Mei Rugu asked her back, 'Sacrifice is because of love. If love is because of sacrifice, then is sacrifice still sacrifice, and is love still love?'"

“This, this…”

"Why did Mei Rugu go to so much trouble to set up an accounting firm? Did she study accounting?"

"no."

"I know she's not. The reason she set up the accounting firm was actually to help Jianru grow healthier as a third party from the outside. It's like a parent caring for their child, but she's too strict as a mother!"

"I...I..." Qian Jianjun had to believe the truth. Even though Xue Jiuyue couldn't see, he still didn't want to lose his composure. He took a long breath before slowly saying, "She and I lack communication. In fact, when we voted, I also voted for her..."

Xue Jiyue said she had never thought of this. Mei Rugu said that in the divorce agreement, Qian Jianjun's only request was Jianru.

"Because I was confident that I could still make a name for myself. So before that, I told her that I would leave and Jianru would be given to her. But she said she wouldn't accept charity, and that the shareholders' decision on whether to stay or go would be decided by a secret ballot. I always thought she was trying to compete with me."

"You two are both so proud and stubborn, and neither of you is willing to talk. I suggest you go see a psychologist with her when you get back." Xue Jiuyue said, and then thought of another person, "But maybe you will have to let down another poor girl."

"You mean Xiaoyu?"

"Yes! Although you have been avoiding your feelings for Mei Rugu before, what you don't know is that you have more or less expressed them in other aspects. For example, towards Gu Quyu, and also towards me."

Qian Jianjun denied it, "No, no, for Xiaoyu, it might still be possible. They are sisters after all. But for you, Xiaoyue, I am truly devoted to you."

"I'm not saying you're fickle, Mr. Qian. This is also the subconscious mind Xiao Ming taught me. It's something you've been letting on without realizing it. Your belief that men and women should pursue each other first, then date, and finally be together is actually the entire process of your relationship with Mei Rugu. For example, how different is the love card you wrote me every day from the one you have in your hand right now? And those 128 hearts you folded for me—actually, Zhou Ying mistakenly thought I bought them for the store. As soon as she took them out, I had some ideas, but I also wanted you to experience a huge emotional ups and downs like today before you find yourself, so I didn't explain the misunderstanding."

"How did you guess that?" Qian Jianjun was a little confused.

"You've never folded a heart before, but you have folded a thousand paper cranes. You're the only one around me who likes to fold paper and folds so many, but I don't think I've folded as many as you did back then."

Qian Jianjun suddenly realized, then admitted: "I, well, I did fold some paper cranes. I folded them for her when I was in college, and I wrote a love message on each one. I kept folding them until we got married, and then she said she didn't want them anymore. Love words are promises made before marriage, and after marriage, you have to put them into action."

"That's why I advised you to face yourself and Gu Quyu's feelings squarely. Only in this way can you be worthy of them and yourself!"

At this moment, Qian Jianjun's thoughts were clear and he felt more cheerful than ever before. "Thank you, Xiaoyue. This is all I can say now: thank you. I am so lucky to have known you and become your friend!"

Xue Jiuyue refused, "No, no, this is not formal enough!"

Under Qian Jianjun's doubtful gaze, Xue Jiuyue stretched out her right hand and said, "Let's get to know each other again?"

"What is this...?" Qian Jianjun remembered very clearly that when he and Xue Jiuyue greeted each other for the first time, Xue Jiuyue bowed. Was he going to shake hands now?

Xue Jiuyue playfully encouraged: "Try it?!"

Qian Jianjun cautiously reached out his hand and touched hers, just between his fingers. Slowly, he grasped Xue Jiuyue's fingers. Xue Jiuyue shook hands with him generously, and shook them up and down playfully: "Hello, Xue Jiuyue, nice to meet you!"

"Hello, Qian Jianjun, please give me your guidance!"

"I hope we can still be friends decades later. Let's not let our meeting down in this life!" Xue Jiuyue said what Zhou Ying said.

"In this life, we must live up to each other's expectations!"

Withdrawing his right hand, Qian Jianjun seemed to be in a dream, "Weren't you feeling uncomfortable just now?"

Xue Jiuyue said innocently: "I just said it's okay!"

"Hahahaha..." Xue Jiuyue couldn't continue acting anymore. After a burst of happy laughter, she explained, "I was fine before the accident. Xiao Ming, godfather, Mr. Qian, and everyone else. It was you who cured my heart disease and made me realize that contact not only hurts, but also brings love and care!"

"You're okay? That's great! Ahem, this brat didn't tell me!" Qian Jianjun was overjoyed.

"I asked them not to tell you yet. This will make Mr. Qian's heart purer. This is the principle Xinyue taught me."

"Uh..." Qian Jianjun's mind suddenly flashed with the image of Tu Xinyue, the stunner, and her omnipresent charm. Then he burst into a hearty laugh, "Hahahaha..."