42 Twilight Journey

Wen Xueyan replied with a single word: "Okay".

She understood Cheng Boyan's arrangement and accepted this heartfelt sentiment.

After work, sitting in Fang Jing's car, Wen Xueyan looked out the window. The winter twilight was short, and the sky quickly turned indigo.

The city's silhouette appeared both familiar and strange in the twilight, much like her current state of mind—she was on her usual way home, yet her heart was churning with turmoil.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Xueyan! What are you doing? Did you get squeezed into a snow pancake by the crowds leaving get off work?" Ning Zhiyi asked happily.

Wen Xueyan's lips curved into a gentle smile: "No, I'm in a colleague's car. What about you? You sound like you're in a good mood."

"It's more than just great! I feel like I've won the lottery, no, even happier than winning the lottery!" Ning Zhiyi's voice was overflowing with happiness. "Let me tell you, our Hao Hao, the little guy who used to scrunch up like a bun whenever he saw math problems, is about to be trained into a top student by his Uncle Qi!"

"Hmm? What's going on?" Wen Xueyan asked cooperatively, but her heart stirred slightly at the word "Qi".

"Qi Wenmu himself is a medical doctor, right? Last time he was home, he saw Hao Hao scratching his head over a math bonus problem, so he patiently gave him a few pointers. Guess what? The kid actually got it and really liked it! Qi Wenmu said he has talent, he just had the wrong method before. He went straight to enroll Hao Hao in a top-tier math Olympiad class, which costs 20,000 yuan a year! My goodness, that's the class I thought about and weighed again and again before, but in the end I still couldn't bring myself to enroll him!"

Wen Xueyan continued listening.

Ning Zhiyi's words flowed like a cheerful stream, never ceasing: "Xueyan, do you know? At that moment, watching him and Haohao working on the problem head-to-head, seeing the adoration and excitement in Haohao's eyes, the stone that had been hanging in my heart seemed to fall to the ground with a 'thud.' It might not be difficult to remarry and find someone who treats you well, but for him to take your child's situation so seriously and support you without hesitation, that feeling is truly different. So, I've made my decision!"

Wen Xueyan's heart skipped a beat: "What decision have you made?"

"I've decided to accept his proposal! We plan to get married next month, around the Spring Festival! For a fresh start in the new year!" Ning Zhiyi's voice was filled with anticipation for the future. "Xueyan, you absolutely have to be my bridesmaid! I want to pass on some of this good luck to you!"

Wen Xueyan responded, "Zhiyi, congratulations! I'm really happy for you and Haohao." However, the worry hidden in her heart, like a reef at the bottom of the water, vaguely surfaced as Ning Zhiyi's happiness surged.

Qi Wenmu, with all those thrilling moments in the futures market, can he really give Zhiyi and Haohao a lasting and stable happiness?

In fact, Ning Zhiyi is basically financially independent. Wen Xueyan is worried that she might be dragged down by Dr. Qi.

But what if Dr. Qi stops trading futures in the future?

She couldn't say it on the phone; she couldn't bear to pour even a drop of cold water on Zhiyi's happiness when she was surrounded by it all. That would be too cruel, especially with Fang Jing right there beside her.

“Zhiyi,” Wen Xueyan’s voice softened, “when are you free recently? Let me invite you to dinner.”

“I’m free! Nothing is more important than having dinner with you! The key is when you’re free,” Ning Zhiyi readily agreed.

"How about this Saturday at noon? I know a newly opened Italian restaurant in Huijin Shopping Mall. I've heard the food is pretty good," Wen Xueyan replied.

"Okay, see you on Saturday!" Ning Zhiyi hung up the phone excitedly.

Silence returned to the car. Wen Xueyan put down her phone, a faint melancholy lingering between her brows.

Fang Jing, who had been driving quietly, finally spoke up: "Are you meeting a friend on Saturday?"

"Um."

“Perfect timing,” Fang Jing said, looking ahead. “I also need to take care of some business at the shopping mall near where you two met on Saturday. I’ll give you a ride; it’s inconvenient to wait for a bus in winter.”

Wen Xueyan nodded; she knew this was Cheng Boyan's arrangement.

*

On Friday evening, when Dr. Qi opened the front door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on immediately. Only a floor lamp remained in the living room, casting a warm yellow glow in the corner, where Ning Zhiyi was curled up on the sofa watching an American TV series.

"Still not asleep? Where's Hao Hao?" His voice carried a slightly chilly tang from outside.

"The child is already asleep."

The room was warm, so he deftly took off his down jacket and then unbuttoned his dark gray wool sweater.

As the clothes were hung on the hangers, the cool, faint smell of disinfectant on him gradually faded, slowly blending into the warm, pleasant fragrance of the room.

Qi Wenmu walked towards her, but instead of sitting down on the sofa, he stopped in front of her and pulled her to her feet.

The light accentuated his tall and straight figure. He deftly unbuttoned his shirt with one hand, starting from the first button below his Adam's apple. With each movement of his fingertips, the strong lines of his chest could be vaguely seen beneath the fabric.

When he untied the third one, his other warm palm had already covered Ning Zhiyi's wrist.

Ning Zhiyi could smell his own cool, masculine hormones.

Dr. Qi lowered his head and kissed her. His other hand had somehow wrapped around her lower back, pulling her closer to him.

…

Half an hour later, Ning Zhiyi leaned against him, catching her breath. After a while, she said, "My friend Wen Xueyan invited me to have dinner at Huijin Shopping Mall tomorrow, Saturday. We originally planned to have dinner together as a group of three, but how about adding her?"

Dr. Qi's arm was still around her: "Huijin Shopping Mall? It's very close to Hao Hao's math class." He replied, "Okay, let's have lunch together tomorrow, and then I'll drop Hao Hao off at his math class on my way. After that, I'll go to the hospital for my shift. You and your best friend can chat more. You pick up the child at five o'clock."

*

On Saturday noon, Wen Xueyan arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early. Just as she sat down by the window, she saw Qi Wenmu accompany Ning Zhiyi and Hao Hao in.

"Xueyan!" Ning Zhiyi waved happily and walked over quickly. "Dr. Qi said he's going to work this afternoon, so he'll drop Haohao off at his math class on his way."

"What time does Dr. Qi start work this afternoon?" Wen Xueyan asked directly, thinking that it was inconvenient to say when he was present.

"I need to go to the hospital at 2:30 this afternoon." Qi Wenmu glanced at his watch, unhurried. "There's a young patient who just had heart surgery, and I promised to play a game of chess with him today. That child is especially adorable; he's only eight years old, but his chess skills are excellent."

Ning Zhiyi added, "Every time he's on duty, he'll play games with the young patients whenever he has time, saying that happiness is the best medicine."

After finishing their meal, Dr. Qi and Hao Hao got up to say goodbye. He carefully squatted down and zipped Hao Hao's down jacket all the way up before gently saying to Hao Hao, "Say goodbye to Aunt Wen and Mom. We have to go to our math class now."

Hao Hao waved goodbye obediently, his little face full of anticipation, clearly excited to go to class with Uncle Qi.

Watching Qi Wenmu naturally take Hao Hao's hand, his tall figure blending into the bright light outside the restaurant, Wen Xueyan suddenly felt a sense of understanding.

She seemed to understand why Dr. Ji was willing to forgive his flaws twice: the man's charm in other aspects was so dazzling that it made people willing to give him another chance.

At this moment, his knowledge, his professional aura, and the subtle tenderness he shows when treating children together weave a fine and captivating web.

“Zhiyi,” Wen Xueyan’s voice took on a serious tone, “Do you know anything about Dr. Qi’s past? I mean, about why he broke up with his ex-girlfriend.”

Ning Zhiyi's smile faded slightly: "I know a little. Didn't he say that they broke up peacefully because of personality clashes?"

Wen Xueyan looked directly at Ning Zhiyi: "Did you know that he used to trade futures and incurred a debt of millions as a result?"

"What?" The light in Ning Zhiyi's eyes quickly dimmed and shattered.

"Futures? Millions in debt?" These two words created an almost irreconcilable conflict with the image of the rational and steady Dr. Qi that she knew.

Yes, she had always harbored a hidden worry deep in her heart, an unease that she herself was unwilling to delve into.

Qi Wenmu was too perfect; his education, appearance, profession, and personality were almost flawless, and he was better than her in almost every way. This overly perfect appearance sometimes made people uneasy, as if every gift from fate came with a hidden price tag.

Ning Zhiyi never imagined that this price might be linked to such a revolutionary past.

Seeing her friend's expression, Wen Xueyan's heart also tightened.

How many marriages are truly perfect?

Moreover, the more perfect the starting point of a marriage, the higher the expectations will be, and the more vulnerable one may appear when facing the heavy pressure of reality later on.

Wen Xueyan also knew that the outcome for her and Cheng Boyan was still unknown.

"Should I break up with him?" Ning Zhiyi asked, seemingly reluctant to do so.

"I'm just telling you the facts; the decision is yours." Wen Xueyan felt she needed to be careful and couldn't make the decision for her, because this decision could affect her entire life.

Wen Xueyan looked out the floor-to-ceiling window and saw several people getting out of a car in the parking lot at the mall entrance. Two of them were Cheng Boyan and Xu Junxian.

When they were in Singapore, Cheng Boyan showed Wen Xueyan a photo of Xu Junxian, and she recognized her.

Welcome all readers, teachers, and darlings to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.

If it weren't for this drawback, Dr. Qi would be quite good.

Wow, this is so well-written, author! I love "The Road to Remarriage" so much, I've already read it twice! I hope you update more often and sooner.

Thank you for your comments, readers.

Wow, I'm so happy to see a new reader's comment! Thank you so much for your comment this morning, it gives me so much motivation!! I will continue to write diligently. Happy reading! ^_^ If you like my book, *Remarriage*, feel free to leave a comment too~ Thank you again!

Why hasn't the author updated? I check the page several times a day, waiting for the author to update.

Thank you for your comments. I usually update around 5 or 6 pm every day. If I'm particularly busy on a particular day, I'll update at 9 pm instead. Thank you for reading and your support.

Thank you all for your comments!

If it weren't for this flaw, her best friend wouldn't have had a chance to choose.

Yes! Your analysis is very realistic and insightful. Thank you for your comment.