Extra Chapter: Zhang Qin: I'm Not Worthy ②
The man looked unchanged, gentle and refined, a warm touch amidst the boundless snow.
It was once the most vibrant color in Zhang Qin's heart.
He was Zhang Qin's first love.
I pursued her earnestly, but she was like a stone, heartless and indifferent.
Meeting each other abroad doesn't mean anything will happen, after all, so many years have passed.
Besides... Zhang Qin still has self-awareness.
Xie Qingtang didn't like her when she was still the "original" product; now that she's a "second-hand" product, there's even less chance.
However, since they had known each other before, Zhang Qin took the initiative to greet him, "Xie Qingtang."
Xie Qingtang's mentor retired and settled here. Xie Qingtang came to visit her and was somewhat surprised to see Zhang Qin.
Xie Qingtang's calm eyes lingered on Zhang Qin for a moment before she nodded slightly: "Ms. Zhang."
His tone was gentle and polite, but it also revealed a sense of distance.
"..." Zhang Qin didn't know whether to feel fortunate or heartbroken.
Fortunately, he still remembered her.
The sad thing is... she had pursued him for over a year, and even if they couldn't be lovers, they could still be friends, yet he still called her "Ms. Zhang".
"Brother Xie." A boy of about thirteen or fourteen ran up to Xie Qingtang, looked at Zhang Qin curiously, and asked, "Is he your friend?"
Hsieh Ching-tang: "An old acquaintance."
The boy laughed. "Then we're friends. Have you had dinner, sister? Want to join us?"
Just as Zhang Qin was about to refuse, Xie Qingtang suddenly said, "Let's go."
Zhang Qin: "?"
"Come on, come on." The boy ran up to Zhang Qin and pulled her into the house without saying a word.
The young man was so enthusiastic that Zhang Qin couldn't refuse, and seeing that Xie Qingtang didn't seem to object, she had no choice but to go.
Xie Qingtang's teacher was a very warm and hospitable person, and naturally welcomed Zhang Qin's arrival, asking with a smile, "Is this young lady Qingtang's girlfriend?"
Zhang Qin glanced at the man who had walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and was about to sit down. "...No."
The old man looked disappointed.
The boy couldn't help but laugh, "Grandma, what's with that expression?"
The old man didn't speak, but sighed.
Xie Qingtang was her best student, good at everything, except that he was over thirty and still didn't have a girlfriend.
After the meal, the old man wanted to chat with Zhang Qin, but Xie Qingtang glanced at the young man, who understood and playfully pushed the old man away.
"Grandma, didn't you say you wanted to take a walk after dinner to aid digestion? Now that the snow has stopped, let's go out for a stroll."
The old man was old, but he wasn't blind. He saw Xie Qingtang's wink at his grandson and was both annoyed and amused. "You two rascals."
Just as Zhang Qin was about to follow him out, the man behind her called out, "Ms. Zhang."
"..." Ms. Zhang, go to hell.
Zhang Qin smiled and turned around. "Is there something you need?"
Xie Qingtang: "If it's convenient, give your family a call. Your parents are looking for you all over the world."
Zhang Qin turned off her phone before boarding the plane and hasn't turned it back on since. After going abroad, she refused to use her card anywhere that accepted cash, and her parents lost contact with her.
The Zhang family searched everywhere for her, and anyone with a discerning eye could easily find out that Zhang Qin was divorced, so the truth could no longer be kept secret.
Last month, the Xie brothers had a small gathering, and Xie Qingtang overheard his sister-in-law, Huo Huaisui, mentioning that Zhang Qin had gone missing...
This trip abroad happened to coincide with that, so Xie Qingtang meddled in other people's business, saying, "Your parents are very worried about you."
Zhang Qin's fake smile vanished, and she said softly, "I understand."
Her parents were very tolerant of her from childhood. They gave her money whenever she asked, and it didn't matter whether she studied well or not. They never restricted her freedom. Their only requirement for her was that she marry a man who would be useful to the family.
When they first heard that she was pursuing Xie Qingtang, her parents were all in favor. But later, probably seeing that she had no chance, and with the family company having some financial problems, her mother started looking for a partner for her, and finally settled on her ex-husband.
Her ex-husband's family was also anxious because he was reluctant to find a girlfriend, so they offered a very generous dowry, and the marriage was quickly arranged.
From beginning to end, no one asked for her opinion, and no one considered her feelings.
That makes sense; for families like theirs, freedom of marriage is out of the question.
The divorce would definitely affect the cooperation between the two families, and Zhang Qin could imagine how angry her parents would be. But Zhang Qin couldn't care less; she simply couldn't stand her ex-husband's awful family members anymore, and she would go crazy if she stayed any longer.
Zhang Qin sat on the sofa with her head down, seemingly lost in thought.
Xie Qingtang stared at her for a long time without saying anything more.
The fireplace crackled with burning charcoal, the occasional muffled popping sounds particularly clear in the quiet room.
After accompanying the old man on his walk, the young man very gentlemanly offered to take Zhang Qin back to her hotel.
As for Xie Qingtang, he turned to chat with the old man about his alma mater, showing no intention of getting up to see him off.
The boy couldn't help but sigh upon seeing this.
If things continue like this, Xie Ge will really be destined to grow old alone.
Zhang Qin found it amusing. "What's wrong?"
The boy glanced at Zhang Qin, his eyes darting around, and asked, "What does Sister think of Brother Xie?"
Zhang Qin: "Xie Qingtang?"
The boy nodded.
“Him?” Zhang Qin paused deliberately.
The boy stared at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.
Zhang Qin smiled, looked at the dim streetlights by the roadside, and said softly, "He's fine."
If it weren't good, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to pursue it back then.
The boy's eyes lit up. "Right? Right? I also think my brother Xie is pretty good, it's just that he's so old and still doesn't have a girlfriend."
Zhang Qin nodded in agreement, "Yeah, how come someone so outstanding doesn't have a girlfriend yet?"
The boy glanced at Zhang Qin again, unable to hold back any longer. Looking around and seeing that no one was around, he leaned closer and whispered, "So, sister, do you like it?"
He was young, but he thought he had a good eye for people. This woman was beautiful, had a good temperament, and seemed like a good person; she was a good match for his brother Xie.
Zhang Qin was taken aback for a moment, then met the boy's expectant eyes and immediately laughed, "What, want to be a matchmaker?"
The boy chuckled, "Sister, are you going to give me this chance?"
Zhang Qin pushed his head away without hesitation, "No."
The boy couldn't help but raise his voice: "Why?"
Xie Ge is so outstanding, the number of people pursuing him could form a Great Wall.
Zhang Qin stopped smiling and said seriously, "I'm not worthy."
Boy: "Huh?"
Zhang Qin couldn't resist reaching out and pinching his cheek, then smiled again, "I don't like him like that."
The boy asked instinctively, "So what kind of person do you like?"
Zhang Qin said with a smile, "Someone like you."
juvenile:"?"
Zhang Qin pinched his cheek again, "So tender."
juvenile:"……"
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