Chapter 67: Unable to Let Go (Revised) “Why should I let go?”…
"Why, you're still dressing so beautifully after breaking up? Who are you dressing for?"
On a winter morning, the sun shines brightly through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. There are tiny dust particles in the columnar light, and the dust is the same as the light.
Qiao Ruoying looked up in a daze.
The light illuminated Jiang Zongye's handsome face. Although he was dressed neatly, the faint scarlet in his eyes, the bluish halo under his eyes, and the black mist lingering in his eyes all showed that he still cared about her, very much.
In fact, she still cares about him.
It's just that she subconsciously chose to wear a mask in social situations to hide her true emotions.
Qiao Ruoying thought that "hiding emotions without showing any emotion" was something Jiang Zongye taught her, and she couldn't help but feel sad.
Although they had broken up, her body still bore traces of him. These traces were indelible and could not be erased.
External gifts and bags can be easily returned, but the values and life philosophy that he has shaped cannot be easily returned.
Jiang Zongye's blunt questioning left her at a loss for words. Besides, why couldn't she dress nicely after breaking up?
The sadder you are, the more you should dress beautifully.
Still feeling resentful towards him, Qiao Ruoying softened her voice and gave Jiang Zongye a "nail" in a neither soft nor hard tone:
"Mr. Jiang, my outfit is completely in compliance with the company's dress code."
Since they were at the company, she might as well bring up the company dress code. He had used the "company dress code" to pressure her before, so don't blame her for "pressing" back now.
“…”
In the bright winter sunshine, Jiang Zongye's eyes were focused on her.
When he got closer, he realized that she had put some lip gloss on her lips. The lip gloss made her already soft and plump red lips look even more elastic and kissable like jelly.
Unfortunately, he couldn't push her against the wall and kiss her whenever he wanted, like he did before.
He no longer had the right to care what she wore now, even if she wore a bikini in the bathtub, he had no reason to care.
Moreover, Yingying even learned to use the company dress code to "pressure" him. It seems that she has learned a lot of tricks and counter-tricks in the past six months with him.
Jiang Zong also leaned against the wall behind her, trapping her between him and the wall with his forearm, and said with a cold face:
"Can you count how many days we've been apart?"
"...Three days?"
Qiao Ruoying looked doubtful and said uncertainly.
What does he want to count this for?
"It's only been three days, and you've completely forgotten our relationship. You're not sad at all about our separation."
Jiang Zong also said this, moving his fingers, wanting to pinch her beautiful chin and let her soft jaw rest on his palm, but he forced himself to hold back.
"Qiao Ruoying, do you have no conscience?"
She clearly felt his gaze on her lips, and her body trembled slightly. She immediately remembered how ferocious he was like a wolf on the day they broke up, sucking and biting her lips and lip beads until they were bright red and swollen.
His possessiveness was still full to the point of overflowing, drowning her like a tide.
She knew he was sad. In fact, she was also very sad, but there was nothing she could do.
That's what breaking up is.
Qiao Ruoying turned her head slightly to avoid his burning gaze, but she accidentally revealed her fragile and beautiful neckline:
"Mr. Jiang, what happened between us is in the past. We should always look forward to it."
Jiang Zong also looked at her slender and beautiful neck. He used to be able to hold it with one hand and caress it with his fingertips. But now he can't do that.
He said in a cold tone: "You are looking forward too quickly."
“…”
No, Jiang Zongye's tone was cold and filled with anger.
She hadn't noticed him using this tone before?
At this moment, her wrist tightened, and then she touched a layer of soft cloth.
Beneath his palm, something was gurgling and beating like a powerful water pump.
However, Jiang Zong also took the opportunity to grab her wrist and placed her palm against the center of his chest, against his thin layer of pectoral muscle.
Thinking of the firm touch of his skin, her eyes flickered and she lowered her head.
The corners of his eyes were red, his gaze fixed on her, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"We broke up on such a cliff. Why didn't you take care of my feelings? Don't you feel heartbroken?"
Won’t it hurt?
What was Jiang Zong talking about? Qiao Ruoying almost wanted to glare at him. How could she not feel heartbroken?
Didn't he teach her to control her emotions, to be restrained, to remain calm, and not to show her emotions on her face?
Besides, what’s the point of feeling heartbroken?
Dwelling on the past is just making things difficult for yourself.
Qiao Ruoying lowered her voice and said, "Can't we both get out of here early? You just do your job as President Jiang, and I'll be your assistant."
What this means is that apart from work-related contact, there should be no other contact and no looking back.
"No," Jiang Zong also refused flatly. "You are not allowed to come out before I come out."
He is too domineering!
The scent of his perfume also invaded her nose in waves, hay and patchouli, and the fleeting amber note exuded a beast-like ferocity, making her heart tighten and tremble.
The heart in her chest trembled and palpitated strangely because of his dominance, and there was also a hint of tenderness. Knowing that Jiang Zongye still cared about her, her mood was very complicated.
After a while, Qiao Ruoying opened her red lips and said softly:
"I don't care what you think. I just want to take care of my own heart."
After that, she asked to go downstairs. After all, this was the company, with people coming and going. If her colleagues saw her being pinned against the wall by Jiang Zongye, it would be inappropriate.
Jiang Zongye had no expression on his face. He just licked the side of her teeth lightly with the tip of his tongue and let her go.
-
For the entire day, Qiao Ruoying and Jiang Zong had no contact.
Until the evening, Jiang Zong also got on the car from the group back to Tianxi Huanyu with a gloomy face.
Li Zheng was sitting in the passenger seat of Sirius 5, considering how to tell Jiang Zongye that "Qiao Ruoying sent all the express deliveries back."
The express delivery sent back by Qiao Ruoying arrived at Tianxi Huanyu as early as Sunday morning and is now placed in the garage.
I’m afraid that if I don’t tell him, the situation will be even worse when Jason finds out himself.
Thinking of this, Li Zhenghao thought about his words in his heart and said:
"Jason, yesterday there was a batch of express deliveries from Golden Home to Tianxi Huanyu. It was sent by Miss Qiao Ruoying."
Jiang Zong thought for a moment, then understood. He spoke in a gloomy voice, "She sent all the things back?"
"Yes, there are four large boxes, which should contain the gifts you gave her at that time."
"Have you signed for it?" Jiang Zongye asked. "If you haven't, return it."
How could he take back what he had given her? Even if she sent it back, he wouldn't want it.
Did Qiao Ruoying think that if she sent back the things he gave her, they would be even? No, it couldn't be even, it would never be even. She had no intention of even thinking about even thinking about even.
Jiang Zong was also thinking about this, and tilted his head towards the car window. The rugged and three-dimensional outline of his profile was cast by the light on the smooth back of the leather seat.
"I've already signed for it." Li Zheng was annoyed.
He was confused at the time and actually signed for it. Now thinking back, how could Jiang Zong allow Miss Qiao to send the things back?
"Send it back unopened."
Jiang Zong also spoke in silence.
"yes."
Li Zheng agreed.
Jiang Zongye's tone just now was like a very thin and cold blade in the night, with silver light flashing on both sides. It made Old Li, who was holding the steering wheel in the main driver's seat, dare not say a word, but cold sweat broke out on his back, sticking to his clothes and making them wet.
Should he tell Mrs. Jiang that she called him over and asked about Qiao Ruoying's situation?
Old Li was very hesitant.
At this time, he heard Jiang Zongye speak again: "Uncle Li, have you investigated the matter I asked you to investigate at the Qiao family?"
"The investigation is still ongoing. Nothing major has happened to the Qiao family at the moment. Miss Qiao's mother and sister are both in good health..."
Li Zheng said embarrassedly.
As Old Li listened, cold sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead.
Given Jiang Zong's determination to investigate the matter, it would be impossible not to tell the truth. If Jiang Zong found out that it was him who had betrayed Mrs. Jiang,
If he reports the matter related to Miss Qiao, he will be in trouble, right?
After the streamlined body of Sirius5 slid smoothly into the garage, Lao Li got out of the car and saw Li Zheng opening the car door for Jiang Zongye. A long leg wrapped in trousers touched the concrete floor.
Old Li took a deep breath, mustered up his courage, walked up to Jiang Zongye, and said with his head down:
"Mr. Jiang, on the day I left North City on New Year's Day, the old lady called me to the Li Palace and asked about Miss Qiao."
...
Old Li talked about how Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek couldn't stop shaking her head from the moment he was called to the Li Palace. Chiang Kai-shek listened silently, his face becoming increasingly gloomy, and his eyebrows were twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川", as if gathering together mountains and rivers.
The driver, Old Li, simply told his story, and Jiang Zong was able to draw inferences from it and vaguely guess what his mother had done.
After Lao Li finished speaking, he felt uneasy.
Jiang Zongye has always been clear about rewards and punishments and strictly disciplined his subordinates. He deducted two months' year-end bonus from driver Li on the grounds that he "disclosed the master's privacy without permission and concealed the information."
Afterwards, Jiang Zong couldn't stay in the underground garage for a moment. While instructing Li Zheng to quickly book him a business class flight from Luocheng to Beicheng, he also called his mother Yang Ruimin.
Beautiful Palace.
A Zen-like Guanyin bamboo is placed in a thin-necked green vase, echoing the Taihu stone rockery bonsai on the desk; a ceramic chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and the porcelain lampshade is reflected by the light, making it delicate, elegant and very warm.
A ray of light cast the shadow of the Guanyin bamboo on the golden nanmu sofa, exactly dividing the sofa into two halves. Jiang Sheng and Yang Ruimin sat on the left and right respectively.
It was rare for this couple to be together, and Jiang Sheng had to attend a social event in Changping District before returning here to stay temporarily. On the second floor, the couple each had a room and slept separately.
At this moment, Jiang Sheng was leaning against the golden nanmu tree, reading the newspaper with his feet up.
Yang Ruimin had wanted to appreciate the scattered shadows of the Guanyin bamboos under the lamplight, which looked like intertwined algae and waterweeds. However, when she turned around, she saw her husband's awkward sitting posture and could not help but frowning.
After all these years, Jiang Sheng still had some bad habits that she didn't like, like watching "Keep It Barefoot" on the sofa.
Her marriage with Jiang Sheng was an "arranged marriage" and she was marrying down from her parents' family.
At that time, Jiang Sheng was her father's student. Her father had a sharp eye and saw that Jiang Sheng, who was a poor boy at the time, could achieve great things, so he married her to Jiang Sheng.
Later, Jiang Sheng really made a career in the automotive industry, and his asset level continued to rise. As a result, Yang Ruimin became the richest person in the circle, and people always flattered him wherever he went.
But to be fair, Yang Ruimin feels that he is not happy.
Jiang Sheng was tired of being poor, and was completely focused on making money and his career. He couldn't stand her spending and hedonistic behavior, and he was too lazy to indulge her spoiled brat temper.
She, on the other hand, was also annoyed that Jiang Sheng talked about career and making money all the time and had no interest in life, so she casually pressed the cigarette ash into the flowerpot where she raised the snow orchid.
Yang Ruimin attributed all the frictions to the different classes she and Jiang Sheng came from.
With this idea in mind, and for the sake of her son's lifelong happiness, she really hopes that her son will find a girl who has grown up in a similar environment to her own.
Thinking of this, Yang Ruimin suppressed her anger and spoke to her husband again, "Old Sheng, why don't you pay more attention to your son? He found a girlfriend who comes from a single-parent family."
Jiang Sheng's eyes were glued to the newspaper, and without even looking up, he casually asked, "From a single-parent family? How powerful is the family?"
"..." Yang Ruimin was furious. She had told Jiang Sheng so many times that the girl came from an ordinary family, but he was still asking about her family background, which showed that he didn't take her words to heart.
For the sake of his son's life, Yang Ruimin wanted to pull Jiang Sheng to his side, but he held back his anger and said, "I've already said it, we're an ordinary family."
"That won't work for an ordinary family." Jiang Sheng finally put down the newspaper and looked at his wife with a sharp gaze.
"The clan should also seek a noble family for marriage, which will either bring capital or power. Forget about those who have neither."
As a successful entrepreneur, Jiang Sheng is very realistic when it comes to marriage.
In his opinion, a couple is just like that, and it is hard to say whether they are compatible or not. What is important is that the wife's family should be helpful to the husband's career.
So when his mentor Yang Jinghe extended an olive branch of marriage to him, Jiang Sheng married Yang Ruimin, the eldest daughter of the Yang family, without blinking an eye, even though he knew that she was spoiled and willful.
"I think the daughter of the Chen family is a good match for him."
Yang Ruimin sneered, "Your son is quite ambitious. He sent Chen Luyao back even after she went to the North City to pursue him. How could she possibly want to go along with him again?"
At this moment, a sharp ring interrupted Yang Ruimin's words. Her cell phone, which had been placed on the tea table, rang, and the contact was "Jiang Zongye."
For no apparent reason, Yang Ruimin's heart skipped a beat before he picked up the phone.
"Mom, how can you interfere in my affairs?"
When it was finally confirmed that Qiao Ruoying broke up with him because she learned that his mother was investigating their family, Jiang Zong's forehead veins bulged and he spoke harshly to his mother for the first time in his life.
That night, he took the business class of a red-eye flight from Luocheng directly to Beicheng.
On the way, Jiang Zong kept thinking about the forty-minute phone call. First, his mother answered the phone, and then his father also asked to talk to him.
It was rare for him and his parents to chat for such a long time. It wasn't so much a "chat" as it was a heated exchange of views between the three parties.
Outside the window, the huge wings of the plane pierced through the endless darkness, and the lighted roads crisscrossed the earth.
Jiang Zongye placed his hand on his forehead, thinking carefully about the thoughts his parents had just revealed.
But after a few words of argument, he knew everything. His mother, Yang Ruimin, disapproved of him and Qiao Ruoying being together because she was worried about the large class gap and personality clash between them; while his father, Jiang Sheng, disapproved because he wanted him to marry a young lady from a powerful family.
But he knew better than anyone else that he didn't want to marry anyone except Qiao Ruoying.
So he flew back to Beicheng this time to explain his feelings to his parents.
As for his parents' obstruction, he was not afraid at all.
After all, he founded a foundation and participated in capital operations at the age of 16. He joined Taiheng Group at the age of 20 and has been developing his own network and team until he took control of the overall situation.
In other words, he is financially independent and independent-minded. He does not need to rely on his parents, so he does not need them to decide his marriage.
His words carried enough weight that his parents had to take them into consideration.
But... Jiang Zong was also overwhelmed with thoughts, and finally sighed softly. He wanted to resolve this matter peacefully. After all, when Yingying married into the family, she would inevitably have to spend holidays with his parents. If the relationship became too strained, Qiao Ruoying would also feel uncomfortable.
-
In the past few days, Jiang Zong has not bothered her again.
Qiao Ruoying went to get off work and back home as usual, but she was getting thinner and thinner. Her face, wrapped in the large hood of her down jacket, was white and pointed, which made her pair of lychee eyes look even darker.
She didn't sleep well at night and occasionally woke up in the middle of the night, only to find that Jiang Zongye was not around.
It was really strange. In the past, when they slept in the same bed at night, Jiang Zong always liked to hold her in his arms. She was not used to it at first, and felt breathless when his arms were around her slender waist, but she gradually got used to it.
I've gotten used to Jiang Zongye's warm embrace and his undisguised possessive attitude. I like the feeling of rubbing my nose against his thin chest muscles when I turn over.
I'm not used to sleeping alone.
It happened that the lease of the house she rented in Golden Home had expired, and the landlord asked her if she wanted to renew it. Qiao Ruoying chose to cancel the lease.
If she continued to sleep, she was afraid that she would suffer from long-term insomnia.
Fortunately, at this time, she had a college classmate who was tired of drifting in Luocheng and wanted to go home to take the civil service exam. He was anxious to sell his rental house and posted a sublease information in the university group.
Qiao Ruoying took a look and found that this small single apartment was in the city center, which was a more suitable distance to the group, and the rent was only a thousand yuan more expensive than her current house.
In this case, she quickly took over her classmate's rental house, contacted a moving company, and moved in, all in one go.
Jiang Zong also stayed in Beicheng for three days. The first night was spent negotiating with his parents; the next two days were spent attending social events in Beicheng that he could not avoid.
In this negotiation, Jiang Zong also achieved the result he wanted: his parents no longer interfered with his marriage.
As for how to bring Qiao Ruoying to meet his parents after getting her back, he would see how it goes one step at a time.
When Jiang Zongye landed at Luocheng Airport, it was snowing heavily. The terrazzo road was covered with a thick layer of snow, like salt in a salt lake.
The driver, Lao Li, asked him where he was going back to. He raised his eyebrows lazily and couldn't even answer where he wanted to go.
After a while, he rubbed his forehead with his hand and said in a hoarse voice: "Then let's go to the Golden Home."
The only place he wanted to go was to be with Qiao Ruoying.
But... after learning the real reason why Qiao Ruoying broke up with him, Jiang Zong also became uncertain:
Qiao Ruoying, are you still willing to see him?
How should he apologize to her?
She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, it would open up the scars in her heart that had healed with great difficulty.
Should I try to slowly restore my relationship with her first and then apologize to her?
These thoughts are like a ball of wool stuck in my mind, which is impossible to cut or sort out.
The driver, Lao Li, didn't dare to say anything and drove Jiang Zong to the destination.
Downstairs at the door of the unit, the row of sycamore trees is so familiar. They stretch out their branches like silent giants in a snowy night.
The carved street lamps cast bright circles, and the snowflakes were reflected in the light, like flying catkins.
Jiang Zong also got out of the car and stood downstairs looking up at the third floor. Snowflakes fell one by one, landing on his head and shoulders, then melted, and the moisture soaked into his clothes.
However, he almost walked around the apartment building, and every window of the small rental house on the third floor was dark and no lights were on.
It's only nine o'clock in the evening. It doesn't make sense for Qiao Ruoying to go to bed so early.
Is it possible that she is not in the rental house?
If she is not in the rental house, where else can she go?
Could something have happened to her?
As his thoughts wandered, Jiang Zong's heart skipped a beat. As if homesick, he had only wanted to watch her quietly tonight, not disturbing her any further.
But now.
She wouldn't really be in trouble, would she?
After much deliberation, Jiang Zong also went upstairs and knocked on the door. "Knock, knock, knock," the knocks sounded rhythmically for five minutes, but no one opened the door.
Jiang Zong was also worried and called Qiao Ruoying.
I silently prayed to her to pick up the phone.
If he couldn't find her whereabouts tonight, he would definitely call the police and gather all the manpower and resources he could. He would not stop until Luocheng was overturned and she was found.
Fortunately, the call was finally picked up when it was dialed for the third time, and Qiao Ruoying's slightly hesitant voice was heard on the other end.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang?"
But she called him softly, and his heart trembled involuntarily, as if a stone was thrown into the lake of his heart, causing ripples.
"Yingying, you're not home. I didn't see any lights on in your rental house."
He called her by her nickname in a hoarse voice - perhaps he was no longer qualified to call her that.
On the other end of the phone, Qiao Ruoying stood in front of the sink, and the hot water created a warm mist on the mirror.
When Qiao Ruoying heard him say that there was no light on in her rental house, she immediately realized that Jiang Zong must have gone to Golden Home to find her.
Why is he still looking for her there? Hasn't he let it go yet?
"Mr. Jiang, I moved." Qiao Ruoying took a deep breath and told him the truth.
It had been a week since their breakup, and she felt she had slowly let it go. Or rather, she had learned to bury the things she couldn't let go of deep down in her heart.
"Moving?" Jiang Zongye's tone revealed a hint of surprise. He continued to look up at the dark little room on the third floor. That place was once filled with their happy times.
"Mr. Jiang, it's time for you to let it go." Qiao Ruoying thought about it, and although she was embarrassed, she still persuaded him tactfully.
What could she do? She couldn't respond to him any further, lest she get stuck in a relationship with no future like before.
All she could do was to automatically transform Jiang Zongye's concern for her into the care that a company boss has for his subordinates.
She could only hope that after some time, Jiang Zong would be able to get over his heartbreak and put her behind him.
"Let it go?" Jiang Zong chuckled, his deep voice carried through the night wind. "Why should I let it go?"
Letting her go means giving up their feelings.
Why does he give up?
He didn't want to give up at all.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: I'll write about the scenes and details of Lao Jiang's negotiations with his parents later in the story, interspersed with Xiaoying and Lao Jiang's interactions. I think this will be more effective, and I know everyone is definitely more interested in seeing Lao Jiang chasing his wife. Hehe.
After that, Xiaoying's meeting with Jiang's parents will be smoother, as Lao Jiang and his parents have reached an agreement on the negotiations. This is a sweet story, so I won't set any more difficulty on this point. [Glasses]
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