Jiang Zhi's attitude confused Shen Qingchen. He didn't understand why Jiang Zhi had suddenly become so cold. In the past, their interactions were always filled with warmth and sweetness, and Jiang Zhi's eyes were always filled with love when she looked at him, but now, she was like a completely different person. Jiang Zhi always deliberately avoided eye contact with him, and when they did communicate, they became extremely brief, as if she would feel bored if she said even one more word to him.
Shen Qingchen began to reflect on recent events, trying to identify the possible cause of Jiang Zhi's change of heart. He considered whether he'd been too busy with the family business, neglecting Jiang Zhi's company and causing her resentment. However, they'd experienced similar busy periods before, and Jiang Zhi had never been so distant. He also wondered if his words and actions on certain occasions had been inappropriate, causing Jiang Zhi to feel unhappy. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a clear reason.
Jiang Zhi, on her part, was in a state of extreme conflict. The ambiguous words from the strange woman on the phone kept echoing in her mind, like a swarm of annoying flies that couldn't be shaken off. On the one hand, she told herself to trust Shen Qingchen. After all, they had experienced so many wonderful times together, from their passionate pursuit to the grand wedding, to the little bits of happiness after marriage. Shen Qingchen's love for her had always been so sincere and deep. But on the other hand, Jiang Yao's previous provocative words seemed to provide some kind of evidence for this phone call, causing her heart to inevitably ripple with doubt.
She didn't want to question Shen Qingchen easily, knowing that trust was the foundation of their relationship. However, this sudden phone call was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, disrupting her previously peaceful heart. She didn't know how to face Shen Qingchen, fearing that direct questioning would hurt their relationship, but also unable to get along with him as she usually did without any grudges.
Jiang Zhi began to become somewhat silent. When she was at home, she would always sit alone in a corner, in a daze, or immersed in her own thoughts. She no longer actively shared her day's interesting events with Shen Qingchen as before, nor did she show excitement and joy for the little surprises Shen Qingchen carefully prepared for her. Shen Qingchen saw this change in her, and his heart was filled with worry.
Once, Shen Qingchen deliberately left work early and went home, and bought Jiang Zhi's favorite flowers, wanting to give her a surprise, hoping to make her happy and break the weird atmosphere between them. When he walked into the house happily, he saw Jiang Zhi sitting on the sofa in the living room, looking ahead with empty eyes. Shen Qingchen walked gently to her side, handed the flowers to her, and said gently: "Zhizhi, look what I brought you back. These are your favorite flowers." Jiang Zhi slowly raised her head, glanced at the flowers, and just said lightly: "Thank you." Then she looked away again.
Shen Qingchen felt as if his heart was being tightly grasped by an invisible big hand, and the pain was unbearable. He sat down next to Jiang Zhi, held her hand, and asked with concern: "Zhizhi, what's wrong with you recently? Is there something on your mind? You can tell me, no matter what happened, we can face it together." Jiang Zhi's hand trembled slightly, and she wanted to pull her hand back, but Shen Qingchen held it tightly. She hesitated for a moment, then said: "Nothing, maybe I'm a little tired from work recently." Shen Qingchen knew she was lying, because he knew Jiang Zhi too well, and he could tell from her eyes that she must be hiding something from him.
At the company, Shen Qingchen had become somewhat absent-minded because of Jiang Zhi's situation. He used to be able to handle various matters quickly and accurately, but now, he would often stare blankly, his mind filled with Jiang Zhi's cold eyes. His assistant noticed his abnormality and cautiously asked if he was feeling unwell. Shen Qingchen simply shook his head and continued to try to concentrate on his work, but his mind could not fully focus on the work.
Jiang Zhi, too, made frequent mistakes in her work. Her colleagues were puzzled by how the once conscientious and energetic Jiang Zhi had suddenly become so absent-minded. Once, while working on an important project report, she unexpectedly made mistakes in key data. Her supervisor called her in to ask if she was facing any difficulties. Jiang Zhi could only awkwardly explain that she had been feeling down lately and would quickly adjust.
As time went by, the cold atmosphere between them grew stronger. Shen Qingchen tried to ease the knot in Jiang Zhi's heart by showing more care and companionship. He would prepare a hearty breakfast for Jiang Zhi every morning before sending her to work. In the evening, after work, he would go home early and cook a delicious dinner for her when she returned. He would also tell her funny jokes in his free time, hoping to see a smile on her face. However, Jiang Zhi's attitude remained unchanged. She just mechanically accepted Shen Qingchen's kindness, but her inner doubts did not diminish.
Jiang Zhi's inner conflict was also intensifying. She looked at everything Shen Qingchen had done for her, and she felt both moved and guilty. She knew that it was unfair for her to treat Shen Qingchen this way, but she couldn't control her emotions. She felt like she was stuck in a quagmire, and the more she struggled, the deeper she sank. She began to think, if Shen Qingchen really was hiding something from her, then where would their relationship go? She didn't want to give up this hard-earned relationship easily, but she also couldn't tolerate betrayal.
This crisis of trust is like a dark cloud hanging over their heads, ready to bring downpours of rain at any moment, drowning their emotional world. The relationship between them is like a boat sailing in a storm, shaky and uncertain whether it can withstand this test.
Dear readers, the development of the story in each chapter is like a carefully choreographed drama, and the "crisis of trust" in this chapter is a climax of the plot.
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