After his divorce, Shen Qingchen's life fell into gloom. The once confident and cool CEO of a publicly traded company had become haggard and lonely. In his office, a photo of him and Jiang Zhi, taken during a trip, once hung. The photo showed them smiling brightly, overflowing with happiness. But now, he quietly kept the photo, tucked away in the back of a drawer, as if it were a most precious memory he dared not touch.
Every night, as he returned alone to the once warm, now empty house, loneliness washed over him like a tide. He would inevitably wander into their former bedroom, gaze upon that familiar bed, and recall the nights they had slept there, embraced. Those sweet moments now pierced his heart like sharp thorns. He knew his decision had hurt Jiang Zhi, but to protect her, he had no choice. Yet, the agonizing longing followed him like a shadow, keeping him awake at night.
During the day, he tried to numb himself with work, burying himself in a mountain of documents and meetings. But even in the midst of his busy work, Jiang Zhi's figure would occasionally appear in his mind. He would remember her smile, her gentleness, her strength. He began to regret his original decision, regretting why he had chosen this way to hurt her instead of having a better way to protect her.
As time went by, Shen Qingchen found that he could no longer stand the state of knowing nothing about Jiang Zhi. He began to secretly pay attention to Jiang Zhi's life. He used his connections and resources to learn about her recent situation in various ways. He learned that Jiang Zhi was still working hard at work, her medical skills were recognized by more people, and she became the backbone of the hospital, taking on more important work. Watching her continuous progress in her career, Shen Qingchen was full of admiration. He knew that Jiang Zhi had always been a strong and independent woman, and she could live well even without him. But this realization did not comfort him, but made him feel more distressed. He realized that he had missed too much time growing up with her.
He also learned that Jiang Zhi was also actively facing various difficulties in life. Once, her car broke down on the road. It was late at night and there was no car repair shop nearby. When Shen Qingchen heard the news, he was extremely anxious and wanted to fly to her immediately. But he knew that he couldn't do that. He couldn't let Jiang Zhi find out that he was secretly paying attention to her, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. So, he arranged a reliable car repairman through a friend to help Jiang Zhi. He was relieved when he learned that Jiang Zhi finally arrived home safely.
Shen Qingchen would linger near the coffee shop Jiang Zhi frequented, hoping to catch a glimpse of her from afar. Once, he saw Jiang Zhi chatting with a colleague in the coffee shop. Her smile was still as beautiful as ever, but there was a hint of stubbornness and strength in her eyes that he had once been familiar with. He saw her listening attentively to her colleagues, occasionally expressing her own opinions, and that focused look fascinated him. He wanted so much to walk over and sit with her, sharing their lives like they used to. But he could only stand silently in the corner, watching her, his heart filled with regret and longing.
He also followed Jiang Zhi's social media updates. Although she rarely updated, he would carefully study every update. Once, she posted a photo of herself walking in the park. Her back looked a little lonely in the photo, but she was still standing straight. Shen Qingchen looked at the photo and felt a pang of pain in his heart. He knew that Jiang Zhi must be in pain too, but she was unwilling to show it. He began to reflect on his past behavior. He felt that he was too selfish, only considering his own feelings, but not truly understanding Jiang Zhi's heart.
In order to get closer to Jiang Zhi's life, Shen Qingchen would even quietly drive behind her when she got off work. He watched her walk into the small apartment building, watched the light in her room turn on, and then he would leave with peace of mind. He knew that his behavior was a bit crazy, but he couldn't control his longing and concern for Jiang Zhi. He just wanted to know if she was doing well and if she was taking good care of herself.
While secretly monitoring Jiang Zhi, Shen Qingchen noticed some changes in her. She had become more mature and stable, no longer the little girl who once relied on him. She had learned to face life's difficulties on her own and resolve them with ease. This change both pleased and saddened Shen Qingchen. He was relieved that Jiang Zhi was still able to live a strong life without him; he was saddened that he had missed out on her growth and that he was no longer the important person in her life.
However, Shen Qingchen didn't give up. He knew his love for Jiang Zhi had never changed, and his determination to win her back became even stronger. He began to think about what he should do to make Jiang Zhi accept him again. He knew that the hurt he had caused was too deep, and it would not be easy to get Jiang Zhi's forgiveness, but he was willing to make every effort.
He decided to start with small things. He would buy a bouquet of Jiang Zhi's favorite flowers from a flower shop she often passed by and quietly leave it in her car. When Jiang Zhi was stressed out at work, he would anonymously send her a thoughtful afternoon tea with a note of encouragement. He would also quietly help Jiang Zhi solve her problems behind her back without letting her know it was him.
Shen Qingchen hopes that through these small actions, Jiang Zhi will feel his care and love. He knows that this takes time and patience, but he is willing to wait. He believes that as long as he perseveres, one day, Jiang Zhi will feel his sincerity and give him a chance to start over.
The author has something to say:
In this chapter, we witness Shen Qingchen's post-divorce pain and his deep longing for Jiang Zhi. Through his secret obsession with Jiang Zhi's life, he gradually realizes his mistakes and her strength. This emotional transformation and inner struggle lays the foundation for the subsequent story. I hope readers will feel Shen Qingchen's complex emotions and his sincere love for Jiang Zhi. At the same time, we hope you will continue to follow their story and see if they can finally reunite.
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