Chapter 184: Stay Young Without Marriage or Children
This place is far away from the crowd, and there is no other sound except the rustling of trees.
Chen Qing was so nervous that his palms were sweating and his heart was about to jump out of his throat. He didn't move.
The man who had been silent all this time laughed. "Well! That's not the engineering company's problem. You're just taking things at face value."
She couldn't hear the rest of the words and was just trying to find a way to get closer when her cell phone rang without warning.
"Who is it!" a loud shout came from the corner of his mouth.
Chen Qing hung up the phone in a panic, and wanted to find something to cover up, so he had to put the phone close to his ear and pretend to answer it, "Hello? I'm... I don't know where this is..."
She lowered her head to adjust her shoelaces, stood up, and was startled by the man who was peeking out.
"Hello." She smiled modestly, "Which way is this?"
The man looked at her strangely, "Who brought you here? A secretary or an assistant?"
Chen Qing didn't want to cause trouble for Jiang Jingyan, so he was about to make up an identity. Just as he opened his mouth, he heard footsteps behind him.
"Qing'er."
She stiffened.
Yan Baiqing put away his phone seriously, "So you're here."
The men at the stone table came over and smiled heartily, "Mr. Yan, long time no see."
Chen Qing's mind was a mess and she stood there blankly. Yan Baiqing shook hands with them one by one, blocking her without leaving any trace.
The sun is so strong right now that it makes me dizzy.
Yan Baiqing didn't stay too long. He simply said hello and turned around, "Let's go."
Chen Qing hurriedly followed him out of the small garden and the parking lot was not far away.
"Mr. Yan." She walked slowly, "I went to pick up Mrs. Jiang and accidentally disturbed those three."
"Um."
"Thank you for helping me out."
Yan Baiqing looked at her and said, "You look very bad."
"It's hot." She smiled and waved her hand, "I'll go over first, you go ahead."
"etc."
She stopped.
Yan Baiqing was dressed in formal attire, looking more serious than usual, but his expression remained gentle.
"Wipe it off." He handed over a handkerchief. "Your head is sweaty. Mrs. Jiang values her image."
Chen Qing knew that Mrs. Jiang had her own baggage. She was always dignified and well-mannered when she went out, with a straight back and her hairstyle and makeup could not be wrong at all.
She took it absentmindedly, wiping her forehead, nose, chin, and then her neck.
Yan Baiqing stared at the handkerchief on his chest, brushing against her skin. His eyes sank and he looked away.
"It's dirty. I'll wash it and return it to you."
"It's okay, keep it." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"
"This conversation is familiar."
Chen Qing suddenly remembered that when they first met, Yan Baiqing had also stained a handkerchief.
"There are no pastries to exchange today." She also laughed.
"Exchange it with the one from last time."
Chen Qing was stunned and said nothing.
Yan Baiqing said in a sudden realization, "Throw it away?"
"No…"
Left in the dormitory as a rag.
She felt a little embarrassed, and her phone happened to ring again, so she waved goodbye and said, "Mrs. Jiang must be waiting anxiously. I'll go find her first."
Yan Baiqing stood there and watched her turn into the parking lot, the smile on his face disappearing completely.
…
When Chen Qing found Mrs. Jiang, she was talking to Jiang Jingyan on the phone.
"It can't be lost. Who are you warning, you heartless person?"
"Mrs. Jiang."
She raised her eyelids and continued talking on the phone, "Did you hear that? So lively."
Chen Qing panted slightly, opened the car door, and helped Mrs. Jiang get out.
"Where did you go?"
"I got lost and took a long detour." She smiled wryly. "Have you been waiting long?"
Mrs. Jiang fixed her hair, a hint of anger on her face. "Not long after, Jingyan asked me if I had seen you."
Chen Qing touched his phone and found two missed calls.
I was in such a hurry on the way here that I didn't hear it.
She sent a message back to Jiang Jingyan and went to the auditorium with Mrs. Jiang.
Mrs. Jiang attended the event as a donor and was seated on the second floor. Chen Qing followed her to her seat and saw the man in front of the stage below.
Meng Hongwen.
Chen Qing had never seen him in person. In the news and in the photos of him and Jiang Jingyan at Zhounan's residence, he sat upright, looking dignified and easy-going.
At this moment, he was greeting the school leaders and looked even more kind and benevolent.
Mrs. Jiang looked at that place meaningfully, "After so many years, you don't look much older."
"Mr. Meng and Mr. Jiang are about the same age, right?" Chen Qing poured tea politely and chatted with them. "He looks young because he's not married."
Mrs. Jiang glanced at her indifferently.
Chen Qing's hands trembled. "Staying married and having children to stay young...that's just something people on the internet say for fun."
"That has nothing to do with it." Mrs. Jiang didn't embarrass her, looking straight ahead. "Old Jiang is five years older than Meng Hongwen. He's devoted his entire life to his work. A few years ago, the town was hit by floods, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Mudslides destroyed the people's crops, causing heavy economic losses. The post-disaster reconstruction task was arduous, and his hair turned completely white during that time."
"Mr. Jiang is dedicated to serving the people and is a good official."
Mrs. Jiang took a sip of tea and watched Meng Hongwen being invited to the stage.
The secretary next to him leaned over to talk, and he looked up to search.
The moment their eyes met, Mrs. Jiang had no expression on her face, but Meng Hongwen immediately held the arm of the person next to him, and his body swayed slightly.
Chen Qing's mind was elsewhere and he didn't notice the undercurrent between the two.
She hesitated for a long time, then asked, "I heard Mr. Yan resigned?"
Mrs. Jiang frowned, "Why are you asking about this?"
"I overheard that something went wrong in the ancient town some time ago," Chen Qing replied fluently. "I'm worried about the impact on the association's orchestra..."
"No, if there is corruption in a scenic spot, the main person in charge will bear the brunt of it. It has nothing to do with the association or the performers."
"Mr. Jiang must be feeling bad too, right? He has to deal with Jingyan's senior brother."
"Because of their relationship, he handed the case over to a subordinate. Actually, it didn't cause any irreversible consequences, so it's usually handled by regulatory authorities." Mrs. Jiang's tone softened considerably. "You understand how difficult it is for him, which shows filial piety. Your parents raised you well when they were alive."
Chen Qing pulled the corners of his lips, his heart couldn't help but fall.
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