Xia Qiqi admired the divorce certificate, then raised her head and saw Xiao Nanchen's cold back as he left.
She still felt a little unhappy.
Now that they were divorced, was that really the end of everything between them?
He didn't even say goodbye when he left.
Xia Qiqi gritted her teeth and didn't let it bother her.
She quickly followed him out.
Since she was quick on her feet, she ran right past Xiao Nanchen without looking back and walked away.
Xiao Nanchen glanced up at Xia Qiqi's back.
It was a little blurry.
But he just bore it in silence.
He got back in the sedan and drove away.
He only needed one foot to drive.
But after the delay,
it was already rush hour.
Xiao Nanchen's car kept starting and stopping.
He saw Xia Qiqi far ahead trying to hail a taxi, waving at several taxis but none stopped.
So Xiao Nanchen drove up to her.
Some emotions pass once they've passed.
After they pass, he can face the world calmly, including everyone in it.
He parked next to Xia Qiqi. "Want a ride?"
Xia Qiqi looked at Xiao Nanchen.
Remembering how he'd walked away without looking back earlier, and now he was offering her a ride?
She was not ready to forgive him so easily.
It seemed like Xiao Nanchen smiled faintly, or maybe she imagined it.
Xia Qiqi disliked him so much.
Now that she was free of him, why would she get close again?
It was just rush hour, he wanted to give her a ride since he was going the same way.
If she didn't accept, he wouldn't feel guilty about it.
The car window rolled up again.
Just as Xiao Nanchen was about to drive away,
the door suddenly opened.
Xia Qiqi got in.
She had just thought to herself, she shouldn't punish herself for someone else's mistakes.
It was clearly very hard to get a taxi now.
Why torture herself for a man like Xiao Nanchen?
After thinking it through, she boldly got into the sedan.
Xiao Nanchen was surprised for a second before starting the car and driving onto the highway.
"Why aren't you driving?" Xiao Nanchen asked.
He asked her calmly,
as if they were back to before they married.
Xiao Nanchen was always lukewarm towards her.
If he hadn't pursued her, she might never have felt that Xiao Nanchen liked her.
"Don't want to drive," Xia Qiqi looked out the window and answered slowly, "still traumatized from the last car accident."
Xiao Nanchen nodded slightly.
He had guessed as much.
"Going home?" he asked.
"Mm," Xia Qiqi responded. Then quickly added, "I moved out and live alone now."
Xiao Nanchen's hands clearly tightened on the steering wheel.
"Didn't want to live with my dad anymore, so I moved out," Xia Qiqi said. "Oh right, now that we're divorced, I won't interfere with your mom and my dad's relationship anymore."
Meaning, his mother could be with her father now.
Xiao Nanchen didn't say anything.
After all, he didn't know if his mother would still be with her father.
"What's your new address?" Xiao Nanchen asked.
"Jade Garden complex. Near Nanbin Road."
"Got it."
Then the car fell silent.
It seemed they suddenly had nothing left to talk about.
Xia Qiqi's phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the caller ID, then quickly picked up. "Zi Ming."
She couldn't help glancing at Xiao Nanchen when she picked up, but he showed no reaction at all.
"Done with it?"
"Yeah, just left the marriage registry."
"I'll come get you." He immediately said.
"No need."
"I was supposed to take you there, but something came up I had to deal with. Now that it's handled, I'll come get you and we can go home for dinner together."
"I can get home myself, don't worry about me." Xia Qiqi smiled and said, "Traffic's really backed up here, you should just head home early too."
"That's even more reason I shouldn't let you take a cab right?"
"I'm getting a ride from Xiao Nanchen."
He was clearly stunned for two seconds, then responded smoothly, "Then I'll go start cooking, see you when you get here."
"OK, see you in a bit." Xia Qiqi nodded.
"See you."
Xia Qiqi hung up.
The car stayed quiet.
Xiao Nanchen was still emotionless.
He just focused on driving.
"Zi Ming and I are back together," Xia Qiqi said.
Her voice held a hint of pride.
"That's good," Xiao Nanchen nodded.
After all this, at least he hadn't ruined her happiness.
So he hadn't made too big a mistake.
"What about you?" Xia Qiqi suddenly asked. "Going to find a new girlfriend?"
Xiao Nanchen didn't answer.
"If not for your gloomy personality, you'd have a lot of women who like you." Xia Qiqi said earnestly.
Xiao Nanchen just listened.
"Actually, although I really dislike Gu Yanxuan, I can tell she genuinely likes you. Judging by her looks and family background, she's pretty good, you should consider it." Xia Qiqi was giving him advice.
"I'll think about it," Xiao Nanchen said.
"Xiao Nanchen, there's been a lot of unpleasantness between us, whether it was our parents' relationship before, or you forcing me into marriage, and finally the unpleasant divorce. But I hope now we can end it all. End all grievances between us. From now on, I'll have my happiness, you should find someone to properly spend your days with too. Don't be so alone."
Xiao Nanchen glanced at Xia Qiqi, then focused on driving again. His voice was still indifferent and calm. "I know how to spend my days. I can live perfectly fine alone, though I won't reject a woman getting close someday. I just want to tell you, while I'm still single, don't feel burdened because of me. I'm not avoiding relationships because of you, I just don't want to settle. But if I'm really with someone, I'll be earnest about the relationship, for life."
Earnestly together, for life.
Xia Qiqi pursed her lips.
She had to admit, that was indeed Xiao Nanchen's character.
All or nothing.
Xiao Nanchen's self-discipline was truly astounding.
"Is it this way?" Xiao Nanchen drove through a street and asked Xia Qiqi for directions.
Also shifting the topic.
He especially didn't want to discuss romance with Xia Qiqi.
"Yes, take a left at the next intersection."
"Got it."
Then the car was left with just directional prompts.
No more discussion of anything else.
The sedan arrived at Jade Garden complex.
A man was already waiting for her at the gate.
Xia Qiqi opened the door and rushed out like a gust of wind.
She didn't even say goodbye or thanks, just hurried into the man's embrace, looking so urgent, so reckless.
The two held each other tightly.
That was how love should look.
As for him and Xia Qiqi, it was just.
One-sided affection.
One-sided affection could never lead to happiness.
