Xiao Nanchen drove away.
On the busy streets full of cars and pedestrians, it was peak rush hour, and he kept having to stop and go, stop and go.
He looked completely cold and aloof.
The setting sun's rays shined on him, but didn't seem to warm him at all. His whole body emanated a chill.
It was very heartbreaking.
But he could control it.
There would be no emotional fluctuations, like a finely sculpted statue.
Suddenly, his phone rang in the car.
Xiao Nanchen glanced at it and answered.
His voice was strangely normal, with no detectable emotion. He said, "Brother Qin."
"Nanchen, I heard your leg has mostly recovered now." Qin Jiang asked suddenly.
"My right leg is completely healed, my left leg still needs more recovery."
"How long until your left leg fully recovers?"
"Probably one or two more months."
"So fast?! I thought you were going to be crippled." Qin Jiang said bluntly.
Xiao Nanchen was already used to his lack of restraint.
"Where are you now?" Qin Jiang asked again.
"On my way home."
"I heard you..." Qin Jiang finally said it, "Got divorced."
Xiao Nanchen's expression did move a little.
It was so subtle that no one could really see it with the naked eye.
In his usual tone, he asked, "Who told you that?"
Qin Jiang didn't answer.
Xiao Nanchen had already guessed, "Was it An Nuan?"
"Don't blame An Nuan for her big mouth." This time Qin Jiang really took An Nuan's side, "She was worried about you too, afraid you'd be too heartbroken, so she asked me to keep you company."
"I'm fine, really good."
"Are you sure? Don't put up a strong front." Qin Jiang said suspiciously.
"Do I sound like someone with problems?"
"No, you don't. But since we were young you've always been the most resilient. Who knows what you're really thinking in your heart. It took me and A Huai a long time to find out you liked Xia Qiqi." Qin Jiang still complained a little.
Xiao Nanchen suddenly didn't know how to explain.
"Let's do this, let's eat dinner and drink together tonight. Whether you have problems or not, your cousin isn't here, it's just me your brother to celebrate your new single status with you." Qin Jiang suggested.
Xiao Nanchen looked at the busy city streets.
In such a dazzling city, he suddenly felt a little lonely.
It was almost as if this city didn't really belong to him.
Just like a few years ago, when he left with just a backpack, went abroad all by himself.
He said, "Okay. Where should we meet?"
"I'll send you the location pin for the restaurant."
"Got it."
Xiao Nanchen hung up.
Still calm as usual.
No one could tell just how deeply wounded his heart was.
How thoroughly shattered.
His car arrived at the location Qin Jiang gave.
He walked in with a cane, and Qin Jiang was already waiting for him inside.
It was just the two of them in a private room, but it was so luxurious that even Xiao Nanchen was shocked.
A huge table that could easily seat 20 people was piled full of dishes.
Xiao Nanchen couldn't help but ask, "Is anyone else coming?"
"Just us two."
"Can we finish all this?"
"That's not the point." Qin Jiang said excitedly, "The point is you've finally gotten rid of that Xia Qiqi, forget just treating you to this one table, I'd be happy to treat you to eat like this for a whole week."
Xiao Nanchen was a little speechless.
Still felt it was too extravagant.
"Come on, let's eat first, we can drink slowly." Qin Jiang urged.
Xiao Nanchen nodded, and ate while drinking and chatting with Qin Jiang.
"I just don't know what you saw in that Xia Qiqi," Qin Jiang said. "If we're talking looks, she's decent, quite stylish, good temperament, but definitely not a stunning beauty. Look at you, so handsome and refined, with such a clean, noble air. You two were a mismatch, like the typical combination of new money and elegant aristocracy. You're totally incompatible."
Qin Jiang kept complaining about Xia Qiqi while Xiao Nanchen just listened without commenting.
"Yes, I admit Xia Qiqi has a nice figure. I've seen her several times dancing provocatively with her friends at nightclubs, with that tiny waist and butt... But there are countless women with hot bodies in this world, Xia Qiqi is just one of many. And I always felt you weren't such a shallow person! I thought you'd like the innocent, girlish type. Xia Qiqi is just a vixen!"
"...When it comes to matters between men and women, Xia Qiqi is actually quite conservative. She's the type who looks really open on the outside but is very traditional at heart. She only goes clubbing to have fun. She definitely doesn't sleep around."
But now, it seemed he didn't need to defend Xia Qiqi anymore.
Because they no longer had a relationship.
"That's why I feel your divorce from Xia Qiqi was the smartest decision you've ever made." Qin Jiang asserted. "Let's drink to your single status again."
Xiao Nanchen didn't refuse.
Since Qin Jiang said to drink tonight, he would keep drinking.
Even though he had low alcohol tolerance, drinking could still drown sorrows.
"Oh, A Huai and An Nuan getting married really made me look at them with new eyes. I knew A Huai liked An Nuan for a long time. Speaking of which, I just realized something." Qin Jiang said excitedly.
Xiao Nanchen looked at him.
Qin Jiang said directly, "Haven't you noticed, you and A Huai are both too devoted! Once you fall for someone, you can like them from childhood to adulthood, still liking them resentlessly. Is this a tradition in your family? Deep-rooted and inherited genetically?!"
Xiao Nanchen smiled slightly.
It just happened that they each met someone they liked.
And just happened to not meet another they liked after that.
"Let me keep talking about A Huai and An Nuan. I always thought An Nuan was just a pretty vase, only interested in A Huai for his looks. After all, someone as stunning as A Huai getting chased is only natural. Who knew, now the two of them have such a good relationship, a sharp contrast to you. It makes me want to say, aren't An Nuan and Xia Qiqi good friends?! Xia Qiqi is so awful, how could An Nuan be friends with her?!"
"You're quite awful too." Xiao Nanchen suddenly laughed.
Qin Jiang was startled, then somewhat agitatedly retorted, "I'm only awful to women."
"Xia Qiqi might only be awful to men."
"You're still speaking up for Xia Qiqi, you must not be over her yet."
"It's not that. True letting go means you can look at the person objectively, without personal feelings. I'm just objectively evaluating Xia Qiqi, nothing more."
Qin Jiang felt Xiao Nanchen made sense, so he didn't pursue it further. He said, "Nanchen, you and A Huai have always looked down on how I live my life. But I want to tell you, you can't understand the happiness I feel."
Xiao Nanchen just smiled lightly.
Completely unmoved.
