Jingxia Rose

Chapter 79: It's better to cut ties completely.
Accompanied by Ji Xuan, they visited two more stores, where Ji Nian bought a cardigan and boots that she liked.

On the way back, I bought a cup of milk tea and pressed down on a medical ice pack with my other hand.

This is an order Ji Xuan placed on her phone while shopping. She was worried that her face would swell up, so applying an ice pack would help.

When Ji Heng drove over, he noticed the slap mark on Ji Nian's face and said with a serious expression, "Sis...did this girl break a big rule? Is she even worth you hitting her?"

"..."

Ji Nian covered her cheek and kicked him, "Stop talking nonsense, how could I hit you!"

She recounted her encounter with Jiao Yan and her daughter.

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng instantly flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to get out of the car. "Damn it, which blind old bastard dared to hit my sister? Come on, lead the way, I'll get revenge for you."

Ji Nian quickly grabbed her, "Who knows where they went? Anyway, we didn't lose anything. I was so powerful just now, and both that mother and daughter got slapped by me..."

Speaking of this, Ji Nian recalled Ji Xian's tears and her meaningful words, and she could still remember the girl's name.

After thinking for a moment, she asked hesitantly, "Sister, do you know that mother and daughter from earlier?"

As she spoke, she suddenly recalled the sense of familiarity she felt when she saw that middle-aged woman.

Looking at Ji Xuan's eyebrows and eyes again, they overlapped effortlessly.

"Sis, I think that woman's eyes look a lot like yours..."

Ji Xian chuckled softly, said nothing, and slowly turned his head to look out the window.

It's clearly her eyes that look like Jiao Yan's.

She changed the subject, saying, "Let's go back. I suddenly want to eat my second aunt's steamed pork ribs. Let's ask her to make them when we get back."

Ji Nian nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, I want to eat too."

The three drove back, and Auntie immediately noticed the strangeness on Ji Nian's face.

Because of the ice pack, the marks on my face have disappeared, and my face is no longer swollen, but there is still a clear difference between it and the other side of my face.

Ji Nian then vividly recounted the conflict at the mall, even emphasizing how Ji Xian had physically assaulted her and her daughter.

My second aunt frowned. "You said that girl's name is You Xiaoxiao?"

"Yes, my sister seems to know them. She called out the girl's name."

Aunt Ji's face turned cold, and she cursed, "Like father, like son. What kind of person you are, you raise what kind of person. I better not run into that old slut, or I'll tear her mouth apart and throw her into the latrine, or I'll change my surname from Cai!"

Ji Nian was startled when her mother suddenly started cursing.

"Mom, you..."

"And you, you useless piece of trash, if she hits you you don't fight back? Slap her, scratch her face, you're shameless anyway, why wait for your sister to come and beat her up for you?"

Aunt Ji pointed at her and angrily cursed, "At the very least, when your sister started hitting you, you should have gone up and kicked her a couple of times too! If I had known I would run into that bitch today, I would have gone with you all today!"

Ji Nian: "..."

She was suddenly relieved that her mother hadn't gone; otherwise, she would be at the police station right now because of the fight.

Ji Xian's feelings were complicated. He stayed in his room for a long time to calm down. In the afternoon, he bought incense, paper money, and some offerings and fruits, and went up to the cemetery.

A tombstone was erected in front of the grave, with her father's name on it and the name of the person who erected the tombstone written next to it.

She said nothing, silently lit incense and burned paper money, then sat down beside it, leaning against the stone tablet, gazing at the distant scenery.

It wasn't until it was almost dark that Uncle Ji came up and looked at the offerings laid out on the table.

"It's going to rain tonight, hurry up and go downstairs." Uncle Ji said with his hands behind his back, "Your second aunt made steamed pork ribs with rice flour."

"Ai."

Ji Xian smiled and agreed, got up, dusted off his pants, glanced back at the tombstone, and then followed his second uncle down the mountain.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Ji Xian stayed in his hometown for half a month and returned to Beijing on the ninth day of the lunar new year.

Shi Wan picked her up at the airport. The two hadn't seen each other for almost ten months. Due to the time difference and their busy schedules, they didn't chat or video call often. "It seems the meat in Moscow is good for you. I feel like you've gained some weight; your face is fuller."

Shi Wan reached out and pinched her cheek, smiling as she spoke.

Ji Xian rolled her eyes at her and ruthlessly pushed her hand away. "How are you doing this year? Have you become a rich woman yet?"

"What? You want this rich woman to support you?"

"Yes, I don't want to work hard anymore."

"Then quit your job, I'll support you."

After chatting and laughing for a while, Shi Wan asked about her relationship with Wen Qi.

She hadn't mentioned Wen Qi's confession to Shi Wan, but she had mentioned Wen Qi's business trip to Moscow.

On New Year's Eve, when the two were video chatting to keep vigil, Shi Wan noticed something was amiss, but their conversation ended abruptly because Ji Nian came to see her at that time.

Shi Wan sent her a text message, telling her to return to Beijing and confess honestly.

Ji Xian pursed her lips and sighed softly, "Actually... he confessed to me on New Year's Eve."

"Who?"

Shi Wan blinked in confusion.

Ji Xian glanced at her indifferently and stuffed a piece of mutton into his mouth.

"You mean... Wen Qi confessed to you?" Shi Wan gasped, staring at him in shock. "When did he become so aware of this?"

"No, no..." Shi Wan rubbed her forehead. "This isn't about being aware of things. Haven't you two broken up for over a year? He suddenly confessed to you? Is it because... he hasn't let you go yet?"

Ji Xian didn't say anything.

She knew that Wen Qi wasn't the type to lie; he was always a man of his word.

Unlike some playboys (here referring to Yi Xu), who close their eyes and spout all sorts of sweet talk and nonsense.

Therefore, the statement "I like you" must have been sincere.

But Ji Xian was afraid to take that step again.

She never regretted falling in love with Wen Qi, nor would she regret spending those four years by his side, even though this was not the ending she wanted.

So now, she is very afraid of repeating the same mistake.

There's absolutely no need to waste another four years of our lives.

"You want to get back together with him?" Shi Wan asked. "Or... have you already gotten back together with him?"

Ji Xuan slightly lifted his eyelids, shook his head, and solemnly said, "No."

"So you rejected him?"

Ji Xian pursed his lips and shook his head.

Shi Wan knew her concerns, thought for a moment, and asked, "So, have you let him go?"

"That's it."

“Yes or no, what do you mean by ‘it’?” Shi Wan said, dissatisfied. “That means you actually have feelings for him, but you still mind Ruan Zheng.”

Perhaps Wen Qi's feelings for Ruan Zheng have faded, or perhaps he has let go of them, but it cannot be denied that his feelings for Ruan Zheng caused her great psychological harm in the past.

Four years have passed, and that incident has become a lingering thorn, occasionally pricking her and reminding her of the bitterness and pain of the past.

Even after they got together, she would instinctively compare whether his love for her was equal to his love for Ruan Zheng.

Ji Xian dislikes getting caught in a vortex of suspicion, and even less does he want to lose himself in it and cease to be himself.

If that's the case, then it's better to cut ties completely.

Babies, please vote for me! Mwah!
(End of this chapter)