CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 325: NOT A GOOD WIFE

The smile was so warm, so earnest, that Tan Qing’s determined gaze made Wen Nuan’s nose sting. She turned away, wiping away the tears that she couldn’t hold back.

She finally couldn’t bring herself to say the words of refusal.

She took a taxi back, and since the manager didn’t require her to return to work today, she decided to use the time to tidy up her "new home."

It was a place the company rented for employees without charging them. A one-bedroom apartment, a bit small, but very clean, with enough furniture and an independent kitchen and bathroom, along with various appliances. Located downtown, it had a large supermarket nearby, making shopping and transportation very convenient.

Wen Nuan bought a potted plant on the way, unlocked the door, and went in. Sitting in the small living room, she pondered over what Tan Qing had said.

She felt very moved and warm, yet also very helpless.

Soon, a loud noise came from across the hall. She had just poured herself some water to drink, and curiously looked through the peephole to see her new neighbors, but only saw several movers carrying appliances waiting in the stairwell.

Are they new movers too?

Wen Nuan smiled indifferently; if it were before, she would have happily washed some fruits and brought them over to greet and get to know the new neighbors. But now, the recent gloom made her feel lifeless. She didn’t want to move at all, as her mind was filled with Tan Qing’s eyes full of deep meaning.

She thought, maybe I should just agree. Yet, in a flash, those eyes suddenly turned cold, and Leng Yan floated before her eyes, looking at her, gritting his teeth as he questioned her why she couldn’t trust him, why she left him so heartlessly.

Wen Nuan slammed her forehead fiercely.

In the evening, Wen Nuan prepared something random to eat. Looking at the instant noodles with a poached egg and a few floating vegetable leaves, she felt an indescribable aversion.

Since returning home, it was the first time she cooked for herself and ate by herself.

Her throat was dry, tears rolling into the bowl. She wiped her eyes with a tissue and buried her head, eating quickly, wanting to temporarily forget something.

It’s really painful. Ever since falling in love with Leng Yan, her tear ducts became extremely active, and she would often cry at the slightest provocation.

Halfway through eating, her phone rang. She glanced at it, and it was Tan Qing’s number. Remembering that he said he’d call her once he got home, she quickly opened the message.

"Nuannuan, I got home early, but I was rushing to handle some things, so I’m telling you a bit late. I’m at a party now, not convenient to call. Have you eaten?"

Wen Nuan gently smiled and replied.

"I’m eating now, you go ahead with your work."

Just after sending it, it rang again; it was still Tan Qing’s. Simple words, but they carried a subtle warmth: "What are you eating? It’s not instant noodles, is it?"

This time Wen Nuan truly laughed: "You’re spot on."

Seeing Qu Min approach, Tan Qing discreetly moved further away, looking at Wen Nuan’s text message, he frowned with concern, his fingers quickly typing: "Don’t always eat that stuff, take good care of yourself."

Wen Nuan looked at it, her heart filled with gratitude and apology.

What should she do?

In her heart, that man was still residing. If she were to accept Tan Qing now, it would be unfair to him.

Should she accept a new affection?

Silently asking herself, Wen Nuan’s heart swelled with countless questions, big and small.

She sighed and sent a "Okay" back to Tan Qing. Almost at the same time, the phone rang again. Without even looking, she pressed the button, and her hand holding the phone suddenly trembled.

It was actually Leng Yan’s...

After being so careful for so long, her feelings were exposed so carelessly.

"Honey, you finally answered my call. Honey, where are you now?" Leng Yan’s voice carried a hint of ecstasy.

A single simple sentence, yet she clearly saw Leng Yan’s current helplessness and pain, as well as a heartache similar to her own.

He still called her honey, but did he know that it made her feel suffocated, a pain that could kill?

He asked where she was?

She didn’t know how many times she’d heard this sentence from Tong Xi. He wanted to find her, wanted to wait for her to come home, but she really didn’t want to go back.

Not at all!

Suppressing her emotions, not letting the tears at the corners of her eyes fall. Wen Nuan threw her phone far away; she didn’t want to see any information related to him.

Today, it was just an accident! Nothing more!

Leng Yan’s calls kept coming, repeatedly and tirelessly. Just as Wen Nuan was about to turn off her phone, Wen Qingyan called. His first words were: "Nuannuan, it’s been half a month, why haven’t you come back?"

"Dad." Wen Nuan’s throat felt like a burning hot coal was lodged there.

Now she didn’t know why she had lost the courage she once had. She always wanted to escape everything, and even until now, she hadn’t told Wen Qingyan that she was staying to work in E City.

"What’s wrong?" Noticing his daughter’s discomfort, Wen Qingyan quickly softened his tone: "Nuannuan, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I just miss you." Wen Nuan took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound normal: "There’s something at the branch office here, I need to stay for a while before I can come back."

Wen Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, lamenting: "How can it be like this, Nuannuan, leaving Yan alone at home while you busy yourself with work. It can’t be called being a good wife. Try to come back soon. I saw Yan today, sigh, he’s lost a lot of weight. He says he’s been working overtime every day, doesn’t want to go home early without you there..."

Wen Qingyan said many things about Leng Yan, and Wen Nuan wanted to interrupt him several times but held back.

The Leng Family hadn’t mentioned breaking up with Leng Yan, and her father didn’t know the truth, nor did she have the courage to tell him.

The night in E City is as beautiful as in N City. But in her eyes, it was just as lonely.

She didn’t know when she started fearing the darkness of the night.

During the day, she could laugh and chat with colleagues, pile on loads of work to deliberately ease her emotional pain.

But at night, it was different.

After work, solitude always seeped in, invading her heart. She missed everything from the past, yet feared to reminisce.

**

"Qing, I was drinking just now, can you send me home?"

Tan Qing was just about to reply when Qu Min approached, wearing delicate makeup with a trace of drunken ambiguity.

Tan Qing slightly furrowed his brow: "Where’s your driver?"

"He left after dropping me off here." Qu Min leaned closer, coyly looking at him: "Send me home, my head hurts!"

Seeing the phone in his hand, her slender hands reached out: "Qing, who were you texting just now?"

"Don’t touch my phone!" Tan Qing snapped, not allowing her to take it.

Qu Min always loved flipping through his phone, and he hated having it touched by her.

"Is it a girl?" Qu Min’s lips curled, tears welling up: "Is it the girl you like?"

"Yes."

Frowning tightly, Tan Qing walked around her: "Since you know, stop clinging to me."

He had explained it N+N times and was always drained. Now that she had seen it, he wanted to make it clear.

He always considered Qu Min a friend, and at most, a naïve younger sister. He could never see her as a "lover."

"Who exactly is she?"

Qu Min persistently followed Tan Qing to a small garden outside, furiously shouting: "Is she an employee of MT?"

She couldn’t forget that day at that buffet restaurant, seeing Tan Qing dining with two women wearing MT uniforms. She had fought with Tan Qing then and didn’t see clearly who had "enticed" the man she liked.

"Qu Min, my affairs don’t need you to meddle in." Tan Qing gritted his teeth, glaring at her: "You also don’t need to guess, the person I like has nothing to do with you. Just remember, it’s definitely not you."

He was harsh today, but with Qu Min, repeated explanations couldn’t make her fully understand, so he had to be tough.

"I must know who’s seducing you. I want to see where I’m lacking compared to her." Qu Min’s temper flared, and having drunk today, she angrily rushed up and took advantage of Tan Qing’s inattention to snatch his phone.