But We Broke Up

Shen Heng curled his lips, his eyes full of amusement. "Just kidding. Don't be mad."

The veins on Chu Tianqing's forehead throbbed with anger. Like a fighting cock with its feathers ruffled, she turned and advanced on Shen Heng, stressing each word. "It's only a joke if I find it funny. Otherwise, it's offensive. You..."

She wanted to call her good big brother arrogant, rude and an awful person, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She still couldn't bear to. Annoying as he was now, there was no denying how good he had been to her before.

"All right, aren't you cold?" Shen Heng gestured with his chin. "Get in. Let's talk."

Chu Tianqing narrowed her eyes. She wanted to ask, Is that any way to make it up to me?

She gave a cold snort and started to leave, but suddenly felt a powerful force. Shen Heng picked her up and shoved her straight into the car.

"This is kidnapping!" Chu Tianqing shouted angrily, trying to rush back out.

Suddenly, Shen Heng's face darkened. He bent down, braced himself against the doorway and stared her down. "Shen Xixi, if you keep this up, I'm really going to get angry."

Chu Tianqing met his gaze and felt an inexplicable chill, as if her bloodline had asserted its dominance. She obediently retreated into the car.

"What are you being so fierce for? All you ever do is bully me," she muttered.

Shen Heng went around to the other side and got in. He said to the driver, "Old Li, there's a coffee shop next door. Go have a cup of coffee and take a break. Don't hurry back."

Old Li understood and got out, leaving the two of them alone in the car.

Chu Tianqing was still angry. She folded her arms and looked out the window, determined not to speak first and show weakness.

Shen Heng checked the time. He couldn't be bothered to compete with her and asked directly, "Do you know why I'm angry?"

"How could I not? Didn't I just say you were crossing a line? I even spent ages explaining it nicely. You readily agreed to my face, then turned around and fell out with me. You're such a petty miser." Chu Tianqing turned to glare at him. "Anyway, none of this has anything to do with Baogang. How could you bear to give a dog the silent treatment?"

After Shen Heng told her that day not to get pregnant before marriage, Chu Tianqing had tactfully objected. Shen Heng's expression hadn't been pleasant, and she had hurried to placate him.

She'd thought she had handled it well. Who could have guessed Shen Heng would turn on her afterward?

She was too embarrassed to play the victim herself, so she could only use Baogang to lodge her complaint.

Shen Heng sneered. "If we're talking about saying one thing to someone's face and doing another behind their back, what I've done is nothing. I can't hold a candle to your boyfriend with a marriage engagement."

Chu Tianqing jolted and looked at him in alarm. After a long while, she asked weakly, "Brother, you know? How did you find out?"

"Never mind how I found out. There's no hiding these things." Shen Heng's temper flared, his tone growing sterner. "Once word gets out, you'll be the other woman. Shen Xixi, tell me, what on earth are you thinking?"

Chu Tianqing swallowed, unbearably nervous. "I... wanted to talk things through with Xiao Junyi, but he's away on business. I want to hear him tell me about it himself."

"Excuses. If you want to talk, you can do it over the phone." Shen Heng saw right through her and scolded her, frustrated that she couldn't be forged into steel. "I think you're just a turtle hiding in its shell, unable to let go of that philandering young master. You fell in love and lost your mind."

Well said. As expected of my good big brother.

Chu Tianqing pressed her lips together, holding back the tears welling up in her eyes. She said plaintively, "It's my first time being in love. Brother, please go a little easier on me. If it's true, I'll definitely break up with him."

Heavens, it hasn't even been half a month since my heart fluttered for him. Give me a little time to process it. Only a robot can stop on command.

Shen Heng turned to study her aggrieved face and said coldly, "Hold those tears back, or let's see how you explain them to Mom when we go home for dinner."

Chu Tianqing sucked in a breath, suppressed the urge to curse him and agreed weakly, "Fine, but stop scolding me."

Shen Heng said nothing and turned to look out the window.

Chu Tianqing took a deep breath to calm herself, but couldn't help asking curiously, "Brother, seriously, how did you find out about all this?"

At that moment, Shen Heng didn't want to keep sparring with her, so he told her the truth. "Miss Yan told me."

Realization dawned on Chu Tianqing. So that was it. On second thought, it made sense.

Still, she was a little indignant. "Oh, you two must be really close. She tells you everything," she said sarcastically.

Shen Heng replied mildly, "Yes, we do get along quite well."

Chu Tianqing caught her breath, nearly suffering internal injuries from holding it in.

Shen Heng glanced at his watch again. Seeing that it was getting late, he gave her one final warning. "Now that everything's out in the open, deal with this as soon as possible and give me a final answer. If you keep dragging your feet, don't blame me for telling Mom. You can explain it to her yourself then."

Chu Tianqing froze. What a way to strike a killing blow with the blade of family ties. Ms. Jiang was her weak spot; she didn't want to make her worry or be upset.

"I will!" Chu Tianqing promised through gritted teeth. "I'll take care of it as soon as possible. You can rest assured!"

The car returned to the Shen Residence, and Jiang Youyi was delighted to see her son and daughter come home together.

Back when the siblings had been distant, Jiang Youyi had been worried sick and at her wit's end. Who would have thought that after the incident, their relationship would grow closer and closer? Wasn't it just like the old man losing his horse—who could say it wasn't a blessing in disguise?

That evening, the family of four enjoyed dinner together. Chu Tianqing chatted with Jiang Youyi about everyday matters, while Shen Yunsheng and Shen Heng discussed work.

Chu Tianqing occasionally eavesdropped, judging her good big brother's situation at work from their conversation. Things seemed much better than before. He had his own faction now and was no longer isolated and without support.

As for the reason, she felt it had a great deal to do with the Yan Family, because Father Shen mentioned the Taihe Group more than once.

Chu Tianqing couldn't help wavering a little. She had always opposed her good big brother getting together with Yan Ruyu, as it had seemed too much like a farce.

Now she had changed her mind. For her good big brother, career surely came before love, and marrying Yan Ruyu was a good choice.

As for Yan Ruyu, she seemed to like her good big brother quite a bit. Put that way, they were well matched.

She was still thinking about this and that when she suddenly heard Jiang Youyi call her. "Xixi? What are you thinking about? You didn't hear what I just asked, did you?"

"What?" Chu Tianqing abruptly came back to her senses. "What did you say, Auntie?"

Jiang Youyi smiled gently and patiently repeated herself. "I asked if you still remember Song Xun. He loved playing with you when you were little and said he would marry you when he grew up. He went to America to study in his teens."

Chu Tianqing searched her memory. There was someone like that, a sunny, adorable little boy about two months younger than her, who had always chased after her calling her big sister.

"I remember. That was when we were little. We lost touch after he went abroad," Chu Tianqing replied.

"Good, you remember him." Jiang Youyi smiled. "He's planning to come back soon. Your Aunt Liang wants to set the two of you up, and I think you'd be a good match too. What do you think?"

Huh? Another one? What a way to add to the mess!

"I think... there's no hurry." Looking embarrassed, Chu Tianqing said tactfully, "Auntie, I'm not thinking about that sort of thing lately."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shen Heng suddenly choked, turned his head and began coughing into his hand.

Jiang Youyi's attention immediately shifted. "What happened? Madam Zhang, quickly, bring him a glass of warm water."

Chu Tianqing bit her lip. Seeing her good big brother cough until his face reddened, she almost wanted to laugh.

Ha! Serves you right!

In any case, Shen Heng's interruption put the matter to rest, and Jiang Youyi didn't bring it up again.

Chu Tianqing breathed a sigh of relief, though she was also a little sad.

Whether it was Shen Heng introducing Ye Mingchen to her or Jiang Youyi wanting to introduce Song Xun, they both hoped she would get married as soon as possible.

Her position was so awkward. She couldn't return to the Shen family, and they hoped she would find a good home.

But she had gone and fallen for Xiao Junyi. Fate really knew how to toy with people.

After dinner, Chu Tianqing caught a ride back with her good big brother. Her spirits were low all the way, and she wondered where she should go from here.

Seeing that she was unhappy, Shen Heng said nothing more, only telling her as she got out to talk to Xiao Junyi as soon as possible.

Chu Tianqing pouted and said she knew, then turned and left in a huff.

Back home, Chu Tianqing didn't waste a moment. Standing in the entryway, she sent Xiao Junyi a WeChat message: Didn't you say your business trip would last a week? It's been almost half a month. Why aren't you back yet?

Xiao Junyi replied quickly: Plans can't keep up with changes, darling. I'm exhausted to death. I need your loving care.

Chu Tianqing's face twisted: No loving care, only a big loving slap. Want one? Come back and get it!

Sensing her anger, Xiao Junyi called her straightaway. His voice was slightly hoarse. "Angry? Heaven is my witness, I'm not staying away on purpose. There's just no end to the work. I miss you too! We've only been together a few days, and we haven't been able to see each other for half that time. We're practically the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl!"

"Cut the cheesy talk." Chu Tianqing kicked off her shoes, picked up Baogang and flopped comfortably onto the sofa. "I'm just asking when you'll be back. I have something important to tell you."

"What is it? Tell me now," Xiao Junyi said.

"No, I want to tell you face-to-face." Chu Tianqing was insistent. She wanted to confront him in person and get it over with, whether she lived or died.

Xiao Junyi had no choice. He calculated that he needed about two more days. If he caught an earlier flight back, he would arrive in Jincheng at around four in the morning the day after tomorrow.

"Okay, no problem!" Chu Tianqing said firmly. "I'll pick you up at the airport. Wait for me."

She watched the stars and the moon in longing until the day after that finally came. Chu Tianqing left work early and took a taxi straight to the airport.

Standing at the deserted arrivals gate, she spotted Xiao Junyi coming out with his briefcase. His eyes were slightly shadowed, his jaw was covered in stubble, and he looked exhausted.

But the moment he saw her, his eyes lit up. He spread his arms and rushed toward her with a smile. "Darling, I'm back!"

There weren't many people at the airport in the early hours, but there were still some. One look at their gossip-hungry gazes sent Chu Tianqing fleeing in alarm.

Xiao Junyi laughed and chased after her. "Hey, I'm about to drop dead! Darling, are you trying to murder your own husband?"

Chu Tianqing's cheeks flamed. She hurriedly turned around and covered his mouth. "Stop it! Aren't you embarrassed?"

His eyes smiling, Xiao Junyi tightened his arms around her in a bear hug. "I missed you so much. Really, I'm not lying."

Buried in his broad embrace, Chu Tianqing felt a sting in her nose and her heart soften. Sigh, he really is so good.

Still, she retained her reason. Patting his back, she said, "I have something important to tell you. Let's find somewhere to talk."

"Now? Is it that urgent?" Xiao Junyi let her go, clearly surprised. "What on earth is it?"

Chu Tianqing dragged him to a café and bought him a coffee. Once they were sitting across from each other, she took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Xiao Junyi, what's going on with your engagement to Lan Zhenzhen? Please explain."

Xiao Junyi froze. After a long while, he gave a laugh and asked, "How did you hear about that old sesame and rotten grain?"

"That's not important. Please answer my question directly." Chu Tianqing kept a straight face, as if interrogating a criminal.

Xiao Junyi shook his head helplessly, uncrossed his legs and put away his carefree expression. He explained seriously, "Lan Zhenzhen's grandmother and my maternal grandmother were bosom friends and neighbors. They did talk about a marriage arrangement, and it was even valid until we turned eighteen. But everything changed once we went to university, because we developed minds of our own."

"Neither of us was interested in the other. And most importantly, Lan Zhenzhen has a boyfriend now." Xiao Junyi opened his phone and scrolled for quite a while before finding a photo. He handed it to Chu Tianqing. "Here, look at this photo of her and her boyfriend at New Year's."

Chu Tianqing took it and saw that it was true.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman, well matched in appearance, posed cheek to cheek. The caption read: A new year, and we still haven't broken up.

Chu Tianqing's assertiveness immediately faded. She hadn't expected the truth to be so simple, which made her interrogation just now seem a little silly.

She gave a guilty smile and respectfully handed the phone back. "I misunderstood. Sorry."

"A good child corrects her mistakes." Xiao Junyi spoke with concern. "Was this really such a big deal? You could have just asked me over the phone. Why come all the way to the airport in the middle of the night? It's tiring and dangerous. Don't do it again."

"It's fine. I've been working night shifts lately, so I just stopped by," Chu Tianqing said awkwardly, grinning foolishly at Xiao Junyi. "Are you tired? Let me take you back to rest."

"Night shifts?" Xiao Junyi was puzzled. "Did your restaurant switch to twenty-four-hour service?"

"No, I found a job at a bar, from eight in the evening to four in the morning. I slipped out today to pick you up," Chu Tianqing said casually.

Xiao Junyi's frown only deepened. "Shen Xixi, what do you mean by this? Why take such a tiring job? If you need money, tell me."

Chu Tianqing shrugged, too lazy to explain. Young Master Xiao would only think she was crazy and looking for hardship if she started preaching about relying on herself for everything.

For a while after that, Xiao Junyi stopped pouring out his feelings and insisted that Chu Tianqing quit her job.

Chu Tianqing firmly refused to budge. Xiao Junyi was furious. After taking her home, he drove off without even saying goodbye.

Chu Tianqing stood downstairs, utterly speechless!

Good news: Xiao Junyi wasn't engaged.

Bad news: They had quarreled, and neither would give in.

Chu Tianqing stamped her feet in anger. "Whatever! Fine, let's break up!"

She went home and lay down on her bed. Though she had worked all night and made a trip to the airport, she wasn't sleepy at all.

After tossing and turning restlessly, she decided to take out her phone and send her good big brother a WeChat message:

Dear Mr. Shen Heng, I have just concluded my confrontation with Xiao Junyi. He stated that the engagement had long since ceased to count, and I have seen evidence confirming that this is indeed the case. However, we had a fight, and our romantic relationship is hanging by a thread. Should there be any developments, I will inform you promptly.

The message sent successfully. Before she could even blink, Shen Heng replied instantly: ?