Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Lamp Waiting for Her Late Return

Shen Qingye placed another piece of steak she had cut into Jiang Chumian’s plate. “A member of the Shen family shouldn’t make a habit of apologizing. Grandfather wouldn’t be pleased; it loses face for the family.”

Jiang Chumian looked up again, ate the piece of steak, and said softly, “I understand.”

“I won’t do it in front of outsiders anymore,” she added, lowering her eyes.

This meant she couldn’t fully guarantee it. Shen Qingye disliked this specific trait of hers—the excessive forbearance when facing the Jiang family but then realized it was likely a long-ingrained habit. It wasn’t something she could break with a few words.

“Mhm.” Shen Qingye didn’t press further, realizing some habits couldn’t be changed overnight.

Aside from the interlude with Jiang Xiaofan, the meal was quite pleasant.

Following that dinner, Jiang Chumian went on a business trip for nearly a month. Shen Qingye didn’t ask much about her work; their relationship was still essentially just a friendship.

Occasionally, coming home alone, Shen Qingye felt the house was far too quiet. In just a few months, she had started getting used to the feeling of someone else being there. Even when she used to come home first and Jiang Chumian worked late, the house hadn’t felt this empty. It was the “hope” of knowing someone would eventually return.

Shen Qingye had never lacked the love of her grandparents, but her parents had passed away when she was young. Her grandfather was always busy, and due to her status, she didn’t have many sincere friends. Since childhood, other children had been taught by their parents to curry favor with her.

Growing up, she managed to make two real friends, but they were both busy with their own lives now. Jiang Chumian was the only person in years who had come into her life and seemed capable of a “normal” relationship. Despite their contract, she was better company than the other socialites—who were either useless or too opportunistic.

With Jiang Chumian gone for a month, Shen Qingye found life becoming dull again. But she was stubborn; she felt that since Jiang hadn’t reached out to her, she didn’t want to be the one to initiate contact, even if she already considered Jiang a friend. She had been raised as the center of attention and, while she disliked sycophants, she was too awkward to be the initiator. This was why she had stayed single for so many years.

Jiang Chumian, however, was truly busy during this trip. Working from dawn until dusk, she genuinely didn’t have the time to think about Shen Qingye. Even on weekends, she was out for tea, golf, or hot springs with clients. She had no foundation in the country, and her start in high society was much harder than Shen’s. If not for the reflected glory of being the Shen family’s daughter-in-law, it would have been nearly impossible.

Fortunately, the project was a success. Her ability and attitude eventually won over the capital of the fashion world. This was her true first step.

By the time she returned, it was the eldest Jiang daughter’s birthday. Jiang Xiaofan held an annual birthday banquet to flaunt her wealth. Jiang Chumian dragged her exhausted body home in the early hours of the morning. Seeing the lights out, she tiptoed upstairs, showered, and checked her phone.

She saw a message from Yu Xuan asking if she was home.

“I am,” Jiang Chumian typed, but then hesitated. She had so much she wanted to share, but Yu Xuan was married now and had the new life she had always wanted. Jiang didn’t want to cause her trouble. Being her “best friend” was enough.

“I’m back,” she eventually replied.

“That’s good. Get some rest early,” Yu Xuan responded.

Jiang Chumian looked at the text. She couldn’t read Yu Xuan’s mind. Was it care? Or just a polite check-in? It felt like their conversations were becoming shorter and shorter. Two people who once shared everything now relied on occasional superficial check-ins just to convince themselves they hadn’t lost touch. It felt unnecessary, yet she couldn’t let go.

The next morning, Jiang Chumian woke up later than Shen Qingye a rarity on a workday.

Shen Qingye looked at her as she came downstairs, her brow furrowing slightly. “You got back last night?”

“Yes.”

They ate in silence for a while until Shen spoke first. “Why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming back?”

Jiang Chumian was stunned. Was there a need to report to each other? But seeing Shen’s gaze, she didn’t question it. “Sorry, I will in the future. I’m just not used to it.”

It wasn’t a lie. She had never needed to report her schedule to anyone, and few cared to know it. Xiao Jinyu was kind, but had too many other friends. Yu Xuan had been close, but later became so busy that Jiang feared being a hindrance. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to being alone, expecting nothing and giving nothing.

But hearing Shen Qingye say it, she realized that in a marriage—even a contract one—it was strange not to know each other’s whereabouts.

Shen Qingye received the promise, but felt an inexplicable sourness in her heart at the words “I’m not used to it.” Looking at Jiang, she felt a sudden distance between them.

After eating, Shen wiped her mouth and touched up her lipstick. “You don’t have to be like this in the future. If it’s that late, I can have a driver pick you up. You don’t need to tiptoe around the house.”

Jiang Chumian froze, seeing a flicker of concern in Shen’s eyes. “I had some private matters to handle, so I was a bit late.”

Friday was Jiang Xiaofan’s birthday. Jiang Chumian arrived at the banquet in a simple red dress and a white blazer. She looked elegant, but compared to Xiaofan’s extravagant friends, she seemed plain.

As the birthday girl, Jiang Xiaofan was surrounded by people. Seeing Jiang Chumian’s calm and composed manner, Xiaofan felt a surge of irritation. She always felt that this “illegitimate sister” somehow managed to outshine her with minimal effort.

“Why didn’t Sister Shen come with you?” Xiaofan asked snidely.

“Qingye has an important meeting tonight and couldn’t get away,” Jiang Chumian said softly.

“I think she just didn’t want to come with you,” Xiaofan sneered. Her friends joined in with insults about “mistresses’ daughters” and “rats in a gutter.”

Jiang Chumian lowered her eyes, showing no anger. To those who didn’t know her, she seemed like a “soft persimmon,” but she was a predator waiting for the right moment.

“Sister is joking,” she said calmly, handing over two gifts. “This one is from Qingye. she asked me to wish you a happy birthday on her behalf.”

Hearing it was from Shen Qingye, Xiaofan accepted it happily. She took Jiang Chumian’s own gift with an arrogant, disgusted look.

After the banquet, Jiang Chumian called a designated driver. When asked where to go, she felt a moment of aimlessness before giving the address of Shen Qingye’s villa. She had parents, yet no place on earth felt like “home.”

It was after midnight when she arrived. To her surprise, the living room light was still on. For a moment, she felt a profound sense of security.

“You’re back.” Shen Qingye came out of her room as Jiang was changing her shoes.

Looking up at her, a warm current flowed through Jiang’s heart. This was the first time since Yu Xuan left that someone had waited for her to come home.

“Mhm. Not sleeping yet?”

“I was reading for a bit.” Shen looked down at her. Jiang’s face was flushed from the alcohol. Shen wondered what she had been thinking when she looked at her with such a dazed expression just now. She found herself becoming more and more curious about this girl.

“It’s quite late,” Jiang whispered.

“Mhm, I’m about to sleep.”

“Okay… I’ll go shower first.” Jiang knew she smelled of wine and kept her distance.

A while after she got out of the shower, there was a knock on her door. Shen Qingye stood there with a glass of honey water.

“Did you drink a lot?”

“A bit.”

Shen gave her the glass. “Whenever I drank too much, my grandmother would make this for me. It makes you feel better.”

“Thank you.” Jiang gripped the door handle, her face calm as she gave her habitual thanks.

“Go to sleep after you drink it. Goodnight.”

Jiang closed the door and took a sip. It was sweet. She laughed softly to herself, finished it in one gulp, and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Support Refusing Divorce After a Contract Marriage