Waiting for you at the place where you are reborn

Chapter 320 Accompanying Du Qingqing for One Night

"Can you not leave tonight?" Du Qingqing pressed against his back. "Can you not leave tonight?"

Fang Zheng looked back at Du Qingqing. Could he not leave? Was his hesitation good or bad for Du Qingqing? Du Qingqing's helpless and eager eyes conquered him. He couldn't bear to let her be sad and disappointed, so he stayed with her for one night to fulfill her little wish. He finally nodded, "I won't leave."

-

On the way home, Ruan Xiaojing stopped by the supermarket to buy some vegetables. During this time, she learned to cook many dishes from Fang Zheng. In the past, she never realized how important eating was. She thought that eating was enough. It was only when she was with Fang Zheng that she realized the joy of cooking and tasting delicious food.

Ruan Xiaojing took the purchased food into the kitchen. In the three months since they got married, Fang Zheng always cooked for her. She felt that she was not a competent wife. Today, she wanted to cook a delicious meal for Fang Zheng.

Thinking that Fang Zheng was resting in the bedroom, she tiptoed around so as not to disturb him, hoping that he could have a good sleep.

Two hours later, Ruan Xiaojing brought all the dishes to the table, smelling the aroma. She looked at her masterpiece excitedly and prepared to go to the bedroom to wake Fang Zheng up for dinner.

The bedroom was empty, and there was no sign that anyone had slept on the bed. Ruan Xiaojing's heart skipped a beat. Didn't Fang Zheng come home? She immediately called Fang Zheng.

The phone kept ringing but no one answered. Ruan Xiaojing called several times but the same thing happened every time.

Where did he go? Why didn't he answer the phone? He never didn't answer the phone. Ruan Xiaojing's heart began to beat wildly. She calmed down and said to herself, don't think too much, maybe he went to his aunt's house.

I called my aunt's house and she said Fang Zheng had never been there.

Ruan Xiaojing became nervous. Would anything happen? She called Ding Ya again, and Ding Ya said Fang Zheng had left the company a long time ago.

Why has he not returned home yet? The phone was connected but no one answered. Could something have really happened? A car accident? Ruan Xiaojing's heart was pounding. Then she shook her head. It was impossible. It had been several hours. If it was a car accident, the traffic police should have notified the family.

She paced back and forth in the living room with her cell phone in her hand, calling all the people she knew, including her colleagues at the company, Fang Zheng's classmates, and even her own family. No one had seen Fang Zheng, and no one knew where Fang Zheng had gone.

When Ruan Xiaojing found that there were no more numbers she could call on her phone, she slumped on the sofa. Fang Zheng had never disappeared so silently before. Even if he forgot to tell her, he would not fail to answer the phone.

What happened to him? Where did he go? Ruan Xiaojing looked at the time and saw that it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. She was confused and looked through the phone book on her phone again and dialed her aunt's house again.

It was Bo Tong who answered the phone.

"Fang Zheng still hasn't come?" Ruan Xiaojing asked.

"Has he never come home?" Bo Tong recalled what he said to Fang Zheng during the day, and suddenly realized something, "——I'll help you look for him."

"Do you know where he's going?"

Bo Tong paused and said, "I don't know. I'll contact you when I find him."

Ruan Xiaojing put down her phone, and a name appeared in her mind. She wondered if Bo Tong also remembered this person. She immediately gave up her thoughts and would rather believe that Fang Zheng just forgot to bring his phone.

Fang Zheng and Du Qingqing had dinner together. Du Qingqing cooked the meal. When she put the food on the table, she looked at Fang Zheng with her clear eyes and said, "My mother must be very happy to see you and me having dinner together."

Fang Zheng felt bitter. What could a meal like this change for them? He couldn't give Du Qingqing what she wanted. All he could give her was this kind of family affection, a meal like a brother and sister.

"It's been two months since the start of school. Have you been busy since you took over as the first grade class teacher?" Fang Zheng asked her.

"It's busier than before, and the head teacher has to do things that are not related to teaching," said Du Qingqing.

"What about the relatives at home and the uncle in the countryside, have they all come?" Fang Zheng asked again.

Du Qingqing nodded. "The memorial service, the purchase of the cemetery, and the burial were all handled by my relatives and Bo Tong. The leaders of the bus company also came to express their condolences."

Fang Zheng said: "If there is anything in the future, you must tell me, or tell Botong and aunt. We are your relatives and will be so for life."

Du Qingqing put some food into Fang Zheng's bowl. She looked at Fang Zheng and said quietly, "I used to think that I could eat with you every day."

Fang Zheng had no appetite at all, but he hurriedly picked up the food in the bowl and stuffed it into his mouth. He didn't dare to look at Du Qingqing, for he was afraid that he would make a bigger mistake if he continued like this.

Du Qingqing's gaze stayed on him for a long time, and tears filled her eyes.

Fang Zheng used a tissue to wipe her tears, "Don't cry, you'll hurt your eyes."

"It's fine if you cry so much," Du Qingqing still looked at him, "women dress up to please themselves. Now, none of this matters to me."

"That won't do!" Fang Zheng forced a smile, "Such beautiful eyes will be liked by many people."

"I just want you to like it." Du Qingqing looked at Fang Zheng stubbornly, "You——"

Before he could finish his words, the door suddenly opened with a bang and Botong appeared in front of them.

Fang Zheng stood up hurriedly, and Du Qingqing asked, "Botong, have you eaten?"

Bo Tong looked at Fang Zheng. He was indeed here. He was very dissatisfied with Fang Zheng. He couldn't figure out what Fang Zheng was doing. How could he eat with Du Qingqing so nonchalantly? Didn't he understand that he would make Du Qingqing fall into a deeper quagmire and make it impossible for Du Qingqing to get out of this situation.

Bo Tong held back his anger and said, "Ruan Xiaojing is looking for you. She is very anxious. You'd better call her back immediately."

Du Qingqing quickly turned her head to look at Fang Zheng, and Fang Zheng suddenly realized that he had just heard the news of Du Qingqing's mother's death, and in his panic he didn't even notice that his phone had fallen into the car.

Ruan Xiaojing asked him to go home first, but he went to Du Qingqing's house. Ruan Xiaojing couldn't find him or contact him, so of course she would be worried.

"I'll call her right away." Fang Zheng said as he prepared to walk out the door and get his phone from the car.

Du Qingqing held Fang Zheng's hand and looked at him pleadingly, "You said - you won't leave today."

Bo Tong looked at Du Qingqing in astonishment. He had never seen such a determined expression on Du Qingqing's face.

Fang Zheng couldn't bear to reject her. He had already brought her enough misfortune, how could he let her down again?

"I'll make a phone call first." Fang Zheng said to Du Qingqing, "I'm not leaving."

-

Fang Zheng's name finally appeared on the phone screen when Ruan Xiaojing rang her phone.

"It's me, Xiaojing." Fang Zheng said.

"Where have you been--" Ruan Xiaojing's tears burst out instantly. Fang Zheng was fine and he was safe. This was more comforting than anything else. "I've been worried about you--"

"I'm sorry—I dropped my phone in the car."

"Then why don't you go home?" Ruan Xiaojing wiped away her tears, "I've prepared dinner and waited for you for two hours."

"Xiaojing, I - can't come back tonight," Fang Zheng was considering how to tell Ruan Xiaojing.

"Not coming back? Why?" Ruan Xiaojing felt a chill in her heart. Could it be that she still couldn't see Fang Zheng tonight? "Where are you?"

"On my aunt's side..." Fang Zheng couldn't lie to Ruan Xiaojing, "Du Qingqing's mother passed away."

"Dead?" Ruan Xiaojing was quite surprised. She remembered the day when Fang Zheng and Bo Tong took Du Qingqing's mother to the hospital. "When did she die?"

"It's been more than a week." Fang Zheng said in a low voice, "I just found out about it today."

Ruan Xiaojing had all sorts of thoughts running through her mind. Du Qingqing's mother had passed away, and she had become an orphan without a father or a mother...

"Who are you over there--" Ruan Xiaojing asked.

"Go with Botong to accompany Du Qingqing—" Fang Zheng lied to Ruan Xiaojing for the first time, "You should go and have dinner."

"Well..." Ruan Xiaojing responded woodenly, "Tomorrow is the weekend, I will come to my aunt's house too."

"Okay - I'm hanging up now. Don't stay up late at night and go to bed early."

"You should go to bed early, too." Ruan Xiaojing said, "And—you must go home tomorrow."

"Okay..." Fang Zheng said, "I'll go home and accompany you tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Ruan Xiaojing sat on the sofa in a daze, organizing her thoughts: she should not be jealous or have any emotions, Du Qingqing's mother died, Du Qingqing was all alone, and Du Qingqing needed the support and care of her family and friends.

However, the more helpless Du Qingqing felt, the greater the fear she felt.

She didn't know what consequences the change in Du Qingqing's family would have on her relationship with Fang Zheng. She remembered that she had told Fang Zheng that if Fang Zheng realized his plan and wanted to leave one day, she would not stop him.

But now, just thinking about Fang Zheng leaving, her body felt as if it was being drained away. She had completely integrated herself into Fang Zheng's life, and she simply could not be as strong as she imagined.

Du Qingqing fell asleep on Fang Zheng's legs. Fang Zheng leaned against the edge of the bed and looked down at Du Qingqing: her face was much rosier than in the afternoon, her expression was gentle, and there were traces of tears in the corners of her eyes. She slept so deeply, it seemed that she hadn't slept so peacefully for a long time.

Fang Zheng gently stroked Du Qingqing's long hair and put her hand under the quilt. Guilt and heartache had been lingering in his heart. Du Qingqing asked him to stay and sleep on his legs like this, and she would be satisfied.

But after today, what else can he do?

Bo Tong scolded himself harshly at the door just now, saying that he was indecisive and irresponsible. Fang Zheng knew that he should keep a distance from Du Qingqing and he should not disturb her life again, but facing Du Qingqing's weakness and helplessness, especially her expectant eyes with tears, he still couldn't just abandon her.

For a moment, he couldn't tell how he felt about Du Qingqing at the moment, whether he treated her as the little sister next door, or the little girl he had loved.

Du Qingqing opened her hazy eyes and looked at Fang Zheng. She raised her head and said, "Did I hurt you?"

Fang Zheng shook his head, "No, just sleep peacefully."

Du Qingqing sat up and touched Fang Zheng's hand. "Your hands are so cold. How can you sit still?"

Fang Zheng smiled and said, "It's okay for me, just get some sleep."

Du Qingqing moved her body away and said hesitantly, "You-you should also cover yourself with my quilt."

Fang Zheng stared at Du Qingqing blankly. He immediately told himself that he had to be rational. If he continued like this, he would make more and more mistakes. He stood up hurriedly and said, "You go to sleep by yourself. I'll just lie on the sofa outside for a while."

"How can you sleep outside? It's cold." Du Qingqing pulled his hand.

"I'll just get the quilt and cover yourself." Fang Zheng picked up the other quilt on Du Qingqing's bed.

Du Qingqing grabbed his hand tightly, "——I want to ask you a question."

"What?"

Du Qingqing's eyes flickered, "Why did you marry Ruan Xiaojing?"

Fang Zheng was speechless. How could he tell Du Qingqing, "Why do you bother asking again——"

Du Qingqing looked at Fang Zheng stubbornly and whispered, "I want to confirm with you again. I want to hear you say it again."

Fang Zheng avoided her gaze and said, "I like Ruan Xiaojing."

"You're lying—" Du Qingqing said, "I don't believe it."

"Qingqing——" Fang Zheng looked at her pleadingly.

"You had an accident with her in Qingjiang..." Du Qingqing said stubbornly, her voice soft and her expression calm, "She is very capable and beautiful. She likes you and seduced you."

"Qingqing--" Fang Zheng interrupted her, "You don't know--"

"I know—" Du Qingqing shed tears, "That's my life."

Seeing her tears, Fang Zheng became anxious again. He reached out and wiped her tears. "You will slowly forget me. You will find someone who truly loves you, like Bo Tong and Yao Anyu -"

"Don't push me to others--" Du Qingqing cried and threw herself into Fang Zheng's arms, "Even if you get married, I will still love you, Du Qingqing."

"Qingqing, you can't be so stubborn." Fang Zheng looked at her.

Du Qingqing sobbed softly. She looked at Fang Zheng with burning eyes and mustered up the courage to say, "If - if I didn't mind whether Ruan Xiaojing was with you, would you still love me?"

"Du Qingqing——" Fang Zheng looked at her in shock, "What are you talking about?"

Du Qingqing looked at Fang Zheng, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't care about anything, as long as you are by my side."

Ruan Xiaojing's figure flashed through Fang Zheng's mind. He quickly pushed Du Qingqing away and told himself soberly that if he continued like this, Du Qingqing would be unable to extricate herself, and he would become a sinner, and everything would be in vain.

He resolutely picked up the quilt and walked out. When he reached the bedroom door, he looked back at Du Qingqing and said to her with a smile: "Sleep well. I'll sleep on the sofa outside."

-

Ruan Xiaojing woke up very early and checked the time on her phone. It was only half past six. She had slept so fuzzily last night and kept waking up from nightmares, which made her feel weak all over. But if she continued to sleep like this, she felt flustered and uneasy.

My whole mind is filled with Fang Zheng and what he was doing last night.