Chapter 56: He was simply treating him the same way Chen Huixing had treated him before. ^^…

The news was categorized into several sections, with red and green tabs arranged across the system interface, categorizing the glamorous, the bloody, and the insignificant news into their own boxes.

Pei Jiqing no longer touched the entertainment section.

The news of his return exploded throughout the station, like a dud bomb—silent yet jarring.

From the pantry, corridor corners, even the toilet stalls, hushed chatter surged like a tide, then abruptly died as he passed.

Eyes glued to his back: some inquiring, some mocking, but mostly waiting to see the show.

A colleague, with whom he had previously clashed, leaned against the workstation divider, twirling a pen, his voice soft and just barely audible to those passing by: "Having a high-ranking official husband is great. A few years ago, he could have retired to have children, and now he's thinking again, ready to parachute in at any moment."

No one responded.

The words blew into everyone's ears, taking root.

Those stinging words fell on Pei Jiqing's ears, barely making a splash.

If they knew he and Shen Huixing had divorced, their assets split in half, and that they were only keeping it secret to save their daughter's face, they probably wouldn't even bother with such sarcastic provocations. Instead, they'd step right in, rubbing his spine with laughter.

Old Yu dragged him into the office, frowning and saying, "Pei Jiqing, are you crazy? Is current affairs a place for people? It's a thankless job. A single draft can offend a whole bunch of people. Aren't you tired enough of what you suffered back then?"

Pei Jiqing said that isn't that what journalism is all about, reporting what should be reported and stepping on what should be stepped on, are you still being picky?

Lao Yu stared at him for a long time, and suddenly laughed: "Your behavior reminds me of your old self."

Pei Jiqing asked what I was like before?

Lao Yu flicked the ash from his cigarette and said that you were full of thorns at that time, stabbing anyone you caught, and everything around you could be used as a weapon or a topic.

After saying that, he narrowed his eyes and added half-truthfully: "How could your husband bear to let you out again?"

Pei Jiqing never told anyone about his amnesia after he came back.

In fact, it is not accurate to say that he had lost his memory. It is more like a piece was forcibly cut out, and since he set foot in Ling City again, those fragmented past events have seeped into his mind bit by bit.

He kept the fact of his separation from Shen Huixing a secret, and did not leak a single word.

Zhizhi still went to the original kindergarten as usual, with the crystal bear that Shen Huixing gave her hanging on her schoolbag, swaying back and forth.

One cannot step into the same muddy waters more than once, but Zhizhi did not need to give up those who treated her well just because of him.

What Pei Jiqing could not get over was his own hurdle, which had nothing to do with Zhizhi.

Shen Zhizhi would be protected by his father, a high-ranking official, and loved by everyone in the Shen family throughout her life, and Pei Jiqing did not think there was anything wrong with that.

Chen Huixing was not Pei Haifeng, he was always patient with his daughter, and would even squat down to look her in the eyes when talking.

Pei Jiqing decided to move back to Ling City, not because he heard the news that Wei Ji was getting married - his feelings for Wei Ji had long been gone, not even a ash was left.

What really made him make up his mind was that when he went to pick up Zhizhi that day, he ran into two kids calling her a "wild child without a father", and the teacher on the side just took sides lightly.

If they were in Ling City, with Chen Huixing's name there, no one would dare to let her suffer such grievances.

Pei Jiqing only had one person to worry about in his life - his daughter.

He had long been aware of those shadowy gazes, hiding in street corners and blending into the crowds at the kindergarten gate. Instead of hiding with his child, struggling in vain like a frightened bird in Shen Huixing's dragnet, it would be better to tear off the cover of concealment.

After all, he had escaped, tried, and was caught every time.

The marriage was divorced, the property was divided, and what he wanted was already in his hands.

As for Chen Huixing's kindness to his daughter, the sparkling look in Zhizhi's eyes when she raised her little face and called "Dad" could not be faked. He had no need to, and would not, stop him from being kind to his daughter.

Chen Huixing showed the compatibility report to Pei Jiqing.

The data did not lie - their compatibility was almost absurdly low, not even reaching the minimum standard.

Chen Huixing wanted to tell Pei Jiqing that they were never together because of those ridiculous pheromone reactions.

But Pei Jiqing's eyes were fixed on the report, and the first thing he said was: "Will you have other children?"

This sentence made Chen Huixing understand Pei Jiqing's true concerns over the years.

It turned out Pei Jiqing had never believed in him. He lived every day like a tightrope, always bracing for news of his infidelity, always ready to face the fact that Zhizhi was no longer the only one.

The most ironic thing was that Chen Huixing had repeatedly emphasized their high compatibility, as if to prove something.

Thinking back now, those words always sounded to Pei Jiqing like: You see, we were never meant to be together.

To reassure Pei Jiqing, Chen Huixing had a lawyer draft a document, clearly stating in black and white that all assets under his name would flow to only one person: their daughter. If he died, Pei Jiqing would hold them until their daughter came of age.

When Liang Yi saw Pei Jiqing again, he pushed a share transfer agreement towards him. He gave him half of his private property as compensation, but his eyes concealed a more complicated emotion as he said, "He's the one who let you down."

Liang Yi talked about the factional strife in the Shen family, how difficult it was to sit next to Chen Huixing, and how he survived in that brutal environment.

Pei Jiqing looked down at the leaves floating in his teacup and said, "Thank you for your care in the past.

" Liang Yi sighed, then said, "As long as I'm here, he won't dare to embarrass you."

Pei Jiqing had heard Sister Zhang talk about the past, and he thought that there had indeed been a time when he had viewed this relationship as purely exploitative, until feelings crept in and distorted all his calculations.

It was precisely because of this that Chen Huixing had easily exploited his weakness. When sincerity is involved in a deal, the first to give in is always the one who's moved.

When Pei Jiqing returned to the office, he wore a smoky gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He didn't care why the office suddenly agreed to let him come back—perhaps someone had secretly arranged it, but he knew better than anyone that his position, as it had been before and even more so now,

was difficult at first.

Writing until the early morning was common, with three or four coffee cups piled up on the corner of the table. Old Yu passed by and handed him a pack of cigarettes.

But he adapted quickly, starting with the simplest press releases and eventually mastering even the most demanding features in one go.

Some gossiped behind his back, saying he relied on his looks and was frivolous, unworthy of serious journalism.

Pei Jiqing simply smiled, then, during his first coverage of the economic summit, stunned those waiting for his joke.

He effortlessly pulled together data, delivered penetrating analysis, and even improvised on the spot to handle sudden equipment failures.

Someone in the director's room murmured quietly, saying they hadn't expected him to have real talent.

Pei Jiqing had never been a complete charlatan, it's just that no one had ever given him the chance to prove it. He

had a wealth of knowledge, was eloquent, and was fearless in the face of danger.

Pei Jiqing's work gradually got on track, and the densely packed notes in his interview notebook grew thicker and thicker.

Apart from occasionally having to deal with the sudden appearance of Chen Huixing, he and his daughter had been living a relatively smooth life. However, Chen Huixing, who claimed to be utterly devoted to him, was indeed more hardworking and patient than an old donkey.

When he mentioned a glandular discomfort, Chen Huixing's face turned extremely ugly.

After complaining to Sister Zhang that "it turns out that no matter where you are, you have to rely on a strong backing", several investors came to him the next day with bags of money, so attentive that it seemed as if they were afraid of offending anyone.

From Sister Zhang's hesitant narration, he pieced together the image of Chen Huixing in the past, who was cold and distant towards him, turning a blind eye.

Now when Shen Huixing came to see his daughter, he never stopped her, but he would never give her a good face either.

The rampant spread of pheromone drugs along the border sparked several riots. Chen Huixing personally went to the front lines to support them, and was not seen for half a month.

When he returned, Vivi had risen from the errand boy he had been a few years earlier to become Chief Secretary. Standing at Pei Jiqing's door in a neatly tailored suit, Vivi's tone was respectful yet tentative: "The Commander wants to take the young lady back for a couple of days. What do you think..."

Pei Jiqing: "One day, one day."

Vivi wisely said nothing more and turned to report to Chen Huixing. Within five minutes, she returned and handed him her phone.

Chen Huixing's voice was hoarse than usual, as if he had been up all night. "I have to go back to Linhe in two days. Can Zhizhi stay with me for an extra day?"

Pei Jiqing said, "Chen Huixing, one should not be too greedy."

The phrase Chen Huixing had often used to tell him back then was "enough is enough," and now it was being repeated.

Chen Huixing knew better than anyone that all this was his own fault.

He understood it too late, so late that all of Pei Jiqing's patience and love for him had worn out. Now that Pei Jiqing was willing to stay in Ling City and not completely disappear from his world, it was already his greatest luck.

He repeatedly told himself to be content and to stop when he had enough, but every time he saw Pei Jiqing's indifferent eyes, his heart still ached like being hit by a blunt object.

He realized Pei Jiqing's love too late, so late that this feeling had been distorted and could never return to its original state.

"I won't let Linhe become the next Xiacheng District."

Linhe is now the place where pheromone drugs are rampant.

Chen Huixing's diary has become something he cannot leave behind. It records Pei Jiqing's true feelings in black and white. Pei Jiqing loves the commander Shen who had made great military achievements, not the loser who is now full of regrets.

"I wrote you a letter. Did you get it? You used to write to me often."

Pei Jiqing heard this and said, "Oh, did you reply then? I'm not obligated to reply to my ex-husband's letters."

"...No."

Pei Jiqing found Chen Huixing's lost tone amusing. He was just treating him the same way Chen Huixing used to treat him.

Wasn't that enough for him?

Chen Huixing often wondered where the limit of regret lay. He hated his conceited self back then, who had taken Pei Jiqing's broken pleas as proof of his own guilt, even taking pride in it.

Now the retribution had come completely.

Pei Jiqing made it clear: "Don't write to me. I won't read or receive them. I loved you, but you've drained my feelings. I'll marry someone else in the future, and don't mention anything else except Zhizhi."

The wound beneath Chen Huixing's uniform ached slightly. He closed his eyes, feeling a sudden dizziness. What was this? Retribution in this life?

He would rather Pei Jiqing scolded him hysterically and cursed him with the most vicious words, at least that would prove that there was still a place for him in Pei Jiqing's heart.

Now he treated him like an insignificant stranger, and he was too lazy to even show hatred.

Chen Huixing hadn't dared to go back to the so-called "home" for a long time.

Ever since Pei Jiqing left, the house has become an empty shell.

The two trees in the backyard that originally grew side by side were transplanted separately at the suggestion of the gardener - sure enough, after being separated, they grew better, their branches and leaves stretched out, and they no longer suppressed each other.

He and Pei Jiqing, like these two trees, can live better apart.

Forcing them to be together will only torture each other and suffocate each other. Now, growing separately at a safe distance may be the best ending.

But Chen Huixing just won't accept it.