Why is Hong Xinran's reputation so tarnished now? Even if those photos were deliberately created to create an ambiguous image, she did have close relationships with these men and was surrounded by handsome men. Now she's embroiled in a plagiarism scandal, yet Shao Qibin still insists on protecting her.
After watching Hong Xinran leave in her car, Li Jianmei felt a chill run through her from head to toe, yet a fire of anger burned within her. She tried to struggle but found herself unable to move. She wanted to confront her, but felt she had no one to rely on.
"What are you doing here?" Although Shao Qibin hadn't followed his family's plan for a military or political career, the rigorous training he received since childhood meant he wouldn't be oblivious to being watched so closely. Seeing Li Jianmei in the shadows, and thinking of Hong Xinran who had already left, he couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions.
But when he saw Li Jianmei's pale face and her lifeless eyes filled with a complex and sorrowful expression in the morning light, Shao Qibin couldn't help but restrain his outward emotions.
"Brother Qibin, I like you. Even though we broke up, I still like you a lot. Did you never like me at all? Am I really not as good as Hong Xinran at all?"
In love, people are always lost and confused; liking someone is inherently somewhat ethereal. Each person is an independent individual, so how can one compare or be inferior?
“Li Jianmei, you're still young. You'll meet someone you like in the future. And that person won't be me.” Shao Qibin's hand, which was raised in mid-air, faltered as if remembering something. The brief comfort was nothing but a warm illusion. Better a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. Rather than giving Li Jianmei false warmth, it was better to tear open her bleeding wound directly. “Xinran is my woman. As a man, protecting my woman is a matter of course. Do you understand?”
These words were tantamount to telling Li Jianmei directly that Shao Qibin was fully aware of what she had done.
Li Jianmei's face grew even paler upon hearing this. She stared blankly at Shao Qibin, handsome as jade in the morning light, yet uttering such hurtful words. A thought suddenly occurred to her: If Wu Xinyu and Shao Qile saw Shao Qibin like this, how would they react?
"Brother Qibin, I've decided to go to the US as an exchange student. That means it might be a long time before I see you again. I sincerely hope that your love life goes well. However, if after you return from abroad, you find that Hong Xinran isn't actually suitable to be Mrs. Shao, could you consider me first? I know I'm willful, immature, and even a bit naive. But I'll try my best to grow up and catch up with you quickly."
Perhaps some things really do prove the saying "after the clouds disperse, the moon shines through." Li Jianmei, through two lifetimes, has always been led astray by Shao Qibin, inevitably losing her heart and her mind. Now that she has suddenly come to her senses, her words are exceptionally tactful and pleasant to hear.
Even if her words implied a lack of confidence in Shao Qibin and Hong Xinran's future, Shao Qibin probably wouldn't feel much anger in the face of such pure affection. On the contrary, he might feel a bit smug afterward, like some men, for having won the pure love of such a girl.
When Shao Qile received Li Jianmei's call, he had just learned that Li Jianmei had already swiftly completed her paperwork for going abroad and was even scheduled to board a plane to the other side of the ocean the day after tomorrow. Actually, when the system notified him that Shao Qibin's (the target of his mission) positive feelings towards Li Jianmei had improved, although her evaluation remained negative, Shao Qile had already guessed something. He just hadn't expected that Li Jianmei, whose obsession ran the deepest, would one day let go!
The first time Shao Qile and Li Jianmei met, there was no heavy atmosphere of hostility. Li Jianmei ordered a simple glass of lemonade and savored its sour and astringent taste, just like her love for Shao Qibin: "I'm going abroad the day after tomorrow."
Just a few months ago, they were scheming and plotting against each other, but now, sitting across from Shao Qile and looking into the clarity in her eyes, Li Jianmei, even knowing that everything between Shao Qibin and Hong Xinran was due to Shao Qile's skillful mediation, couldn't feel any anger. It was as if she had truly learned to let go and restrain herself.
"Giving up like this isn't your style."
"Isn't this what you wanted? I was too careless! You probably already knew I would make a move, but I still foolishly fell into your trap. With Hong Xinran's status, I didn't even need to lift a finger. When the time came, the prestige required for the position of Mrs. Shao and the value of the marriage alliance behind it were enough to make Hong Xinran withdraw from the competition."
"You just like your brother too much."
"Sometimes, I really don't understand you. You clearly have just as much ambition for Qibin as I do, yet you can calmly watch Qibin surrounded by those women."
"That's why I am Shao Qile and you are Li Jianmei. Everyone has their own way of doing things."
...
The back-and-forth, sharp exchanges revealed a wealth of information that both sides will find thought-provoking. And they both understood that they had chosen to let time heal all wounds.
Author's Note: Even the most hateful person has a pitiable side. Whether in this life or the last, Li Jianmei's mistake was loving too deeply. Going abroad might be the best choice for her. Third update complete! Please give me some applause!
43 Most Beautiful County Magistrate's Wives
Chapter 42: The Most Beautiful County Magistrate's Wife
On the day Li Jianmei left, Shao Qile naturally did not go to see her off. However, at that time, sitting on the balcony of his own bedroom, gazing at the azure sky, Shao Qile felt a strange sense of sorrow and desolation.
Shao Qile didn't know if it was because of the inexplicable feelings she had for Shao Qibin, or because of a sense of shared sorrow. Deep down, she had always considered Li Jianmei the most important opponent in completing the mission, investing a great deal of effort and conducting a thorough investigation into Li Jianmei.
But now, Li Jianmei, who was most deeply involved, has left so lightly, without taking a single cloud with her. Her words clearly show that she hasn't severed her feelings for Shao Qibin.
Logically speaking, since the game's mission level clearly showed that she had successfully completed the task of defeating the reborn female protagonist, she shouldn't be focusing so much on Li Jianmei. But sometimes, people's emotions are just so uncontrollable.
After a brief period of melancholy, Shao Qile rallied his spirits and began to make a move that had remained stagnant for some time.
In this networked age, even the smallest thing, if handled properly, can generate a public opinion storm online. Many things can be handled well through this platform and achieve unexpected results.
Zhang Mengxin, dubbed the "Most Beautiful County Magistrate's Wife," became an overnight internet sensation, all because of a low-resolution photo posted by a netizen—a photo that appeared to have been taken secretly with a mobile phone. However, the accompanying text attracted the attention of countless viewers.
"When the car came rushing towards us, the mother who was standing in the middle of the road holding her child was clearly terrified. But the young county magistrate's wife rushed out while everyone was stunned, saving others from disaster, but she herself was hit by the car and thrown into the air. At that moment, I seemed to see a butterfly spreading its colorful wings."
The photo uploaded by the blogger shows the supposedly young county magistrate's wife lying pale, weak, and helpless in a pool of blood, as described in the text.
After the blogger uploaded these photos and text, people who noticed the message started posting and discussing it online.
"I really can't believe that such a delicate and frail little girl has such courage. Is the county magistrate's wife alright?"
"Really? There are still county magistrate's wives who are so courageous and righteous these days?"
"She looks so young, how did she get married? Her husband is the county magistrate? How old is he? Is this just a publicity stunt?"
"Hey upstairs, how can you talk like that? Didn't you see the county magistrate's wife is still lying in a pool of blood? If this can be faked, then what else is there to believe?"
"I demand specific details, I demand the truth!"
...
Perhaps seeing the increased attention his Weibo account was receiving, this blogger even created a separate thread and began intermittently uploading information about the county magistrate's wife.
"The county magistrate's wife is named Zhang Mengxin. She's not from our county. She came to our county's teachers' college when she was a teenager. She met our county magistrate while she was studying there. Our county magistrate is more than ten years older than her, but his wife passed away during childbirth years ago, so he has been single ever since. Because of this, when Zhang Mengxin and our county magistrate first got together, many people in the county gossiped behind their backs."
"However, Zhang Mengxin herself didn't take these gossips to heart. After graduating from teachers' college early, she became a primary school teacher in our county and always treated the child left by the county magistrate's ex-wife very well. That's how it is. To be honest, as locals, we locals always have some opinions about this county magistrate's wife who seems to have appeared out of nowhere and is an orphan."
"When I saw Zhang Mengxin rush over to save that mother and child in the afternoon, the shock I felt was particularly strong, and I couldn't help but post this photo and text."
There were no flowery words to praise the supposed kindness of the young county magistrate's wife; instead, it was like a narration of a gossip story from an outsider's perspective. This straightforward approach made the story closer to the truth.
Subsequently, netizens used their powerful search capabilities to discuss the county magistrate's wife's story online. Through the combined efforts of many, a vivid image emerged: a woman seemingly orphaned who worked hard to gain admission to a teacher's college, and who, amidst her busy studies, worked various part-time jobs to earn a living.
Even though some people questioned Zhang Mengxin's marriage to a county magistrate who was more than ten years older than her and had a child, they were almost ready to label her as vain or after the county magistrate's family's wealth.
However, it was defeated by a series of pieces of evidence subsequently presented by netizens.
"This county magistrate's wife dresses very simply every day of the year, lacking any of the vibrancy or radiance typical of women her age. During school hours, she's always the first to arrive and the last to leave. The class she teaches is the best and most well-behaved in the entire grade, excelling in every aspect. During winter and summer vacations, she even takes the initiative to organize a group of volunteers at the county's orphanage to run various summer programs, bringing joy to the children. Moreover, our county magistrate is a well-known good person; you can tell just by looking at his home—he only lives in a two-story house, the interior decoration is still from several years ago, and his meals are always simple. In fact, time reveals true character; no matter what the people in our county say, deep down they all admire this young county magistrate's wife."