Village Doctor's Women-Chapter 88 - 84 Cai Qiong also has a story.

So there *is* something going on between them.

While Cai Qiong kept her head down to eat, her eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of excitement flashing in them as if she had discovered a secret treasure.

If Wang Jian had seen her, he would’ve thought she was off her rocker. Had studying psychology driven her mad, making her so interested in other people’s private lives?

After lunch, the task of cleaning up naturally fell to Wang Jian. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Despite her reluctance, Xu Qian sat in the living room with Cai Qiong, and they started talking.

It was painfully awkward. The two women would exchange a glance, chuckle softly, and then look away as if nothing had happened, turning their attention back to the TV. But the TV was just playing commercials, not some interesting show or drama that could hold their attention. It was clear they were silent simply because they had nothing to say to each other.

"Why... would you want to study Xiao Jian?" Xu Qian spoke up, deciding to be direct. "With so many bizarre people out there, why are you only interested in Xiao Jian?"

Xu Qian looked at Cai Qiong. It was something she truly couldn’t comprehend, something that just didn’t make sense.

"What’s wrong? Don’t you find Wang Jian interesting?" Cai Qiong paused, exhaled, and then countered, "Or are you saying he isn’t worth studying?"

...

Cai Qiong’s question was intentionally pointed. Xu Qian frowned, annoyed. "You know that’s not what I mean."

Cai Qiong smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, she took the opportunity to suddenly ask, "Do you want a divorce?"

From the beginning, Cai Qiong had looked into Wang Xiang’s situation. Since Xu Qian was his wife, the matter was all but confirmed. Once it all clicked, Cai Qiong finally understood the implication of her being "the sister-in-law" now. It was for this reason that she admired the woman before her for her courage and determination.

Xu Qian nodded. "It’s long overdue."

"What do you plan to do after?" Cai Qiong asked, crossing one leg over the other and hugging her knee. Her gaze drifted as she looked at Xu Qian. Only she knew that these fidgety movements were a sign of her own guilty conscience. Her question clearly had an ulterior motive. But her mind was so focused on observing Xu Qian’s micro-expressions that she paid no attention to her own giveaways.

It was indeed a good question. The living room fell silent for a while.

In truth, Xu Qian had been thinking about this constantly. After the divorce, it would still be difficult for her to be with Wang Jian openly, but...

When Xu Qian didn’t answer, Cai Qiong prodded again, "Do you still plan on getting married? If you meet the right person, I mean."

"Is marriage that important?" Xu Qian countered. "Even if I met the right person, as long as we’re together, does it really matter if we get married?"

...

Cai Qiong was taken aback. She realized her first impression of Xu Qian had been wrong; this woman wasn’t traditional at all. "You’re right," she conceded.

Compared to Xu Qian, Cai Qiong herself was probably more ’traditional’. Even though she was firmly in the ’dual income, no kids’ camp, being born into the Cai Family meant many of her choices were not her own to make. Marriage, children—none of it was up to her alone.

Cai Qiong’s questions made one thing clear to Xu Qian: she must have figured something out.

But what did this have to do with her? Why was she so concerned about this? A psychological consultation shouldn’t require digging into this side of Wang Jian’s life, should it?

Becoming more wary, Xu Qian looked at Cai Qiong and saw a flicker of envy in her eyes.

"You seem very focused on the topic of marriage," Xu Qian observed curiously. "And you look troubled. Has something happened?"

It was strange. People like Cai Qiong, with such high mental defenses, often found it harder to confide in those closest to them. Yet, with strangers or new acquaintances, it was somehow easier to talk about the things they kept hidden. People are funny that way.

Knowing some of Xu Qian’s secrets, Cai Qiong felt, in turn, that she could share something of her own. She hesitated for only a moment before starting to speak.

"It’s nothing special."

"Tell me," Xu Qian coaxed.

Xu Qian didn’t want to be the only one with her secrets exposed. Learning a few of the other woman’s would make her feel much better. Besides, she was a gossip at heart. So what if they were rich? The gossip surrounding wealthy people was always so much juicier than that of ordinary folks.

Xu Qian gave Cai Qiong an encouraging look.

Cai Qiong said unhurriedly, "I studied in the United Kingdom, where I met someone at school."

"Fell in love?" It sounded to Xu Qian like the beginning of a melodrama.

"Mm," Cai Qiong nodded slowly. "It was a very normal start."

"What kind of person was he?" Xu Qian smiled, finding this kind of gossip absolutely fascinating. "How did you fall for him?"

"Well..." Cai Qiong chuckled. "It just sort of happened."

"Just sort of happened." Xu Qian nodded. She knew that feeling all too well. It had been the same for her. It was the same for everyone.

"Judging by your tone, something must have happened later."

"If my dad hadn’t dragged me back, I might have settled in the United Kingdom," Cai Qiong said with a shrug. As she began her story, she seemed to relax a great deal. "If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here now."

"Huh? Chairman Cai?" Xu Qian was puzzled. Her impression of Cai Xing was that he was a reasonable man; she didn’t think he would be so close-minded. "Did he disapprove of your relationship?"

"Mm. Perhaps he couldn’t accept it."

"Couldn’t accept you settling in the United Kingdom, or you being with a foreigner?"

Xu Qian licked her lips. She never would have imagined Cai Xing was that kind of person. Does everyone become stricter after they become a parent?

Hearing Xu Qian’s question, Cai Qiong’s expression turned strange.

"It’s not that..."

"Hmm? Then what is it?"

"It’s just..." Cai Qiong swallowed, then said flatly, "The person I liked was a woman."

...

Whoa. Now that’s a bombshell.

Xu Qian’s eyes widened, her gaze now tinged with undeniable admiration.

So it wasn’t a "he" at all, but a "she."

No wonder Cai Xing disapproved. Xu Qian raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but she held her tongue.

Compared to her own situation, Cai Qiong’s was even more difficult. This sort of thing was even less acceptable in most people’s eyes. Then again, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. Neither of their situations was exactly conventional.

"So..." Xu Qian asked, "you like girls?"

"Pretty much," Cai Qiong nodded, explaining, "I didn’t know at first either, not until I met her. People always think certain things are impossible until they meet the right one. Then, you realize that everything that seemed impossible can suddenly become possible."

Those words struck a chord deep within Xu Qian. Who could have imagined she’d end up in such a situation with her own brother-in-law?

After they talked about these things, the awkwardness between them vanished as if it had never been there.

"What are you two chatting about?" Wang Jian asked as he came out from cleaning up, surprised by the scene before him.