Under the Cheongsam Skirt - Chapter 10

**Why?**

For a moment, Zhao Ciqin found herself unable to speak.

She suddenly remembered the day many years ago when they got married. Mu Changfeng had been forced by his mother to temporarily put aside everything in the south and rush back. When he saw her for the first time, he had asked her the same question:

“Why do you want to marry me?”

Back then, he was dressed in his military uniform, looking travel-worn. His sharp gaze and the faint impatience in his expression made it seem like he was ready to turn and leave at any moment.

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over Zhao Ciqin’s head.

In her youth, even if she hadn’t been arrogant enough to think Mu Changfeng had feelings for her, she had never heard him speak to her so coldly before.

It was at that moment she realized that her heartfelt expectations and admiration meant nothing to him.

“Forget it,” Mu Changfeng had suddenly said before she could respond. “Anyone would do. Let’s just go with this.”

He lowered his eyelids and turned to leave.

Their wedding later followed the more modern, Western-style customs of the time. She didn’t wear a traditional red veil, so she could clearly see that Mu Changfeng’s lips carried not a trace of a smile throughout the entire ceremony.

It turned out he truly felt no joy at all.

Back then, she was still young. Though she felt disappointed, she believed that as long as she tried hard enough, she could eventually change things—at least make his gaze linger on her a little longer.

Not long after the wedding, Mu Changfeng returned to the south.

In the winter of the third year of the Republic, he didn’t come back. In the spring of the fourth year, she planned to follow a merchant caravan south to find him. When he found out, he sent her a telegram: “You don’t need to worry about my affairs.”

In the sixth year, he didn’t return.

In the eighth, tenth, and eleventh years, he was still absent, year after year.

If you thought about it carefully, they had known each other for half a lifetime, but the time they actually spent together was less than that of casual acquaintances.
When she proposed the divorce last year, she hadn’t expected Jiang Jue to be the first to oppose it.

Jiang Jue sat alone on the sofa, wiping her tears, and asked her, “We’ve lived like this for over a decade. Why change now? You’re not young anymore. Your parents will grow old, and what will you do alone in the future?”

Mu Changfeng’s mother, Feng Jinzhen, looked both awkward and sorrowful as she held Zhao Ciqin’s hand. “Ciqin, I don’t mean it like that. Those women will never surpass you. They come from unfortunate backgrounds and are only staying temporarily to give the Mu family an heir. After that, we’ll give the child to you to raise. How does that sound?”

Once the news of her wanting a divorce spread, all eyes suddenly turned to her, and everyone thought she was being foolish.

As time passed, she stared at herself in the mirror and began to feel foolish too.

This wasn’t her.

The real Zhao Ciqin could be the brave girl in her teens who fearlessly pursued love, or the woman from a few years ago who planned to go south with nothing but courage and hope. But she shouldn’t be like this—growing increasingly silent and thin.

The light was hidden behind thick clouds, and the shadows outside gradually enveloped the entire room.

Zhao Ciqin stood by the door. Her gaze traced Mu Changfeng’s sharp, deep-set eyes down to the prominent Adam’s apple at his collar.

After a long while, she said, “Because I no longer feel any love for you.”

Mu Changfeng was stunned.

“What did you…”

“I’m sorry.”

Zhao Ciqin turned and left. As she went downstairs, her steps were quick. She didn’t even greet Jiang Jue, who was waiting in the living room, before rushing out the door.

The hem of her pale yellow cheongsam fluttered slightly as she ran.

“Ciqin, you…” Jiang Jue stood up and instructed the servant beside her, “Go after the young lady. Make sure nothing happens to her.”
The servant snapped to attention and ran after her.

Jiang Jue waited anxiously for a while before seeing Mu Changfeng come downstairs.

He looked even colder than before, with a hint of low pressure seeping through his brow. Yet, he remained polite to Jiang Jue and addressed her respectfully, “Mother.”

“What did you talk about? Why did Ciqin suddenly run off?” Jiang Jue was both angry and heartbroken, her eyes reddening. “This is her home. Where else would she go?”

Mu Changfeng had never been scolded like this before, especially in recent years when he had gained significant power. This time, upon his return, even the officials in Shanghai had lined up to welcome him.

But he felt no anger. Instead, he stood before her like a dutiful junior, calmly saying, “It’s my fault. I’ll bring her back.”

“…”

Jiang Jue was stunned. She watched as Mu Changfeng gave her a slight nod and then strode away.