Chapter 394 - 392: Her and Her Thoughts (Second Update)

Chapter 394: Chapter 392: Her and Her Thoughts (Second Update)

Xiao He couldn’t help but chuckle. His cousin-in-law’s reputation had indeed been growing, but she wasn’t the type to become arrogant and boast about it.

Previously, she had never deliberately spoken such things in front of them.

So, her only purpose was to let him see this storybook written by the "Cloud Hermit"?

Xiao He pondered for a moment, nodded, and said, "Alright, I’ll pay attention."

After that, Xiao He didn’t appear in front of Xu Jing anymore, and the two days in Anping County passed by in a flash.

Xu Jing, however, used her own case-solving exploits to keep Song Qingyun for an extra day. Song Qingyun was initially very uneasy when someone discovered her biggest secret, but Xu Jing never brought it up in front of her, acting as if nothing had happened. Song Qingyun sensed Xu Jing’s intent to be considerate, feeling both grateful and ashamed, continuously looking for an opportunity to confess to Xu Jing over the two days, but never finding the right moment.

On the day Xu Jing was set to return to the Western Capital, it was also the day Song Qingyun was to continue her trip to her grandmother’s home.

Xu Jing first saw Song Qingyun off. Before Song Qingyun boarded the carriage, she asked with a slight smile, "When do you plan to return to the Western Capital this time?"

Song Qingyun hesitated a bit, slightly pursing her lips, and said, "I’m not too sure, but in the short term... I probably won’t return."

She was already nearly twenty-one this year. For women of her age who were not yet married, not only would the people around them gossip about her, but they would also talk about her family.

She didn’t want her family to be implicated because of her, which was why she initially went along with her mother’s matchmaking.

But ultimately, she couldn’t get past her own feelings. Her marriage with Sun Sanlang fell through, and she felt not just relieved but ecstatic.

Long ago, she realized she was different from other women when it came to marriage matters. Other women submitted to the will of their parents and matchmakers, while she had no desire to casually marry a man she didn’t know and bind her life to his.

Now, she no longer had her initial obsession with Xiao Qilang, but she had completely lost the desire to marry.

A woman as unconventional as she was, the Western Capital surely could not accommodate her. Unlike Mrs. Xu, she wasn’t strong enough to remain, so she could only go far away to a place where no one knew her, and live the life she wanted.

Xu Jing furrowed her brow slightly; if she truly didn’t return to the Western Capital, Xiao He would indeed have no chance.

After a moment of silence, Xu Jing suddenly took a small notebook that Chunyang had been holding and handed it to Song Qingyun, saying, "In that case, I won’t be able to meet with Song Erniang in the short term. I noticed that Song Erniang is quite interested in the cases I’ve solved, but these cases, even those who have been by my side, don’t know them as well as I do. Moreover, regarding many aspects of my analysis of these cases, no one but me knows how it works.

I’ve sorted out the details and my analysis of the cases I mentioned to Song Erniang over the past two days in this notebook. If Song Erniang is interested, she can take it to read on the way."

Song Qingyun was momentarily stunned, looking incredulously at the notebook Xu Jing handed to her.

The contents of this notebook... she wasn’t just interested in them; she had been dreaming of them!

Though Mrs. Xu knew she had been writing stories about the cases Xu Jing solved and realized she had been asking about the cases’ details for a reason, Mrs. Xu still meticulously organized this notebook for her.

She was clearly tacitly allowing her to continue writing, and was even supporting her with tangible actions.

Unconsciously, Song Qingyun accepted the precious notebook, biting her lip with a slightly hoarse voice, "Why..."

"Chunyang said, ever since the fame of my case-solving spread, more and more women have become interested in these investigations and arrest cases.

In the past, people always believed such matters were for men, drawing a distinct and rigid line between gender roles. But in reality, except for matters limited by one’s physical capabilities, there are no things that only men can do or only women can do."

Xu Jing smiled slightly and said, "If what I’ve done can somewhat break this boundary and let more women know that as long as they are capable, there are many things they can do, I will be very happy. If more female detectives or doctors can stand tall in the future, I will be even happier. It’ll make me feel like I’ve lived a worthwhile life."

And what Song Qingyun was doing could spread her story even further and have more influence.

Besides, Xu Jing believed in Song Qingyun. With her knowledge and literary skills, she could write stories with more depth and convey more things Xu Jing hoped to impart to the public.

Using recreational storybooks as a medium of dissemination was also more acceptable to the masses.

From this perspective, she certainly should thank Song Qingyun.

She knew her capabilities; after coming to this world, she never dreamed of making any earth-shattering changes or reforms, but she hoped to achieve the things she could.

Song Qingyun couldn’t help but look up at Xu Jing.

She naturally heard the implication in Xu Jing’s words, and also Xu Jing’s hopes for her, feeling a surge of excitement in her heart.

Many of the things Xu Jing said were things she had secretly thought about. When people around her repeatedly pressured her to marry, as if it was the only destination for a woman, she too felt confused and even unwilling.

She didn’t reject marriage but never believed that marrying and having children should be a woman’s only pursuit.

She should have talked to the woman in front of her sooner.

If she had, they might have long since become the closest of friends.

However, she realized how much she connected with the woman before her, precisely at the time when she was about to leave the Western Capital.

Song Qingyun couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the notebook in her hands.

Xu Jing looked at her, her eyes flickering slightly, and suddenly smiled, saying, "I still hope Song Erniang can return to the Western Capital soon. I’d be very willing to share my cases with you, but if you’re not in the Western Capital, I wouldn’t be able to discuss them with you in detail. While you’re away, who knows how many more cases I’ll have solved."

Though Song Qingyun still had her head down, her ears perked up uncontrollably.

Xu Jing watched her without a word and continued, "Speaking of which, I remember Tao Liang said you would record all the cases I’ve solved. I’ve actually been wanting someone to help me with record-keeping because old cases often provide inspiration and clues for new ones. The official records are too rigid, overly numerous, and cumbersome to search.

If you stayed in the Western Capital, I’d probably ask for your help."

Song Qingyun’s ears twitched violently.

Finally, Xu Jing sighed softly and said, "It’s a pity that you are leaving the Western Capital, so we’ll have to talk about it when you return."

Song Qingyun hurriedly lifted her head, her mouth opening slightly, unsure of what to say.

Xu Jing just smiled warmly at her and said, "Safe travels. When you return to the Western Capital, we’ll have a good chat."

Xu Jing watched as Song Qingyun’s carriage disappeared into the distance before returning to her own room.

Chunyang couldn’t help but whisper, "I saw that Song Erniang looked quite unwilling to leave at the end."

Xu Jing chuckled softly and said, "If she wants to come back, she can come back anytime."

The question is, does she want to come back?

After that, Xu Jing, accompanied by the disheartened Zhu Shunxi, began the journey back to the Western Capital under Xiao He’s escort.

As they were leaving Anping County, Xu Jing saw Xiao He fall to the back of the group, always watching in the direction Song Qingyun had gone. He looked for a long time until their group was almost too far to see, then he snapped his whip and caught up.

Even though Xu Jing and her company hurried as much as they could, it was almost midday the next day when they finally returned to the Western Capital.

However, as soon as they reached the gate of the Western Capital, Xu Jing’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and she frowned slightly, looking at the scene not far away.