Qiao Jing glanced at Zhan Qipei, then at Xu Moqian, and slightly furrowed her brows, feeling that continuing this way wasn’t right.
Since she became a professor at Agricultural University, Xu Moqian had been pursuing her, employing endless tactics over the years.
Although he restrained himself for a while, the moment Zhan Qipei appeared by her side, Xu Moqian’s old habits resurged, even more intense than before.
Despite her numerous rejections and countless words of refusal, Xu Moqian just wouldn’t give up, unwilling to let go.
To be fair, if Zhan Qipei had a woman clinging to him , and he didn’t take a strong stance, she would inevitably feel uncomfortable too...
With that thought, Qiao Jing turned her gaze to Xu Moqian, her attitude resolute, and declared seriously, "Moqian, stop this from now on, it’s absolutely impossible between us."
"My feelings for you are only platonic, or even familial, but they will never be romantic. Do you understand?"
"So, no matter how you pursue me, I will never accept you, and furthermore, I have decided to be with Zhan Qipei."
Upon hearing Qiao Jing’s words, Xu Moqian’s whole person froze.
His face filled with disbelief, he hardly dared trust his own ears, suspecting he was hallucinating.
It took him a moment to recover before he began to stammer, "Jing... Sister Jing, what did you just say? Say it again, I didn’t catch a single word."
"I said, it’s absolutely impossible between us, I only see you as a good friend, so don’t waste your time on me anymore, in this lifetime, I will only be with Zhan Qipei."
Qiao Jing roughly repeated what she had just said, and then paused for a few seconds before speaking again, her expression growing more solemn.
"I’m sorry, Moqian. I’m glad that you like me because being liked is a very fortunate thing, but I already have someone I like. I don’t want you to miss out on your life because of me."
This time, Xu Moqian heard every single word and letter that Qiao Jing said, loud and clear.
He kept shaking his head, his face full of disbelief, retreating several steps backwards, looking utterly devastated, as if he had received a tremendous blow.
Watching Xu Moqian’s reaction, Zhan Qipei’s lips curved in an almost imperceptible smirk, but he felt this wasn’t enough.
He took Qiao Jing’s hand and said with pretense, "Wife, my back is a bit itchy, could you scratch it for me?"
Qiao Jing instantly knew what Zhan Qipei meant.
What a coincidence, his back itched just now of all times?
And why couldn’t he scratch it himself? Why did it have to be her?
This man’s antics were nothing but a ploy to strike while the iron was hot, hoping to crush Moqian’s lingering hope!
However, it was just as well, as the words she had spoken earlier were sincere, and she didn’t wish for Moqian to continue wasting time on her.
Thinking this way, Qiao Jing glanced at Xu Moqian for the last time, then leaned toward Zhan Qipei and extended her hand to scratch his back.
"Not there, on the left, a bit further, yes, right there, you can press harder."
Zhan Qipei feigned delight, guiding Qiao Jing’s hand to scratch here and there on his back, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
Qiao Jing was somewhat speechless at his antics, giving him a surreptitious eye roll, but outwardly, she kept a steady demeanor and went along with him.
If this could lead Moqian to finally abandon his feelings for her, it would not be a bad thing after all.
As Qiao Jing and Zhan Qipei’s interactions grew increasingly intimate, Xu Moqian could no longer bear to watch,
He pointed at the two of them, so angry he couldn’t speak clearly, "You, you guys, you really are... ah, too infuriating!"
Throwing down these words, he turned around furiously and ran out of the hospital room.
Once he left, Qiao Jing stopped scratching his back and slightly raised her exquisitely drawn eyebrows, looking at Zhan Qipei, "Are you satisfied now?"
Zhan Qipei’s thin lips curved into a slight smile, his magnetic voice tinged with amusement.
He was not just satisfied, he was extremely satisfied!
With this, Xu Moqian that little brat should no longer have designs on Qiao Jing!
Not far from the hospital room, in the corridor, the more Xu Moqian thought about it, the more upset he became, until he couldn’t help but pick up his phone and make a call.
As soon as the call connected, he started fake sobbing with "woo woo woo," and then said, "Grandpa, Grandpa, you have to comfort me, I don’t want to live anymore!"
On the other end of the phone, Xu Hongzu, upon hearing his grandson’s words, felt frustrated by his lack of progress, and spoke irritably, "You’re always overreacting to small things, seeking death at every turn. Where do I have the time to listen to your nonsense? I’m still doing research. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up!"
Xu Moqian could tell that his grandpa was indeed about to hang up the phone.
But he was in desperate need of someone to comfort him so, without beating around the bush, he quickly said, "Grandpa, Sister Jing was really snatched away by that bastard Zhan Qipei this time!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Hongzu lost all interest in his research, didn’t hang up, and asked anxiously, "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly happened?"
"I just came to the hospital to look for Sister Jing, and she was with Zhan Qipei. She was even feeding him by hand. The moment I saw that scene, I got upset and immediately rushed in to intervene."
"Who knew that Sister Jing would tell me that she only sees me as a good friend, and that she’s already decided to be with Zhan Qipei, telling me not to waste any more time on her..."
Xu Moqian recounted the events exactly as they happened. The more he spoke, the more uncomfortable he felt inside. It was simply unbearable.
After listening, Xu Hongzu was so angry he could hardly contain himself, and he said sharply to Xu Moqian on the phone, "You are really useless. Your grandfather I was so close to the water tower, yet I still couldn’t beat Zhan Yuanshan. That guy Zhan Yuanshan snatched her away from me."
"Grandpa was hoping that you could redeem our family’s honor, but look at you, just retracing the same old steps of your grandfather!"
"You also knew Xiao Jing first, how come you can’t show a bit of spirit and let the grandson of Zhan Yuanshan snatch Xiao Jing away..."
Xu Hongzu gave Xu Moqian a thorough scolding.
The more Xu Moqian listened, the more speechless he became, internally rolling his eyes in frustration.
His grandpa was really something, he also lost to someone else, and how could he have the face to demand that he must win?
But now was not the time to be sarcastic; thoughts of Sister Jing being taken away by Zhan Qipei made his heart ache so much!
After nearly finishing his scolding, Xu Hongzu changed topics and asked, "Is there still a chance for you to snatch Xiao Jing back?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Moqian fell silent, his brows deeply furrowed.
Just now in the hospital room, the way Sister Jing and that bastard Zhan Qipei were interacting was so intimate. She not only fed Zhan Qipei by hand but also helped scratch his back.
And then there were the words that Sister Jing said...
Thinking about it this way, it seemed like he no longer had a chance...