The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 572 - 501: To Go or To Stay

Chapter 572: Chapter 501: To Go or To Stay
Mu Chenxi was pouring vinegar for them. Susu’s hometown is famous for its vinegar production. She used to say that she grew up soaked in a vat of vinegar, so each time she brought dumplings, Mu Chenxi would bring vinegar along.
Perhaps the pungent smell of the vinegar was too strong, as it made her eyes rim with redness.
"Hey, Quartet, say something," Xinyu urged anxiously, pushing her slightly. "Don’t just focus on pouring vinegar. Has your Prince Charming appeared yet?"
Mu Chenxi stood motionless for a while before finally shaking her head. Then, tears began to fall, landing like beads into the saucer of vinegar she held in her hand, startling all three of her friends to their feet.
"Quartet, what’s wrong, Quartet?"
They all forgot about their dumplings as Quan Jin directly embraced her, her nose also souring, "Oh come on, it’s not a big deal. So what if you’ve been rejected? When I was in elementary school, I liked the sixth-grade class president, and I wrote a love letter to him. Not only did he reject me face-to-face, but he also pasted the love letter on their class blackboard. Damn, the embarrassment I suffered, the entire school recognized me as the first-grade girl named Quan Jin."
If Quan Jin said something like this normally, Mu Chenxi would surely be laughing until she couldn’t straighten her back, but now she simply couldn’t muster a smile.
"I’m sorry." She wiped her tears, her voice choked, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry."
"Quartet, what are you talking about? Who are you apologizing to? It’s our fault; we shouldn’t have egged you on to confess," said Susu, crying herself. "We should be the ones saying sorry."
"No, it’s me." Mu Chenxi sniffled and only after quite a while did she manage to muster these words, "I’m going to immigrate."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, the three friends looked at her in disbelief, their crying abruptly stopping, obviously shocked by the news.
"Quartet, what’s going on? Why would you want to immigrate out of the blue?" Xinyu was frantic. "Tell us quickly."
Mu Chenxi’s voice was hoarse, "The other side promised to arrange immigration for our whole family. This was already set more than a month ago, it’s just that back then, I hadn’t truly decided to leave."
"And now? Are you set on leaving now?" Quan Jin shook her shoulders, a bit agitated, "Because the professor rejected you, you don’t want us either?"
"It’s not that, I can’t bear to leave you guys," Mu Chenxi didn’t know what else to say. "I initially disagreed to go partly because of you all; I didn’t want to leave you."
"Then don’t go," wept Quan Jin. "You have to run so far away to live, with your level of English, you can’t even communicate with children. In an unfamiliar place with nobody around, who are you going to hang out with?"
As Quan Jin began to cry, the dormitory quickly dissolved into a chorus of sobs.
After a bout of crying, everyone gradually calmed down. Xinyu reached for a tissue to wipe her tears away, "Alright, let’s not be selfish any longer. Quartet should get better opportunities over there, and since her parents are going too, it isn’t right to leave her alone here."
"Yes," Susu added, her eyes still red, "Though we’re reluctant to let you go, you should be with your parents. If we have a chance in the future, we’ll visit you there. Go if you must, ignore what we said earlier."
While the friends offered their comforting words, they all struggled with a heavy heart, fighting for breath. Though they hadn’t known each other for long, their bond had surpassed the limits of time.
Because of this bad news, a veil of sadness shrouded the dormitory, and barely any of Luo Meijuan’s dumplings were eaten.
Nobody asked about how Luo Shangqing rejected Mu Chenxi, since everyone could see that she was emotionally unstable. There’s a saying that the deeper the love, the deeper the hurt, and her more than two years of secret longing for Professor Luo had seeped into her bones, so the accompanying blow was heart-wrenchingly painful.
The next time Mu Chenxi saw Luo Shangqing was on an afternoon when she went to the student affairs officer to get a withdrawal application form.
The student affairs officer repeatedly expressed regret about her decision to withdraw and, while searching for the form, said, "You’ve just published an SCI paper, and many big hospitals have a high opinion of you. Isn’t it a pity to drop out halfway through?"
"Teacher, I know. I’ve considered it thoroughly. Even there, I will continue to study," Mu Chenxi took the form from the officer, "Thank you, teacher."
"Hmm, since you’ve decided to leave, then all I can wish for you is all the best. You’re a good kid, do your best." The officer patted her arm, "It doesn’t matter, during the withdrawal application period, you can change your mind at any time."
After leaving the student affairs officer’s office, just as Mu Chenxi was about to return to the dormitory, she happened to run into Luo Shangqing, who had just finished his class. Dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, holding a teaching plan in his hand, he was always the most prominent figure in the hallway, drawing her gaze involuntarily to his every move.
Mu Chenxi thought that this was a habit formed over many years; all her conscious thoughts would intertwine and shift with his every word and action.
Mu Chenxi actually wanted to avoid him, to not see him under these circumstances if possible, but with only five or six meters between them, turning back would seem too deliberate.
Steeling herself, Mu Chenxi quickly walked past, cheerfully greeting as usual, "Hello, Professor Luo."
Luo Shangqing looked at her, his eyes carrying a cold hue, and after a brief glance, he walked away with graceful steps, as if he didn’t recognize her at all.
Mu Chenxi was first taken aback, then sighed deeply. It turned out to be the worst outcome; they couldn’t even maintain the basic student-teacher relationship anymore. This was the sequela of confession, and hers was the most severe kind.
Luo Shangqing entered the office to get a document, and as his back was to the officer, who heard his footsteps, she spoke without looking back, "What, back again? Are you having regrets?"
After saying this without receiving a response, the officer turned around and saw Luo Shangqing with a puzzled look, and she quickly explained in embarrassment, "Oh, it’s Professor Luo. I thought it was Ms. Mu Chenxi coming back."
Luo Shangqing nodded lightly to show it was okay, then went to retrieve something from the cabinet.
The officer, thinking that Mu Chenxi was one of Luo Shangqing’s students and also his supervisee for her SCI paper, expressed regret, "Professor Luo,
Luo Shangqing, who was opening the cabinet, paused and turned around in surprise, "What?"