The 99th Divorce

Her name was Chi Xian.

–

Yu Lili had no idea how she walked out of that small house and got into the car. Her mind was in a completely muddled state.

The woman she had heard so much about, Uncle Wen’s first love, the rich young miss who had been sickly, that beauty who had passed on before her time… that was her mother?

The mother who had insisted on having her even if that meant she had to spend a huge sum on a surrogate.

If it was Xian’er, Yu Lili could make out all the reasons why. Why she had to hire a surrogate, why she hadn’t come for her, why she left her as an orphan for so many years…

It was because Xian’er had died. She had left this world around 25 years ago.

For some inexplicable reason, Yu Lili began to feel sad. This woman, who was supposed to be a stranger she was completely emotionally detached from… When this stranger turned out to be Chi Xian, Yu Lili’s heart was suddenly filled with sadness.

“Let’s go back.” Ou Ming reached out and gave her a hug. “Your mother may no longer be around, but your father still is, isn’t it?”

Father…

Yu Lili found the whole situation unfair. At the same it, it was painful. Her mother was no longer around, but her father was. And, this father was none other than Zhen Xianlang.

How did she end up being that man’s daughter? How did she end up being the daughter of such a person?

Yu Lili hugged Ou Ming tightly and said, “Ou Ming, I beg you. Let’s just pretend that none of this happened. We never came to F Town, we never found my surrogate mother, and we have no idea who my mother is.”

Ou Ming embraced her wordlessly. Only after a long moment did he ask, “You don’t like Zhen Xianlang?”

Yu Lili curled her lips. She felt an unreasonable sense of grievance. She was outraged on behalf of Xian’er. She was outraged on behalf of Wen Fenglin. And, she was outraged on her own behalf.

“He stole the woman whom Uncle Wen loved,” Yu Lili said. “Not long after she passed away, he married another woman and had a son with her. He didn’t love Xian’er at all. I’m irrelevant to him. Since that is the case, why would I want to interrupt their lives?”

Ou Ming was silent for a while, he planted a light kiss on her forehead. “Let’s discuss this when we get back. I’m hungry.”

Yu Lili stuck her bottom lip out and pushed him aside, saying, “Let’s exchange seats. I’ll drive. You can take a nap.”

“Are you up to it?” Ou Ming was a little surprised. “I’m afraid that in your bad mood, you might drive us both into the ravine. That’ll be one car, two lives!”

Yu Lili burst out laughing and pinched him on his arm as she commanded, “Get lost! Swap seats!”

“Alright. But, be careful. Life is precious, Wifey.” Ou Ming unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car.

Yu Lili was too lazy to get out of the car. She climbed over to the driver’s seat instead as she said, “Sleep in the back. It’s more spacious there.”

“No, I’m sitting here,” Ou Ming buckled up and said. “Let’s go.”

Yu Lili gave him a side eye and got the car moving soon enough. She set up the navigation and started on the road back. By the time they returned to Kingstown, it was already afternoon.

Ou Ming slept peacefully for the whole ride back. Only when the car stopped did he suddenly jerk awake and ask, “We’re back?”

Yu Lili rolled her eyes and commented, “Didn’t you say you were worried I’d drive us both into the ravine? How did you sleep so soundly?”

Ou Ming unbuckled his seat belt and pulled her over for a kiss before answering as-a-matter-of-factly, “Wifey’s driving skills are beyond doubt. I trust you.”

“I see.” Yu Lili couldn’t be bothered with him. She headed straight into the restaurant.

Coincidentally, the moment she entered, she met a familiar figure. Wen Fenglin was in the middle of a conversation with a middle-aged man. A look of surprise crossed his face when he saw Yu Lili and Ou Ming as he waved at them.