The 99th Divorce

“Yes. He just isn’t here yet.” Ye Tian looked at her watch. “Do you know who’s coming today?”

“Luo’an.” Anticipation was evident in Guan Queye’s voice. Her eyes quickly clouded over with an inexplicable expression. “And, Ye Youyou.”

Ye Tian nodded her head and looked into the distance. In a tone of pleasant surprise, she announced, “Look! Luo’an is here.”

When Guan Queye heard that, color filled her face. She raised her head and looked in the direction that Ye Tian had pointed out.

The sunlight was perfect. It was bright and splendid. A tall and straight figure walked over. His eyes were the same as before, but his edges and corners were now more distinct.

Shen Luo’an was dressed in a casual suit. It was in Guan Queye’s favorite color, cream. He strode up in shiny leather shoes. Anyone could tell in one look that he had gotten dressed up specially for this.

When Ye Tian saw Shen Luo’an in this demeanor, she was relieved. From the looks of it, although Shen Luo’an had married Ye Youyou, he hadn’t forgotten Guan Queye one bit. She stood up and pushed the wheelchair gently forward.

“Mom.” Shen Luo’an greeted Ye Tian with a smile.

This form of address grated on Guan Queye’s ears. It was extremely uncomfortable to hear.

In Shen Luo’an’s hand were some supplements and a bunch of fresh flowers. He handed the flowers over to Guan Queye. With a warm and gentle smile she said, “Long time no see, Queye.”

As Guan Queye looked at Shen Luo’an, her smile widened broadly. She received the flowers and said, “Luo’an, I miss you very much.” As she spoke, her emotions poured forth. Yearning was evident in her eyes. “I was always thinking of you, Luo’an.”

“Me too.” Shen Luo’an gazed at Guan Queye. The expression in his eyes was like before. Soon, he passed the supplements in his hand over to Ye Tian. “Mom, I’ll talk a walk with Queye.”

Ye Tian nodded her head and quickly left.

Shen Luo’an gazed at her Guan Queye’s legs and asked sympathetically, “They’re not recovered yet?”

She shook her head. The smile on her face looked anguished. “But, I’d rather be completely crippled than for them to recover but be unable to dance again.”

“Nonsense! They will recover,” Shen Luo’an patted her lightly on her shoulder. “I thought you’d never wake up again. Seeing you awake is so great.”

“Luo’an, I was awake for a long time, but I just didn’t want to meet anyone,” Guan Queye somberly said. “Everyone was treating me as a mentally-ill person. I was afraid if my illness flared up, I might hit you. Wouldn’t I be a sinner then?”

As she spoke, her eyes met his. They smiled at each other.

–

When Ye Youyou reached the Capital, it was already past 7 p.m.

She had asked Shen Zhilie for the address. After instructing not to let anyone know of her arrival, she flagged a taxi from the airport to take her to the hospital Guan Queye was at.

However, Guan Queye wasn’t in the room. Just as Ye Youyou was about to ask the front desk, she heard a familiar male voice. It was Shen Luo’an’s voice, and it sounded cheerful. As he spoke, she could tell from his voice that he was nearby.

Ye Youyou turned to look. At the same time, Shen Luo’an looked over. Both their eyes met, but nothing was said. The air was strangely silent.

She had deliberately dressed up and was wearing the season’s newest dress together with a pair of luxurious sandals. She looked very dignified.

Guan Queye noticed Ye Youyou too. Her hands that were resting on both sides of the wheelchair gripped the handles hard. Staring hard at Ye Youyou, her breathing became labored, and her eyes reddened. With a clenched jaw, she yelled, “Ye Youyou!”

Ye Youyou was shocked out of her wits by Guan Queye’s reaction. She stood rooted to the spot in confusion.