The 99th Divorce

Was such a middle-aged man really nothing more than a vagabond artist?

Such an aura that was! Furthermore, the way he spoke, his disposition, and the stateliness he emanated were all extraordinary. And to think that Yu Lili’s idea of this legendary artist had been a frumpy and unkempt bum, someone who didn’t shave, who left his stubble untrimmed, and who would be reeking with the smell of alcohol—or perhaps someone who would walk with a stoop and possess a weakly disposition.

Wen Fenglin was nothing like that at all.

Indeed, the moment Wen Fenglin spoke, Jiao Ziqing zipped her mouth and kept silent.

Wen Fenglin smiled at Yu Lili and said, “A young person shouldn’t have such a quick temper. Why don’t you take a walk outside? Xiao Ou, what are you waiting for? Take your girlfriend out for a walk.”

“No way.” Jiao Ziqing yelled out immediately and stretched her hand out to stop Ou Ming. “Xiao Ou, come home with me! It’s New Year’s Eve. You shouldn’t be out mucking around with an outsider! Come home now!”

Outsider!

Mucking around!

When Yu Lili heard those words, the ache in the heart increased.

Ou Ming removed Jiao Ziqing’s hand from his person and placated, “Mom, it must have been a long time since you last saw Uncle Wen. You should spend some time catching up.”

With that, he held Yu Lili’s hand and led her out of there.

Jiao Ziqing was livid, and she shouted behind him, “Xiao Ou, where are you off to now?”

Ou Ming didn’t answer. He just led Yu Lili out.

Jiao Ziqing wanted to give chase, but Wen Fenglin held her back by her clothes.

Wen Fenglin watched the two of them depart and spoke, “Xiao Jiao, your son is a grown-up. You shouldn’t interfere so much in his matters. Let them resolve it on their own.”

“You have no idea about the situation at all! That woman is completely rotten! Furthermore, she’s an orphan! Without any parents, she’s sorely lacking in her upbringing! She’s also really evil. She was the one who publicized the matter regarding Shen Manting and Shen Luo’an!”

“What matter was that?” asked Wen Fenglin with raised brows.

Jiao Ziqing gave him a summary of the entire matter and added with a huff, “That woman harbors dirty intentions. She went to the capital on her own for four years. Who knows how many men she has slept around with? I will never allow such a woman into my family. Never!”

Jiao Ziqing was firm in her statement, and Wen Fenglin knew she was being serious.

Wen Fenglin creased his forehead and refuted her, “How can that be? That girl doesn’t seem like such a person to me.”

“She is! Sigh, Fenglin, you haven’t been here in Kingstown for long. You have no idea that the women here are really different from the ones you’ve interacted with.”

“She can’t be that bad!” As Wen Fenglin was speaking, something popped up in his mind. “Oh right! You mentioned that the lady was an orphan?”

“Yes!”

“But I seem to recall you referring to her mother a few times! Did I hear wrong?”

When Jiao Ziqing heard this, her voice trailed off. She harrumphed immediately. “I did that on purpose. I know she has no mother, so naturally, she wouldn’t have had anyone to teach her. So…”

“So you deliberately rubbed salt into her wounds?” Wen Fenglin seemed to find that a little funny and looked at Jiao Ziqing helplessly as he declared, “You really haven’t changed at all. If Xian’er were still around, she’d definitely hit you.”

When she heard Xian’er’s name, Jiao Ziqing’s voice turned desolate, and she said, “Fenglin, I miss her very much.”

Wen Fenglin smiled gently, and his eyelid twitched. He was silent for a moment before he replied, “Me too.”