The 99th Divorce

Shen Luo’an looked away and settled his eyes on the beer can in front of him. In a meaningful tone, he said, “Some people really deserve to have retribution come to them.”

Shen Zhilie’s brows creased together when he heard that. He picked up his beer can and took a long gulp before changing the topic. “Sister-in-law got discharged from the hospital today. I brought her back to the Capital.”

“Yeah? And?” Shen Luo’an asked offhandedly. His lack of concern was palpable.

“She’s gone back to her own home. She refused to come with me.” Shen Zhilie pitied Ye Youyou. He glanced at Shen Luo’an. In a tone that displayed his disapproval, he said, “Throughout this time, only Dad, Mom, and I went to see her. As her husband, you didn’t even give her a phone call. Brother, Dad and Mom aren’t the only ones who feel that you’ve gone overboard with your behavior. Even I, as a brother, feel that you shouldn’t have done that.”

When Shen Luo’an heard that, he turned and laughed humorlessly at Shen Zhilie.

Shen Zhilie witnessed Shen Luo’an’s reaction, and his anger intensified. He said, “Brother, I have no idea what happened between you tow. But, I think that if both of you have had a misunderstanding, it’s best to talk it out. Ye Youyou really loves you very much. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have wanted to marry you so much.”

“She always wanted to marry me,” Shen Luo’an commented carelessly as he took a sip of beer. “So, I granted her wish, didn’t I?”

Shen Zhilie had no reply. He looked at Shen Luo’an in annoyance and shook his head, saying, “Just look at you now! Are you even displaying any of your responsibilities as a husband? Not at all! You’re wasting her youth, Brother. You can’t treat a woman like that!”

Shen Luo’an slammed his beer can on the table and stood up. In a somber voice, he said, “If you’re here to lecture me, save it. I don’t want to hear it.” As he spoke, he walked off.

All of a sudden, a thought occurred to him. He stopped in his tracks. “I’ll visit her tomorrow and fulfill my duties as a husband. Perhaps you could come along with me, and teach me how I should go about it.”

Shen Zhilie was infuriated by his attitude. He felt an outrage on behalf of Ye Youyou in his heart. Looking at Shen Luo’an’s back, he coldly stated, “Divorcing you is the right thing to do. Ye Youyou must have been blind. That lovely girl’s love for you was in vain!”

That statement made Shen Luo’an’s steps slow down. “What do you mean by that?”

Shen Zhilie saw that there was finally a reaction in Shen Luo’an. For an unknown reason, he felt reassured. “When we got off the plane today, I wanted to take Ye Youyou home. But, she refused to come. She said she’s preparing to divorce you.”

Shen Luo’an’s back remained toward Shen Zhilie. He didn’t say a word.

Shen Zhilie kept his eye on Shen Luo’an’s back as he enunciated clearly, “You don’t treasure her anyway. I guess a divorce would be good.”

The expression in Shen Luo’an’s eyes darkened. A storm-like fury swept over him. He found it hard to calm the deep turmoil within him. Without saying a word, he walked off.

Shen Zhilie had no idea if what he had just done was right or wrong, but Shen Luo’an’s reaction had been far from his expectations. The fact that he had a reaction meant that he cared.

Since he did care for Ye Youyou, why had he gone after Shen Manting? The more Shen Zhilie thought about it, the less he understood. This older brother he once admired and looked up to had changed completely.

…

Ye Youyou didn’t tell anyone that she was back in the Capital. Her friends from the past had drifted apart due to the lack of communication over a long period of time.

When the doorbell rang, her first thought had been, Shen Zhilie is here again.