The 99th Divorce

“I had no idea. I wasn’t in on it with them.” Ye Qianqian shrugged her shoulders and stood by Ye Youyou’s side. “But this is right. If everyone knew about it, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.”

“Come on, Ersu. Let’s sing a birthday song for Auntie Lili.” Luo Zhan lifted Li Jianyue up onto the chair and held her hands in his as she clapped them together and sang, “Happy birthday to you…”

Her voice was sweet and lovable. It carried that special quality that only little girls possessed. The sweetness of it went straight to Yu Lili’s heart.

With someone taking the lead, everyone in the room was soon singing together.

Ou Ming held Yu Lili gently in his arms as he said, “Happy Birthday, Wifey.”

Yu Lili grinned and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Thank you, Hubby.”

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’ll do,” she replied.

Ou Ming didn’t mind. He placed his hand on her waist and stroked her as he remarked, “I’ll get back at you tonight.”

Yu Lili pretended that she hadn’t heard a word. In a moment, under everyone’s demand, she made a birthday wish.

The afterglow of the birthday celebration and song stayed with Yu Lili throughout her ride home and beyond that.

After they parted from the group, Ou Ming and Yu Lili did not take the same road as Li Sicheng back to Yuxiu. Instead, they headed to Jiao Ziqing’s home.

Ou Ming had drunk alcohol. Naturally, the responsibility of driving fell to Yu Lili. He watched his wife beside him. His eyes never left her for the whole journey.

At the start, Yu Lili forced herself to be composed as she pretended not to notice Ou Ming’s gaze. After a few minutes, she couldn’t keep the act up and turned to face him.

Ou Ming’s smile widened. He reached his hand out and turned her face back to face the road as he said, “Watch the road. Don’t look away while you’re driving.”

Yu Lili drove steadily as she replied, “Don’t distract me! Why do you keep staring at me? Have you never seen this before?”

“No, I’ve never seen such a beautiful wife before.” Ou Ming stroked his chin and looked at Yu Lili. He asked, “What was your birthday wish just now?”

“If I say my birthday wish aloud, it won’t come to pass,” she replied.

“It doesn’t matter. If you tell your husband, it’ll still come to pass,” Ou Ming said.

“Since when?” Yu Lili asked

“Forever,” he said.

“Yeah right. What rubbish,” Yu Lili retorted, even as she couldn’t hold back the huge smile that grew on her face. “Ou Ming, are we really going to F Town tomorrow? I still feel unprepared for it.”

“You don’t need to prepare anything. We’ll just go together.” Ou Ming stretched his back. “I’ve already notified the other side. She’ll be coming to meet us.”

“OK…” Yu Lili began to feel a little nervous. The thought that she could possibly find out who her mother was the next day was enough to make her heartbeat quicken.

Ou Ming reached out and covered her hand, which was on the steering wheel, with his. He reassured her, saying, “Don’t worry. I’m here. Instead of worrying what the outcome will be tomorrow, why don’t you tell me what your birthday wish was.”

“Damn you.” Yu Lili pushed his hand off and gave him a stern expression. “I’m not telling you.”

“Really?” Ou Ming wiggled his brows. “Fine. Don’t tell me. As an exchange, you’ll have to bathe me later.”

“No,” Yu Lili said.

“So, tell me!” Ou Ming wasn’t giving up.

“No!” Yu Lili was feeling exasperated.

“Then, you’ll have to bathe me,” Ou Ming said again.

“Why are you so crass?” Yu Lili asked.

“I’m not too bad. I could do worse. You know that,” he replied.

Yu Lili was speechless. She chose to ignore him, but her heart was overrun with sweetness.

Her birthday wish had been this: Please let me have a child.