The 99th Divorce

The ways of the world were indeed inescapable.

Ye Qianqian sat on her couch feeling bored. She picked up her cellphone and opened Shen Zhilie’s chatbox.

Shen Zhilie was at the top of her WeChat list. His profile picture was a photo of him in his white medical coat. He looked fine.

She had not seen that face for a few days.

She was scrolling through and rereading their previous chats when her phone suddenly chimed and a notification appeared.

It was a WeChat message from Shen Zhilie.

Shen Zhilie’s message was a little bizarre and consisted of only a few words. “Have you seen stars before?”

Ye Qianqian blinked her eyes, not getting his meaning.

Sissi: [???]

Shen Zhilie: [?]

Sissi: [I’ve seen them before.]

Shen Zhilie: [Have you seen a five-pointed star before?]

Sissi: [image]

Ye Qianqian doodled a five-pointed and sent the image over, followed by a playful emoticon.

Shen Zhilie: [Have you seen a four-pointed star before?]

Sissi: [Um… Is there such a thing?]

Shen Zhilie: [I miss you.]

At the same time the message was sent, confetti of four-pointed stars cascaded down her WeChat window, sparkling as they landed.

Ye Qianqian felt her heart go warm and giggled to herself.

She selected her video call option and dialed his number.

Just as the call connected, Shen Zhilie rejected it.

Shen Zhilie’s reply immediately came. [The elders are talking at the moment. It’s not convenient for me to answer the call.]

Sissi: [The elders are speaking, and you dare to be distracted right under their noses? Are you tired of living?]

Shen Zhilie: [It’s fine as long as I don’t flaunt it openly. [smirk] My handsome face gives me special privileges.]

Sissi: [You’re so shameless!]

Shen Zhilie: [Ha-ha!]

Sissi: [When will you be coming back?]

Sissi: [I miss you too.]

Sissi: [Tongtong will probably be going back in the next few days. Come back soon.]

Shen Zhilie felt his heart flutter when he read Ye Qianqian’s message.

She said she missed him.

Only heaven knew how rare it was for Ye Qianqian to say something like that.

He looked at his hand, which was still connect to the drip, and replied, [It’ll probably be more than a few days. I won’t be done so soon.]

Ye Qianqian was greatly disappointed and texted back: [Give me a call when you’re free.]

Barely a few moments after Ye Qianqian sent out the message, Shen Zhilie’s call came in.

Ye Qianqian elatedly answered it, “Hello?”

“You’re awake so early,” Shen Zhilie’s voice lazily said. It was low and sounded as if he had just woken up not too long ago.

Hearing his voice made Ye Qianqian’s heart soar. She felt her heartbeat going crazy.

“Hey, aren’t your elders still talking?”

“I told them I was having a stomachache and exited the room,” Shen Zhilie replied without missing a beat or blushing. “Life has been so hard lately with them breathing down my neck all day long. Sigh…”

“Alright! I’ll let Old Shen know! Thank you so much, Comrade Xiao Gu!” A bright and familiar female voice rang out clearly.

Shen Zhilie jumped back in shock as the door to the hospital room opened without any warning. The sound of Fang Tongtong’s voice was especially jarring.

Shen Zhilie quickly used his hand to cover the receiver. The moment he did so, Fang Tongtong went silent.

Fang Tongtong was carrying two portions of breakfast in her hands. She looked at Shen Zhilie.

When she saw Shen Zhilie’s hand covering the receiver, she was taken aback and guiltily asked, “Are you… Are you on the phone?”

“Why do I feel like I just heard Fang Tongtong’s voice?”