The 99th Divorce

Jiao Ziqing tightened her grip on his clothing as she said, “I hope so…”

Ou Huojin patted the back of her hand and comforted her. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll bring her over.”

They’d all seen how much Ou Ming cared about that girl. Perhaps he’d really be able to rally himself and recover once he saw her. Regardless of the outcome, they had to at least give it a try. Plus, what if it really worked?

Jiao Ziqing nodded her head. “Drive carefully.”

“Alright.” Ou Huojin took her hand off him and strode away.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard Jiao Ziqing say, “Hold on!”

Ou Huojin turn around to look. He saw dilemma written all over her face. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Shall I go with you?”

“Stay here and take good care of our son,” Ou Huojin said. “Given the way you treated that child before, what if she won’t come because of that?”

Looking at her husband’s reassuring gaze, Jiao Ziqing didn’t insist any further. She nodded her head and watched as Ou Huojin continued off into the distance.

Ou Ming had heard his parents mention Wen Fenglin’s name many times before, but he had never heard his parents speak of Wen Fenglin’s story. Never in a million years would he have expected that Wen Fenglin would have such a background story.

The room became unbearably quiet after his parents stepped out.

After a long while, a voice finally rang out in the room, “Thank you.” The voice was soft and low but full of sincerity.

Wen Fenglin looked at Ou Ming and said, “I just don’t want you to end up as I did then. Your parents are my friends, but they are doing the exact same thing that I hated all those years ago.”

From the other side of the door, Jiao Ziqing overheard what Wen Fenglin said. Feeling a little rueful, she stayed outside and didn’t enter.

…

Yu Lili had the video call with Old Mrs. Shen early in the morning. It lasted until her phone beeped that the battery was low. Even when she explained the situation, Old Mrs. Shen still refused to hang up.

Yu Lili continued talking for a short while, but she didn’t recharge her phone. She allowed the battery to go flat. Afterward, she went to her room and started drawing comics.

A whole afternoon went by that way. With her pencil sketching and shading, it was past noon by the time she was done with one frame.

She hadn’t eaten anything since she woke up, so her stomach was growling. But, she wasn’t really in the mood to eat. The conversation she had with Wen Fenglin and Ou Ming the day before kept replaying in her mind.

The only question now was when were they going to start?

Ding! Dong!

The doorbell rang. Yu Lili stood up forcefully out of reflex and neatened her clothing as she went to the door. When she looked through the peephole, she saw a girl who looked approximately 17 or 18 standing there.

Yu Lili spoke through the intercom and asked, “Who’s there?”

“Hello, Miss Yu. Could you open the door please? There’s a gentleman who’s looking for you,” the girl said.

“Gentleman? Who?” It seemed weird to Yu Lili. “Why won’t he call for me directly? Who is he?”

“He said his family name is Ou,” the girl replied.

His family name is Ou?

Ou Ming? But how was that possible?

“Where is he?” Yu Lili asked.

“Over here,” a regal voice rang out as a man’s figure appeared within view of the peephole. He looked a little helpless as he said, “I am Ou Ming’s father. I would like to speak with you. Would that be possible?”