The 99th Divorce

“Please return. It’s the middle of the New Year. If a fuss is kicked up, everyone will be unhappy.” As he spoke, he began to fumble his way down the stairs.

It was a heart-stopping prospect.

Jiao Ziqing jumped up and was about to rush to Ou Ming’s side, but she was beaten to the punch by a certain individual. Yu Lili was very quick as she ran over to Ou Ming.

Ou Ming couldn’t see, but he heard the footsteps. Within moments, he had guessed whom the footsteps belonged to.

When Yu Lili was about to get close to him, Ou Ming froze. “What are you doing here?”

It was obvious that he had recognized Yu Lili. Jiao Ziqing and Ou Huojin looked at each other. They both each saw a different expression in the other’s eyes.

Old Mrs. Shen remained seated on the couch, sipping her tea without a care in the world. She looked on with pride at Yu Lili on the second story. She has courage. Not bad.

Yu Lili didn’t make a sound. She went forward and took Ou Ming’s uninjured hand in hers to lead him ahead.

Ou Ming stayed rooted to the spot and didn’t move. “I thought I’d made myself very clear yesterday. We broke up, Yu Lili. Don’t you find it meaningless to be here?” Without waiting for Yu Lili to reply, he turned to the open space and yelled, “Mom, didn’t I tell you not to let her in?”

Jiao Ziqing was surprised and bewildered when she heard that. Ou Ming had been serious?

Truthfully, Ou Ming didn’t seem like he had been joking, but why did they break up all of a sudden without any warning?

It wasn’t just Jiao Ziqing who was scratching her head. Yu Lili herself was puzzled by the ridiculousness of it all.

“Ou Ming!” Yu Lili hollered. “Why are so saying such things without any rhyme or reason? You have to give me a proper reason! I couldn’t meet you yesterday, but don’t you think of running from me today! You have to give me a proper explanation. Otherwise, I won’t leave!”

No one would accept such a situation. Even Ou Ming himself would never accept such a sudden breakup. But, was he to tell her that he had thought it through and didn’t want to burden her? Was he to tell her that he didn’t want her to waste her life taking care of a handicapped person and wanted her to forge a new life and find a new man?

If he spoke these words out, Yu Lili would never agree to break up with him. Ou Ming knew her. He knew her very, very well. Yu Lili was a good lady, which was precisely why he refused to be a burden to her.

It was a huge possibility that he would remain this way for the rest of his life–blind and reliant on another’s care. He wouldn’t be able to work. He would be a liability to both his family and his parents. He’d have to live out the rest on his days in the dark, never seeing daylight again.

Furthermore, Jiao Ziqing had plenty of opinions regarding Yu Lili. That wasn’t something that could be changed easily.

He couldn’t afford to, and more importantly, didn’t want to have Yu Lili make any compromises for his sake.

When he heard Yu Lili’s words, Ou Ming’s heart twisted. He wanted to take his hand back, but Yu Lili held on tightly with both hands. With the strength of only one hand, it was too hard for him to push her away.

He let her continue holding on to him and coldly said, “No man wants a greedy and social-climbing gold digger. Isn’t that reason enough?”

The words pierced Yu Lili’s heart. She looked at Ou Ming in disbelief. “Are you referring to me?”

“Is there anyone else other than you?” Ou Ming asked.

“Ou Ming, do you know what you’re saying?” Yu Lili asked.