All the servants were well-trained, but today, for some reason, their hands slipped, and the entire bowl of chilled Yanzuo Mimiang spilled all over Li Shengming.
Li Shengming jumped up in shock, staring at the limited-edition, globally rare T-shirt on him now soaked in rice and bird’s nest.
The servant quickly grabbed a clean towel to wipe it.
“I’m sorry, Third Young Master. I was careless and clumsy. Really very sorry,” the guilty servant apologized repeatedly, head lowered.
Only then did Zhuang Qiting speak, “Enough. You may go.” He leisurely stood up and walked over to his stunned son. “Go wash up, change into clean clothes, then come back to eat.”
Li Shengming, immersed in misery, said, “This is my favorite T-shirt… very hard to get…”
Zhuang Qiting casually took the phone from his son’s hand and set it aside. “It’s just one shirt. Are you really going to cry over it? Daddy will buy you another one exactly the same. Now go, you’re filthy.”
Li Shengming felt a little better but still sulked, dragging his wet, sticky self to his room to shower, his mind a complete blank.
The mess in the dining room was quickly cleaned without a trace.
Zhuang Qiting relaxed against the chair, holding his son’s phone, staring deeply at Li Yarou’s chat interface.
【Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, do you have something to tell me?】
Li Yarou: 【What’s wrong, baby? Mommy is staying at Aunt Qiu’s place for a few days, will come back in a few days.】
In the entire household, Li Yarou only called her youngest son “baby.” She called her eldest son “Big Brother” or “A Yan,” the second son “A Zhou” or “you rascal,” and called him… Zhuang Qiting didn’t want to remember.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he typed: 【I miss you.】
Feeling awkward, this was definitely not his son’s tone, so he added “Mommy” to soften it: 【I miss you, Mommy.】
Zhuang Qiting’s brow furrowed deeply. It felt terribly awkward everywhere. Though disguised in his son’s skin, it was clearly something he himself had typed.
It was ridiculous!
How could he call this kid… “Mommy”? It should be her cooing and tearful calls for “Daddy,” not the other way around.
Zhuang Qiting took a large sip of the rice wine, the icy sweetness sliding down his throat. He pressed send.
First, he had to coax his wife back. That was the priority.
Li Yarou was enjoying fine wine and food with Lu Junqiu and Liang Yongwen, watching the sunset by the sea.
The leisurely sea breeze rustled the garden of roses and ruffled her shimmering skirt. Her translucent cheeks were tinted pink by champagne.
Free from the old man’s control, even the air felt comfortable and fresh.
Her eyes were slightly intoxicated as she looked at her youngest son’s online messages. Like a little puppy, he was pouting and saying he missed her, filling her with warmth.
【Good boy, Mommy misses you too [hug]】
【When will you come back? How many days will you stay at Aunt Qiu’s? Mommy, I really miss you.】
Li Yarou sighed. She rarely saw her youngest so clingy. Why was he like a puppy today, losing his soul after just one day apart?
【Are you a puppy? Mommy is finally getting some fresh air. Stay good at home at least a week. If you can’t handle problems or can’t afford things, go ask your two brothers. Don’t bother your mom.】
Zhuang Qiting pursed his lips, face darkening. He kept typing, imitating the son’s sulky whining tone. He never took his son’s antics seriously — they weren’t suitable.
【Mommy, please come back tomorrow, okay? Without you, I can’t eat or sleep.】
Li Yarou frowned in disdain. Was Li Shengming possessed? He not eating? He averaged three bowls a meal and would sleep until noon if no one woke him.
【Li Shengming!】
Zhuang Qiting remained calm: 【Mommy, come back.】
【You rascal, if you dare to act clingy, I’ll spank you!】
Zhuang Qiting’s expression darkened, stern and imposing: 【Daddy misses you too. He didn’t eat tonight. Mommy, you should care more about Daddy.】
Li Yarou laughed angrily. Lu Yongwen and Lu Junqiu saw her clutching the phone, sometimes grinding her teeth, sometimes chuckling, clearly amused.
“What’s up, Eleanor?”
“Nothing, just a spy dog being threatened by an old man pestering me.”
Li Yarou smiled, took a sip of champagne, eyes flickering with mischief. “Your father misses me, so I’ll come back next month. Enough, Mommy is playing now. Stop bothering me. You should eat more with your dad. He’s old now; don’t learn from young kids dieting and skip meals.”
After sending the message, Li Yarou set her son’s chat to Do Not Disturb, tossed the phone aside, and went drinking with the girls.
Within a few minutes, the golden sunset faded to pale pink, blurring the distant sea and mountains. Seagulls circled freely, their calls distant.
Zhuang Qiting stared at his wife’s mockery, dizzy with anger, blood pressure rising. He tried sending more messages but received no reply, as if silently mocking his unworthy attempts.
He finished the entire bowl of sweet soup, the syrupy sweetness turning bitter in his mouth. He silently deleted the chat records, turned off his phone, and put it away.
–
That night, Li Yarou announced her divorce with casual indifference. Lu Junqiu nearly choked on her wine; the gem-red liquid ruined a six-figure cocktail dress.
Liang Yongwen was less agitated but stared wide-eyed at her friend in surprise.
“I’m in the divorce process. If all goes well, the Judgement Decree will come in two months.”
Lu Junqiu couldn’t care about the dress now, struck dumb. “Sister! Sister! Sister! What are you saying? Your brother-in-law actually agreed to the divorce?”
Li Yarou said, “He doesn’t get a say. If he doesn’t agree, I’ll just sue. If it escalates, the whole Zhuang family will lose face.”
“Why bother, sister? This is so heartbreaking! Your brother-in-law is already in his forties and acting like this after half a lifetime together. Has Second Aunt heard? Does she agree? And the Zhuang family’s patriarch — that’s not someone to mess with.” Lu Junqiu stammered.
Lu Junqiu knew Li Yarou’s temperament well. She never feared trouble or hardship. When pushed to the edge, she’d find a way out.
If she truly decided to divorce, even nine oxen couldn’t pull her back.
She also knew how ruthless the brother-in-law’s methods were — power, wealth, petting, dominance — all combined to keep Li Yarou locked in. After more than twenty years, would he easily let go?
This divorce was nothing short of a bloodbath. Those around would likely suffer.
Li Yarou elegantly sliced her steak. “My mother doesn’t care about my marriage to Zhuang Qiting. If she couldn’t control the wedding, how would she control the divorce? As for my father-in-law… never mind. I’m done considering that.”
She glanced sideways at Lu Junqiu, seeing her calculating thoughts, and smiled without care. “Qiu, watch your big mouth. Don’t stir trouble with my uncle and aunt. If a bunch of them rush over to stop me from divorcing, I’ll curse them. Also, don’t be a traitor. If I find out you dare side with Zhuang Qiting, you won’t end well.”
Lu Junqiu blushed and hurriedly promised no betrayal. Then said, “You can’t hide the divorce. The whole circle will be shaken, and no one knows how many absurd rumors will spread. Sister, you’re already so established. Why not live comfortably? Why push yourself to the center of public opinion? You know how gossipers are. And you won’t gain anything from this divorce!”
Li Yarou said, “I can go wherever I want, do whatever I want. Isn’t that a benefit?”
Lu Junqiu knew reasoning was useless, so said, “Then don’t be stupid. Your brother-in-law won’t just let you take half the assets. At least you should get a 30% share, right?”
“He gives me one hundred million yuan each year.”
“And? Shares, houses, funds, trusts?”
“Nothing else.”
“Nothing!?”
Lu Junqiu almost choked. “My sister, my wise and great sister, what’s the difference with walking away naked?”
Li Yarou didn’t discuss further, nor mention she only took 30% of jewelry and haute couture.
Since Zhuang Qiting used such disgraceful tactics to force her to back down, she wouldn’t let him underestimate her.
“Awyn, what about you?” Li Yarou smiled, turning to Liang Yongwen.
This was the only woman who could match her in the social circle. The beloved wife of Hong Kong real estate tycoon Yi Kunshan, who had treated her like a jewel for many years.
In looks, character, and intelligence, she was top-tier, and Li Yarou admired her.
But Liang Yongwen was different from Li Yarou. She came from a cultured family and was a true Mingmen Shunv.
Li Yarou propped her chin lightly, saying, “Don’t you think I’m being ridiculous?”
Liang Yongwen only smiled, without any intention to persuade.
Having reached the point of legal divorce proceedings, the chessboard’s black and white pieces had reached an irreconcilable deadlock, with neither side willing to concede.
Unless one side admitted defeat.
Was she advising Li Yarou to concede to that Zhuang Qiting?
“Anyway, even if the divorce goes smoothly, your relationship with Zhuang Qiting won’t end. He wants to hold on tight; you want to beat him.” Liang Yongwen blinked. “I’ll just watch the show.”
Li Yarou’s heart trembled slightly and she snorted, “Now I know why Yi Kunshan is so tightly controlled by you. Your scheming — what man can outplay you? You’re right. I once thought I could beat him, refused to lose, but now I’ve lost that spirit.”
After all these years, she finally realized Zhuang Qiting was exalted and supreme, unbeatable. She couldn’t win; she could only run, far away, never to see him again.
So she no longer wanted to argue with him. She simply ignored him, like putting a badly cooked piece of meat into the freezer. Freeze it, freeze it, and it’ll become frozen zombie meat.
Freeze it long enough, and Zhuang Qiting would lose patience and give up on her completely.
The last blush of pink over the mountains and sea dimmed, like clouds clearing after rain, sinking beyond the horizon. Li Yarou quietly stared at the clear, deep, yet not fully dark night sky.
For all these years, how much sunk cost had he invested in her? She had not given less.
The moon was cold and round, hanging over the sea. A flock of seagulls flew across the moon, carving a black, elongated crescent.
The future remained unknown. Perhaps there would be storms and more gossip, but she no longer cared.