New Year’s Eve. The Zhuang Residence was festively adorned with red lanterns, eight pairs of handcrafted lanterns glowing like clusters of fireworks in the night, bathing the surroundings in joyous warmth.
Every year at this time, the Zhuang Residence resembled a massive duck farm. With over forty family members gathered— elders and youngsters alike— how could it not be noisy?
Zhuang Qiting hated the New Year the most. In past years, with Li Yaru by his side, just looking at her would lift his spirits.
This year, without her, the seat beside him remained empty— vacant, hollow, desolate.
He tried his best to adjust to the contrast, to steady his emotions, and to answer the barrage of questions from relatives perfunctorily.
“Boss, where’s sister-in-law? Why hasn’t she arrived yet?” came a voice from his peers.
“Uncle! Auntie! Where is Auntie?” asked the younger generation.
“Daddy, Mommy, why isn’t Mommy here yet? I just called, but she didn’t answer! Maybe there’s traffic— just have Mommy wait at the Group Headquarters. I’ll have Second Brother fly the helicopter to pick her up. It’ll be faster!” This was the spoiled son.
“Qiting, the New Year’s Eve dinner is about to start. Why isn’t Xiaorou here yet?” came the elder’s voice.
All over the place, the family of over forty members was clamoring for him about Li Yaru— Li Yaru— Li Yaru.
“This year, she’s having dinner at her parents’ home,” Zhuang Qiting said calmly.
Zhuang Shaozhang saw clearly that his son was in a terrible mood. He leisurely stepped out to take charge. “Alright, since everyone’s here, let’s begin. Those who haven’t arrived won’t be waited for.”
Before the dinner could begin, incense was burned to honor the ancestors with three kowtows and nine bows.
The altar was laden with chickens, ducks, fish, meat, fruits, and wine offerings. Two red candles burned fiercely as incense smoke curled up in thin spirals.
After the ritual, everyone took their seats, and the New Year’s Eve banquet truly commenced.
The seat beside Zhuang Qiting was reserved by default for Li Yaru. Even though she wasn’t here, no one dared to sit there without permission.
Thus, the large rosewood round table, which could seat over forty, was fully occupied except for a vacant corner near the head seat, which looked quite eerie.
Zhuang Qichen, the fourth brother who had just returned from North America last night, said dejectedly, “I even brought New Year’s gifts for my sister-in-law. Xiaoying has been pestering me to see the beautiful lady from America several times.”
Zhuang Qiting shot Zhuang Qichen a dark look. “Eat your food and keep your mouth shut.”
Zhuang Qichen was puzzled. Why was his elder brother giving him the cold shoulder all evening? He hadn’t done anything wrong.
The investments he completed at the Group Headquarters in North America went smoothly without a hitch.
He even took care of A Zhou during those years studying abroad better than his own son.
Zhuang Qichen was the youngest among the same generation, a full ten years younger than Zhuang Qiting.
Since childhood, Zhuang Qiting had cared for him like both a brother and a father. When his eldest brother got angry, he would naturally feel uneasy.
No, what exactly had he done wrong?
The table was filled with delicacies. A chef sliced fresh seafood sashimi on the spot. Each person had their own hot pot, bubbling with rich, flavorful broth, perfect for cooking fish slices, shellfish, and lobster, all delicious.
The conversation at the table inevitably drifted toward Li Yaru. Over the years, she had truly become the matriarch of the Zhuang Family— a status not easily replaced.
Zhuang Qiting refrained from joining any conversation, quietly sipping his fine wine. The aroma was rich and mellow, with a lingering bittersweet taste.
At that moment, Zhuang Shaozhang, seated at the head of the table, spoke up, “There’s an important matter to share with everyone.”
Zhuang Qiting’s fingers tightened around his glass. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the patriarch.
The old man smiled gently as he surveyed his grandchildren, his tone steady and unhurried. “Recently, due to certain reasons, Qiting and Yaru have decided to separate for a while. I know this cannot be kept a secret for long. Soon, rumors will start spreading outside. I don’t care what others speculate, but anyone from the Zhuang Family who dares to speak a word about it outside must immediately hand over all their holdings and never touch a penny from the trust fund again.”
The declaration stunned the entire room into silence, broken only by the bubbling of the hot pots. Scores of shocked eyes turned toward Zhuang Qiting, then quickly averted in fear.
Li Shengming was completely stunned. Zhuang Shaozhou and Zhuang Shaoyan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with worry.
The whole New Year’s Eve dinner was eaten in dread and confusion. Zhuang Qiting didn’t utter a word the entire time; his cold expression made everyone avoid direct eye contact.
When the gathering finally broke up, Zhuang Qiting was immediately surrounded by his three younger brothers, half-pushed, half-dragged into the study.
“Stop pushing. We’re all here; don’t embarrass yourself. Behave,” Zhuang Qiting coldly pushed away Second and Fourth Brother, adjusting his creased suit with a stiff expression.
“Boss! How did things end up like this with sister-in-law? She was fine before! At this age, how can you not even keep your wife happy!” Zhuang Qikai blurted out anxiously.
Zhuang Qiting raised his hand and slapped him on the forehead, biting with anger, “Look at who you’re talking to!”
“Big Brother, be honest with us three. Is sister-in-law just separated from you or… divorced?” Zhuang Qize was full of concern.
He immediately thought of the Li Residence in Qianshui Bay and the involvement of the patriarch. This was serious.
Zhuang Qiting sat down calmly, pulled a cigarette from his suit pocket, lit it, and said nonchalantly, “Divorced.”
“……………”
“??”
“???”
His eyes half-closed, he stared faintly at the burning ember between his fingers. “If she insists on divorce, then I’ll grant it.”
“You must be possessed…”
Zhuang Qikai nodded emphatically.
“Since returning from Baoyuan Temple, I noticed something’s wrong. Big Brother, you might have encountered some dark force…” Zhuang Qize frowned deeply, his heart sinking. “I’ll find a Master to take a look.”
“Stop with these nonsense on New Year’s! I want to kick you all away,” Zhuang Qiting snapped.
“Third brother is right. If you agree to divorce, you’re clearly possessed,” Zhuang Qikai grabbed the cigarette pack and lit one. “After all these years of marriage, you’re just tired of her and want to chase someone else. I won’t agree. My sister-in-law is only one person— Li Yaru.”
Zhuang Qize nodded. “I only recognize one door.”
For the past month, Zhuang Qiting had lost appetite and focus over the divorce with Li Yaru, utterly exhausted. Now, with these three foolish brothers around, his frustration was mounting.
The smoke stuck in his lungs, and he covered his mouth as he coughed. The faint, dignified wrinkles around his eyes twitched involuntarily.
Zhuang Qichen signaled to his two elder brothers to calm down. They’d started quarreling before understanding the facts. Second Brother was straightforward, but Third Brother was crafty.
“Big Brother, have some tea. Let’s think this through.”
Zhuang Qiting crushed the cigarette butt harshly into an ashtray dusted with coffee grounds, shooting fierce glances at the other two, warning them to watch their words.
He had been patient for over a month; his patience was wearing thin.
Meanwhile, news came from the people near Li Yaru: she had hired a flashy young man as her butler, always by her side.
The four brothers settled down quietly, each sitting apart. Zhuang Qiting crossed his long legs, suppressing his irritability, and briefly recounted the situation.
“So sister-in-law can’t stand your controlling nature anymore, and this time she’s determined to divorce?” Zhuang Qize sighed repeatedly, half amused, half exasperated. “Big Brother… I’ve told you long ago—you’re too controlling. Sister-in-law’s personality can’t handle being pushed. You have to lower your stance and soften your approach.”
Zhuang Qiting closed his tired eyes briefly, his voice dull and emotionless: “If I lower my stance any more, she’ll be riding me like a tyrant.”
In truth, she was already riding him like that. But Zhuang Qiting was too ashamed to admit the fact— that he was already completely manipulated, controlled, and dominated by Li Yaru.
In his heart, Li Yaru was still that straightforward, fiery young beauty. He always treated her like a child who never grew up.
Zhuang Qikai chuckled, “Hasn’t sister-in-law been riding your neck all along? Besides, what’s wrong with letting your wife ride a little? Isn’t that normal?”
Zhuang Qiting: “…………”
Zhuang Qichen laughed aloud, “Second Brother, you’re missing a brain cell. Say less or you’ll annoy Big Brother to death.”
Among the four brothers, Second Brother was straightforward, Third Brother was cunning, and the youngest, Zhuang Qichen, had a hundred and eighty tricks. Despite that, even he couldn’t understand one thing.
“Big Brother, there’s only one thing I don’t understand. Why would you agree to the divorce?”
Zhuang Qiting gave a cold, bitter laugh. Just mentioning it stirred his anger. Had he really lost his mind to believe in the Desire to Capture by Letting Go strategy?
Because of that useless tactic, he had loosened his grip, and everything spiraled beyond control— collapsing in a direction he could no longer manage. Until he finally woke up, all that was left was ruins.
The Desire to Capture by Letting Go— letting go too much, and she was gone.
Zhuang Qichen asked, “What do you mean, Big Brother?”
Zhuang Qiting’s expression was cold. “Wasn’t it you who told me to use Desire to Capture by Letting Go?”
Zhuang Qichen was stunned, then embarrassed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Big Brother! I told you to Desire to Capture by Letting Go— I didn’t tell you to agree to divorce! Desire to Capture by Letting Go means you should let sister-in-law go out more, relax, and step out of your territory sometimes. You… totally got it wrong!”
Zhuang Qiting swallowed the heat rising in his throat. The aftereffects of the fine wine were creeping through his body, stirring his insides unpleasantly.
Zhuang Qichen said, “No way out now, Big Brother. The only way to win sister-in-law back is to lower your stance and be sincere. Threats and coercion won’t work. She won’t accept that.”
“Yeah, Fourth Brother’s right. Big Brother, this time you have no choice but to chase her.”
“Chasing is easy. Buy flowers, gifts, sweet words, pampering. Follow her everywhere, do whatever she says — basically, listen to everything she says. That’s how I chased Lanlan.”
Zhuang Qiting rubbed his gold wedding ring on his ring finger until it grew hot.
Chase her? How? Honestly, he didn’t know how. It might be easier to just tie her up and lock her in bed.
At his age, with his status and position, still resorting to such childish tricks to win back his wife? To him, it was a shame.
Moreover, listen to everything Li Yaru said? That little thing was a born climber. If you let her ride your neck, she’d be riding your face and head directly.
“I won’t chase,” Zhuang Qiting said flatly. “Let her run wild outside. Let’s see how long she can keep it up.”
“…………”
“…………”
“…………”
The three brothers exchanged glances, gnashing their teeth, worried sick. Just then, there was a knock at the study door. Zhuang Qichen stopped his lazy act and went to open it.
Li Shengming entered, greeted his uncles politely, and said, “Daddy, I just came from Big Brother and Second Brother. We’re on our way to Mommy’s place, and I brought the New Year’s gifts Mommy prepared for everyone.”