The 99th Divorce

Shen Manting had already spoken to Qiao Ziqing about the wedding taking place this year.

“Good idea!” Qiao Ziqing said. She smiled and nodded to Shen Manting. “There are still three or four months before the Spring Festival, so we are still allowed to start preparing for the wedding. If things keep going this way, will I have a grandson to hold next year?”

Shen Manting looked down shyly and glanced secretly at Ou Ming.

Qiao Ziqing laughed. She enjoyed teasing Shen Manting. “You’re such a shy girl. Why are you so shy about getting married? We will make a decision today, and I’ll call someone about an agreeable wedding date tomorrow.”

“Why are you in such a hurry to get married?” Ou Ming had put down his bowl. “I’m in the middle of planning an overseas investment project. I’m so busy these days that I’m afraid I won’t have enough time to plan a wedding.”

“Never you mind,” said Shen Manting with a bright smile. “I know you are busy. Just leave the wedding things to me. My brother has nothing to do, so I’ve asked him to come and help me.”

“Your younger brother?”

“Yes, Shen Zhilie, you’ve met him.”

Shen Zhilie was the younger brother of Shen Luo’an. Like him, Shen Zhilie was also a doctor, but he specialized in psychology.

“Oh.” Ou Ming answered and put down his chopsticks. He looked at his mother and Shen Manting’s cheerful looks with unspeakable irritability and said, “Manting, I wasn’t planning on getting married so early as my career is still on the rise. Please, let’s wait a little while longer.”

“Ou Ming, I can’t wait anymore. I’ve been waiting to marry you for four years. It would be selfish of you to make me wait any longer. Do you want me to die next year?” Shen Manting pouted her lips and looked as if she was about to cry.

When Qiao Ziqing saw this, she was angry with Ou Ming’s attitude and said, “You have wasted the best years of Manting’s life. I am so angry with you! Look at yourself. You’re 31 years old, and you’re still not married. All the while, Lischeng has twins running around. Last time the twins came over, they called me ‘grandmother.’ You should be ashamed of yourself for putting your rising career above having a family. You have let me down!”

“Mother…” Ou Ming felt a headache coming on.

Qiao Ziqing cut him off, “Anyway, you don’t need to worry about the wedding planning. Manting and I will oversee all of it so you can focus on your career. I agree with Manting that the wedding must happen this year!”

Shen Manting held Qiao Ziqing’s arm and said, “Aunt…”

Qiao Ziqing patted Shen Manting’s arm and said, “Manting, the Shen family has always been very kind to me, so trust me when I say that I won’t let Ou Ming fail you.”

Shen Manting was very happy to hear Qiao Ziqing say this. She sniffed and nodded satisfactorily.

Ou Ming was shocked into silence. He stood up, picked up his box of cigarettes, and was almost out of the room when his father walked in. Ou Huojin came in with a fatigued expression on his face. His journey had left him exhausted.

When Qiao Ziqing saw Ou Huojin, she was surprised and said, “You’re back already? I thought you were coming home tomorrow!”

Ou Huojin looked great for his age. He was over fifty years old, but he seemed to be in his late thirties.

Hearing Qiao Ziqing’s words, Ou Huojin softened his face, went over, and said, “When I heard that Manting was coming, I finished ahead of time. You look like you’re in a good mood, what have you all been talking about?”

“We were just talking about our marriage.” Shen Manting was the first to answer. She was smiling like a flower.

Ou Huojin listened to Shen Manting explain what they had been discussing and looked at Ou Ming with some surprise. “My boy, you’ve finally realized that you’re too old to delay your marriage any longer!”

Ou Ming tightened his grip on the cigarette box in his hand. He felt even more agitated at his father’s words. He needed some time to think and regain his composure. He didn’t hide his bad mood when he said, “I’m going out to smoke.”