The 99th Divorce

Su Qianci noticed something amiss. She leaned over to ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Li Jianqian used his chopsticks to pick up some food and put it into his mouth. His forceful actions betrayed his anger.

Li Sicheng noticed that. With raised eyebrows, he asked, “Dasu, are you unhappy about something?”

“No,” Li Jianqian insisted. He reached his chopsticks out again and picked out some food to eat.

“What are you unhappy about?” Li Sicheng asked.

Li Jianqian replied, “I’m not unhappy.”

“Did Ersu upset you again?” Li Sicheng asked while poaching beef in the pot for his wife.

When Li Jianyue heard her name mentioned suddenly, she looked up and blinked a few times before protesting, “Daddy, I didn’t. Older Brother was playing a game with Older Brother Mosen and they lost.”

“Oh?” Li Sicheng looked at Li Jianqian. “Is that so?”

Li Jianqian was silent for a moment before replying sullenly, “Mosen is always doing that. The moment Ersu calls, he stops playing. It always causes me to lose the game!”

“I’m sorry, Dasu,” Li Mosen was seated beside Li Jianqian. “Ersu’s button came undone, so I helped her to button it back.”

“But, you’re always doing it at the most crucial moment! I hate that!” Li Jianqian ground out between his teeth and resumed eating without saying another word.

Everyone around had a rough idea of what had happened. Li Jianyue pursed her lips in uncertainty before apologizing. “Please don’t be angry, Older Brother. It was all my fault. I won’t interrupt you when you’re in the middle of a game in the future.”

Li Sicheng’s brows creased together as he declared, “A man should act like one and be magnanimous. Protecting your sister is your responsibility. Helping her is something that goes without saying. What do you have to be angry about?”

Su Qianci heard that and tugged on Li Sicheng’s sleeve as she admonished, “Don’t talk nonsense to the children!”

Li Sicheng flipped his hand over and held Su Qianci’s hand in his own. “The children are still young, but there are still some things that they need to know. The most important thing to a man should be his family. Regardless of whether it’s his mother or sister, he should protect them well. As for you boys, regardless of how old you are, you should be strong and independent. You shouldn’t be lashing out at other people, much less getting angry at your little sister. Do you hear me?”

That logic sounded bizarre to Yu Lili. She glanced at Ou Ming and whispered, “Your second brother is way too biased.”

Ou Ming smiled and turned to face her. He replied softly, “He is a little. But, this is how boys should be taught.”

Yu Lili was speechless in exasperation. They are indeed birds of the same feather!

When Li Jianqian heard his father’s lecture, his lips tightened into a thin line. He mumbled back, “I didn’t lash out.”

Indeed, he hadn’t. If it weren’t for Su Qianci and Li Sicheng’s incessant prodding, he would never have even voiced his unhappiness.

Su Qianci felt her heart ache for the boy. She gave Li Sicheng a nudge as she remarked, “Shut up! You’re being annoying!”

Following that, she went over to Li Jianqian’s side and said, “Don’t listen to your dad. If you’re unhappy about anything in the future, voice it out! Tell it to Mommy.”

Li Sicheng saw how protective his wife was being toward their son but didn’t say anything to interrupt her.

Moments later, he poached a few slices of beef and placed them into Li Jianqian’s bowl. “You’re still young, so I’ll let it go this time. In the future, you have to learn to control your emotions. You have to be clear about your priorities and what’s important. If you allow any small issue to affect your mood, then you’ll be too much of a failure as a human being.”

“Just shut up!” Su Qianci felt her blood boil when she heard that. “The kid is still so young!”