The 99th Divorce

After washing his hands, Li Jinnan carried the pot of noodles out. It was only after he had divided the noodles into two bowls that Ye Youyou slowly emerged from inside.

He sat down and said, “Let’s eat. It looks really delicious.”

Ye Youyou pursed her lips and sat opposite Li Jinnan. “Try it first,” she said.

Li Jinnan didn’t bother with formalities either. He picked up his chopsticks and began shoving noodles into his mouth.

Ye Youyou was alarmed when she saw that and cautioned, “Be careful, it’s hot!”

“Don’t worry.” Li Jinnan continued eating. He looked as if he were tasting the most delectable food in the world. He commented, “It’s really delicious. Are you very skilled in the kitchen?”

Ye Youyou shook her head. “I can only cook noodles. I don’t know how to cook anything else.”

Li Jinnan nodded his head. He looked at her face for a moment before looking back down at the bowl of noodles in front of her. He didn’t pause in his action of eating all throughout. Soon, the whole bowl of noodles was in his belly.

When he looked up, he realized that Ye Youyou’s bowl hadn’t been touched at all.

“It won’t taste good when it’s cold,” Li Jinnan reminded her.

Ye Youyou pushed the bowl over to him and said, “The temperature is just right at this moment. You can have this bowl too.”

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked.

Ye Youyou shook her head. Her eyes looked as if they were holding back tears and glistened a little.

Li Jinnan didn’t move. He scooped the noodles out from the pot and put it into his own bowl. It was just enough to fill it. He said, “Eat something. No matter how bad your mood is, you should never let yourself go hungry.”

“Not at all. I’m just tired and want to sleep.” Ye Youyou was evidently uninterested. As she spoke, she stood up. “Just leave when you’re finished with the noodles. Leave the bowl and chopsticks there. I’ll wash them tomorrow.”

Li Jinnan had no idea what had happened earlier, but seeing how she was behaving, he knew she was in a horrible mood.

“Finish your food before going to sleep. You just got off the plane this afternoon, and you spent so long in the hospital. You’ve probably not had dinner yet.” Li Jinnan stood up and walked over to her. “After you’re done, I’ll take you out somewhere to relax.”

“GM Li, I’m really not in the mood.” Ye Youyou was beginning to lose her patience with him, and it showed in her eyes.

Li Jinnan pretended as if he hadn’t noticed anything. He turned her around. In a tone that permitted no objection, he said, “You still have to eat even if you’re not in the mood. I’ll leave when you’re done.”

Ye Youyou was speechless. How have I never noticed that Li Jinnan is such a shameless person?

She turned her head and saw the bowl of fragrant and noodles beckoning her over. After much inner struggle, she finally sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and fed herself.

As the aroma of the noodles drifted over, Ye Youyou felt her nose ache. This was the smell of Shen Luo’an’s favorite noodle restaurant when they were teenagers.

On his 21st birthday, in order to surprise him, she had gone to the restaurant specially to learn how to cook those noodles. The young Shen Luo’an had arrived late, but he was so touched that his eyes reddened. He had hugged her in front of everyone. He had gazed at her and said, “You can cook me this noodles for the rest of our lives.”

It hadn’t been a question. It was a declaration. Back then, it was as if they had already become a young married couple. They had kissed in front of everyone’s cheers and hoots.

Everyone had bore witness to their beautiful promise. She had thought that was the beginning of their forever. She never expected that seven years later, everything would change.

Tears came uncontrollably streaming down her face. They fell into her bowl and mingled with the aromatic soup. Tears and soup couldn’t be differentiated.

Li Jinnan stood at her side. His eyes darkened as he watched as her shoulders uncontrollably trembled.