The 99th Divorce

The couple in question was unbothered by all the talk surrounding them. Li Jinnan and Ye Youyou sat at a corner, deep in conversation and unaware of the ruckus.

A middle-aged woman, who was slim and youthful looking, walked over. Her features looked very much like Ye Youyou’s.

Li Jinnan watched as she walked over and immediately recognized her. She had to be Ye Youyou’s mother.

He gently nudged Ye Youyou and said, “Behind you.”

Ye Youyou turned her head and was met with the sight of Ye Tian. Her mother was exquisitely dressed. She donned a graceful black evening gown and was the epitome of elegance and extravagance.

This demeanor had been cultivated upon her marriage to Guan Yanhong. This had been an impossible dream when she was with Ye Zhenhua. Money, wealth, cultured demeanor, elegance…

Ye Youyou looked at Ye Tian. She thought of the fresh roses blooming in the yard in Yun Town. They were blazing red and had thorns.

“You’re here.” Ye Tian smiled elegantly. “Queye will be very happy to see you.”

Ye Youyou forced a smiled and replied, “Is that so? That’s good.”

Ye Tian’s expression remained unmoving and unemotional. Her eyes moved to Li Jinnan. She asked, “And, this is?”

Ye Youyou looked Ye Tian in the eye and replied, “My fiancé, Li Jinnan.”

“Fiancé?” Ye Tian’s brows shot together in consternation. She remarked, “When did you get engaged? How long has it been since you and Shen Luo’an divorced, and you’ve gotten engaged?”

Ye Youyou found that question laughable and replied, “How long has it been since Shen Luo’an and I got divorced and here he is marrying your other daughter. We divorced at the same time. Why is it OK for him to get married but not for me to get engaged?”

“How can that even be compared?” Ye Tian practically shrieked. “You’re a female! If you do this, you’ll be seen as fickle-minded and cheap!”

“Oh…” Ye Youyou face broke out in an expression of realization and scorn. With a tone of mockery that resembled Li Jinnan’s, she said, “If what I’m doing makes me fickle-minded and cheap, back then, when you ran away with another man with your daughter in tow, did that make you a slut?”

Ye Tian broke out in fury when she heard that. Her face reddened. She raised her hand, ready to land a slap on Ye Youyou’s face. However, before her hand fell, it was blocked by another larger hand.

Li Jinnan’s eyes were cold as he glared at Ye Tian and said, “Mrs. Guan, please watch yourself.”

Ye Tian was stunned. Her anger intensified as she looked to Ye Youyou.

Ye Youyou retained her composure as she remained seated. She tilted her face up to look at her. The expression in her eyes was one of a challenge.

“Do you know who I am? I am Ye Youyou’s mother!” Ye Tian snatched her hand back and angrily declared, “Marriage is a huge decision! How could I not be informed? Fiancé? Ha! Where on earth do you even hail from? I object to this!”

“Does what you say even count?” Ye Youyou stood up and looked at her calmly. “Stop thinking so highly of yourself. Didn’t you already make your choice? Guan Queye is the one who is your daughter. Guan Yanhong is your husband. The three of you are a family. As for me, I’m just an outsider. This is how it has been all this time, isn’t it?”

Ye Tian looked at Ye Youyou in disbelief, unable to process the fact that such words had just come out of her mouth. She asked, “Youyou, since when did you become like that?”