The 99th Divorce

Why?

Shen Luo’an paused for a moment and laughed sardonically. He replied, “Because I don’t want an innocent person to be maligned.”

The police officer’s brow knitted together. Shen Luo’an account had been foolproof. His words had tied up many loose ends regarding the case and was extremely convincing. However, just from his attitude alone, it didn’t seem like he had committed any crime. He had been forthcoming. It was as if he had confessed to the crime on purpose. It was hard for anyone not to be suspicious.

“Do you think Ye Youyou is being maligned?” the officer asked.

Shen Luo’an’s complexion was pale. He laughed and replied, “Isn’t that clearly the case? Are you telling me she confessed to the crime?”

“She didn’t, but in general, who would turn themselves in and confess to the crime after committing a murder?” the officer asked.

“Aren’t I one such person?” Shen Luo’an laughed. “You are really weird. You’ve all been suspecting a girl. Now that the real murderer has stepped forward to turn himself in, you don’t believe it? If this is how you investigate crimes? I wonder how many innocent people have been wrongly imprisoned, and I wonder how many criminals are out there running around free.”

His words were extremely discourteous. The police officers looked at each other, offended at this affront. Suddenly, the sound of a door knock came from behind.

Everyone inside the room turned to look at the door. It was a policeman. He said, “Someone is coming to visit the prisoner. Make the necessary preparations.”

“Visit me?” Shen Luo’an leaned back on his chair lazily and said, “I’m not necessarily willing to meet with just anybody.”

“The visitors are Ye Youyou and Li Jinnan. If you don’t want to meet them, I’ll tell turn them away.”

The policeman at the door directed his words to Shen Luo’an as the man opposite him closed his records and stood up.

Shen Luo’an’s gaze sharpened. His smile faded as he said, “I’ll see them.”

The lighting all around was dim, plunging the entire place in a gloomy atmosphere. Voices could be heard speaking outside with the sound of a mixture of light and heavy footsteps. The voice sounded like it belonged to Ye Youyou.

Shen Luo’an’s heartbeat sped up for some unknown reason. He was actually feeling nervous. At the thought that he was possibly going to witness Ye Youyou and Li Jinnan leaning on each other for support, his heart began to feel discomfited. Unexpectedly, he could feel his heartbeat in his throat.

Shen Luo’an looked up and said, “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to see them. Turn them away.”

It was too late. Li Jinnan and Ye Youyou had already walked in. When Ye Youyou heard those words, she froze in her step.

Li Jinnan, on the other hand, nudged her forward gently and said, “It’s too late for that.” He closed the door and sat with Ye Youyou opposite Shen Luo’an.

Ye Youyou had known Shen Luo’an for over a decade and had seen him in various states. The Shen Luo’an of the past had always been high and lofty with an unreachable air about him. He had grown up surrounded by constant praise and compliments, and his confidence and grown along with it.

She never expected that she would one day see him dressed in a prison uniform. Her heart wrenched. A feeling of wistfulness suddenly came over her. The glory of the past was no longer present.

Shen Luo’an had clearly noticed her expression. He strangely found himself overcome with remorse. He was suddenly so embarrassed that he wanted the ground to swallow him up so that he could escape her gaze.

Ye Youyou remained standing in front of him, so he had lost the opportunity to run away. He had no choice but to look up and face her. He forced a grin onto his face and said, “You’re out. Look at how much weight you lost.”

Ye Youyou suddenly felt her chest constrict. Tears poured out of her eyes. She felt as if she had gone back in time to their youth, back to when he’d just returned from studying overseas. When he had met her, his first words to her had been an indulgent, “Look at how much weight you’ve lost.”