The 99th Divorce

“Mommy, you’re lying!” Li Jianyue yelled. “The boy living next door is already on holiday! He’s on holiday every day, and he gets to go home every day! Why doesn’t my brother get to come home?”

Li Jianyue’s wails intensified. She sat her bum down on the stool as Nanny Rong came forward to help her put on her shoes.

Su Qianci was flustered and replied, “That is after school. They’re not on holiday. It’s two completely different things.”

“So, when will Older Brother get to come home after school?” Li Jianyue asked.

“After school, your older brother will return home to Grandpa and Grandma’s home in the Capital,” Su Qianci said. “He won’t be coming back to this home any longer. The holidays refer to when he doesn’t have to go to school for many days consecutively.”

“So, when will Older Brother be on holiday?” Li Jianyue asked.

“Just wait for the winter holidays,” Su Qianci said. “Older Brother will be back during the winter holidays.”

Li Jianyue was completely confused by everything she had been told. At the mention of her older brother coming home, she stopped crying and asked, “So, Mommy, when will the winter holidays be?”

“Somewhere around the New Year,” Su Qianci said.

“When will the New Year be?” Li Jianyue asked.

Li Jianyue was unceasing in her questions. Su Qianci smiled as she heard them one after another. She replied patiently, “After Mommy’s birthday, it’ll be Dasu and Ersu’s birthday. After that, it will be Grandpa’s birthday. Your older brother will be able to come home after that.”

“Ah!” The expression on Li Jianyue’s face was one of utter defeat. Her lips quivered. She was on the brink of tears again and asked, “Will Older Brother not even come back for his birthday?”

“No, he won’t be coming back,” Su Qianci said. “Grandpa and Grandma will celebrate his birthday with him.”

“Wa wa wa…” Li Jianyue began to cry again. “Isn’t our birthday during the holiday period? Mommy, you’re able to spend our birthday with us every year. Why is it that you’re able to have a holiday but Older Brother can’t?”

“Older Brother is on holiday too…” Su Qianci was extremely patient. After some thought, she replied, “You’re referring to the National Day Golden Week holiday. During the next Golden Week, Mommy will take you and Older Brother Mosen to the Capital. How would you like that?”

“Really?” Li Jianyue’s head suddenly sprung up. Her eyes were sparkling.

Her eyes shimmered like two beautiful crescent moons on her face.

Li Mosen felt his breath taken away when he saw that.

When his eyes met Li Jianyue’s, he quickly turned his head and looked away in embarrassment.

“Really,” Su Qianci declared.

“It’s a promise, then! When the holidays come, you’ll take us to the Capital!” Li Jianyue cheered and finally stopped crying. “Did Daddy approve of it too?” she suddenly asked.

Su Qianci smiled.

This was indeed her daughter. She was worried that Li Sicheng would disapprove and the promise would turn out to be empty.

Helplessly, Su Qianci replied, “Yes.”

“Awesome!” Li Jianyue was elated and blew a flurry of kisses over the phone. “Mommy, I love you!” she declared.

“Mommy loves you too,” Su Qianci gently replied. “Mommy is busy at the moment. I’ll talk to you again when I get home.”

“Sure! Alright, Mommy! Goodbye, Mommy!”

“Goodbye, Darling.”

Su Qianci hung up the phone and finally heaved a sigh of relief.

Inside the office, Li Sicheng looked over and said, “I was originally intending to go too.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Su Qianci looked at him accusatorily. “Ersu was crying so pitifully. They’ve never been separated since birth. Now that one of them has suddenly moved to the Capital, it’s inevitable that they won’t be accustomed to it. Couldn’t you have said something to comfort her?”

Li Sicheng continued with his tasks at hand and replied, “Words are of no comfort. Actions speak louder.”

Looking straight at Su Qianci, he said, “Furthermore, I don’t intend to take you along.”

Su Qianci got upset when she heard that and asked, “Why not?”

“The cabin pressure in the plane fluctuates too much,” he said. “I’m worried it’ll affect the child.”

“It’s fine…”

“The doctor said that the fetus’s pulse is unstable, yet you still intend to run around?”