The 99th Divorce

Shen Zhilie glared at Ye Qianqian. His facial expressions became a little indescribable. But no matter how he scrutinized her, the expression on her face didn’t look one bit like she was joking.

After a long while, Shen Zhilie asked again to clarify one last time, despite feeling powerless, “Did the blind uncle just tell you this?”

Ye Qianqian also hoped it wasn’t true, but the blind uncle had no reason to be joking with her. She nodded. Shen Zhilie looked at her and sighed.

“Young people shouldn’t sigh.”

Shen Zhilie glanced at her again and raised his eyebrows slightly.

Ye Qianqian imitated the blind uncle’s words and said, “If young people sigh, they will lose all their good fortune.”

Shen Zhilie smiled, yet he was feeling powerless and defeated at the same time. Holding Ye Qianqian in his arms, he asked, “So what should we do now?”

“What can we do…” Ye Qianqian hung her head. “Grandmother also told me that I may not live to be twenty-eight years old. If I don’t get married, everything will turn out to be fine. It’s actually better not to get married. Otherwise, you’ll need to mark a bereaved spouse on your household register. How bad would that look.”

Shen Zhilie playfully rubbed her face and said, “You’re talking nonsense!”

He rubbed Ye Qianqian’s chubby face until it changed into a funny shape. Glancing at Shen Zhilie, she pouted her lips and murmured, “Two years. If either of us changes our mind or gets into an affair in that time, there might still be room for us to make up for our decision.”

“Yup.” Shen Zhilie let go of her face. He held her and said softly, “Then I should be on my watch. I’ll take good care of you. I can’t let you get a chance to mess with all the temptation out there.”

“Hey, I’m afraid you’re the one whose going to change your mind!”

“You don’t have to worry one bit. It won’t be me.” Shen Zhilie was full of confidence. He looked down at Ye Qianqian’s face and said softly, “And you won’t either.”

Ye Qianqian’s felt her heart warm. She had a triumphant smile on her face as she said, “Hmph, of course I won’t. I’m so devoted and stubborn-minded!” Ye Qianqian hit Shen Zhilie gently as she spoke.

Shen Zhilie hit her back. “Shall we go back to Kingstown?”

Ye Qianqian hit him back again and answered, “Well, we might as well go back. We can’t get married, anyway.”

Shen Zhilie chuckled and held her tightly with his hands. “Isn’t it just a certificate? We’ll just leave it at the Civil Affairs Bureau. We’ll bring it back when we’re in a good mood.”

Ye Qianqian felt amused by him. She pinched him on his waist. “Why are you so shameless?”

“Hahaha, let’s go back and tell your father the news.”

…

It was already dark by the time they got back to Kingstown. It was early in the morning when Shen Zhilie and Ye Qianqian reached home by taxi.

As they got out of the taxi, they saw several police cars parked outside the gate of the neighborhood. The red and blue sirens on top of the police cars were flashing vividly. Ye Qianqian looked inside the cars in confusion.

Shen Zhilie walked up to approach one of the policemen and asked, “What’s the matter, officer?”

The policeman took a look at them. He glanced at their suitcases and asked, “Do you live here?”

“Yes, we do.”

The policeman took out a small notebook quickly and asked, “Which building and unit?”

“Well, can I ask what happened?”

“A real gun was found in the garden in your neighborhood. Some residues of drugs were found on the handle of the gun as well. Now we’re doing some screening checks.”

They were both shocked upon hearing this. The policeman looked at them and asked, “Where have you guys been today?”

…