The 99th Divorce

“What business is it of yours?” Shen Luo’an glared at him disapprovingly.

Shen Zhilie’s suspicions seemed to have been confirmed. He snapped, “You’re a heartless animal!”

Shen Luo’an didn’t bother retorting and proceeded to change the baby’s diaper.

Shen Zhilie turned around and left the room, feeling exasperated.

–

Shen Zhilie and Ye Qianqian had received their marriage certificate. Ye Qianqian couldn’t wait to show it off to her friends.

By the evening, she had gotten a lot of praise, which lifted her mood.

“Look, so many people have given us their blessings,” Ye Qianqian said as she sat on the bed in a nightdress. “Lots of people have asked me when we are going to get married. How should I reply to them?” she queried.

“Just tell it as it is.”

Shen Zhilie took off his shoes and climbed into the bed. “It’s really cold,” he remarked.

“Not at all,” Ye Qianqian responded. She glanced at him. “Are you feeling weak?”

“Me? Weak?” Shen Zhilie raised an eyebrow slightly and pushed her onto the bed. “There’s a price to pay for saying that to a man.”

“Get lost,” Ye Qianqian lay down. “Don’t even think of touching me when I have my period.”

Shen Zhilie immediately felt defeated. He sighed as he studied her eyes. “Your period… why are you still having periods?”

It meant that she had failed to conceive.

It was unsatisfactory news for Shen Zhilie.

Ye Qianqian seemed to have read his thoughts and put her mobile phone away. She hugged him and said, “Because I’m a woman.”

“Hmm.” Shen Zhilie lay down and embraced her. “You’re my woman from now on. Go to sleep now, honey.”

“Yes, dear hubby!” Ye Qianqian replied with a grin. Yet, she didn’t go to sleep immediately. Instead, she picked up her mobile phone and continued replying to her friends’ comments on WeChat.

Shen Zhilie felt a surge of warmth in his heart when he saw her face glowing with happiness.

He gently caressed her hair and said, “Grandmother approached me to tell me something today. ”

“Well, what did she say?” Ye Qianqian asked without looking away from her phone.

“Grandmother hopes that after we’re married, you would quit your job in Kingstown and move to the capital.”

Ye Qianqian froze for a moment and glanced up at him.

Shen Zhilie appeared conflicted. He continued, “You know old folks have a more conservative mindset. They are bound by tradition. But I’m already working in the capital. There’s no reason for us to live apart after getting married. We’ve been in a long-distance relationship for so long. We don’t want our relationship to evolve into a long-distance marriage, do we?”

Ye Qianqian turned off her phone and stared at Shen Zhilie.

“But we aren’t married yet, are we?” Ye Qianqian replied. “Let’s wait until after the wedding. I think… isn’t it a little too sudden to discuss this now? I’m progressing in my career. I’ve recently received my appraisal. I have a chance of being promoted to the position of chief editor.”

She had stayed in that same job for years.

In fact, the promotion was unnecessary. She wasn’t even eager for promotions in the first place.

However, a promotion represents the most solid form of recognition of her work.

Her father would be very pleased to learn that she had been promoted at work.

This was the critical opportunity to prove her worth. How could she resign now?

Ye Qianqian was unwilling to compromise.

Shen Zhilie understood her predicament. He stroked the back of her head and nodded. “Well, all right then.”

Ye Qianqian looked closely at Shen Zhilie in front of her and felt a little dejected inside.

She would have to move in with her in-laws after getting married.

Would marriage spell the end of her career and everything she had worked so hard for?

She wasn’t sure if other women faced the same dilemma, but she felt a gaping sense of disillusionment.