The 99th Divorce

The entire Shen family were already seated at the dinner table when Shen Manting arrived.

A young woman was sitting next to Shen Zhilie. She appeared youthful and charming.

When she saw Shen Manting, her eyes lit up as she called out, “Manting!”

Shen Manting was startled by her enthusiasm. She stopped in her tracks and muttered hesitatingly, “You’re…”

“I’m Ye Qianqian! Remember me?” Ye Qianqian pointed to herself and then to Shen Zhilie, “I’m Shen Zhilie’s wife!”

She hugged Shen Manting excitedly. “You’ve finally woken up. This is great!”

Ye Qianqian patted Shen Manting on the back and reassured her in a voice choked with emotion, “Everything is going to be all right.”

All of sudden, Shen Manting didn’t know how to react.

She chuckled and blurted, “I’m hungry, Qianqian.”

“Oh. Of course!” Ye Qianqian immediately released her from her grasp and grinned at her. “Let’s have dinner!”

Ye Qianqian held Shen Manting’s hand in hers and led her to the dining table.

Shen Manting looked around the table and greeted her elders politely. “Father, Mother, Grandma.”

All of them smiled when she addressed them.

Mrs. Shen said with a smile, “Make yourself at home.”

“You should start eating more. Look at you, you’ve become so thin!” Old Mrs. Shen felt concerned for her. She handed her a bowl and continued, “It’ll take some time for you to recover and regain the bulk you’ve lost.”

Shen Manting took a look at herself.

Bulk?

She couldn’t remember ever having any “bulk”, to begin with. Did that mean she used to be plump?

Shen Manting sat down and nodded. She was touched by their concern.

Halfway through the meal, Shen Luo’an came out from his room with his son.

Little Moon skipped his way to the dinner table and shouted “Mommy!” when he saw Shen Manting.

Shen Manting nodded and smiled affectionately at him.

Shen Luo’an settled him on his seat at the dinner table and prompted him, “Have you forgotten to greet your elders?”

“Grandpa, Grandma,” he chirped. Then, he glanced over at old Mrs. Shen. He blinked and shouted, “Grandma.”

Shen Luo’an chuckled. He pinched his cheek and corrected him, “She’s your great grandmother.”

“G-great grandma!” he shouted.

He shouted at the top of his voice, but stumbled on his words.

Everyone at the table burst into laughter. Old Mrs. Shen smiled and passed him a cup of soy milk. “Try repeating it,” she encouraged.

“G-great grandma!”

Ye Qianqian was beside herself with laughter. She teased, “How about me? How should you address me?”

Little Moon cocked his head to one side, immersed in deep thought. He was stumped and turned to Shen Luo’an for help. “Daddy…”

Shen Luo’an chuckled and reminded him, “She’s your aunt.”

Little Moon uttered in a low voice, “A-ant.”

“It’s ‘aunt,’” Ye Qianqian corrected him. “Repeat after me and enunciate properly. ‘Aunt.’”

Little Moon appeared slightly embarrassed, seemingly aware of his own mistake. He shrank a little and uttered warily, “A-ant.”

Ye Qianqian gave up and passed him a steamed bun. “Good boy.”

Little Moon took the bun from her and broke into a grin.

Shen Luo’an bowed his head slightly and said, “Thank you, Aunt.”

“Thank you, A-ant.”

The whole family erupted in laughter at his adorable response. Shen Zhilie finally joined them at the table and smiled. “You have no problem addressing your parents, but you’re tongue-tied when greeting the rest of us, eh?” he teased.

“Uncle!” Little Moon exclaimed excitedly when he saw Shen Zhilie.

Shen Zhilie chortled. “You’re quite clever, aren’t you?”

Little Moon seemed to understand the compliment and swayed his legs happily.

“That’s not all our Little Moon is capable of,” Shen Luo’an added, sitting next to Shen Zhilie. “What do you say when you’re visiting Mommy?”

He gestured with his hand, prompting the child to recite his usual greeting. Both Shen Luo’an and Little Moon chorused, “Mommy, Little Moon is here to see you!”

Shen Manting was moved by the easy chemistry between father and son.