The 99th Divorce

“Stern School of Business at New York University.”

“I’ll give you a few years.”

“Calm down.”

Every single word echoed in Li Mosen’s mind. He was on the verge of breaking down.

All of a sudden, he stood up and yelled, “I’m not going. Dad, I don’t want to go there. I want to stay in Kingstown.”

“You will waste your talent if you remain in Kingstown,” Li Sicheng said, his eyes turning cold again. He stared at Li Mosen and said icily, “You have a flair for physics. You could choose a prestigious physics school. Alternatively, you could enroll directly into my alma mater. I’ll arrange for you to receive the best education.”

Li Mosen was about to speak when Su Qianci approached him. She gave him a gentle hug. “Mosen, your father is doing this for your good. Calm down,” she softly comforted him.

A moment of silence passed before Li Mosen spoke. Indifferent and emotionless, he asked, “He’s doing this for my sake?” Li Mosen sounded eerily composed.

Li Mosen’s hostile and stiff tone shocked Su Qianci. But she kept hugging him and remained by his side. Before she realized it, Li Mosen’s behavior had reached such a point that she had to look at him.

Su Qianci was slightly taken aback by his behavior. She reached out her hand to calm him down. “Yes, Mosen. Mom and Dad are doing this for your good. Your father doesn’t want you to waste your talent,” she said, consoling him.

“Don’t give excuses for him,” Li Mosen cut Su Qianci off. He pushed her away gently and stared coldly at Li Sicheng. “You don’t wish to see my talent wasted, or you don’t wish to see your enemy’s son covet your daughter?”

Li Sicheng’s expression darkened instantly. “Say that again.” Li Sicheng grew annoyed.

Li Mosen instinctively lowered his gaze when he met Li Sicheng’s eyes. He immediately realized what he had just said and was stunned for a moment. With his head bowed and fists clenched, he said in a low voice, “I know who my biological mother is. I know that that woman destroyed your family back then. Since I was young, people around me had kept reminding me of that. They also said I owed everything I have today to Mom’s kindness. I’m standing here now because Mom saved me from that woman.”

Li Mosen laughed sarcastically after saying that. He stared at the intricate pattern on the carpet beneath his feet. Li Mosen continued in a deep voice, “I’ve been your son for so many years. Now…”

Now, I don’t wish to be your son anymore, Dad, he had wanted to say.

But he didn’t get the chance to say it out loud. Su Qianci had cupped her hand over his mouth. Su Qianci’s hands smelled faintly of tea. The smell of tea and the unique odor of her body combined to give off the scent of a mother.

Li Mosen’s gaze flickered. He lowered his head to meet Su Qianci’s eyes.

Su Qianci was forty years old. But time did not leave its trace on her face. The resemblance between Su Qianci and Li Jianyue had an eighty percent match.

Su Qianci’s eyes were slightly moist. A hint of fear was apparent in her voice as she roared, “Mosen!” Tears rolled down her cheeks after she yelled out his name.

Li Mosen was momentarily shocked. He realized how hurtful his words must have been to Su Qianci.

Li Sicheng, his jaw was taut, quickly strode over to pull Su Qianci away.

The young man was almost as tall as Li Sicheng. Staring at Li Mosen, he said slowly, “Go on.”

In a trembling voice, Su Qianci said, “Mosen, be it in the past or present, we think of you like how we think of Dasu and Ersu.”