Volume 1, Chapter 5: Married So Soon?

"Let go of me! We are getting a divorce tomorrow!"

Yu Yaxuan’s wrist throbbed with pain as Lin Jingsheng gripped it tightly. She stomped hard on his foot, and Lin Jingsheng, overwhelmed by the sudden agony, was forced to release her.

"Are you trying to murder your own husband?"

Tears welled up in his eyes from the pain, and he clutched his foot, unable to recover for a long while. The woman who used to fret over the slightest scratch on his skin seemed to have vanished. Meeting Yu Yaxuan’s cold, indifferent gaze, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand—a dull, suffocating ache.

"It won’t be for long. After tomorrow, you take your high road, and I’ll take my narrow path!"

"We were married once. Since Baozhu has chosen to be with you, let’s just split the assets down the middle. You won't be losing out, and you can finally be with the person you love." Yu Yaxuan opened her phone, intending to calculate their assets from the past few years.

The person he loves?

That was true—he could finally give her a proper status. But why couldn't he feel happy about it? Lin Jingsheng frowned, watching Yu Yaxuan’s darkening expression, and then put on a smug look. "You think there’s still money in our joint account after all these years? I transferred it all to my mother long ago. This house is in her name, and I’ve signed a lease agreement with her; I have to pay her rent every month."

"You scumbag!"

Yu Yaxuan gritted her teeth in fury. She had hoped that by divorcing and getting her fair share of the money, she could finally afford to look for her eldest son, but now she realized how ridiculous that idea had been.

"Either you stay with me, or you walk out of here with nothing! Make your choice!" Lin Jingsheng looked triumphant, convinced that Yu Yaxuan wouldn't dare go through with the divorce. At her age, with no money to her name, he believed that entering society alone was no different from walking to her death.

She was nearly fifty; what company would ever hire her? Without him, the best she could do was sweep the streets for less than two thousand a month. How could that compare to the comfort of being with him?

To his surprise, Yu Yaxuan’s next words made his smile freeze on his face: "Lin Jingsheng, well played! Fine! No matter what, I am going through with this divorce!"

*Bang!*

The door to the guest room slammed shut, and the smirk on Lin Jingsheng’s face slowly faded. Why weren't things going according to plan?

The next morning, Yu Yaxuan rose early, intending to meet Lin Jingsheng at the Civil Affairs Bureau, only to find that he had already left.

Was he that eager to divorce her? Yu Yaxuan didn't dawdle; she grabbed her bag and hurried to the bureau. To her surprise, by 8:30, Lin Jingsheng still hadn't arrived.

Just as she was about to call him, a familiar black car pulled up slowly in front of the building. Lin Jingsheng stepped out with a cold expression. Seeing Yu Yaxuan standing there alone, he immediately laughed out loud. "Didn't you say there was a man willing to marry you? What’s wrong? Did you regret it? Did he realize he didn't want to marry such an old woman?"

"Enough, hurry up and let's get this divorce done!" Yu Yaxuan had no patience for his nonsense and tried to pull him inside. From the passenger seat, the mistress’s delicately made-up face slowly appeared.

"Sister, don't be in such a rush. There’s still time to change your mind. As long as you apologize to A-Sheng, he is magnanimous enough to forgive you." She spoke with a fake, gentle tone. "Sister is so smart, you should realize that you’ve already faded with age, right? If you leave A-Sheng, everything will be over for you."

Yu Yaxuan’s beautiful brows furrowed, her eyes filled with rage. Why on earth did this jerk bring his mistress along to a divorce hearing? She sneered at the woman, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "If I recall correctly, you aren't exactly young either, are you? Speaking of fading with age, those crow's feet at the corners of your eyes are quite an eyesore. You’re at such an age to be playing the mistress—what will you do if you get dumped?"

Huang Xiulan’s face turned bright red. She immediately put on a fragile act, her eyes watering. "Sister, I was only trying to be kind. Why must you be so hostile toward me?"

Yu Yaxuan couldn't help but roll her eyes. Her husband’s mistress wanted her to welcome her with a smile? Was she being serious?

Lin Jingsheng was furious. "I’m telling you, Yu Yaxuan, no one is allowed to bully Xiulan! Apologize to her right now!"

"Sorry, I can't do that."

Yu Yaxuan made a face at him. Lin Jingsheng’s face turned green, and he reached out to strike her. A large hand grabbed his arm, followed by a blood-curdling scream: "Ah! Let go! My arm is going to break!"

Yu Yaxuan looked up and met the handsome, sharp features of Cheng Zhengchu. He was wearing a grey trench coat, with a V-neck sweater revealing his defined throat. His face was stern and chiseled, and his presence was impossible to ignore. Compared to Lin Jingsheng, who had grown bloated and greasy from years of wining and dining, the contrast was stark.

At the thought of marrying such a man, Yu Yaxuan felt her heart race for the first time in ages. Her ears began to burn.

"You're here?"

Yu Yaxuan’s voice was soft and shy, her cheeks flushed like a young girl's. Cheng Zhengchu’s gaze fell on her face, and the cold air around him dissipated significantly. She was wearing a bright red wool coat with red heart-shaped earrings, and her light makeup made her look nothing like a woman of her age. She looked more like she was in her thirties.

"Yes, there was an urgent matter at the company, so I’m a bit late. Have you received the divorce certificate?"

Yu Yaxuan glared at Lin Jingsheng with resentment. "Don't ask. He’s gone crazy—not only was he late, he brought his mistress to humiliate me, and he’s refusing to sign the papers!"

"Oh?"

A dangerous tone escaped Cheng Zhengchu. Lin Jingsheng yelped in pain; if he didn't agree now, he feared he might not make it out of here in one piece. He immediately caved. "Big brother, I’ll go in and get the certificate right now. Can you please let go of me?"

Meeting Lin Jingsheng’s sincere gaze, Cheng Zhengchu finally showed mercy and released his arm. Lin Jingsheng slumped to the ground like a pile of mush. Huang Xiulan rushed over immediately. "A-Sheng, you can't beat him! Just hurry up and get the certificate with her!"

She had assumed Yu Yaxuan had found a common laborer, not realizing it was a handsome, wealthy-looking man. Lin Jingsheng felt a surge of nameless rage, but as he met Cheng Zhengchu’s piercing gaze, he shrank back. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that this man was no simple person. He carried such an overwhelming pressure.

"Aren't you going yet?"

The low, blade-like voice cut through the air again. Although reluctant, Lin Jingsheng went through with the divorce. Almost the second they received the certificate, Cheng Zhengchu stepped forward and handed over his own household registration book.

The staff member was stunned. Cheng Zhengchu explained, "Hello, we’d like to register our marriage."

She looked at them strangely, then began the process. Half an hour later, looking at the red booklet in her hand, Yu Yaxuan felt dazed. Was she actually married? It all felt too dreamlike.