bookbashuk Chapter 38 Divorce, Am I Afraid?
Chapter 38 Divorce, Am I Afraid?
They only realized in the end that marriage was nothing more than a facade that couldn't hold up, and even the closest ties became knives used to stab each other.
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Zhang Zhishan and Yu Li had returned home and learned that their son was alright. Their anxiety finally subsided, but that relief was quickly replaced by anger, and they started blaming each other.
"I forced my son to learn this and that, and now look what's happened, he's driven him to run away from home. Yu Li, I'm warning you, if my son loses even a single hair, I'll skin you alive!" Zhang Zhishan's resentment was like a landslide, as if he wanted to smash it all over Yu Li's head.
Yu Li sat on the sofa, her whole body as cold as if encased in an icy shell. She didn't even glance at Zhang Zhishan, only twitching the corner of her mouth: "Are you out of your mind? I forced him? If you hadn't spoiled him like a queen, letting him squander money as he pleased, turning him into a good-for-nothing playboy who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun, would he be so fragile?"
"What am I working myself to the bone to earn money for? It's so my son won't have to suffer the hardships I went through!" Zhang Zhishan roared, making the living room chandelier tremble slightly. "But what do you take him for? Your KPI on your performance report? Or a luxury item you flaunt on social media? This is your son, not a tool for you to save face and grab attention!"
"I'm going to groom him to be my successor. He can't be a good-for-nothing!" Yu Li suddenly stood up, her fingertips almost poking Zhang Zhishan's face. "With your short-sightedness, do you even know what succession means?"
"Inheritance? Your vain, hypocritical, and scheming ways of climbing to the top are worthless. You don't need an inheritance!" Zhang Zhishan's eyes were full of disdain. "I don't care how much trouble you cause, but he's my son. I just want him to live a peaceful life, even if he's a good-for-nothing for life, I can support him. It's none of your business to mess around!"
"Why don't you take a good look at yourself in the mirror!" Yu Li sneered, her words cutting to the heart. "You can barely keep your own business line, and you dare to say you'll support him for life? You're dreaming!"
"You fucking dare curse me?" Zhang Zhishan's eyes were bloodshot. "Say it again, who can't be protected?"
"I'm saying, you're not as good as me!" Yu Li retorted, "In any one of these areas, I'm better than you. The reason we're where we are today is because of me, not because of you, you pretentious good-for-nothing. You should wake up."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhang Zhishan grabbed the crystal glass on the table and smashed it to the ground. The crystal shards exploded on the cold marble floor like a pile of sharp fangs. One of the shards precisely sliced Yu Li's finger, and bright red blood gushed out.
Yu Li, however, seemed unfazed by the pain. Instead, she slowly curled the corners of her lips into a smile. She looked at Zhang Zhishan as if he were a clown jumping around on a beam: "Getting angry? Are you scared? Afraid that you, the high and mighty founder of Tianyi, will end up being inferior to even your own wife and become a laughingstock in the industry? Zhang Zhishan, you know best how much selfishness is mixed into your so-called love for Zihao. You're just trying to oppose me, sowing discord between my son and me, deliberately trying to disgust me!"
Zhang Zhishan was utterly incredulous, his sarcasm undisguised: "Look at yourself in the mirror, look at your repulsive appearance! Don't think Zihao dislikes you; everyone in the company, except for that slick-haired pretty boy, avoids you like the plague. Yu Li, where did that gentle and rational woman go? What happened to you?!"
"I've changed, and it's all because of you!" Yu Li's voice suddenly rose, tinged with hysteria. "Where's Zhang Zhishan, who used to swear he'd protect me for life and that his word was law? Now, not a single word of truth comes out of his mouth! Only that naive, country bumpkin from Northeast China is willing to let you treat her like a dog. It's a good thing she's not pretty enough, otherwise you would have already tricked her into becoming your plaything!"
"Stop fucking dragging other people into this!" Zhang Zhishan roared, interrupting her. "I, Zhang Zhishan, have never slept with someone from my own neighborhood. That secretary was a loyal and devoted woman I picked with my discerning eye. What about you? Do you have that? You're always introducing people to rich and powerful men, encouraging them to climb the social ladder. You're nothing but a brothel madam!"
"Let me tell you, Yu Li, you can do whatever you want, I don't care! But if you dare to say another word against my son, I'll fucking divorce you!"
The moment the word "divorce" was shouted, the living room fell into a deathly silence. The air seemed to freeze, so cold it was suffocating.
Through twenty-three years of ups and downs, even the most heated arguments, these two words have never been so blatantly thrown in front of each other.
Yu Li held her chin high, her eyes showing no sign of panic, only a cold, disdainful sneer: "Divorce? Are we afraid?"
After she finished speaking, she didn't look at Zhang Zhishan again, turned around and went upstairs. The "tap tap tap" sound of her high heels on the floor was particularly clear and heavy, each step like a stopwatch counting down to the divorce.
Zhang Zhishan stood frozen in place, his initial rage at uttering the word "divorce" instantly swallowed by panic. Yet, his face remained taut, and he merely snorted coldly before pulling out his phone and dialing Zeng Jia's number.
Zeng Jia had already brought Zhang Zihao back and saw Wang Haowen at the villa entrance. The three of them were discussing how to act once they got home, but when they reached the door, they heard arguing inside and didn't dare go in.
Zhang Zihao had little patience and headed straight for school to make a quick getaway. Zeng Jia reported to Zhang Zhishan over the phone that Zhang Zihao had "returned to school safely," and Wang Haowen also informed Yu Li via text message. The two troublemakers inside, unusually, didn't cause any more trouble, simply telling them to get lost and that they could discuss things tomorrow.
In Beijing's winter, the chill seeped up your trouser legs. Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen didn't take a taxi; they just strolled home arm in arm, their shadows mingling under the streetlights.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Wang Haowen suddenly spoke up, "Zeng Xiaojia, what if we really get married and have a baby... what are you planning to do? Like President Yu, try to outdo each other like the top students from the 'Six Strong Schools of Haidian'?"
Zeng Jia didn't even lift her eyelids. "I'm not interested in that stuff. My bones aren't strong enough to produce that kind of extraordinary talent."
Wang Haowen stumbled. "What do you mean? You don't want to have a child?"
Zeng Jia glanced at him sideways: "What do you want?"
Wang Haowen stiffened his neck and didn't nod. "I'm not sure either. But thinking about what President Yu said, it's not entirely wrong. If we had gotten a few more certifications when we were in school, would we be clinging to our jobs like we're desperate for a lifeline now?"
"Oh my!" Zeng Jiale exclaimed, giving him an exaggerated once-over. "Wang Haowen, who always knows how to enjoy life, has suddenly had a change of heart and is regretting not studying harder back then?"
"I was just saying it casually! Everyone regrets things sometimes. If I were Zhang Zihao, I would definitely coax those two like flowers, how could I let them get so angry?"
"Who wouldn't want that? Too bad, you'll only ever be able to scrape together a down payment by selling your dad's house," Zeng Jia said sarcastically, then suddenly added, "So why didn't you agree to the wealthy heiress Mr. Yu introduced you to?"
These words were like a needle, piercing her precisely. She had heard clearly what Zhang Zhishan had said to Yu Li, the madam.
Wang Haowen suddenly stopped and turned to face her. Their hands were still clasped together, and their palms were sweaty. It was hard to tell whether it was from the warmth or the little panic in their hearts.
"Zeng Xiaojia." Wang Haowen said slowly and deliberately, his eyes fixed on her like nails, "I swear to God, I have never wronged you."
Zeng Jia clicked her tongue, hiding her slight embarrassment. "The man I've chosen has caught the eye of a wealthy heiress. I should be happy, right?"
"How dare you talk to me like that? You and Zhang Zihao went to Guijie Street to eat and drink to your heart's content, and you made me the only one to go to the school to find someone. Aren't you starting to hide things from me now?" Wang Haowen began to retaliate.
Zeng Jia was taken aback. Had he guessed it?
"I wasn't sure what his methods were, so I didn't dare mention it... Besides, wouldn't he call you immediately once he found someone?"
"I rejected that wealthy son-in-law directly. He's not worth your trouble, so I didn't report it."
Their eyes met, and they both lowered their heads simultaneously. They were evenly matched, and neither of them had the right to point fingers at the moral high ground.
Zeng Jia was so tired that her feet ached, so she quickly hailed a taxi home. Once inside, she heated up the packed crayfish, and the two of them downed two bottles of chilled Yanjing beer in one go. They collapsed onto the bed, too exhausted to resist, and fell asleep immediately.
Before she lost consciousness, a thought flashed through Zeng Jia's mind. She was already upset about the heiress's affair, and Yu Li and Zhang Zhishan had been in love for over twenty years. Wasn't it heartbreaking to see things come to this?