Jiang Yanshen had never told Lin Qingqian that the person she first saw and fell in love with was never him.
—Epigraph.
A gust of cold night wind swept up the white curtains, adding a hint of desolation and gloom to the quiet night.
Lin Qingqian stared transfixed at the phone as if she was in a state of meditation. The white glow radiating from the screen made her face look slightly pale.
"Lin Qingqian, happy birthday."
When the final seconds ticked down into 00:00, she put down her phone, stuffed the last of her clothes into her suitcase, locked it, and walked out of the room.
As she carried the heavy luggage downstairs, she saw Madam Jiang who had just returned from playing cards. She was sitting on the sofa and drinking a bowl of bird's nest soup stewed by the servants, looking elegant and noble.
Li Ruzhu sat at the side and played with her phone. The casing on the phone was filled with dazzling crystals. When she heard the commotion, she only looked up at Lin Qingqian, who was clumsily coming down the stairs. Then, she quickly lowered her eyes, as if she did not see her.
The other servants also saw her struggling down the stairs with her luggage, but none of them stepped forward to help.
Lin Qingqian did not expect them to help her. As long as that man was not in the Jiang family, the Jiang family would automatically categorize her as air.
When she finally came down the 81 difficult steps, she pushed the luggage and walked in front of Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang put down the exquisite bowl in her hand and looked up at her as she wiped the corners of her mouth. "What are you doing now?"
"As you wish, I'm leaving the Jiang family," Lin Qingqian replied indifferently.
Madam Jiang was stunned. She quickly looked at Li Ruzhu and said with a cold expression, "As the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, you don't support the Jiang family, nor do you serve your in-laws. You run away from home every other day and let Yanshen run back and forth for you. Let's see which wife in the entire Lan City is like you. Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because the Old Madam is protecting you."
Run away from home?
The corners of her lips curled up mockingly. When had she ever run away from home? When had she not been bullied by this woman and Li Ruzhu until she couldn't take it anymore before she went to hide at Suisui's place for a few days? However, after Madam Jiang and Li Ruzhu added fuel to the fire, every time Jiang Yanshen heard about it, the story became that she could not stand the teachings of her elders and ran away from home.
Lin Qingqian did not waste her breath on her. In any case, they would not believe anything she said. She placed the signed divorce agreement on the coffee table. "I've signed the divorce agreement. When Jiang Yanshen comes back, I'll have to trouble you to hand it to him."
When Madam Jiang saw her signature on the divorce agreement, a trace of surprise appeared in her eyes. She did not expect her to be serious this time.
Although Li Ruzhu did not say anything, she no longer played with her phone. She looked at Madam Jiang excitedly, thrilled and in disbelief.
Was this woman finally going to scram now? She could finally be with Brother Yanshen!
Madam Jiang's heart trembled with excitement, but her expression was still arrogant. She sneered and said, "Back then, you insisted on marrying Yanshen. Now, you're willing to get a divorce? What if the Old Madam comes back and says that I'm the one who forced you to get a divorce? Are you hoping that the Old Madam will come after me and scold me for being an evil mother-in-law?"
"I'm the one who wants to get a divorce. No matter who comes back, I'll tell them the same thing." Lin Qingqian's voice was as light as willow catkins, and there was a trace of tenacity in it. She paused for a moment and said, "If you're worried, you can wait for Jiang Yanshen and I to finish the divorce procedures before informing Grandma."
Madam Jiang sized her up suspiciously. Seeing that she did not seem to be lying, the excitement in her eyes could not be suppressed.
Li Ruzhu was overjoyed.
Lin Qingqian looked at the two of them who wished they could set off firecrackers to celebrate. Thinking of the humiliation and grievances she had suffered in the Jiang family for the past seven years, her heart surged with dense sorrow and depression.
If not for the fact that she loved Jiang Yanshen so much, she would not have compromised and endured so much humiliation for seven years.
Fortunately, everything was over. In the future, she no longer had to endure Madam Jiang's pickiness and mean attitude, nor did she have to endure Li Ruzhu, the scheming b*tch.
"In order to thank you for taking care of me for the past seven years, I want to give you a gift," Lin Qingqian said.
Madam Jiang looked at her suspiciously. "A gift?"
"That's right." Lin Qingqian's lips curled into a faint smile. She took a step forward and picked up the exquisite small bowl on the coffee table. Then, she placed the thick and sticky bird's nest above her head and directly overturned it.