"I don't need you to look after me!"
But even the warmest hands weren't meant to warm her!
Fu Yanye didn't expect such a strong reaction from her, frowning as he looked at her.
Zhuo Jian took a deep breath, calmed down, and then slowly said, "No matter when, I will live well, but you must also promise me, you can't give up until the very last moment!"
"Mom knows! Mom knows!"
Mrs. Zhuo looked at Zhuo Jian's restrained appearance and comforted her tenderly.
Later, the mother and daughter comforted each other for a while, and Fu Yanye went outside for a cigarette, but he never lit it.
After Zhuo Jian stepped out and saw him still there, she couldn't help asking, "Why haven't you left yet?"
"We are not divorced yet, are you that eager to drive me away?"
"I will not become your burden, don't take my mom's words to heart."
"So after the divorce, we are no longer family?"
He asked while looking at the cigarette in his hand.
"Of course not!"
What family after a divorce?
"When your father and your mother got divorced, weren't they still family?"
"How is that the same?"
Zhuo Jian stubbornly retorted.
"Ah Jian..."
He sighed painfully.
"It's better to call me by my full name, and since you have time to be here, you must have time to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau with me, right?"
"... "
Fu Yanye looked at her incredulously.
Was she urging him to divorce?
Zhuo Jian, not hearing his response, looked at him again, "Can we do it now?"
"I have a meeting later! A very important one!"
Fu Yanye gazed into the depth of the corridor, the cigarette in his hand was broken and clenched in his palm.
"Then why don't you leave?"
Zhuo Jian asked him again.
Fu Yanye frowned, looking down at his own feet, then turned his head to look at her, "The PR department at the company has a vacant position, you should take it!"
"I've already found a job at the TV station."
Zhuo Jian hadn't expected him to offer her a job, of course, she wouldn't take it.
Working under him after the divorce, what would people think?
"TV station? What are you going to do?"
"News anchor!"
Zhuo Jian replied.
Fu Yanye furrowed his brows and never let go, looking elsewhere, "That job might not suit you?"
"Working under you is what's most unsuitable. I have other things to do, you should go!"
She planned to buy some toiletries, having recently settled into the hospital.
She walked ahead, entered the elevator, and saw him follow, feeling somewhat breathless unconsciously and turning her gaze away.
The feeling of being unseen was almost incomprehensible to Fu Yanye; she wasn't like that.
"I know your mother-in-law's situation is putting a lot of pressure on you. We can put off the divorce for now!"
Fu Yanye suggested as he looked at her thin profile.
Zhuo Jian paused, sighed helplessly not long after, and composedly responded, "No need!"
After leaving the elevator, she didn't walk with him. Zhuo Jian, wearing sneakers, walked quickly, but he stopped by the door, "Where are you headed? I'll take you!"
Zhuo Jian turned to look at him, sizing him up carefully.
Fu Yanye felt a bit uneasy being scrutinized.
Zhuo Jian suddenly made a shocking move; she leaned in close, stood on her toes, lifted her head, and nearly intertwined her breath with his.
Fu Yanye instinctively stepped back.
"You are a germaphobe, you genuinely dislike being close to people. Don't force yourself. We'll get a divorce, and I will truly wish you and Ruxiang happiness forever."
"..."
After finishing her words, she stepped back into the breeze.
She couldn't be alone with him anymore; she feared she might demand too much from him!
He could consider her family, but she couldn't!
All she wanted was to be his wife!
The September wind was so strong, it whipped her little floral skirt into disarray.
Zhuo Jian had bought some things at a nearby supermarket, and someone recognized her while she was paying.
"Jian!"
"Su Bai!"
Both were surprised to see each other, but soon, Su Bai asked her, "How's your aunt?"
"Yeah! She's doing well!"
Zhuo Jian nodded, politely replying.
Looking at her, Su Bai remembered Fu Yanye's intention to divorce her and couldn't help but comfort her by holding her shoulders, "I know you've loved Yanye since you were young, but there are plenty of men in the world who are just fine. Don't be too sad, okay?"
Zhuo Jian wasn't used to being held by the shoulder, but she nodded to acknowledge the care from the neighborly brother.
"That's right, our little sister Jian is famously smart and cute, nothing can bring you down."
While continuing to encourage her, Su Bai took out his phone.
Zhuo Jian watched him open WeChat, wondering what he was about to do.
"Let's add each other on WeChat, so you can contact me whenever you need anything!"
"Okay!"
Zhuo Jian was touched; she took out her phone, added Su Bai on WeChat, and then, following his instruction, sent him her phone number.
Once Su Bai had saved it, he let go of her, then took a drag of his cigarette, "Rest well these days, and in a couple of days, the whole gang will get together for a meal to welcome you."
"Okay!"
Zhuo Jian knew it was just a polite offer, but she agreed as usual.
Later, Su Bai took her to the hospital, his hand still on her shoulder. Zhuo Jian, not quite used to it, smiled, "Su Bai, my arm is about to break."
Before Su Bai realized his action was inappropriate, he looked up and saw a familiar figure, freezing in place, "What are you doing here?"
"Take your hand off!"
Fu Yanye ordered, furrowing his brow!
That's when Su Bai immediately lifted his hand from Zhuo Jian's shoulder, then stood aside, watching the two of them.
Zhuo Jian was also surprised; he hadn't left yet.
He had said he was going to a meeting!
"Aren't you in a meeting?"
"Soon! Take this card,"
Yanye said, handing her a card.
Zhuo Jian looked at him, puzzled, as he impatiently threw the card into the shopping bag she was carrying, then walked away.
Zhuo Jian turned to watch his tall figure get into a business car, and only after the car was far away did she look down at the bag.
"Yanye has it tough too!"
Su Bai suddenly exclaimed.
"Really?"
Zhuo Jian asked casually, but her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
What was he doing?
If he didn't love her, if he wanted a divorce, why did he still do this?
"Think about it, Ruxiang has poor health, and you were always overseas. On the surface, he seems like he can have anything, but what about really?"
"..."
Zhuo Jian came back to her senses, looking at Su Bai.
"No different from us bachelors!"
"..."
Zhuo Jian understood, but she didn't believe it!
Yanye and Ruxiang had been together for so many years; how could that be the same as being single?
—
That night, after her mother went to sleep, she returned to her marital home to pack her suitcase and to leave the supplementary card he had given her.
But she didn't expect that when she quietly entered the house, he was lying on the couch.
She had always assumed he slept with Ruxiang, so why was he at home every day since she returned?
Was it a coincidence, or had he always been like this?
The TV was on a sports channel, the volume low.
His eyes shifted from the game to her, "I thought you wouldn't come back?"
Zhuo Jian, knowing he resented her, spoke directly, "I'll be leaving soon. I came to get my suitcase and to return your card."
As she spoke, she placed the card she had already been holding onto the table, then inadvertently saw the divorce agreement he hadn't yet signed on the table.
"Jian, can you help me find some medicine? My stomach hurts!"
He suddenly curled up, pressing on his abdomen, speaking in agony.