"Chu Mu, shall we build a snowman together?"
As a result, he actually rolled up his sleeves and built her a plump, white snowman. He even tore off two buttons from his coat and decorated it. Shu Yi'an stood next to the snowman like a child, taking out her phone to take pictures. To make it more lively, she even took off her silly red hat and put it on the snowman.
Strangely enough, the snowman stood in the yard until almost the end of the first month of the lunar calendar before melting away.
Looking at these treasured possessions, Shu Yi'an clutched the shirt in her hand for a long time without moving, unaware that Chu Mu had returned behind her.
"If you can't take it with you... just leave it here for now, and you can come and get it when you have time."
Shu Yi'an instinctively hid what she was holding behind her back, then stared wide-eyed at the person leaning against the door. "When did you get back?"
Chu Mu rubbed the file folder in his hand with his thumb, his expression somber. "Let's pack it up later... I'll go downstairs first, I need to talk to you about something."
Four property transfer agreements, plus the divorce agreement—a contract as thick as a magazine—were neatly laid out before Shu Yi'an. These included Chu Mu's studio apartment, his two cars, his personal savings… so many things, all clearly stating that the right to use and ownership belonged entirely to his wife, Shu Yi'an.
As for the terms of the divorce agreement, Shu Yi'an only glanced at them a few times before she understood the rest.
"I don't want to."
Chu Mu had anticipated her reaction and wasn't in a hurry to refute her. Instead, he shrugged indifferently, "Now they all belong to you, whether you accept it or not. As for this villa, it was registered in your name when it was bought."
"If you want a divorce, agreeing to this divorce agreement is the best way; otherwise... there's nothing I can do to help you."
Shu Yi'an had never known that she was the owner of this lakeside villa, let alone that he had managed to complete the legal division of property so thoroughly in just one afternoon. She was momentarily stunned. Her inherently gentle yet stubborn temperament began to resurface.
"Chu Mu, you can't be unreasonable. We had a fair divorce. I don't blame you, and you don't need to do this. I can live a good life on my own. Really." She pushed the thick stack of things back, very sincerely, "I can't accept these things."
“And also,” Shu Yi’an took out a small drawer she had prepared and placed the items in front of Chu Mu one by one. “This is the key to this house, the card you gave me, and the bracelet my mother gave me. She said she was going to give it to her daughter-in-law. You should keep all of these safe.”
Chu Mu felt a dull ache in his temples as he pressed down on her hand, which kept pulling things outwards. He felt extremely tired.
"Yi'an, you should at least give me a chance to make it up to you."
"For you, divorce is the best solution, or perhaps your salvation. But what about me? Have you ever thought about me?"
“I’ve already lost you and the child. These things are the smallest compensation I can offer. You have to make me feel a little better.”
Shu Yi'an bit her lip and nodded after a long while. "Alright, if this makes you feel more at ease, I'll accept it."
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Chu Mu pushed all the things back to her and closed his eyes briefly. "My parents have gone abroad. I think we should keep this a secret for a while. Let me know when we're going to complete the formalities."
Shu Yi'an nodded and took a deep, calm breath. "Tomorrow, I'll tell you something, even though I'll accept these things. I don't plan to live here anymore. I'll move out, and I'll leave tomorrow after completing the formalities."
Chu Mu had considered the worst-case scenario, and now, every decision she made was, in his eyes, a protective measure against his own insecurity. He could no longer forcefully intervene in her life, so he had no choice but to accept it.
"good."
Night fell, and the room was eerily quiet. Chu Mu and she lay side by side on the bed, neither of them sleepy in the darkness. How long had it been since he had slept like this with her? Chu Mu himself couldn't remember, and even felt a pang of sadness, wondering if this was her final comfort to herself.
Under the down comforter, Shu Yi'an carefully reached out to grab his hand, which was resting to the side. Chu Mu quickly interlocked a few of her fingers, his heart skipping a beat. Besides her breathing, he heard a voice say...
Good night, see you tomorrow.
Author's Note: Forgive me for not being able to write about their parting ways tonight; let's have one more sentimental night~
We'll continue tomorrow!! Don't worry, I won't let them be separated for too long, and there won't be any drama like An coming back with the baby years later and bumping into the child's biological father!!
Life should be sweet and warm, that's what matters most.
Chapter 55 Take Care on Your Journey
The journey to the Civil Affairs Bureau this morning was unusually smooth; the entire process was so seamless that it made me want to curse.
The middle-aged woman in work clothes, whose expression had become numb from years of such work, reached out and tapped on the table in front of the young couple.
"Did you bring your marriage certificate, ID card, and household registration booklet?"
Shu Yi'an nodded and took an envelope out of her bag. "I brought it with me." These things had been with her ever since their wedding.
The middle-aged woman took the glasses, adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, and glanced at the two of them. "Have you thought it through? Is it a voluntary divorce?"
Shu Yi'an pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, I've thought it through."
Chu Mu had never felt that there was any place in this world that he was afraid to go or that he didn't want to go. Sitting in this cramped space with four walls around him, watching the middle-aged woman's hands moving constantly, he thought gloomily, why is there such an inhumane setting as a divorce processing office?
The stamping machine hummed, and both men's eyes were fixed on the same spot, unblinking.
With a very slight click, Chu Mu suddenly felt something, something that had been tightly held in his heart, snap. In that very second, Chu Mu and Shu Yi'an divorced. He had forcefully brought her into his life, compelling her to live a life of pampered happiness, but in the end, he was the one who had driven her to this point, to the brink of collapse as she filed for divorce. Looking back now, this path truly seemed desolate.
Stepping out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the red and silver-embossed covers in each other's hands were somewhat glaring. The weather at the end of September was unexpectedly cool early.
Shu Yi'an gently stroked the three words on the divorce certificate, subconsciously pulling her coat tighter around her. From her collar to her ankles, she felt like an outsider. Standing in the autumn wind, she looked very thin, her hair loosely blowing, a few strands sticking to her face. Chu Mu suddenly wanted to hug her.
As if creating distance, she descended a few steps, then turned and waved to the people above, her face as calm as still water. "So... goodbye?"
Chu Mu, with one hand in his pocket, took a few steps down to catch up. "Where are you going? Let me take you."
"No need, just give me the luggage I left in the car."
"Where are you going?" Chu Mu asked again, standing in front of her and clutching the car keys, showing no intention of letting her leave.
Shu Yi'an turned her head and smiled slightly. "Chu Mu, we're divorced."
The two stood face to face, neither willing to compromise. Sometimes, Shu Yi'an's insistence could really make one feel infuriated. Under her calm and composed gaze, Chu Mu gritted his teeth and turned to walk towards the trunk of the car.
It was the same box she had brought over. Shu Yi'an lowered her head and reached out to take it, but Chu Mu handed it to her with one hand. Before she could even touch the handle, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms with some force. Whether she liked it or not, his arms were firmly around her waist.
Unable to dodge in time, the box crashed to the ground.