A tall, slender figure rushed in from the school gate, standing out from the rest of the crowd.
Qi Xiaoyan went to the research office in the morning and just came out of the building. He checked the time and decided to go to the cafeteria for lunch first. Just as he turned around, he heard someone call his name from behind: "Qi Xiaoyan!"
The voice was anything but friendly; in fact, it could be described as somewhat menacing. Nevertheless, Qi Xiaoyan turned around—because he recognized Yang Ming's voice.
Yang Ming's black hair was somewhat disheveled from running. When he rushed in front of Qi Xiaoyan, he didn't slow down at all and swung a punch at his face. The fist, carrying a cool breeze, accurately kissed Qi Xiaoyan's chin. Qi Xiaoyan was knocked back two steps and pursed his sore lips.
Yang Ming stood looking down at him, her anger undiminished by the punch she had just thrown: "Qi Xiaoyan, you married my sister without a word, and now, only a year later, you're divorcing her without a sound. What do you take my sister for? She had never even had a boyfriend before marrying you, and she gave up studying abroad for you. And this is how you treat her? What gives you the right?!"
He angrily finished speaking at length, then clenched his fist, ready to punch Qi Xiaoyan again.
"Yang Ming! Stop!" Yang Wei caught up breathlessly and grabbed Yang Ming's hand. "This is a school, what are you doing?"
Yang Ming gritted her teeth, shook off Yang Wei's hand, and stood still. Yang Wei turned to look at Qi Xiaoyan; his lips were tinged with blue and a few streaks of blood. Yang Wei anxiously stepped forward and took his arm: "Juanjuan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Qi Xiaoyan shook his head, but didn't pull away from Yang Wei's hand. Yang Wei took out a pack of tissues from her handbag and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth: "Don't you usually work out often? You could have easily dodged that punch, why did you just stand there and let him hit you?"
Qi smiled and said, "He looks very angry, this might make him feel better."
Yang Wei's lips twitched. That brat Yang Ming didn't even know how to hold back. Luckily, there weren't many people in the teaching and research building, otherwise, who knows what rumors would circulate if the students saw it. Yang Ming watched her cautious movements and couldn't help but sneer: "He's already divorced you, why are you still bothered by him?"
Yang Wei turned around and gave him a forced smile: "We divorced amicably, he did nothing wrong to me. Besides, Qi Xiaoyan is a professor, and it would be very bad for you to hit someone at school."
Yang Ming's lips curled into a mocking smile: "I just want others to see the true face of this scumbag."
Yang Wei was a little angry: "I already said that we divorced amicably."
Yang Ming glared at her angrily: "I can't be bothered with your business anymore. Go home and explain to your parents yourself!"
Yang Wei watched Yang Ming's retreating figure and immediately deflated. Was he going to go back and tell her parents? She hadn't expected this day to come so soon!
Qi Xiaoyan looked at her and asked, "Do you need me to go over and explain for you?"
“…No need.” If he went over, Yang Wei believed her father would really beat him to death this time. “Since you’re alright, I’ll be going now.”
"Wait a minute." Qi Xiaoyan called out to her, his eyes sparkling with a captivating allure, as if meticulously crafted. "Do you like Maserati?"
Yang Wei only paused for a moment before understanding what was going on. She looked at Qi Xiaoyan with a smug smile on her lips: "If the reference point is Goldbach, then he is indeed more attractive." After she finished speaking, she waved to Qi Xiaoyan and didn't forget to remind her, "Remember to take your medicine, Professor."
Qi Xiaoyan watched her retreating figure walk away, then turned and walked in the other direction. A person stood at the corner, so quiet he almost blended into his surroundings.
It was Song Jin.
After seeing her, Qi Xiaoyan did not change his walking pace at all, as if nothing in the world could disrupt his steps.
What are you doing here?
Song Jin smiled at him and said in a relaxed tone, "The crew is taking a break, so I wanted to visit my alma mater."
Qi Xiaoyan nodded, seemingly finding the answer perfectly reasonable. Song Jin followed him, walking alongside him on campus: "Who was that girl just now? Was she your student?"
"No, she is my ex-wife."
Qi Xiaoyan's voice was like seawater pouring down from the sky, instantly engulfing Song Jin.
She stopped abruptly, staring at him in disbelief: "Ex-wife? You're married?"
"Um."
In that single, brief word from Qi Xiaoyan, Song Jin felt like she'd suffered a devastating blow from her ex-wife. She stood there for a while, recovering her strength, before finally catching up with Qi Xiaoyan: "But you're divorced, aren't you?"
Instead of answering, Qi Xiaoyan asked, "Aren't you afraid the media will write something ridiculous when you walk with me like this?"
Song Jin suddenly smiled, walked quickly to him, and looked up at him like she did when they were in school: "Are you free tonight? Let's go out for dinner."
When Yang Wei walked out of the gate of Imperial University, Yang Ming was still standing there waiting for her. She thought for two seconds, then smiled and walked up to her: "Are you waiting for me to eat Lilith's BBQ? I'm super hungry right now, let's go!"
Yang Ming said expressionlessly, "I'll treat you to stir-fried pork kidneys at home."
Yang Wei: "..."
She maintained her smile, tiptoed, and ruffled Yang Ming's hair: "Time flies so fast. I remember you were just a little kid who would cry behind me, and now you can beat people up for me."
Yang Ming awkwardly brushed her hand away and looked at her with a stern face: "Don't expect me to put in a good word for you with your parents."
Yang Wei pouted, then smiled and said to him, "Have you grown taller again? It feels like it's harder to rub your head than before."
Yang Ming walked to the intersection and hailed a taxi: "You should save your energy for dealing with your parents."
Yang Wei: "..."
What happened to the promised sibling love?!
When Yang Wei and Yang Ming arrived home, their mother was in the kitchen preparing lunch. Hearing the door open, she peeked out from the kitchen and, seeing the two siblings standing at the door, asked in surprise, "Why did you two come back together?"
Yang Wei rushed to her mother's side, her face beaming with joy. Before she could make a last-ditch effort, Yang Ming quickly said, "My sister and Qi Xiaoyan are divorced."
Yang Wei: "..."
Is this person really her brother?
Mrs. Yang stood frozen in place, not even blinking. Yang Wei was worried that she would just collapse, so she nervously supported her arm. After a while, Mrs. Yang turned off the gas stove, untied the apron around her waist, and came out of the kitchen: "Come out with me."
...
Yang Family Summit.
Mr. and Mrs. Yang sat in the head seats, Yang Ming sat on the left, and Yang Wei sat alone on a small stool, being interrogated.
"You got married without telling us, and now you're getting divorced without telling us. Do you even care about your parents?" Mr. Yang slammed his hand on the table, and Yang Wei jumped along with the teacup on the table.
Yang's mother patted his back to help him catch his breath, her eyes glancing at Yang Wei out of the corner of her eye: "Tell me honestly, why did you two get divorced? Was it because Qi Xiaoyan cheated on you?"
"No, I was the one who filed for divorce."
"What? Did you cheat on me?!" Mr. Yang jumped up from the sofa.
Yang Wei twitched her lips and said, "Divorce isn't just about infidelity..."
"Then tell me the reason!"
"...incompatible personalities".
"If you're incompatible, why did you marry him in the first place!"
Yang Wei's ears were almost deafened by the noise. She finally mustered up the courage to look up at him and said, "Dad, don't be so angry. It's easy to get high blood pressure."
Mr. Yang said angrily, "You'll make me get high blood pressure sooner or later!"
Mrs. Yang stood up and advised, "Alright, alright, they're divorced now. There's no point in you getting angry. You should think about your future plans instead."
Mr. Yang took a deep breath and asked Yang Wei, "Where are you living now?"
Yang Wei said, "It's right there. Qi Xiaoyan gave me the house."
Mr. Yang chuckled: "I don't care about his house! Is a man's divorce the same as a woman's? Luckily you don't have any children, otherwise, what would you be doing now!"
Upon hearing this, Yang's mother seemed to remember something and looked at Yang Wei nervously: "Have you had any problems lately?"
Yang Wei's lips twitched again: "Don't worry, we always take safety precautions."
An awkward and ambiguous atmosphere inexplicably filled the room. Yang's parents looked at Yang Ming at the same time, and Yang Ming sat up straight and said, "I am an adult now."
The air seemed to pause for a moment. Mr. Yang coughed lightly and asked Yang Wei, "How do you get to work now?"
Yang Wei said, "Take the bus."
After thinking for a moment, Mr. Yang said, "I'll buy you a car. You can enroll in a driving school and drive yourself to work, which will be more convenient."
Yang Wei's eyebrows twitched: "No need, our place isn't far from the school, only five stops away. Besides, taking the bus is so much better, it's low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and cheap!"
Mr. Yang glanced at her with a twitching lip and said, "You're just too lazy to learn to drive!"
Yang Wei pouted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Yang's mother's eyes darted around, then she looked at Yang Wei with a beaming smile: "You don't have to learn to drive, but you need to find a boyfriend as soon as possible."
Yang Wei: "..."
She knew her mother would do this, which is why she felt unable to face her! Was introducing potential partners to the neighbors not enough for her? Now she's finally going to target her!
Yang Wei pursed her lips and said, "Mom, I've only just crawled out of the grave of marriage, and you want to kick me back in so soon?"
"I'm just telling you to find a boyfriend to date, not to get married. Tomorrow's the weekend, I'll arrange a blind date for you."
Yang Wei was almost in despair: "I'm only 24 years old, is there any need to be in such a hurry?"
Mrs. Yang said seriously, "Do you think that just because we're all 24 years old, you're the same as those young girls who have just started working?"
This is a typical example of discrimination against divorced people. Yang Wei curled her lip and said, "Then I'll just live alone. I can live just fine on my own."
Mrs. Yang scoffed, "You live alone? Do you even know how to pay the utility bills?"
Yang Wei: "..."
Truly... no one knows a daughter better than her mother. Yang Wei stiffened her neck and looked at her, saying, "I've already graduated from university, how difficult could it be to pay a utility bill?"
Mrs. Yang said, “The fees are different in each community. Here, the water bill is paid by the property management company, and you just pay them when you pay the monthly property management fee. Electricity is prepaid; you pay first and then use it, and once it's used up, it's gone. You need to check it regularly. Gas is prepaid, but you pay later, and there will be a late fee if it's used up within a certain time. If you also pay your water bill using a card, the water will be cut off once when there's not much water left. You just need to swipe the card at the water tank. Oh, the water and electricity boxes are usually in the hallway; you should be able to find which one is yours, right? Also, the payment location isn't necessarily in the district where you live; paying water bills across districts is quite common, and…”
Yang Wei wiped her forehead and smiled at her mother, saying, "How about we talk about blind dates?"
Mrs. Yang smiled smugly. Trying to outmaneuver me? You've never been good at keeping accounts since you were little, but I know you perfectly well enough.
cold dish
Seven o'clock in the evening is the busiest time of day in the world. After driving his car into the parking garage, Fang Chengran looked around for a parking space.
A man and a woman got out of the car in front of them. As Fang Chengran's car drove past them, his gaze unconsciously froze.
The man was very tall, wearing a white shirt, with slightly long, naturally curly black hair. He was the man in the photo with Yang Wei; he couldn't mistake him.
But who is that woman next to him? She's slender, wearing a black hat and sunglasses, and has flaxen curly hair that looks a lot like Yang Wei's. I feel like I've seen her somewhere before... Song Jin?
"What's wrong? Do you know each other?" Mr. Fang asked from the back seat.
Fang Chengran withdrew his gaze and drove the car into an empty space: "No, I thought it was my friend, but it seems I mistook him for someone else."
Mr. Fang snorted coldly: "I thought it was one of your girlfriends again."
Fang Chengran gave a dry laugh: "Dad, I think in your eyes I'm just a cynical playboy."
Mr. Fang asked in surprise, "Aren't you one?"
Fang Chengran shut up. He had gone to great lengths to get them out for a meal today, and he didn't want it to turn into another family drama.
When Fang Chengran and his family got out of the car, Qi Xiaoyan and Song Jin had already taken the elevator directly to the 7th floor. When the elevator doors opened, a tall hostess asked for their private room information and then personally led them there.