After the Divorce, My Wife Is Impossible to Coax - Chapter 26 

Chapter 26 

The day after the baby finally learned how to sit up, An Zhaoyu went to a bar to attend a high school classmate’s birthday party. Just before leaving work, she called Lu Shen to check in.

Lu Shen was currently teaching Jiang Chu how to navigate the medication guidelines when her phone lit up with the name “Captain An.”

Jiang Chu saw it. The contact name was intriguing—was it a playful nickname, or a sign of genuine distance?

“I’ll take this call,” Lu Shen said, picking up the phone and walking over to the window.

It was a subconscious move, but Jiang Chu noticed. Lu Shen didn’t usually go to the other side of the room to answer calls.

“The car is in the inpatient parking lot. I left the keys with the security guard; you can drive it home later. I’m heading to The Lighthouse,” An Zhaoyu said.

The duty room was quiet. Even though Lu Shen had moved to the window, Jiang Chu heard perfectly. The Lighthouse? She furrowed her brows. She’s married and still going to bars for entertainment? She glanced at Lu Shen.

“Come back early,” Lu Shen replied. There was nothing unusual in her reaction; it was the standard response of a typical married person.

“Okay,” An Zhaoyu replied. Her tone suddenly swept upward—a very subtle shift, hard to catch if one wasn’t listening closely.

Tomorrow morning, they had to take the baby to the community hospital for a check-up. Even though she knew Lu Shen’s “come back early” might just be a polite reminder of that appointment, An Zhaoyu still felt an inexplicable sense of joy.

She decided to give Zhang Simeng two bottles of red wine as a birthday gift. Lu Shen knew about this; red wine was a safe, standard gift for a former classmate, carrying no special romantic weight. An Zhaoyu figured that as a bar owner, Zhang Simeng would appreciate a good vintage. Usually, Zhang Simeng was the one recommending drinks to her, and An Zhaoyu hadn’t paid much attention to whether her friend actually drank much herself.

The Party at The Lighthouse

“Happy Birthday,” An Zhaoyu said as she found Zhang Simeng at the bar and handed over the wrapped gift.

“You even bought a gift? So formal,” Zhang Simeng smiled as she took it, but felt a pang of disappointment deep down. Having not seen her for so long, An Zhaoyu seemed to be doing very well. Her smile was genuine, radiating a certain inner sunshine.

“Why didn’t Lu Shen come? And your child—what’s her name?” Zhang Simeng used a bit of careful wording, referring to her as “An Zhaoyu’s child.”

“She doesn’t like coming to bars,” An Zhaoyu tapped her phone screen to show her lock screen—a photo of An Zhou. “Our baby’s name is An Zhou. ‘Zhou’ as in ‘Universe’ (Yuzhou).”

“It’s a beautiful name,” Zhang Simeng looked at the child, who was a miniature version of An Zhaoyu. She felt a complicated, contradictory emotion. If only An Zhaoyu were an Alpha… if they had a child, would it look like An Zhaoyu too? People said children of Alpha-Omega pairings tended to look more like the Alpha.

“I think so too. Lu Shen picked it.”

“Is that so?” Zhang Simeng’s smile became a bit forced.

Back at the Medical Center

“Teacher Lu, are you free today? My sister said last time she wanted to have dinner with you.” Knowing Lu Shen wouldn’t go if asked alone, Jiang Chu used her sister, Jiang Ling, as a shield. She had already drafted the message.

“I have to be with Xiao Zhou tonight, so it’s not convenient. Next time. I’ll let her know,” Lu Shen politely declined. Jiang Ling had mentioned dinner a few days ago, but things had been too busy. She’d wait for a time when Captain An was home before going out with Jiang Ling.

“Mm…” It took a long time for Jiang Chu to restrain herself from asking: Why do you have to stay home alone with the baby while An Zhaoyu is out clubbing?

Jiang Chu and Lu Shen left work together. At the bottom of the inpatient building, Lu Shen fetched the keys from security.

“I’ll give you a lift,” Lu Shen offered. S-City was a long bus ride away, and with the evening rush hour, the subway would be packed.

“Thank you, Teacher Lu,” Jiang Chu replied with “surprise.” She had counted on Lu Shen saying that.

However, just as the car pulled out of the medical center, they ran into Jiang Ling driving in, with Wen Su standing by her car. Jiang Chu suddenly remembered that her cousin and Wen Su seemed to be showing signs of reconciliation. They had dated before, but Wen Su’s tendency to prioritize family and work over her relationship led to many arguments and an eventual breakup.

“Shen-shen, just getting off work?” Jiang Ling was surprised to see Jiang Chu in the passenger seat. “Where’s your Captain An?”

“Just finished. She had something to do,” Lu Shen replied. She found it odd; didn’t Jiang Chu just say Jiang Ling wanted to eat with her? But Jiang Ling looked like she had no idea.

As Jiang Ling was about to ask if they should eat together, Jiang Chu interrupted, “Sister, so you were actually looking for Captain Wen and just used Teacher Lu as an excuse!”

What? Jiang Ling was bewildered. When did she use Lu Shen as an excuse?

“Dr. Lu, since we ran into each other, why don’t we all eat?” Wen Su suggested. Jiang Ling still hadn’t forgiven her, and she had only come today to deliver something. If Lu Shen joined, it might give her a chance to explain the past to Jiang Ling.

Jiang Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

“No, I have to get back tonight,” Lu Shen refused again. She didn’t want to meddle in Jiang Ling and Wen Su’s business, nor did she want to pressure her friend. If Jiang Ling had asked her directly, she would have considered helping.

“You have a little one at home and the Captain isn’t there. Let’s eat next time,” Jiang Ling said, still cold toward Wen Su. She beckoned to Jiang Chu. “Come over to my car, I’ll take you home.”

“Oh,” Jiang Chu was reluctant but had no choice but to switch cars.

Freedom or Indifference?

At the bar, Zhang Simeng hadn’t just invited everyone for drinks; she had ordered several tables of food to keep everyone fed. The Lighthouse was closed to the public today; it was strictly for high school classmates.

“This wine Captain An brought is great. Should we open it for the birthday?” one Alpha asked greedily.

“No, this is my gift,” Zhang Simeng refused immediately.

“It’s fine, it was bought to be drunk,” An Zhaoyu didn’t mind. The wine was expensive, but it wasn’t a rare treasure.

“Then have a glass with me. We’ll save the other bottle for next time,” Zhang Simeng said, leaning in with a smile.

“Sure,” An Zhaoyu reached for the glass, subtly avoiding her friend’s leaning head. Zhang Simeng noticed the dodge. In the past, An Zhaoyu wouldn’t have gone out of her way to avoid her.

“Marriage is just about finding a ‘suitable’ person, right?” Zhang Simeng asked, leaning against the bar after taking a sip. She hadn’t expected to feel this miserable today. She had always thought her love for An Zhaoyu was a quiet, stable thing she could hide forever. But now that An Zhaoyu was married and clearly devoted to her family, she realized she couldn’t accept it.

“I’m planning to get married this year, so I wanted your advice,” Zhang Simeng added, sensing the change in An Zhaoyu’s aura. She was afraid of making An Zhaoyu angry; An Zhaoyu had a temper—the type that would cut someone off completely without a second glance.

Except for Lu Shen.

Back when Lu Shen went abroad without a word and cut off all contact, An Zhaoyu had been furious and vowed never to pursue anyone again. Zhang Simeng had harbored a lucky thought: Maybe she’ll stay single forever, and we can stay ‘besties’ indefinitely.

“You’re getting married?” An Zhaoyu raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, if you’re married, why can’t I be?” Zhang Simeng asked expectantly. “What kind of Alpha personality do you think would suit me?”

“Of course you can get married,” An Zhaoyu smiled. “I don’t know what personality suits you, but marriage can also be about finding someone you actually like.”

Zhang Simeng fell silent. She was afraid that if An Zhaoyu said more, she wouldn’t be able to take it.

As it got late, An Zhaoyu remembered Lu Shen’s “come back early.” She prepared to leave. Just then, an Alpha classmate’s phone rang. He looked at the screen, broke into a cold sweat, and answered immediately.

“Hello, wife! I’m coming back right now! Yes, yes, don’t be mad! I’m on my way!”

Everyone laughed at him for having a “tiger” at home. His Omega wife was a famous “shrew” in S-City who preferred action over words. If he got too close to any other Omega, she’d wait at the door with a kitchen knife. The story was legendary in their circle.

Listening to the laughter, An Zhaoyu couldn’t bring herself to smile. She didn’t find it funny. That Omega was just defending her interests, using her life to gamble that her Alpha wouldn’t stray, yet she was treated as a joke. An Omega’s resistance always seemed so futile.

An Zhaoyu looked down at her quiet phone. For some reason, she actually felt a bit envious of that Alpha.

Lu Shen never demanded anything of her. She just handled everything perfectly on her own. The Lu Shen An Zhaoyu loved most was the one who got drunk and would obediently listen to her. The sober Lu Shen seemed like she didn’t need her at all.

“Look at our Captain An. Has Dr. Lu ever called to nag her once?” some classmate said, comparing her to the Alpha.

“My wife can’t be compared to Dr. Lu,” the Alpha said, waving his hands.

What does that mean? An Zhaoyu looked at him coldly. Lu Shen was good, but not so good that he had the right to publicly disparage his own Omega to praise her. And what did Lu Shen’s goodness have to do with him? Only she had the right to say Lu Shen was good.

The Alpha, seeing her expression, realized he’d stepped in it. “Xiao Yu, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t have designs on Dr. Lu, I’m just purely envious! Anyway, I have to go!”

Once he left, the conversation turned back to An Zhaoyu.

“Dr. Lu is so great, she doesn’t nag you at all. I’m so jealous, Xiao Yu.” “Finding a wife like Dr. Lu is the dream!” “Freedom to go to bars after marriage—that’s my life goal!”

An Zhaoyu’s phone remained silent. Lu Shen hadn’t sent a single message to rush her, let alone call to scold her or ask if she was fooling around. Lu Shen was likely at home right now, either shielding her from her parents’ complaints or patiently playing with the baby.

Who wouldn’t be envious of a wife like that? What did she have to be dissatisfied about?

An Zhaoyu was so satisfied she could die.

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