After the Divorce, My Wife Is Impossible to Coax - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

“Good morning, Teacher Lu,” Jiang Chu from the inpatient department arrived early as well. She carried two bottles of milk and a bag of bread, placing them on Lu Shen’s desk. “Have you had breakfast? A classmate asked me to bring her some, but she didn’t show up, so I was hoping you’d share it with me.”

“I’ve already eaten,” Lu Shen said, glancing at the date on her computer.

What day is it? Why is everyone bringing me breakfast?

“You’ve eaten?” Jiang Chu found it strange. She had observed Lu Shen carefully; the doctor usually didn’t have much of an appetite in the morning, often waiting until after rounds—around 10:00 AM—to eat anything.

Knowing Lu Shen planned to divorce An Zhaoyu, Jiang Chu wanted to use her proximity to gain an advantage, using the breakfast as an excuse. If Lu Shen accepted, she planned to make it a daily routine. But Lu Shen had already eaten.

“Senior,” a knock sounded at the duty room door. Two women—one Omega and one Beta—stood there.

“Please, come in,” Lu Shen said.

Jiang Chu, about to head to the pantry, looked at them with a hint of hostility. Seniors? Are these graduate students here to compete for Lu Shen’s attention?

“Jiang Chu, you’ll be following these two seniors from now on,” Lu Shen introduced the new doctoral students. “I’m usually too busy and don’t have much time to teach you personally.”

“Oh…” Jiang Chu replied reluctantly. Lu Shen noticed her hesitation but said nothing.

One of the PhD students, an Omega named Liang Wei, was someone Lu Shen had brought in despite Fu Xinglan’s protests. Professor Fu had been so annoyed by the decision that she had ignored Lu Shen for half a day.

Lu Shen had been direct with Liang Wei about Professor Fu’s concerns. She told her to familiarize herself with the daily life of a PhD student in the Glandular Department first, urging her to think carefully before committing—especially about the negative impact it would have on future Omega students if she were to drop out. Grateful for the honesty, Liang Wei promised to consider it seriously.

With the clinical trials for the new inhibitor underway, Lu Shen’s focus had shifted. Professor Fu Xinglan suffered from extreme social anxiety, so Lu Shen took on the responsibility of negotiating partnerships and promoting the drug.

Lu Shen had published a lead-author paper in a top SCI journal regarding this highly flexible inhibitor, with Fu Xinglan as the corresponding author. Unfortunately, because the research favored Omega autonomy and potentially hindered fertility, major media outlets suppressed its visibility. Many Omegas didn’t even know it existed.

If they had developed a drug to strengthen gender traits—like the one Wei Ruicheng was researching—it likely would have been a sensation. But Lu Shen didn’t dwell on it. Human DNA determines the limits of energy and lifespan; those like Wei Ruicheng, who forced a “level up,” would eventually pay a price.

“I’ll leave the inpatient matters to you two. Professor Fu will discuss your research topics in a group meeting later,” Lu Shen instructed, handing over the digital files. “These are the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitor. Study them when you have time.”

“Understood,” they replied, receiving the files on their phones.

Lu Shen’s gaze caught Liang Wei’s lock screen. She froze.

It was a photo of the recent flight champion—the one who had demanded the official background be changed to blue. It was her soon-to-be ex-wife, Captain An.

“Oh, this!” Liang Wei blushed, noticing Lu Shen’s gaze. “She’s my idol.”

Lu Shen rarely spent time on social media and didn’t realize that Captain An had become a national icon, especially among young Omegas with big dreams. In public, An Zhaoyu was often chased for signatures. Omega pilots were rare, and An Zhaoyu’s face was more striking than many celebrities. In her flight suit, she perfectly blended beauty with a sharp, spirited energy.

“I heard she’s also at the Medical Center. Have you seen her, Senior?” Liang Wei asked. If she could meet her idol once, this rotation would be worth it.

In interviews, An Zhaoyu never mentioned her family. People knew she was married with a daughter, but she kept the details private. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to share, but rather that the media’s questions for Omegas always revolved around “marriage,” “family,” and “children.”

In her first public interview, the reporter had asked:

• As an Omega, how do you balance family and career?

• How does your Alpha feel about you participating in such a dangerous race?

• Now that you’ve achieved so much, do you plan to quit for your family?

An Zhaoyu had countered ruthlessly: “This is my individual race. Why are you bringing up my family and child? When the last Alpha won, did you ask him these questions?”

“But you’re an Omega… aren’t these questions normal?” the reporter asked, confused.

“Would you all die if you didn’t focus on an Omega’s marriage and fertility first?” An Zhaoyu snapped. “Is it that hard to recognize my excellence as an independent Omega individual?”

That interview made her an overnight sensation. She spoke for the silent majority of Omegas, and her words became viral memes. From then on, reporters stuck strictly to the race.

“I’ve seen her,” Lu Shen answered Liang Wei.

“Really?” Liang Wei’s eyes lit up.

“Yes.”

More than just seen her—her “idol” was currently obsessing over how to celebrate the baby’s first birthday tomorrow and how to convince Dr. Lu to stay at the house a little longer.

Over the weekend, An Zhaoyu’s phone was flooded with invitations to bars and parties. She rejected them all, putting her phone on silent to stay home with the baby.

The birthday celebration was held at the An residence. Most elders attended, though Lu Congwen and Lu Ming were absent. Everyone knew the state of Lu Shen and An Zhaoyu’s relationship, so they avoided the topic and focused on the child.

“Oh, look at our beautiful little princess today!” He Linghan laughed, holding An Zhou.

The one-year-old’s hair had grown, and An Zhaoyu had dressed her carefully in two little pigtails and a red-and-white tulle dress decorated with tiny cherries.

When Lu Shen first saw her, she was stunned. The baby had always been dressed for “cute” comfort, but today she truly looked like a little princess.

“Great… Great-grandma,” An Zhou called out. Her vocabulary had expanded to include Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, and Great-grandma.

“Stay at the house tonight to celebrate Xiao Zhou’s birthday?” An Zhaoyu invited Lu Shen nervously.

“Okay,” Lu Shen agreed. There was no reason to refuse.

After lunch at the An house, they returned to their own home. Unlike Lu Shen, who preferred staying indoors, An Zhaoyu often took the baby for walks.

On the way back, several neighbors waved. “Captain An is out with the baby again! Up for a drink tonight?”

“Your Dr. Lu is finally back!”

Lu Shen was dazed by how many strangers seemed to know her.

“Not tonight, it’s the baby’s birthday! Next time!” An Zhaoyu shouted back with a smile. Lu Shen realized that while she had lived there for years to get to know her neighbors, An Zhaoyu had won them over in no time. She also realized that while An Zhaoyu never mentioned her family to the media, she never tired of telling the neighbors that the baby had a “mommy who is a doctor.”

They spent the afternoon with An Zhou. With both mothers present, the baby was exceptionally calm and even took a nap. When the “birthday girl” fell asleep, an awkward silence settled between the two adults. They had already signed the divorce papers; being alone together felt strange.

“I’m planning to buy some things for Xiao Zhou. Can you help me look?” An Zhaoyu opened her tablet, showing a shopping cart full of baby supplies.

“Sure.” Having a task made Lu Shen feel more comfortable.

An Zhaoyu noticed Lu Shen’s sigh of relief and smirked slightly. This time, she wouldn’t scare her away. No more recklessness, no more “tsundere” behavior. For Dr. Lu, she had to be sincere and meticulous. She hid her usual directness and exercised extreme patience.

When Lu Shen finished reviewing the items, she looked up to find the living room empty. Clattering sounds came from the kitchen.

Is she cooking? Lu Shen found it hard to believe.

“Is it okay if we eat here tonight?” An Zhaoyu poked her head out of the kitchen, wearing a plaid apron.

“Yes…”

Lu Shen wondered if the divorce had shocked An Zhaoyu into a complete personality change. Even the living room looked different now. The stiff mahogany furniture preferred by the elders had been replaced by soft leather; a bronze floor lamp stood by the sofa. Warm-toned paintings hung on the walls. It was a home that Lu Shen finally felt comfortable in.

“Dinner’s ready!”

An Zhaoyu had made a small “baby cake” out of mashed supplementary food, decorated with a little duck pattern. An Zhou, in her high chair, loved it, scooping it up with a spoon.

Click, click—

An Zhaoyu captured the moment on her phone. “I’ll send these to you later,” she offered, knowing Lu Shen wouldn’t ask.

“Can you take a few photos of me and the baby?” An Zhaoyu stood behind the high chair. Lu Shen took the photos. Then, An Zhaoyu suggested a family photo for the memory. Lu Shen didn’t refuse.

Before she knew it, An Zhaoyu was taking photos of her and the baby. “Give the baby a kiss,” An Zhaoyu coached, making it easy for Lu Shen to follow along.

Finally, the food was served. An Zhaoyu hadn’t made much—partly to avoid waste, and partly because she was still learning. These three dishes and one soup had been the result of a week of practice. She had asked Ye Jinhua for the recipes. Lu Shen wasn’t a picky eater, but she had a few favorites, and An Zhaoyu had made exactly those.

Lu Shen paused when she saw the dishes. “How did you know?”

“I asked Grandmother.”

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