After the Divorce, My Wife Is Impossible to Coax - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Today, An Zhaoyu was acting a bit strange. From the moment she woke up, she had been following Lu Shen around, not even lingering in bed for a second.

When Lu Shen went to pick up the baby, she ran over: “I’ll do it.” When Lu Shen went to make breakfast, she dashed ahead: “I’ll do it.”

Lu Shen frowned. “Did you cause trouble?”

“No! How could I?” An Zhaoyu widened her eyes, putting the washed ingredients into the blender and pressing the switch.

Soon, the aroma of food filled the kitchen. An Zhaoyu made some light side dishes and baby food. She tied a bib on the toddler and sat her down to eat. Lu Shen sat back and waited for the “official statement.”

“Mom wants us to go home for dinner tonight. It’s my brother’s birthday,” An Zhaoyu sat beside her, adding cautiously, “Zhang Simeng will be there, too.”

As expected, she has a guilty conscience. Lu Shen sat upright, drinking her porridge without looking left or right.

“Don’t be mad. I won’t say a single word to her,” An Zhaoyu said, raising an eyebrow slightly. Honestly, today she really had to thank her brother and Zhang Simeng for diverting Lu Shen’s attention.

Actually, today was the day the three-month divorce cooling-off period ended. Although Lu Shen had already “marked” her during this time—rendering the divorce agreement long since void—she still felt a lingering fear. It was like a strange ritual; only after midnight tonight could she truly feel at ease.

After breakfast, they dropped the baby off at the An residence. They happened to run into An Wenyao, who was back to pick up some things. Since “running away from home,” he had been living on his own.

“An Xiaoyu, Lu Shen,” An Wenyao greeted them and gave An Zhou a hug.

“Brother, Happy Birthday. You’re another year older,” An Zhaoyu teased with a grin. An Wenyao rolled his eyes at her.

“Happy Birthday,” Lu Shen added.

“Thanks,” An Wenyao felt a momentary awkwardness. It was a reflex; whenever Lu Shen spoke, he became inexplicably nervous. An Zhaoyu stopped grinning and immediately pulled Lu Shen away.

“Do we need to buy a gift for your brother?” Lu Shen asked casually from the passenger seat.

“I’ll have a bodyguard buy it for him,” An Zhaoyu thought crossly. She couldn’t let Lu Shen choose; it would make her brother way too happy. She suddenly regretted thanking him and Zhang Simeng. In truth, she had bought her brother’s gift a week ago. Just hearing Lu Shen mention him made her feel like she had swallowed a jar of vinegar.

An Zhaoyu simply couldn’t stand the mention of An Wenyao in Lu Shen’s mouth. Her brother probably still liked Lu Shen’s type; even Zhang Simeng, who used to be a “sweet girl,” had shifted her style toward Lu Shen’s mature, cold aesthetic. That’s why An Zhaoyu hadn’t recognized her at first glance at the funeral. Thinking that her brother still pined for someone like her wife—and even found a “counterfeit” version of her as a sister-in-law—made An Zhaoyu feel disgusted.

Lu Shen sensed her gloom and didn’t speak further. In her heart, she viewed An Wenyao purely as an ordinary brother-in-law, and nothing more.

At the Medical Center parking lot, before Lu Shen could unbuckle her seatbelt, An Zhaoyu leaned over and tangled her in a long kiss before letting go.

“Lu Shen, you are my wife. You’re not allowed to think about anyone else.”

“…”

What nonsense is she talking now? Lu Shen pushed her away gently. “Time for work.”

In the Gland Department duty room, Liang Wei was walking with a spring in her step. Since joining the research group, she hadn’t been late once, even though she was sleeping later than ever. Clinical work by day, research by night—she was exhausted, but her classmates were crying tears of envy. This was a top-tier SCI journal; Lu Shen would definitely include Liang Wei’s name.

Plus, after the Wei Ruicheng incident, she had become close with her idol, An Zhaoyu. A total winner in life.

Ever since An Zhaoyu found out Liang Wei was a fan, she had been unceremoniously using her to get “intel.” For example: Did Jiang Chu talk to Lu Shen today? Are any other colleagues interested in Dr. Lu? Liang Wei kept a close eye on everything, essentially becoming An Zhaoyu’s “spy” planted next to Lu Shen.

Lu Shen turned a blind eye to this. Captain An’s ability to win people over was truly formidable. Not just Liang Wei, but her own grandmother, mother, aunt, and even her daughter were all on “Team An.” If she wanted to, An Zhaoyu could win over anyone’s heart.

Of course, Liang Wei got her rewards. She couldn’t accept money—she still felt guilty about Lu Shen docking her pay—so An Zhaoyu shared some of her “expert insults” with her.

Recently, Liang Wei had been harassed by an Alpha senior from the neighboring department. He was always manufacturing “accidental” encounters and sending nonsensical messages on chat apps. He told her she wasn’t young anymore and that her high level of education would make it hard to find an Alpha after her PhD. Liang Wei was so angry she almost blocked him, but she still needed him for work.

As she was changing the dressing for a post-op patient, the “Greasy Senior” showed up again. “Xiao Wei, do you need help?”

Yuck. Who said he could call her that? Liang Wei felt her skin crawl. “Actually, yes. I have three more patients needing dressings and eight needing ECGs. Thanks, Senior! I’ll WeChat you the bed numbers.”

“That many…” The senior regretted it instantly. He should have come later.

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Liang Wei pulled out her phone, sent the numbers, and bolted. As for the insults? She’d save those for after he finished the work. She had heard from classmates that he planned to confess to her today, right here in the department.

Just then, Lu Shen came out of the locker room, and Liang Wei scurried to her side for rounds. When Jiang Chu approached, Liang Wei went on high alert, standing firmly between Lu Shen and Jiang Chu, blocking any possible interaction.

Usually, the standing order for rounds was based on rank. Jiang Chu should have been behind Liang Wei, but seeing her acting as An Zhaoyu’s shield made Jiang Chu annoyed, so she intentionally tried to squeeze closer to Lu Shen.

“Teacher Lu, what is the normal concentration range for pheromones?”

“Don’t you read your books?” Liang Wei handed over her phone, showing the ranges for different genders. “Don’t bother the teacher with such small things.”

“Teacher Lu, why does this patient use this drug instead of that one?”

“Because of a contraindication. I told you yesterday, dummy.”

“Teacher Lu—”

“Stop asking. Can’t you see the teacher is doing a physical exam?”

Liang Wei glared at Jiang Chu. Feeling wronged, Jiang Chu looked to Lu Shen for help. Lu Shen took off her stethoscope, her eyelid twitching. Captain An, well done.

Not just Liang Wei—Lu Shen hadn’t expected even Fu Xinglan to be “bought” by her. When Lu Shen went to the research building, Fu Xinglan was looking at her phone while waiting for experimental results.

The first hurdle for the oral medication was how to ensure the highest concentration reached the glands as a targeted drug. Fu Xinglan was reading literature for inspiration. When Lu Shen looked over, a notification popped up on Fu Xinglan’s phone: Captain An sent you a message.

???

“When did Professor Fu add her?” Lu Shen almost thought she was seeing things, but soon another message popped up. Sneaky. No matter where Lu Shen went, An Zhaoyu’s presence followed.

“Uh…” Fu Xinglan tapped her fingers on the desk. “That day at the teahouse.”

They hadn’t even reconciled back then. Lu Shen recalled how several times she had “bumped” into An Zhaoyu while out with Fu Xinglan. It turned out the Professor had defected long ago.

“By the way, you two are back together, right?” Fu Xinglan looked at her expectantly, giving Lu Shen a bad feeling. “Yes.”

“Then, since Captain An stepped on and broke my shoe last time, can you pay for it on her behalf?”

“…” Professor Fu, this is why you’re single.

As she left, Lu Shen passed a trash can and noticed a large amount of tissues inside. They weren’t medical waste. “Why so many tissues?” The density of the pile reminded Lu Shen of… the aftermath of a certain activity.

But Professor Fu? Impossible. Lu Shen couldn’t help but glance at the narrow cot—it only fit one person. Realizing her thoughts, she felt mortified. How could she think that of the Professor! How was she any different from An Zhaoyu?

“Oh, that,” Fu Xinglan said without a hint of guilt. “Your aunt came to find me earlier. Those tissues are from her crying.”

Aunt? Lu Shen was even more confused leaving the lab than when she entered.

Lu Shen drove on the way back because An Zhaoyu was busy teaching Liang Wei how to “trash talk.” An Zhaoyu even wore Bluetooth headphones to sync up with Liang Wei, delivering a verbal beatdown that supposedly left the “Greasy Senior” in tears during his confession. He probably wouldn’t show his face near Liang Wei ever again.

“Captain An, you’re the best! Thank you for solving my big problem!” Liang Wei’s adoring voice came through the speakers. Lu Shen couldn’t take it anymore and reached out to pull the earbud out. An Zhaoyu gave her the other one.

“You’re welcome,” An Zhaoyu smiled. “Call me next time.”

“Will do!”

As soon as they drove into the An estate, An Zhaoyu’s smile faltered. She grabbed the gift from the trunk—an expensive, luxury watch that screamed “wealthy bachelor.” She originally planned to give a tie, but since An Wenyao had a girlfriend, a tie felt inappropriate.

When they entered, Zhang Simeng—who had arrived early—was dressed to the nines in a delicate white lace gown. Her naturally wavy hair had been straightened, and her light brown hair dyed back to black. From the back, she looked remarkably like Lu Shen, though she was much shorter.

“Don’t you have a dress almost like that?” An Zhaoyu whispered. Lu Shen shook her head. There were plenty of similar clothes in the world; no need to speculate.

Zhang Simeng was helping set the table. Though a guest, she acted like the lady of the house. An Wenyao and his father were on the sofa discussing business, while He Nanchun played with the baby.

“You’re back! We were waiting for you,” He Nanchun greeted them warmly. An Zhou was in a small motorized “Formula” bumper car that An Zhaoyu had a pilot friend source. It had a rubber perimeter to cushion impacts. The toddler loved it, driving it around the house every day. She drove it slowly toward Lu Shen and “bumped” her leg.

“You little rascal, who gave you permission to ‘hit-and-run’ Mommy?” An Zhaoyu lifted her out of the car. “Your license is permanently revoked.”

“Then we’ll just ‘bump’ into Mama next time,” He Nanchun joked.

The three of them surrounded An Zhou. Zhang Simeng looked over. “Xiao Yu, dinner is ready.” The family didn’t notice anything odd; after all, they were classmates. But Lu Shen gave An Zhaoyu a meaningful look. An Zhaoyu looked cheerful but was crying internally—she hadn’t even acknowledged Zhang Simeng!

At dinner, the atmosphere was decent. An Zhaoyu presented her gift. An Wenyao opened it immediately. “What’s wrong?” An Zhaoyu asked as he frowned. “Why a watch? Xiao Meng also gave me a watch.” An Wenyao looked helpless. Did he have to wear one on each wrist? “Huh?” An Zhaoyu was stunned. Before buying it, she had specifically told Zhang Simeng she was getting a watch so they wouldn’t overlap. Now they had collided perfectly. She should have stuck with the tie.

“Xiao Yu and I are just on the same wavelength,” Zhang Simeng said with a gentle smile, sitting diagonally across from An Zhaoyu. “What a coincidence, Captain An,” Lu Shen remarked dryly, turning to feed the baby. An Zhaoyu couldn’t see her expression.

A gift even Lu Shen didn’t know about, Zhang Simeng knew a week in advance. “Not a coincidence at all!” An Zhaoyu was sweating. “Should I exchange it?”

“It’s fine, I’ll rotate them,” An Changguo said generously. “It’s from your sister, Xiao Meng won’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all, Uncle,” Zhang Simeng said graciously. “Xiao Yu has great taste.”

“Lu Shen,” An Zhaoyu tugged her sleeve under the table to coax her. Lu Shen ignored her, eating quietly.

An Wenyao, sensing the odd vibe, changed the subject. “An Xiaoyu, Lu Shen, is Xiao Zhou interested in the entertainment industry? I’m thinking of expanding into that sector.” S-City’s entertainment scene was weak; the biggest company, Star Entertainment, was on the verge of bankruptcy. If An Zhou wanted to go that route, he’d buy it. The industry was murky, so staying within a family-owned company was safest.

“She’s still small, but she seems to like it. She’s done a few commercials,” An Zhaoyu answered for Lu Shen. “And she has thousands of fans.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind,” An Wenyao said.

After dinner, the elders reminisced. He Nanchun mentioned how An Zhaoyu helped her brother pursue girls back then, marveling at the fate between everyone. “I didn’t expect Wenyao to find one of Xiao Yu’s high school classmates.” She asked Zhang Simeng if she knew Lu Shen too.

“It is a lot of fate. The whole school knew about Xiao Yu helping her brother pursue his ‘sister-in-law’,” Zhang Simeng said, pointedly avoiding Lu Shen’s name. It made it sound like An Zhaoyu had a specific obsession with “sisters-in-law.”

“She’s so cute.”

He Nanchun was satisfied. She was observing Zhang Simeng to see if she minded that An Wenyao used to like Lu Shen. Zhang Simeng seemed completely open and unfazed. However, she and Lu Shen seemed distant, which was only natural.

Only An Zhaoyu and Lu Shen remained silent. Lu Shen didn’t want to talk, and An Zhaoyu was too busy worrying about how to fix things. That annoying Zhang Simeng! Why did she call me ‘cute’ in front of my wife?

“Shen-shen, stay here tonight. It’s been so long since you stayed at home,” He Nanchun said with a touch of loneliness. “The baby can sleep with me.” She added with a suggestive look.

An Zhaoyu didn’t catch the hint, but Lu Shen did. The toddler hadn’t reached the “troublemaking” age yet, but soon she would. She wondered how the Captain would handle it then.

Once inside the bedroom, An Zhaoyu immediately hugged Lu Shen. “Are you mad at me?”

Lu Shen pried her hands off, grabbed her clothes, went into the bathroom, and locked the door. She rarely locked the door; that click felt like a lock on An Zhaoyu’s heart. It’s over. She’s really mad. An Zhaoyu cursed Zhang Simeng eight hundred times in her head.

“Lu Shen, did you bring a towel? Do you want me to bring one in?” An Zhaoyu asked anxiously from outside. No response. The sound of the shower didn’t stop.

Waiting patiently for her to come out, An Zhaoyu greeted her with a smile. “Lu Shen, let me dry your hair.”

“No need,” Lu Shen picked up the hairdryer, ignoring her.

An Zhaoyu bit her lip and went to take a quick shower herself. The bedroom was familiar. Lu Shen sat by the window drying her hair. Across a single wall was An Wenyao’s room.

Back when she was pregnant, the Omega’s desires were strong. Lu Shen’s Beta pheromones were light, so she had to provide them daily. An Zhaoyu used to threaten her: Don’t make a sound, or my brother next door will hear.

In certain matters, An Zhaoyu was always the more enthusiastic one. Lu Shen’s gaze fell on the “Little Whale” charging in the corner. An Zhaoyu had brought it here at some point. The light had stopped blinking and was now a solid glow, fully charged. It hadn’t been used since their mothers gave it to them.

Lu Shen looked down at the cute little whale, unplugged it, and turned it on. Buzz— The high-frequency vibration thrummed in her palm. It even had a heating function. For a medical PhD, figuring out its functions wasn’t hard, even if An Zhaoyu had hidden the manual. Their mothers never said it had to be used on oneself.

Tonight, Zhang Simeng was in An Wenyao’s room. Lu Shen listened to the water running in the bathroom, her eyes darker than usual.

So, whose turn is it to “not make a sound”? If they heard… then let them hear.

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