Did My Ex-Wife Agree to Remarry Me Today? - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Give Me Your Hand

Before her steps came to a halt, Chi Yun’s grievances were covered in thorns, making her want to prick anyone who dared irritate her. But once she stopped and met Li Zhou’s eyes calm and steady as still water the thorns softened. It was the kind of vulnerability that naturally surfaced when someone who had endured endless hardship finally encountered the one person who could grant them justice.

Her tone and expression followed suit. Chi Yun realized that in front of Li Zhou, she would never be able to maintain a “tough” exterior.

She didn’t ask, Why didn’t you answer my calls? She didn’t ask, Why are you ignoring me? Instead, she asked: “What are the conditions for staying at your house? Is the stuff in the yard enough?”

If it wasn’t, she could ask; Chi Yun didn’t mind scouring the entire beach for trash two or three more times tonight.

But Li Zhou replied: “That is not an option.”

Since they were already divorced, Li Zhou saw no need to provide such an option. Staying overnight was simply not within her scope of consideration.

Chi Yun bit her lower lip, her gaze fixed on Li Zhou. “Why isn’t it?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Li Zhou said, simple and direct.

A layer of mist rose in Chi Yun’s eyes. Tonight, this had been the singular obsession driving her. Having been rejected, she supposed it was time to… go back and lick her wounds.

Chi Yun lowered her gaze and whispered, “Okay. I understand.” Then she turned and walked back toward her “base”—the black car.

Watching Chi Yun’s departing figure, Li Zhou’s eyes flickered. Her index finger unconsciously brushed against the tip of her thumb as Grandma Wang’s words echoed in her ears: “That child comes every day. Once in the morning, once at noon, and once at night.”

“She stands at your gate for a while, sits by the sea for a while, and then picks up trash along the coast with A-Mei.”

“She was so happy the first day she came. Later, she wanted to know where you went, so I told her.”

Li Zhou had run into Wang Fang when she was leaving for Rong City with Chang Qi. She hadn’t shared much, only that she was going to see Li Hang for a few days. Wang Fang, knowing Li Hang had a broken leg, assumed Li Zhou was going to play nurse and catch up.

Li Zhou had used Li Hang as a shield to cover her real business, so she didn’t mind what Wang Fang thought. But Wang Fang had added: “After I told her, the child’s mood changed instantly.”

“She’s probably jealous of Hang Hang. Said a university student should be able to take care of herself instead of bothering you.”

“She really gets jealous over everything.”

Li Zhou knew it wasn’t just jealousy. Chi Yun’s emotional shifts were tied directly to her.

“These past few days, she’s been arriving early and leaving late. If she isn’t picking up trash, she’s sitting by the sea smoking, looking miserable. It’s clear she took what I said to heart. I wonder if someone should explain things to her?”

Wang Fang had specifically sought Li Zhou out to report this. As for an explanation—it was useless coming from anyone but Li Zhou. Provided Li Zhou was willing. If she wasn’t, she could just let that “flower” wither.

The power, Wang Fang noted, was entirely in Li Zhou’s hands. At the time, Li Zhou hadn’t committed to an answer, saying only that she’d handle it. Now, seeing Chi Yun’s lonely silhouette, Li Zhou’s heart wavered.

Chi Yun reached the black car but didn’t get in. Instead, she grabbed a pack of cigarettes and sat back down on the stone bench.

According to Grandma Wang, she had been sitting here waiting for days. The more Li Zhou thought about it, the less certain her resolve became. She turned and went into the studio.

Li Hang was using the plasma equipment and the printer, so Li Zhou couldn’t use work to distract herself. She took a sketchbook upstairs to work on the submersible design. Her desk faced the window. From there, she could see Chi Yun sitting by the sea.

Her gaze lingered. The woman who usually cared so much about her poise was now sitting slumped, her spine against the cold marble backrest. As the night temperature dropped, those benches were rarely used; the stone was too cold for the body.

Why is she still there? Is she… not going back?

Every few strokes of her pen, Li Zhou looked up. An hour later, she saw Li Hang walk out of the yard and march determinedly toward the black car.

Li Zhou’s eyes narrowed. Li Hang? What is she doing?

Li Hang didn’t recognize the car, but she recognized the person. As she’d gone to pick up a printed model, she had seen the “ex-wife” talking to her sister in the yard. Li Hang had no good feelings toward Chi Yun; she had practically prayed for their divorce. Now that they were finally apart, why was this woman lingering? Was she harassing her sister?

Chi Yun didn’t know Li Hang, but guessed the girl knew her. She stood up as she heard the approaching footsteps.

“Why are you here?” Li Hang asked irritably before she even reached the bench.

“That’s none of your business,” Chi Yun replied. The vulnerability she showed Li Zhou and the sadness of her solitude vanished. Facing a person covered in thorns, Chi Yun didn’t mind showing her own claws.

“Li Zhou is my sister. Of course it’s my business. You’re divorced. Why can’t you just live your own life? Why keep bothering her?” Li Hang had seen enough gossip about Chi Yun. She had tried to stop the marriage in the beginning. Now, she wanted this woman gone.

“Setting aside the fact that you aren’t blood-related—even if you were—she is her own person. What right do you have to interfere in her private affairs? Even if we’re divorced, I have the freedom to pursue her again. She hasn’t even—”

Chi Yun wanted to say, She hasn’t kicked me out, so why are you? But remembering Li Zhou’s attitude today, her voice lacked conviction.

Li Hang caught that hesitation and smirked. “My sister doesn’t want to deal with you. She doesn’t even want to talk to you. You’re just one-sidedly pestering her.”

That hit Chi Yun where it hurt. her expression turned terrifyingly dark.

From her window, Li Zhou could see them talking but couldn’t hear the words. Minutes later, Li Hang turned and walked back, while Chi Yun remained frozen in place.

Li Zhou watched her. She saw Chi Yun stand there for a moment, reach into her pocket, and put another cigarette to her lips. How many has she smoked tonight? The tiny ember winked in the dark—bright then dim, bright then dim. She was smoking faster now, with no intention of stopping.

By the time half the pack was gone, Li Zhou couldn’t sit still. She went downstairs. “What did you say to Chi Yun?”

“Nothing much,” Li Hang said. “Just gave her a piece of my mind.”

Li Zhou frowned, a hint of anger in her voice. “She’s sensitive. Why would you provoke her?”

The protectiveness in Li Zhou’s tone was unmistakable.

“I was just—” Li Hang started, her words catching in her throat.

Li Zhou’s face hardened. “Don’t interfere in things between her and me.” She grabbed a set of car keys and tossed them onto the table in front of Li Hang. “I’ve contacted the head of the Wuzhou Station. Her 3D printer is free. Go use hers.”

Li Hang realized she had stepped on a landmine. Her sister was truly angry. “Sister, it’s the middle of the night. It’s not right to bother her now.”

“Then bother her tomorrow morning,” Li Zhou said. “I want you out of here now.”

“But I have nowhere to go!” Li Hang pleaded.

Li Zhou remained unmoved. “I gave you the keys. Drive the car and park it anywhere; you can sleep in it.”

Left with no choice, Li Hang packed her things and left.

Once she was gone, Li Zhou walked to the sea. The stone bench was too cold, so Chi Yun had moved to sit on the grass, her knees pulled up. Just as she put a new cigarette to her lips, a hand reached out.

“Cigarettes,” a cool, familiar voice said.

Chi Yun looked up. Seeing Li Zhou, her nose began to sting. Li Zhou wasn’t asking for one to smoke; she was confiscating them. Chi Yun took the cigarette out of her mouth and handed it over.

Li Zhou took it, then kept her hand extended. “The rest.”

Chi Yun hung her head, fumbled in her pockets, and handed over the pack.

Li Zhou kept her palm up. Chi Yun reached in again and surrendered the lighter. That was truly everything.

But even after the items were cleared, Li Zhou reached out again. Chi Yun looked down at the grass, feeling utterly miserable. She couldn’t get into the house, she wasn’t allowed to smoke… why was being heartbroken so hard?

Li Zhou’s hand stayed there, waiting.

Chi Yun felt a wave of grievance. She patted her empty pockets to prove her innocence and sniffled. “There’s nothing left. You took it all…”

Li Zhou’s hand moved closer. “Hand.”

Chi Yun froze. She looked up at Li Zhou, confusion in her eyes. “What?”

“Give me your hand,” Li Zhou repeated.

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