The Husband From the Original Pairing is Now Divorced - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Wind and Rain

Tired of Sheng Jia’s Happy and Ignorant Appearance…

When Yu Xianghang received the call from Sheng Qianlong, he was shopping with Chen Lekang. His brow furrowed the moment he saw the screen.

“Lekang, let me take this. Wait for me a second.”

Yu Xianghang stepped away from his boyfriend to answer. Before he could utter a word, the man on the other end began questioning him aggressively: “Hey, Xianghang, why haven’t you transferred this month’s money yet? If you don’t send it, I’m going to find Sheng Jia!”

Disgust immediately surged in Yu Xianghang’s heart. He had been sick of this man for years. To ensure Sheng Jia could live a stable life, he had lied, telling Sheng Jia that Sheng Qianlong was in prison for intentional assault. The truth wasn’t exposed until the day they divorced.

“How much do you want?” Yu Xianghang asked coldly.

Even though Sheng Jia said he would handle the matter of Sheng Qianlong, Yu Xianghang knew all too well that Sheng Jia was terrified of the man. Furthermore, Sheng Jia didn’t earn much as a kindergarten teacher; Yu Xianghang assumed that, in the end, Sheng Jia would still come begging to him.

Believing that Sheng Jia “handling it” would only make things worse, Yu Xianghang felt he had to clean up the mess himself. With that thought, he intended to just pay him off like always.

Sheng Qianlong chuckled and named a figure. Yu Xianghang immediately erupted: “One hundred thousand? You want a hundred thousand in one month?”

Yu Xianghang’s annual salary was only two hundred thousand. Sheng Qianlong asking for half of that in one go was insanity.

“Well, well… my expenses have been a bit high lately. But aren’t you richer than Sheng Jia? A hundred thousand shouldn’t be much to you, right?” Sheng Qianlong sounded a bit guilty at first, but his confidence grew as he spoke. “Xianghang, I’ve done exactly what you said all these years—I haven’t gone near Sheng Jia. Think of this hundred thousand as being for Sheng Jia’s sake. I promise, once I get the money, I’ll listen to you!”

Yu Xianghang gripped his phone tightly. He suddenly remembered when they got married; Sheng Jia had repeatedly confirmed if Sheng Qianlong was really in prison and if there was any chance he’d find out where they lived.

“Xianghang, Sheng Qianlong… is a very greedy, despicable person. We can only live in peace if we stay far away from him.”

At the time, Yu Xianghang had been dismissive, thinking he could control everything and keep Sheng Jia living in “ignorant bliss” under his protection.

But over the years, Sheng Qianlong’s appetite had grown, and Yu Xianghang found it increasingly difficult to control him.

Was he supposed to carry this burden for Sheng Jia forever?

He and Sheng Jia were already divorced. Sheng Jia himself had said he didn’t need help with Sheng Qianlong. Perhaps the protection he had provided since they met at seventeen could finally be withdrawn.

Yu Xianghang was tired.

Years ago, he had grown weary of constantly standing in front of Sheng Jia to shield him from the wind and rain. He was also tired of coming home from work to see Sheng Jia’s gentle smile—that “welcome home” look, that happy, ignorant, and naive expression.

The scale in his heart began to shift. Yu Xianghang thought: Sheng Jia is a thirty-two-year-old adult. He’s three years older than me. He should be able to solve his own private matters. Why should an ex-husband help?

Sheng Jia wasn’t some child who needed delicate care. Sheng Qianlong was just a gambling-addicted father, not some dangerous criminal. Sheng Jia could handle it alone.

So, after a long silence, Yu Xianghang spoke: “Sheng Jia and I are divorced. I’m not handling your business anymore. Don’t bother me again.”

He hung up decisively, forwarded Sheng Jia’s contact information to the man, and blocked Sheng Qianlong.

“Hang-hang, what took so long?”

When Yu Xianghang returned to Chen Lekang, the man was already slightly dissatisfied. He squeezed the back of Yu Xianghang’s neck.

“Just some work stuff. Don’t be upset,” Yu Xianghang explained, his face flushing slightly. Chen Lekang raised an eyebrow and pulled him into the restroom.

“If you know I’m unhappy, do something to make me happy.”

Like Sheng Jia, Chen Lekang had eyes that seemed naturally inclined to smile, and his facial features shared a similar delicate refinement. But the feeling he gave Yu Xianghang was entirely different. He was more playful, more sophisticated in romance, and his occasional dominance made Yu Xianghang lose himself.

…

Sheng Jia knew he was a boring and monotonous person. He used to think that besides Jiang He, who was naturally social, no one would want to get close to him. He never expected that someone like Zhou Zifei—who looked unapproachable at first glance—would be an exception.

“Teacher Sheng?”

Hearing his name, Sheng Jia put down a head of cabbage and turned around.

Zhou Zifei, dressed in a black tracksuit, was standing behind him with a pleasantly surprised smile. The slight puffiness under his eyes when he smiled gave him a very youthful look.

“Mr. Zhou… what are you doing here?”

Sheng Jia was startled, his eyes wide and lips slightly parted. The look struck Zhou Zifei as incredibly cute.

“I brought Zhou Jiayi to the supermarket. I didn’t expect to run into you.”

Zhou Zifei stepped closer and glanced at the shopping cart, noting it was filled with vegetables, meat, and seasonings. “Are you planning to cook a big feast, Teacher Sheng?”

“Ah, no… I just wanted to buy a week’s worth of groceries at once.” Sheng Jia waved his hands, feeling a bit embarrassed. Living alone, there was no need for a “feast.”

“I see… will you be able to carry all this back alone? Let me give you a ride later.”

Zhou Zifei moved in for the offer. Just as Sheng Jia was about to decline, a child’s voice interrupted them.

“Uncle! I put all the candies back, I only took one bag—!”

Sheng Jia saw Zhou Jiayi running toward them in overalls, dragging a shopping basket that was nearly as big as he was.

“Don’t say no, Teacher Sheng. Jiayi will probably fight to help you carry your things anyway,” Zhou Zifei leaned in, whispering with a chuckle. The warmth of his breath hit Sheng Jia’s ear. Before Sheng Jia could reflexively pull away, Zhou Zifei had already stepped back, leaving the faint scent of men’s cologne lingering in the air.

Sheng Jia touched his burning ear, feeling a strange sensation he couldn’t quite name. It seemed Zhou Zifei was prone to intimate gestures, yet every time, they landed just on the line before Sheng Jia would feel truly uncomfortable.

“Teacher Sheng! Why are you here too!”

Jiayi reached them, dropped his basket, and lunged straight for Sheng Jia.

“You insisted on buying so much candy, so I called Teacher Sheng to come and scold you,” Zhou Zifei flicked the back of Jiayi’s head with a mock-stern look, but winked at Sheng Jia to play along.

Sheng Jia couldn’t help but laugh. He patted Jiayi’s head, his voice gentle: “Jiayi, little kids can’t eat too much candy, or bugs will grow in your teeth and it will hurt a lot.”

Zhou Zifei’s gaze fell on Sheng Jia’s pale, slender hand resting on the boy’s head. He noticed a faint pale mark on the ring finger. After staring for a few seconds, he looked back at Sheng Jia’s face.

Sheng Jia’s lips were curled in a slight smile, his long lashes downcast. The supermarket lights made his profile look exceptionally clean and delicate.

While the scene of Sheng Jia holding Jiayi was peaceful and beautiful, an unspeakable longing rose within Zhou Zifei. From the stray hairs on Sheng Jia’s forehead to the bone at the nape of his neck and his neatly trimmed fingernails, Zhou Zifei felt a surge of greed to explore further.

Seeing the ringless finger made him want to leave his own mark there; seeing the jade-like skin above the collar made him want to touch.

“Mr. Zhou? Mr. Zhou?” “Jiayi’s Uncle!”

Zhou Zifei snapped back to reality, meeting Sheng Jia’s concerned gaze. Sheng Jia froze for a moment; Zhou Zifei’s deep-set eyes had momentarily held a trace of suppressed ferocity and intense darkness.

“Sorry, I spaced out for a second. What were you saying, Teacher Sheng?”

Zhou Zifei smiled, and the eerie heaviness vanished, replaced by the image of the spirited young racer.

“Teacher Sheng asked what else we need to buy! Uncle, you weren’t listening at all. You’re being a bad boy!” Jiayi complained loudly. In his world, not listening to Teacher Sheng was a grave sin.

Sheng Jia was amused by the boy’s serious expression and crossed arms. He chuckled and pinched Jiayi’s chubby cheek.

“It’s okay. Uncle apologized, right? I’m sure he’ll listen from now on. Won’t you?” He looked up at Zhou Zifei, eyes curving. Because he had been coaxing the child, his tone was sweet and soft—less like he was talking to a man and more like he was asking a child.

Zhou Zifei’s heart skipped a beat again. The “Won’t you?” hit him like an electric current.

“Yes. I’ll definitely listen to Teacher Sheng from now on. I’ll be Teacher Sheng’s ‘good boy’.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing as he emphasized the last two words.

Sheng Jia’s expression stiffened. That feeling of “Zhou Zifei isn’t quite proper” resurfaced.

“We don’t have anything else to buy. Jiayi was just making a fuss at home,” Zhou Zifei picked up the basket and answered the original question. “Teacher Sheng, do you have more to get? Let’s go home together!”

Jiayi didn’t sense the strange atmosphere between the adults; he just hopped around holding Sheng Jia’s hand.

Sheng Jia loved children and his job as a teacher because their carefree smiles helped him relax. He truly wanted to care for these “little sprouts” entering the world. Jiayi’s words “go home together” softened his heart. To a child, someone he’d only known for a few weeks was already “family” to be held by the hand. This unreserved closeness was something Sheng Jia could never refuse.

“Alright. I’m done shopping too. Let’s go home with Jiayi.”

Sheng Jia squeezed the small hand, and Jiayi beamed.

“Teacher Sheng, I’ll push the cart. You hold onto Jiayi, or he’ll disappear in a second.” Zhou Zifei took the cart and followed them.

He watched the man with the shoulder-length black hair. Dressed in beige casual clothes, Sheng Jia tucked a strand of hair behind his ear as he walked with the boy. The three of them together looked like a family of three—Sheng Jia the “wife,” himself the “husband,” on a typical Sunday outing.

This was Zhou Zifei’s deepest fantasy. If he could make this reality, he would give anything.

…

“Teacher Sheng, let me carry these up for you.”

After stopping at the entrance of Sheng Jia’s apartment complex, Zhou Zifei offered to help. Sheng Jia looked at the bags and thought he could manage, but before he could decline, Zhou Zifei was already out of the car.

“Let’s go, Teacher Sheng.”

He was tall and had to stoop to meet Sheng Jia’s eyes. His face was shadowed against the light, but his voice was soft.

“Teacher Sheng, let my uncle help! His arms are super thick and he’s super strong!”

Zhou Zifei’s eyes warmed at the first half of the sentence, but the “arms are super thick” comment made his face darken. He rubbed Jiayi’s head. “What do you mean ‘thick’? That’s muscle. You make it sound like I’m some brute.”

Sheng Jia laughed at the exchange. He didn’t refuse again and handed the bags to Zhou Zifei. “Alright, then I’ll trouble the ‘thick-armed’ Mr. Zhou to help me out.”

Zhou Zifei took the bags, saw Jiayi making a face at him, and mock-threatened to hit him before Sheng Jia stepped in. “Okay, okay, let’s go up. We should be quick so Jiayi doesn’t get bored waiting in the car.”

They went upstairs.

“We’re here. Thank you for the help, Mr. Zhou.”

Sheng Jia reached for the bags at his door.

“I’ll take them inside for you.” Zhou Zifei was overly helpful. Since they were already at the door, Sheng Jia felt it would be rude to turn him away.

Inside, Zhou Zifei casually looked around. Even though he had arranged the apartment, he was curious how Sheng Jia had decorated it.

“Teacher Sheng, your place looks nice.”

“Really? I only moved in two months ago. I just put it together simply.” Sheng Jia handed him a glass of water and gave him a bottle of milk to take down to Jiayi.

Zhou Zifei didn’t hesitate and drank the water. “So you just moved? You mentioned you live alone… what about your partner?”

Zhou Zifei feigned ignorance. Sheng Jia lowered his eyes, silent for a moment. “I divorced before I moved.”

“Divorced?! Was it… was it because of that time at the convenience store?” Zhou Zifei looked shocked, then quickly added, “Sorry, that’s your private business. I shouldn’t be prying.”

Sheng Jia waved his hands. “No, no, it wasn’t because of our conversation. It was… other conflicts.”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s normal for a stranger to be curious about these things.”

The room fell silent. Just as Sheng Jia was about to politely see him out, Zhou Zifei spoke: “Teacher Sheng, actually, I think we can be considered more than just acquaintances. And… I’m not just curious. I’m concerned about you.”

Sheng Jia stared at the redhead, stunned.

“I saw you looking so sad and lost at the convenience store—that’s why I spoke to you. Even at the race, it was because you looked so lonely sitting there. That’s why I kept trying to interact with you.”

Zhou Zifei had sharp eyes and thin lips that made him look cold, but when he looked at someone with such raw, unshielded concern, it felt as if he didn’t care about the whole world—except for you.

Sheng Jia was caught off guard by that gaze. He felt pinned, unable to look away. Seeing Sheng Jia holding his breath in tension, Zhou Zifei suddenly retracted his gaze and looked away, his voice dropping to a whisper: “Teacher Sheng, stop calling me ‘Mr. Zhou.’ It’s too formal. Aren’t we friends?”

In the silence, Zhou Zifei’s heart hammered. Then, Sheng Jia spoke.

“Then… should I call you Zifei?”

Zifei.

It was the most beautiful sound Zhou Zifei had ever heard. His blood raced; every cell in his body savored the tone and rhythm of Sheng Jia saying his name. His fingers trembled against his thigh, but he forced his voice to remain steady.

“Sure. Call me that from now on, Teacher Sheng.”

…

Back in the car, Jiayi complained about how long he took. Zhou Zifei didn’t respond; he took deep breaths to settle the intense desire burning within him.

“Uncle, aren’t we going?”

“Wait a second. Sending a message.”

Zhou Zifei opened his phone and sent a command to the people he had stationed to watch over Sheng Jia: Withdraw.

The “coincidental” meeting at the supermarket? It was based on a tip from his men. But he was withdrawing them now because he was certain that, before long, he would be the one personally staying by Sheng Jia’s side.

He was determined to win.