Divorce Is An Absolute Must! - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Home

◎It’s been a long time since I’ve had her cooking◎

“What are you looking at?” Qian Cancan threw down the luggage and quickly poured herself a glass of water.

Zhu Qing stood in the room, looking around for a long time without sitting down, her whole body in a state of awkward confusion.

“Oh, it’s nothing, I’m just looking,” Zhu Qing stared at the small swing, a little tempted to sit on it. “I didn’t expect the interior of the house to be so cozy. I thought Li Lan would live in a big villa or a penthouse.”

Qian Cancan slumped on the sofa and laughed. “Right? I thought so too. This house is indeed a bit small, but then you told me the inside story, and I understood.”

Zhu Qing turned to look at her. “What inside story?”

Qian Cancan crooked her finger, her smile mischievous. “Come here, and I’ll tell you.”

Zhu Qing took small steps over and bent down. “Tell me.”

“Say something nice first.”

Zhu Qing’s expression didn’t change. “Your outfit today is perfect. It perfectly shows off your well-toned body and incredible taste.”

Qian Cancan was satisfied. She patted Zhu Qing’s shoulder and said slowly, “Li Lan was a little bitter gourd just like you when she was a child. Her current success is all from her own hard work, one step at a time. Her habits and style are not those of someone who loves luxury and extravagance.”

Zhu Qing’s movement to stand up paused. “A little bitter gourd?”

Qian Cancan blinked, her expression gossipy. “She’s an orphan.”

Zhu Qing slowly sat down next to Qian Cancan and repeated, “An orphan?”

“That’s right. The orphanage she was in was also very poor, and she started working when she was a teenager,” Qian Cancan said seriously. “Back then, she was at the very bottom of the entertainment industry. She went through a lot of hardships and only made it to where she is today with great difficulty. These are your original words.”

Zhu Qing was silent for a long time.

She and Qian Cancan grew up in a small city. Her parents made a fortune digging for stones in their early years but quickly lost it all. Without money, they could only work for others, but they never lasted long. As soon as they saved some money, they would go back to doing business.

Zhu Qing wasn’t sure how her parents’ business turned out later. Maybe they made money, or maybe they were living from hand to mouth and had to go back to working for others. In any case, it had nothing to do with her.

It seemed that in her third year of middle school, or even earlier, her parents left her to do business in another city and never came back, nor did they send any money. But because Qian Cancan’s allowance was so generous, Zhu Qing never had to worry about food or clothes.

To be honest, Zhu Qing felt that she couldn’t be compared to Li Lan, so she honestly shook her head. “Compared to her, I’m a blessed child.”

Qian Cancan laughed. “Please. You’re what they call a de facto orphan. Most de facto orphans are more miserable than actual orphans.”

Zhu Qing thought for a moment and said sincerely, “Li Lan is really amazing.”

Zhu Qing remembered her meeting with Li Lan at the law firm.

Li Lan actually had the aura of a superior person. It was a kind of condescending control that was neither abrupt nor aggressive, wrapped in a graceful and poised exterior.

This made Zhu Qing believe that Li Lan was like the heiress of a wealthy family.

No, she was the head of a wealthy family.

But looking at it now, Li Lan was indeed wealthy and indeed had the final say.

This was a comfortable life that Li Lan had built with her own two hands. Zhu Qing looked at the house and then at the car from earlier. These were Li Lan’s hard-earned successes, and she herself had gotten all of it without doing anything.

Thinking of this, Zhu Qing felt an indescribable feeling in her heart, unable to tell whether she felt unworthy or just deeply moved.

Qian Cancan patted the sofa and stretched. “I’m heading back. You should find a chance to talk to Li Lan again.”

Zhu Qing was a little down and nodded without saying anything.

Just as she was about to leave, Qian Cancan suddenly turned around and squeezed her arm.

“Well, if you’re going to talk, then talk properly. It’s okay even if you break up. I have money too. If you two break up, I’ll take care of you.”

Zhu Qing was stunned and looked at Qian Cancan’s slightly awkward expression. She let out a small “Mmm” and gave her first genuine smile since she lost her memory. “Thank you.”

After closing the door and returning to the room, Zhu Qing felt that she was really lucky. Even though she had lost her memory and didn’t know when she got married, her spouse was the rich and beautiful Li Lan, and her best friend was always by her side.

This was the courage and confidence she needed to restart her life.

Zhu Qing’s stomach rumbled, and she realized she hadn’t had dinner yet.

She wanted to find something to eat but found that there was nothing in the refrigerator except for a wilted pineapple and a sad-looking broccoli.

Yes, nothing.

Zhu Qing took out the pineapple and broccoli. The refrigerator was as pristine as a new one.

This kind of empty refrigerator, Zhu Qing had only ever seen in hotels.

She had no choice but to go downstairs to the supermarket to buy some vegetables and fruits to fill the refrigerator again.

The food she had in the hospital for the past two days was too good, so Zhu Qing made some stir-fried celtuce with garlic, sweet and sour pork with pineapple, and a cold broccoli salad, planning to have something light.

Just as the food was set on the table, the fingerprint ID at the door suddenly beeped, and then the door opened.

Zhu Qing, holding her chopsticks, looked at the door with wide eyes. It was Li Lan.

Li Lan stood in the entryway. As soon as she came in, she kicked off her high heels and took off her long trench coat that reached her calves. Just as she was about to hang it up, a pair of hands reached out.

“Do you need help?” Zhu Qing asked softly.

Li Lan’s hand stopped in mid-air.

She had just finished work. The folds on her eyelids deepened due to fatigue. When she looked down, it was as if a blurred glazed filter was cast over her, giving her a gentle illusion.

Zhu Qing felt that she must be in a good mood at this moment.

“When did you get home?” Li Lan asked softly, handing the coat to Zhu Qing.

Her voice was a little hoarse, but it still sounded very nice, even when it was muffled in her throat.

Zhu Qing hugged the coat. “Two hours ago.”

Li Lan nodded, her eyes quietly resting on Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing felt her gaze and was a little nervous, but a few seconds later, Li Lan looked away and said calmly, “You just got discharged. Remember to rest early.”

With that, she walked past Zhu Qing and headed to the bedroom.

Zhu Qing looked at her back, wanting to say something, but given Li Lan’s “not very familiar” attitude, she didn’t know what to say.

Just as Qian Cancan said, although she had temporarily stalled the divorce proceedings, the conflict between them was still there. The rift in their relationship couldn’t be repaired just like that.

Even if they lived under the same roof, they would still have nothing to say to each other and avoid each other.

As Zhu Qing hesitated, Li Lan had already pushed open the bedroom door.

Zhu Qing suddenly caught a glimpse of something and quickly said, “Wait!”

Li Lan’s movement to open the door paused.

Zhu Qing took three steps in two and stopped in front of Li Lan, pointing at the document in her hand. “What’s that?”

If she wasn’t mistaken, Li Lan was holding the divorce agreement that needed to be “discussed at a later time.”

Li Lan glanced at the document in her hand and didn’t say anything.

Zhu Qing’s heart leaped into her throat. Didn’t they agree to discuss it later? Why did Li Lan bring the agreement home again?

Was she going to study the agreement by herself in the bedroom, rush to complete the asset division, and then bring up the divorce again?!

Zhu Qing reached out and grabbed a corner of the agreement, her lips pressed together very seriously. “Can I see it?”

Li Lan frowned for a moment and then let go.

Zhu Qing snatched the agreement into her arms, planning to flush it down the toilet later.

But before Zhu Qing could say anything, Li Lan’s voice rang out coolly, “If you have any clauses to add, you can inform the lawyer yourself.”

Zhu Qing said, “What?”

Li Lan looked away and didn’t speak anymore, her side profile looking a little cold in the light.

“I don’t plan to add anything,” Zhu Qing said, bewildered but honestly. “Didn’t we agree to talk about this later and not rush?”

Li Lan’s brow relaxed slightly, and she looked at Zhu Qing with a hint of suspicion and scrutiny.

Zhu Qing felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. After a moment of thought, she sincerely invited her, “Have you had dinner yet?”

Five minutes later, a changed Li Lan sat at the dining table in her loungewear, staring blankly at the dishes on the table.

Zhu Qing came out of the kitchen and served Li Lan a bowl of rice.

“I don’t know how much you eat,” Zhu Qing said. “Just leave what you can’t finish.”

Li Lan took the bowl of rice, which was packed tightly and still had a heap on top. She was silent for two seconds. “Did you cook too much rice?”

Zhu Qing, who had a compulsive need not to leave a single grain of rice in the rice cooker if there was only a little left, blinked. “Ha, haha.”

“Well, let’s eat,” Zhu Qing changed the subject. “These are my best dishes. Try them and see if they suit your taste?”

Li Lan picked up her chopsticks, her long, slender fingers bending as she picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in her mouth.

Zhu Qing asked expectantly, “How is it?”

Li Lan’s eyelids drooped slightly, and she nodded softly.

“It’s delicious.”

Zhu Qing was instantly satisfied and pushed the entire plate of sweet and sour pork toward Li Lan. “Then eat more.”

Li Lan took another bite, chewing very carefully, as if she was seriously savoring every bit of flavor.

But a moment later, she suddenly put down her chopsticks and lowered her head.

Zhu Qing asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

Li Lan kept her head down and didn’t speak. From Zhu Qing’s perspective, she could only see her slender, fair, and slightly tense jawline, as if she was trying hard to suppress something.

Zhu Qing quickly grabbed a piece of sweet and sour pork for herself, wondering if she had accidentally cooked with salt instead of sugar, causing such a big reaction.

But it tasted fine in her mouth, a normal level of skill.

Did Li Lan find it too disgusting?

Or did she not like sweet food?

Just as Zhu Qing was about to ask, Li Lan picked up her chopsticks again, looked up, and said, “It’s nothing, just…”

Zhu Qing asked, “Just what?”

Li Lan pursed her lips and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

She just couldn’t help herself.

It had been a very, very long time since she had eaten Zhu Qing’s cooking.