Divorce Is An Absolute Must! - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A Couple

◎Coples get half-price for a kiss!◎

The two of them set off for Nairobi.

More staff members followed them out this time, including people hired by Li Lan’s studio and some bodyguards hired by He Guang Tong Chen.

Zhu Qing eyed a bodyguard who was three times her size and whispered to Li Lan, “Is Africa very chaotic?”

“Just to be safe. Anyway, nowhere is as safe as home,” Li Lan said, telling Zhu Qing to look out the window. “Nairobi is considered a big city here, but if you look at the people and buildings around, it’s still quite undeveloped.”

The guide took the opportunity to explain the local customs and socioeconomic situation. “There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor here. The high-end communities are as prosperous and wealthy as developed cities, but the situation in the slums is very sad.”

As they passed through some underdeveloped areas, children could be seen unattended on the streets. Zhu Qing rolled down the window and their eyes met with a little girl who was only four or five years old. The little girl had brown skin, big, bright eyes, and a dirty face. She was sitting cross-legged on the ground, stuffing a piece of dark bread into her mouth.

When she saw Zhu Qing, she was visibly stunned, and a look of strong curiosity flashed in her eyes. Zhu Qing smiled at her, and the little girl waved at her with the hand holding the bread, smiling back. The car quickly drove away without stopping. Zhu Qing felt a little heartbroken as she saw the little girl’s figure staring at the car in the rearview mirror as it drove away.

The group soon arrived at the Kenya National Museum. There were many human and animal specimens on display, showcasing the cultures of various Kenyan tribes. Li Lan and Zhu Qing leisurely walked through the entire museum, occasionally chatting, truly looking like tourists.

“I suddenly remembered Xiao Bao’s trip to the British Museum,” Zhu Qing’s eyes curved into a smile. “Guess what silly thing Xiao Bao did.”

Li Lan was looking at a snake specimen. She turned to look at Zhu Qing and said with a smile, “How can I guess that?”

“You really don’t pay enough attention to Xiao Bao,” Zhu Qing said. “Guess what Xiao Bao likes.”

Li Lan frowned and thought deeply. After a moment, she shook her head. “I can’t think of anything. Dolls? Desserts? Or you?”

Zhu Qing’s face turned red. “What does the British Museum have to do with me? I’m talking about the subjects Xiao Bao is interested in, some humanities-related things.”

Li Lan didn’t even think this time. She brushed it off. “Zhao Yun is in charge of her education.”

Zhu Qing pouted. “You’re a very hands-off mom.”

Li Lan said calmly, “I don’t think so. I hire Zhao Yun as Xiao Bao’s tutor for a seven-figure salary a year. It’s not a small expense.”

She had only started earning more in the past two years. When she first took care of Xiao Bao, to give her the best of everything, Li Lan was under a lot of financial pressure. Although her life had gotten better, she still believed she was a very qualified parent in her role.

Zhu Qing knew that an expert like Zhao Yun would have a high annual salary, but she was still shocked to hear it was a seven-figure number.

“Why are you so shocked? Zhao Yun is a top Ph.D. in education,” Li Lan said with a smile. “I’m very afraid of not teaching her well. It’s best to let professionals handle professional matters. Zhao Yun teaches Xiao Bao very well, but it might not be the same with me.”

Zhu Qing marveled. “You’re right. With your work schedule, you’re never home. Let alone raising a child, you might not even be good at a relationship.”

Li Lan’s leisurely walk suddenly stopped.

Zhu Qing asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Lan looked at her deeply and didn’t say anything.

Zhu Qing said, “Is there something wrong with what I said? Was our conflict because of your work? Even though you’re hiding it from me and not telling me, from what I’ve observed, it definitely wasn’t because I… ahem, was aggressive with you, or that… things weren’t harmonious.”

Zhu Qing had accidentally hit a nerve. Li Lan’s expression remained unchanged, but she seemed a little resistant. “I’ve told you before that I’m not entirely clear either. You want to know? Then hurry up and remember.”

Zhu Qing was embarrassed and a little annoyed. “I want to, too. The last time I fell, the doctor said the lump in my head had shrunk a little. This isn’t something I can control.”

Li Lan’s voice was cool. “I’ve found a doctor for you. I’ll take you to see them when we get back.”

Zhu Qing said, “Really? Will it guarantee my memory recovery?”

Li Lan nodded. “No guarantee… but the possibility is high.”

Zhu Qing bounced slightly in place, a secret anticipation rising in her heart. Li Lan had promised that she would give her an answer to her pursuit when the show ended. It would most likely be a “yes”… although she couldn’t rule out a refusal, Zhu Qing wasn’t going to give up. She’d agree to her pursuit, then she’d recover her memory, and they’d get back together and be happy!

“Wait, we forgot about Xiao Bao again.” Zhu Qing came back to her senses and looked at Li Lan unhappily. “I’m starting to doubt if Xiao Bao is your biological daughter.”

Li Lan’s steps came to a complete stop.

Zhu Qing, who was walking slowly half a step behind Li Lan, bumped into Li Lan’s arm. “Ouch.”

Li Lan’s eyes had a strange look in them. The emotions were very complex, but before Zhu Qing could understand, she saw Li Lan compose herself. It was as if she had given herself an answer and said with a sense of forbearance, “Let’s go.”

“What? What do you want to say?” Zhu Qing grabbed her arm. “Are we still talking about Xiao Bao?”

Li Lan’s tone was stiff. “Whatever you want.”

“Xiao Bao likes mummies,” Zhu Qing said directly. “When she saw the Egyptian mummies in the British Museum, she insisted that they give the mummies back and asked them why they stole other people’s ancestors, haha.”

Li Lan couldn’t help but chuckle. At the same time, she also felt a little helpless. “Zhao Yun hasn’t taught her about colonial history yet. She doesn’t know much about the past and present of this world.”

“You’re going too far. Xiao Bao is only five years old!” Zhu Qing held out five fingers and protested strongly, “I won’t let you put too much pressure on her. She’s such a cute kid. She can’t carry a heavy school bag so early.”

Li Lan was noncommittal about her “cuteness.” “I’m not the cute type.”

Zhu Qing was stunned for a moment. “Yeah, you’re not the cute type. Xiao Bao is the cute one.”

Li Lan turned her head and said quietly, “Hmm, Xiao Bao and I look very different.”

“That’s a good thing,” Zhu Qing didn’t understand Li Lan’s hint at all. “Two different styles, two different kinds of beauty… ahem, and with me, that’s another kind of beauty.”

Li Lan confirmed that she really didn’t understand and turned her head back in silence.

After they finished touring the museum, they finally remembered the crew’s task of “collecting items,” so they went to the souvenir shop in the museum and bought a bunch of things: wooden animal carvings, traditional fabrics, beaded jewelry, etc. They came out with big bags.

The large bodyguard came forward and asked if they needed help.

Zhu Qing was startled. “Wow, you speak Chinese. Are you not African?”

The bodyguard rubbed his tanned skin and sighed. “Director Yang sent me. I’ve been with the crew all along. I’m just tan because I like to fish.”

When she heard the words “Director Yang,” Li Lan said speechlessly, “Then why don’t you go find Yu Ling? She probably needs ‘protection’ more.”

Zhu Qing nodded in agreement, emphasizing, “Li Lan is not an artist from your company.”

“I don’t know about that,” the big guy said. “Do you need me to carry them?”

Li Lan politely declined.

“Should we go to the Maasai Market to look for more local items?” Zhu Qing asked.

Li Lan looked at the sky. They could win the task by going to the market, but if they gave up the task, they could have a leisurely afternoon. She asked Zhu Qing for her opinion. Zhu Qing thought for a moment and said, “Are you asking me to choose between a date with you and eating bugs?”

Li Lan didn’t say anything, just looked at her quietly.

Zhu Qing stared at her for three seconds, then said as if she was a hero making a painful choice, “Let’s go on a date.”

The two of them started to stroll around happily, eating and drinking as they went. Zhu Qing bought several servings of grilled goat meat and handed them to the staff behind them. The cameraman didn’t want to eat, and Zhu Qing almost fed it to him. He could only swallow a fist-sized piece of grilled meat with grateful tears. It was his first meal of the day.

“Big guy, is this enough for you?” Zhu Qing asked.

The bodyguard’s face seemed to turn red. “I need more.”

Zhu Qing immediately gave him double the amount.

Under Zhu Qing’s lead, they ate something similar to Indian pancakes, fried tilapia, ostrich and crocodile meat, and had a belly full of freshly squeezed juice.

As they were leaving the last Zanzibar-style restaurant, Zhu Qing heard the waiter introducing a dessert special to another table. “Today we have a half-price special for couples. The two of you have already spent enough money, so you can enjoy the dessert special.”

Zhu Qing stared at the waiter’s back, her tongue lightly touching the roof of her mouth, feeling very unhappy.

“Li Lan,” Zhu Qing called her name unhappily, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. “We’ve been discriminated against.”

Li Lan was looking down, drinking iced tea. She looked up, her eyelashes casting a small shadow in the dim light of the restaurant. She didn’t say anything, but Zhu Qing knew what she was thinking.

Li Lan said, “Don’t cause trouble.”

But Zhu Qing was determined to cause trouble.

Zhu Qing stared at the Asian waiter. She confirmed that she and Li Lan met the conditions. When he was walking back, she reached out and stopped him. “Hello, why don’t we get the half-price for couples?”

Zhu Qing’s English accent was very pure. The waiter paused for a moment before he realized what she was saying and smiled. “It’s for couples only.”

Zhu Qing pointed to herself and then to Li Lan. “We are a couple.” Why weren’t they included? Isn’t the West supposed to be more open? Do they not look like a couple?

The waiter scratched his head awkwardly. “We usually only offer it to couples we see kissing.”

Zhu Qing’s questions instantly died down.

Li Lan almost choked. She coughed lightly. “No need, thank you.”

Zhu Qing looked at the amount of money they had left. They had almost spent it all on food. “If the desserts are half-price, we can save enough money to buy the Maasai bracelet you like.”

Li Lan took out a tissue to wipe her mouth, trying to restrain herself. “No need.”

The waiter understood and winked ambiguously. “Three seconds of kissing is all it takes. All the desserts on the table will be half-price.” He pointed to a poster on the wall, which indeed showed silhouettes of couples of different skin colors kissing.

The elderly white couple at the next table looked over curiously. Two local girls in school uniforms were whispering in the distance.

Li Lan said to the waiter, “We’ll think about it. You go on with your work.”

The waiter turned and left but kept his eyes on them, watching them kindly.

The air suddenly became thick.

Zhu Qing’s fingers were tapping gently on the table. Her eyes traced every inch of Li Lan’s profile—from the slightly pursed corners of her lips to her tense jawline, to the fair skin of her neck revealed as she lowered her head to drink iced tea.

She was nervous. This realization made Zhu Qing incredibly happy.

“Li Lan,” she suddenly said, her voice a little lower than usual.

“Hmm?” Li Lan didn’t look up. Her fingertips were rubbing the glass, and a drop of water slid down her finger, leaving a wet trail on the table.

Zhu Qing stared at the wet trail and suddenly said, “Your ears are red.”

Li Lan’s movements paused. She finally looked up at her. In the sunlight, her pupils seemed to have contracted slightly, but she still maintained a calm expression. “It’s hot,” she said plainly.

“Oh—” Zhu Qing drew out the sound. She leaned forward, rested her elbows on the table, and propped her chin up, looking at her. “Then do you want to… cool down?”

Her foot gently nudged Li Lan’s calf under the table.

Li Lan’s back went ramrod straight. She gripped her cup tightly. “Zhu Qing.”

“I’m here.” Zhu Qing smiled innocently, but her foot didn’t move. “It’s only three seconds. It’ll be over quickly.”

Li Lan’s breathing was visibly uneven.

“Teacher Li wouldn’t refuse this, would she? Teacher Li? Li Lan?”

Zhu Qing whispered Li Lan’s name, both well-behaved and rebellious, as if she was asking for something and also complaining.

Li Lan suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhu Qing’s wrist. The force was so strong it almost left marks.

“Are you sure?”