How About A Divorce? - Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Cheating
“Has the equipment arrived?” Sang Yunduo asked on the other end of the phone.
Wen Yu held the phone between her head and shoulder, carrying a large delivery box as she walked toward the sofa.
“Just got here,” Wen Yu said.
Her voice was light, gentle, and very appealing, which was why many of her fans got into her streams in the first place.
The box was huge and heavy. Wen Yu put it on the floor downstairs and took a breath.
“This thing is way too heavy,” she grumbled.
“That’s what you get for rage-quitting a game and kicking over a bucket of soda,” Sang Yunduo chuckled. “Serves you right.”
Wen Yu was in the wrong and dared not complain further.
During her last fan appreciation stream, she had promised to play that game where a “jar man” climbs a mountain with a hammer. She got more and more into it, getting angrier with each attempt. When she once again returned to the starting point, she lost it. In a fit of passion, she swung her leg, and the bucket of soda next to her splashed directly onto her console and keyboard. The expensive equipment bit the dust.
When Wen Yu came back to her senses, her heart was bleeding.
She sat on the sofa to rest for a while, intending to move the box upstairs in one go. But as she looked up, the dozens of stairs stopped her in her tracks. Wen Yu felt that if she really carried it up all at once, her back would be ruined tomorrow.
“You should check the goods first,” Sang Yunduo said.
“Good point.”
Wen Yu put her phone on speaker on the side and began to open the box.
The equipment was fine. It was a very low-key silver-gray, and the keyboard’s keycaps were specially chosen, making a crisp sound when pressed.
She went upstairs to grab a laptop and came back down to adjust the microphone.
She plugged the USB into her laptop, fiddled with the control panel, and adjusted the settings to her preference.
Wen Yu: “Lend me an account. I’ll start a live stream to see if the sound is working.”
Sang Yunduo sent her the username and password, and Wen Yu logged in on her laptop. It was a new account, so no one would join the stream, making it suitable for testing the equipment.
Wen Yu used her personal phone to enter the live stream.
“If the equipment is fine, you should go live tonight. Your million-follower celebration isn’t done yet,” Sang Yunduo paused. “They want to see you keep playing the hammer game.”
Wen Yu refused. “I won’t play that thing even if it kills me. It’s bad for my heart.”
“Suit yourself,” another voice came from Sang Yunduo’s end. “I’m busy now, so I’ll hang up. Remember to stream!”
After the call ended, Wen Yu adjusted the mic again. She spoke into it while listening to her own voice on her phone, feeling like the sound was a bit muffled.
She remembered she had an old microphone upstairs. If this new one didn’t work, she’d have to make do with the old one for a night.
Wen Yu stood up, put the microphone on the coffee table, and headed upstairs with her phone to get the old mic to adjust.
Just as she reached the second floor, she heard a sound from the front door. Wen Yu stopped.
Is the cleaning lady here today?
The railing on the second floor was angled toward the front door, making it hard for her to see who was there. Wen Yu took a few steps and craned her head to look. She didn’t see the familiar cleaning lady but instead saw someone she hadn’t seen in a long time—Lin Yanqing, her wife in name only.
Wen Yu frowned slightly.
Why is this busy person home?
Lin Yanqing was genuinely busy.
Her mother, Lin Jiao, was one of the founders of the White Ant Fund, which had recently focused on consumer investments. Lin Yanqing was originally in charge of the relatively stable high-quality consumer goods sector, so she wasn’t that busy. Then, Lin Jiao, with great foresight, saw the development potential of the new media company, the Zero-One Engine Group. She bought a 10% share, making the White Ant Fund the second-largest shareholder. From then on, Lin Yanqing became the head of the company’s AIGC and other development departments.
In recent years, the Zero-One Engine Group has developed rapidly, grabbing up various markets. Everyone has their software on their phones; the streaming app Wen Yu uses is theirs.
Wen Yu stared at Lin Yanqing, thinking, Shouldn’t she be working herself to death at the office, forgetting to eat and sleep?
Counting the days, it had been more than two weeks since they had seen each other.
Lin Yanqing was bundled up; her jacket was a bit wrinkled, and her mask was still on. She had dark circles under her eyes, and a Bluetooth earpiece was in her ear.
She was tall, with her long hair tied in a casual low ponytail. A bag was slung over her thin shoulder, and her entire presence was travel-worn. She didn’t look like a CEO but a workhorse—though CEOs are just high-class workhorses.
Lin Yanqing didn’t know anyone was watching her. She just glanced at the living room and then continued talking to the person on the phone: “I’m home.”
The other person said something, and Lin Yanqing walked to the counter, poured herself a glass of water, took a sip, and said, “She should be at home. Her computer is in the living room.”
Wen Yu, listening on the second floor: “?”
Is she talking about me? Whatever.
Wen Yu looked at Lin Yanqing’s back again, then turned and continued toward her room.
Lin Yanqing heard the sound from the second floor. Her gaze flicked out from behind her sunglasses, just in time to see Wen Yu enter the bedroom, leaving only a proud and aloof view of the back of her head.
“…Yes, I saw her. She ignored me.”
After entering her room, Wen Yu could still hear the faint sound of a conversation. She looked down at her phone and realized the sound was coming from the live stream.
The microphone had good reception and was broadcasting Lin Yanqing’s words in real time. The clean voice of the woman was distorted by the equipment, becoming low and muffled, making it hard to tell who was speaking.
Wen Yu didn’t have a habit of eavesdropping on other people’s calls. Just as she was about to exit the live stream, she heard Lin Yanqing say: “If she likes it, I’ll send it to her… Wen Yu doesn’t know.”
Wen Yu’s finger hovered over the exit button. She was briefly confused and didn’t leave immediately.
I don’t know what?
“After so many years… I don’t have other intentions.”
What intentions?
“…I won’t tell Wen Yu about this. She won’t be happy to know it.”
The more Wen Yu listened, the tighter her eyebrows furrowed.
Likes what, what other intentions, doesn’t want to know… what is Lin Yanqing hiding from me?
Wen Yu pondered, feeling that these few phrases sounded eerily familiar.
Just then, Wen Yu remembered a lawyer’s live stream she had seen before. A woman on a call with the lawyer angrily accused her husband of infidelity, and a few of her lines perfectly matched what Lin Yanqing had just said—
“He said ‘if that mistress likes it, I’ll send it to her’! I’ve never received a gift from that bastard!”
“And he’s been hiding it from me for so many years!”
“If he really likes her, why doesn’t he divorce me! He says I wouldn’t be happy to know it, that it would hurt me! What nonsense! Who would ever be happy to know that?!”
Wen Yu remembered that she had even sent a few gifts to the streamer, telling the woman to calm down.
…Now it was her turn to calm down.
Because when she put the pieces together, the things Lin Yanqing said sounded exactly like she was having an affair.
Hmm, it can’t be.
Wen Yu shook her head, trying to get rid of the ridiculous thought.
Although their relationship had been awful since high school, and they couldn’t even manage to be civil to each other after years of marriage—mostly looking at each other with mutual dislike—they had a tacit agreement: no fooling around during the marriage.
Lin Yanqing looked like a decent person. Wen Yu didn’t believe she would lower herself to break that rule. Just as this strange sense of trust rose up, she heard another line from her phone:
“My liking her is my business and has nothing to do with Wen Yu.”
Wen Yu: “…”
Heh. My brief trust instantly crumbled.
Wen Yu felt that after knowing Lin Yanqing for so many years, even if she didn’t fully understand her, she at least knew some of her temperament. She never thought Lin Yanqing would cheat—even though their marriage was just for business.
But the few words she had just heard completely changed Wen Yu’s perception of Lin Yanqing. The person who was usually cold and reserved was having an affair, and she even attached the word “like” to it. It was probably true love, and she wasn’t even trying to hide it.
The person on the phone with Lin Yanqing knew about this “mistress” and was colluding with the cheater to hide it from the wife.
As the wife being kept in the dark, Wen Yu was so angry she laughed.
They had started with a marriage of convenience and had no emotional foundation, so Wen Yu didn’t feel betrayed. She just felt that it was ridiculous.
They had been married for seven years, after all. Was Lin Yanqing just not taking her seriously at all?
They had signed a prenuptial agreement that stated the marriage would last at least ten years. Was Lin Yanqing being so blatant because she wanted to sacrifice everything for love and leave with nothing?
This house was their marital home. Lin Yanqing didn’t come back often. When she wasn’t on a business trip, she usually lived in an apartment near her company. Wen Yu usually lived alone here, and they only saw each other a few times a month.
Wen Yu lowered her eyes and began to strategize. Her phone had long been silent. Lin Yanqing must have hung up, and the other end was eerily quiet.
If Lin Yanqing had truly cheated, Wen Yu needed to get solid evidence to give both families an explanation and to fight for the greatest benefit. She couldn’t let her divorce affect the Wen family’s business. As for the Lin family, they could go to hell.
Wen Yu found the old microphone in her room and went out.
The person downstairs heard the commotion and looked up.
Lin Yanqing truly had a great face—red lips, white teeth, and clear eyes. She really didn’t look like an immoral person, especially when she looked at you intently; it always gave you the illusion that you were being taken seriously. The fatigue of the past few days only added a touch of gloomy beauty to her.
Wen Yu was immune to that look and didn’t give her a good expression. She didn’t even spare her a glance, walking straight to her computer on the sofa, picking it up, and going upstairs.
“Wen Yu,” Lin Yanqing called out.
Wen Yu took a few steps and snapped, “Spit it out.”
Lin Yanqing was clearly used to Wen Yu’s attitude and didn’t react. She was very calm: “Talk properly. I’m just back for one night and have to go on a business trip to Jingnan tomorrow. Is there anything you want? I’ll bring it back for you.”
In the past, when Lin Yanqing went on a business trip, she would also ask Wen Yu if she wanted anything. Wen Yu usually said no, as she didn’t see the need to cultivate a relationship and found it bothersome.
Today was different. Wen Yu raised an eyebrow and said, “I heard Jingnan’s specialty is tea. Buy more so you can give it away as gifts.”
She should also bring some for the mistress, so I can follow the clues later.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yanqing had no other thoughts: “You want to drink tea? Then I’ll buy a lot and send some to Mom too.”
“Mom” was what she called Wen Yu’s mother.
Lin Yanqing came from a divorced family and wasn’t close to either parent. Although Lin Jiao had custody, she was very busy and had no time for her daughter. Lin Yanqing had essentially grown up alone and acted as if she had no parents—as long as the resources and money were there.
After they got married, Lin Yanqing only called Wen Yu’s mother “Mom” and rarely talked about her own parents. She also didn’t often visit Lin Jiao.
Hearing Lin Yanqing’s filial words, Wen Yu frowned: “Whatever.”
Wen Yu’s mother loved Lin Yanqing and treated her like her own daughter after they got married, while her real daughter, Wen Yu, seemed like a live-in son-in-law.
Wen Yu pouted, thinking that Lin Yanqing didn’t deserve her mother’s affection.
I won’t tell Mom about Lin Yanqing’s cheating for now. I’ll explain everything after we’re divorced.
“Are you eating in or going out tonight?” Lin Yanqing’s voice interrupted Wen Yu’s thoughts.
Wen Yu looked up and saw that Lin Yanqing had taken two steps toward her. The distance between them was shortened, and Wen Yu could even smell Lin Yanqing’s shampoo.
“Let’s eat in,” Wen Yu said, then walked to the stairs, widening the distance.
Lin Yanqing: “Then I’ll make dinner and call you.”
Wen Yu mumbled an acknowledgment.
The Wen family was in business. Wen Yu’s parents were also divorced. Her older sister followed their father, while she followed their mother. Her father and older sister entered politics and were on good terms with the Lin family. She followed her mother, but because she had a weak constitution, her grandfather didn’t want his granddaughter to suffer and didn’t make her join the company to learn management.
As a proper young lady, Wen Yu couldn’t even cook. After she married Lin Yanqing, as long as the latter was home, Lin Yanqing would handle all the cooking. The one area where the two of them could coexist peacefully was the “dining table.”
“Do you want me to help you carry that up?” Lin Yanqing pointed at the equipment next to the sofa.
Wen Yu: “No need.”
Despite what Wen Yu said, Lin Yanqing still bent down and picked up the heaviest piece of equipment. “I’ll help you anyway. You have no strength.”
She raised an eyebrow: “You little useless cupcake.”
Wen Yu subconsciously wanted to retort but stopped herself.
If she wants to carry it, let her. Free labor is a good thing.
Wen Yu walked behind Lin Yanqing, holding her laptop, and watched her go into her room to place the items. She then casually picked up the bottle of flavored alcohol that Wen Yu hadn’t finished last night.
“Your heart isn’t good. Drink less alcohol,” Lin Yanqing frowned.
Wen Yu snatched the half-empty bottle back: “I won’t die.”
Lin Yanqing said nothing, letting out a barely noticeable scoff, then turned and went downstairs.
A few minutes later, Wen Yu received a message from her mother.
“You’re drinking again?!”
Wen Yu: “…”
Heh. Lin Yanqing is such a snitch!