Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “You will listen to me? If I refuse to let the two of you get a divorce, then you won’t go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow?” Qiao Zijin felt exasperated too. She could not understand how the situation turned out this way.

  “If you tell me not to go, then I won’t.” There was a flash in Ding Jiayi’s eyes. “But your dad said that I won’t receive a single cent if I don’t turn up. He also said that you are already eighteen years old and are considered an adult. Thus, he has fulfilled his responsibilities as a father. If I don’t go, he won’t give us a single cent in the future.”

  “Then, what are your thoughts on this?” Qiao Zijin sat down and gave a huge sigh. “Mom, you’re really too much. How did you kick up such a big fuss and force Dad to divorce you?”

  “Was it me who kicked up a fuss? Obviously, your dad has been thinking about it for a long time.” Ding Jiayi was not pleased. “This is not the first time that your dad mentioned divorce to me.”

  “.……” Qiao Zijin bit the back of her thumb again and again.

  It was not that she could not bear to leave her own father. She could not bear to let go of the money that he earned. She obviously had a share in it, but all of it would be spent on Qiao Nan instead.

  “Zijin, where are you going?” At the sight of Zijin standing up and walking toward the door, Ding Jiayi was so frightened that she held on to Qiao Zijin. “Zijin, Mom did so many things for you. Don’t tell me you’re going to find your dad now and leave me in the lurch?”

  Qiao Zijin sneered. “Follow my dad? What will I gain? Even if I follow him, he will only spend all his money on Qiao Nan. Don’t worry. I’m going out to find someone, but not Dad.”

  “Who are you going to look for?”

  “Of course I’m going to look for someone who can help our family. Mom, don’t worry. I know what to do.” Pulling away from Ding Jiayi’s hands, Qiao Zijin left in a determined manner. She left Ding Jiayi on pins and needles and waiting alone at home.

  On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Qiao Nan prepared breakfast for Qiao Dongliang early in the morning. “Dad, don’t be anxious about this matter. Actually, you can be there at a later time. Mom may not be there so early.” It was also a question whether her mother would turn up today.

  Her mother would agree to divorce for the sake of a meager gain, but it was doubtful whether Qiao Zijin would agree to it.

  \r \r \r

  The topic of divorce. After a night of peace, Qiao Nan wondered whether today’s divorce would occur. It was truly questionable.

  Qiao Nan was shocked that it had not been an empty threat. He was really going to divorce her mother.

  “I’ll feel more at ease if this matter is resolved earlier. After going through such long torture with your mom, I’m exhausted. In the future, Dad just wishes to protect you and lead a peaceful life. Nan Nan, when you attend college, can Dad stay with you too? Will you mind?”

  Qiao Nan was not the only one who wished to run away from the city that Ding Jiayi was staying in. Even Qiao Dongliang was nearly driven mad by Ding Jiayi.

  “Why would I mind? It’s fine as long as Dad doesn’t feel uneasy about it.” Qiao Nan shook her head. Right. After her parents divorced, the small courtyard of the Qiao family would be given to her mother and Qiao Zijin. Her father had nothing else in Ping Cheng. He would only be left with her, his daughter.

  If she left, there would be no point for him to continue staying in Ping Cheng.

  “I’m contented to hear that. Stay at home. Right. If that Chen Jun comes, just pretend that you’re not at home. Don’t open the door and let him enter the house. Understand?”

  “Chen Jun?” Why did her father mention Chen Jun all of a sudden? He only met him once. “Dad, nothing happened. Why did you mention this suddenly?”

  “What Zhai Sheng said is right. The moral values of humans are degenerating day by day in this society. You’re a young lady and should be more cautious. You can’t go wrong with that. Why will anyone visit a lady’s house on the first day of the Lunar New Year? I’ve been thinking and I feel that there’s something odd about Chen Jun. He’s eccentric and doesn’t seem upright.”

  “Brother Zhai? Dad, you told Brother Zhai that Chen Jun visited our house on the first day of the Lunar New Year?” When did that happen? Why didn’t she know about it?

  “You don’t need to care about this. Remember what Dad told you, okay?” The focus here was not Zhai Sheng. Most importantly, it was to ignore Chen Jun.

  He only met Nan Nan two to three times, yet he dared to visit their house without giving any prior notice. He was too casual.

  “Fine, I won’t see him. I promise you that I won’t open the door for anyone who comes today unless you’re back. Will that do?” Qiao Nan was amused.

  Qiao Dongliang was holding the money that was sent over by Zhai Sheng. He nodded. “Good. I’m leaving. Watch after the house.”

  After sending Qiao Dongliang off with her eyes, Qiao Nan acted according to Qiao Dongliang’s instructions and shut the door of her house tightly. She then went into the house and continued to read.

  Knock, knock, knock……

  Someone was knocking on the door.

  Before Qiao Nan could stand up, she heard Zhai Sheng’s voice. “Nan Nan?”

  Upon hearing that it was Zhai Sheng, Qiao Nan returned to her seat and ignored Zhai Sheng as she held her book.

  Before Qiao Nan could flip a page of the book, a person appeared and blocked the ray of light from shining on her book. All of a sudden, there was darkness before Qiao Nan’s eyes and her body felt light. Someone had carried her.

  When Qiao Nan regained her senses, she was already sitting on a ‘human sofa’ and not the stool. “Since you’re at home, why did you pretend that you’re not? Why did you ignore me?”

  Qiao Nan’s face turned red. “My dad told me not to open the door for anyone who comes today. He asked me to pretend that I’m not at home because there are too many baddies nowadays!”

  Zhai Sheng pinched Qiao Nan’s face. “Are you angry?”

  Qiao Nan lifted her chin and looked at Zhai Sheng. “Angry? What am I angry about?”

  “Fine, you’re not. Then, I want to tell you that I’m angry.” Zhai Sheng’s face looked stiff. He even gave a pat on Qiao Nan’s bottom.

  “Why are you angry? Now you’re playing the blame game with me.” Qiao Nan was fuming. “Brother Zhai, how could you ask my dad about me behind my back? You should respect me and should not casually spy on my privacy. Brother Zhai, I really didn’t know that you’re this kind of person!”

  “There’s nothing that you can’t share with others. Why can’t I know about it? Unless you have a guilty conscience?” Zhai Sheng also knitted his brows.

  “If you really wish to understand, you can ask me directly!”

  “If I ask you, will you tell me about Chen Jun?” Zhai Sheng was both amused and angry. “When the time comes, you will only treat Chen Jun’s existence as irrelevant and unimportant. You will think that it’s unnecessary to tell me. Is that right?”

  “.……” Qiao Nan was speechless. She only managed to say after much struggle, “Still, you shouldn’t have done that. Moreover, how did you know that I’ll definitely not tell you? If Chen Jun looks for me again, I’ll definitely let you know. Otherwise, what if you misunderstand me?”

  Qiao Nan had long thought about it. Most probably, Chen Jun targeted her because of Wang Yang.

  Since she had already told Uncle Zhu about this matter, he should be able to fully resolve it.

  If Chen Jun did not appear before her again, this meant that the matter had been resolved. Not bringing it up to Brother Zhai would not be an issue then, lest Brother Zhai became distracted. He already had plenty of things on his mind to worry about.