The 99th Divorce

“I’ve yet to break the news to them.” Shen Zhilie replied before he let out a deep sigh. “Grandmother called me earlier on. She’s getting on in years and I’m afraid to upset her. Could you help me to cook up an excuse to prevent worrying her further?” he asked.

Shen Luo’an’s mood turned sombre.

He let out a long sigh and closed his eyes before asking, “Alright. How many more days will you guys be staying in Kingstown?”

“We’ll return home after Qianqian feels better, but it probably won’t be any time soon,” Shen Zhilie replied.

“So Grandmother is unaware of Qianqian’s mishap?” Shen Luo’an asked.

“She’s aware, but she doesn’t know the specifics. If Grandmother asks about it, just tell her that Qianqian needs to be hospitalized because she had a pretty bad fall and that we’ll head back to the capital in a few days,” said Shen Zhilie.

After Shen Luo’an agreed to Shen Zhilie’s request, he helped Shen Manting unbuckle her seatbelt before getting out of the car.

When Shen Manting saw that Shen Luo’an had hung up the call, she hurried after him and asked, “Dear, what’s wrong?”

Shen Luo’an was initially overjoyed and felt blessed when he sees the two tiny red booklets that Shen Manting was holding.

But now, he felt a mix of emotions.

He hugged Shen Manting gently and softly said, “Something unfortunate happened to Qianqian and Zhilie.”

Shen Manting could sense Shen Luo’an’s sadness and she reached out to hug him back before curiously asking, “I heard you mention something about a baby earlier on. What’s the matter?”

“Qianqian and Zhilie have been married for more than two years and they’ve always wanted a child,” Shen Luo’an spoke slowly in a low and hoarse voice, his tone rich with sorrow. “But something happened today and Qianqian had a miscarriage,” said Shen Luo’an.

Shen Manting trembled in shock.

“A miscarriage?” Shen Manting repeated. She felt a stabbing pain in her heart when she heard these words and pushed Shen Luo’an away in disbelief. “How could this have happened?” she questioned.

Shen Luo’an sighed softly before saying, “I’m not too sure about the specifics but I suppose Grandmother would have guessed it already. Don’t say anything if she asks about it later. I’ll do the talking. You should look happy. Tell Dad, Mom and Grandmother that we got married, alright?”

Shen Manting nodded her head and said, “Got it. We’ll only share the good news, not the bad ones.”

“Yes,” said Shen Luo’an with a smile and he could not help but kiss her on the lips before he continued in a gentle voice, “Let’s head inside.”

…

Shen Longyue and his wife were seated in the living room with Old Mrs. Shen.

Little Yue’er was playing with his tiny toy cars in the vacant area of the living room. When he realised that Shen Luo’an and Shen Manting have returned, he jumped to his feet in joy and yelled, “Daddy! Mommy!”

Donned in his little shoes, he immediately dashed over to hug Shen Luo’an’s legs.

She Luo’an bent down and swiftly carried his child in his arms.

He tapped his child’s nose before asking, “Have you been a good boy?”

“Yup!” exclaimed Xiao Yue’er, sounding extremely proud of himself. “Xiao Yue’er has been a good boy!” he said, overjoyed.

Shen Luo’an’s lips curled up into a smile and turned sideways to look at the family’s elders.

Shen Longyue seemed fine but the two women could barely conceal the look of gloom on their faces.

Anxiety was written all over Old Mrs. Shen’s face as she questioned Luo’an, “Luo’an, I called you earlier today. Why was your line engaged? Were you on the phone with Zhilie?”

Shen Luo’an had anticipated this and nodded his head. He then carried his child over to the sofa, took a seat and continued, “Yes. Zhilie had told me that Qianqian had a fall in Kingstown and needs to be hospitalized for a few days. He’s feeling rather down so he didn’t say much about it to you.”

When Old Mrs. Shen heard this, she did not seem shocked, as if she had expected this to happen. “Where did she fall? Is it serious? How is she now?” she asked anxiously.

“She’s fine. It’s not too serious,” answered Shen Luo’an as he glanced at them. “Why do all of you seem so glum though? I’m sure that things are fine, that’s what Zhilie had said.”

“Why would she be hospitalized for no good reason?” Mrs Shen asked with a frown on her face. “Sigh, Zhilie’s always like this. He always keeps the truth to himself. How am I supposed to believe that Qianqian is fine?”