The Li and Jiang families had been partners for so many years, their interests so deeply intertwined, that their marriage had long since ceased to be a private matter.
That is simply how marriages between wealthy families go.
Besides, he knew Jiang Wanyi too well; all this commotion she was making was merely a tactic for a quarrel.
"Alright, be a good girl. You just got out of the hospital and need to get some rest."
Li Jinchuan abandoned his previous cold indifference, reaching out to pat Jiang Jiaojiao’s head with doting affection.
"Auntie Jiaojiao, your room is right next to mine! Can you tell me stories tonight? My mommy’s stories are so old-fashioned; I don't like them at all."
Li Cheng'an excitedly pulled Jiang Jiaojiao toward the stairs, not forgetting to disparage Jiang Wanyi as he did so.
"Hmm, alright then. Auntie Jiaojiao will tuck you in tonight..."
Jiang Jiaojiao was filled with deep resentment, but she dared not continue to provoke him, so she simply went along with it, holding Li Cheng'an’s hand as they went upstairs.
...
After causing a scene at the Li house, Jiang Wanyi began looking for an apartment without a moment's delay. In 1998, property prices in Hong Kong were far cheaper than they would later become.
She hired an agent, spent two days searching, and finally settled on a decent, independent apartment.
While signing the contract, her phone kept buzzing. She picked it up to see a message from Li Cheng'an.
[Mommy, Auntie Jiaojiao told me lots of stories last night and let me eat cake. I gave her that little wooden horse pendant you gave me.]
When Li Cheng'an was born, he was physically frail, and a fortune teller had claimed he was destined for a turbulent life. That wooden horse pendant was something she had carved by hand, piece by piece, from peach wood to ward off evil spirits for him.
Now, it had become a tool for him to curry favor with Jiang Jiaojiao.
Over the past two days, Li Cheng'an had sent her several messages showing off how well Jiang Jiaojiao treated him. She glanced at them once, then deleted them without a second thought.
This time was no exception.
The message was swiftly erased. Jiang Wanyi picked up her pen and signed her name on the contract.
"Thank you."
After paying the agent and collecting the keys, she left and drove toward the Li residence. Her belongings were still there; today, she intended to move out for good.
When she arrived at the Li house, it was lunchtime. Before she even entered, she could hear Li Cheng'an’s laughter.
"Auntie Jiaojiao, how does it look if you add it here?"
"An'an is so clever! The drawing is beautiful. Come on, take a bite."
She walked inside. Li Cheng'an was sitting on the living room rug, with Jiang Jiaojiao sitting beside him, holding a bowl and feeding him spoonful by spoonful.
On the floor lay their wedding portrait. The area where she stood had been scribbled over by Li Cheng'an with oil pastels; it was vaguely discernible that he was trying to change her likeness into Jiang Jiaojiao’s.
"Why are you back? Finally decided to come home and admit you were wrong?"
Guan Yu, sitting at the dining table, was the first to see Jiang Wanyi. Her face darkened.
Jiang Wanyi’s exquisite face was cold as frost. "I’m back to get my things."
She walked toward Li Cheng'an and Jiang Jiaojiao and stepped directly onto the wedding portrait on the floor.
Li Cheng'an, with rice grains still clinging to his lips, caught sight of Jiang Wanyi. A flicker of joy crossed his eyes, but it quickly faded into indifference.
"Mommy, you stepped on my drawing! I’m drawing for Auntie Jiaojiao!"
He just knew his mommy would come back. But why was she so grumpy the moment she returned? How annoying!
Jiang Jiaojiao offered a hypocritical apology: "Sister, I’m sorry. An'an insisted on drawing for me—"
*Clatter—*
Before she could finish, Jiang Wanyi grabbed a fruit knife from the tray on the coffee table and slashed it down decisively.
The photograph in the frame was split apart, the cut forming a deep chasm between her and Li Cheng'an that could never be crossed again.
Li Cheng'an was terrified; he wailed and buried himself in Jiang Jiaojiao’s arms, not forgetting to point an accusing finger, "Bad mommy! Go away, go away!"
"Sister, you’ve frightened An'an. Hurry up and apologize to him." Jiang Jiaojiao quickly comforted Li Cheng'an.
Seeing her hypocritical act made Jiang Wanyi feel sick to her stomach. "It’s not your place to tell me what to do."
She had encouraged Li Cheng'an to ruin their wedding photo. Wasn't this exactly what she wanted?
"Jiang Wanyi!"
Li Jinchuan, who had been working in his study, heard the commotion and rushed down. Seeing the scene, he was overcome with fury.
"You return and immediately throw the house into chaos! Are you even fit to be An'an’s mother?"
"As it happens, I don't want to be anymore."
Jiang Wanyi looked at Li Cheng'an, who was sobbing in Jiang Jiaojiao’s arms. Her heart had already died once before; this time, she felt no pain at all.
"I’m here to take my things and leave. I’m doing you two a favor by getting out of your way."
She stepped past Li Jinchuan to pack. In the closet, the majority of the clothes belonged to Li Jinchuan and Li Cheng'an; hers were pitifully few. Her entire life had revolved around them.
And what had it bought her?
How laughable!
Less than ten minutes later, her things were packed—she couldn't even fill a twenty-four-inch suitcase. She dragged it downstairs, where Li Jinchuan and Jiang Jiaojiao were still comforting Li Cheng'an, looking for all the world like a happy family of three.
"Find a time soon to get the divorce finalized."
Jiang Wanyi took off her wedding ring and tossed it onto the rug.
Li Jinchuan’s brow furrowed into a deep line. Suppressing his anger, he said, "Is this the right place to say such things, in front of the child?"
"It’s certainly better than you carrying on an affair in front of the child."
Jiang Wanyi retorted without hesitation. "My time is valuable. I will have my lawyer contact you next Monday."
"You..."
Li Jinchuan stared at the woman before him. From start to finish, she hadn't bothered to give him a single genuine look. An inexplicable irritability rose within him.
"Enough. It was my fault for not noticing your mood earlier. I can pretend none of this happened; put your things back."
Li Jinchuan’s tone softened, and he reached out to grab her suitcase. She slapped his hand away.
"Have you still not grasped the situation, Li Jinchuan? I am divorcing you. Did you hear me clearly?"
Her attitude was firm, unlike in the past when she would have climbed down the moment he offered her a way out.
Li Jinchuan gritted his teeth, his face taut.
They remained at a stalemate until a violent coughing fit echoed from the doorway. "Cough, cough! What do you think you are doing!"
Jiang Wanyi’s body stiffened as she looked toward the sound.
Elder Li, who rarely visited, was standing at the entrance, his face darkened as he watched them. It was clear that he had heard every word of their argument.
Seeing the old man made Jiang Wanyi’s eyes burn. In the entire Li family, he was the only one who had truly cared for her. It was a pity his health was so poor; he had passed away only a few years after she had married into the family.
"Grandfather." Li Jinchuan lowered his head, his voice dropping significantly.
Li Jinchuan was the head of the Li family now, but the Li empire had been built by Elder Li’s own hands. He felt an instinctive fear and respect for him.
Jiang Wanyi walked over, keeping her head down to hide her reddened eyes, and took over from the servant to support the old man. "Grandfather, why are you here?"
"If I hadn't come, would this family have completely fallen apart?"