Chapter 29: Then Let's Divorce

"Then let's divorce!"

Si Rong met his gaze, her expression remaining cold and distant.

What?

Shen Lan was horrified.

Si Rong actually said she wanted to divorce him?

Did she know what she was saying?

How could a woman survive without a man?

Since ancient times, power and wealth in this world have been controlled by men; if a woman wants to enjoy these, she can only depend on a man.

Just like Si Rong; even though she is the eldest daughter of the Si Family, the vast wealth of the Si Family belongs to her two older brothers.

How could she dare to agree to a divorce?

"I think you've gone mad!" Shen Lan's stomach had already been feeling a bit better, but now, angered by Si Rong, it hurt even more.

He had originally come back today to vent his mother's frustrations, but since Wang Ma was not to be found at home, he simply headed straight back to the hospital.

On the way, the more Shen Lan thought about Si Rong's reaction, the angrier he became.

He had only mentioned divorce in a fit of anger; by what right did Si Rong agree to it?

She must be playing hard to get.

Women all like to do that.

Perhaps he was too lost in these thoughts, for as Shen Lan reached the side of the hospital, he accidentally bumped into someone.

That person wore a black hat and had tattoos on both sides of his neck; one look and he was clearly a hoodlum.

Shen Lan had always disdained to pay attention to such people.

They were simply not people from his world.

"Are you blind!" the hoodlum roared at the top of his lungs, then grabbed Shen Lan by the corner of his shirt.

In truth, ever since his official rank had grown higher and higher, he had rarely encountered such rude people.

"Sir, you were the one who bumped into me first," Shen Lan confronted him in a measured tone.

But the hoodlum had no intention of reasoning with him; it was unclear where a few more people surged from, but they surrounded Shen Lan and began to beat him violently.

Shen Lan had been tortured by stomach pain for the past two days and had no strength, so he had no power to resist at all.

He only had the strength to shout his status, "You, stop at once! I am a County Magistrate!"

But it was useless; the hoodlums beat Shen Lan until he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise, and then scattered in a flurry.

When he woke up again, Shen Lan was in the hospital.

The first person he saw upon opening his eyes was Shen Mu.

Looking around, Shen Lan asked her in a hoarse voice, "Where is Si Rong?"

"Her? She doesn't even set foot in this house; I think this daughter-in-law of yours is becoming more and more outrageous!"

Shen Mu's dissatisfaction with Si Rong had now reached its peak.

Where could one find such a woman?

"Capitalist daughters are just like that!" Shen Yun peeled an orange and stuffed it into his mouth. "If my brother had married Cui Hua from the village back then, she would have certainly met your requirements for a daughter-in-law and served our whole family comfortably!"

"Pah!" Shen Mu curled her lip. "Cui Hua is indeed better than her when it comes to serving people!"

Shen Lan stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

What was wrong with Si Rong these days?

Soon, he had no time to think about that, because his colleagues from the department, knowing he was sick and hospitalized, came one after another with gifts to express their sympathy.

Every one of them treated him with great respect.

Seeing that the cabinet under the bed could not even hold the gifts they had received, the old lady in the next room was very envious.

She inquired, "Your son is truly capable! So many people have come to visit him!"

Shen Mu nodded, her chin tilted proudly, though she spoke with feigned humility, "He's just doing average."

Her son would have an even brighter future!

"It's definitely not average!" the old lady flattered, "I could tell at a glance that your son is a high-ranking official!"

Under the old lady's repeated flattery, Shen Mu 'reluctantly' revealed her son's status as a County Magistrate.

Furthermore, she emphatically recounted to the old lady how her son had struggled from having nothing to his current position.

She repeatedly spoke of her son's diligence and hard work.

But she alone made no mention of having a daughter-in-law from the Si Family.

Shen Lan lay on the hospital bed; he had heard these words from his mother many times and by now was deeply convinced of them.

It was indeed true; how difficult his journey had been!

Just from the fact that so many people came to visit him while he was hospitalized, one could see his ability and how much these people trusted him.

"Look, someone else is coming!"

The old lady pointed at the woman who was about to reach the door of their room.

Shen Mu turned and saw Li Xuan.

Her brow furrowed.

In fact, long before she met Si Rong, the daughter-in-law, she had already met Li Xuan, the other daughter-in-law.

Shen Mu had no opinion on her son liking her, but in all things, one should prioritize the big picture.

Now that her son's election was imminent, and his son and daughter were also approaching important moments in their lives, it was inappropriate for Li Xuan, as the mistress, to come to the hospital to see her son so openly and alone.

"Why are you here?"

Li Xuan knew the old lady's character and lowered her eyes, "Mom, I'm worried about A-Lan."

Shen Mu's heart softened; after all, this daughter-in-law still knew how to care for her son, which was better than Si Rong.

"Then speak quickly, I will keep watch outside."

Li Xuan said gratefully, "Thank you, Mom."

Then she went inside.

Seeing her, Shen Lan's state of mind was identical to Shen Mu's: first resentment, then being moved.

"Only this once, it won't happen again."

Li Xuan sat on the side of the hospital bed, unable to control the affection in her heart, and hugged his waist.

"A-Lan, how did you suddenly become like this?"

Her fingers brushed over the bruises on Shen Lan's brow and eyes.

Mentioning this made Shen Lan angry, so he told Li Xuan about encountering some thugs on his way back to the hospital.

"That is truly bullying people too much!"

Li Xuan said immediately, "A-Lan, we must call the police!"

"No."

Shen Lan was thinking more about the election.

There absolutely could not be a single mistake.

"The big picture is what matters."

After saying this, Shen Lan stared at Li Xuan, "You should go."

Li Xuan was somewhat reluctant, "But, I still want to stay with you a while longer."

"Wait a bit longer; after the general election, I will find an opportunity to go on a business trip again."

Shen Lan promised.

In the past, every time he went on a business trip to meet Li Xuan in private, he might have felt a little bit of guilt.

But now that Si Rong had changed first, it was only right for him to dote on Li Xuan more.

"Okay, I will listen to you and leave now."

Just as Li Xuan stood up, she heard Shen Mu's voice suddenly increase in volume at the door, "Si Rong! Why have you only arrived now?"

Si Rong was here?

Shen Lan's expression became visibly panicked.

Why did she have to come at this exact moment?

If she saw Li Xuan here, and the two of them were alone in the room, it was inevitable she would overthink things.

The most important thing was that the timing was wrong.

He worried that Si Rong would be unreasonable and affect the big picture.

"Quick, hide!"

Shen Lan knew his mother at the door was currently doing her best to help him stall for time.

Li Xuan was also panicked; although she had already imagined countless times in her mind having a showdown with Si Rong and letting her know that she was the real Mrs. Shen, now that she was about to face Si Rong directly, she felt an inexplicable fear in her heart.

As for why she was afraid, Li Xuan herself did not know.

The key was, where could she hide now?

There was only one bed, one loveseat, and one low cabinet in the hospital room; there was simply nowhere to hide.