Chapter 361: I Want to Divorce Your Father

Xia Yue didn't say more to Chen Songbai, she took Youyou's hand and entered the elevator.

Youyou had gotten up early and put on a newly bought small floral dress; the skirt was puffy, especially cute, and she herself loved to dress up, often unable to resist hopping around, which made the skirt sway and puff up even more.

Seeing that Xia Yue was in a bad mood, she just stayed honest, standing quietly beside her.

When the elevator reached the first floor, Youyou couldn't hold back and asked, "What's wrong with my uncle-in-law? And auntie, where does she feel unwell? Is she better?"

Xia Yue threw the trash into the garbage bin outside the hallway. Adult matters are too complicated; a child wouldn't understand, and even she, an adult, doesn't really get it, so naturally she can't explain it clearly to the little girl.

"I don't know either." Xia Yue said.

"Then go ask Mom; Mom knows everything, she's amazing." Youyou said in her childish way.

Xia Yue stared for a moment, then realized that the "Mom" she referred to was Xia Xi.

She had also thought about calling Xia Xi to ask if she had any good way to find out what was wrong with Xia Xuan and her husband, but she hesitated: "Xi Xi is busy with work; today is Monday, especially busy, it's not good to disturb her."

Youyou innocently said: "It's fine."

Xia Yue smiled, took her to Chen's Shop and packed two servings of pan-fried buns, bought Youyou a baked oven egg pancake, which she held with both hands and munched on.

The phone rang; Xia Yue switched hands holding her things, pulled out her phone and saw it was Xia Xi calling, she quickly answered.

"Sis, I called Xuanxuan but no one answered; do you know what's going on?" From Xia Xi's side came car honking; she was on her way to work, riding in Xu Yanfeng's car.

Youyou recognized who was on the phone, looked up at Xia Yue and said: "It's Mom, hurry and tell her."

It seems it really can't be hidden; Xia Yue sighed and said: "After you left last night, Xuanxuan went home once, then came back not long after, just crying, refusing to say anything; later Chen Songbai came after her, but she wouldn't see him, and to this day they're still at an impasse..."

Xia Yue told her everything she knew.

Xia Xi listened quietly, then asked: "Did Chen Songbai not say the reason?"

Xia Yue: "When I went out this morning I still saw him guarding outside the door; I asked him what happened, he kept silent, only telling me to take good care of Xuanxuan. This guy is really unreliable."

After learning Xuanxuan's whereabouts, Xia Xi felt somewhat relieved, but hearing this, her heart rose again.

After thinking, Xia Xi said softly: "I have two important meetings today, I can't leave for now; you look after Xuanxuan, don't let anything happen to her, I'll come by later to check."

Xia Yue: "Okay, you're busy, don't worry, I'm at home."

Xia Xi shoved her phone into her bag, rested her hand on the bag, brows furrowed; she had had a premonition yesterday, but her thoughts were all on meeting the parents, she couldn't spare more energy to worry, and didn't expect things to go wrong so soon.

Xu Yanfeng heard some of their conversation, covered the back of her hand with his palm, gently stroked it, and asked: "How is your sister?"

"I still don't know." Xia Xi was worried sick, had no mood to work: "My sister said Xuanxuan went home last night, then right after went back to my mom's; when asked she wouldn't say anything, just kept crying, and that damn Chen Songbai also stayed silent. If he really did something to hurt Xuanxuan, just wait till I deal with him."

"Don't be angry, we're at the company." Xu Yanfeng glanced out the window; the office building was right ahead.

Xia Xi caught her breath, leaned in and kissed Xu Yanfeng's lips: "Then I'm off."

"Mm." Xu Yanfeng gave a faint smile: "I'll come pick you up after work."

Xia Xi lifted her bag, stepped out of the car; her heels clicked, giving off a neat aura, her long hair tied in a low ponytail, she pulled a strand of hair around the hairband so the band wasn't visible, at first glance it looked like her hair was just tied with hair. She wore a white casual blazer over her dress, her figure graceful, and in a blink she swayed into the glass door.

The phone rang, Xu Yanfeng was forced to withdraw his gaze, answered: "Mom."

Zhong Yinghong's voice was calm in an unusual way, without any preamble, she spoke the result of her all-night thinking: "I've decided, I want to divorce your father."

Xu Yanfeng fell silent, surprised by the result yet not entirely surprised.

He had always known that Zhong Yinghong only appeared weak because she loved Xu Guanshan, willing to yield to him in daily trifles, putting him first in everything; once she discovered that their love was mixed with intolerable flaws, even if it hurt, she would decisively cut it off.

"Okay." Xu Yanfeng respected all her decisions: "I'll help you contact a lawyer."

Their marriage of several decades had become too entangled, knotted and tangled; truly separating is not a simple matter.

"Sorry." Zhong Yinghong lost her earlier composure, her voice gaining a tremor: "At the crucial time when you and Xia Xi are about to marry, I've brought you an incomplete family."

She had also considered whether to endure a bit longer, wait until the two kids marry before thinking about divorcing Xu Guanshan, at least to save face; but she couldn't bear it, not even for a day.

Xu Guanshan's parents have passed away, her parents are still alive, she doesn't know how to bring this up to the elders; it's foreseeable that at her age, bringing up divorce will first earn the elders' advice to let it go, and they'll use the reason that "daily life inevitably has friction."

She clearly understands that some friction can be overlooked, but once certain friction occurs, only a breakup is possible; take Xu Guanshan's affair, for example—even after many years, she still cannot convince herself to pretend nothing happened and continue lovingly living with him.

"Mom, don't say that; I only wish you could be well. Xia Xi wouldn't mind these things either." Xu Yanfeng paused, then asked the question that had been turning in his mind for a long time: "Will you blame me for always hiding this from you?"

"How could I blame you." Zhong Yinghong's emotions welled up, she choked: "I just feel I haven't done enough. You were still so young back then..."

After the mother and son exchanged a few words, Xu Guanshan's voice came through the phone: "You really want to do this?"

Zhong Yinghong covered the phone, hastily told Xu Yanfeng: "I have something to attend to here, we'll talk later."

Then the phone was hung up.

Xu Yanfeng looked at the phone screen, furrowed his brows, ultimately worried that Zhong Yinghong couldn't handle Xu Guanshan, would end up disadvantaged and suffer in vain; he told the driver: "Not going to the company, heading home."

When they arrived home, the servants were all standing in the hallway, faces anxious; seeing Xu Yanfeng stride in, they felt as if they'd met a savior.

Xu Yanfeng pushed open the door and just heard Zhong Yinghong's lament: "Old Xu, I don't want things to blow up to the point where we both look hateful; while we can still maintain some dignity, let's settle this, please, as I'm begging you."

Xia Xi got off work after five, walked out of the office building, and Xu Yanfeng's car was parked at the curb.

After greeting her colleagues, Xia Xi jogged over. Xu Yanfeng had already opened the car door for her; she lowered herself into the seat, tossed her bag aside, and leaned against Xu Yanfeng regardless of whether the driver was still there.

Xu Yanfeng gave her a shoulder squeeze: "Tired?"

"A bit; I'd been in meetings most of the day, docking a new project." This workload is much lighter compared to when she was abroad, possibly because having Xu Yanfeng around amplifies certain emotions, making her want to rely on him anytime, anywhere.

This isn't a good phenomenon, yet she gladly accepts it.

Upon reaching the residential complex's underground parking lot, Xia Xi suddenly felt a hint of concern; after a moment's thought, she looped her arm through Xu Yanfeng's and said: "Wait for me in the car, I'm worried Xuanxuan's mood is bad and she won't tell me the truth."

To Xuanxuan, Xu Yanfeng is ultimately an outsider.

Xu Yanfeng also realized this, nodded: "Go ahead, I'll wait for you."

Xia Xi felt a little bad for him waiting idly in the car, so she suggested: "Why don't you find a place to grab a coffee?" She whispered in his ear, "I'm not sure how long it'll take."

"However long, I'll wait for you." Xu Yanfeng patted her head, chin slightly lifted: "Hurry up."

Xia Xi took his hand, lifted it, quickly kissed his fingers, then ran off. She didn't even grab her bag; fortunately her phone should be on her person, otherwise he'd have to deliver it to her.

Xu Yanfeng shook his head with a smile, stared at his own fingers; the fair fingertips bore a smudge of lipstick, and the smile at his lips deepened a bit.

He sat quietly for a while, then called the housekeeper Zhangyi, telling her they'd return later, and if Ziheng got hungry, to go ahead and make him something to eat.