Back home, Sun Zhewen was filled with anticipation, eager to see Li Zhiyan. However, he searched the entire house and didn't find her. She'd been gone for quite a while this time, and he began to worry.
At around ten in the evening, the silence of the night was broken by the sound of the front door. Sun Zhewen rushed downstairs, and saw Li Zhiyan returning, her body weary. Her eyes were unfocused, and she didn't even look at Sun Zhewen, just headed upstairs. An unusual silence hung between them.
"What's wrong?" Sun Zhewen couldn't help but ask.
Li Zhiyan seemed not to hear him, offering no response and walking straight into the room.
Sun Zhewen quickly followed her in, asking again, "What's the matter?"
Li Zhiyan didn't reply, just silently took her pajamas and went into the bathroom.
Sun Zhewen, not giving up, continued to ask through the bathroom door, "Li Zhiyan, what's wrong?"
However, the only response he got was the sound of running water and soft crying. The crying was like a sharp knife, piercing Sun Zhewen's heart, making him instantly aware that something was terribly wrong.
A long while later, the bathroom door finally opened. Li Zhiyan walked out, her eyes red and swollen, her face pale. She went straight back to the bed and pulled the covers over herself.
Sun Zhewen walked over and said softly, "What's wrong?"
Li Zhiyan turned her head away and said coldly, "Go back to your room and sleep. I'll tell you something in the morning."
"What's wrong?" Sun Zhewen's voice was filled with anxiety.
"I'll tell you in the morning." Li Zhiyan's voice held a hint of determination.
That night was incredibly long for Sun Zhewen. He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, constantly guessing what Li Zhiyan had gone through.
The next day, Sun Zhewen got up early. When he went downstairs, he saw Li Zhiyan already sitting at the dining table, waiting for him. He walked over and sat down, looking at Li Zhiyan's haggard face, knowing she hadn't slept well either.
"Do you have something to say?" Sun Zhewen broke the silence.
"Yes," Li Zhiyan said, her calmness unsettling. "We're going to get divorced today. You can go back to your place."
Sun Zhewen was taken aback. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. I don't want this anymore, so let's get a divorce." Li Zhiyan's voice was devoid of emotion.
"But the Liu Family..." Sun Zhewen tried to persuade her.
"They can't do anything to me." Li Zhiyan cut him off.
"You?" Sun Zhewen looked incredulous.
"Yes, he gave me the okay. I'll just serve him from now on." Li Zhiyan's voice trembled slightly.
"Zhiyan..." Sun Zhewen's voice was filled with helplessness and pain.
"Eat up, and don't come looking for me anymore." Li Zhiyan's eyes immediately reddened, but she forced herself not to let the tears fall.
"Is this worth it?" Sun Zhewen couldn't help but ask.
Suddenly, Li Zhiyan erupted, "Worth it? What's worth it? I'm not myself anymore, not even my soul is free, do you know? If they want me to marry, I have to marry; if they want me to divorce, I have to divorce; if they want me to get rid of the child, I have to get rid of it. But isn't this what we wanted?" Her voice was filled with despair and anger.
"Child?" Sun Zhewen was surprised.
"Yes, the child is gone." Li Zhiyan said calmly.
"Zhiyan, you're playing with fire." Sun Zhewen tried to make her see reason.
"Call me by my full name." Li Zhiyan said coldly.
"I really don't understand you." Sun Zhewen shook his head.
"After we eat, let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Now that you've started this, my identity will eventually be exposed, which won't be good for you either," Li Zhiyan said, her voice unusually calm, as if she had already made up her mind.
"I..." Sun Zhewen hesitated.
"You don't need to say anything. I'm doing this voluntarily," Li Zhiyan said firmly.
Sun Zhewen sighed softly. He took out his phone and called Director Ding, saying, "Director Ding, I'll be a little late today. I have something to take care of."
Director Ding laughed heartily. "Sun, just handle your business. You don't need to ask for leave from me anymore. Just arrange things at the station." It was completely as if he was no longer managing things.
"Ah, Director Ding, I should still inform you when I take leave," Sun Zhewen said.
"It's okay. Just go handle your business," Director Ding said.
After hanging up the phone, Li Zhiyan finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you doing okay at the police station now?"
"It's fine, Director Ding practically dumped all the work on me. He doesn't want to deal with things anymore," Sun Zhewen said helplessly.
"Really? My cousin is quite something," Li Zhiyan said with a hint of mockery in her tone.
"This was your cousin's doing?" Sun Zhewen asked in surprise.
"Do you think Director Ding would voluntarily let you manage everything?" Li Zhiyan countered.
"Oh, no wonder." Only then did Sun Zhewen understand. He had thought Director Ding just wanted to slack off.
The two ate their meal in silence, neither of them speaking. After eating, they sat in the living room, still not talking. A stifling atmosphere hung in the entire living room, making it hard to breathe.
Divorce. This was something Sun Zhewen had once looked forward to, but now that it was about to happen, he felt a flicker of reluctance. The weather was awful, so hot, making him feel restless.
Sun Zhewen broke the silence, saying, "Zhiyan, is there really no other way?"
Li Zhiyan forced a smile. "What else can we do? This is the best outcome for us."
Sun Zhewen said, "But this is so unfair to you."
Li Zhiyan shook her head. "There's no such thing as fairness in this world."
Sun Zhewen sighed deeply. "I just feel like things shouldn't be this way."
Li Zhiyan glanced at him. "Don't think about it. This is fate."
Sun Zhewen clenched his fists. "I'm not willing to accept this."
Li Zhiyan said, "What good will it do to be unwilling? We can't fight them."
Sun Zhewen was silent for a long time, then slowly said, "You need to take care of yourself from now on."
Li Zhiyan's tears finally couldn't be held back, and they streamed down her face. "You too," she whispered.
The two of them stood there, frozen, as if time had stopped.
After a while, Sun Zhewen stood up. "Let's go. To the Civil Affairs Bureau."
Li Zhiyan bit her lip and rose to her feet as well.
They didn't speak a word the entire way, only occasionally exchanging glances filled with mixed emotions.
At the Civil Affairs Bureau, Sun Zhewen's hands trembled as they went through the divorce procedures.
Li Zhiyan looked at him and said, "Don't be like this. It's better for both of us to end it."
Sun Zhewen gave a bitter smile and said nothing.
The moment Sun Zhewen got the divorce certificate, he felt as if his heart had been hollowed out.
Li Zhiyan turned and left without looking back.
Sun Zhewen stared at her back, unable to move for a long time.
..
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"Game of Thrones: Dragon Prince"
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(End Chapter)