Chapter 4: Let’s Get a Divorce

“What are you going to guarantee that with?” Ji Yang’s retort was sarcastic. Even with his gentle nature, he couldn’t control himself.

He had always believed Su Ai’s personality was formed due to certain reasons, and that she wasn’t inherently bad.

Therefore, when that incident happened, even if he had to sacrifice everything, he wanted to be with Su Ai and didn’t want her to be condemned by everyone; after all, she was just a young girl.

Plus, he himself had some unspeakable motives.

Even though their beginning was terrible, he was willing to persevere and make their life better. But now, he was truly tired.

It wasn’t because he felt it wasn’t worth it to have his leg broken, or because he was angry, but because he couldn’t see a future with Su Ai.

He originally thought he could change her, that their child could change her, that they could have a bright future and a happy, harmonious family.

But now he realized he might have been too arrogant and self-important. He couldn’t change Su Ai, he couldn’t save her, he couldn’t do it.

“With my life,” Su Ai said calmly and firmly, sweeping the floor as she spoke, cleaning up the leftover medicine and broken shards of the bowl.

“If I can’t earn enough money to cure your leg, I’ll pay you with my life.”

If she, Su Ai, with decades of foresight and experience in the business world, couldn’t earn enough money to treat her husband’s leg, then she didn’t deserve to live.

But her words angered Ji Yang.

“Su Ai, when will you ever grow up?”

“If you don’t even value your own life, if you think your life is so cheap, then why did I break my leg to save you? I might as well have let them beat you to death!”

He hadn’t shed a tear when his leg was broken, nor during the painful bone-setting process.  But now, hearing Su Ai say, “I’ll pay you with my life,” he was so angry that tears welled up, his whole body trembling slightly.

His gaze towards Su Ai was filled with disappointment and frustration.

“Do you understand?  The ones who look down on you, who hurt you, are never others, but yourself.”

“You devalued yourself first, you looked down on yourself first, you hurt yourself first.”

After saying this, Ji Yang suddenly laughed, a sarcastic laugh.  He had said these words countless times. If Su Ai had listened, even once, they wouldn’t have reached this point.

Ji Yang sighed:

“Forget it, why am I even saying this to you?”

“Let’s get a divorce, Su Ai.”

Su Ai was stunned. She had never heard these words in her past life, perhaps because she hadn’t returned on this day in her past life.

But Ji Yang was completely provoked by Su Ai’s attitude today.

He felt truly exhausted. He couldn’t bear Su Ai giving him hope, only to have it dashed again and again, falling into despair repeatedly.

He was human; his heart was flesh and blood. He couldn’t withstand such repeated beatings and scourging.

Hearing those words, Su Ai’s grip on the broom tightened, her eyes reddened, but her voice remained calm and nonchalant:

“Mm, if you want a divorce, I agree, but not now.”

“Let me cure your leg first, then give me some time.”

Given a second chance, she would fulfill her husband and child’s every wish, even if her husband wanted a divorce. She wanted them to be happy, even if it meant not being with them.

But she wouldn’t let her husband and child leave her so painfully. Give her some time, even a short time.

At the very least, she would cure Ji Yang’s leg and save up some money for them, ensuring they would be financially secure. Otherwise, given Ji Yang’s stubborn nature, once they divorced, he would absolutely never accept any money from Su Ai.

“If you don’t want a divorce, just say so. Why make up an excuse to put me off?”

In Ji Yang’s eyes, Su Ai had nothing and no skills. Her plan to cure his leg and earn enough money was a fantasy, a pipe dream; it was unclear when she would ever save enough.

Using this as an excuse, she might never need to get a divorce.

“It will take three months at the shortest, six months at the longest, a year at most. If you can’t do it after a year, and you want a divorce, I’ll let you go.”

Su Ai’s serious expression didn’t seem fake, leaving Ji Yang somewhat incredulous. He spoke again:

“Lele will stay with me. You can’t take care of him.”

“Okay.”

In her past life, Lele died because of her. She didn’t have the face to ask for custody, and Ji Yang would certainly take good care of him.

Of course, even so, she wouldn’t completely ignore Lele. As a mother, she would still care for her child.

The two fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words.

Su Ai continued working, sweeping the floor and then wiping down the house with a cloth.  Before, Ji Yang had always done these chores.

Ji Yang was a very clean person. Although a man, he kept his house spotless inside and out.

Since his leg injury, he’d been unable to move, and dust had accumulated. After cleaning the house, Su Ai went outside to wash the accumulated laundry.

After cleaning up, she went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

As dusk fell, the child, who had been playing wildly, ran back.

The kitchen light was on, and the aroma of food wafted out, but the child didn’t dare go to the kitchen; he went straight to his father’s room.

“Dad.”

“Hmm? Where were you playing? You’re all sweaty. Drink some water.”

“Dad, I went to the mountain with Goudan and the others to rob a bird’s nest, and I got three bird eggs.”

“I want to boil them and eat them.”

“One for Dad, one for me, and one for Mom.”

“Dad, can I take the bird eggs to Mom and ask her to boil them for me?”

Ji Lele blinked his big eyes, seeking his father’s approval.

“Is Mom still home?” Ji Yang asked.

Because his room was inside the house and the kitchen was by the front gate, they were quite far apart.

Ji Yang hadn’t heard any noise outside; the house was silent, making him think Su Ai had gone out again.

“Yes, Mom is cooking in the kitchen. I could smell the food when I came in.”

“Dad, Lele is so hungry; my tummy is rumbling.”

After hearing his son’s words, Ji Yang fell silent. He could clearly see a line of clothes drying outside through the window.

That was a lot of laundry; she probably spent the whole afternoon washing clothes.

After washing the clothes, she’s now cooking.  She’s been incredibly busy.

Since he’d known Su Ai, he’d never seen her do housework. This was the first time.

Could her words have been true?

Did she genuinely want to change for the better?

Ji Yang felt a mix of emotions.