Chapter 17: Divorce! It Must Be Done!

Lin Xiangnan picked up the love letter and examined it carefully. She couldn’t help but laugh.

“The handwriting is so ugly.”

She was a high school student, and a bookworm wouldn’t go to school with an empty backpack every day.

A heavy crossbody bag would press on her shoulders uncomfortably, so the two books on the table were her pretense for going back and forth to school. As soon as she left the house, she would throw the books into her spatial storage.

In other words, these two books were only accessible to Lin Xiangnan and her family. Her classmates couldn’t even see them, let alone have the opportunity to slip in a love letter.

Lin Xiangnan didn’t even need to think to guess who wrote the love letter. Besides her roommate, Liu Hongying, no one else would have done it.

Just as Lin Xiangnan was pondering this, Liu Hongying opened the door and entered the room.

Her gaze fell on the love letter, a smile spreading across her lips. “What are you looking at, Xiaonan? You seem so happy?”

“Looking at a love letter written by a fool to me.”

Lin Xiangnan sighed. “It’s a pity. I’m going to disappoint him. Mom was right, Zhao Qi is a good guy, and I’m not going to be picky anymore. I’m going to try and establish a relationship with him in a couple of days.”

“Love is priceless. If you don’t like Zhao Qi, don’t force yourself.” Liu Hongying’s smile froze.

Lin Xiangnan laughed insincerely. “It’s been a real hassle these past few days. Zhao Qi keeps finding excuses to come to the house. Once I establish a relationship with him in a couple of days, it won’t be like this anymore.”

“No trouble at all. Comrade Zhao is very polite in his speech and actions.”

“Oh, really? That’s good.” Lin Xiangnan asked, “Did Mom introduce you to another prospect? I think it was also a returned educated youth?”

“Ah, yes. The educated youth’s father is paralyzed, and he needs his son to return to the city to take over his job.” Liu Hongying’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

This time, the prospect was good, but the family burden was too heavy, and Liu Hongying wasn’t satisfied.

Thinking about it, all the prospects Hu Meili had introduced her to in the past two years were not good. Either their family had problems or they themselves had problems.

None of them were as good as Zhao Qi, both in terms of personality and family background.

It made sense, after all, her own daughter and stepdaughter were different. If there was a good guy, Hu Meili would naturally keep him for her own daughter.

But Lin Xiangnan was oblivious to her good fortune, and she didn’t even like someone like Zhao Qi.

Liu Hongying silently apologized to Lin Xiangnan in her heart. The time left for her in this family was running out. Zhao Qi was the best man she could grab, and she wasn’t willing to let him go. Since Lin Xiangnan didn’t like him, it shouldn’t matter if she took him.

Lin Xiangnan knew what she was up to, but she didn’t expose her. Instead, she encouraged her, “Opportunities are in your own hands. Don’t just do what your family says.”

“I don’t need you to teach me.” Liu Hongying smiled. “I know what I’m doing.”

“That’s good.”

Lin Xiangnan said she would accept Zhao Qi’s pursuit in a couple of days just to put some pressure on Liu Hongying. But she didn’t expect Liu Hongying to be so efficient. The next day, she made a big scene.

As night fell, an old lady in the courtyard saw someone hugging and kissing in the alley outside. She immediately shouted.

“Oh my, who is this shameless thing, running around outside like this, it’s a complete breach of public morals!”

Hearing such gossip, everyone in the courtyard was immediately interested. Even those who had already gone to bed quickly got dressed and came out to join the fun.

“Who is it? What’s going on?” Hu Meili was at the forefront of the gossip.

Liu Hongying and Zhao Qi were caught in the middle of everyone, unable to escape.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Liu Hongying quickly adjusted her clothes, pretending to be shy, and lowered her head, saying nothing.

Zhao Qi’s expression was initially smug, but when someone shone a flashlight on him, he saw who was beside him and his face immediately froze.

“It’s a misunderstanding, I have nothing to do with her.” Zhao Qi tried to distance himself.

Liu Hongying followed suit. “Yes, it’s a misunderstanding. We are dating, and he didn’t do anything indecent.”

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Qi’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Even if he was stupid, he knew he had been tricked. He could only blame himself for being blind and having lustful thoughts.

He had no choice but to either be charged with hooliganism and sent to a labor camp, or marry Liu Hongying and take responsibility for her.

Zhao Qi had no choice but to agree. “I was just talking to my girlfriend, I didn’t do anything else.”

He had been coming over often lately, and everyone in the courtyard knew him. They also knew that his original target was Lin Xiangnan, but now he was hugging Liu Hongying.

Everyone immediately looked at Hu Meili and Lin Xiangnan with anticipation, waiting for their reaction.

“You shameless little slut, you’re so young and you’re already stealing men.”

Hu Meili was truly furious. She cursed and was about to pounce on Liu Hongying, but Lin Xiangnan quickly pulled her back, urging her loudly, “Mom, don’t be impulsive. There are plenty of men out there.”

“I’ve raised a white-eyed wolf for all these years! Bah, you’re a heartless thing. The Liu family is full of bad people.”

Hu Meili was held back, but Liu Laoblack, under the scrutiny of everyone’s eyes, couldn’t bear it either. He went up to Liu Hongying and slapped her, pushing her back home.

“You’re a disgrace. Get back inside. I’ll see how I deal with you.”

Liu Hongying was already limping, and she was knocked to the ground.

With red eyes, she hugged Liu Laoblack’s leg and cried, “Dad, I know I was wrong.”

Her tears, however, triggered Liu Laoblack’s rare paternal love. His strength lessened, and he pulled her up. “Come back with me. Give your mother and sister an explanation.”

Now, everyone in the courtyard was watching the show. Lin Xiangnan poked Hu Meili’s arm and whispered, “Look at them, they’re obviously trying to get away with it again. Can you even stand for this?”

Hu Meili, with her temper, would definitely not stand for it.

Hu Meili glared at Liu Laoblack, gritting her teeth. “Divorce! We must get a divorce! I can’t live with you anymore!”

The gossiping crowd was about to go home, but hearing this, they stopped and looked at Hu Meili with burning eyes, then started chattering among themselves.

Before, when Hu Meili mentioned divorce, everyone in the courtyard tried to persuade her. But now that she mentioned divorce, everyone just gasped, automatically blaming Liu Hongying.

“I’ve always known that Liu Hongying is a troublemaker. Ever since she came back to the city, their family hasn’t been peaceful. Now she’s stolen her sister’s man and even caused her father to want a divorce.”

“They’ve been married for over ten years, and their relationship has been destroyed like this.”

“Hu Meili has raised this child for over ten years, right? Men are careless, and the child’s food and clothing, which one wasn’t provided by Hu Meili? Now that the child is grown up, she wants to drive away her stepmother, she’s heartless.”

Regardless of the gossip, Lin Xiangnan declared loudly and righteously, “Mom, I support you!”

Lin Xiangxi followed suit, “Mom, I support you too.”