Chapter 17 Divorce Agreement

Lin Anran felt a burning heat all over her body, wanting to shed her clothes to cool down. She actively responded to Leng Feng, saying, “Leng Feng, I’ll give myself to you now. I love you…”

Leng Feng, sensing all her tenderness through the darkness, held her arms and said, “This wouldn’t be fair to you. Wait until our wedding day.” Seeing her willing, dazed eyes in the dark, he felt himself falling again, tempted to surrender completely. But he suddenly regained his clarity, knowing how important a woman’s purity was in this era. Gently shaking Lin Anran beneath him, he said, “Anran, we can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

He rolled off and lay beside her, embracing her. “I know your heart, and I want to give you a complete, proper wedding.”

Hearing his words, Lin Anran’s eyes moistened. She nestled against him, feeling happy and secure. “Okay, I’ll wait,” she said, and they held each other tenderly.

At that moment, a loud banging came from the side room—they knew it was Gao Ershan awake. He shouted angrily, “Lin Anran, open the door right now! If you don’t, I’ll smash it down!” Lin Anran considered letting him out but worried he might cause more trouble. She covered her ears, ignoring his furious pounding.

Leng Feng held her close. “Let him sleep. It’s going to be a sleepless night anyway.”

Lin Anran realized he was considerate of her purity, wanting to give her a proper wedding. Holding her petite form in his arms, Leng Feng felt happiness beyond words. He finally understood why the men in his unit longed to go home, excited and full of energy—it must feel like this. He watched Lin Anran’s even breathing as she slept, gently moving the hair off her face, caressing her lips and smooth cheeks. He pressed a soft kiss on her lips.

He quietly got out of bed, went to a corner of the yard, pulled out his phone, and sent a message: “I was ambushed right after getting off the train. I’m in An County now. Safe. Don’t worry.”

After sending the message, he returned inside, lying beside Lin Anran. She thought he was leaving and pretended to sleep, feeling relief when she sensed him lying down beside her.

At four in the morning, Leng Feng glanced at her sleeping face, kissed her forehead again, and whispered, “Wait for me. Wait for me to come back.” He quietly got up, opened the door gently, looked back once more, closed it, and slipped out into the dark night.

Lin Anran heard the door close and knew he had gone. She moved away the residual warmth he left, tears brimming in her eyes. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she finally got up, gazed at the place Leng Feng had left, and inhaled deeply, catching a faint floral scent. She realized she couldn’t just stay and endure Gao Ershan any longer.

As a woman in the 20th century, she decided to take control of her own life. She lit a kerosene lamp, took out paper and ink, and wrote a divorce agreement, detailing all the hardships she had faced since marriage. Gao Ershan had cheated first; their marriage existed in name only.

By the time she finished, it was five in the morning. The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten. Looking at the divorce papers, she went to the yard to stretch, enjoying the quiet morning. Although it was May, the air still carried a coolness.

Back inside, she thought about resting but remembered she needed to retrieve her original graduation certificate first before taking the next step. Acting decisively, she brought out the dowry boxes, unpacked her clothes, and five quilts. Based on her memories of the original owner, she knew a black box at the bottom contained the graduation certificate. She spread out the quilts and finally found the certificate, noticing the stark difference between the old photo and her current appearance. Satisfied, she returned the quilts to the box and rested briefly.

Suddenly, loud pounding on the door shook the house, followed by Gao Ershan’s furious shouts, tearing through the night and startling birds in the trees.

“Lin Anran, open the door right now! If you don’t, I’ll make you regret it when I get out!”

Lin Anran calmly walked to the side room. “Ershan, I’ll open the door, but you have to agree to one condition.”

Desperate and unable to hold in his bladder after a night of waiting, Gao Ershan pleaded, “Fine, I agree! Just open the door first.”

Lin Anran didn’t budge. “Sign the divorce papers first. Don’t worry, I’m asking for nothing else.” She slid the papers through the door crack.

“You—you won’t get away with this!” Gao Ershan was angry, upset that she would initiate a divorce just as he started to feel affection for her. He tried to tear the papers, but Lin Anran threatened, “If you tear them, you won’t get out.”

Gao Ershan paused, stopped tearing, and reluctantly signed. Lin Anran took the signed papers, checked them carefully, and smiled. “Good!”

Before opening the door, worried he might back out, she returned to the main room and hid the papers safely, then went back to the side room. Gao Ershan, irritated by her movements, stomped in frustration.

Finally, Lin Anran opened the door. Gao Ershan barged past her and rushed to the toilet. After relieving himself, he felt much better and glared viciously at Lin Anran, walking toward her.

Thinking he had agreed to the divorce, Lin Anran smiled—but suddenly felt a sharp slap to her face. Gao Ershan cursed, “You little jade-footed brat! You want a divorce and to cheat on me? Who’s your lover?”

He grabbed a wooden stick from the floor, swinging it at her. Lin Anran saw the danger and ran, shouting, “Help! Gao Ershan is trying to kill me!”

Enraged by her cries, Gao Ershan’s eyes blazed. “You’ll regret this today!” He grabbed Lin Anran, carried her into the main room, laid her on the bed, and pinned her beneath him…