Chapter 2: We’re Getting a Divorce

In the past, their way of getting along was this: after meals, Xie Yunshu would rush to clean up the table, making sure Lu Zhixing didn’t need to lift a finger when it came to housework. Even when he cooked, she would assist him at his side.

She once believed this was the love shared between husband and wife. But now, she only wanted to curse herself for being a fool—why did she serve him like that? He was an attending physician at Haicheng First People’s Hospital, and she hadn’t gained a single advantage from it. Her entire salary went into maintaining their household. What had this miserable marriage brought her in return?

Instead, he used his position to label her as mentally ill!

Lu Zhixing slowly put down his bowl. If he couldn’t sense that something had changed in Xie Yunshu by now, he’d truly be an idiot.

“Yunshu, I can explain what happened with Xinyue.”

Xie Yunshu stood at the bedroom door, feeling it was all a joke. Now he wanted to explain? In their past life, when she had questioned him hysterically, what had he said?

He had merely rubbed his brow impatiently, looking at her like she was insane:
“Stop being unreasonable. Isn’t a whole day enough time for you to calm down? Xinyue’s been through enough—why do you have to make things harder for her?”

Back then, Xie Yunshu had swallowed her grievances in silence. He turned a blind eye to Zhou Xinyue’s provocations and ignored the mockery of others. She had been left to suffer alone, tormented and driven mad.

And the people around her? They’d only sneer:
“Dr. Lu is such a good man. He still hasn’t divorced a wife like that. Anyone else would’ve kicked her out already! Xie Yunshu is a disgrace to him!”

In this life? She didn’t care who caused a scene. All she wanted was money and a peaceful life for herself.

If he cherished his childhood sweetheart and white moonlight so much, then he could live happily with her. If he wanted to raise her son, then so be it. But he’d better not expect to keep tying her down!

As for the excuses he wanted to make—she already knew them all.

Perhaps he had never seen Xie Yunshu act so cold toward him. Lu Zhixing, for once, explained a lot. Besides the truths she already knew in her previous life, he added,
“Yunshu, our Lu family owes Zhou Xinyue. I have to repay her. Once she’s settled down, I won’t have any more contact with her. Is that okay?”

But Zhou Xinyue would never settle down! She was like dodder, constantly clinging to Lu Zhixing, always finding excuses using her child to summon him. And between her and Zhou Xinyue, Lu Zhixing never once chose her!

In her past life, Xie Yunshu was consumed by paranoia and watched his every move. Every time Zhou Xinyue appeared, she’d lose her temper and scream, which only earned her the label of a madwoman.

But now, she no longer held any love for Lu Zhixing and clearly saw the absurdity of his words:
“If you owe the Zhou family, why should I be the one to pay it back? Just because I married you, I deserve this?!”

Just for being labeled his wife, did that mean she was in debt to him?

She earned around 40 yuan a month, nearly all of which went to the household. Meanwhile, Lu Zhixing only contributed 10 yuan. She even had to buy him clothes and make delicious meals!

And in the end, it was her who owed him?! What kind of twisted logic was that?

“You were afraid of ruining her reputation, so you had me locked in a hospital! I lost my job at the packaging factory too! Why should I be the one to repay your Zhou family’s debt? Lu Zhixing, do you even know what that job meant to me?! Most of my salary went to her and her son—what was I to you?! Who is your wife, really?!”

Thinking of her past life, Xie Yunshu could no longer hold back her emotions. She hated Zhou Xinyue, but she hated even more the man who had vowed to take care of her.

Lu Zhixing’s breath caught. There had been so many people back then, he hadn’t thought it through:
“Yunshu, it’s okay if you lose your job—I’ll take care of you forever. Once Xinyue settles down, I won’t give her money anymore.”

Xie Yunshu wiped her tears fiercely. She would never believe a single word from him again!

In her past life, she had fought tooth and nail to hold on to the title of Mrs. Lu, turning herself into a shrew. Meanwhile, Zhou Xinyue became the head nurse at the hospital—regarded as the perfect match for Lu Zhixing.

People would even say to her face:
“If Dr. Lu weren’t so responsible, how could he stay with someone like you? If it weren’t for bad luck, Zhou Xinyue would’ve been the one to marry him!”

Everyone pitied Zhou Xinyue’s fate. Lu Zhixing had her institutionalized, the packaging factory fired her, and everyone watched her suffer.

Behind his back, people ridiculed her, calling her a lunatic who wasn’t good enough for Dr. Lu—a toad longing for a swan!

They said if the Zhou family hadn’t fallen, Lu Zhixing would’ve definitely married Zhou Xinyue. What chance did a crazy woman from a single-parent home have?

They said she was a rude, uncultured woman—nothing compared to the refined and educated Zhou Xinyue! But in reality, she and Lu Zhixing had met through a blind date, and he was the one who pursued her!

Take care of her for life?

Sure, he did. But he also drove her mad with suffering. After ten years of a miserable marriage, she didn’t even have a child. She had to watch him raise Zhou Xinyue’s son.

In her thirties, she looked like she was in her forties—lifeless and worn down. In her dream’s end, she and Zhou Xinyue were trapped in a warehouse during a sudden fire. Through thick smoke, Xie Yunshu saw her husband carrying the terrified Zhou Xinyue and leaving her behind without hesitation.

She died from suffocation. And when she opened her eyes again, she was back ten years earlier…

Remembering the agony of her death, Xie Yunshu’s eyes filled with hatred. She turned to Lu Zhixing coldly, voice devoid of all love or warmth.

“Stop with this useless nonsense! You defended Zhou Xinyue and cost me my job. So I want three thousand yuan in compensation—and then we divorce. Go save whoever you want. I’m done.”

“No!” Lu Zhixing suddenly stood, stumbling slightly in panic. He hadn’t expected her to bring up divorce!

The wooden table wobbled, and a bowl fell to the floor, shattering with a harsh crash. Lu Zhixing, usually composed, was visibly agitated for the first time.
“Yunshu, I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll give you the money—but we can’t divorce!”

His eyes were filled with panic, voice no longer calm or composed:
“Yunshu, let’s not get divorced.”

Once a man as proud as a flower on a mountaintop now pleading like this—had it been the old Xie Yunshu, she might’ve been overjoyed. But now, she only felt irritated.

Seeing her stay silent, Lu Zhixing’s heart sank. He took a deep breath:
“You’re just not calm right now. Don’t say things you’ll regret.”

Just then, a crisp voice came from the doorway:
“Zhixing-ge, is sister-in-law back?”

Zhou Xinyue stood in the doorway in a soft yellow down jacket and a red scarf. She looked far too put-together for someone supposedly coming back from hardship.

Seeing the shattered bowl on the floor, she gasped and covered her mouth:
“Zhixing-ge, did you two fight again because of me? Sister-in-law, even if you’re angry, don’t smash things. There’s really nothing between me and Zhixing-ge!”