All conditions were met: the timing, the location, and the people. Lu Mingzhe dismissed the chef and personally poured a glass of wine for Fang Shuya.
"I've put you through a lot," he said, raising the glass. "This is for you."
Fang Shuya looked uneasy. "Husband…"
"Call me Brother, or Zhe. We're not husband and wife anymore, just friends. Let's talk openly."
Fang Shuya had a bad feeling. She watched him warily, and as expected, Lu Mingzhe began to ask about her romantic history. He had never asked before, as if he didn't care. But today…
Fang Shuya felt a surge of anger. Even if there was no love between them, he had at least been willing to pretend. What was he trying to do now? He couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore? Was she, Fang Shuya, so worthless, so undeserving of love? If that was the case, why had he married her?
"Do you have something to tell me? Is there someone else? Just say it if you do."
Suddenly shedding her pretense, the meek and gentle Fang Shuya seemed to reveal her fangs. Lu Mingzhe, however, breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry…"
If they had to divorce, Fang Shuya would be the one to maintain her dignity. She hadn't understood before, being devoted to Lu Mingzhe. But recently, she had learned a lot. Marriage was like a battle; one needed courage and strategy to retreat with honor. Since she couldn't have him, she would have his money. She intended not only to make Lu Mingzhe bear all the blame but also to secure his wealth and everything else.
"Is it her? Has the one you loved so much before returned?"
Lu Mingzhe admitted, "Yes."
"So you've been with her all this time when you weren't answering my calls?"
"Yes."
"And when you said you'd take me to Hangcheng for our honeymoon, was that for her too?"
At this point, more words were useless. Lu Mingzhe confessed, "Yes."
His honesty wounded her pride and filled her with sorrow. "I see. I was self-indulgent from beginning to end, clinging to you."
"Alright. I won't bother you anymore. We'll divorce, but…"
"It's all yours. This apartment, the car in my name, I'll give it all to you."
In the past, Fang Shuya might have been satisfied. After all, the apartment's location was excellent, and it was practically impossible to find another like it. She had spent half a year acquiring it, which was quite an achievement. But now, she was no longer content. Lu Mingzhe himself was far more desirable than the apartment. He was so handsome, so gentle, and he would continue to earn a lot of money in the future, but it would all be unrelated to her. The thought made her furious.
"I'm not here to talk about the apartment. You know both our families like me. A sudden divorce… you'll have to explain it to them yourself."
"So you want me to call them over right now to explain?"
"Of course. I can't go back and tell my mother. You know her temper…"
See, this was the difference between having love and not having it. A week ago, Fang Shuya would have been reluctant to put him through such public torment. But as she thought, Lu Mingzhe found it rather good. The more she did, the less guilt he would feel towards her.
Lu Mingzhe called both sets of parents and invited them over. An hour later, the parents began to arrive.
About an hour later, both sets of parents arrived. Mother Lu even brought a thermos.
"I recently got some excellent ginseng, and thinking that Ya Ya was preparing for pregnancy, I saved it for her. I planned to stew it slowly today and bring it to you tomorrow, but I didn't expect…"
"Drink it while it's hot, Ya Ya. It's very nourishing."
Seeing this, Mother Fang glanced at the contents. "Indeed. The color, oh my, it's rare. Sister, you've been so thoughtful."
"Ya Ya, look how good your mother-in-law is to you. Why don't you say thank you quickly?"
Fang Shuya couldn't bring herself to thank her, and at this point, she was too tired to pretend. "You should keep this precious item for yourself, or perhaps for your next daughter-in-law. My life is shallow and my fortune thin; I cannot bear such richness."
She left no room for courtesy, and all the elders were stunned. Her mother immediately scolded her. "What are you saying? What's your attitude? Did you and Zhe have an argument? Even so… you have no upbringing! Apologize to your mother-in-law at once!"
Fang Shuya's eyes immediately welled up. "What do you mean I have no upbringing? Mom, I'm your daughter! Who is Lu Mingzhe to you that you're protecting him like this? He doesn't even want you as a son-in-law, and you're still protecting him?"
Mother Lu's eyelids twitched, and she looked at Lu Mingzhe. "What's going on, Zhe? Are you two…"
Lu Mingzhe opened his mouth to explain, "Mom…"
"Shut up! Beast! Get on your knees!"
Before he could utter another word, Father Lu, enraged, strode over. "You unfilial son! Do you want to disgrace me completely and make it impossible for me to stay in Nancheng before you're satisfied? Huh?"
"You're thirty years old, and you can't even yield during an argument with your wife, casually bringing up divorce. Do you really treat marriage as a game?"
"This is the second time! It's your good fortune that Ya Ya doesn't dislike you, yet you dare to provoke her? You dare to have your parents-in-law come over late at night to witness your foolishness? You're going to kill me!"
His father's words were harsh, but they were all true. Lu Mingzhe had no defense and had prepared for the worst. So, he truly knelt, facing the Fang parents.
"I'm sorry, I'm not human. Please forgive me for not being able to call you Mom and Dad anymore. I have someone else I love, and I can't continue with Ya Ya."
The others were stunned. "What?!"
"Since I married Ya Ya, she and you have always taken good care of me. I will never forget your kindness. If there's a chance in the future, please allow me to repay you, but today…"
"You can hate me, hit me, scold me, but please don't blame Ya Ya. It's all my fault. I didn't call you here specifically to make you angry, but to let you deal with me as you see fit."
Having said that, he lowered his head, ready to face any punishment. The Fang parents looked incredulous. "It's only been this long since you got married, and this… has some woman outside seduced you?"
"Zhe, you're young and kind. You often go to social events. If you made a mistake out of confusion, we can forgive you, but you absolutely cannot joke about divorce!"
They were quite magnanimous, viewing the matter so lightly that Lu Mingzhe was speechless. He could only look at Fang Shuya. The Fang parents also looked at her. "Ya Ya, are you being forced? Do you insist on divorcing, and you want him to give an explanation? You child…"
Fang Shuya sneered. "I didn't expect him to be so successful that you would speak up for him."
"Isn't what he said clear enough? He has someone else, and he doesn't want me anymore. Mom, Dad, please wake up!"
"Bastard!"
Father Lu was so angry he raised his foot to kick him, but at that critical moment, Mother Lu stepped in front of Lu Mingzhe. She took the kick squarely from her husband.
"Don't hit him, don't scold him. It's all my fault. If you want to hit someone, hit me!"
Everyone standing was stunned again. What was going on?
Mother Lu clutched her chest where the kick had landed and knelt on the ground with Lu Mingzhe, her eyes welling up. "Actually, I never stopped investigating Xiang Wan. I remember what I promised you, so I know Xiang Wan's situation recently."