The Whole World Wants Them to Get a Divorce - Chapter 5

The cantaloupe was both sweet and crunchy, and as it melted in her mouth, Lu Xi looked at the blossoming smile on the woman’s face and felt an indescribable, subtle sensation.

This feeling had first appeared when Si Yu happily signed the divorce agreement and smiled, telling her she was happy about the divorce.

Yet, the next day, the woman went back on her word, crying and clinging to her, saying she loved her.

It was so melodramatic.

Just like the time she faked a suicide attempt, tricked her into coming back, and then cried and begged when Lu Xi left in a rage.

But somehow, it also felt a little different.

With her grandmother right outside the kitchen, there were some things Lu Xi couldn’t say.

Si Yu couldn’t read her expression or guess her thoughts. She cheerfully speared two more pieces of cantaloupe with a toothpick, went to the kitchen door, and bent down to face the old woman. “Grandma, say ‘ah’—”

The old woman showed her dentures, took a bite of the melon, and said, “It’s so sweet.”

Si Yu’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Eating more fruit is good for your health.”

“Everything you say is right,” the old woman said, dotingly.

Si Yu then gave the other piece of melon to the housekeeper and took the wheelchair.

The housekeeper was flattered. “Thank you, Miss Si.”

“You’re welcome.” Si Yu turned the wheelchair around and said to the person in the kitchen, “Bring the plate over.”

Lu Xi: “…”

It had been a long time since anyone dared to order her around like that. This woman, Si Yu…

“Miss, I can do it.”

Lu Xi refused the housekeeper’s offer. She looked at the square pieces of melon on the plate and, thinking of the “little heart” she had just eaten, pursed her lips.

Another housekeeper came running over with Lu Xi’s phone. “Miss, you have a call.”

The term “Miss” sent shivers down Si Yu’s spine. She took the fruit plate from Lu Xi and said considerately, “You go ahead. I’ll stay with Grandma.”

Lu Xi looked hesitant.

Si Yu saw the guarded look in her eyes and whispered, “The housekeeper is right here. What are you so worried about?”

Lu Xi studied her for a few seconds, then took her phone and went upstairs.

“Qiao Qiao.”

Si Yu turned her gaze from Lu Xi and smiled broadly at the old woman. “Grandma.”

The old woman glanced upstairs and said, “Xi Xi has had that temper since she was a child. Don’t take it personally.”

Si Yu laughed. “I don’t. Here, have some melon.”

“You have some, too.”

Grandmother and “granddaughter” went back and forth, enjoying each other’s company.

“The madam is back.”

“Mmm.” A bejeweled lady walked through the door and handed her new bags and shoes to a housekeeper. “Make me a cup of coffee.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Si Yu looked up and saw a well-dressed woman. A name popped into her mind: Tang Jie.

Tang Jie was the wife of Lu Corporation’s chairman, Lu Zhennan, and Lu Xi’s stepmother. The novel only gave a few brief descriptions of this character, so Si Yu didn’t remember much, but she quickly guessed the woman’s identity from the housekeeper’s address.

She stood up and greeted her. “Good afternoon, Stepmother.”

Tang Jie was over forty but was well-preserved and wore delicate makeup. She walked with a sway. She hadn’t noticed that there were people in the house. When she finally saw Si Yu, she said with an exaggerated expression, “Isn’t that Si Yu? Long time no see. I heard Xi Xi is divorcing you? If you’re getting a divorce, why are you still here?”

Si Yu: “…”

One moment, Si Yu knew nothing about the stepmother character. Now she knew a little something. She’s a gossip!

The woman’s attitude was unfriendly, but she was still an elder.

Si Yu was trying to figure out how to respond when she heard the old woman say, “Qiao Qiao came to see me. Do you have a problem with that?”

The old woman looked kind and gentle, but her presence was imposing.

Tang Jie’s face immediately changed. She laughed awkwardly. “Mom, you’re the head of the house. What opinion could I have? I just… wait, Mom, what did you call her? She’s Si Yu. Why are you calling her Qiao Qiao?”

The old woman’s brow furrowed. “What Si Yu? She is Qiao Qiao.”

Tang Jie looked at Si Yu from head to toe with a ghostly expression. “She’s Si Yu! She came to see you a few months ago and caused you to fall, which is why Xi Xi said she was going to divorce her!”

“Divorce?” Tang Jie had said a lot, but the old woman only focused on that one word. She turned to Si Yu abruptly.

Si Yu: “…”

“She and Xi Xi got married two years ago. The Lu and Si families had an arranged marriage. Have you forgotten?”

The old woman’s mind was good one moment and bad the next. Tang Jie’s words only confused her more. She gripped Si Yu’s hand tightly. “Qiao Qiao, what is going on?”

Si Yu touched her nose and mumbled, “Grandma, Lu Xi and I are indeed married.”

She was quite nervous.

The old woman had mistaken her for Yuan Qiao, the fake daughter of the Lu family, while Lu Xi was the real daughter. These two were supposed to be rivals or at least strangers. Si Yu was a little worried that if the old woman was conservative and thought a marriage between two women was immoral, she might faint from shock.

“What???!!!”

When Si Yu saw the look of terror in the old woman’s eyes, she knew things were bad.

The old woman’s grip on her hand tightened, but in a flash, the terror in her eyes was gone, replaced by a joyful smile. She said delightedly, “You and Xi Xi got married!”

“…Huh?” Si Yu was completely baffled by the old woman’s sudden change in mood.

“This is great!”

Great?

What’s so great about it?

“This is great, this is great.” The old woman’s eyes were sharp and clear. She patted Si Yu’s hand excitedly. “You married Xi Xi! Now you can rightfully come back to the Lu family. You’re still our Lu family child!”

Si Yu: “…”

Si Yu was dumbfounded.

Si Yu’s brain had short-circuited.

She had been worried the old woman would not accept it, get angry, or lecture her. She never expected the old woman to be so open-minded!

“What’s so great about it?” Tang Jie said anxiously. “Mom, have you forgotten that she made you fall the last time she was here? You were the first to object when she and Xi Xi got married. Why are you defending her now? Mom, look closely! She is Si Yu! She is not Qiao Qiao! Besides, Yuan Qiao isn’t a part of our Lu family. Has she come back to see you in all these years she’s been abroad? Yuan Qiao is a scumbag. She has long forgotten about you, and you… Oh, Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Grandma!” Si Yu’s heart stopped when she saw the old woman’s eyes roll back and her breathing become shallow. She forgot her place and pushed Tang Jie away, who was trying to get closer. She yelled, “Call a doctor, quickly!”

When Lu Xi heard the commotion and came downstairs, the scene was utter chaos.

The Lu family had a private doctor, who arrived as quickly as possible.

The old woman lay in bed, being examined by the doctor. She was holding Si Yu’s hand, who was pale and visibly shaken. She comforted her, “I’m fine.”

Si Yu held her hand back. Looking at that kind face, she felt a swirl of emotions.

She wasn’t the real “Si Yu,” and the old woman had no connection to her, but every time she saw that face, she couldn’t help but think of her late grandmother.

Her concern was genuine, not an act.

After the examination, the doctor told the old woman to rest and left the room.

Three people were waiting outside the room: Lu Xi, Tang Jie, and Lu Zhennan, who had rushed back after hearing the news.

“How’s my mother?” Lu Zhennan asked the doctor immediately.

“She’s fine physically, but her emotions are unstable.” The doctor said, “Mr. Lu, I made it very clear last week that the old madam needs to rest peacefully and, most importantly, should not be emotionally agitated.”

Lu Zhennan glared fiercely at Tang Jie.

Tang Jie’s shoulders slumped.

The doctor continued, “I’ll prescribe some sedative medicine for her. As long as her emotions are stable, there shouldn’t be any other major issues.”

“Thank you, Dr. Chen.”

“You’re welcome.”

As soon as the doctor left, Lu Zhennan’s polite smile vanished. He pointed at Tang Jie. “This is all your fault!”

While the doctor was examining the old woman, Lu Zhennan had learned the full story from Lu Xi and the housekeeper. When he found out that some of Tang Jie’s words had upset the old woman, he was furious.

Tang Jie lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry, dear. I won’t do it again.”

Lu Zhennan suppressed his anger and went in to see the old woman.

Si Yu stood up and respectfully said, “Father,” to the dignified and imposing middle-aged man in front of her.

Lu Zhennan glanced at her and gave a small grunt in acknowledgment.

After a few comforting words and a perfunctory apology to the old woman, Tang Jie was excused.

The old woman did not accept her apology. Her gaze went past her and landed on Lu Xi, who was standing at the back. “You all can leave. I want to speak with Xi Xi alone.”

The old woman held a high status in the Lu family. Even Lu Zhennan had to obey her. After a few words of caution for her to rest, he took Tang Jie and left the room.

Si Yu was also about to leave.

“Qiao Qiao, you stay,” the old woman called out to her. She motioned for them to come closer and got straight to the point. “Why are you getting a divorce?”

Si Yu: “…”

Lu Xi: “…”

Si Yu peeked at Lu Xi, and when their cold eyes met, her heart jumped. She bit her lower lip and said, “Don’t blame her. It’s my fault for not being good enough.”

“Nonsense. You’re the most sensible and best child,” the old woman said, fiercely protective. She turned to Lu Xi and said, “Qiao Qiao is beautiful and kind-hearted. You won’t find anyone like her even if you search with a lantern. Why do you want to divorce her?”

Lu Xi subconsciously turned to look at the person beside her. Her facial features were indeed flawless.

Si Yu blinked at her.

“…” Lu Xi silently looked away, wanting to say, “Grandma, you must have a misunderstanding about what a ‘kind-hearted’ person is,” but then she remembered how her grandmother had reacted half an hour ago and swallowed the words. She changed her answer to, “We’re not compatible.”

Si Yu: “…”

The old woman: “…”

Lu Xi didn’t want to elaborate, and the old woman didn’t want to force her, so the topic was dropped.

Si Yu was enthusiastically invited by the old woman to stay for dinner.

At the dinner table, everyone tacitly avoided the subject of the divorce.

After the meal, Si Yu wanted to push the old woman out into the yard for a stroll. As they were leaving, she heard Lu Zhennan say to Lu Xi, “Come to the study with me.”

In the study, the father and daughter stood and sat, respectively.

Lu Xi’s tone was firm. “I am going to get this divorce.”

Lu Zhennan was silent for a moment. “Your grandmother now thinks Si Yu is Qiao Qiao. Have you considered the consequences of getting a divorce right now? The doctor said she can’t handle any more stress.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Lu Xi’s cold eyes. She stayed silent.

Lu Zhennan knew her mind was already made up. He changed the subject. “I heard from people at the company that you’re in an ambiguous relationship with an artist named Liang Yufei. What’s that about?”

It took Lu Xi a few seconds to remember who Liang Yufei was. She frowned. “It’s just a rumor.”

…

The father and daughter talked about business for a few hours. By the time they left the study, it was very late.

Lu Xi went straight to her room.

When she opened the door, she saw a person sitting at her desk, dozing with one hand propping up her head. Lu Xi’s eyes narrowed. “Who let you in?”

Si Yu jolted awake. She saw it was Lu Xi, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and stood up. “Grandma said I’m sleeping here tonight. Are you done?”

“This is my room. Please leave,” Lu Xi said politely.

Si Yu shook her head, saying stiffly, “I have to listen to Grandma.”

Sleep in the same room with me? In your dreams.

Lu Xi opened the door.

She ran into the old woman in her wheelchair and the housekeeper on the hallway right outside the door. Lu Xi was stunned. She quickly walked over. “Why are you up?”

The old woman looked behind her. “You and Qiao Qiao are married now, so I didn’t have anyone clean the guest room.”

Lu Xi wanted to say something, but couldn’t.

“Grandma, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Si Yu rushed out when she heard the noise.

The old woman smiled at her. “I’ll go to sleep after you two do.”

“That’s not good. The doctor said you shouldn’t stay up late.”

“I won’t stay up late, and neither should you two.”

Si Yu quickly said, “We won’t, we won’t. We’re going to sleep right away. You should go back to bed now.”

The old woman didn’t move or let the housekeeper move the wheelchair. She seemed to know that Lu Xi was planning to leave and was standing squarely in the middle of the hallway. She looked at Lu Xi. “Where are you going at this hour?”

“I…”

Before Lu Xi could finish, Si Yu pushed her into the room. She smiled gleefully. “Grandma, we’re going to bed now. Good night!”

When the door closed, the coldness in Lu Xi’s eyes intensified.

Si Yu bowed deeply, her face radiant with a smile. “My dear wife, it’s getting late. Shall we take a shower and go to bed now?”

Lu Xi’s beautiful lips twitched slightly.