That Bo Jingzhou would suddenly agree to the divorce was something Shen Wanci hadn't anticipated.
But it was also exactly what she'd been wishing for, wasn't it?
She lifted a triumphant smile. "Thank you for granting my wish, Mr. Bo."
Then she turned and left this place that felt so ill-fated to her...
After getting back that night, Shen Wanci put all the documents she'd need the next morning into her bag, but when she saw the photo on the marriage certificate, she found herself dazing off without meaning to.
It was the only photo of the two of them together in their three years of marriage.
She stared at the expressionless man in the picture, and a sour, aching pain slowly welled up in her heart.
At least it was finally about to end—this marriage that had worn her down body and soul.
Never again would she have to sit every night in the empty living room, watching the clock on the wall, wondering whether her husband would come home that night; never again would her heart race at an unintentional touch of his, only to discover in the end it was just her own wishful thinking.
Shen Wanci took one last look at the photo, then, as if it were nothing, tucked the marriage certificate into her bag.
The next day, she got up very early. She'd been unable to sleep all night, drifting in and out of a half-waking state.
Now, standing before the washbasin, she looked at herself in the mirror—a pale, haggard face with two pronounced dark circles hanging under her eyes.
To make herself look a bit more spirited, Shen Wanci deliberately put on rather heavy makeup.
Afraid of traffic, she left early—but the whole way was clear, and she reached the Civil Affairs Bureau without even waiting at a single light.
Checking the time, she was still an hour short of nine. It seemed even Heaven thought the two of them divorcing was the most correct choice, which was why she'd arrived so smoothly even at the morning rush hour.
It was the height of summer, and the eight o'clock morning sun blazed fiercely. Shen Wanci found a shady spot to stand and wait.
During that time she received a WeChat message from Qin Yuezhi: [Wanwan, do you want me to come keep you company?]
She curved her lips and replied: [No need. Getting divorced isn't a brawl—I can manage on my own.]
The message had just gone out when a call came in. It was the landline of the old Bo family residence.
The only person who would use this number to call her was Auntie Wang, and whatever it was about would surely concern Jiang Yazhu.
She frowned, somewhat reluctant to answer. The divorce was just one step from the finish line; she didn't want any more complications.
In the moment of her hesitation the call hung up on its own, and Shen Wanci felt a slight relief—but very soon Auntie Wang called again.
Shen Wanci frowned. Calling repeatedly like this—could there be something urgent?
Her heart inexplicably skipped with panic, and without overthinking it, she answered: "Auntie Wang, what's the matter..."
"Young Madam, Madam suddenly fainted just now while she was eating! Please hurry to the hospital—the doctor says a family member needs to sign!" On the other end, Auntie Wang was so anxious she was almost in tears.
Shen Wanci's face tightened. She hurried to the roadside to hail a cab, answering, "All right, don't panic, I'm coming right away!"
Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the hospital, and Shen Wanci, familiar with the way, ran straight to the emergency room.
Seeing her, Auntie Wang rushed up to meet her, still holding Jiang Yazhu's shawl.
"Madam fell asleep in the bathtub last night while taking a bath. She probably caught a chill, which suddenly brought on the fever."
Ever since giving birth to Bo Jingzhou, Jiang Yazhu had a constitution as fragile as porcelain—at the slightest disturbance she'd fall ill, and the violent, catch-you-off-guard kind at that.
Even just a fever could send her on a trip to the gates of hell.
Shen Wanci held her breath and wiped the sweat from her face, then asked, "Have you called Bo Jingzhou?"
Auntie Wang indicated she hadn't yet.
Shen Wanci wasn't surprised. Bo Jingzhou was usually busy with work and couldn't get away, so Auntie Wang had grown used to coming straight to her whenever something happened.
But they were about to divorce. From now on, many matters would have to be handled by Bo Jingzhou first thing.
"Auntie Wang, call Bo Jingzhou now..."
Before she'd finished speaking, the door of the emergency room was pushed open and a doctor came out. "Family of Jiang Yazhu."
Shen Wanci hurried forward. "That's me. Doctor, how is my mom?"
The doctor glanced at her. "The patient is out of immediate danger for now—we've already pulled her through, but she's still unconscious... However, I'd advise you to have her undergo a thorough full-body examination as well."
At these words, Shen Wanci's heart skipped. She instinctively turned to glance at Auntie Wang beside her, and Auntie Wang turned and went into the emergency room.
Shen Wanci asked again, "Doctor, my mom's health... is there something wrong?"
"Nothing can be confirmed until the results are in. Arrange the examination as soon as possible."
After saying this the doctor left, but Shen Wanci had still picked up on something off...
Later Jiang Yazhu was moved to an ordinary ward, and Shen Wanci kept watch over her while Auntie Wang went back first to brew a nourishing soup.
Looking at the frail woman on the hospital bed, Shen Wanci tidied her disheveled strands of hair for her.
In Shen Wanci's eyes, Jiang Yazhu was her mother. No matter what relationship she and Bo Jingzhou had in the future, she would come visit the old lady often.
While she was lost in thought, Jiang Yazhu woke up.
She normally had low blood pressure and often fainted, so waking up to find herself in the hospital was something she'd long grown used to.
"Wanci... I've troubled you again this time."
"Mom, it's no trouble. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I'll call the doctor to take a look..."
Jiang Yazhu caught hold of her hand and shook her head. "It's the old ailment. I'll be fine in a couple of days."
Her gaze fell on Shen Wanci's made-up face, and she asked with a smile, "Wanci looks so pretty today. You should do your makeup like this every day, all lovely. Are you going on a date with Jingzhou?"
Shen Wanci rarely wore makeup this refined, but she was beautiful to begin with and had lovely skin—right now she was so pretty it was hard to look away.
She didn't say that today she'd arranged with Bo Jingzhou to get divorced, afraid it would upset Jiang Yazhu, so all she could do was stay silent and say nothing.
Jiang Yazhu took her silence as tacit agreement and was overjoyed. "I'm fine now. You and Jingzhou go enjoy yourselves. Auntie Wang will be here soon—she can take good care of me."
Shen Wanci held her hand. "Mom, since you're already admitted, let's just do a full-body examination. It'll put Jingzhou and me at ease too."
Hearing that an examination was to be done, Jiang Yazhu instinctively shook her head, somewhat resistant to the idea.
But before she could speak, Shen Wanci's phone rang. A glance at the screen showed it was Bo Jingzhou calling.
Shen Wanci answered and was just about to speak when the man's voice came through the phone, an accusation laced with suppressed fury: "Shen Wanci, are you toying with me?"