Chapter 105: At Worst, We'll Get Divorced

Song Chengyi's lips curled into a smile as he pulled her along, urging her to keep running. The two of them ended up sprinting out of the mall.

"Where are we going?" Luo Yixia asked, bewildered by the bustling traffic outside.

"Where do you want to go?" Song Chengyi answered her question with another.

"Let's just find somewhere to sit for a while. Honestly, I just want to lie down at home," Luo Yixia replied, sounding pitiful.

"Alright," Song Chengyi nodded.

"I know a really good milk tea shop up ahead," Luo Yixia grinned mischievously.

With that, she dragged Song Chengyi along, breaking into a run.

Being a native of City A, Luo Yixia was thoroughly familiar with the area. She knew all the best spots for milk tea and desserts—her knowledge was unmatched when it came to food.

Sure enough, after just a few steps, they arrived at a milk tea shop. The exterior was decorated in a girlish style, and inside, it was awash in pink, no wonder it attracted so many girls.

There were a few scattered patrons inside.

Luo Yixia pulled Song Chengyi to a seat by the window, then cheerfully skipped off to order milk tea.

From afar, Song Chengyi watched her as she chatted with the staff. For reasons he couldn’t explain, his mood was unexpectedly good.

If it were before, Song Chengyi would never have believed he’d come to a place like this; now, he found himself actually looking forward to it.

Soon, Luo Yixia returned with two cups of milk tea.

"I think pearl milk tea is too sweet for you, so I got you the red bean one—it’s really delicious," Luo Yixia said, handing him the drink like a child awaiting praise.

He took it from her. Luo Yixia had already inserted the straw, and Song Chengyi took a sip. Though he couldn’t quite grasp what made it so tasty, he nodded in cooperation.

Seeing him nod, Luo Yixia relaxed and sat down obediently, sipping her own drink.

So good.

"I suddenly feel sorry for Zeming—haha! We managed to escape, and he’s the only one left behind. It’s so immoral," Luo Yixia laughed.

Song Chengyi didn’t respond. For some reason, whenever he heard Luo Yixia mention Song Zeming, especially the way she called him "Brother Zeming," he felt irritated.

"Are you close with him?" Song Chengyi asked quietly.

"What kind of question is that? Of course we’re close. I’m an only child, and there aren’t any cousins in the family. Zeming has always looked after me like an older brother—you’ve always known that, haven’t you?" Luo Yixia replied, seemingly unaware of his underlying meaning.

"So, the one you liked back then was Song Zeming? Or do you still like him now?" The words slipped out before Song Chengyi could stop himself.

Luo Yixia frowned, finally understanding his implication. "So you think I like him?"

Her words were laced with sarcasm.

Song Chengyi didn’t reply. Looking at her, he realized he’d been too rash and said something he shouldn’t have.

But to Luo Yixia, his silence seemed like an admission.

"So this is what you always thought of me?" Luo Yixia laughed at herself.

"Isn’t it true?" Song Chengyi, flustered, blurted out, feeling frustrated as he looked at her.

"So, you want to go through with the divorce?" Luo Yixia snapped, her anger rising.

She wasn’t even sure what emotion her words carried—somehow, it wasn’t as untouchable as before. Now, it came out almost effortlessly.

"Now you’re the one who wants the divorce?" Song Chengyi was genuinely angry this time. It was the second time she’d brought it up, and he started to doubt her feelings for him.

Did Luo Yixia ever truly care for him? Last time, she said she’d let him go easily; now, she wanted a divorce.

Luo Yixia stared at him. He was the one who asked the wrong question, the one who didn’t trust her, and yet now she was the unreasonable one, the one who wanted a divorce.

"Fine, I’m the one who wants the divorce. Let’s do it. Luckily, we haven’t held the wedding yet, and no one knows we’re married," Luo Yixia said, then got up and left.

Her movements and voice drew the attention of those around her. Everyone was watching them.

When had Song Chengyi ever been so angered by someone? He should have been the one upset, but somehow it felt like he had wronged her.

He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, stood up, paid the bill, and left.

By the time he stepped outside, Luo Yixia was nowhere to be seen.

Now he regretted it—had he gone too far?

Luo Yixia had always had a strong temper; who knew where she’d run off to now?

Song Chengyi searched the surrounding area for a while but couldn’t find her.

Not long after, his mother called.

"Chengyi, where did you take Xiaxia? Come back and try on clothes. Wenjing and I picked out so many for you. Why can’t we reach Xiaxia’s phone?" Yu Wenjing asked while sorting through clothes.

"We’re out. You and Wenjing can pick them yourselves," Song Chengyi replied and hung up.

It seemed Luo Yixia hadn’t gone back, he thought.

He tried calling her, but the phone was unreachable—it was switched off.

She was never this clever, yet now she wouldn’t give him any chance.

Where could she have gone?

Song Chengyi stood on the busy street, frustrated, rubbing his hair. He realized he didn’t know her at all—not her preferences, not where she might go.

This time, he was truly panicked.

He had always been confident, always in control. But now, he was at a loss, knowing nothing about Luo Yixia.

He began to regret it, more than ever before.

He searched everywhere he could think of, called home, but the housekeeper said she hadn’t returned, the Luo family’s doors were tightly shut.

It was clear she hadn’t gone home.

He spent the entire afternoon searching every possible place. As the sun set and the sky turned crimson, his anxiety grew.

The feeling was just like that night when Luo Yixia disappeared—perhaps even stronger.

During this time, Song Chengyi even called Gan Yanyan, who was far away in her hometown, miles from City A. She had no idea where Luo Yixia would go—Luo Yixia hadn’t contacted her either.

Holding his phone, Song Chengyi ran to a park near his home, hoping to wait for her there—surely she’d return when it got dark.

But the deeper he walked, the more clearly he heard crying.

He followed the sound until he found her sitting on a swing, head bowed, sobbing her heart out.

Song Chengyi couldn’t help but find it almost amusing.

He’d been frantic with worry, and she’d hidden herself here.

Finally, his tense heart relaxed. He let out a breath and walked slowly over.

In Luo Yixia’s line of sight, a pair of white canvas shoes appeared.

"Let’s go home," Song Chengyi’s voice echoed above her.

But Luo Yixia refused to acknowledge him, stubbornly wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"I was wrong," Song Chengyi crouched down to meet her eyes.

Luo Yixia turned her face away.

Song Chengyi reached out and gently turned her head to face him.

Luo Yixia glared at him, then pushed his hand away.

"Stop crying," Song Chengyi reached out to wipe her tears.

"What do you care? Why are you here? If you want a divorce, go home, grab our household booklet and marriage certificate. Oh, right, the marriage certificate is with your mom and my mom. Once you get it, we’ll head straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau," Luo Yixia snapped, still sharp-tongued.

"At this hour, the Civil Affairs Bureau is already closed," Song Chengyi couldn't help but laugh.

"Then we’ll wait outside until it opens."

"But I’m hungry," Song Chengyi said, his tone a little aggrieved.

"And what does your hunger have to do with me? Starve, for all I care," Luo Yixia retorted.

Yet the moment she finished, her stomach growled loudly.

Her anger shifted to a sudden embarrassment.

She cursed her own stomach for betraying her.

"Pfft," Song Chengyi couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Luo Yixia shot him a glare. "What are you laughing at?"

He pressed his lips together, struggling to suppress his amusement.

"Who told you to laugh at me? Annoying," Luo Yixia fumed, and started pounding him with her fists.

Song Chengyi seized her arm and pulled her into his embrace. "Alright, alright, I won’t laugh. I was wrong."

Luo Yixia sobbed in his arms. "What were you wrong about?"

"I shouldn’t have made you angry," Song Chengyi replied obediently.

"And?"

"I shouldn’t have doubted you."

"And?"

"Um… I shouldn’t have talked about divorce?" Song Chengyi was genuinely at a loss, his tone uncertain.

"Wow… sob… Song Chengyi, are you trying to abandon me? You’re so handsome, someone else will like you in the future, but if nobody wants me… what will I do?" The mere mention of divorce seemed to trigger Luo Yixia.

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I ever leave you… as long as you still want me…" Song Chengyi soothed her, gently patting her back.

Luo Yixia pouted, lifting her head from his shoulder. "Song Chengyi… When I said I didn’t want you before, I really regretted it. I don’t want to lose you, sob… I only said I wanted a divorce because I was upset. I don’t want to leave you," she said, growing more distressed as she spoke.

"Alright, I understand," Song Chengyi held her tightly again.

"I’m sorry…" Luo Yixia cried.

Song Chengyi comforted her for a long time before her tears finally subsided.

But his perfectly good shirt was now stained with her tears and snot.

He sighed—he’d finally managed to console her, he couldn’t afford to offend her again. It was only a shirt, after all…

"Let’s go home, it’s already dark," he said, but just as the words left his mouth, his phone rang in his pocket.

"It’s mom calling. Let’s go home," Song Chengyi said after answering.

Luo Yixia’s face looked aggrieved, and she shook her head. "I don’t want to go back…"

Seeing her swollen eyes, Song Chengyi understood why she didn’t want to return.

He turned his back to her and crouched down. "Hop on."

Luo Yixia hesitated for a moment, but then climbed onto his back.

"If I go back looking like this, they’ll never let me off," Luo Yixia muttered, thinking of the parents’ endless questions, feeling a deep discomfort.