The 99th Divorce

Ye Youyou sat on a stool as she fed Gramps his meal. He ate obediently. As he opened and closed his toothless mouth, he smiled at Ye Youyou so widely that his eyes became two narrow crescents.

Ye Youyou’s heart ached and warmed up at the same time. When she was young, this old man had held her hand everywhere. He had held her bowl in his hands as he fed her. The love for her had been evident in his eyes.

She picked up the spoon and waited for her grandfather to finish his mouthful, but he stopped moving. He looked at Ye Youyou. His cloudy eyes suddenly because indescribably bright.

Ye Youyou didn’t move. She looked at him and said, “Gramps, eat more.”

The old man acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He gazed at her intently. He suddenly said, “Youyou, you’re back.”

Those few words made Ye Youyou’s eyes ache. Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded her head and said, “I’m back. Your Youyou is back.”

The old man opened his mouth for another spoonful of porridge without a change in his expression. It was as if he hadn’t said anything at all.

Ye Youyou felt a lump lodged in her throat. Tears glistened in her eyes.

She had brought a clean change of clothes. She spent two days taking care of her grandfather. Gramps was seemingly beginning to recognize Ye Youyou. Every time he saw her, his eyes would crinkle in a smile.

Ye Youyou was extremely happy. The three individuals were seated at the table having their meal when the old man suddenly looked up and asked, “Did Youyou get married?”

It was said in dialect, and the words were slurred.

Ye Youyou didn’t catch it immediately, but Ye Zhenhua understood it. Belated realization dawned in his eyes as he asked, “Youyou, aren’t you married?”

No one had brought this topic up in the last few days she had been staying with them. It was unexpected that Gramps would be able to remember such a thing.

Ye Youyou was blindsided by the question. She immediately replied, “We got divorced.”

Ye Zhenhua was visibly astonished by that fact, “You’re divorced? Why would you get divorced out of the blue? A husband and wife should always try to talk things out. How did...”

Before he could finish his question, Ye Youyou’s cell phone rang. She thanked her lucky stars. She quickly held the phone up, as she said, “I have to answer this call.”

The caller was Li Jinnan. Ye Youyou answered it with a simple, “Hello.”

“I’m at your doorstep,” Li Jinnan’s said.

Ye Youyou choked on whatever else she had intended to say. With disbelief she asked, “What? Which doorstep?”

“Yun Town, the old eucalyptus tree, second unit in the third alley. That doorstep.” Li Jinnan sounded very calm as he listed out the address plainly.

Ye Youyou felt as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning when she heard these words. She exclaimed, “What!”

She sprung up from her seat and ran to the entrance of the compound. She opened the security gate. Indeed, there was a tall and straight figure standing there.

When Li Jinnan saw her, he smiled and hung up the phone. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Ye Youyou couldn’t believe her eyes and asked, “How did you know about this place?”

The answer occurred to her the moment she articulated the question. It had to be because of Ye Qianqian.

Li Jinnan did not reply to her. He sidestepped her to enter. When he saw Ye Zhenhua walking out, he greeted politely, “Hi, Dad.”

Ye Youyou had one thought, Just how much more shameless can this man get?