After being buried, the Zhao family's relatives were all burning paper money.
Zhao Shuyao knelt down stiffly, dressed in deep black, holding yellowed paper money in her hand, and threw handfuls into the brazier.
A few raindrops fell into the brazier.
The flames flickered, as if telling a story.
"What did your grandmother say to you before she passed away?"
Li Guifen also knelt beside Zhao Shuyao and spoke softly.
Seeing Zhao Shuyao remain silent, she continued, "Your grandmother always hoped you would divorce Qin Yusheng..."
Zhao Shuyao's body stiffened.
"If it weren't for you before, your father would probably have been unable to bear it and jumped to his death. If it weren't for you, your sister wouldn't have had so much money to attend the best schools. Now the Zhao family doesn't need so much money. If you are happy, I also hope you can escape this sea of suffering soon. I believe your mother would have thought the same..."
Li Huiyun felt a pang of guilt.
She had promised Zhao Shuyao's mother on her deathbed to take good care of Zhao Shuyao, yet she had watched Zhao Shuyao marry into the Qin family, suffering immensely, and was powerless to do anything.
Now that Wu Guifen was gone, she and Le Haitian had discussed it for a few days and finally decided to return the choice to Zhao Shuyao.
They owed her too much and could no longer exchange her suffering for the Zhao family's wealth.
Zhao Shuyao's eyelashes trembled, "Do you know what divorcing Qin Yusheng means? The Zhao family will go bankrupt, all assets will be gone. Have you thought it through?"
It was precisely because of these concerns that she had swallowed her pain over the years, no matter how much it hurt.
"Yaoyao, you don't owe us anything. Your grandmother must have told you the same, hoping you would be happy."
Qin Yusheng learned of Zhao Shuyao's grandmother's death from Aunt Wu.
"She's dead, so what? What's the big deal?" Qin Yusheng's eyes were indifferent. He flipped through the financial times for a while, feeling a bit restless and unable to concentrate.
At dinner, Qin Yusheng took a sip of water and asked coldly, "How is she?"
"Ah? Sir, you mean Miss Le? She's a bit better. She was in a coma for a few days and is now staying at the Zhao family's. She can eat and drink, as if she's recovering."
"Mm," Qin Yusheng replied faintly, then added, "Send some tonics over to her later."
Aunt Wu acknowledged and left after dinner. She returned an hour later, carrying the same tonics she had before leaving.
"Madam... Miss Le said she doesn't need these things and asked you to keep them for yourself..."
"Still throwing a tantrum?" Qin Yusheng's expression turned cold. "She's spoiled. If she doesn't want them, she doesn't want them. Throw them away!"
Seeing this pile of things made him inexplicably irritable.
Zhao Shuyao stayed at the Zhao family's for several days and hadn't returned to Tanguo.
After finishing her work early today, Qin Yusheng drove to the Zhao family's.
Before he could get out of the car, he saw Zhao Shuyao walking out of the door, as if she was going out.
Seeing Qin Yusheng's car parked in the garden, she wasn't surprised and got into the car directly.
Without a word.
After the car door closed, Qin Yusheng remained silent, and she also remained silent, simply fastening her seatbelt quietly.
"Why are you sitting in the back? Sit in the passenger seat!" Qin Yusheng gritted his teeth.
"..." Zhao Shuyao silently unbuckled her seatbelt and moved to the passenger seat.
From beginning to end, not a single word was spoken.
Qin Yusheng became increasingly annoyed, "Are you mute?"
"No," Zhao Shuyao replied indifferently.
Her cold attitude ignited his emotions.
"Why are you putting on a sour face for me?"
"Hehe." Zhao Shuyao pulled at the corners of her mouth, a forced smile.
Qin Yusheng was furious, "Stop laughing!"
"Oh." Zhao Shuyao retracted her smile and turned her head away, not looking at Qin Yusheng.
Qin Yusheng glanced at Zhao Shuyao's profile and sneered, "Now you understand how I feel? Your grandmother died and you're sad, and Xue'er is half-dead because of you..."
The man's accusations were like sharp arrows, piercing her.
Even with a thousand holes, she still felt the pain.
Zhao Shuyao closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes clear.
"Qin Yusheng, let's get a divorce."
---
The tires screeched as the car braked suddenly, grinding heavily against the road and leaving two deep tracks.
The Maserati sports car was forced to a halt right in the middle of the road.
The cars behind almost honked, rolled down their windows, and were about to curse.
However, upon seeing the license plate, they immediately shut their mouths.
The cars behind, unaware of what had happened ahead, erupted in a cacophony of horns.
Inside the car, there was silence.
The man's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
He almost thought he had misheard.
As if afraid he hadn't heard, Zhao Shuyao repeated herself.
"Qin Yusheng, let's get a divorce."
The only response Zhao Shuyao received was silence.
Zhao Shuyao had imagined countless possibilities, but never the man's silence.
Before the incident that year, Qin Yusheng was already preparing to marry Huo Yanxue.
But he was forced to marry her.
For a full three years, she lived in torment every day.
Didn't Qin Yusheng dream of divorcing her all along?
As long as she and Grandpa spoke up, Grandpa Qin would definitely agree.
Then he could finally get rid of her.
She thought he would be happy.
He would agree without hesitation.
But she hadn't anticipated this reaction.
"Divorce? Is it April Fool's Day?" The man's deep, hoarse voice trembled slightly.
"I'm not joking, nor am I making fun of you. I'm seriously proposing this: let's get a divorce."
Zhao Shuyao repeated for the third time.
She thought, no matter how hard of hearing he was, he should have heard clearly by now.
"I spoke too harshly just now. I shouldn't have brought up your grandmother's death. I apologize."
Qin Yusheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly apologized.
Zhao Shuyao let out a helpless laugh, "Qin Yusheng, those are two different matters. The Civil Affairs Bureau at nine in the morning. I'll call Grandpa tonight to explain. I want a divorce, and it has nothing to do with you."
"Are you crazy? Aren't you afraid the Zhao family will go bankrupt without the Qin family's support? You need to think clearly. If the Zhao family loses the Qin family's support, they'll be nothing!"
"I am very clear about the consequences. I've thought it through very clearly. You don't need to tell me how serious the consequences are. See you tomorrow."
Zhao Shuyao glanced at the rearview mirror and opened the door to get out.
The entire road was completely blocked due to Qin Yusheng's sudden braking.
The honking of car horns echoed through the sky.
Zhao Shuyao hailed a taxi, "To the Hilton Hotel."
The next morning, Zhao Shuyao woke up very early.
She thought she would be restless, but surprisingly, she slept very well.
She slept without dreams and sat by the bed, watching the rising sun in the east, as if seeing her own bright future.
Today is Friday, and there were many people at the Civil Affairs Bureau, most of them young couples coming to get married.
Zhao Shuyao waited for half an hour and still didn't see Qin Yusheng. She called him.