The 99th Divorce

“Are you the head warden?”

Shen Manting was taken aback when she realized the man standing before her was about the same age as Shen Luo’an.

The man stared at her for a while and said, “The head warden is resting at the moment. Is there anything?”

Shen Manting let out a sigh of relief and explained, “I used to live here. I’m back to see him.”

“I see…” The man glanced at Shen Manting curiously and asked, “Who are you? You look familiar.”

He thought that she appeared too thin.

She was so skinny that she no longer resembled the person he had in mind.

He couldn’t recognize her at all.

Shen Manting grinned. “Do you know me? I’m He Yuncun.”

The man stared at her, astonished. “Yuncun? Is that really you? Why did you…”

Why had she become so thin?

“I’m really Yuncun,” Shen Manting replied calmly. Then, she glanced at Shen Luo’an and slipped her arm through the crook of his elbow. “This is my husband, Shen Luo’an. He’s a scientist.”

The man was even more shocked. “A scientist?”

“No, I’m not.” Shen Luo’an patted Shen Manting’s hand and insisted, “My job is only to conduct research on drugs. Is the head warden around?”

“Oh, he’s taking a nap right now. He’s not feeling very well lately.”

He glanced at Shen Manting as he spoke. “Our little Yuncun is now all grown up! How time flies. Do you remember me?”

“Who are you?”

Shen Manting stared intently at him, furrowing her brow.

She thought that he looked familiar, but so many years had passed that Shen Manting couldn’t recognize who he was at all.

The man laughed and said, “Don’t you remember me? I’m He Junsheng.”

“He Junsheng?” Shen Manting clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. “No way! How could you be him?”

He Junsheng felt embarrassed and rubbed his head timidly. “I have to admit that I’ve indeed changed a lot. Come on in and have a seat.”

He led them inside. Shen Manting’s face still bore an expression of utter disbelief.

“Didn’t you used to be the naïve, simple-minded boy back then? You look much wiser now!”

Shen Manting was left with the mental capacity of a 12-year-old, so her vocabulary was understandably limited.

Yet, her seemingly simple statement was an apt observation.

He Junsheng felt even more embarrassed and muttered, “Well, I guess so…”

Shen Luo’an pursed his lips and nudged Shen Manting. He explained, “She was hit by a car two years ago and landed in a coma for two years. She lost her memory and only remembers events in her life before the age of 12.”

He Junsheng was taken aback and turned to glance at Shen Manting. He finally understood the situation.

He stared at her with a sympathetic gaze and said, “Yuncun is a smart girl. The head warden favored her. I’ll go and see if he’s awake yet.”

“Hold on,” Shen Luo’an blurted. “Since you grew up together with her, you should know a lot about her. Let’s have a chat first.”

He Junsheng glanced at Shen Manting and nodded. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll make some tea for you.”

Shen Luo’an didn’t refuse his hospitality as he was getting thirsty by now. Meanwhile, Shen Manting made herself at home and settled herself on the nearest stool within reach, dragging Shen Luo’an along with her.

The aging state of the interior furnishings that seemed to date back more than a decade ago suggested that the building had a fairly long history.

Shen Manting glanced around the room. She suddenly stood up and said, “Honey, come and take a look at the butterflies Meifang and I drew back then.”

Shen Luo’an rose to his feet and walked over to her.

He saw faint traces of the drawings.

Of the two butterflies, one appeared distorted, while the other seemed to be taking flight gracefully.

The girls inscribed their names below the drawings. Zhang Meifang signed off beneath the crooked butterfly.

He Yuncun’s name appeared beneath the nicer-looking butterfly.

A smiley face was scribbled next to the final character of her name.

The lines of the drawings seemed to have faded with the passage of time.

The orphanage was not very spacious and the decorations looked rather ancient.

Just as Shen Luo’an finished surveying the room, He Junsheng served them tea.

Shen Luo’an led Shen Manting back to their seats. He Junsheng grinned. “We haven’t had any guests in a while. The tea set has been neglected for quite some time, but I’ve cleaned it.”

As He Junsheng was bringing the water to a boil, he examined Shen Manting’s appearance and remarked, “I believe she has only recently recovered, hasn’t she? She looks frail.”

“She woke up from her coma a few days ago.” Shen Luo’an looked at him. “But are you sure she is indeed He Yuncun?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” He Junsheng stared at her. “I could tell she’s clever and quick-witted like the Yuncun I know. Who else could she be but Yuncun?”

“Then… how about Zhang Meifang?” asked Shen Luo’an.

He Junsheng became solemn at the mention of her name. “Meifang was quieter and more reserved. She wasn’t very bright either. She’s not nearly as smart as Yuncun.”

“Where is she?”

“She disappeared when she was still a teenager. No one knew where she went. We called the police and checked the surveillance camera footage, but we couldn’t find her anywhere.”

The water came to a boil. He Junsheng disinfected the tea set carefully. “Such a pity. Meifang was kind-hearted and lovely.”

“My grandmother adopted her back then,” Shen Luo’an said, looking at him. “At the time, she was looking for someone whose astrological sign was compatible with hers. The person she wanted to adopt was Zhang Meifang.”

He Junsheng’s hands trembled. He lost his grip on a teacup.

The boiling water from the teacup spilled onto Shen Manting’s hand.

Shen Manting grimaced in pain and instinctively retreated, grasping her scalded hand with her other hand.

Shen Luo’an was startled. He grabbed her hand to check for injuries. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Shen Manting felt a little embarrassed. She pushed his hand away and looked at He Junsheng. “Is there no way that Meifang could have been found?”

He Junsheng suddenly looked flustered. “I…”

“Who’s here?” The voice of an old man traveled across the room. The elderly man walking into the room seemed to be in his fifties or sixties.

Shen Manting recognized him at first glance. “Uncle Warden.”

She walked up to him and supported him by the arm.

The head warden was surprised to see Shen Manting. “I suppose you’re…”

“I’m Yuncun!”

Shen Manting blurted out her name without hesitation. However, the head warden’s expression changed once he heard her name.

He glanced at Shen Luo’an and asked, “Who is this?”

“He’s my husband!” Shen Manting grinned as she helped the old man to his seat. “It’s been a while.”

“Yes, indeed.” The head warden laughed uneasily. “You haven’t visited in a long time. Now you’re back here…”

“Warden, I want to know where Zhang Meifang had gone.”

The head warden could no longer keep his composure. “Zhang Meifang…” he began hesitatingly.

He Junsheng glanced at him, frowning. “Go on, Warden.”

“Meifang… Meifang had been adopted,” the head warden muttered sheepishly. “She hadn’t returned in years.”

“Didn’t she go missing?” Shen Luo’an asked, “Just now, Mr. He mentioned that Zhang Meifang went missing when she was a teenager, but now you claimed that she had been adopted. She was also adopted by our family when she came of age. What’s this all about?”

The family had intended to adopt Zhang Meifang.

However, they ended up adopting He Yuncun instead.