The 99th Divorce

“…Yes,” answered Shen Zhilie. He was at a loss for words and he looked at Shen Luo’an before replying, “How has Sister Manting been lately?”

“You should address her as your sister-in-law,” said Shen Luo’an as he looked at Shen Zhilie. He then stood up and said softly, “Come outside with me for a moment.”

Shen Zhilie then noticed that Shen Luo’an seemed far more serious than he previously was.

They quickly went out of the room and Shen Luo’an made his way to the courtyard straightway.

“Zhilie,” he said seriously.

“Yes?” Shen Zhilie replied with caution.

“It seems like Manting is slowly growing up. She was like a twelve-year-old when she woke up from her coma. However, she’s gradually growing up and is increasingly more independent now.”

Shen Luo’an reached his hands into his pockets and fished out a pack of cigarettes.

He then pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. However, he did not light it up immediately and looked at Shen Zhilie instead before he said, “What’s even more worrying is how she’s having nightmares more often lately.”

“What sort of nightmares?” Shen Zhilie asked.

“She probably dreamt about the past,” Shen Luo’an replied with the cigarette still in his mouth. He then looked at Shen Zhilie rather sorrowfully and said, “About the terrible things that she had experienced in the past. Last night, she… seemed to have dreamt about the time you brought her out to have fun. She had called out your name in her sleep. Do you know what she said?”

“What did she say?” asked Shen Zhilie. “The time when I brought her out to have fun?” Shen Zhilie subconsciously wondered out loud.

“Yes. She said ‘Zhilie, don’t overcook it. You’ll have to finish it all if these end up inedible,” said Shen Luo’an in a slightly low voice. He then looked at Shen Zhilie and his lips curled up into a smile before he continued to say, “It happened that year. Do you still remember? It was three to four years ago when Youyou was still part of our family.”

Shen Luo’an finally took out a lighter from his pockets and lit up his cigarette before softly saying, “It happened so long ago and it was merely a trivial event. Why would she remember that? I’ve forgotten about it already.”

Shen Zhilie fell silent.

He stared at Shen Luo’an and realised that although his brother was smiling brightly, there was an obvious look of forlorn in his eyes, along with a hint of fear.

His fear was certainly buried deep within and it was hard to detect.

Shen Zhilie sighed softly and after carefully considering his choice of words, he started with, “Brother.”

“Yes?” asked Shen Luo’an.

“Sister Manting has selective amnesia. She’s slowly recovering from it. You mentioned that she usually appears to be fine but would have very vivid dreams every night. Judging from what you’ve described, she would eventually recover all of her memories through her dreams sooner or later as she gradually recovers,” said Shen Zhilie.

Shen Zhilie paused for a moment and looked at Shen Luo’an, who was looking at him intently. He then continued slowly, “Perhaps this incident may seem trivial to you but it might have been a very precious and happy memory for her. This would explain why she would remember it and why she would dream of it.”

Shen Zhilie had evidently phrased his words in such a way that it would be far less hurtful for Shen Luo’an.

To no avail, every single word was like a blunt knife repeatedly stabbing Shen Luo’an’s heart with such great force, it still hurt him deeply.

Shen Luo’an averted his gaze and looked towards the flourishing roses in the courtyard.

It was not the flowering season yet but the leaves were already dense and lush.

Shen Luo’an took a puff from the cigarette and as he did so, his throat felt strangely choked. He immediately started coughing intensely heavily; his coughs were vehement and uncontrollable.

He was terribly and deeply choked, his throat aching intensely.

As he choked, tears started forming in his eyes. Perhaps it was because the smoke was too thick and it irritated his eyes or perhaps it was due to something else but his tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Shen Zhilie fell silent and looked at Shen Luo’an quietly.

Shen Luo’an only wiped his eyes after a long time and in a shockingly raspy voice, he asked, “Is there a way for Manting to remain in her current state?”

“Let her remain happy forever,” Shen Luo’an thought to himself.