The 99th Divorce

“How could she do that!”

Li Jianyue was enraged. “That is so disrespectful! It was bad enough that she entered your room without your permission. She had the cheek to go through your drawer and throw your things away? What a poor upbringing she has!”

Quan Jingyi laughed bitterly. “That exactly what I said.”

Li Jianyue paused her tirade and asked, “What happened next?”

“I tried to reason with her,” Quan Jingyi said, looking nonchalant. He chuckled and added, “But she reacted by tossing all the drawings I had done in secret in front of my father.”

Li Jianyue felt a fury churning in her stomach. “How could she do that? Your stepmother is so evil!”

Quan Jingyi looked at her as she huffed in anger. He relished in her cute reaction. Chuckling, he asked, “Why are you so angry? It’s not like it happened to you.”

“Of course, I’m angry! I always knew that stepmothers were bad. But I never expected it to be this bad. Hmph!”

“All right now. You’d better go back to the classroom,” Quan Jingyi told her. He turned and walked down the corridor. With his back facing Li Jianyue, he quickly descended the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Li Jianyue called out, following him. “The lessons for the day aren’t over yet. We have a class with our homeroom teacher later.”

“I’m taking a walk.”

“I’ll go with you,” Li Jianyue said as she caught up with him. She stood in front of Quan Jingyi and pressed him, “You have yet to tell me why your father won’t allow you to pursue drawing.”

Li Jianyue walked backward as she continued questioning Quan Jingyi. “Isn’t your father the Mayor? My dad said that the higher a person’s social status, the more priority he’ll give to harmony in the family and his offspring’s education. Why doesn’t your father value family harmony? And why does he not allow you to draw? Even the teacher said you have talent. If you continue to pursue Art, you might even become an artist someday!”

Li Jianyue had a petite figure. She looked more youthful than the other girls of her age. She gave off a very naïve and innocent vibe and seemed very much like a child.

Quan Jingyi’s heartbeat raced inexplicably. Li Jianyue’s movements were as carefree as a bird. He observed her for a while and slowly looked away. His ears began to feel hot. He struggled to keep a straight face. “My mother was an artist,” he said finally.

“Wow! It’s no wonder that you’re so talented. My mother can play the piano, and she plays it very well. She can cook, too. She even knows many languages and often travels with my dad. She’s amazing. That’s why my brother is also so outstanding. Everything my mother knows, he knows them too. And he also knows everything that my father knows. And then there’s my younger brother. Although he’s a little fat, he’s quite smart. My grandfather said that he would make an excellent spy in the future. His eyes and ears are very sharp. It’s all hereditary! Your mother must have been very talented, and she must have been very beautiful! Li Jianyue said with a giggle. She cocked her head and looked at him while still walking backward.

Quan Jingyi listened to her monologue and asked with a laugh, “Why do you say that?”

“You’re very good looking. I’ve seen your father before. He’s not as good looking as you. You must have got your looks from your mother.”

Quan Jingyi bit back a smile and nodded his head. “Indeed, my mother was very beautiful and very gentle. But she was very rebellious and bold. Do you know how she died?”

Li Jianyue widened her eyes. She hadn’t expected Quan Jingyi would willingly talk openly about his mother’s death with her. She shook her head and waited for Quan Jingyi to continue.

Quan Jingyi stared into the distance as a breeze blew over and ruffled the wisps of hair on his forehead. It made him look lonely. “When I was three years old,” Quan Jingyi said, “my mother went outdoor to do a sketch, and an earthquake occurred.”