Chapter 2, Joy and Sorrow are of the same nature

Zhang said ... ? ... He is also in Beijing ? Zhong was stunned for a long time, and in order to conceal his shock, he deliberately said cheerfully: "You come quickly, you come quickly, we have run into big trouble."

Zuo Xue rushed over and pulled out the plug of her notebook, flailing her arms and shouting, "I want to buy a new backpack!" Zhong Bi looked at the pitch-black screen in front of her, then glanced at her son, seemingly quite displeased, and shrugged, saying, "OK, we will buy a new backpack. However, you will have to wait for me for an hour." She dashed into the bathroom to take a shower, change clothes, comb her hair, and put on makeup, all in a flurry. Upstairs, there was a loud thumping, like a storm, as if a battle was taking place.

She chuckled, saying, "Winter is just around the corner; it is better to be prepared than to be caught unawares." It is now only August, the hottest time of the year, yet she is accustomed to making preparations in advance

Divorce?" Zuo Si seemed to laugh as if hearing a fantastical tale, "Sha Sha, you know I will not get a divorce." His gaze turned cold, and his tone was resolute.

Zuo Xue glanced at her without any expression and said: "I hope so"

This awkward and humiliating scene is not the first time, yet Zuo Si seems to have never seen her before

After finishing the "Manhan Quanxi"—the fried sauce noodles, he wiped his mouth and said, "Mom, school is about to start, I want to buy a backpack." He had once called his mother by her name directly, but as a result, he was punished by Zhong Bi and ended up with a swollen head and a red bottom. Learning from his mistakes, he never committed such an act of great disrespect again.

Zuo Si glanced at her, his expression showing no change, "Sha Sha, this is not fun. Whatever you want, I can give you." He still regarded her as a plaything

Zuo Si appeared at home half an hour later. He is forty-five years old this year, but looks only thirty-five. Of medium build, his skin is tanned from recent days spent at sea. Dressed in a dark suit, he has neither a receding hairline nor a beer belly, thanks to his routine of working out three times a week. He still exudes charm and elegance, embodying the allure of a mature man. Although he is married, he remains a coveted bachelor in the eyes of many beautiful women in Hong Kong.

Zhong Ze threw down the paintbrush and came out, gesturing to ask her if she was well. Zhong Bi nodded, slowed down her speech, and said, "Very good." This made it easier for him to read her lips. She then pushed left to Xue and said, "You didn't even call your uncle, did you?"

Before Zhong Bi could reprimand him, the phone rang, an unfamiliar call. She asked rudely, "Who is it?" The voice on the other end was calm and gentle, "Zhong Bi, it's me, Zhang."

Zhong Bi drove a silver-gray RV out of the garage. Zuo Xue tilted her head and asked, "Where is your sports car?" She casually pointed at the steering wheel and replied, "You know, I have already passed the age of attracting attention." No longer fond of driving brightly colored sports cars, she was no longer the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

He reached out with his fingertips to touch it, and ink from the fountain pen splashed onto his face, leaving one hand covered in black. He was quite displeased and huffed, "This time I will overlook your temper, your stubbornness, and your careless words, and I won't hold it against you." He then turned and went into the bathroom

He was originally from Shandong, starting his career with small household appliances. Seizing the right opportunity, with favorable timing, location, and human resources, he became a well-known home appliance retailer in the country in less than ten years. Later, he moved to Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

I am in Beijing. What about you? I heard you went to Hong Kong? It's not just hearsay; he knows a great deal about her matters. At this moment, he only wishes to speak to her calmly. But can they clear the obstacles and start anew?

The mother and son arrived at Tsim Sha Tsui. After sweeping through several major international boutiques, when Zhong Bi came out carrying several paper bags, Zuo Xue was very dissatisfied, "Where is my backpack?"

Zuo Xue followed behind and asked: "Where are we going?"

Zuo Si has come and gone again

Zhong Ze carved a wooden statue of a robotic cat using a tool knife and gifted it to Zuo Xue. He was very pleased, hugging Zhong Ze's neck and showering him with kisses and nuzzles. Zhong Bi remarked, "Don't you always say that you are a man and shouldn't casually kiss others?" Zuo Xue replied with a smile, "Who told my uncle to be so handsome?" The love for beauty is inherent in everyone, and even children are no exception

Zhong Bi said gruffly, "That's right!" as he forcefully shoved the fountain pen into his hands, "Hurry up and sign." His face was filled with impatience

Zuo Si watched with great interest, "The angle of the shot is poor, and the lighting is dim—didn't expect you to send a private detective to investigate me. Should I be happy or worried?"

Zhong Ze was busy blocking the way, gesturing and asking, "Have you eaten?" Zuo Xue quickly ran away, scribbling on Zhong Ze's drawing board. Zhong Bi bit into a piece of watermelon, "I plan to stay in Beijing for a long time this time. Do you want to move over and live with us?" Zhong Ze shook his head, saying he was quite fine here. Zhong Bi did not insist, "It's up to you. We're leaving now, let's have dinner together in the evening. Can you find this place?" He left a note.

She raised her eyebrows in anger and gritted her teeth, saying: "I want a divorce from you, did you hear me?" Zuo Si nodded and raised an eyebrow in response: "I heard you. However, as I just mentioned, I will not divorce you. Therefore, there is no need to bring this issue up again."

The cruelty of growth lies in the fact that sometimes joy and sorrow are akin to each other

When she came down, she had already changed into the newly launched summer outfit—a green one-shoulder long dress, perfectly tailored like flowing water. Her hair was styled up, and she wore only one earring, with a long chain hanging down to her shoulder, where a pea-sized diamond sparkled. She shook off the droplets of water that had not yet dried on her hands, picked up her silver tassel handbag, and said proudly, "How do I look?" Left Xue nodded, glancing at his watch and replied, "Not bad, still two minutes short of an hour."

Zuo Xuebang said: "My surname is Zuo, not Zhong"

Zuo Xue muttered, "Isn't it what you taught me!" Zhong Bi raised his hand again to strike. He quickly pulled out Zhong Ze as a shield, hiding behind it and poking his head out, "The law stipulates that corporal punishment of children is not allowed"

Zhong Bi was momentarily stunned, her mind a blank. The voice of the man she often recalled in the stillness of the night and in her dreams was not a figment of her imagination, nor was it transmitted through the internet or television; it was truly resonating right beside her. When she realized she had been silent for too long, she immediately pretended to be nonchalant and greeted him, saying, "Oh... hello... you... where are you?" Her incoherence clearly revealed her current state of panic.

The Zuo family resides on Nathan Road in Hong Kong, in an independent three-story building characterized by white European architecture, surrounded by expansive lawns and lush trees. In this prime location, where every inch of land is precious, there exists a large garden featuring a swimming pool and a tennis court, adorned with an abundance of roses and tulips. The pathways are lined with white pebbles, resembling a vividly colored oil painting

Zhong Bi was extremely angry, "You will eventually share my surname, Zhong"

Zhong Bi held a fountain pen in her hand, twirling it around without even glancing at him. The fountain pen fell onto the glass table with a loud thud, and her interest waned significantly. Only then did she pull out the divorce agreement from her bag, saying, "Sign here." Seeing that the atmosphere was turning unfavorable, Zuo Xue immediately decided that the best course of action was to retreat, slipping back into his own room

Zhong Bi rushed into the bedroom, without saying a word, took out a suitcase to pack his belongings, "Take your Ultraman with you." He was fuming, his expression very poor

Seeing that her expression was not right, Zuo Xue asked: "With someone else?"

She felt utterly exhausted, like a beautiful bird kept in an exquisite golden cage, losing herself day by day as time passed. Perhaps this was the most magnificent of all cages—yet what is so remarkable about that, when there is a row of golden cages hanging under the eaves? She is merely one among them

Zhong Bi, feeling as if her sensitive spot had been stepped on, was both embarrassed and angry. With a serious expression, she said, "You are not allowed to call me Sha Sha, please call me Zhong Bi, thank you." Zuo Si observed her expression and ultimately decided to comply with her unreasonable outburst, nodding, "Alright, Zhong Bi, is this what you mean when you want me to come back?"

She panted and said, "I know, I know, you sit here and watch the things, I will go buy it right away"

Zhong Bi was extremely annoyed. Why wouldn't he agree? She didn't even want his money! She took an envelope from the safe and threw it in front of him, saying, "Look for yourself." It contained intimate photos of Zuo Si with various women. She huffed, "There are a total of twenty-three. I have the right to file for divorce." Including today's, that makes twenty-four.

Zhang said, Zhang said, recalling this name, for some reason, it evokes a sense of bitterness, yet she still tries to exaggerate, simplify, and normalize the reunion of the two.

Zuo Si smiled and said leisurely, "You can't force a cow to drink water, can you? A divorce requires mutual consent." He pushed her away, sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and turned on the television, asking, "What news is there today?"

Zhong Bi sat on the ground in defeat. This shameless old man, how dare he act so domineering, so self-righteous, and do as he pleases—he is the one having an affair outside, not her

Zuo Si stood up, looking down at her with an air of arrogance, and spoke each word clearly: "You do not have it in Hong Kong!" His voice was cold, slithering down the spine like a snake, sending chills down one's back

This is a case of the upper beam being crooked, leading to the lower beam being misaligned

She scolded, "This is an adult matter; children should not interfere"

Zuo Si sighed and, stroking his forehead, said: "Zhong Bi, you must have self-awareness; I do not appreciate your excessive behavior." His indulgence has its limits

Zhong Bi lazily did not respond, treating it as if she had not heard. The sofa in the drawing room, as large and soft as a bed, was her daily living space. Her motto was: "The sofa is the stronghold, how can others invade?" She spent twenty-four hours a day nestled on it, even having her meals brought to her by the maid. Left Xue once seriously discussed with her: "Mom, what do you need feet for?" She stretched lazily and replied, "I am a soft-bodied creature, I have no feet."

Zhong Bi jumped up from the sofa, pointing at his nose and said: "I am not joking! I do not want to continue like this, I want a divorce. I do not want any alimony, not a single cent, I want to take Zuo Xue with me, and I hope you will support this decision"

Zuo Xue knew that her mother cherished this uncle even more than herself, so she dared not offend him. She quickly threw herself into Zhong Ze's arms and gestured, "Uncle, you are so handsome, do you have a girlfriend?" Zhong Ze's entire face turned red; with his fair skin, delicate eyebrows, and rosy lips, he truly was a graceful young man, but unfortunately, he could not speak.

The next day, upon waking, the room was bright, the sun was shining, and the weather was in stark contrast to the humid and overcast conditions of Hong Kong, refreshing my mood. Zhong Bi urged his son, "Get up quickly, we are going to see your uncle." After taking a shower, feeling invigorated, the two hurriedly had breakfast and lunch, then took a taxi to an art studio near Wangjing. The owner of the studio was a sprightly old man with a gentle temperament, "Zhong Yan, your sister has come to see you," he said, taking a watermelon from the refrigerator to treat his guests who had traveled a long way, before running out to play chess with someone.

Zhong Bi was about to leave when she suddenly turned around upon hearing these words, "Do I not even have the freedom to divorce?"

Zuo Xue shrugged, "I don't care, anyway, it's your couple's business." He wanted to intervene but found himself unable to do so

After the mother and son moved everything out of the car, Zhong Bi collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted, saying, "Alright, I can stay home for half a month now." Zuo Xue, sitting on the carpet eating mangoes, repeatedly insisted, "No, no, you have to drive me to class." Zhong Bi thought to herself: I have no intention of letting you study in Hong Kong. She retreated to the study to make a phone call, cleared her throat, and despite feeling very nervous, casually asked, "When will you be home?"

Zuo Xue directly called his father's name, and no one in the Zuo family corrected him, not even Zuo Si seemed to mind

The mother and child stood at the Capital Airport, it was already 3:30 AM, and they were staying at the Grand Hyatt Beijing. The adult and the child, without even washing up, fell asleep as soon as their heads touched the pillow, experiencing a dreamless night

Zhong Bi glared at him and said, "You are talking to me about the law? This is the family rule of the Zhong family, come here—"

The mother and child walked to buy daily necessities. Looking at the cart full of items, Zhong Bi bit her lip and said, "Zuo Xue, do you think we need to get a car?"

In fact, he is far from as calm as he appears on the surface. Since recording "Heaven and Earth" in Shanghai yesterday, countless friends and family members have called to express their "concern," including his parents. In a moment, he found himself overwhelmed and exhausted from dealing with it all, not expecting the consequences to be this "serious," and hurriedly returned to Beijing from Shanghai. Although numerous trivial matters left him stretched thin, he still had time to make a phone call; however, he struggled for a whole day and night before finally dialing that familiar number again

She said coldly, "Leave Hong Kong"

Zhong Bi forcefully threw the pen in his hand at him, shouting: "You bastard!"

Zhong Bi, trembling with anger, said fiercely: "I will file an application with the court"

Zhong Bi lightly tapped her son's head and said, "Don't worry, whether your mother is poor or rich, she can adapt and find contentment in any situation. As long as you follow me, you will never go hungry." She took the elevator up to buy a backpack, stationery, and other items, passing by the jewelry store on the first floor. She saw Zuo Si accompanying a young woman who was looking at necklaces, with diamonds the size of red beans sparkling in her hand. She shrank her neck in fear, worried that Zuo Si would see her, and decided not to buy the backpack, turning around and running down.

Zhong Bi decided to confront Zuo Si as soon as possible, as she could no longer endure it

Zuo Xue was quite impatient, "Aren't you going to divorce Zuo Si? What will happen afterwards?" Even he knows that it is easy to transition from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality

Zuo Xueheng said: "Are you buying so many clothes to eat instead of food?"

She said with annoyance: "Zuo Si is above, let us change to another place"

Zuo Xue noticed that she was in a bad mood and did not dare to provoke her, so he ran back to pack his things

Zuo Xue shook his head and said: "I don't care, but you need to exercise more"

His indifferent attitude infuriated Zhong Bi, who struck him hard on the head. The photos immediately scattered all over the ground, lying haphazardly and revealing the faces of various women—some cute, some pure, some alluring, each with their own distinct personality. Some appeared pouting, while others were smiling.

The bell pen struck his bottom, "Who taught you to say that?"