Prologue

He did not listen attentively, merely responding with a casual "mm" that seemed to momentarily still the air. Opposite him, Liang Fu bit the tip of her chopsticks and softly sighed. She lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes casting a row of grayish shadows beneath her eyes

Liang Fu sat down opposite him, holding a pair of chopsticks. She was dressed in a light gray loungewear and had her hair tied in a ponytail, embodying the standard image of a virtuous wife and devoted mother

Fu Yucheng smiled and said, "Change it."

However, she merely sighed and did not say anything further; she simply lowered her head and chewed slowly on her food, no longer discussing matters related to the dance troupe

Liang Fusi seemed to have heard some noise, and she poked her head out from the kitchen to greet him, her tone as usual

Like a death sentence meal

That won't do, it loses its meaning if you change it

This meal, referred to as "headless rice," was consumed in an unusual silence, with hardly any movement of chopsticks, leaving nearly all the dishes untouched. Liang Fu disposed of the leftover food, placed the bowls and plates into the dishwasher, and then went out to the balcony

In that moment, Fu Yucheng felt that he might indeed be a bit cruel; she must have wanted to stage a clean and decisive conclusion, yet he improvised and unexpectedly seized the most vivid part for himself

Shao Lei said mysteriously: "Old Fu, I received an unexpected guest today, can you guess who it is?"

Fu Yucheng did not respond directly, "What request did she make?"

Do you want to change it

Fu Yucheng received a phone call and, noticing that the person had not returned, felt puzzled. He opened the balcony door and saw her leaning against the railing, holding a cigarette between her fingers. Upon noticing him approaching, she smiled, took a slow drag, and exhaled a misshapen smoke ring towards him

Fu Yucheng kept her trump card firmly in hand, displaying remarkable composure

This bizarre incident occurred that afternoon. Just before the end of the workday, Fu Yucheng received a phone call. The caller was his peer and also his undergraduate classmate, Shao Lei from Pengcheng Law Firm. In their profession, the circle is neither too large nor too small; when the wind blows in one place, the grass stirs in another, and secrets cannot be kept hidden.

Fu Yucheng unprecedentedly did not work overtime and returned home on time

Then what is the point of getting a divorce

This familiar appearance now inexplicably causes some distress. A glance at her face reveals a calm expression. When is she planning to bring up the topic of divorce? Or is she intending to observe for a while longer before making a decision

Fu Yucheng walked over, pressing his palm against her waist, which was barely enough to grasp, applying a bit of force to grip it. With his other hand, he pinched the unlit part of the cigarette, took it away to take a puff, and then blew the smoke into her face, saying, "I am the best lawyer in Chongcheng. What do you mean by not coming to me and going to Shao Lei instead?"

His and Liang Fu's marital home is located in the western part of the city, quite far from Liang Fu's parents' house. It is a high-rise apartment in a mid-range community, covering an area of 120 square meters. When they got married, Liang Fu's parents disapproved of the location and wanted to gift the young couple a villa, but Liang Fu refused, insisting that this place was good.

The two people picked up their chopsticks and continued to eat as usual. Liang Fu spoke to him about the dance troupe and the matters related to the *illustrated* book, mentioning that a young girl in the troupe was in a romantic relationship.

Your wife, come here and let me draft a divorce agreement. Old Fu, I bet you don't know about this matter

Fu Yucheng opened the blinds of his office, lit a cigarette, and outside the window, the evening glow seemed to burn through the clouds. "Just speak directly, no need for theatrics."

Liang Fuwang looked at him, gradually forming a smile. Her brows and eyes curved gently, yet her words were resolute, "Let's leave it at this; I can't keep degrading myself, can I?"

What else can we do? Just keep it from him.

Fu Yucheng's finger paused, the ash he brushed off still glowing with embers, leaving a scorch mark on the hem of his shirt. "You know again?"

Fu Yucheng heard that he was going to get a divorce

Fu Yucheng had already had a premonition in his heart, "I know Shao Lei, he is my undergraduate classmate"

Your father-in-law has students all over the world, and your wife does not seek you out. Fellow disciples have drafted this contract and traveled a long way from the west of the city to the east to find me. What do you think is the reason for this

Fu Yucheng was quite certain that in the past he would not have noticed it, but because he knew that Liang Fu intended to divorce, this sigh sounded particularly harsh

Fu Yucheng had taken a shower, and the meal was already prepared. A large table was set with dishes, featuring both meat and vegetables, shrimp and fish, an abundance that exceeded the usual fare

Fu Yucheng raised an eyebrow, "Am I not good enough for you?"

"Old Fu, have you two had a disagreement? As a woman, you should be a bit accommodating; a little coaxing will do the trick"

Liang Fu's expression stiffened

Liang Fu was choked, glaring at him in dissatisfaction, coughed twice, "You already know, yet you still put on an act with me"

"You go take a shower and change your clothes, the meal will be ready soon." Liang Fu lowered her head and went back to the kitchen, where the sound of soup simmering could be heard. A transparent vase on the dining table held a bunch of bellflowers, with water droplets on the petals. She enjoyed putting in these little efforts, and there were traces of careful management throughout the house.

Three years into their marriage, Liang Fu did not exhibit any airs of being spoiled and pampered, fulfilling her duties as a wife with diligence and responsibility. With food in the pot and someone in bed, setting aside love, Fu Yucheng felt that his married life was quite comfortable.

Fu Yucheng unlocked the door with the key, and the lights in the living room and kitchen were all on, indicating that someone was home, just as usual

Shao Lei paused and said, "... you might not believe it, but she made no demands at all; the RV is entirely yours, and she is leaving with nothing."

Fu Yucheng bit down on his cigarette as he looked at the photo frame standing on the desk, inside which Liang Fu was smiling innocently.

The sky over Chongcheng has darkened, and the night wind carries the hazy lights, casting flickering shadows in her eyes, disrupting her usual calm and silence, revealing a hint of spirited stubbornness. In that moment, he suddenly caught a glimpse of her appearance from three years ago

Fu Yucheng, I need to tell you something

"Let's see what trick you want to play," he said, pinching his waist and looking down at her. Her fair and translucent face appeared particularly innocent without makeup. "Tell me, what have I done wrong?"

She used to smoke, but she quit after getting married

She tilted her head, as if she were seriously contemplating, "... ... it's okay."