Chapter 149: Estrangement

Come to think of it, she had never once heard her father urge Lu Yan to work hard. It seemed her father really did believe in teaching each child according to their nature; fortunately, in her master's eyes, she was the one with the innate talent.

After the meal, Shen Qingyi went to wash the dishes. She had just finished putting them away in the kitchen when Lu Caiqing followed her in. Taking the rag from her hand, she asked mysteriously, "My second brother took you to see a movie today, right?"

Shen Qingyi did not fight her for the rag. "Yes."

"Are you and my second brother going to keep sleeping in separate beds like this?"

Shen Qingyi fell silent for a moment, feeling a bit conflicted and unsure how to explain it to her. "You shouldn't be asking me about things like this!" In any case, she would never dare to ask Lu Yan.

As an unmarried young woman, it was indeed inappropriate for Lu Caiqing to discuss such matters with a grown man. She dropped the subject and asked Shen Qingyi to tell her the plot of the movie instead.

Shen Qingyi smiled and said, "You don't need to cook tomorrow. After you finish at the market, go watch it yourself." She then went to boil water for a bath.

The next morning, at An'an's request, Shen Qingyi and Lu Yan accompanied him to kindergarten. On the way home, Shen Qingyi told Lu Yan, "I need to go out for a while to visit Uncle Cheng and Aunt Xia. I haven't been over much since we moved."

"I'll go with you."

Shen Qingyi felt a bit awkward. "You've finally got a break; there's no need to follow me around. You should stay home and get some rest." Her tone was incredibly gentle, but she lowered her gaze immediately after, not daring to look at him.

Lu Yan understood. "All right. Be careful on the road, and remember to pick up An'an."

"Okay."

Once Lu Yan had returned to his room, Shen Qingyi went to her own, retrieved her suitcase, and walked out of the main gate on tiptoe, only daring to drag it along the ground once she was outside.

However, just as she turned the corner, Lu Yan emerged from the house. He walked to the gate and watched his wife’s retreating figure as she hurried away with the suitcase. Only when she was completely out of sight did he walk to the supply and marketing cooperative to make a call.

"Brother Yan, what is it?" the voice on the other end asked respectfully.

"In an hour, find someone to go to the faculty housing compound and check on Cheng Yong's place. See if they have any visitors today. Don't be too obvious about it!"

"Got it!" The man replied, then added, "The Zhao family has been very quiet lately, especially Zhao Chu; he’s been at home for nearly a month. Your mother-in-law, however, is being quite high-profile, attending all sorts of social functions under the name of Mrs. Zhao. I don't know if she just loves the spotlight or if the Zhao family finds it inconvenient to attend themselves. I have a feeling they might have sensed something."

Lu Yan didn't respond, only saying, "Keep watching them. I’ll come see you tomorrow morning."

At this, the man’s voice turned visibly excited. "Oh, our busy man finally has some free time! Fine by me!"

"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning." Lu Yan hung up.

After Shen Qingyi dropped her books off at their new house, she went to the department store. She bought a pair of shoes and a coat for Xia Guifen, a necktie and a briefcase for Cheng Yong, and two outfits for Cheng Youqing.

She arrived at the Cheng house just in time for lunch. Xia Guifen greeted her warmly, but seeing that Shen Qingyi had brought so many things, she complained with a smile, "Oh, you child, it’s not even a holiday, yet you bring so many gifts every time you come."

"It's not that much. We used to see each other all the time, but since we moved, we hardly ever meet. Isn't this only right?" Shen Qingyi replied with a faint smile.

Cheng Yong had just returned from work to witness this. "If I’d known Qingyi was coming for lunch, I would have picked up some extra food on the way."

"No need, I can't eat that much anyway," Shen Qingyi said. She then asked, "Uncle Cheng, have you been busy lately?"

"It’s alright," Cheng Yong said as he walked over. Xia Guifen handed him the briefcase Shen Qingyi had bought. "Look at this. Your own daughter isn't even this thoughtful."

Shen Qingyi laughed helplessly. "Don't say that. It's just Youqing. If it were anyone else, their own parents would feel neglected compared to their best friend and might even cut ties!"

Cheng Yong chuckled. "That's not Youqing's nature."

Xia Guifen happily put the gifts away and went to the kitchen to bring out the food she had prepared. Cheng Youqing was eating at the canteen and would not be home for lunch.

As the three sat at the table, Xia Guifen kept piling food onto her plate. "Eat more. You’ve lost weight."

"Have I?" Shen Qingyi hadn't noticed, even though she looked in the mirror every day.

"You have, your chin is quite sharp. I heard from Youqing that Lu Yan has been very attentive to you lately. By all accounts, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. With good food and sleep, how could you be losing weight?"

Cheng Yong poured himself a glass of wine. "Don't bring Lu Yan into everything. After Elder Qian passed away a while back, how could Qingyi feel good?" Ever since the changes in her family, the girl had a habit of keeping everything bottled up inside.

"I have indeed been troubled by something recently," Shen Qingyi admitted.

Cheng Yong took a sip of his wine and looked up. "Is it about your mother?"

Shen Qingyi had mentioned this to Cheng Youqing a while ago, though she hadn't mentioned the plan to divorce Lu Yan. Never treating them as outsiders, she nodded. "Yes. I still want to go to Pengcheng to find a suitable lawyer."

Cheng Yong thought for a moment. "It’s rare that she’s willing to testify. Alright, I’ll take care of your border permit. It should take about five days to get the full paperwork processed."

"Thank you, Uncle Cheng."

Xia Guifen smiled. "What are you thanking us for? This is about the only thing your Uncle Cheng and I can help with. As long as you can live a good life with Lu Yan, that’s all that matters."

Shen Qingyi’s hand, holding her chopsticks, paused. Finally, she whispered, "You’ve already helped me more than enough."

With the matter of the border permit settled, Shen Qingyi felt a wave of relief. On her way back after the meal, she stopped at the supply and marketing cooperative to make another call.

Han Lanzhi was in a good mood when she received the call. "I’ve been preparing to go to Pengcheng these past few days. Once the lawyer is found, I'll return to the capital to file the lawsuit."

"Good."

"When can you come over?"

"In six days," Shen Qingyi replied.

"The divorce papers for you and Lu Yan are coming through that quickly?" Han Lanzhi didn't think it would be that simple.

Shen Qingyi took a deep breath. "Since he has already agreed, it’s only a matter of time. What are you worried about? If you’re willing to wait, then we can talk about it in two or three months."

Han Lanzhi’s most urgent desire was to bring Shen Qingyi back to her side, rebuild their trust, and then ask about the manuscript. As long as Lu Yan didn't interfere, recovering the manuscript would be much easier.

"Fine, six days then. Are you coming to me first, or heading straight to Pengcheng?"

"To Pengcheng," Shen Qingyi said without hesitation.

"Good!"

"If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up." Shen Qingyi ended the call.

She felt that her mother, who had once been so protective and caring, was becoming increasingly like a stranger. Was it possible that because she had defied her once regarding her marriage, her mother had turned so cold and heartless toward her?