Chapter Fifty: No Time

“How did it go?” Xu Qing anxiously asked as Xu Fei walked into the room.

He glanced at his sister, unsure how to answer.

“Say something!” Xu Qing looked behind him, not seeing Du Man’s figure. She immediately understood. “Where’s my sister-in-law?”

Xu Fei dropped heavily onto the sofa.

“Xu Fei, where did you take my sister-in-law?” Xu Qing pulled at him, demanding an answer.

Xu Fei simply stared at the ceiling light, lost in thought, as if he had forgotten how to speak.

Xu Qing, tired from questioning, also sat on the sofa beside him.

The siblings sat in silence for a long while.

“Divorce.”

“What?!”

“Tomorrow.”

“You—you agreed?”

Xu Fei gave a bitter laugh. “It was your sister-in-law who brought it up.”

Xu Qing was stunned. “That can’t be true, can it?”

Xu Fei stood up. “Actually, it’s for the best. Your sister-in-law would be better off finding that Bai fellow.”

“Bai? My sister-in-law has someone outside?”

Xu Fei didn’t answer. He truly didn’t know how. Some things, he himself wasn’t sure if they were real or not.

He walked into his room and slammed the door shut.

...

The next day.

“Brother, I’m taking the day off. I need to ask my sister-in-law why she wants to divorce you.”

Xu Fei grabbed her firmly. “You’ve got your university entrance exams soon. Stop making trouble. This is between me and your sister-in-law. You can’t help, so stay out of it.”

He placed the prepared breakfast on the table and left the house alone.

When he reached the street office, he saw Du Man and Du Tao from a distance.

As he approached the door, Du Tao turned away, refusing to greet him. Only Du Man came forward.

“You’re here.”

Xu Fei nodded quietly, “Just now, Xu Qing wanted to see you, but I didn’t let her.”

“She...” Du Man started to speak but swallowed her words.

“Sis, the door’s open. Let’s go in,” Du Tao said, as if he couldn’t wait for their divorce to happen.

They entered the office of Director Hao.

“Director Hao,” Du Tao headed in first.

Director Hao, an acquaintance of the Du family, knew Du Tao well. “Du Tao, what brings you here? Something wrong?”

“Director Hao, my sister wants a divorce. Sorry to trouble you.”

Director Hao was taken aback. “You mean Xu Fei and Du Man?”

“That’s right.”

Director Hao glanced outside, seeing Xu Fei and Du Man waiting. “Come in.”

Xu Fei and Du Man entered, sitting side by side before Director Hao.

“You two seemed fine—what’s happened?”

The question stunned both Xu Fei and Du Man.

Yes, what had happened? Neither could find the words.

Du Tao stepped forward, “Director Hao, you know their situation well. Their feelings have long faded, and now Xu Fei often treats my sister poorly, so—”

Xu Fei looked up at Director Hao, “That’s not true.”

Director Hao nodded, then turned to Du Tao, “Tao, divorces are the couple’s decision. You may be the brother-in-law, but you shouldn’t interfere too much, right?”

Du Tao smiled, nodding, then nudged Du Man, “Du Man, just say what Mom told you. Tell Director Hao, don’t be afraid.”

Du Man, pushed forward, slowly lifted her head.

“I...”

“Yes, Du Man, go ahead,” Director Hao encouraged her with a warm smile.

“I...” Du Man had promised her mother at home, but now the words wouldn’t come.

Du Tao, anxious, was about to speak, but Director Hao raised a hand and signaled him to be quiet.

Even if he wanted to speak for Du Man, he couldn’t intervene.

“If Du Man won’t speak, Xu Fei, tell me—why do you want a divorce?”

Xu Fei looked at Director Hao. He didn’t want a divorce at all. He hadn’t even brought their marriage certificate.

“I... I don’t agree to a divorce.”

Director Hao smiled, “Xu Fei, if you don’t want to, why are you here?”

Xu Fei glanced at Du Man beside him.

“Du Man, do you want a divorce?” Director Hao’s question caught Du Man off guard.

She hesitated, a hint of fear in her eyes. If the divorce didn’t happen today, she knew she’d never be welcome at her mother’s house again.

But in her heart, she was certain. She didn’t truly want a divorce.

Last night.

She had spent the whole night thinking.

At last, she understood.

She still loved Xu Fei.

More precisely, she loved the man sitting beside her.

At the very least, she could be sure of that.

If last night Xu Fei had argued with her mother, it would have been his fault, but it was only because her mother and brother pushed too hard.

If it had been her, she would have fought for her marriage too.

But Du Man didn’t have the courage to say what Xu Fei did.

She only shook her head gently.

“Well, you two are testing my patience, aren’t you? Neither of you wants a divorce, so what are you doing here? Go home and live your lives together,” Director Hao said, standing up and looking at Du Tao, “Tao, let me say a word to you. She’s your own sister—do you really want them divorced to be satisfied?”

She walked behind Xu Fei and Du Man, took their hands, and placed them together.

“Go on, discuss things at home. There’s no hurdle a couple can’t overcome.”

Xu Fei held Du Man’s hand, smiling and nodding to Director Hao.

“Thank you, Director Hao.”

“Alright, Xu Fei, I know you’re not the same as before. They say that batch of millet from Director Shen was your doing. If it were the old you, I might really have advised you to divorce. Work hard, Du Man’s a rare woman.”

Director Hao saw them to the door.

Du Tao lingered inside.

“Well, Tao, anything else?”

Du Tao smiled awkwardly. “Director Hao, you—”

“Enough. Tell your mother I’ll visit her soon.”

Du Tao could only droop his head. “She’s busy these days.”

He walked out.

Director Hao watched him leave, shaking her head with a smile.

Xu Fei and Du Man thanked Director Hao and left the street office.

Du Tao mounted his motorcycle and looked at Du Man, “You want a ride?”

“Brother, you go ahead. Xu Fei and I will go home together.”

“Hmph, suit yourself. Take care of yourself.”

With that, Du Tao kicked the motorcycle to life, glared at Xu Fei, “Xu Fei, listen carefully. If I ever learn you mistreat my sister, I won’t let you off!”

Xu Fei watched his brother-in-law drive away.

“Have I treated you badly?”

Du Man snorted. “What do you think? Who told you to act like that with Chen Rong?”

“She... All right, I won’t dare again.”

“If you ever do, I’ll go back to my mother’s house.”

“No, no, my dear, I won’t dare again. Is that enough?”

“That’ll do.”

They exchanged smiles, hand in hand, and walked home together.