Qiao Shu frowned at her son. “Did you eat gunpowder today? Why are you speaking so sharply?”
Jiang Xu’s slender, well-defined fingers curled slightly as he replied calmly, “No.”
“…I’ll be staying here for a few days.” Qiao Shu was momentarily speechless. She opened the box on the table and asked gently, “Xixi, do you like it?”
Before Lin Jianxi could fully process Qiao Shu’s words about staying for a few days, a box appeared before her. Inside lay a pure, icy-floating-flower jade bracelet.
Qiao Shu had no other hobbies but loved giving her jade bracelets. She said cheongsams paired best with jade bracelets. Over the past two years, Lin Jianxi had received no fewer than ten bracelets from Qiao Shu.
Each was a priceless, high-quality piece. The heirloom bracelet Qiao Shu had given her, which was said to be worth three courtyard houses in Huaijing, she dared not wear for fear of damaging it.
Qiao Shu called softly, “Do you like it?”
“Thank you, Mom. I really like it.” Lin Jianxi accepted the box with both hands. If she didn’t, Qiao Shu would get angry. As an actress, Lin Jianxi could never tell whether Qiao Shu’s anger was genuine or feigned.
Qiao Shu treated her very well, regarding her as her own daughter. One could say she had watched Lin Jianxi grow up.
“As long as you like it,” Qiao Shu patted the back of Lin Jianxi’s hand gently and murmured, “It would be even better if you two could give me a little baby to play with.”
Lin Jianxi lowered her gaze. She was afraid she would disappoint Qiao Shu. They were about to divorce—where would a baby come from?
Qiao Shu glanced up at Jiang Xu. “A-Xu, is your new drama filming in S City?”
Jiang Xu gave an “Mm” in response.
After a moment of silence, Qiao Shu stood up and smoothed the wrinkles on her cheongsam. “I’ll go to the garden to check on the flowers I planted last time. You two carry on with whatever you need to do.”
“Mom, I’ll go with you.” Lin Jianxi set down the box in her hands and made to stand up.
Qiao Shu patted Lin Jianxi’s shoulder, her voice gentle. “I’ll have Zhong Sao accompany me.”
Lin Jianxi could only nod. “Alright.”
At that moment, only Jiang Xu and Lin Jianxi remained in the living room. With unspoken understanding, they both lifted their eyes to look at each other, holding the gaze without a word.
Lin Jianxi shifted her gaze away. Her pale, slender fingers picked up the jade bracelet from the box. “What do we do now?”
Jiang Xu’s gaze rested on Lin Jianxi. She was slightly bowed, her face delicate and beautiful, dressed in a light white dress with smooth, dark hair cascading below her shoulders.
After a long pause, he said, “We’ll talk in a few days.”
“Alright.” Lin Jianxi’s long, curled eyelashes fluttered slightly. She gently stroked the jade bracelet with her fingertips. Moments later, she stood up and walked toward the staircase.
Jiang Xu’s brows furrowed slightly as he watched Lin Jianxi’s graceful figure disappear into the stairwell.
Two days later.
Jiang Tu arrived in a hurry to pick up Qiao Shu and take her back to the old residence. He brought gifts for Jiang Xu and Lin Jianxi.
Lin Jianxi and Jiang Xu saw them off to the car. She gazed distractedly at the retreating figures of Jiang Tu and Qiao Shu, her clear, bright eyes tinged with a hint of envy.
Once the car disappeared beyond the villa gate, Lin Jianxi withdrew her gaze and looked at the person beside her. “Jiang Xu, whether you’re free next Monday or not, the divorce is happening.”
“What if I’m really not free?” Jiang Xu looked at her fair, beautiful face, his posture somewhat languid.
“You…” Lin Jianxi choked back her words.
Jiang Xu’s deep eyes reflected her lovely image. “Lin Jianxi, I haven’t been to the film set for three days. Whether we divorce or not won’t change anything.”
Lin Jianxi was slightly taken aback and hurriedly averted her gaze. She lowered her eyelids slightly and said, “I don’t care. Let’s meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine o’clock next Monday morning.”
After speaking, Lin Jianxi turned and walked toward the door. Upon closer inspection, one could see her steps were somewhat hurried, carrying a sense of fleeing in panic.
Lin Jianxi was indeed a bit flustered. Jiang Xu seemed unwilling to divorce her, and she couldn’t figure out his thoughts. Was there any point in maintaining a marriage without love?
Two days passed quickly.
During these two days, Lin Jianxi went to work at the qipao shop as usual, while Jiang Xu flew to City S for a photoshoot.
Monday morning, nine o’clock, the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Perhaps because it was Monday, there were quite a few people filing for divorce at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Jiang Xu and Lin Jianxi took a number and waited in line for nearly half an hour before their number was called.
The staff member looked at the two people before her, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes. She lowered her head to review the divorce materials and asked, “Are both parties certain about applying for divorce?”
Lin Jianxi opened her lips and said, “Yes.”
Jiang Xu was dressed in a snow-white shirt, the collar slightly open to reveal his prominent Adam’s apple. His handsome face appeared even more refined and profound, his thin lips pressed together without much expression.
The staff member remained silent for a moment, her gaze falling on Jiang Xu. “Has the husband not yet made up his mind about the divorce? If you’re unsure, you can go back and think it over for a few days before coming again.”
Lin Jianxi’s long, curled eyelashes trembled slightly. “No need. We’ve already discussed it and are certain about divorcing.”
The staff member said, “The divorce cooling-off period is thirty days. Within those thirty days, if either party changes their mind, they can withdraw the divorce registration application at any time.”
Lin Jianxi’s expression froze for a moment. She had been so focused on divorcing Jiang Xu that she had forgotten about the divorce cooling-off period.
Jiang Xu’s face showed no ripple of emotion, not the slightest surprise at the mention of the divorce cooling-off period.
“Once the cooling-off period ends, both parties should bring the relevant materials to collect the divorce certificate. If, within thirty days after the cooling-off period expires, both parties do not appear together to collect the divorce certificate, it will be considered as abandoning this divorce application.”
Lin Jianxi stared blankly at the staff member when a hand suddenly grasped her own, which was clasped on her lap.
“Alright, thank you.” Jiang Xu tightened his grip on Lin Jianxi’s hand, picked up the receipt for the divorce registration application, and strode with long steps toward the exit.
“Jiang Xu, you…” Lin Jianxi was forced to follow his pace, her slender high heels clicking loudly on the floor.
The staff member smiled faintly and shook her head helplessly. Having worked in this field for over twenty years, she was certain this couple would not return to collect their divorce certificate.
Jiang Xu led Lin Jianxi through the Civil Affairs Bureau hall, his handsome face expressionless, his thin lips pressed together, and his sharp jawline tightly clenched.
The two of them were far too eye-catching, drawing glances from those waiting in the seating area. A few people began whispering among themselves.
“Those two came out of the divorce registration office holding hands. It looks like they’ve decided not to divorce.”
“It’s probably the man who doesn’t want to divorce.”
“Yeah, the woman is being forced to follow his pace, and the man looks like he can’t wait to fly out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xu slowed his steps and expressionlessly led Lin Jianxi out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Lin Jianxi heard every word they said. She lowered her gaze to stare at their joined hands, her heartbeat uncontrollably quickening.
Even after leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Jiang Xu still didn’t let go of Lin Jianxi’s hand. He continued leading her straight toward the parking spot.
Lin Jianxi had just settled into the passenger seat, still dazed, when suddenly an enlarged, handsome face appeared before her. Startled, her pupils contracted slightly, and she instinctively shrank back.