Chapter 403 Deciding to Divorce

Chapter 403 Determined to Divorce

Xu Jianwen looked at his wife’s contorted face, feeling utterly disappointed.

The thought of divorce had never been so strong.

Moreover, after marrying Hao Yanyan, their relationship had only been harmonious for the first year; now, there was hardly any affection left.

"Believe what you want."

Xu Jianwen told Hao Yanyan to leave.

Hao Yanyan hurled the lunchbox at him.

"You bastard."

Hao Yanyan returned directly to the family compound. Just as she reached the Hao family’s doorstep, someone stopped her.

It was He Jingxuan, who she hadn’t seen in days. Though Hao Yanyan was distraught, He Jingxuan was in no better shape—disheveled and even more haggard.

"Hao Yanyan, did you do this on purpose?"

Hao Yanyan shoved He Jingxuan aside. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He Jingxuan: "Did you deliberately introduce me to Di Yu? He—"

Hao Yanyan sneered. "What, not enjoying life as Mrs. Di? That was your own choice of husband."

Seeing He Jingxuan’s misery, Hao Yanyan felt less heartbroken than before.

"You took me to that banquet on purpose. Di Yu is a monster… His family only accepted me because they urgently needed a daughter-in-law to keep up appearances."

Besides, marrying someone of equal status would have been complicated. He Jingxuan, educated, beautiful, and from a good but not powerful family, was the perfect fit.

Worse yet, the He family needed the Di family’s help, leaving her too afraid to speak out.

Hao Yanyan straightened her clothes. "Spare me your sob story. I didn’t force you into marriage."

He Jingxuan grabbed her arm. "Don’t go! You have to explain this to me!"

Hao Yanyan pushed her away. "You still think I can help you? I’m being nice by not getting even. Get away from me, unless you want—"

Hao Yanyan now despised He Jingxuan’s entire family. If it weren’t for Han Zhiyin causing her to lose her child, she wouldn’t be in such a vulnerable position.

He Jingxuan flinched at her murderous glare.

Hao Yanyan looked ready to kill her…

She’d meant to ask her aunt for help, but He Jingxuan turned and ran.

She couldn’t let Di Yu find out she’d snuck out—it would be dangerous.

Hao Yanyan pushed the door open and went inside.

He Qiaoxiang saw her return and asked, "What brings you back so suddenly? How was that businessman I set you up with last time?"

Hao Yanyan blurted out, "Xu Jianwen wants to divorce me."

He Qiaoxiang put down the remote control, "What happened? Did you two have a fight?"

Hao Yanyan covered her face, "He’s been digging into things behind my back, and I feel like his heart isn’t with me anymore."

He Qiaoxiang: "What are you even saying? If he really knows everything, divorce is the last thing you should do. What if he spills everything? Right now, no matter how much he knows, it’s useless. Just butter him up a little."

But Hao Yanyan could tell he was dead serious this time.

"I’m going upstairs to rest."

She needed to clear her head.

He Qiaoxiang waited until Hao Yanyan went upstairs, then immediately called the Xu family.

Zhao Hongxia answered the phone. She’d just found out the two were talking divorce.

She was ready to blow up, but then it all came flooding back—everything that had happened over the years.

Ever since their eldest married Hao Yanyan, it seemed the family had encountered more and more troubles and even offended the Lu family.

Their eldest wasn’t a flake like the younger one. If he wanted out, he must’ve thought it through.

So, unlike before, Zhao Hongxia didn’t immediately promise she could reconcile them.

Instead, her voice dripped with sarcasm, "Let the kids sort it out themselves. We adults shouldn’t meddle. At my age, I should be bouncing grandkids on my knee. My ‘help’ might just make things worse."

He Qiaoxiang: "In-law, you can’t seriously want them to split up?"

Zhao Hongxia: "I never said that. Besides, they’ve been together for so many years. Divorce isn’t something you just jump into."

Zhao Hongxia cut her off mid-sentence, leaving He Qiaoxiang seething on the other end.

Zhao Hongxia grumbled under her breath in the living room, "I should call Jianwen and ask what’s going on."

Xu Jianli had been eavesdropping the whole time.

"My brother wants a divorce?"

Zhao Hongxia looked up, "When did you get here? You scared me!"

"I’ve been here since you were on the phone."

Xu Jianli just shrugged at his mom.

Honestly? Good riddance—he’d never liked her. But with Sister Xiaoxiao out of the picture, it didn’t matter who it was, as long as she was a decent person.

"Did my brother cheat or something?"

"Don’t be disgusting!" Zhao Hongxia was annoyed. If it weren’t for winter break, she would’ve kicked him out long ago. "What kind of brother says that? Let me get the story straight from him first."

She meant to call right then, but with her nosy younger son hovering...

Zhao Hongxia cleared her throat, "A-Li, why don't you go ask your brother what this is all about?"

Xu Jianli: "Sure, but you have to tell me, do you support my brother getting a divorce?"

Zhao Hongxia: "This isn't about supporting or not supporting. As long as your brother's sure, that's enough."

Xu Jianli nodded. It seemed his mother wasn't standing up for Hao Yanyan like she used to.

"Then I'll go poke around for you, I guess."

Xu Jianli arrived at Xu Jianwen's workplace.

Xu Jianwen had slept in the office yesterday after his fight with Hao Yanyan.

"Hey bro, when are you coming home?"

Xu Jianli plopped down at the desk.

Xu Jianwen looked up: "Mom put you up to this?"

Xu Jianli: "Yeah, your mother-in-law called our house. Mom already knows about your fight with Yanyan."

Xu Jianwen was annoyed, "I'm serious this time, and it's for our family's good."

Xu Jianli: "Not my business really. Just remember to come home. And I think Mom isn't as opposed to this as before. You should worry more about Dad—he is all about keeping up appearances."

Although their father usually kept his nose out of family business, he was the one who calls the shots.

And he was someone who was obsessed with saving face.

He might stop his son from divorcing just to save face.

Xu Jianwen: "I'll go home in a couple days. Just let me have some peace for now."

Xu Jianli: "Your call. I'm heading back then."

After returning home, Xu Jianli passed along that Jianwen was dead set on divorcing.

Zhao Hongxia was considering how to bring this up with her husband.

If they could have an amicable divorce, that would be best—no need for things to get messy. She just didn't know if the Hao family would agree.

...

Meanwhile, Ye Xiaoxiao, after returning, tidied up her finished paper and began submitting it to academic journals.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn't sure her paper would make the cut, especially since she'd chosen a top-tier journal. But she had to try regardless—it would be very helpful for her future graduate school applications.