Chapter 30: I’m Getting a Divorce (with Forum Posts)

Chapter 30: I'm Getting Divorced (Forum)

After that confession, it seemed like Li Wuya said something, but Qin Shu wasn't listening.

Because at that time, Li Wuya was clearly out of his mind; nothing he said was worth listening to.

But still, well, it was pretty depressing.

The guy he thought was his best friend turned out to be a crazy obsessive who was in love with him.

Having just finished a mission, Qin Shu sat in his office, sucking on a lollipop.

Zuo Chou left yesterday. Qin Shu was going to file for divorce that afternoon.

He was a fine young man of twenty-six, hadn't even been in love yet—how did he end up getting divorced?

Ah, forget it.

Qin Shu clapped his hands.

Golden rushed in from outside: "Captain!"

Qin Shu ruffled his hair.

"I have a friend," Qin Shu said.

"Uh-huh, Captain, you have a friend."

"He married his best friend."

"…Mm-hmm, Captain."

"And then, the best friend did some really weird things."

"Mm, what did Li Wuya do?"

Qin Shu slapped him: "Show some respect for my friend here."

"Oh, oh, okay, Captain."

"Anyway, I—uh, my friend decided to get a divorce."

"Captain, happy being single!"

"…It's my friend!"

After slapping Golden a few more times, Qin Shu shifted his position and continued sitting.

He kept sucking on his lollipop: "At first, my friend thought his best friend was really infuriating, because if he hadn't been so extreme, they wouldn't have ended up in this mess."

Golden covered his head and muttered quietly: "I think he pisses me off too."

"Everything he did seemed like he didn't understand my friend at all—I mean, he was just asking for it."

"But at the same time, my friend also realized that they didn't really understand each other."

"Is that even considered friendship? That's what my friend is wondering."

Qin Shu wasn't looking for an answer, just talking to himself: "But I think, no matter what now, the time they spent together back then couldn't have been all fake. Should he throw away the past because of the present? Wouldn't that erase all those years too?"

"Huang Sanqi, what do you think?"

Golden bounced up and shouted: "Captain, you're the best!"

Qin Shu slapped him again: "Don't act like such a fanboy."

He stopped dead the next second.

Because he realized Golden was actually crying.

W-what's wrong with you?!

Golden: "Shu, you can't be like this…"

Qin Shu flatly: "Like what?"

"It's Li Wuya's fault. I don't know what he did wrong, but Shu, why are you blaming yourself for his mistake?"

"…Was I?"

Wasn't that what he should be doing?

Golden was about to jump up.

"Shu, you really can't be like this. You—you just—" he said, pissed off, "He hurt you, why are you still wondering if you did something wrong?"

"…"

"If I were a traitor who secretly planned to stab you, would you still reflect on why you didn't change me?"

Qin Shu massaged his forehead: "That's not the same thing."

Guess I'm not that kind-hearted.

Golden rolled over and nuzzled him: "And besides, look at it this way, why couldn't Li Wuya just stay your best friend forever? He was the one who wanted to get married. It was all his own fault."

Qin Shu: "…Why do I get the feeling you already know everything."

"I don't know anything, but that's just how I feel."

Qin Shu patted him: "Got it, got it."

The black-haired sentinel pinched his cheek: "He didn't really get to me. I'm just a little mixed up. But, it doesn't matter."

Getting close to someone creates fixed impressions; it happens to everyone. Li Wuya deserved it—doing all those things while pretending to be a friend.

"Anyway, I'm divorcing him this afternoon," Qin Shu said casually.

I'll get to know him again then.

He pinched Golden's cheek again: "Keep the divorce a secret."

Golden turned off his terminal and wailed: "Why does it have to be a secret again?!"

-

Li Wuya didn't go to the Military Affairs Bureau today.

He hadn't shown up for a few days.

The overdose of suppressants for losing control made it hard for him to handle noisy places. Currently, he was in the back courtyard of the Duke's mansion, where only his adjutant and butler were allowed.

Working remotely is twice the effort for half the results—he has to spend even more time on these tasks.

Time ticked by, and eventually, the moment arrived.

Divorce is worse than death, the voice beside him said.

Not divorcing is what's stifling Qin Shu's freedom, he said calmly to the voice.

Are you kidding me? If you really care about his freedom, why are you tying him down with friendship and marriage?

...

Admit it—you're just afraid of his disappointment and the sight of his back as he walks away. But you've already gotten that, so why not go all the way?

"I told you to shut up, or so help me, I'll kill you," Li Wuya said.

The attendant beside him flinched.

Someone let out a snicker.

You think you'd actually dare to kill me?

Suicide—what a beautiful escape. From then on, Qin Shu's brilliant, radiant life would be forever stained by the shadow of "Li Wuya." No matter what a worthless piece of trash you are, you can still make him remember you—

Li Wuya, expressionless, injected himself with another dose of suppressant.

"Your Grace, that suppressant is for Sentinels who've lost control. You really shouldn't—"

The attendant felt a chill run down his spine.

That's the suppressant used on completely out-of-control Sentinels at the sanatorium—also known as a heavy-duty sedative. He's already injected more than four vials today. At that dosage... is he really going to be okay?!

The Duke looked over at him, perfectly calm.

The attendant's legs nearly gave out. "I'm sorry. I won't say another word."

The man, far too calm, said thoughtfully, "You're right."

If he truly lost control completely, would Qin Shu even spare him a second glance?

But if he lost control completely, he wouldn't be able to think straight—and he probably wouldn't get to see that worried look on Qin Shu's face...

The cleanup afterward would be way too troublesome. What if it delayed A Shu's trip?

You can't keep coercing him like this.

Vetoed.

"Let's go," Li Wuya said.

Then, again: "To get the divorce."

Be good. Just be good.

-

Qin Shu met Li Wuya at the entrance to the Star Union Agency.

Li Wuya looked the same as always, just a little too quiet. In his high-collared coat, he gave off a strange chill despite the bright sunlight.

Qin Shu, on the other hand, was in a pretty good mood right now.

Divorce was just correcting a mistake. Qin Shu felt that both he and Li Wuya needed some time to cool off after that.

Not like what that crazy blond fanatic said.

Qin Shu was only human. And who doesn't make mistakes? After thinking it over, at least, Qin Shu felt he really had been impulsive a few days ago.

It wasn't the punching that was impulsive. Even Li Wuya didn't deserve to be sexually harassed—and if it happened again, Qin Shu would hit him even harder.

He just felt he'd gone too far with his harsh words. It went against everything he'd always believed in. Letting anger override his judgment wasn't good.

But Li Wuya had committed a far greater crime.

Deceit, secrecy, and sexual harassment.

...His best friend all along had turned out to be some twisted pervert with a thing for him. Qin Shu still hadn't wrapped his head around that.

And on top of that, they were still in the middle of a fight.

Li Wuya opened the car door for him. Qin Shu deliberately turned his head away, refusing to look at him.

Total cold war!

Li Wuya meekly lowered his head and followed him into the car.

The car was quiet. Qin Shu noticed the sachet he'd given him still hanging inside.

"A Shu," Li Wuya said.

Qin Shu looked over, face set in a stern expression.

Li Wuya opened his mouth, then hesitated.

"A Shu... can we hold off on making it public for two more days? About the divorce."

"Give me a reason."

"Her Majesty the Empress's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. Once it's public, countless people will come to you offering ways to take me down. I don't want to give them an excuse to bother you."

More of these high-sounding excuses.

Qin Shu was bored by it.

"...But I know none of that would affect you. A Shu, I'm just asking for some time to prepare. Just two days. Okay? I won't do anything unnecessary. I just... I'm a little... I don't want it to be public."

Finally, he got Qin Shu to actually look at him.

Qin Shu was genuinely surprised.

So he could talk properly after all?

If he'd just talked like this from the start, why would things have gotten this far?

But Qin Shu wasn't the same Qin Shu anymore. He'd gotten very good at saying no. He cleared his throat. "What do I care if you don't want to? I do."

"Okay," Li Wuya replied.

Then, after a pause: "Do you have any plans after the divorce?"

"Sever the deep link."

…Li Wuya paused. 'And after that?'"

"Going to the Polaris Star Region to visit Teacher Zhang."

"Mm. I have a planet over there. If you don't mind, you could stay there."

"No, thanks."

"Alright."

…

Why did it feel like a weird breakup when they'd never even dated?!

-

The car slowly stopped.

The civil affairs bureau looked closed.

Qin Shu immediately turned his head: "What trick are you trying to pull now?"

Li Wuya lowered his eyes: "Sorry, none. I did think yesterday about closing the civil affairs bureau to stall for a few days, but it would be futile, and you'd be angry."

"Just go inside. There's someone waiting."

Li Wuya's blunt honesty made things awkward, so Qin Shu shut his mouth, and the two got out of the car one after the other.

It was the same hall, and he hadn't expected to be back so soon.

The divorce agreement required signing a lot of papers.

First, of course, was the contract to dissolve the marriage, but what about the rest?

He looked at the silent Li Wuya beside him: "What's this property division about? Do you and I have property to split?"

Li Wuya immediately replied: "Yes, you can take what belongs to you."

Qin Shu was baffled. He had property? Two billion in-game coins in his account?

After flipping through it, he was even more confused: "These are all your assets. Why give them to me?"

…

Qin Shu said coldly, "Li Wuya."

"Half of this was always yours," Li Wuya said. "I used you to gain power, used you to solve political problems. This is what you deserve."

Qin Shu said, "Three, two."

Li Wuya's speech quickened: "This isn't a gift. It's got nothing to do with that ring. If you don't want it, that's fine. The choice is yours."

"Giving it to me will just become a pile of scrap paper."

He replied quickly: "I can manage it on your behalf. Transferred to your account quarterly."

It felt like he was just waiting for this!

Qin Shu was inexplicably annoyed.

He signed in the blink of an eye. Threw it at Li Wuya.

Picking a random angle, he deliberately tossed it at Li Wuya's face, and Li Wuya deliberately let it hit him before catching it.

…

Now he was even angrier!

Qin Shu put down the pen: "I'm done signing. I'm leaving."

"Alright."

"Remember to make it public," he said, cool as ever.

"…Alright."

Qin Shu turned back just as cool and stepped on Li Wuya's foot.

—

That afternoon, shocking news for a specific group.

It started with an official announcement: "Announcement Regarding the Military Strategic Council… The Dissolution of the Marriage Between General Li Wuya and Colonel Qin Shu in Accordance with the Law."

The moment it was released, on forums, internal networks, at Imperial Military Headquarters, at the Imperial Military Border Division, and even the Corps Commander on the road… everyone was talking about the same thing:

Qin Shu and Li Wuya got divorced?!

"I told you, it was a political marriage. Once everything was settled, it's back to single and happy!" This was a sentinel popping champagne right then.

"Wait, why hasn't General Li…'s encyclopedia entry changed from 'married' yet?" This was a detail-obsessed sentinel.

"So my Shu never liked men after all! My third-wheel plan..." This was a sentinel torn between joy and sadness.

"Ooh, so Brother Shu is everyone's again!" This was a cheerful young sentinel.

Many high-level guides discreetly added their info to the matching system.

On a mysterious board within the White Tower's internal network, the trending tags quietly shifted from #Forbidden #Cheating to

#AtypicalSecondMarriage #HusbandMaterial.

Zuo Chou called to congratulate, and the Marshal also sent his regards, and at that moment, Qin Shu was with his team…

At a roadside barbecue stall in the lower city.

The blond guy leaned against him with a grin: "Captain, you finally have time to hang out with us!"

Qin Shu kept chewing.

Bob boldly slung an arm around his shoulder: "Today's on me! Eat as much as you want, Captain!"

Qin Shu continued chewing.

Yu Huaicheng's voice came over the communicator: "Qin Shu, if you need anything, call me!" And Zuo Chou's distant voice: "Shu'er, I'll introduce you to some girls!"

Qin Shu stopped chewing and said, "Piss off."

He hung up, annoyed: "Why are you all so happy about this?"

But the blond guy quietly said to him: "We're not really that happy, actually a bit angry, but we hope that because we're happy, you'll be a little happier too."

"..."

These past few days, weighed down by thoughts of a certain someone, Qin Shu had somehow overlooked the fact that there were so many people in this world who cared about him.

What a sin.

The world didn't revolve solely around Li Wuya; since he crossed over, he had plenty of his own connections.

Qin Shu smiled and pinched the golden retriever's cheek. "So, you guys aren't mad anymore, right? You guys make me really happy."

This rare smile lit up the day like a burst of sunshine.

Ignoring the golden retriever's yapping about "giving his heart for the captain," Qin Shu ordered another two hundred skewers of barbecue.

He was feeling generous: "Don't worry about the bill—today's on me!"

He suddenly remembered that a fortune had just dropped from the sky—he was loaded now too!

The team members cheered: "Captain, you're the best!" "Captain, you're the coolest!"

Ha, of course he was.

Posing coolly, he noticed a young guy walk up to the barbecue stand.

The guy said, all shy, "Hey, can I get your number?"

Qin Shu: ...

And just like that, his gay dating luck showed up right as his gay marriage ended.

-

On the military's anonymous forum.

[Highlighted in red] "Big News Thread: My Brother's Free!"

"Hahaha...

...

"—This post has been deleted by the OP—"

-

After dinner with the team, on the way home.

Back at the building entrance, that same familiar spot.

Without even looking, Qin Shu grabbed someone from the shadows.

"Li Wuya, if you keep being this annoying—" I'll really beat you senseless.

Wait, that wasn't Li Wuya.

"...Who are you?"

Qin Shu awkwardly put the guy down.

Unfamiliar face, dressed in palace clothes.

Looked like some kind of palace MP.

The guy was super professional, totally unfazed by what just happened. He bowed deeply, held up both hands, and said, "Colonel Qin, Her Majesty the Empress ordered me to send her regards."

"The day after tomorrow's Her Majesty's birthday. As per tradition, there's a banquet at the palace. This is Her Majesty's invitation for you."

"Oh."

Qin Shu accepted the invitation.

They stood there making awkward eye contact for a few seconds, then the young guard suddenly dropped his head.

"Do you... have something else to say?"

"W-wish you happiness every day!"

"...Thanks?"

The young guard bowed again sharply, then clattered off.

Huh, so it was "happy every day," not "I like you."

That annoying gay guy really ruined me!

-

Back home, he opened his terminal and found countless emails.

Just like Li Wuya said, invitations to go to the banquet together came flooding in.

"Going public" indeed was public; less than three hours after leaving the marriage bureau, everyone knew he was divorced. Politicians responded quickly, and most of these invitations hinted at teaming up against Li Wuya.

Was Li Wuya that disliked?

He skimmed a few and deleted them all at once.

He really wasn't interested in this. And it was too stupid—why would anyone think that divorcing Li Wuya meant they'd become enemies?

Even if, hypothetically, he wanted to deal with Li Wuya, would he use such methods?

Damn, why was his mind full of Li Wuya?

Qin Shu suddenly grew annoyed again and tossed the Empress's invitation far away.

He had to deal with all this, he thought. He had to finish everything in these few days. No matter what, he needed an answer, one that could convince him.

Excessive thinking would lead him to replace reality with fantasy, to doubt meaning, to negate value—just like how he'd overlooked his caring friends these past few days. Wasn't that also a disrespect to the Qin Shu of the past?

Tomorrow... the day after, at most. He would personally resolve this matter.