Xia Liuyue saw Du Jiashu holding the pen, but the tip hovered over the paper, not moving for a long while.
She didn't urge him.
A brilliant smile lifted the corners of her lips.
Her almond-shaped eyes slightly upturned, her tone was terrifyingly gentle.
"I know, Du Jiashu. You're thinking that on such an important day as today, having only my good friend present isn't enough, right?"
"Perhaps your good friend needs to be here too."
Du Jiashu suddenly looked up, waving his hands in a fluster.
"That's not it, I..."
Before he could finish, he saw Xia Liuyue already raising her hand with a beaming smile, waving to someone not far away.
"Tang Yinyao, come over here. You're right on time, perfect timing."
Du Jiashu followed her gaze and saw Tang Yinyao, dressed in black leather and with a face as dark as thunder, frowning and charging over aggressively.
He was utterly astonished. "Why is she here?"
Xia Liuyue raised an eyebrow, speaking unhurriedly.
"I invited her."
"Do you remember the day we got our marriage certificate?"
"You rushed to the civil affairs bureau with your 'good friend,' stayed for ten minutes, shoved the certificate into your pocket after getting it, and then went off with her to continue drinking."
"What begins must have an end. Since she was there for the marriage, she should be here for the divorce too."
Hearing this recount, Du Jiashu suddenly felt he truly wasn't a proper man!
This was too scummy.
Did he really do such a thing back then, in full possession of his senses?
"I'm sorry, Liuyue."
The last thing Xia Liuyue wanted to hear was an apology from Du Jiashu's mouth. She quickly stopped him.
"Stop! Your willingness to sign is the best apology you can give me."
"And look, Tang Yinyao is here too. The more, the merrier."
After Tang Yinyao strode over, she first glanced at Yan Hechuan standing to the side, her eyes still filled with resentment.
Back then, Assistant Chen had given her a day to choose.
To resolve the lab equipment issue or to deal with the businessman targeting the Tang family.
In the end, she chose herself.
A self-interested person, of course, would protect her own career.
Ultimately, Yan Hechuan stepped in to urgently source a batch of medical equipment from elsewhere. The price for this was the complete annulment of their engagement.
Yan Hechuan, now a free man, had even posted a rare moment on social media that very day.
As for who it was meant for.
The answer was obvious.
Tang Yinyao hated Yan Hechuan for his coldness towards her.
As for why she agreed to come today to witness Xia Liuyue and Du Jiashu's divorce, it was because Xia Liuyue had proactively told her she was willing to help resolve the issue of the overseas Chinese businessman from Maple Leaf Country targeting the Tang family.
Tang Yinyao thought about it and decided it wasn't a bad deal!
She could also mock Xia Liuyue a bit.
So she came.
She hadn't expected Yan Hechuan to be here too.
So she was the clown.
Was he really that impatient?
"Brother Jiashu."
Tang Yinyao seemed to ignore Yan Hechuan, but in her heart, she still cared.
Her peripheral vision kept drifting towards him.
She then turned, putting on a smiling face to greet Du Jiashu.
When her gaze fell on Xia Liuyue's festive red dress, a scornful laugh escaped her throat.
"Sister-in-law is dressed so festively today!"
"Oh, wait, I can't call you sister-in-law anymore. Brother Jiashu will have a new sister-in-law in the future."
The words were somewhat provocative.
But before Xia Liuyue could retort, Du Jiashu, who had been sitting in his seat, felt a fire ignite in his chest. He abruptly stood up.
He roared at Tang Yinyao in an irritable tone:
"Shut up! Even if Liuyue divorces me, she will still be important to me."
"What right do you have to criticize my wife?"
Tang Yinyao stared in disbelief, eyes wide: "..."
Had Du Jiashu been drugged? Sitting at the divorce counter and still defending Xia Liuyue like this.
It was the staff member who couldn't take it anymore and urged:
"Sir, please don't shout in a public area. And please sign quickly, there are several more couples waiting in line."
Xia Liuyue had already signed her name with swift strokes.
Only Du Jiashu remained.
Under the gaze of everyone, Du Jiashu slumped powerlessly back into his seat.
Picking up the fountain pen, he twirled it, his voice hesitant.
"Liuyue, if back when we got the marriage certificate, I hadn't brought Tang Yinyao along, would the outcome have been different?"
Xia Liuyue let out a light laugh.
"But she's the most perfect 'Yaoyao' in your heart. If we went back to the beginning, you'd still bring her along. After all, she's your good friend."
Tang Yinyao, stung by the sarcasm, didn't dare utter a sound.
Because she could feel the palpable, intimidating aura emanating from Yan Hechuan since earlier. If she dared say one more word, it would mean the Yan family coming after the Tangs.
Du Jiashu was deeply shaken, his face ashen, yet he had no rebuttal.
But time cannot be reversed.
Even if it could, he might not have realized his true feelings.
"Fine, I'll sign."
Gritting his teeth, he signed his name, stroke by stroke, extremely slowly.
No matter how much he wanted to delay, three characters—Du Jiashu—were soon completed.
"Congratulations to you both. Here are your divorce certificates, please take them." The staff member offered a standard smile, handing over two brand new red booklets.
"Thank you."
Xia Liuyue took the divorce certificate, stood up, and prepared to leave.
Du Jiashu looked at the divorce certificate in his palm; his heart felt like a huge hole had been torn open, empty and desolate.
From now on, would her presence and her scent truly be gone from their home?
He instinctively reached out a hand, then let it drop powerlessly.
Instead, it was Tang Yinyao who chased after a few steps, calling out to her.
"Xia Liuyue, you promised to resolve the issue of the Maple Leaf Country businessman targeting my Tang family. I came today, so you better keep your word."
Now divorced.
Xia Liuyue was in a very good mood.
She stuffed the divorce certificate into Yan Hechuan's hand, saying, "You hold onto this for now."
"Okay."
Yan Hechuan happily tucked it into his suit pocket. Anyone unaware might think it was his and Xia Liuyue's marriage certificate.
Xia Liuyue looked at Tang Yinyao with a very calm expression.
"Do you know why the overseas Chinese businessman from Maple Leaf Country is targeting the Tang family?"
"Why?"
"Because his wife mistook me for you. We had an unpleasant argument last time, so that businessman is retaliating against the Tang family."
"I knew it! It was you behind this all along!" Tang Yinyao was furious, her eyes wide with rage.
Du Jiashu quietly followed behind, watching his once-beloved 'Yaoyao' show such an expression. It was as if all his illusions had shattered.
That innocence, that purity—it was all his own fabrication.
Xia Liuyue continued unhurriedly:
"Also, last time at Elder Zhao's recognition banquet, I already told her my surname is Xia. So, her husband naturally won't continue targeting the Tang family."
"Do you understand?"
Tang Yinyao was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
The corners of Xia Liuyue's lips curled up into a slight arc, a teasing smile on her face.
"You don't get it? I'm messing with you."
