Chapter 18: Liu Yongming Requests a Divorce

Chen Ping’an lifted his small head, but his smile froze the moment it landed on Lin Qin and Liu Yaya. His eyes shifted from joy to timidness, and he silently retreated into the cabin.

Chen Wenjun quickly called out, "Ping’an, come out and meet our guests. This is Aunt Lin Qin and little sister Yaya."

Lin Qin crouched down to look at Chen Ping’an inside the cabin, her eyes welling up with tears. "Ping’an!"

Chen Ping’an stole a glance at her, but upon meeting her joyful and affectionate gaze, he recoiled like a frightened bird and lowered his head again.

Lin Qin remembered her past life. Back then, when Chen Wenjun had just rescued her onto the boat, Chen Ping’an had looked at her with the same fear and curiosity. It had taken them over a year to get along normally. Not wanting to rush things, she said gently, "Ping’an, this is my daughter, Yaya. She is a few months younger than you. I have some matters to attend to and can’t take care of her, so I have to entrust her to your father for a few days. Could you play with your little sister?"

Chen Ping’an remained huddled in the corner, silent.

Chen Wenjun said warmly, "It’s all right. Children get along fine after spending some time together. Leave her with me, and I’ll take them fishing later."

Lin Qin noticed that fishing nets had been set up on the boat, making it much safer than in her previous life. She nodded, "I’ll leave her in your care. I’ll come to pick her up once my father is discharged. Also... be careful of the Liu family."

"Don’t worry! They won’t dare come here to make trouble." Chen Wenjun was quite confident about that.

To reassure Liu Yaya, Lin Qin stayed behind to help tidy up the rear cabin and familiarize Yaya with the boat. However, Yaya seemed to be seasick and complained of dizziness, wanting to sleep as soon as she boarded. Lin Qin held her until she was fast asleep before quietly taking her leave.

As she turned to go, she noticed Chen Ping’an watching her. She smiled and patted his head, greeted Chen Wenjun, and stepped off the boat.

Just as Lin Qin disembarked, Chen Wenjun used a bamboo pole to point toward the opposite bank of Nanxi Creek, indicating that he intended to moor the boat there. The other side of the creek was the county town, still quite underdeveloped; people from the city had to take a boat or go a long way around the bridge to get there.

The Liu family would certainly never find them there. Lin Qin smiled and waved goodbye to Chen Wenjun.

When she returned to the municipal hospital, Lin Yi asked anxiously, "How is the child? Was she willing to stay on the boat?"

"Dad, don't worry! I played with her on the boat for a while. She was a bit seasick and fell asleep quickly. I only left after she was asleep. When she wakes up, Ping’an will play with her. Chen Wenjun is good with kids, so there’s nothing to worry about."

Seeing how much Lin Qin trusted Chen Wenjun, Lin Yi couldn't help but feel concerned, but thinking of Chen Wenjun's character, he held his tongue. He was currently overwhelmed by his own situation and lacked the ability to interfere in his daughter's affairs, so he could only take things one step at a time.

Lin Ying pulled Lin Qin aside to whisper, "I haven't dared to ask all day, but who exactly is this Chen Wenjun? Why does it look like you and he are..."

"Big sister! We are perfectly innocent! If there’s anything between us, it’s just that we were both deceived by the Liu family—we are companions in misfortune. He is a good man who never abandoned his disabled son. He is a person of integrity and sentiment, and I trust him." Lin Qin gave a brief explanation of their relationship.

To Lin Ying, however, it sounded like something else entirely. But given the circumstances, she didn't have time for gossip and didn't press further.

With Liu Yaya away, Lin Qin and Lin Ying had more energy to look after Lin Yi, and his recovery sped up significantly.

Meanwhile, Fang Meixiang received news that the human traffickers had failed and been caught, which filled her with inexplicable anxiety. When Liu Yongming returned from work, she anxiously grabbed his hand. "You must divorce Lin Qin immediately."

"What happened? Didn't you say you wanted to get Yaya so we could force Lin Qin to submit? Didn't the plan to get the child fail?" Liu Yongming asked, confused.

Fang Meixiang grew frantic. "This isn't the time for that! Lin Qin is watching the child like a hawk; there’s no chance to strike. If we drag this out, our son will be born! I don't care, you must divorce her now! If you don't, I... I’m going back to school!"

"What do you mean 'go back to school'? How can you do that in your condition? We agreed you’d take sick leave for a semester and return after the baby is born. Why the change of heart?" Liu Yongming was also panicked.

Fang Meixiang scoffed, "If you want me to stay, you must divorce Lin Qin and get a marriage certificate with me right now, or I’m not doing it!"

Liu Yongming was at his wit's end. Driven into a corner by Fang Meixiang, he agreed. However, he kept a contingency in mind, thinking he would secure Liu Yaya before discussing the divorce. But when he arrived at the hospital room and didn't even see a shadow of the child, he was furious.

"Lin Qin! Where have you hidden my daughter? I’m telling you, hand her over right now! Otherwise, don't blame me for calling the police!" Liu Yongming threatened, pointing at Lin Qin.

Lin Qin sneered and swatted his hand away. "By all means! Go ahead and call the police. It just so happens that the traffickers who tried to kidnap Yaya are still at the station. It's a shame the mastermind hasn't been caught yet, but you, as the father, going in to assist with the investigation would be great! You might even provide the police with some new leads!"

Liu Yongming’s heart skipped a beat as he silently cursed "Fang Ying." He had found it strange that she was so insistent on a divorce, and now he realized it was because she feared the kidnapping plot would be exposed. Since they had leverage over him, this marriage had to end, whether he liked it or not.

Having realized this, Liu Yongming calmed down. He pulled up a stool, sat down with an air of composure, and said coldly, "Lin Qin, since things have reached this point, there’s no point in continuing. Let’s get a divorce."

Lin Ying’s expression changed, and Lin Yi, lying in bed, was so angry he tried to get up to beat Liu Yongming.

Lin Qin signaled to Lin Ying, looked deeply at Liu Yongming, and curled her lips in a mocking smile. "Fine! Give me five hundred yuan, grant me custody of the child, and publish a notice in the newspaper severing your ties with Yaya. If you can do these three things, I agree to the divorce."

"Bang!" Liu Yongming slammed the table and stood up abruptly, his face twisting. "Lin Qin, don't push your luck! I’m telling you, none of your demands will be met! I am going to divorce you! If you refuse, I’ll kill you!"

Lin Qin stood up as well. "Go ahead! You can try to kill me. If you don't succeed, don't blame me for making a scene at your school and workplace. I’d like to see what kind of future a 'phoenix man' like you has—the one who relied on his wife to get into college!"

"That's right! Little sister, let's go now. I’ll buy the tickets, and we’ll go to his school and tell everyone. Let the school decide!" Lin Ying stepped forward, fully supporting Lin Qin.

Liu Yongming’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.