Chapter 127: That Was Destiny (Part One)  

Huang Lihan didn’t plan to give his niece too many details about his issues with Lin Yu, who had started to behave like a crazy woman, when they lived together. She had not only developed an addiction to gambling but she had also begun to pawn off her daughter’s jewellery to fund her bad habits. She even reduced the salary of the staff working in their house. Both of the servants quit soon after.

Her behaviour had created an atmosphere of negativity at home. She had even submitted the ownership papers of this villa as collateral for the loans taken by her brothers. She had kept Huang Lihan in the dark about all this. The business that her brothers had started, failed to generate any profits. The villa was on the verge of being sealed and auctioned off by the bank, in order for them to recover their capital.

What was more, she had picked on Shangguan Ning all the time and she had even hired someone to humiliate her. That was something he was not able to get over.

Lin Yu was the one to suggest a divorce first. She even demanded half the share of his properties as alimony, if he wanted her to leave him in peace.

Huang Lihan had already been let down by Lin Yun, many times in the past. As long as she didn’t make a fuss and mess with their reputation, he had suggested that they continue to live together, for the sake of their age and their daughter. They were in their 50s already and their daughter was an adult. He didn’t want to make a scene by separating, but since she proposed the divorce, Huang Lihan didn’t hesitate either.

It was only later that she learnt that it was impossible for her to get most of the properties owned by Huang Lihan, because half of Family Huang’s properties belonged to his sister Huang Liyu. This was what their parents had willed, before they passed away.

When monetary compensation was given to Lin Yun, she squandered it all away. She either gave it to her mother’s family or lost it to gambling. Huang Lihan didn’t want all of his hard earned money to be wasted by her. They might not even have enough dowry for their daughter Huang Xinyi, when she chose to get married.

Therefore, they mutually agreed on a sum of ten million yuan along with an apartment and a car for her to use. Their daughter would be by his side and would need no more of her care.

Lin Yu had protested many times, hoping to get a higher amount in alimony, but Huang Lihan stood firm to his ground. She understood that it was impossible to get any more money out of him, so she eventually signed the divorce contract.

Huang Lihan didn’t want Shangguan Ning to know about these unpleasant things, but he still gave her some background to their divorce, lest she think that she was the reason behind it.

After hearing what her Uncle had to say, Shangguan Ning thought that he was just comforting her. She felt very guilty in her heart and promised herself that she would take the effort to keep in touch with her uncle and spend time with him whenever she had time to spare.

Huang Lihan wasn’t too sad about his divorce with Lin Yun. He felt relaxed without having to face her on a daily basis. She was such a gold digger.

He had known Shangguan Ning since she was a little girl. He knew that she was upset and felt guilty about all this even though it wasn’t her fault at all. He tried to distract her by making some small talk, “Go and help Aunt Ming in the kitchen. She will not be able to manage everything single-handedly.”

Aunt Ming was Huang Lihan’s family servant. She was careful and honest, but she quit because Lin Yun gave her a salary cut. Eventually, Huang Lihan convinced her to resume her old job and even gave her an increment.

Shangguan Ning understood that he sent her to the kitchen with the intention of distracting her, so that he could talk with Jing Yichen.

She looked at Jing Yichen and whispered, “I will be in the kitchen, if you need me.”

Jing Yichen smiled at her as if comforting her that he would be alright. He replied, “Okay, no problem.”

Huang Lihan didn’t know how to react when he saw them both behave in this manner. It was so endearing.

He had asked Shangguan Ning to help in the kitchen so the two men could talk and get to know each other better, but these two lovebirds seemed so reluctant to leave each other, even now.

Seeing that Jing Yichen loved his niece as much as she did, Huang Lihan started to feel that Shangguan Ning hadn’t made an impulsive decision, by marrying Jing Yichen.

Shangguan Ning and Jing Yichen kept Huang Lihan company, for the rest of the day. They only returned to their own house after they were done with dinner.

“What did Uncle say to you today?” Shangguan Ning asked Jing Yichen, as she climbed into bed after changing into her pajamas.

“Nothing really. He just shared some stories about your childhood. I didn’t know that you couldn’t sleep alone because you were scared of worms!” said Jing Yichen with a chuckle. “Other children are generally scared of monsters or ghosts, but you are indeed special!”

Shangguan Ning blushed and explained quickly, “No way! Uncle was just being silly. When I was a child I was frightened when I saw some creepy crawly worms in the garden. That night I had a bad dream that the worms were crawling onto my feet. I woke up in fright. After that night... I was unable to sleep alone for many nights after...”

Jing Yichen smiled, burying his head into her neck, tickling Shangguan Ning.

He looked up at her and kissed her gently on her lips. He said, “Why didn’t I know about this before? Had I known, I would have kept you company all night, every night.”

“What you are suggesting would’ve been impossible. I didn’t know you back then. Even if I had known you, I would have never shared my bed with a boy!” Shangguan Ning smiled, thinking that he was simply joking.

“Oh, no, no my love. Maybe you don’t know that you were already my wife back then!”

Shangguan Ning was confused. Jing Yichen wouldn’t stop smiling. So many things had changed since he married her. It was as if he was a different person around her. He wasn’t cold or distant. He was warm and loving. Even his intimacy issues were non-existent when it came to Shangguan Ning touching him. He wished that he could always hold her in this way.

Shangguan Ning said, “Nonsense! I was ten years old back then and I didn’t know that someone like you even existed in the world. How could I have been your wife?”

Jing Yichen wanted so much to take a bite of her. She looked lovely and oh so tempting.

Eventually, he decided against it. Instead, he kissed her face and explained, “That’s exactly what I said to your uncle.. that you didn’t even know of me, back then. Do you remember wearing my clothes, all those years ago?”

“When did I ever wear your clothes?” Shangguan Ning’s eyes widened, thinking that this conversation was getting more ridiculous by the minute.

“Yes, you did. You soiled your clothes after sneaking into the water to look at the fish. The clothes you changed into later, were mine.”

Shangguan Ning blinked and asked in surprise, “That green plaid shirt was yours?”

Jing Yichen grinned, now that she finally remembered wearing his clothes. “It was mine. My aunt gifted it to me for my birthday. No wonder it went missing after I wore it only once.”

How could Shangguan Ning ever forget that shirt? The green plaid shirt was too loose for her and the sleeves of the shirt had to be folded up for her to be able to even see her hands. She had used a thin rope as a belt, to wrap around her waist. The shirt looked more like a dress on Shangguan Ning.

She remembered how cold she was after she had stepped out of the water. Changing into the plaid green shirt had brought her such warmth. The comforting feeling of getting into a clean and dry shirt, all those years ago, was something that she hadn’t forgotten to this day.

What she didn’t expect was that the blouse would belong to Jing Yichen.

Shangguan Ning quickly got off the bed and said, “Stay here and do not move.”

Jing Yichen didn’t know what was going on, but Shangguan Ning returned very soon.

She came back to his side happily and gave him something. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, “Did you mean this one?”