Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, Lihua just stepped out of the cab with Bobo at her side. After leaving Mingshen's lab, Mrs. Zhang suggested heading home first, but Lihua insisted on visiting the Bureau first. Throughout the ride, she felt a nauseous feeling gripping her as if she didn't want the cab to reach there.
Bobo tightly held her hand and said, "Lihua, you don't have to feel sad! You don't have to worry about anything because your future husband is right here!"
Mrs. Zhang chuckled with tears in her eyes. "You rascal…"
Lihua smiled. "En. As long as I have Bobo, I don't have to worry about anything."
At the entrance, she froze as she saw Wei. They stood before each other, gazing into each other.
Lihua slightly jolted, seeing the scratch marks on his cheek. Her lips almost instinctively parted to ask how he got injured.
It seems like Lihua scratched him. Why would she do that?
Lihua…
The thought of the adorable cat made her eyes well in tears.
*Meow*
Lihua, the cat, jumped on Wei's shoulder and stared at Lihua, the human, with her mysterious green eyes.
"Lihua…" She raised her arms to hold her.
Lihua, the cat, kept staring at her and then promptly jumped in her arms.
Hmph. This human just looks like that other human. Why are you two so gloomy? This Queen is utterly displeased.
Lihua, the human, hugged her and brushed her fingers along her soft fur. She felt warmth gush in her heart as she squeezed the furball.
"You are here too…" she sniffled.
Lihua, the cat, made a disdainful expression.
Not by my choice! I wanted to laze around as usual, but this dumb human looked so lost that I thought he would die if I didn't keep an eye on him!
But she sensed that she was in pain, just like how Wei was. So, she rubbed her face against her chest in an attempt to soothe her.
Bobo, who saw the cat for the first time, was extremely thrilled.
"A cat! So cute!"
Lihua, the cat, was pleased.
What else do you expect from a Queen? I am a beauty.
Wei quietly stared at Lihua, who seemed to have a genuine smile on her lips after two long days. The sorrow that knocked into her life ever since the truth came out seemed to wash away with the cat's presence faintly.
He slowly whispered. "Y-you should keep her…"
Lihua stiffened.
Bobo brightened. "Lihua! Can we really take her with us? I want to play with her! I always wanted a pet!"
Mrs. Zhang softly reprimanded. "Bobo. Don't be stubborn."
He pouted. "The rich evil capitalist said that we should keep her."
Wei silently curled her fists. If he was really honest to himself, he had liked when Lihua, the cat, rested in his lap all night long. Her furry body made him feel warm and accompanied. He found solace that he wasn't alone.
But he also saw how his wife seemed relieved to see her. If the cat stayed with her, she would feel happier and not delve into the sadness he brought upon her.
Plus, once Wei surrendered himself for killing Jia, he wouldn't be able to take care of her.
But the cat narrowed her eyes and jumped out of her arms.
"Li-Lihua…" her arms were empty once again.
Lihua, the cat, hopped back onto Wei's side. She angrily hissed and scratched his face again.
Dumb human! Who said that you could decide for me? You should really start learning my language!
Lihua, the human, was slightly taken aback.
I see... Maybe in your own way, you know what is happening. So, you have decided to stay by his side…
She knew she wasn't supposed to feel anything for Wei. But at that moment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief washing over her.
Lihua clenched her palm and walked inside, avoiding meeting his eye.
As they sat before the official, he read through the papers and looked at the couple as he adjusted their glasses.
"You two. Are you sure you want to go through this? It has been only six months since your marriage. I understand that there might have been some arguments and misunderstandings between you. But you can sort it out by having a proper conversation."
Silence.
The Bureau official was a man in his mid-fifties with a gentle and warm atmosphere around him.
"I have been doing this job for years. I have helped couples come together as they got married. But I have stamped my seal on their separation too. It breaks my heart to see young people like you taking such a sorrowful decision. That's why, before this goes any further and irreversible, I always try my best to help the couple make amends."
Lihua offered a wry smile.
"Thank you so much for your concern, Sir. But things were always impossible between us. It's now that I have realized that. There is no hope to make amends. I have lost too many precious things to do that."
Wei said nothing. His gaze carried an emptiness that even the official couldn't bear.
It was clear that the husband didn't wish for this. But the wife was firm even though it pained her too.
He sighed.
What must have gone so wrong that they want to divorce even though both seem to resist the idea?
He slid the papers in front of her.
"Sign where your name is mentioned."
Lihua slightly furrowed her brows seeing her real name on the papers.
Didn't he marry with the fake name?
Wei confessed. "I had taken your signature on the papers before we had left for Mingshen's lab."
She froze and faintly remembered that before heading to his lab, Wei had asked her to sign some papers.
'What are these papers?'
Wei had hesitantly replied, 'Papers of this mansion. I want to give it to you, so it has to be in your name. That's why I need your sign.'
'What? I-I don't really need this. It will be too much…'
But Wei had convinced her somehow, and she had no option to refuse.