The divorce comeback system arrived right after I was born.

Zhang Guifang opened the bedroom door, but the smile on her face vanished the moment she saw Chen Zhi.

"mom--"

"Come here."

She grabbed Chen Zhi's arm and dragged him onto the balcony, then closed the sliding door.

Did you hear that?

Chen Zhi glanced towards the bedroom, his voice low.

"What did you hear?"

"Don't pretend with me." Zhang Guifang reached out and slapped him on the back of the head. "The way you were eavesdropping on my phone call by the door just now, do you think I'm blind?"

Chen Zhi stopped arguing.

"I heard you."

"It's good that you heard it."

Zhang Guifang gripped the balcony railing, her voice low and each word barely audible.

"Wanwan's high-speed train will arrive in Jiangcheng at 2 PM tomorrow. Lin Jing was so excited on the phone just now, saying she wants Uncle Lin to pick her up at the station so the two families can have dinner together tonight."

Chen Zhi's temples throbbed twice.

"Tell me yourself, what are you going to do?"

"I……"

"If you dare to make Wanwan sad, I won't let you off the hook."

Zhang Guifang stared at him, pointing her finger at the railing. "That girl grew up in my life. If you make her shed even a single tear, I'll break your legs first, and then have your dad break the other one."

"Mom, can you please stop breaking my legs so easily?"

"You think two aren't enough?"

Chen Zhi shut up.

Zhang Guifang took a breath and slowed her speech a little.

"I've been observing Xiao Pei all night. She's a good person, efficient, and doesn't have a rude way of speaking. But Wanwan is arriving tomorrow, and you're making them meet in the same room? Are you deliberately trying to ruin our two families' relationship?"

Chen Zhi remained silent.

"Find a way to solve Xiao Pei's problem yourself."

Zhang Guifang opened the sliding door, reverting to her amiable demeanor, and called out towards the living room.

"Xiao Pei, Auntie has adjusted the water heater for you. Take a shower and get some rest."

Pei Ningxue's voice came from the guest room: "Thank you, Auntie."

Zhang Guifang turned her head to take one last look at Chen Zhi.

The meaning behind that look was clear—you decide for yourself.

Chen Zhi stood on the balcony and enjoyed the breeze for two minutes.

The city of Jiangcheng was unbearably hot in July, but he still felt a chill down his spine.

He walked to the guest room door and knocked twice.

"Come in."

Pushing open the door, I saw Pei Ningxue sitting on the edge of the bed, drying her hair.

She had just finished showering, wearing the pajamas she had brought, her hair still damp, and she smelled of shower gel. The room wasn't big; a 1.5-meter bed took up most of the space, and her skincare products and phone were on the bedside table.

"I want to talk to you about something."

Pei Ningxue paused for a moment while drying her hair.

"you say."

Chen Zhi sat down on the chair by the bed and rubbed his hands together.

"Could you... go back first tomorrow?"

The act of drying hair completely stopped.

Pei Ningxue raised her head, her long, wet hair hanging over her shoulders, her face expressionless.

"Chen Zhi, what do you mean?"

"That's not what I meant, let me explain—"

"You took me home, I met your parents, we ate dinner, I washed the dishes, and I carried the rice."

Pei Ningxue draped the towel over her knees, speaking softly and slowly.

"And then you tell me you're going back tomorrow?"

"Here's what happened—"

"Lin Wanwan is coming back, right?"

Chen Zhi's mouth was open, but the words were stuck in his throat.

"I'm not deaf." Pei Ningxue picked up a towel and continued drying her hair, her movements a little more forceful than before. "I was next door when your mother called, and the door isn't soundproof."

"and you"

"What about me?"

Pei Ningxue threw the towel on the bed, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window is the old residential area below, the streetlights are dim, and you can hear a few dogs barking in the distance.

"Pei Ningxue, don't be angry."

"I'm not angry."

"Your voice has changed."

"My voice has always been like this."

Chen Zhi stood up and took two steps toward her.

"Stay away from me."

Chen Zhi stopped.

Pei Ningxue had her back to him, with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Chen Zhi, I washed the dishes, picked the vegetables, and carried the rice in front of your mother all day, and she stared at me all night. You saw the look on her face when she looked at me, and I gritted my teeth and endured it all."

"I know……"

"What do you know?"

Pei Ningxue turned around.

"Do you know when I, Pei Ningxue, have ever served tea or poured water for anyone? Do you know when I've ever squatted on the ground picking up vegetable scraps?"

"I--"

"But I did it today because she's your mother, and I wanted her to feel that you didn't choose the wrong person."

Pei Ningxue's voice lowered.

"And the result? You told me to get out of here."

The guest room was silent for several seconds.

Chen Zhi touched his nose and realized that he was indeed in the wrong.

"Pei Ningxue, I'm not trying to kick you out. It's just that Lin Wanwan is arriving tomorrow afternoon. She's my neighbor, and her parents and my parents are old friends. If she comes back and sees you, then we're doomed."

"So what?"

"What, how is it?"

"You weren't scared when Pei Dongcheng confronted me with photos, you weren't scared when Zhang Yiming was negotiating with you, but now that Lin Wanwan is back, you're pushing me away?"

Pei Ningxue reached out and tucked her wet hair behind her ear.

"Chen Zhi, do you think I'm easy to fool?"

"I don't think so."

"Then give me a reason not to leave."

Chen Zhi was stunned for a moment.

"Give me a plan to stay, or I'll give you one," he said stubbornly.

"A solution?" Pei Ningxue walked back to the bedside and sat down, crossing her legs.

"I'm not going anywhere tomorrow, I'll just stay at your house. When Lin Wanwan arrives, you'll have to figure out what to do with her yourself."

"Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy."

"Two people meeting at my parents' house? What do you want? A confrontation?"

"Didn't you say you wanted 'all of them'?" Pei Ningxue tilted her head. "You can say those things to Pei Dongcheng, but you don't dare say them to your mother?"

Chen Zhi opened his mouth.

Indeed. In a private room at the China World Hotel, in front of Pei Dongcheng, he said, "I want to give them both a home."

"Pei Ningxue, can you please stop arguing with me?"

"I'm not being argumentative; I'm trying to reason with you."

"What's the reasoning behind that?"

"It's something you'll have to face sooner or later; putting it off for a day or a year makes no difference."

Pei Ningxue picked up the hand cream from the bedside table, squeezed a little onto the back of her hand, and slowly rubbed it in.

"And will your problem be solved if I leave? Your mother knows I exist, and you can't keep it from Lin Wanwan forever. When are you finally willing to face this issue?"

Chen Zhi sat back in his chair, his hands tucked into his hair.

Everything she said made sense.

But as reasonable as it may be, Lin Wanwan will arrive at the station at 2 PM tomorrow, and Lin Shuxian will pick her up. The two families will have dinner together that evening. If Pei Ningxue is still sitting at home, his mother might faint on the spot.

Give me a day.

Pei Ningxue looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't leave this guest room tomorrow. I'll deal with Lin Wanwan first. After the two families have dinner tonight, I'll take you to see her early the day after tomorrow."

"You want me to hide in your guest room?"

Pei Ningxue's tone turned two degrees colder.

"It's not hiding, it's—"

"What is it? Hidden?"

Chen Zhi got stuck.

Pei Ningxue screwed the cap back on the hand cream and put it back on the bedside table.

"Chen Zhi, I'm your girlfriend, not something shameful in your home. You either want me to leave, or you want me to stay here openly. You want me to hide in the guest room pretending I don't exist? Sorry, you've got the wrong person."

Chen Zhi remained silent for a long time.

"So what do you want to do?"

"What I want to do is not important; what you want to do is important."

Pei Ningxue lay back on the bed and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

"You can leave now, I'm going to sleep."

"Pei Ningxue—"

"Close the door for me."

Chen Zhi stood there watching her turn over, her back to him, her wet hair staining the pillow and leaving a small dark water stain.

His lips moved twice, but in the end he didn't say anything.

Step out of the guest room and gently close the door behind you.

The hallway was dark, with only the bathroom light still on.

Chen Zhi leaned against the wall for a while, then took out his phone.

Lin Wanwan sent another message three minutes ago.

Honey, are you asleep? I booked a high-speed train for 12:30 PM tomorrow, arriving at 2 PM! Will you come pick me up?

It ends with a string of hearts and a kiss emoji.

Chen Zhi stared at that message for a long time.

Please come pick me up.

Come.

Of course I'll come.

The problem is, after I picked you up and took you home, there was already someone staying in the guest room.

Chen Zhi gritted his teeth, typed a few words, then deleted them, and finally replied with the safest message.

Okay, I'll come pick you up.

After I finished posting, I lay down and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Pei Ningxue is right; we'll have to face this sooner or later.

But "sooner or later" and "face it tomorrow afternoon" are two different concepts.

He rolled over, facing the wall, and forced himself to close his eyes.

It's no use, I can't sleep at all.

About half an hour later, faint footsteps were heard in the corridor.

"Knock knock".

Two knocks on the door.

"Who?"

"Your dad."

Chen Zhi paused for a moment, then sat up and opened the door.

Chen Jun stood at the door, holding two cans of beer. He was wearing a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops.

Are you asleep?

"without."

Chen Jun shoved a can of beer into his hand, then opened another one with a hiss, turned and walked toward the balcony.

"Come out and sit for a while."

Chen Zhi took the beer and followed him out.

The balcony lights were off, only the faint glow from the neighborhood streetlights shone through. The old man moved two small stools, one for himself and the other he kicked to Chen Zhi's feet.

The two sat down on the balcony, neither of them speaking first.

Chen Jun took a sip of beer and burped.

"Your mom told me."

Chen Zhi looked down at the ground.

"Um."

Chen Jun took another sip.

A dog barked downstairs, then quickly fell silent. In the distance, someone was setting off fireworks; probably some kid had bought a firework, which shot up with a "whoosh" and exploded into a small point of light in mid-air.

"You're pretty good, kid."

You can't tell what emotion is behind those four words; it's hard to say whether it's praise or criticism.

Chen Zhi did not respond.

Chen Jun placed the beer can on the side of the stool, put his hands on his knees, and looked at the dark buildings in the community.

"When I was young, I pursued your mother for a year and a half. Every day, I would ride my bicycle to her workplace and wait for her, rain or shine. One time, during a torrential downpour, I stood at the door for two hours. When she came out and saw me, she said, 'Are you crazy?'"

Chen Zhi listened without interrupting.

"Later she agreed to date me, and I was so happy I couldn't sleep for a week. You know, one is enough to keep me busy, and you're doing so many, aren't you tired?"

"tired."

"You're tired, why are you still doing this?"

Chen Zhi remained silent for a few seconds.

"They are all good girls, and I will not abandon any of them."

Chen Jun turned his head and glanced at him.

"Can't you let go of any of them?"

"Um."

Chen Jun scoffed, picked up the beer can, and put it down again, repeating this twice.

Do you know why your mother was so angry?

"Because of Wanwan."

"Not entirely." Chen Jun lowered his voice. "Your mother is angry because you kept it from her. She didn't know you started a company worth tens of billions, and she didn't know you had two girlfriends outside. She feels like she's been deceived."

"I didn't mean to hide it..."

"I know," Chen Jun interrupted him. "You're afraid we'll worry, afraid we won't understand even if you tell us. But Chen Zhi, your mother has worried about you for nineteen years. No matter how old you are, you're still a child in her eyes. You come back and don't even tell her the truth. How can she not be upset?"

Chen Zhi lowered his head, his fingers stroking the beer can.

The balcony was quiet for a while.

"That girl, Xiao Pei—" Chen Jun began, speaking as if in a casual conversation, "I saw her at dinner today, she's not simple."

"Um."

"Guanghua School of Management, your company's CFO, her family is in business." Chen Jun counted on his fingers, "This kind of girl, most men can't handle her."

Chen Zhi remained silent.

"But the way she acted in front of your mother today—" Chen Jun paused, "it didn't seem like she was acting."

She wasn't acting.

"That's good then." Chen Jun nodded and took another swig of beer. "What about Wanwan? What are you and her planning to do?"

She'll arrive tomorrow.

"Your mom said so."

"I don't know what to do." Chen Zhi downed half a can of beer in one gulp, hissed, "Pei Ningxue refuses to leave, she's coming again last night, and my mom wants me to sort things out—"

"You want me to help you?"

Chen Zhi looked up and glanced at his father.

Chen Jun waved his hand.

"I can't help you. You have to face this on your own."

"Then why did you come to see me for beer in the middle of the night?"

Chen Jun picked up the empty beer can and crushed it in his hand.

"Look at you."

Chen Zhi was stunned.

Are you looking at me or just laughing at me?

Chen Jun stood up and threw the crushed beer can into the trash can in the corner of the balcony.

"You've always been independent since you were little, and we can't control you. Your mother may scold you, but she's soft-hearted than anyone else. We've watched Wanwan grow up, but this is the first time I've met Xiao Pei, so I can't say anything."

He walked to the balcony door and paused for a moment.

"You have to deal with the mess you created yourself, but there's one thing..."

"What?"

"No girl is allowed to shed a tear in my house."

After saying that, Chen Jun opened the sliding door and went into the room.

The sound of a bedroom door closing echoed in the hallway, followed by silence.

Chen Zhi sat alone on the balcony and finished the remaining half can of beer.

As the July night breeze blew by, a stray cat darted across the path illuminated by streetlights downstairs in the residential area and disappeared into the bushes.

He took out his phone and glanced at it.

11:40.

Lin Wanwan sent a string of emojis, all of them cute bears with kisses and hugs and hearts. The last text message:

【I'll call you as soon as I arrive tomorrow! Goodnight, honey, love you~】

Chen Zhi replied with a goodnight message.

Then he scrolled to Pei Ningxue's chat window.

He typed a few words, "Are you asleep?", stared at them for a while, and then deleted them one by one.

Forget it.

Nothing I say tonight will be right.

He went back to his bedroom, lay down on the single bed, and pulled the thin blanket over himself.

Before closing my eyes, I ran through a hundred different scenarios in my mind, none of which were perfect.

He had a dream while half asleep and half awake.

In his dream, he stood at a fork in the road. Lin Wanwan stood on his left, waving at him, while Pei Ningxue stood on his right with her back to him. Behind them was a blurry figure, which looked like Li Zhiyi.

There are three roads, but he only has two legs.

Then his mother fell from the sky, holding a rolling pin in her hand.

"Chen Zhi, you stop right there—"

He woke up in fright.

It was already daylight.

The phone shows 7:12 AM.

There are less than seven hours until Lin Wanwan gets off the high-speed train.

Chen Zhi got out of bed, washed his face, and walked out of the bedroom.

The guest room door was closed, and there was no sound from inside.

The sound of a spatula hitting the bottom of a pot came from the kitchen; Zhang Guifang was already making breakfast. He went over and peeked in.

"Good morning, Mom."

Zhang Guifang didn't even turn her head.

"The person in the guest room hasn't gotten up yet."

This is both a notification and a reminder.

Chen Zhi walked back to the corridor, stood at the door of the guest room for two seconds, and then raised his hand to knock.

Pei Ningxue.

No response.

I knocked again.

"What?" she said, sounding a bit grumpy from just waking up.

"Eat breakfast."

After a few seconds of silence, the door opened.

Pei Ningxue was wearing the same pajamas as yesterday, her hair was loose, and there were still some marks on her face. She glanced at Chen Zhi, didn't say anything, and turned to go to the bathroom.

Five minutes later, she came out after washing up, changed into clean clothes, and simply tied her hair into a bun. Her outfit was similar to when she arrived yesterday.

Chen Zhi noticed that her face showed no emotion.

It wasn't indifference, but rather the kind of professional demeanor one has before a meeting, all business as usual.

"Did you make up your mind last night?" Pei Ningxue asked softly as she passed by him.

"I've made up my mind."

Pei Ningxue stopped in her tracks.

"How so?"

"You don't need to leave."

"What happened after Lin Wanwan arrived?"

"I told her."

He said those four words crisply, but after he finished speaking, Chen Zhi felt his throat go dry.

Pei Ningxue then turned around and looked him up and down for two seconds.

Are you sure?

"Sure."

"Did your mom agree?"

"Whether she agrees or not, we have to face it."

Pei Ningxue looked at his face, as if trying to discern the true value of his words.

"OK."

She walked towards the living room, took two steps, then stopped, her voice a little softer than before.

"Chen Zhi, I didn't mean to make things difficult for you."

"I know."

"But I don't want to be someone who's hidden away."

"You are not."

Pei Ningxue didn't say anything more and went into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Auntie. Let me serve you some porridge."

Zhang Guifang glanced back at her, then looked at Chen Zhi who was following behind.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law—no, the mother and son—along with the girl whose identity had not yet been officially recognized, quietly ate breakfast.

Chen Jun went out for a walk, leaving only three people at the table.

No one mentioned Lin Wanwan at the dinner table.

But all three of them knew very well that the countdown had already begun.

After finishing his meal, Chen Zhi sat on the sofa in the living room, holding his phone in his hand, mentally rehearsing how he would greet Lin Wanwan when he saw her later.

Half past ten.

Lin Wanwan sent a message.

Honey! I'm on the train! We'll be there in three and a half hours. Have you missed me?

A selfie followed, in which she wore a baseball cap and a mask, revealing only her smiling eyes, and made a heart gesture from under her hat.

Chen Zhi stared at the photo, his thumb hovering over the screen for a long time.

The sound of Pei Ningxue turning pages of a book came from the direction of the guest room.

He put his phone on the coffee table.

Just then, the sound of a key turning came from the doorway.

Chen Jun returned from his walk, carrying a bag of fried dough sticks.

He put the fried dough sticks on the table, changed into slippers, and walked over to Chen Zhi.

"Your Uncle Lin just ran into me downstairs."

Chen Zhi's heart clenched suddenly.

"What did he say?"

Chen Jun tugged at his belt, his tone flat.

He said he would arrive late in the afternoon and invite both our families to have dinner together that evening. He had already booked a private room at the hotel.

The sound of water washing dishes in the kitchen stopped.

Zhang Guifang leaned out halfway.

The guest room door was ajar, and the sound of turning pages had stopped.

Chen Zhi sat in the middle of the sofa, feeling like the whole world was waiting for him to speak.

Chen Jun glanced at him, then at the direction of the guest room, but said nothing.

He took out a cigarette from his pocket and walked towards the balcony.

He took two steps, then threw back a sentence.

"Your Uncle Lin said, don't be late for 6:30 tonight."