The divorce comeback system arrived right after I was born.

Chen Zhi turned off his phone screen.

Lin Wanwan was still munching on watermelon next to her, her cheeks bulging. Lin Jing was pouring water in the kitchen, while Lin Shuxian was watching TV with his legs crossed. The whole living room was incredibly cozy.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Chen Zhi got up, went into the Lin family's bathroom, and locked the door.

He leaned against the sink and unlocked his phone.

What time will you be back?

So, I'm going to eat leftovers alone in your guest room tonight?

Chen Zhi, I hate you.

He typed a line, then deleted it. He typed another line, then deleted it again.

In the end, he only sent two words: "I'm sorry."

He knew as soon as he sent it that those two words were worse than saying nothing at all.

As expected, Pei Ningxue replied instantly.

Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, thank you, Mr. Chen.

Chen Zhi pressed his forehead against the mirror and closed his eyes for two seconds.

The cold mirror surface pressed against his skin, and he stared at his face in the mirror, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.

Pei Ningxue did not send any more messages.

Lin Wanwan's voice came from outside the bathroom: "Chen Zhi, did you fall into the toilet?"

"They've arrived."

He put his phone back in his pocket, rinsed it with water, and opened the door.

Lin Wanwan stood at the door, tilting her head to look at him.

You don't look well.

"It's a bit hot."

"Then drink more water." She grabbed a glass of cool water from the coffee table and handed it to him. "Drink."

Chen Zhi took it and drank two mouthfuls.

Lin Wanwan snuggled up to him again, hooking her arm around his and swaying it.

"I haven't been back in a long time. How about we go for a walk along the river after dinner tonight?"

"We'll see."

"What do you mean 'depends on the situation'? You're coming with me."

"Let's eat dinner first."

Lin Shuxian called out from the sofa, "Stop being so lovey-dovey, it's already four o'clock. You two go back and rest for a while. See you at the hotel at six-thirty tonight."

Lin Wanwan said "Oh".

Chen Zhi's heart tightened.

Go back? Go back where?

"Come on, let's go back to your place and sit for a while." Lin Wanwan had already pulled him towards the door.

"No need. You stay home and keep your mom company. You've been filming variety shows for so long; your mom misses you."

Lin Jing just happened to peek out from the kitchen: "Yes, Wanwan, you stay home and talk to your mother. Your dad will drive you there at six."

Lin Wanwan pouted, but after glancing at her mother's expression, she released Chen Zhi's arm.

"Then you go back first, and come back early tonight."

"Um."

Chen Zhi changed his shoes and left the Lin family's house.

The moment the corridor quieted down, he slowed his pace.

My door is right next door.

He stood at the door for five seconds, took out his key, and quietly opened the door to go inside.

The living room was empty, the TV was off, and the coffee table was spotless.

The guest room door was closed.

He walked over, listened carefully, but there was no sound inside.

He raised his hand, his knuckles almost touching the door, but then he put it down again.

She turned around and went back to her bedroom, closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed, and ran her hands through her hair.

My phone vibrated again.

Open Pei Ningxue's chat window.

No new messages.

The vibration you just received was a system notification.

He stared at the screen for a minute, then locked it and threw it onto his pillow.

-

5:40 PM.

Zhang Guifang came out of the bedroom, changed into her outdoor clothes, combed her hair again, and put on a plain-colored hair clip.

Chen Jun was already dressed and waiting in the living room.

"Let's go." Zhang Guifang called out to Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi came out of the bedroom and changed into a clean T-shirt.

He paused as he passed the guest rooms.

Zhang Guifang glanced at him, hesitated, and finally only said, "There are vegetables in the refrigerator."

This was said towards the guest rooms, and the voice wasn't loud.

There was no response from the guest room.

The three people went out the door.

Chen Jun walked in front, Zhang Guifang followed behind, and Chen Zhi brought up the rear.

As they went downstairs, Zhang Guifang suddenly lowered her voice and said, "You can't even say a decent word, so don't blame people for hating you."

Chen Zhi remained silent.

-

The hotel was booked by Lin Shuxian, and the food there is among the best in the area.

The private room wasn't luxurious; it had a round table, eight chairs, and a ladle set with melon seeds, peanuts, and a fruit platter.

The Lin family of three arrived first.

Lin Shuxian was wearing a polo shirt, and Lin Jing was wearing light makeup, tidying up Lin Wanwan's braids.

Lin Wanwan changed into a spaghetti strap dress, tied her hair in a high ponytail, and wore small pearl earrings.

When she saw Chen Zhi come in, her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she waved to him.

Six people sat down.

Lin Shuxian and Chen Jun sat together, and the two middle-aged men clinked glasses of tea first.

"It's been a long time."

"That's right, your son is more successful than you."

"Don't praise him; he'll get all cocky."

Lin Jing and Zhang Guifang sat on the other side, the two mothers huddled together and whispered, glancing at Chen Zhi and Lin Wanwan across from them from time to time.

Lin Wanwan sat down next to Chen Zhi and pushed the menu in front of him.

"You order, I'm fine with anything."

Chen Zhi flipped through two pages of the menu, and for some reason, an image popped into his mind: Pei Ningxue alone in the guest room, sitting on the edge of the bed in front of the off light.

"What are you spacing out for?" Lin Wanwan poked him with the corner of the menu.

"No, I'm checking how spicy it is."

"I can eat spicy food!"

"Last time you ate some spicy hot pot, it was so spicy you started burping."

"That's because the mala tang was too spicy, it's not my fault."

Chen Zhi picked out a few dishes and handed them to the waiter before leaning back in his chair.

Lin Shuxian raised his glass: "Come on, come on, it's been a long time since our two families have gotten together. We're happy today, let's have a drink first."

Six people clinked glasses.

Zhang Guifang took a sip of orange juice, put down the glass, and glanced at Chen Zhi.

The contents of that glance were very complex.

Chen Zhi lowered his head and picked up a piece of peanut.

"Wanwan is becoming more and more popular now," Zhang Guifang said to Lin Wanwan with a smile.

Lin Wanwan smiled shyly.

"Auntie, you flatter me. I'm still far from it."

"What's with the modesty? Even your sister Su Man said you're the most talented singer she's ever mentored," Lin Jing interjected from the side.

"Mom—" Lin Wanwan blushed.

Chen Zhi poured Lin Wanwan a drink, and his phone vibrated again in his pocket.

He didn't take it out.

"Chen Zhi is doing quite well in Beijing too." Lin Shuxian pointed at him, holding his wine glass. "Old Chen told me about some tech company, with a huge valuation?"

Chen Jun coughed lightly: "I don't understand much either, anyway, I'm quite busy."

"It's good that young people have drive," Lin Shuxian patted Chen Zhi on the shoulder, "but don't just focus on your career, you also need to take good care of Wanwan from our family."

"That's right." Chen Zhi smiled.

Lin Wanwan kicked him under the table.

The dishes were served one after another.

Spicy fish head, stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, and dry-pot cauliflower—the aroma of cooking oil mingles with the fragrance of chili peppers.

Lin Shuxian and Chen Jun opened a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and the two toasted each other, chatting about the time when they moved to this neighborhood.

Lin Jing and Zhang Guifang were also chatting enthusiastically, talking about how Lin Wanwan used to go to the Chen family's house for free meals when she was a child, how Chen Zhi used to do his homework at the Lin family's house when he was a child, and how the two children played hide-and-seek in the hallway, which made the neighbors complain.

Everyone was laughing.

Chen Zhi was also smiling, chewing on beef.

But his hand remained pressed on the constantly vibrating cell phone in his pocket.

"Chen Zhi, your phone keeps ringing." Lin Wanwan turned her head to look at him.

"Okay, it's just a message in the work group, ignore it."

Aren't you going to take a look?

"Let's talk after we finish eating."

Lin Wanwan didn't ask any further questions and picked up a piece of meat from the fish head for him.

"This is delicious, you should try it."

Chen Zhi ate it.

It's really delicious.

But as the spiciness went down his throat, only one thought filled his mind—

What is Pei Ningxue doing now?

They were sitting in the guest room.

They've already packed their things and left.

No way.

Knowing Pei Ningxue's personality, once she said she wouldn't leave, she wouldn't leave.

But what she said was, "I hate you."

People who say "I hate you" are more likely to stay; those who really want to leave won't give you advance notice.

Chen Zhi poured himself a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

"Why are you drinking? You can't drink." Lin Wanwan tried to stop her.

"Uncle Jinglin."

Chen Zhi picked up his cup and stood up.

"Uncle Lin, thank you and Aunt Lin for taking care of me all these years."

Lin Shuxian waved his hand dismissively: "We're family, no need for formalities. Sit down, sit down, and drink less."

Chen Zhi downed the glass of wine, his eyes squinting from the spiciness.

He thought that if Pei Ningxue knew he was toasting Uncle Lin here, she would probably kick down the guest room door.

The dinner lasted for nearly two hours.

Lin Shuxian and Chen Jun were both flushed from drinking, and they were talking about "back in the day" with their arms around each other, their voices getting louder and louder.

Lin Jing started tidying up the table, and Zhang Guifang helped pack up the leftover food.

Lin Wanwan leaned back in her chair, feeling stuffed, and rubbed her stomach.

"I ate too much..."

Chen Zhi handed her a glass of warm water.

"Chen Zhi, will you come for a walk with me tonight?"

Her voice was soft.

Just as Chen Zhi was about to answer, his phone vibrated again in his pocket.

He took it out and peeked at it.

News of Pei Ningxue.

The fishing rod belonging to your neighbor's dad fell over and hit my foot.

The light bulb in your guest room wasn't very bright. I initially thought it was my eyes, but then I realized it was about to burn out.

Pei Ningxue is the kind of person who, the angrier she gets, the less she loses her temper, and the more upset she is, the more nonsense she spouts.

These messages come in with just one sentence.

I'm sad to be here all alone.

"Chen Zhi?" Lin Wanwan tilted her head to look at him.

He put his phone back in his pocket.

"What's wrong?"

"fine."

"Would you like to walk with me tonight?"

Chen Zhi glanced at her, then at Zhang Guifang, who was putting on her shoes at the door.

Zhang Guifang didn't turn around, but her back froze for a moment.

"Let's go." Chen Zhi stood up.

Lin Wanwan cheered up.

It was almost nine o'clock when the two families left the hotel.

Lin Shuxian was too drunk to drive, so Lin Jing called a designated driver.

"Then Chen Zhi and I will go for a walk, you guys go back first." Lin Wanwan tugged at Chen Zhi's sleeve.

"Don't go too far, come back soon," Lin Jing reminded her.

"Okay, Mom."

The two walked towards the river.

Chen Jun and Zhang Guifang stood at the hotel entrance, watching the backs of the two young men.

Zhang Guifang remained silent for a long time.

"That Xiao Pei..."

"Stop talking," Chen Jun interrupted her. "It's his own business."

Zhang Guifang clenched the packing bag in her hand, then suddenly turned a corner.

Where are you going?

"go home."

Why are you carrying a takeout bag home?

Zhang Guifang turned around and glared at him: "That girl in the guest room hasn't had anything hot all night, so I heated up a couple of dishes for her. What's wrong with that?"

Chen Jun opened his mouth.

Zhang Guifang walked into the residential area without looking back.

Chen Jun stood there for two seconds, then shook his head and followed.

-

Riverside.

In the summer, the night air in Wuhan is always sultry.

Lin Wanwan linked arms with Chen Zhi and walked slowly along the river embankment, the streetlights casting long shadows of the two of them.

"Chen Zhi."

"Um."

Are you troubled by something today?

Chen Zhi turned his head to look at her.

Lin Wanwan raised her face, her bangs slightly disheveled by the wind.

"You were so quiet today, and you kept looking at your phone while eating."

"It's work-related; there's been a slight problem with one of the projects."

"Oh." Lin Wanwan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

After walking for a while, she suddenly stopped.

"Chen Zhi, are you unhappy that I came back?"

"What did you say?"

"Then give me a smile."

Chen Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth.

"How fake." Lin Wanwan released his arm and put her hands on her hips.

Chen Zhi sighed and reached out to pull her back.

"I'm really happy you're back."

"real?"

"real."

Lin Wanwan hooked her arm around his again and pressed her face against his shoulder.

"That's good."

The two continued walking forward.

A boat passed by on the river, its horn sounding.

Chen Zhi's phone rang again in his pocket.

He didn't dare pick it up to look at it.

But Lin Wanwan sensed it.

"Your phone is ringing again."

"unimportant."

"Then take a look, just in case it's really urgent."

Chen Zhi hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone.

It's not Pei Ningxue.

It was sent by Zhang Guifang.

Only one sentence.

[Xiao Pei is crying, you better come back right now.]