Ordinary World: Starting with a divorce from Tian Runye

In the evening, at Chengguan Elementary School, as soon as the school bell rang, Runye quickly packed her things.

She came out of the office, walked quickly across the playground, and went to the bike shed to push her bike.

Wang Guiqin, standing to the side, looked Runye up and down with a look of surprise and doubt upon seeing his posture.

"Runye, what's the rush?"

Runye kept her head down and hung her handbag on the handlebars.

"go home."

"Yo."

Wang Guiqin smiled.

"Runye has really changed, huh? She's in such a hurry to go home and see her man."

The other teachers in the bike shed heard this and started laughing.

"I... sigh."

Runye opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but then she was too lazy to.

She hopped on her bicycle and rode towards the cultural center.

She wanted to talk to Li Xiangqian about something, but she didn't know what to say. She just wanted to see him and see what his emotional state was like.

How could Du Lili do this? She just said it in front of Li Xiangqian, he must be furious.

Runye rode along while secretly complaining to herself.

In the afternoon, after Du Lili and Li Xiangqian left, Runye remained absent-minded. During the last class, she simply wrote a few new words on the blackboard and had the students copy them repeatedly for the entire period, while she stood by the window next to the podium, lost in thought. The look in Li Xiangqian's eyes when he looked at her at the school gate kept replaying in her mind.

As soon as the school bell rang, Runye, who was always responsible, would wait until the last student left the classroom before she would leave. Today, she was the first to rush out of the classroom.

Evening in Yuanxi County was still sweltering. Cicadas chirped incessantly from the poplar trees lining the streets, their calls so loud they were almost unbearable.

The cultural center is just ahead.

Runye made a turn and went straight into the courtyard.

Let's take a look under the old locust tree first.

Li Xiangqian is not here.

Runye's heart was pounding. She left the car in the middle of the yard and hurried towards her studio.

The studio door was already closed.

She pushed the door open and found it was already locked.

The reading room next door was also locked.

Only the door to the business office was ajar.

Is it in the business office?

Runye carefully walked to the door of the business office. Just as she reached out to push it open, the door suddenly opened by itself.

Sister Sun's big head popped out.

The two faced each other, their noses almost touching.

"Oh my god!"

Ms. Sun was startled and almost dropped her handbag.

Runye scratched his head, looking apologetic.

Sister Sun composed herself and looked her up and down.

"Oh, you're Xiangqian's wife."

Runye nodded quickly.

"Where's Xiangqian? I see the studio door is already closed."

Sister Sun peeked out of the studio and looked at it with a puzzled expression.

"I left work early. I don't know, maybe I went home first?"

Runye's face turned several shades paler in an instant.

"You...you went back?"

Runye composed herself and asked, "Is there some kind of meeting at the cultural center again? Xiangqian went to attend, and hasn't he returned yet?"

Sister Sun shook her head directly.

"No. Everyone's been busy with the Gao office's matters today, there's no time for meetings. I went to the cafeteria to get water half an hour ago and saw Lao Yang already locking the door. He must have gone home."

Runye lowered her head and muttered to herself.

"Did you go back?"

Li Xiangqian is definitely angry with himself.

Sister Sun picked up her bag, turned around, and locked the door to the business office.

"They've definitely gone back. You should go back too."

After saying that, he left on his own.

Runye stood in the courtyard, looking around.

The courtyard was empty, and the fiery red sunset made the old locust tree look like it was on fire.

A strange thought popped into her head: what if Xiangqian was hiding somewhere watching her, and seeing her anxious, he was hiding in the yard?

Runye carefully walked to the other side of the old locust tree. On the other side was a haystack.

Empty.

Runye stood with her hands on her hips, looking sullen.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Why does this person get angry so easily?"

As she got on her bicycle and rode out of the yard, she looked back once more.

I checked it.

He then shook his head in frustration.

She must have spent too much time with Li Xiangqian and it's made her lose her mind. Let him go back however he wants, what business is it of hers?

With those thoughts in mind, I rode incredibly fast.

Runye hurriedly returned to the Transportation Department's family compound.

Many homes in the residential compound already had their lights on, and the aroma of food wafted through the courtyard. Occasionally, a woman's loud complaints could be heard, accompanied by the cries of a child.

She tried to look up to see if her house was lit. Unfortunately, she forgot that she couldn't see her house from the yard.

Runye parked the car and hurried upstairs.

My heart was pounding.

As soon as I reached the entrance to the third-floor hallway, I saw the lights on in my own apartment.

He really came back. He came back on his own.

Runye felt extremely guilty, so she slowed her pace and tried to keep her breathing from becoming rapid. She then walked into the house with a normal gait.

No one was in the living room.

The sizzling sound of hot oil hitting the pan came from the kitchen.

Runye gently placed her handbag on the rattan chair and tiptoed towards the kitchen.

When she reached the kitchen door, she stopped and peeked inside.

Li Xiangqian was standing by the stove with his back to her, holding a spatula in one hand and an enamel bowl in the other, pouring something into the pot. Flames licked the bottom of the pot from under the stove, and fumes shot upwards.

I can't see his face, so I don't know how he's feeling.

Runye tiptoed and continued walking towards the kitchen.

Li Xiangqian was picking up a bite of food from the pot with his chopsticks to taste it when he saw him chew it, then nod and make an "Mmm" sound. He took a bite and muttered to himself, "Hmm, not bad!"

He then turned around to get a plate to serve the food.

As he turned around, he bumped into Runye.

Li Xiangqian was startled and almost dropped his chopsticks.

"Ah! You scared me to death!"

Runye: "..."

"Who are you trying to scare to death by sneaking around like that?"

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he rolled his eyes at Runye and took a plate to serve the food.

Runye didn't say anything, but stood aside and watched him work.

Li Xiangqian skillfully heated the oil, added the vegetables, and stir-fried them, just like a veteran chef in a state-owned factory canteen.

"What are you looking at? Are you just waiting to be fed? Hurry up and bring the food over."

Seeing Runye standing idly to the side, Li Xiangqian loudly gave orders.

"oh."

Runye obediently picked up the plate and walked towards the living room. After taking two steps, she looked back again.

This person gives orders with such confidence and self-assurance; I wonder where he learned that from.

Li Xiangqian cooked two more dishes and brought them to the living room.

The two sat at a red lacquered square table and ate.

The atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

Runye buried her head in her chopsticks, poking at the rice in her bowl, while constantly glancing up at Li Xiangqian.

Li Xiangqian, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened, shoveling rice and vegetables into his mouth with gusto.

Runye held back for a long time before finally clearing her throat.

"You guys...you guys got off work pretty early today, huh?"

Li Xiangqian stuffed a large mouthful of food into his mouth and nodded.

"Yes. I'll leave work at the usual time."

"You...you came back by yourself today?"

Li Xiangqian nodded again.

Why didn't you wait for me to pick you up after get off work?

Runye reached into the plate with her chopsticks to pick up some food, and cautiously looked up at Li Xiangqian.

"Lily brought me back. She has a bicycle."

"Lili?"

"Mmm."

Li Xiangqian picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

"Aren't you going to Huangyuan? I don't have a bicycle, so I'll get used to it first. Anyway, she's got lots of energy."

Runye's chopsticks froze in mid-air.

"Who said I was going to Huangyuan?"

The volume increased by one notch.

Li Xiangqian sneered inwardly. Who said that? Mr. Lu Yao said it; that's exactly what he wrote. Don't try to deny it.

"Lily told me. You contacted her, wanting her help."

Runye quickly put down her chopsticks and explained.

"I was the one who contacted her. But I didn't say that about going to Huangyuan, it was..."

"De de de".

Li Xiangqian interrupted her.

"It wasn't you who said it, it was Lili who forced you to go."

He wiped his mouth and put down his chopsticks.

"I'm full. Remember to wash the dishes later."

"you……"

Li Xiangqian had already gotten up from the table and turned to go into the kitchen. A moment later, the sound of hot water being poured into an enamel basin could be heard.

Runye looked at the table full of food and lost her appetite.

She got up and walked to the kitchen. Steam was rising in the kitchen, and Li Xiangqian was carrying an enamel basin out of the steam.

Runye opened her mouth, wanting to call out to him.

Li Xiangqian had already walked past her, left the kitchen, and gone to the bathroom.

By the time Runye finished cleaning up the dishes and washing the pots, Li Xiangqian had already come out of the bathroom. He had changed into clean clothes and sat down on a chair in the living room.

Runye saw that he had just sat down and was about to get up to look for something, so she picked up the face cream from the table and handed it to him.

"Here you go. A grown man like you wipes this every day."

Li Xiangqian glanced at her, chuckled, and took it.

"It's not that I'm being dramatic. It's just that the air on this loess land is a bit dry. When the wind blows, it's hot and stinging, like a red-hot knife."

Li Xiangqian complained as he drew circles on his cheekbone with his finger.

"Of all the men in Yuanxi County, your face is the most precious."

After wiping his face, Li Xiangqian gently patted it twice to aid absorption. Then he stood up, turned, and went into the inner room.

Runye wanted to talk to him, but she could never find the right opportunity. He was either taking a shower, washing his face, or walking around, never giving her a chance to stand still and speak.

After Runye finished washing up and returned to the inner room, Li Xiangqian was leaning against the headboard, holding a copy of "Huangyuan Literature" in his hand, flipping through it casually.

Runye sat down on her small bed.

"I didn't see you reading much before."

"There's not much of a nightlife, and there's no TV. Why wouldn't I read a book and just look at you?"

Li Xiangqian's voice drifted out from behind the magazine.

Runye was so angry that she twisted her body and fell directly onto the bed.

He then got up and pretended to take out his lesson preparation book, leaned against the headboard and opened it, glancing at it casually while looking at it in Li Xiangqian's direction.

My mind raced, trying to come up with the right words.

It was Du Lili who suggested going to Huangyuan, not me. Besides, I didn't agree to it at the time. Honestly.

Then she thought that Li Xiangqian probably hadn't gotten over it yet, and she had promised Liu Zhiying that she would stay with Li Xiangqian and wait for him to get out of his suicidal tendencies. She couldn't break her promise.

"About going to Huangyuan..."

Just as Runye opened her mouth, a long yawn came from the bed opposite.

Li Xiangqian closed the "Huangyuan Literature and Art" magazine and casually placed it on the table by his bedside.

"I'm so sleepy. I can't take it anymore."

As he spoke, he lay down on the bed and slammed his head onto the pillow.

"What did you just say?"

Li Xiangqian suddenly lifted his head from the pillow as if he had risen from the dead and asked.

"It's nothing."

"I'm going to sleep now. You should get some rest too when you're done."

After Li Xiangqian finished speaking, he slammed his head back onto the pillow.

Runye glanced at Li Xiangqian lying down and thought to herself.

"I don't believe you can sleep."

She turned her gaze back to the lesson preparation book in her hands.

I looked at it for two seconds before realizing that I had been holding the lesson preparation book upside down the whole time.

She quickly flipped her lesson preparation book over.

Just as he was about to sit up, he heard Li Xiangqian's soft snoring coming from the opposite bed.

Runye stared at the words on the lesson preparation book, which were turned upside down and then right-side up again, for a long while.

"This Li Xiangqian..."