Chapter 1: It’s good to be young

Tick, tick.

Lu Li likes to listen to the alarm clock. Like the sound of rain, this sound makes him calm, and his mind seems to drift into the forest of light and shadow. Time passes as usual, from 7:15 in the morning to 7:16 in the morning, the earth continues to rotate, everything is normal.

The time on the calendar is August 26, 2017. This is the only abnormality. No, the real abnormality may be Lu Li himself.

In front of the mirror, his face is less vicissitudes and iron stubble, and his eyes are no longer deep and heavy. Clean as a white shirt brought by the wind, bright eyes, and fluff at the corners of his mouth. After a long time, he finally laughed out loud.

He and An Baili are married on October 22, 2022. But their marriage finally came to an end after 20 years.

Lu Li gently placed the divorce agreement in front of An Baili, and said indifferently: “I’m tired.”

An Baili’s eyes widened. Her beauty was the same as 20 years ago, and even settled into a unique charm. But her temper was the same as 20 years ago, and never changed. She asked in disbelief: “Is it because I can’t give you a child?”

Really? Maybe there is this reason. Lu Li gave himself another excuse in his heart. An Baili used to be so important in his heart. She was his white moonlight and his red rose. He was deeply trapped in her gentle land. But after the tide of love receded, all that was left was a mess and silent embarrassment.

He didn’t want to coax her like a daughter after a day of work; he didn’t want to accommodate her unconditionally like when he was young; he didn’t want to be upset by her temper for no reason; he didn’t want to go home and endure the fatigue to cook every meal himself; he didn’t want to have no change in his wallet to pay the parking fee; he didn’t want ... he didn’t want too much, in short, he was tired.

He also hoped that he would be the one who was loved and cared for, rather than the one who was always giving. An Baili was a girl until her death, but he, Lu Li, was no longer a teenager.

Lu Li did not answer An Baili. He lowered his eyes, as if he was dozing.

An Baili was a little excited: “I don’t agree!” Then he became aggrieved: “Don’t leave me, okay...”

Here it comes again ... Lu Li did not look up. Because he knew that he could not resist An Baili’s tears. As long as she cried, Lu Li would be at a loss. Very stupid, very cheap.

An Baili came up, her warm body touched him, and she hugged her husband pitifully: “I don’t want a divorce.”

Still no answer.

“You have bullied me for so many years, and now you are going to throw me away like a rag?” She rubbed Lu Li with her cheek, like a kitten, which was a habit she had since she was young. She was obsessed with Lu Li’s smell, voice and everything. To her, Lu Li was the most special and important person, not even one.

“Are you going to find Wen Hubo? Or Chen Jianing?” Her tone became more and more pitiful, “Don’t be nice to them, okay? Don’t be angry, I won’t force you to make fried Tai Chi head anymore, I’ll eat whatever you cook, okay ... Li, don’t be silent, I’m so scared.”

Still like this. Lu Li smiled sadly. He didn’t even know why he was disappointed. An Baili would never understand him or sympathize with him. Was it really just because of yesterday’s cooking? Twenty years ago, he thought An Baili would become gentle, considerate, and mature in the future. Ten years ago, he thought he needed to give her some time. But now, Lu Li has no hope.

A sentence emerged in his mind: Never expect to change a person, you are not God.

They love each other deeply, but love is not everything. Now, Lu Li decided to withdraw.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.” Lu Li finally spoke again. As soon as he opened his mouth, An Baili moved her lips up to kiss him, trying to block his hurtful words with her body. This was also An Baili’s usual practice. She was a very beautiful woman, and she knew that Lu Li could not resist her temptation.

But this time Lu Li avoided her, which surprised her, and a greater panic swept over her instantly. She hugged Lu Li tighter.

“I’m really tired, very tired. I don’t want to say another word...” Lu Li’s words made her feel like she was falling into an ice cave, “I will leave the house with nothing, and all my wealth, including the company under my name, will be transferred to you.”

“I don’t want your money. No!” An Baili panicked, her voice a little sharp, “Don’t say that, please, don’t say that...” The harder she cried, the more Lu Li’s head turned away.

“Why are you doing this ... Why are you so cruel?” An Baili burst into tears, “If I wanted your money, why did I stay with you back then? I still remember that you and I had no money at that time, so we could only take a few more steamed buns from the school cafeteria for breakfast and eat them at noon, and we would smile at each other because of this...”

“Don’t say it.” As people get older, they naturally can’t stand to hear about the past, especially at this time. Lu Li interrupted An Baili, “It’s my fault that I’m not tolerant enough, not your fault. I’m sorry for you. That’s enough, there’s nothing to say.”

The middle-aged man’s decision was well thought out, and he was no longer as fickle as he was when he was young. He decided to let An Baili calm down.

“I’m going to the second bedroom to take a nap, you should take a good rest first. Sign when you’ve thought it through.” He ruthlessly broke An Baili’s hand, but An Baili clung to him, “Let go, I want to rest, I’m very tired today.”

“I won’t!”

He stared at An Baili in silence, and the fading love in his eyes frightened An Baili. Now this Lu Li made him feel so strange and frightened that she subconsciously let go of her hand, but she regretted it immediately. Lu Li decisively entered the second bedroom, locked the door, and let An Baili cry outside the door.

The neighbor aunt called with concern, advising them not to quarrel, and especially hinted that Lu Li should not use domestic violence, otherwise she would call the Women’s Federation. Lu Li explained a few words, but he didn’t know what he explained. He lay drowsily on the bed, and his mind passed through the scenes of these years. Listening to the ticking of the clock, he finally fell asleep.

He had a dream. He dreamed of the sweet love between An Baili and him when they were young, and he didn’t know whether it was a good dream or a nightmare.