Chapter 97 The Timid Him (Part 9) I'm Proud to Have My Motherland by My Side…

After Song Ce followed Song Mingyuan out of the police station, Chen Mei called.

Song Mingyuan frowned, his gaze fixed on the word "Wife" flashing on his phone screen. His brows furrowed even more. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly pressed the answer button.

"Mingyuan, something came up at home just now, and I... I didn't have my phone with me, that's why I didn't answer your call." Chen Mei coughed lightly on the other end of the phone and explained in a soft voice.

"Um."

"Did something happen when you called me earlier?" Chen Mei felt a little uneasy hearing Song Mingyuan's calm tone on the phone and couldn't help but ask softly.

"It's nothing." Song Mingyuan sighed softly, instantly losing any desire to continue talking to Chen Mei. He paused briefly, then said coldly, "If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."

"Oh, oh, okay. Xiao Ce, he..." Chen Mei hadn't finished speaking when the phone went dead; Song Mingyuan had already hung up.

Meanwhile, in an old residential area in Suzhou, Chen Mei was nestled in Luo Tai's arms. Hearing Song Mingyuan's cold response on the phone, she sensed something was wrong. She opened her mouth, asking with concern, "Brother Tai, do you think... has he noticed something?"

Luo Tai scoffed at this, reached out and pinched Chen Mei's chin, giving her a heavy kiss. He said nonchalantly, "How could that be? He's still in Haishi. Even if he wanted to come to Suzhou, it would take him at least three or four hours to drive there. Honey, don't scare yourself."

"Hmm...you're right." Chen Mei suppressed her inner turmoil and leaned in to kiss Luo Tai again. Luo Tai grinned mischievously, pulled Chen Mei down onto the bed, and then casually drew the heavy curtains shut.

...

"Dad, is that Mom calling?" Song Ce coughed lightly, breaking the silence between father and son.

Song Mingyuan had just taken out his cigarette case from his pocket, holding a cigarette between his fingers, ready to light it. Hearing his son suddenly speak, he realized his son was still there, and thought of putting the cigarette back in the case.

"Yes, that's right." Song Mingyuan nodded and replied.

"Dad, you and Mom should get a divorce." Song Ce paused, then looked seriously at the exhausted man in front of him.

Song Mingyuan's hand, which was about to light a cigarette, froze instantly, his fingers involuntarily gripping the cigarette pack tightly. He turned his head and looked directly at his son, who had somehow grown almost as tall as him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Xiao Ce, what... what did you say?" Song Mingyuan was stunned, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

“I’m telling you, you should divorce Mom. I’ve seen it all these years you’ve lived together. I know, Dad, you’ve been forcing yourself all along. When I was little, Grandma often told me that you two didn’t divorce because of me, that you’ve just made do. But now I’m all grown up, even though I’m not an adult yet, I have my own sense of right and wrong. I know you’re not happy together like this, and I don’t want to see you two forcing yourselves anymore. Dad, if you really can’t go on like this, then you should separate.”

Looking at the man before him, Song Ce finally spoke these words, which had been brewing in his heart for a long time, softly in the gentle evening breeze on the path at night.

Song Mingyuan stared blankly at his son's serious expression, and he couldn't help but wonder when his son had become like this.

Has she become... so sensible and considerate?

For so many years, he couldn't understand why he had silently endured so much in this marriage. Was it for his parents? For his reputation? For his son? Or perhaps, for his wife?

Song Mingyuan kept thinking and thinking, but more than a decade passed in a flash, and he still couldn't find the answer.

But today, looking at the face before him that was so similar to his own, Song Mingyuan suddenly understood. He suddenly realized that, besides his incomprehension and resentment towards this relationship, he had actually been waiting for this one sentence, waiting for someone to stand up and tell him not to force himself, and to bravely choose to leave when things really couldn't go on.

He had thought he would continue to endure this painful marriage for many more years, perhaps five, ten, or even longer. But at this moment, he suddenly didn't want to suffer anymore. This 42-year-old man abruptly turned away, covered his already tearful eyes with his hands, and choked out, "Okay."

After a long while, Song Mingyuan gradually calmed down his complicated emotions. He hesitated before breaking the silence between father and son, and carefully asked, "Xiao Ce, if your mother and I really get divorced, who...who do you want to live with?"

Song Ce looked at the slightly uneasy man and answered seriously, "Of course I'll go with Dad! Besides, even if I don't go with Mom, I'll always be Mom's child. Blood ties can never be changed, can they?"

Upon hearing his son's reply, the heavy weight that had been pressing on Song Mingyuan's heart for so long finally settled down.

Three days later, Chen Mei returned to her home in Haishi with bags and packages, looking quite content.

To her surprise, Song Mingyuan didn't go to work as usual, but instead sat on the sofa dressed formally. On the coffee table in front of him were several thin documents.

Upon seeing this, Chen Mei's heart skipped a beat.

Hearing the noise at the door, Song Mingyuan turned his head to look. He didn't get up to take the things from Chen Mei's hands as usual, but said calmly, "You're back? I have something I want to tell you."

Chen Mei's heart was pounding. She carefully put down what she was holding and walked over timidly, asking, "Husband... what's wrong?"

Song Mingyuan reached out and picked up the documents from the coffee table, handing them to her calmly. "Take a look first, and see if there's anything you're not satisfied with."

Chen Mei took the document with trembling hands. When she saw the words "Divorce Agreement" on the document, her eyes widened instantly. She looked up in disbelief at the person who had shared her bed for more than ten years, her voice sharp and almost shrill: "You...you actually want to divorce me?"

“Yes, let’s get a divorce,” Song Mingyuan said resolutely.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mei's eyes instantly reddened. She abruptly raised her hand, pointing directly at Song Mingyuan, her fingertips almost piercing his face, and asked tearfully, "Song Mingyuan! Do you have any conscience? For so many years, I've devoted myself to this family, managing the household chores, doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of you and your son. For you, I haven't gone out to work, focusing entirely on the family. Now that Xiao Ce has grown up, you want to divorce me? Are you even human?"

After saying this, Chen Mei burst into tears, looking utterly heartbroken. As she cried, she looked at Song Mingyuan's expressionless face and continued her accusation: "All these years, how much effort have I put into this family? Can't you see it? I've sacrificed everything for you and Xiao Ce, how can you bring up divorce now?" Chen Mei was filled with grief, her voice brimming with grievance and resentment.

Song Mingyuan quietly watched Chen Mei cry, his gaze calm yet carrying a hint of relieved acceptance. He wasn't swayed by Chen Mei's sobs; he simply sighed and slowly said, "Chen Mei, over the years, you've sacrificed so much for the family, but haven't I? I work tirelessly every day, putting in extra hours to earn money, just so you and Xiao Ce can have a stable home and live a comfortable life. The problems between us haven't been going on for a day or two, Chen Mei. You know in your heart why I brought up divorce. Even if we forced ourselves to stay together, it would be torture for both of us, wouldn't it?"

Chen Mei stiffened upon hearing this, her sobs abruptly ceasing. She instinctively avoided Song Mingyuan's gaze, a flicker of panic in her eyes, and stubbornly retorted, "What problems could there be between us? It's just that you suddenly went crazy today, saying you wanted a divorce. We've been through so much together, how could we be torturing each other like this?"

Song Mingyuan listened to Chen Mei's explanation and felt a bitter smile. He shook his head slightly and said, "Chen Mei, do you really think there's no problem between us? Over the years, we've barely communicated. Every time you talk to me, it's just perfunctory. Ask yourself honestly, do you really care about this family anymore?"

Chen Mei bit her lower lip and remained silent for a long time before finally managing to say, "Well... Xiao Ce is still young! He needs a complete family. Even if you're really determined to divorce me, you have to wait for Xiao Ce to come back! He's our child, he has the right to know all this, the right to know why his father suddenly abandoned his mother! Song Mingyuan, I really understand you less and less..."

"Did you ever give me a chance to understand?" Song Mingyuan asked as his emotions gradually calmed down.

Chen Mei was rendered speechless by Song Mingyuan's question. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. Looking at her husband sitting on the sofa with a cold expression, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. She covered her mouth, cried, and returned to the master bedroom, slamming the bedroom door shut with a loud bang.

Finally, at 6:30, Chen Mei heard Song Ce return home from her bedroom. She flung open the bedroom door and said with a wronged tone, "Xiao Ce, you're finally back."

"mom."

"Xiao Ce, your dad... your dad wants a divorce!" Chen Mei walked over excitedly, hugged Song Ce tightly, and sobbed.

Song Ce sighed softly, patted Chen Mei on the back, and asked in a low voice, "Mom, didn't you want to divorce Dad a long time ago?"

Hearing her son's words, Chen Mei felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. She looked up at Song Ce in disbelief: "Xiao Ce, how... how could you say that? I... I only said it in anger! Your father and I have been through so much together for so many years, and we have you as our child. How could we just get a divorce like that? Why can't you stand up for your mother? Huh? Don't you consider your mother's feelings?"

Song Ce didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

Chen Mei suddenly took a step back and shouted, "Song Ce! I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you with great difficulty! All these years, I've endured so much for you and for this family. You should know better than anyone that if it weren't for you, why would I have stayed home to take care of you instead of working? Now that you're all grown up, you're helping your father bully me, aren't you? Song Ce, where did all your education go? Where is your conscience?"

Chen Mei's tears were originally forced out, but as she spoke, she began to feel a real pain in her chest.

This son, who used to be so obedient and sensible, suddenly changed overnight. He no longer joined her in attacking Song Mingyuan, no longer felt sorry for her sacrifices, and no longer relied on her as before.

He's changed. He's become so unfamiliar, so... distant. Hasn't he considered that after so many years of staying home to be a wife and mother, she's become completely disconnected from society? If they really divorce, how will she survive in society?

Realizing this, Chen Mei became even more furious, but faced with her son's drastically changed personality, she was puzzled, resentful, and helpless. She could neither change the situation nor know how to deal with it.

Looking at Chen Mei's furious and almost frantic state, Song Mingyuan suddenly found it somewhat laughable. He picked up the divorce agreement on the table and said wearily, "Chen Mei, I've written down the property division and Xiao Ce's custody in the divorce agreement. Considering you haven't worked for so many years, this house is yours! The remaining cash and investments will be split equally."

Upon hearing that Song Mingyuan was willing to give her the house, Chen Mei was slightly taken aback, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

However, before Chen Mei could recover from these complicated emotions, Song Mingyuan spoke up again: "As for Xiao Ce, he will live with me from now on!"

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Author's Note: I spent a whole day revising this chapter. My emotions got a bit complicated while writing, so I went to sit by the river for a while, which took up a lot of time. Sorry (kneeling).