9

During the divorce cooling-off period, I went to Xiamen alone.

The last time Ethan Jiang mentioned going to Xiamen for a trip, it stirred up my desire to watch the sunset at the ferry terminal.

In the past, when I didn't have classes, besides going to the library, my favorite place to go was the streets and alleys near the ferry.

I booked a room with a familiar inn owner.

The owner was my childhood neighbor's younger brother, a local youth from a well-off family with no financial pressure.

After graduating, he opened an inn.

It was currently the low season for tourism, so not many people were staying.

I was sitting under a beautiful silk floss tree in the front yard, drinking passion fruit tea, when the wind chime hanging on the inn's front door rang.

"Give me a single room."

My breath hitched for a second.

I turned around.

It was Ethan Jiang.

"Sorry, sir, the inn is already fully booked."

Ethan Jiang couldn't quite believe it, "How is that possible?"

"It is possible."

Qiu Qin said with a smile, "From today onwards, this inn will no longer accept new guests."

Ethan Jiang felt he was being targeted.

His face looked a bit unsightly.

"Then I won't stay.

I'm here to find someone."

"But it seems that lady doesn't really want to be found by you."

Qiu Qin still had a smile on his face, but there was no mirth in his eyes.

"If you insist, sir, I'll have no choice but to call the police."

Ethan Jiang called out to me reluctantly.

I kept my head down, playing with my phone, ignoring him.

After he left, I asked Qiu Qin, "How did you know he was here to find me?"

"Sister, you posted a photo of you two together in your Moments."

I then remembered that I had posted wedding photos on the eve of our wedding.

My Moments were set to be visible for three days.

Qiu Qin actually still remembered.

"Sorry you had to see that."

I said with a bitter smile, "We're currently in the divorce cooling-off period."

"There's nothing embarrassing about that.

If there's anything I can help with, just say the word.

Although I didn't join a law firm after graduating, my dorm mate is now a very outstanding lawyer in the industry."

Before I could respond, a girl barged in angrily.

"Where's Serena Shi? Come out!"

Qiu Qin said to me with a smile, "Thanks to you, my little inn is going to be bustling today."

As soon as he finished speaking, the inn door was pushed open again.

Ethan Jiang walked in, looking at Summer Xia with an unpleasant expression, "Who told you to follow me here?"

"Why do you keep avoiding me."

She pointed at me and asked, "Is it because she won't let you come find me?"

I raised my hands to show my innocence.

"Haven't I made it clear to you?"

"I only love Serena Shi.

With you, it was just fooling around."

Summer Xia stared at Ethan Jiang in disbelief.

"Ethan Jiang, you said before that you only love me.

You slept with me and now you want to run.

No way!"

"Back then, you couldn't stand the loneliness and told me you couldn't stand the sight of the sallow-faced hag at home for even a moment."

"When I mocked Serena Shi, you didn't deny a single word.

You even said I was ten thousand times better than her, and you wished you hadn't married her in the first place!"

"I cut off all contact with other people, ready to spend my life with you, but now you're telling me it was all just fooling around?"

Ethan Jiang heard her mention my name and glanced at me in panic.

He warned Summer Xia, "If you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for turning on you and sending out all the selfies you sent me."

"You."

Summer Xia's pretty face twisted in anger, "You're shameless!"

"I'm shameless."

Ethan Jiang sneered, "Back when you were still President Zhou's mistress, you pretended to be drunk in my car and seduced me, a married man.

Aren't you the shameless one?"

"When you sent me those photos, did you think you were pure and innocent?"

Qiu Qin and I silently exchanged glances, both revealing expressions of watching drama unfold.

Summer Xia looked at me and let out a mocking laugh.

"Serena Shi, you're so impressive.

Retreating to advance, such skillful tactics."

"You used an innocent child as a sacrifice, aborting a child in exchange for Ethan Jiang's eternal devotion.

You're ruthless enough."

I lowered my face.

"If I had given birth to that child and let him live in such a family, that would be true ruthlessness."

"As for Ethan Jiang, you think too highly of him.

How could such a heartless person be eternally devoted to me?"

"Moreover, just the thought of him being eternally devoted to me makes me feel I'd rather be dead."

Ethan Jiang couldn't keep up the facade.

He shifted the blame to Summer Xia and rushed forward, viciously slapping her.

Summer Xia let out a wail and clung to Ethan Jiang, refusing to let go.

Qiu Qin called the police.

The farce ended.

Before Ethan Jiang left, he asked if I had anything else to say to him.

I thought for a moment and said, "You should delete those photos of the young lady.

She doesn't love herself, and you're quite shameless too."

"Also, don't forget to go get the certificate when the cooling-off period ends."

Ethan Jiang's eyes gradually filled with despair.

His lips moved slightly but ultimately didn't say anything.

...

The world was finally quiet.

I rode my bicycle to the ferry terminal.

Before leaving, Qiu Qin reminded me to eat less when I went out, as he was going to make satay barbecue for the inn guests in the evening.

I pedaled swiftly against the glow of the setting sun, the wind filling my clothes.

This was the first time in a long while that I felt relaxed.