SAG -Chapter 9 Preparing for Divorce

Around noon, Zhang Sicheng bought a few gifts and arrived at the entrance of an upscale villa community.

The security guards recognized him. After a quick registration, they let him through.

Soon, he stopped in front of a townhouse.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his emotions and forced a smile onto his face.

He rang the doorbell.

A moment later, the door opened.

A fashionably dressed woman in her fifties stood there.

She had been wearing a polite smile, but the instant she recognized Zhang Sicheng, it disappeared.

“So it’s Sicheng.”

“Come in.”

Her tone was indifferent.

“Hello, Auntie.”

“How have you been lately?”

Zhang Sicheng kept smiling, greeting her as he always did.

Instead of returning the courtesy, the woman’s face darkened.

“Thanks to your precious little sister, I haven’t died from anger yet.”

Zhang Sicheng quickly apologized.

“Auntie, please don’t be angry.”

“Xiaoyan is still young and doesn’t always know better.”

“I hope you’ll be patient with her.”

“Enough.”

“Don’t stand there.”

“If the neighbors see this, they’ll think our family doesn’t welcome you.”

Her tone grew even colder.

Although she said that, she made no attempt to move aside and let him enter.

Zhang Sicheng took another deep breath.

Pretending not to notice the insult, he smiled as before.

“Auntie, I won’t come in.”

“I actually came to pick up Susu.”

“Taotao has been missing his little cousin, so I thought she’d stay with us for a few days.”

Hearing that, disgust flashed across the woman’s eyes.

“She’s not home.”

“Her mother’s good-for-nothing friends picked her up.”

There wasn’t the slightest trace of concern in her voice.

She spoke as though Susu weren’t even her granddaughter.

“I see…”

“What about Xiaoyan?”

“I wanted to talk to her about something.”

Instantly, the woman’s eyes became guarded.

“Sicheng…”

“You know our family invested in some stocks recently.”

“We lost quite a bit of money last month.”

For a moment, Zhang Sicheng felt he was about to lose control.

But he thought about his sister.

She still had to live with this family.

No matter how angry he became, he had to endure it.

Who could he blame except himself for being powerless to protect her?

The least he could do was avoid causing her even more trouble.

He knew his sister’s in-laws looked down on him.

That was why he rarely visited.

He also knew how stingy they were.

So he had never once asked them for money.

Every visit, he arrived with a smile.

Every word was carefully chosen.

All because he feared they would make life even harder for his sister because of him.

“Auntie…”

“I’m not here to borrow money.”

“I just wanted to talk.”

By now, Zhang Sicheng could barely maintain the cheerful act.

His voice had become noticeably stiffer.

“Oh.”

“She’s not home either.”

“No idea where she’s off fooling around these days.”

The moment she realized he wasn’t asking for money, her attitude became completely dismissive again.

After Zhang Sicheng left, the woman shut the front door and spat toward where he’d been standing.

Inside, Sun Gaixin asked, “Mom, who was that?”

“Who else?”

“That dead girl’s poor excuse for a brother.”

“I already sent him away.”

“Don’t associate with him in the future.”

“I know.”

“I never have.”

Sun Gaixin didn’t seem to care.

“Oh, Mom.”

“I won’t be coming home tonight.”

“Go do whatever you’re doing.”

“I still can’t understand how you were blind enough to marry a woman who’s completely useless.”

His mother continued grumbling.

At that moment, an elderly man with a limp slowly came downstairs.

“Dad.”

Sun Gaixin greeted him casually before leaving.

After leaving the villa complex, Zhang Sicheng tried calling Zhang Siyan again.

Still no answer.

After thinking for a while, he called Zhang Siyan’s closest friend.

The “good-for-nothing friends” his sister-in-law had mentioned were probably referring to her.

This time, the call connected almost immediately.

“Big Brother.”

Qian Li answered.

She and Zhang Siyan had been inseparable since childhood.

She was also close to Zhang Sicheng and had always called him “Big Brother.”

“Xiao Li.”

“Are Xiaoyan and Susu with you?”

He skipped the pleasantries.

“…Yes.”

Qian Li hesitated before replying.

“They’re with me.”

“Don’t worry.”

“They’re both fine.”

Hearing that hesitation, Zhang Sicheng’s heart tightened.

“Xiao Li.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m coming over.”

“No need.”

“I know you’re busy.”

“Xiaoyan and Susu are doing well here.”

“Really.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

But Zhang Sicheng wasn’t so easy to fool.

His voice became unusually stern.

“Xiao Li.”

“Did something happen?”

“Don’t hide it from me.”

A few minutes later, Zhang Sicheng hung up.

His eyes had turned frighteningly cold.

Especially when he looked back toward the villa district.

For one brief moment…

He wanted nothing more than to storm inside and beat that entire family senseless.

He even felt murderous rage.

But just as quickly…

The fire faded.

He lowered his gaze in defeat.

He had his own family now.

A wife.

A son.

People who depended on him.

Perhaps that was the tragedy of having a family.

No matter what happened…

They always had to come first.

Sometimes…

He despised himself for that.

With a long sigh, he hailed a taxi and headed to Third People’s Hospital.

He finally found his younger sister.

Inside the hospital room sat a stylish young woman carefully peeling an apple with a fruit knife.

Her makeup was exquisite.

Her fashionable trench coat complemented her tall figure, giving her an imposing presence.

But Zhang Sicheng barely spared her a glance.

His eyes immediately settled on his sister.

Zhang Siyan lay in the hospital bed.

A bandage wrapped around her forehead.

Her face was pale.

She looked exhausted.

Although he’d already prepared himself, seeing her injuries in person still made Zhang Sicheng clench his fists.

“…Did he hit you?”

His eyes reddened.

Even his voice trembled.

He and his sister had always been close.

When their mother died, she’d repeatedly made him promise to protect Xiaoyan.

And he’d failed.

Seeing her brother’s expression, Zhang Siyan forced a smile.

“It’s okay, Brother.”

“It doesn’t really hurt.”

That was all it took.

Zhang Sicheng finally broke.

Tears streamed down his face.

“It’s my fault…”

“I’m useless…”

“I’m useless…”

“I’m useless…”

As he spoke, he repeatedly slapped himself across the face.

“Brother!”

“Stop!”

“Please stop!”

“This isn’t your fault!”

Zhang Siyan desperately grabbed his hands.

She burst into tears as well.

“Alright, alright.”

Qian Li hurried over.

“Big Brother, stop crying.”

“Yanyan’s injuries aren’t serious, but she shouldn’t get too emotional.”

“Right…”

“You’re right.”

Zhang Sicheng quickly wiped away his tears.

“Big Brother.”

Qian Li sighed.

“Yanyan has finally made up her mind.”

“If he wants a divorce…”

“Then let him have one.”

Zhang Sicheng looked at his sister.

“You’ve really decided?”

He understood why she’d refused divorce all these years.

It wasn’t because she still loved her husband.

That love had disappeared years ago.

Nor was it because of the family’s wealth.

The only reason…

Was Susu.

Both he and his sister had grown up in a single-parent household.

More than anyone else, they longed to give the next generation a complete family.

Zhang Siyan nodded seriously.

“I’ve thought it through.”

“I should’ve accepted it a long time ago.”

“Growing up in that family…”

“…is worse than growing up with a single parent.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’m really glad.”

Zhang Sicheng murmured.

He knew how difficult these past few years had been for her.

At least now…

She would never have to endure that family’s abuse again.

“Oh, right.”

Zhang Siyan suddenly changed the subject.

“Xiao Li said you wanted to talk to me.”

“What was it?”

Zhang Sicheng hesitated.

This hardly seemed like the right time.

Seeing his conflicted expression, Zhang Siyan smiled.

“What?”

“You think there’s anything I can’t handle anymore?”

“Just say it.”

“Your little sister is stronger than you think.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Sicheng realized she would learn eventually anyway.

So he finally spoke.

“Our dad…”

“…came back.”

Zhang Siyan: “???”

Qian Li: “???”

Both women stared at him in complete confusion.

Qian Li knew the siblings’ family situation well.

Although she didn’t know every detail, she’d grown up visiting their home and knew they’d been raised by their mother alone.

So where had this “father” suddenly come from?

“But…”

“I thought he…”

Zhang Siyan couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“Just watch the news.”

Zhang Sicheng handed over his phone.

Explaining it directly would have been impossible.

Qian Li glanced at the news article.

Her jaw immediately dropped.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Your father was on that cruise ship?”

She’d already heard about the Goddess of Fate.

She simply hadn’t paid close attention because she’d been focused on taking care of Zhang Siyan.

The siblings exchanged a glance.

Then both quietly nodded.

Neither of them spoke again.

At that moment…

Their feelings were simply too complicated to put into words.