The Reversal of a Son-in-law

"But still, sorry for troubling you," Long Chen said softly. He didn't know where he should go, and he didn't have many friends. Perhaps Zhao Churan was suitable for him to confide in as a friend.

"What's there to disturb? You're being overpolite. Here, help me carry it. My hands are sore." Zhao Churan passed the bag of fruits to Long Chen, and Long Chen didn't refuse, helping her out.

The two of them left side by side. Little did the two know that Li Yuechan, who happened to be walking out, witnessed them. She clenched her tiny fists, her face pale. "No wonder you agreed so easily to the divorce this time. It turns out you've already found a new target. In that case, I won't let a scumbag like you get away with it." Li yuechan gritted her teeth, tears glistening in her eyes.

...

Long Chen followed Zhao Churan, and soon he reached her place. After they sat down, she poured a glass of water for him, asking with a smile, "Now tell me, what trouble did you get yourself in? I might be able to help you."

"It's hard to tell." Long Chen curved his lips bitterly.

"What's so hard to tell? Could it be that your wife cheated on you?" Zhao Churan guessed.

"No," he denied. "Do you have alcohol? It might make it easier after a few sips."

"Okay. Hold on." Zhao Churan stood up and went to get some wine. She also brought snacks to go with the wine.

After a few glasses down the throat, Long Chen's face turned pinkish.

"Take it easy. You're going to pass out before you spill the beans," Zhao Churan whispered.

"It's fine." After Long Chen gulped down another glass, he finally told Zhao Churan what was on his mind. He told her everything he had encountered staying with the Li family this past year. Of course, he didn't mention his awakened talent. It was his secret. No matter how much he drank, he would never tell anyone.

During that moment, Long Chen only told her the most of his vexation.

"I already guessed it would be suffocating being a live-in son-in-law, but I didn't expect it to be so miserable. Since the Li family doesn't like you, why don't you get a divorce? It's the 21st century. Why worry about not being able to meet another woman? If you can't find the right one, I'll volunteer as tribute," Zhao Churan said half-jokingly. She narrowed her pair of doe eyes, and her pretty face flooded red. She was also tipsy.

"But every time I think about leaving my wife, I can't help but feel lost. It's a confusing feeling." Long Chen drank glass after glass, indulging in the alcohol he wouldn't have touched before.

"It seems you've fallen in love with her, but she's only your wife on paper. She doesn't care about you at all. If she does, why'd she never let you hold her hand? Isn't this ridiculous?"

"I know that she doesn't love me. I'm the foolish one who fell in love first. The elders in our families had fixed this marriage. Before my grandfather passed away, he instructed me not to leave the Li family no matter what happens." Long Chen sighed heavily. He was standing at the crossroads.

"Your medical skills are earth-shattering. Doesn't the Li family know?"

"They don't. I've never said anything about it," Long Chen answered.

"Why don't you come clean then? This way, the Lis will stop treating you like trash. Maybe..."

"This will have the opposite effect. With my mother-in-law and father-in-law's temper, they will make me a money-making machine. I'll only feel worse."

"You don't want to get a divorce, but you don't want to say the truth either. What would you do?" Zhao Churan furrowed her brows.

"I don't know,"

"How about this? Tomorrow, you go home pretending nothing has happened. Take it slow. Maybe one day, your wife will see you for who you are."

"She's not giving me the time. She wants us to go and settle the divorce procedures first thing tomorrow morning."

"You can bail on her. After we finish our drinks, you should take your rest here. Surround yourself in the darkness. Clear your mind and have a good sleep."

"I might be able to do that." Long Chen smiled.

"Of course, you can. Come on. Let's get wasted. Rock, Paper, Scissors. Whoever loses drinks."

"Bring it on."

The two of them drank to their heart's content. Zhao Churan had so much drink that she started blabbering about herself too. This drinking session pulled the two's relationship closer than ever. They wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders, constantly chatting and laughing. Two hours later, the two passed out as they fell asleep on the sofa, cuddling each other.

The next day, Long Chen opened his eyes. The first thing that came to his eyes was Zhao Churan snuggled in his arms, still sleeping soundly. Her stunning face was flawless, and he couldn't find anything to nit-pick.

It took him by surprise. He quickly checked his clothes and heaved a sigh of relief when he found no traces of him taking them off. After that, he gently removed Zhao Churan's arms from his neck and got up to wash up. When he realized she was still asleep, he found a blanket and covered her before leaving her house.

He didn't realize that Zhao Churan had woken up earlier than he did. So she knew everything he did to her after he got up. Tightening the blanket around her body, Zhao Churan squinted her eyes and chuckled. "Such a nice guy. What a shame he doesn't belong to me."

On another side, Long Chen checked the time. It was nine in the morning. If he wasn't wrong, Li Yuechan should have arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau by now. When he was hesitating about whether he should give her a call, then his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was her. He immediately pressed answer.

"What's wrong? After spending a night with another woman, you got lost on your street? Can't find your way back, huh?" Li Yuechan's voice was beyond the freezing point.

Long Chen shuddered and scanned the area. He found Li Yuechan staring at him from the entrance of the Li family's mansion. "Yuechan, it's not what you think. I..."

"Come over and talk." Li Yuechan hung up.

Long Chen didn't anticipate she would know about what he did at Zhao Churan's house last night. He guessed she must have seen him when he followed Zhao Churan home yesterday. It was a huge misunderstanding, but he had to deal with it.

He hurried to her, though she raised her hand and slapped him. "You *sshole. Why did you cheat on me?"

"I didn't cheat on you."

"You liar." Li Yuechan's eyes turned red, and tears fell from the corners of her eyes. "I saw you leaving with a girl yesterday. Why did you do this to me?"

Seeing her immense reaction, Long Chen, whom she slapped, wasn't even mad. Instead, he was pleased. "Are you jealous?"

"W-what jealous? Come here. I'll give you a good beating." Li Yuechan raised her hand again. But this time, Long Chen caught her hand.

"Li Yuechan, we've been married for more than a year. I'd never thought that my first time grabbing your hand would be to stop you from hitting me. Don't you think that's a great irony?" Long Chen fixed his eyes on her.

Li Yuechan shivered. Then, she said in guilt, her head low, "I've already told you at the start that we can't fulfill our duties as husband and wife. No holding hands or hugging, and we'll wait for the right time to get a divorce. You agreed to it yourself at the time."

"Yes, I agreed to it. It's just that I failed to live up to your expectations and fell for you."

"Long Chen, how can you be such a hypocrite? If you're interested in me, why would you spend the night with someone else? Don't you think you're ridiculous?" Li Yuechan yanked her hand away with all her might. A wave of inexplicable anger burned in her chest, and the fire raged stronger.