HWMK Chapter 27

Translator: Lynn

I just want them to be divorced. Here’s a bonus chapter!

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However, Ji Kai was not truly furious.

His actions were simply more forceful, and his expression took on a fiercer demeanor. His intention was clear: to compel Zhu Ling into submission. He wasn’t angry because he had already processed the time for venting, disappointment, and heart-wrenching suffering. These emotions had been digested during his time with friends, playing “Prosperity” with Li Weidu, and through occasional vents in their room.

Now, his desire was straightforward: to get a divorce as soon as possible. He wanted to break free from this hopeless and deceitful relationship without looking back.

Another tear rolled down Zhu Ling’s face, leaving a wet mark on his shirt. The famous singer finally found his voice and expressed with deep sadness, “Brother Kai, what’s wrong with you? Why did things suddenly take this turn? Didn’t you want me after that phone call? I explained everything… Don’t you believe me? Have I done something wrong again?”

“But Brother Kai, you promised me. You promised that if I made a mistake again, you’d tell me face-to-face, not sulk,” Zhu Ling pleaded.

Ji Kai chuckled. It was a good thing Zhu Ling didn’t bring up “that night.” If it hadn’t been for that night, Ji Kai might never have realized the extent of his partner’s deceit.

He was exhausted and didn’t feel like engaging in pointless arguments. Perhaps the torment of the past few days had reached an overwhelming point, and he just felt incredibly tired.

“Can someone come and help me?” Ji Kai asked.

A group of friends eagerly rushed in. Ying Jian slapped the “evidence” he had prepared earlier onto Zhu Ling’s face. Zuo Yan helped complete the divorce agreement, and others assisted in finding household registration books and ID cards. They drove Zhu Ling to get their ID cards.

“Look for yourself! What’s wrong? The chat record of flirting with that other person is thicker than the minutes of the city government’s meetings. Have you forgotten?” one of them exclaimed. “You bought the ring, and it’s even engraved. Just let our Brother Kai go and live with that other person forever!”

Ji Kai leaned against the wall, feeling weak. He couldn’t understand what was happening to him. His heart raced, and his head spun. He realized he couldn’t be this fragile.

“Brother Kai, are you okay? Sit with me! Do you want some water?” one friend asked.

“Brother Kai, you must have been hit too hard,” another suggested.

Jiang Xiaobai chimed in, “Don’t talk nonsense. Brother Kai just didn’t eat!”

Ji Kai suddenly felt revived. Yes, he hadn’t eaten anything from yesterday morning until this afternoon. It was just barbecue and drinking. He realized that his exhaustion might have been due to hunger.

He needed to leave, and he needed to do it quickly. He had to go out for a meal with everyone.

The rest of the events passed quickly in Ji Kai’s memory. It was like a chaotic stage play, with Zhu Ling arguing, denying, and dealing with lawyers and the barbeque stall owner, who had become noisy. Ji Kai longed for a simple meal.

However, the refrigerator was empty, and he had to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau before they closed. Time was running out.

Looking back, when he used his last bit of strength to drag Zhu Ling out of the house, Ji Kai realized that he should have done that from the beginning. The man who had been crying and shouting in the room fell silent the moment he stepped outside into the sunshine.

Most celebrities, even when not at their best, might look unflattering in candid street photos. But not Zhu Ling. He was a master of image management, always stylish, even when taking out the trash.

As the first car arrived, he promptly hid inside, without needing any forceful persuasion.

So, idols carry a lot of weight, but sometimes, they have their advantages.

…

When the car reached the entrance of the community, the security barrier was lowered. Ying Jian, who was driving in the lead, repeatedly pressed the horn, but the security guard was too engrossed in an argument with someone at the guard post to notice.

Ji Kai opened the car door and noticed that the security guard was preoccupied with the discussion, and the person he was arguing with was tall, with long legs, and somewhat familiar.

“Uh, Mr. Li?”

“Ji Kai!” Mr. Li reacted as if Ji Kai were a long-lost relative. He hurried over, bringing Ji Kai in front of the security guard, and poked Ji Kai’s arm forcefully. “Did you see that? Did you see it? ‘Ji Kai,’ he’s Ji Kai! Do you dare to tell me now that he’s not your resident?”

Ji Kai winced from the poke, but he didn’t have the energy to get angry, especially when he was so famished. The security guard felt wronged and replied, “He? Why didn’t you just say you were visiting Zhu Ling?”

“Why should I go to that Zhu Ling? I’m here for him!” Ji Kai retorted weakly. “Mr. Li, what do you intend to do to me?”

Li Weidu chimed in, “The security in your community is actually quite good, and they do their job well. It’s not the owner’s fault for not letting me in, even if he gives him a tip. Would you like to request that the property management give him a raise? Compared to those in our villa area who take more money, he’s doing a much better job by not accepting anything.”

“Brother Kai!” Ying Jian rolled down the window and asked, “It’s almost five o’clock! The Civil Affairs Bureau is about to close. Can we still make it?”

At that moment, Ji Kai thought he saw a mischievous smile briefly cross Li Weidu’s face. However, it quickly disappeared, and Li Weidu returned to his usual cold, caring demeanor.

“Are you really getting a divorce?” Li Weidu asked knowingly.

Ji Kai was frustrated by the question. Why didn’t you call me if you didn’t want me to leave you? Everyone is ambushing me at the community gate, and you’re still pretending to be unaware.

“By the way, Mr. Li, how did you find my community?”

Li Weidu explained, “I called a car from City C and followed Zhu Ling’s car all the way here.”

Ji Kai couldn’t believe his ears. “What on earth do you want, Mr. Li? Are you planning to live-stream our breakup, and now you want to witness my divorce?”

Li Weidu replied with a mischievous smile, “Yeah.”

“What an eventful day! Can you please be considerate and not cause trouble for me today? How about I treat you to dinner another time?” Ji Kai proposed.

Li Weidu glanced at the three cars blocking the entrance and said, “Since there’s already a crowd watching, I won’t be too much, right?”

Zuo Yan, who was in one of the cars, suggested, “Ji Kai, get in the car with your friend and chat.”

Li Weidu agreed, “Let’s get in the car and chat.”

Ying Jian was going crazy. He didn’t know who the handsome man was, but Zhu Ling had gone berserk as soon as he spotted him. He was cursing and attempting to open the car door. Ying Jian let him do as he pleased because the car was old and almost scrap, and they wouldn’t release him until they safely reached the Civil Affairs Bureau.

However, the noise was unbearable. Ever since the handsome guy entered Zuo Yan’s car, Zhu Ling had been in a frenzied state.

The car played songs, and coincidentally or not, when Ji Kai entered, it was singing “Happy breakup, happy breakup, you can find someone better.”

Li Weidu couldn’t help but make a strange sound, and Ji Kai sighed.

Zuo Yan asked, “Who is this? Please introduce him.”

“It’s not important. I can’t seem to get rid of him. Just treat him as a hitchhiker.”

“A handsome hitchhiker?”

The car started moving, and Li Weidu made eye contact with Zhu Ling in another car through the window. Zhu Ling appeared fierce and hateful, but Li Weidu couldn’t help a slight smile. “You have your days too. It’s been just over three hours, and you already look so worn out. What’s got you so worked up?”

“Stop provoking him!” Ji Kai couldn’t bear it and slapped Li Weidu. Li Weidu turned to him with an innocent expression. “I didn’t do anything. By the way, are you hungry?”

Ji Kai was actually famished. He had lost his will to refuse food when he heard there was something to eat. He had planned to burst into tears but, upon inspection, found the rice ball had been bitten in half.

“I ate it, but the untouched half is fine if you’re not used to it,” Li Weidu explained.

Ji Kai, realizing his hunger outweighed his integrity, wrested the food from Li Weidu’s grasp and marveled at how delicious it was. He regretted not having dinner at Li Weidu’s house that night.

…

…

“I’ll be off work in twenty minutes. Is there anything else I can do? Don’t wait in line until it’s too late,” he suggested.

The car came to a stop in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau. Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, “Watch me!”

He got out of the car, pulled out an orange-red sign from his pocket, and hung it around his neck. He walked confidently through the main entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, as if he was afraid that no one would notice him. He even pretended to forget something.

Five imposing words gleamed on his chest: “Jiang Xiaobai, Discipline Inspection Commission.”

Indeed, these were badges for civil servants from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

In an outer office of the Civil Affairs Bureau, panic quickly spread as the news of their arrival circulated: “What’s happening? Why are the Discipline Inspection Commission inspectors here? Nobody informed us in advance!”

“Hurry, alert everyone in the group to stay on task during the last twenty minutes of work. Don’t leave your posts without permission!”

The divorce window on the second floor had been deserted for over an hour. The young clerk was idly browsing her phone. When she saw the alert, she immediately straightened up and prepared herself.

“Our Civil Affairs Bureau handles divorce based on mutual consent and no objections to the divorce content. If you’re still having second thoughts, perhaps you should reconsider…” Having worked at this window at such a young age, Ruhua had developed a mindset that had seen centuries of ups and downs.

The people coming for divorce each day brought a range of dramas – those who fought with each other, those who came in groups to argue, those who threw tantrums, and those who threatened to jump off the building. Fortunately, their window was on the second floor, or they might have lost their lives.

The reasons for divorce were equally diverse. It could be about money, an affair, issues with in-laws, or even more personal problems like frigidity. Some people even brought their young and beautiful mistresses to divorce their older spouses, only to get married immediately after. There was even a couple who didn’t want children and quarreled in front of their tearful kids.

Today, the couple in front of Ruhua… She didn’t know their story, but they seemed so well-matched.

Both were attractive. The man with diamond earrings, crying inconsolably, looked oddly familiar. It felt like she had seen him somewhere before. It seemed like he didn’t want to leave and had been forced to come here. He had been holding the pen for ten minutes and couldn’t bring himself to sign anything.

The beautiful man was in tears, making Ruhua feel genuinely sorry for him. The mature, stern man in a suit wasn’t moved at all. He just looked at the wall clock and said, “You’re getting off work in seven minutes. Are you going to make us divorced by then? That’s more than enough time, usually.”

“Yes! As long as you’re still here, I’ll make sure it’s done, definitely, definitely!”

Ji Kai apologized, “I’m sorry for keeping you from leaving work.”

The young clerk blushed.

Even though the man looked fierce, his voice was gentle and steady. Ruhua couldn’t help but wonder. She couldn’t understand. He seemed like the one who had done something wrong, but he cried so plaintively, so there must be a hidden story behind it. She felt so sorry for him.

“No!”

“Please, don’t take it away from me.”

The clerk was perplexed. She had just picked up the marriage certificate, and the man seemed to be treating it as if she were taking away his life.

“No, if you don’t take it away, it will be stamped and canceled! Don’t cry!”

“Then, can you not stamp it?”

The clerk felt torn. She was sympathetic but had to do her job, and that meant stamping the divorce certificate.

“Don’t be so sad,” she told the crying man when she returned. “Divorce isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There will surely be new happiness waiting for you in the future. After all, you both wanted to spend your lives together, but it didn’t work out. I hope you can both live apart and find happiness. Don’t hold grudges; be open-hearted and look back when time has passed. I hope you both can sincerely wish each other happiness.”

As she finished, she felt a bit of regret, fearing that she had said the wrong thing.

The man with diamond earrings cried even harder, and the other man’s eyes welled up too.

“Zhu Ling, I truly wish you a bright future.”

“Brother Kai…”

“I hope you lead a happy life, and I hope I never see you again.”

The clerk was taken aback. Was this a blessing or a psychological assault? After the man left, the one with diamond earrings continued crying, and the clerk felt like joining in.

Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, Ying Jian and Li Weidu were the only ones in the car.

“Come to think of it, you’re the boyfriend of the little goblin who called me, right? I apologize if I was disrespectful!”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Li Weidu corrected.

As for the others… they had all gone to a famous cake shop nearby to order a “divorce celebration” cake!

“You all collectively dislike Zhu Ling?”

“It’s complicated. When he wasn’t famous, we all got along well. But after he became famous, it’s, well… It’s hard to put into words. You could say it’s regrettable. He used to be really good to Brother Kai. But no matter how good he was before, cheating can’t be forgiven.”

Li Weidu: “I heard you’re all having dinner together tonight.”

“What are you planning?”

“Take me along.”

“That’s not a good idea!” Ying Jian said. “I don’t want to be blamed. I can’t enjoy myself if I bring a stranger and ruin the atmosphere. Well, Mr. Li, aren’t you a boss? My little kebab place, the atmosphere is a bit rough. To be honest, it’s not high-end dining. I can manage…”

Li Weidu offered, “I’m treating.”

Ying Jian said, “Perfect, let’s go!”

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