Chapter 2

Yuan Ye had been a little rascal since birth, often causing trouble. He seemed to have naturally been born without rule-abiding bones, never allowing his family members to relax. His father, Yuan Anping, was a professor of the humanities: he was a researcher of ancient Chinese culture. Thus, for his entire life, he had been boring and disciplined. He often stated with an exasperated smile, “The only thing I’ve done in this lifetime that was out of line was giving birth to Yuan Ye.”

Yuan Ye and his father were completely different. He was too talented, and also extremely intelligent. In elementary school, he consecutively skipped three grades. He skipped a grade in middle school as well. Later on, because of a fight with someone in high school, he got held back a year after injuring the other person.

He was naughty, rebellious, and had a bad temper. As a consequence, he often caused trouble and was also a magnet for trouble. Though his parents would get angry at him for this, too, they ultimately indulged in him in their hearts. Which boy wasn’t naughty? Rascals were all like this – the really well behaved and really obedient ones didn’t act like boys.

When it came time for splitting classes in high school, his family wanted him to choose sciences. But Yuan Ye chose humanities of his own accord. After spending a year there, he then transferred to the sciences class. Two months later, he found it utterly boring, so returned to humanities. Even though his family wanted to control him, they couldn’t. He had too many ideas, to the point that there was no use in his family lecturing him because he wouldn’t listen anyways.

When Yuan Ye started university, he was three to four years younger than everyone else in his classes. Everyone else was eighteen or nineteen in their first year of university; Yuan Ye was only fifteen. He had already promised his parents he would apply for a management related major, but when it actually came time for filling out applications, he suddenly changed his mind and applied for a Chinese major. In his case, nothing seemed to follow protocol or progress normally. Regardless of the situation, he would definitely manage to come up with a bad idea eventually. His family had already gotten used to these habits. They knew this was his personality.

But eventually, when Yuan Ye was twenty, he suddenly came home and said that he was getting married.

It was summer. Yuan Ye thought that it was too hot, so shaved his head bald. He had only just grown out some stubble about the length of someone’s beard. At the time, he rubbed his hairless head and smiled a shameless smile. “Dad, Mom, I’m getting married.”

That day, Yuan Anping kicked Yuan Ye out of the house in anger.

His family had always treated his relationship with Fang Shaoyi as two boys playing around. They were waiting for him to announce their split someday. Before Yuan Ye had even graduated from his master’s program, he had gone home and told his parents that he was going to get married to Fang Shaoyi. His family was firmly against this, telling him it was impossible. Yuan Ye was only twenty, still an immature child. Getting married to someone who acted in movies? The entertainment industry was a giant mess. How could they let Yuan Ye marry someone who was part of that crowd?

They couldn’t officially get married at age twenty anyways. Two more years passed. The day after Yuan Ye’s twenty second birthday, he and Fang Shaoyi got their marriage certificates.

Only then did he head home and cheekily placate his parents.

At the time, his dad told him, “You aren’t taking yourself seriously enough. Sooner or later, you’ll feel regretful.”

Back then, Yuan Ye had been at that age where he wasn’t scared of or impressed by anything. He nodded and said, “If I end up regretful, I’ll take it. Life itself is a play. No matter how we live, it’s a play. I’ll act out my own play.”

That year, Yuan Ye also wrote a book. It was named《Stubborn》. When flipped open to the first page, there was only one sentence where the author’s introduction was——

, I was out. What’s wrong, door’s broken?”

“Not that I know of. I thought it was an outsider’s car just now and only realized it was yours after stepping out.” The security guard also didn’t know what was going on. He said, “Come on in first, Yuan ge. I’ll ask the property manager what’s going on later.”

Yuan Ye nodded, then told him, “No need. I bet the system’s been updated. I’ll head in first, but will probably still need you to help me open the gate when I leave.”

“No problem, Yuan ge. Come on in. Just give a honk when you’re heading out. I’ll be listening for it.”

Yuan Ye gently pressed his car horn in thanks after entering the gate. The little security guard waved from behind. Yuan Ye stared at him in the rearview mirror, then gently shook his head and laughed.

Did anything need to be asked? He and Fang Shaoyi had gotten divorced long ago. He had even moved out of this house already. There was no reason for him to return, so his license plate had probably been removed from the system. He had forgotten about this; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come today.

He hadn’t come solely for that small patch of grass, but also because there were a few cameras and lenses he had forgotten here. When he had left previously, he had been in a rush. There were several things he hadn’t had time to pack up, so had just left behind. He kept thinking that he would pick them up when he had the time, yet he had never come back.

But he ultimately needed to remove those things. After all, he couldn’t keep taking up space in someone else’s house.

First week’s update schedule is a mess hahaha Q_Q

DIVORCE is set to be updated 3x a week, normally on Sun, Mon, and Fri, but also maybe sporadically if anything comes up.

Also, just wanted to let you guys know that you can sponsor extra updates through my kofi~ It is currently an opportune time (for me heh) because everyone is staying at home and I happened to graduate before online classes started so am literally doing nothing at home but translating LOOOL

Stay safe everyone!!