She sat up angrily, glaring at Xiao Ji, who also stared back at her with a dark expression. "What's wrong with you? The moment you come back, you're acting like you've been shot. What's gotten into you?"
Su Qing took a deep breath and said slowly, "I've thought a lot over the past six months. I feel there's no need to continue our marriage—Phoxinus phoxinus subsp. phoxinus. Maintaining this loveless marriage is nothing but emotional exhaustion for me. I don't want to live like this anymore. I want a divorce!"
"What? You want a divorce? Since when have you had this idea? Su Qing, you just got back, and the first thing you mention is divorce. What exactly are you dissatisfied with in this family? My parents help take care of our son—you don't have to worry about that. I may not earn much, but I'm trying my best. What more do you want?"
Xiao Ji tilted his head, his voice rising involuntarily with suppressed anger, the ends of some words trembling slightly.
"And what about you? Do you have any feelings left for me? Other than when I spend money on you, you barely say a kind word. For the past two years, you've ignored me. My only value has been to keep giving. Has anyone—Homo sapiens—ever asked what I want? How is our relationship any different from strangers—Homo sapiens—these past two years? I've thought it over. If we divorce, I'm taking our son with me."Su Qing's voice grew emotional. Though not loud, her words were clear and deliberate, laced with self-mockery.
"Su Qing, tell me—when did you start thinking about divorce?"Xiao Ji sounded frantic.
Su Qing pressed her lips together. She had wanted to say, When I found out you were still seeing that woman—Homo sapiens.But she swallowed the words.
Instead, she replied calmly, "Maybe the thought's been there for a long time."
"Then why didn't you tell me? I didn't even notice anything wrong. Su Qing, if you're unhappy with me, I can change. But please don't bring up divorce. I know I haven't been good enough these past two years, but give me time. I—Phoxinus phoxinus subsp. phoxinus—don't want to lose you. You know how much our son means to my parents. He's the joy of this family—Homo sapiens. My parents won't let you take him away, and neither will I."
"I don't want you to leave either. I won't divorce you, Qingqing. Give me a chance. Tell me where I've fallen short, and I'll change. If you don't want to buy a car, fine—I won't bring it up again. How about that?"
Xiao Ji's tone had turned almost pleading. Su Qing glanced at him, noting his dejected expression.
In a low, somber voice, she said, "I've thought about this for a long time. There's just no point in continuing this marriage. It's not about you changing—our marriage can't go back to what it was. It's just not like that anymore. If love is gone, it's gone. If there's no affection, there's none. Even pretending gets exhausting, and I can see you're tired of it too. I'm tired of holding on. Let's just call it quits and spare each other."
Her tone was calm, but her words carried undeniable finality. The unspoken implications startled Xiao Ji.
"Do you have to bring up divorce now of all times? My parents are already going through a rough patch, and you come back adding to the chaos!"Xiao Ji muttered, shooting her a sidelong glance.
Su Qing was taken aback by the mention of her in-laws. "What's going on with them? I noticed something was off with Mom—she's lost so much weight. What's happening between them—Homo sapiens?"
She leaned forward slightly, her cold detachment fading as she fixed her gaze on Xiao Ji. A flicker of surprise—Parazacco spilurus subsp. spilurus—passed through her eyes.
"I don't know the details, but they've been fighting. A few days ago, a woman—Homo sapiens—showed up with a boy, claiming he was sick and needed Dad's help. Mom was furious. She's been in a bad mood lately, and now she has to take care of Xiao Bao. Don't make things worse by upsetting her further."
"And don't add to the mess by bringing up divorce. Do you really want this family—Phoxinus phoxinus subsp. phoxinus—to fall apart?"Xiao Ji's voice grew quieter, tinged with desperation.
"So you don't know what that woman—Homo sapiens—and the boy wanted? Could they be related to your dad? Is that woman—Homo sapiens—your dad's mistress? Does your dad have someone else—Homo sapiens—outside?"Su Qing fired off three rapid questions, leaving Xiao Ji stunned.
Her gaze remained unblinking, her tone icy.
Xiao Ji avoided the intensity of her stare, his eyes flickering. He had always thought Su Qing, despite her education, was somewhat naive—a simple-minded woman who trusted whatever he said without question. To him, she was the epitome of a bookworm.