Chapter 52: Divorce
tance from me anyway."Ming Zixi shot Li An an appraising glance. "Look at you! This little brat is just your average girl with one nose and two eyes, yet she has you so infatuated!"For once, Li An did...Chapter 52: Divorce
In the prosperous and wealthy city of G City, there were countless shiny high-rise buildings and luxurious large villas; however, there were also extensive areas of old-style residential districts with similar architectural styles—rough gray cement walls and densely packed doorways and windows.
The people living in such places were a mixed bag, and their social status was relatively low. Therefore, they spoke in vulgar terms, and when they quarreled, it was without restraint. If one family argued, the entire neighborhood would be disturbed.
Yan Luoxi grew up here, amidst this chaotic and crude environment, which is why later on, when she found herself in the Li family's paradise-like surroundings, facing the outstandingly handsome Li An, she always felt inferior and timid.
Essentially, Yan Luoxi had no childhood. As far as she could remember, her parents were constantly fighting, not just arguing but physically and verbally assaulting each other.
Her mother was named Xue Liping, a very attractive woman who initially worked in a textile factory. Later on, due to her lively personality, slick dealings, and good looks, she became an office clerk.
Her father, Yan Yongsheng, was a generous person with limited education but exceptional driving skills. He had the fortune of working as a driver for the city’s largest commercial group and enjoyed drinking small amounts of alcohol after work.
However, these two seemingly normal individuals would become extraordinarily irritable when they saw each other, followed by shouting matches where their faces contorted with rage, culminating in violent confrontations that left their home a mess. It was as if they had been enemies in another life and were destined to fight each other in this one.
In this old building with extremely poor sound insulation, any movement in one household is known throughout the entire building. Especially for a family like hers where physical altercations were commonplace, her parents gradually developed the habit of fighting as if no one else was around.
The residents here weren't particularly wealthy or influential but tended to be rather simple and kind-hearted. Whenever they heard another argument at the Yans', they would automatically come over and take the trembling little Luoxi with wide, frightened eyes back to their own homes.
Luoxi looked like her mother and was cute enough from a young age to qualify as beautiful and adorable. Moreover, having been through many battles, she behaved much more well-mannered and quiet than most children her age. Everyone in the building liked her; they all looked at her with sympathy and compassion.
In everyone's eyes, Luoxi's fate was tragic, but she didn't feel particularly unlucky herself. Although her parents always argued whenever they met, they hadn't divorced yet and still loved her very much. She thought she was far happier than Xiao Shuang whose parents had separated in kindergarten.
Although Luoxi believed herself to be quite happy, she often needed to seek refuge at the homes of her neighbors. Her favorite place to go was Aunt Liu's house downstairs because there were no men living with Aunt Liu; only she and a young man lived together. Therefore, it was absolutely safe from any conflict.
Aunt Liu wasn't as pretty as Luoxi's mother, but she always spoke in soft tones and treated Luoxi very well. Aunt Liu’s home was clean and bright with the scent of food lingering in the air.
Whenever Luoxi went there, she would be treated just like Aunt Liu's son Zhou Guangtao: they each had a small bowl filled with dishes from the meal, after which they would sit at the desk to do their homework together.
The desk lamp emitted soft orange light. Little Guangtao, who was in his first year of elementary school and wearing pristine white uniform collar perfectly straightened, looked very serious as he bent over his homework. With a high nose bridge and thick eyelashes, the warm light made him look even more handsome.
Aunt Liu was peeling an apple for them while helping with their homework. Yan Luoxi, who is three years younger than Zhou Guangtao and still in kindergarten, usually didn't have much homework to do. However, at this time every day, she would sit quietly beside Zhou Guangtao, staring at the 'three stripes' on his arm with great admiration.
Zhou Guangtao wasn't particularly enthusiastic nor cold towards this young guest who came from home; he politely shared half of his food and playthings with Yan Luoxi.
Yan Luoxi was seven years old when her parents divorced. At that age, a child could already remember many things.
The cause of the trouble stemmed from Yan Yongsheng's disdain for Xu Liping's flashy attire and his numerous angry outbursts calling her a "harlot." In return, Xu Liping looked at him with increasing contempt, using her sharp tongue to highlight all his flaws.
Yan Yongsheng started drinking more heavily. Excessive drinking isn't a good sign; when drunk, one loses control over their behavior and thoughts, inciting others to act recklessly, leading them to verbally abuse or physically assault those around them with great destructive force.
In one drunken episode, Yan Luoxi's father became enraged, his eyes bloodshot as he fiercely assaulted Xu Liping and the middle-aged man who had dropped her off. The two were beaten until they bled from their noses and mouths, ending up in hospital for over a month.
On a bright and sunny morning, Yan Luoxi was ruled by the court to live with her father. Yan Yongsheng pointed at Xu Liping and the man beside her, threatening savagely: "If you dare come back to see the child again, I'll kill both of you."
When Xu Liping left, she hugged Yan Luoxi tightly and wept loudly. For a long time afterward, that heart-rending cry echoed in Yan Luoxi's ears like the desperate wailing of an animal.
It was only many years later that Yan Luoxi learned why her mother feared those words from her father so much, because the boss behind her father was too formidable and would definitely instill fear and nightmares in countless people.
"Baby, Mom will come back to see you in a few days. You stay at home with Dad and be good," Xue Liping choked out before tightly hugging her daughter one last time, hurriedly passing her over to Yan Yongsheng, and turning around to rush towards the car parked by the roadside, tears streaming down her face.
When she heard that her mother was leaving, at first, Yan Luoxi didn’t react. It wasn’t until she saw her mother leave with another man, abandoning her, that she panicked and became afraid. She loved both of her parents very much; although they engaged in violent conflicts every day, just like all children instinctively love their parents, she couldn’t bear to be separated from them, especially not her mother.
"Mom! Mom!" Yan Luoxi screamed shrilly while struggling anxiously in Yan Yongsheng’s arms, her voice filled with sobs.
Seeing his weeping and screaming daughter squirming around in his arms, the tough Yan Yongsheng felt a stab of pain in his heart. Clenching his teeth, he ran back home with his daughter.
Yan Luoxi’s crying grew louder, her sorrowful cries lingering throughout the hallway.
"Luoxi, stop crying," a clear and warm voice sounded behind her, "come play at my house! I bought a new set of painting brushes today. I’ll give them to you!"dy went limp, throat parched. She thought it was all about to end, only to be surprised when Li An, seemingly fueled by some kind of stimulant, struck again before she could catch her breath.Lying ove...