Chapter Five: Let's Get a Divorce

When the specialist emerged, Fang Zhiyin was staring blankly at a wall.

Never in her life had she imagined she would encounter such a thing... and the person involved was the man she had loved for so many years, the man she was now contemplating divorcing: Ouyang Junyan.

“Professor Chen.” The moment she saw the specialist, Fang Zhiyin hurried to meet him.

Professor Chen from the psychiatry department reported on Ouyang Junyan’s condition. “Mr. Ouyang’s physical health is excellent at present. However, he is experiencing partial memory loss and some cognitive impairment. There are mild symptoms of dissociative identity disorder, but in terms of behavior and manner, he appears no different from an ordinary person.”

A sinking feeling settled in Fang Zhiyin’s heart: Just as I suspected.

Sensing that she might not have fully understood, Professor Chen continued, “To put it simply, your husband has several additional personalities sharing his body. They may emerge at any time, alternating control and coexisting within him.”

Fang Zhiyin nodded in silence. “Is there any way to cure him? I’m willing to pay whatever it takes.” After a pause, she added, “Because of his status, he can’t be hospitalized.”

“I understand,” the professor replied. “I’ll prescribe some targeted medication. If he cooperates with the treatment and returns regularly for follow-up, there may be hope for a full recovery.”

May be...

“How long will it take?” she pressed.

“It’s hard to say. The shortest might be a few days, but it could also be... as long as ten years.” After a moment, the professor added, “At this stage, Mrs. Ouyang, your support and encouragement are crucial. You need to stay by his side and help him through this.”

Fang Zhiyin felt as if a bolt of lightning had exploded above her head.

Not long after, Ouyang Junyan also emerged. Fang Zhiyin had never seen him like this before: silent, yet dejected; his proud features now veiled with a chilling... despair. He must have heard what the professor had said.

The two of them left the hospital together, still without a word.

It wasn’t until they were seated in the car—when the driver asked if they wanted to go home or elsewhere—that Ouyang Junyan seemed to come to himself. “Take us to Victoria Restaurant,” he said.

At those words, Fang Zhiyin’s heart gave a jolt.

Victoria Restaurant... the very place where she had first met Ouyang Junyan!

On the ride there, both were silent. Fang Zhiyin supposed Ouyang Junyan must be hungry and wanted a meal; they could talk once they arrived.

Speaking of that restaurant, it was indeed where she had first encountered him. Years ago, she had fallen for Ouyang Junyan at first sight after reading about him in a news article. When she confided in her best friend, Lin Mi, Lin Mi had actually managed to arrange a meeting for them at that very restaurant.

For the following years, Fang Zhiyin had loved Ouyang Junyan, both openly and in secret, but her idol had remained unmoved.

It wasn’t until his business failed and his company went bankrupt that he asked her if she would marry him.

Ouyang Junyan was, in truth, a master of theatrics—he always played his part to the hilt. Only a year ago, in that same Victoria Restaurant, he had staged a romantic proposal for her.

The scene had unfolded like this—

Fang Zhiyin had been invited by him to dine at the restaurant. Yet, after waiting for a long time, there was no sign of Ouyang Junyan. Instead, friends they both knew—or people only she knew—kept arriving one after another, seating themselves around her as if she weren’t even there, ignoring all her questions.

She had found it exceedingly strange.

Suddenly, the mellow sound of piano music drifted from a corner of the restaurant. As soon as the music began, everyone was drawn toward it—there was a black piano tucked away in one corner, easy to overlook unless you looked closely.

Someone was seated at the piano, but due to the angle and distance, no one could see who it was.

Fang Zhiyin didn't think much of it, still preoccupied with the odd behavior of the guests—after all, many restaurants featured live piano or violin performances.

Just as she was about to get up and look for Ouyang Junyan, the pianist began to sing: “I’ve forgotten how it began / Perhaps it was just a certain feeling for you / Suddenly I realized / I’ve fallen deeply in love with you...”

Was that David Tao’s “Love Is So Simple”?

Fang Zhiyin was taken aback.

At that moment, the other diners in the restaurant turned in surprise.

A second later, she recognized the singer’s voice—it was Ouyang Junyan! Instantly, she stood up in excitement. At that moment, a friend sitting beside her tugged her down. “Don’t rush. Let’s just enjoy it.”

She looked down, bewildered, seeing a sly, satisfied smile at the corner of her friend’s lips. Glancing around, she saw similar smiles on the faces of the others.

So...

Ouyang Junyan had arranged all of this in advance?

Fang Zhiyin knew he could play music, but she had rarely seen him perform someone else’s love song in front of so many people. Yet his singing was beautiful—pleasant, magnetic, and deeply moving.

After a dozen seconds or so, he slowly stood up. Finishing the first verse, he walked toward her and the others.

In that moment, Fang Zhiyin was utterly stunned. She wanted to say something, but not a single word would come, not even a sound. The whole crowd was applauding, and her mind had gone completely blank...

She had never imagined Ouyang Junyan would arrange all of this for her.

But he didn’t love her...

Before long, Ouyang Junyan was standing before her, softly singing the final line. His eyes shone, gazing at her with deep emotion.

“Zhiyin,” he called her name gently, then looked around at everyone present before returning his gaze to her.

The next moment, with visible nervousness, he dropped to one knee, fumbling in his pocket for a long moment before producing a small ring box and opening it.

A delicate diamond ring glittered within.

For a moment, Fang Zhiyin was utterly dumbfounded... and while she stood there, dazed, the others broke out into even louder applause, some of the men clapping so hard it seemed they might injure their hands.

“Thank you for loving me all this time. Now, I ask you... will you marry me? Will you let me spend my life protecting you?”

Ouyang Junyan’s expression and voice were both calm as he spoke.

Though Fang Zhiyin was disappointed, she understood—he had already done so much for her; what more could she ask for?

Did she truly expect him to act as in a television drama, to move others and himself to tears?

Impossible.

Yet she was deeply touched nonetheless—for she truly loved him. Tears streaming down her face, she nodded emphatically and offered him her hand.

...

By the time her memories faded, the driver had already parked the car.

They had arrived at Victoria Restaurant.

Fang Zhiyin followed Ouyang Junyan out of the car, and together they rode the elevator up to the restaurant.

This place hadn’t changed a bit.

Ouyang Junyan remained as silent as ever. When the food arrived, he ate in silence. Fang Zhiyin, though she had little appetite, forced herself to eat, if only to lessen the awkwardness.

Just as she finished her meal and was about to speak, she suddenly heard Ouyang Junyan’s slightly hoarse voice:

“Let’s get a divorce.”