Chapter 2

The next day, Jiang Tingzhou woke me from my sleep:

"Zhi Yuan, let's go get the divorce papers today."

I was taken aback but then nodded:

"Okay."

On the way, Jiang Tingzhou kept talking about his plans for our fourth anniversary:

"First, we'll visit the doctor for a follow-up.

The last time, the doctor said your condition has stabilized a lot. In a little while, you'll be back to normal."

"Then, I'll take you out for a walk. You haven't been anywhere these past few years due to your illness.

I still remember how you loved to run around when you were a child.

You said you wanted to travel the world when you grew up. Once you're better, shall we do that?"

He looked at me, but I didn't respond.

Jiang Tingzhou sighed:

"She's just an actress. How could I fall for her?

She's just so different. I'm only curious about when she'll finally lower her head."

"Don't worry. I promised to take care of you, and I will keep that promise."

I nodded, and Jiang Tingzhou, finding the conversation dull, drove in silence.

When we arrived, Jiang Tingzhou opened the car door and helped me unbuckle my seatbelt.

I followed him into the registry office, and everything went smoothly.

The staff asked some routine questions.

My autism made it difficult for me to express my emotions accurately, so I simply nodded along with Jiang Tingzhou.

"If you confirm, please sign here, and you can collect the divorce decree in a month."

Jiang Tingzhou happily accepted the receipt and immediately started texting.

The smile on his face made it obvious who he was messaging.

At the same time, my phone buzzed with a message:

"I've bought the ticket to return home. See you tomorrow."

I replied with a simple "okay" and left it at that.

That night, I rarely dreamed of my childhood.

As a child, Jiang Tingzhou used to stick close to me.

"Zhi Yuan, your eyes are so beautiful!"

"Zhi Yuan, will you play house with me? I'll be the prince, and you be the princess."

"Princesses are supposed to marry princes. When I grow up, I want to marry you."

Back then, I adored Jiang Tingzhou.

We went to school together, left school together, and even skipped classes to watch a popular music concert...

Until that day, amidst a pool of blood, I saw my parents and sister.

I stood there, frozen, losing all my senses in an instant.

My last memory was Jiang Tingzhou crying as he held me, asking me to come home with him.

He said:

"Brother's home is Zhi Yuan's home too. Don't be scared, dear friend. Brother is here with you."

From then on, I shut myself off from the world, refusing to speak to anyone.

Uncle and Aunt Jiang took me to countless hospitals, both in and out of the country.

Every doctor said I had been traumatized and was struggling with autism.

Mr. and Mrs. Jiang looked at me with eyes red from sorrow:

"Zhi Yuan, you're the only child your parents left behind.

You must take care of yourself."

The Xu and Jiang families had been close friends, so after my parents' accident, I was taken into the Jiang family.

Everyone in the Jiang family treated me well, and my childhood was saved from complete despair.

Back then, Jiang Tingzhou wasn't like this.

He would protect me. If anyone said something about me, he'd pounce on them like a little cat, ready to fight.

He would quietly accompany me, watching me play with my plants, never saying I was wasting time.

So, when he asked if I wanted to marry him, I nodded.

Mr. and Mrs. Jiang happily started preparing for our wedding.

As for me, I continued to tinker with my flowers and plants.

As my condition improved, I was able to express my emotions a little better, but I still didn't understand what marriage meant.

The doctor said marriage is when two people are together and never part.

I thought, if it's with Jiang Tingzhou, maybe it's not so bad.

Our wedding was grand, with all the prominent people in City A attending.

Jiang Tingzhou held my hand, accepting everyone's blessings.

That night, he held me in his arms and asked if he could kiss me.

I didn't understand why he wanted to kiss now; I was very sleepy.

But Jiang Tingzhou wanted a kiss, and I had never refused him before.

That day, I sat on his lap, and he kissed me gently.

He said we would be happy like this for a lifetime.

But just four years later, everything changed.

Jiang Tingzhou's parents passed away one after another, and I lost another set of loving parents.

During that time, I locked myself in the greenhouse, only opening the door when Jiang Tingzhou came home.

He held me and cried, begging me not to do this.

Later, the Jiang family's business grew even larger.

Jiang Tingzhou came home later and later.

Everyone in City A knew that Jiang Tingzhou's wife was struggling with autism.

So many people wanted to become the lady of the Jiang family.

Jiang Tingzhou dismissed them all, except for this one aspiring actress.

She didn't care about Jiang Tingzhou's money or any coercion.

She just wanted to stand by Jiang Tingzhou's side openly.

For a couple in love, that's the most normal thing.

But Jiang Tingzhou was already married.