Chapter 280: Free From Now On

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Seeing that Mu Jingzhe had been reading the agreement with a smile on her face, Shao Qihai said helplessly, “Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem. That’s why I keep looking. Ah, that’s great.” Mu Jingzhe, who had secretly pinched herself and felt pain, bounced up and down. She couldn’t help but hug Shao Qihai. “Shao Qihai, you’re really a good person.”

They’d be raising the children together. Wonderful!

After signing the divorce agreement, they’d agreed in black and white that even if they didn’t go through with the divorce procedure for the time being, they wouldn’t have to worry when they did get a divorce in the future.

The divorce agreement had been discussed with Shao Qihai and the children and signed with the children as witnesses. It was impossible for Shao Qihai to go back on his word in the future.

Besides, she believed that Shao Qihai wouldn’t go back on his word. As far as this issue was concerned, she still believed in Shao Qihai. He would definitely keep his word.

Mu Jingzhe was overjoyed. Because she was so excited, she felt a little impulsive.

On the other hand, Shao Qihai was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t expected to be hugged by Mu Jingzhe. One had to know that he had never been treated this way before. At first, when he had come back, she’d kept trying to pile him and Bai Xue together.

The soft, fragrant smell left immediately, but it had already made Shao Qihai’s heart pound.

Mu Jingzhe was happy, and so were the five kids. All of them heaved a sigh of relief. They no longer had to worry about having to be separated from their mother after the divorce.

They could stay with Mommy forever!

Shao Xi and Shao Nan couldn’t help but hug each other. They only separated awkwardly when they realized what was going on. Shao Xi looked at Shao Qihai and secretly thought that although one could go back on a divorce agreement, he definitely wouldn’t allow his father to go back on his word!

Mu Jingzhe read the agreement again and told Shao Qihai seriously, “From this day onward, we’re considered divorced internally. Although we haven’t announced it to the public, you’ll be free in the future. My intentions are the same as yours. You can find someone you like yourself. You don’t have to feel like you’re letting me down. If you meet someone you like, we’ll immediately go and take care of the paperwork.

“Although we can’t be husband and wife, we can be family and friends. If you need anything in the future, come look for me. I’ll definitely help you.”

Shao Qihai froze when he heard that. This was different from what he had imagined. In his mind, even after signing the divorce agreement, they still wouldn’t be officially divorced and would continue to be related to each other. But did Mu Jingzhe think so?

He was about to say something when he saw Shao Dong nod. “Although I can’t bear to part with Mom and Dad, I still hope the two of you will be happy in the future.”

So Shao Dong and the others had the same intention?

That’s right. This was nothing but a divorce agreement. Didn’t signing it mean that it was all over?

Shao Qihai, who was stiff, didn’t say anything, but Mu Jingzhe heaved a sigh of relief and carefully put away the agreement. It was already past eight o’clock when the family ate.

Mu Jingzhe habitually picked up a few dishes for the children, ensuring that they were balanced nutrition-wise, and they weren’t picky about their food. As long as she picked the meal, they would eat it even if they didn’t like it that much.

Usually, Mu Jingzhe would stop after picking up some food for the children. However, when she glanced at Shao Qihai today, Mu Jingzhe thought for a moment and also picked up some food for him.

“Come on, have some meat.”

Mu Jingzhe’s actions made the children’s eyes dart over. Shao Qihai’s eyes finally lit up.

“Okay, thanks. I’ll eat. You eat too.”

Although he was only receiving this treatment after signing the divorce agreement and deciding to raise the children with her, Shao Qihai was still happy to see Mu Jingzhe’s attitude toward him change.

Perhaps, just like the children had said, this end wasn’t really the end but a new beginning.

With that thought in mind, after picking up some food for the children, Shao Qihai also tried picking up food for Mu Jingzhe.

He had tried it in the past, but Mu Jingzhe had always said that she would pick it herself and hadn’t accepted it. However, tonight, she accepted it and even thanked him.

Shao Qihai really felt that there were some changes.

That was the truth. Mu Jingzhe’s mentality had indeed changed a little. Her attitude and feelings toward Shao Qihai were actually different from before. She felt much more relaxed and was truly grateful to him.

After dinner, Shao Qihai started the big project of smoking mosquitoes, which he undertook every night. In the summer, there were many mosquitoes in the countryside. If one wasn’t careful, they would be bitten and the bite would hurt and itch.

Mu Jingzhe’s body was a little sensitive to mosquitoes. Every time she was stung, her skin would swell up for two to three days. It was painful and itchy, and the more she scratched, the worse it would get. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes liked to bite her, which resulted in bumps on her skin when she wasn’t careful.

Despite using cooling oil and florida water, which gave her an intense smell all over her body, Mu Jingzhe would still scratch sometimes.

Shao Qihai used Chinese mugwort1 in the boys’ room, then in Mu Jingzhe’s room. Only then did he do the same in his own room.

“Thank you.” Mu Jingzhe thanked him. Previously, when Shao Qihai and the others hadn’t been around, one night, she hadn’t smoked the room upon seeing that there weren’t any mosquitoes. In the end, two of them had slipped through the net and the bites had yet to subside on her arm.

“No need to thank me.” Shao Qihai shook his head. “Endure it. Don’t scratch your arm. The cooling oil will affect your sleep when it’s applied at night. It’s best not to apply it.”

“Okay…”

Mu Jingzhe had realized that Shao Qihai didn’t seem to like to talk to outsiders long ago, but at home, he actually nagged a little. Not only did he nag the children, but he would also nag her sometimes. His tone with her wasn’t much different from when he spoke to the kids.

That night, Mu Jingzhe slept very soundly, and so did the children.

Shao Xi and Shao Nan were tied up together for the night. The next day, when they went to school, they were still tied up. They only had a small conflict and didn’t harbor any deep hatred. After helping each other wash their feet once, they were fine. Furthermore, they had even completed a major mission together last night. They’d been fine long ago.

However, Mu Jingzhe still stuck to what she had said and didn’t untie them, hoping that they would remember this and know that if they quarreled in the future, what awaited them might involve helping each other wash their feet and being tied together.

Shao Dong and the rest all noticed the regret in Mu Jingzhe’s gaze. This regret stemmed from the fact that she hadn’t been given the chance to make them wear the same piece of clothing. If they dared to argue again, this move would definitely be forced on them.

No one wanted to try it, so the five children instantly became obedient. Forget about quarreling. Even if they spoke a little louder, they would lower their voices, afraid that Mu Jingzhe would get the wrong idea.

Of course, they also didn’t have the chance to quarrel because they were preparing for the final exam.

Mu Jingzhe fully supported the kids’ preparations for the final exam. When it was time for the official exam, she prepared fried dough sticks and eggs to wish them full marks in advance.

The five kids were focused on their final exam. After the exam, Shao Xi received more letters from the publishing house, including another one from Fang Yu.

When Fang Yu had read Shao Dong’s suggestion, she had really found the negatives. She said that she had wanted to develop a hundred photos, but her mother wouldn’t agree and had almost hit her a hundred times. Later on, she’d developed three copies for her.

Because the negatives had been preserved well, they could still be developed, but the effect wasn’t that good. However, Fang Yu was already very satisfied. In the end, for some reason, she sent Shao Xi one of the developed photos and told him to keep it.