Both Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian gaped at this stranger and his son.
The man chuckled and said, "Of course it will be on papers only. We can restrict the time to a year. Until then, we should be able to enroll our children in other schools. Once we go through an amicable divorce, we shall part ways and not disturb each other's lives in the future. Doesn't that sound good?"
Fang Ruoye squeezed out a smile in response.
"That sounds like a smart move, indeed, but I have just gone through a painful divorce. I really don't want to jump into another marriage, fake or not. I am sorry."
The man nodded in understanding.
"I only suggest it for the children's sake. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not a total creep."
He said that because Luo Xianxian gave him a look that suggested that, in her opinion, the man was truly a total creep. Just who the hell did he think he was? Did he think he could just walk in front of Fang Ruoye and snatch this beauty to take home as a wife?
Presumptuous!
Indecent!
Fang Ruoye laughed.
"I appreciate the offer. Thank you, nevertheless."
The man nodded in understanding, but he still took out a name card from his pocket and extended it toward Fang Ruoye.
"If ever you have a change of mind, please do not hesitate to contact me."
"Thank you."
Fang Ruoye took the name card, and the man left with his son.
Written on the card was the name "Bai Liuxian, MD". Underneath, his job was written down in cursive font, "Internal Medicine, Pediatrics & Allergy/Immunology".
"So he's a doctor," Fang Ruoye mumbled in a low voice. "And with triple certification, too. He doesn't look that old, but he's probably quite old."
"Mommy, what does paydeeatrics mean?" Luo Xianxian asked, rubbing her head against Fang Ruoye's arm affectionately.
Fang Ruoye smiled and picked her daughter into her arms.
"It's pediatrics. It is..."
Rather than tell her daughter the bad news that she might have to wait another year before she could attend elementary school, Fang Ruoye chose to find a solution. Something better than marrying a total stranger, of course.
She went back to Jiang Wei's penthouse and searched the entire country for an elementary school that would take Luo Xianxian.
Unfortunately, seeing that the initial assessment for most schools had already concluded, all those elementary schools refused Luo Xianxian.
"Oh, what to do, what to do," she mumbled to herself. Just then, the driver turned around and kindly reminded her of her lunch date with Jiang Cheng.
"Right."
Fang Ruoye shared the location of the restaurant that Jiang Cheng chose for lunch.
"Kindly take us to this restaurant, thank you."
Jiang Cheng did not order a table, but a private dining chamber for the three of them.
When Fang Ruoye arrived, he was already sitting at a table, flipping through the menu callously while engaging in a seemingly important conversation.
"Yes, I found out by chance," he told the person on the other line.
"There is no need to thank me. It was what I had to do."
When he heard the door open, Jiang Cheng ended the conversation in a hurry.
"Let us talk later. I shall file the lawsuit in two days after my junior attorneys finish reviewing the documents. Yes, thank you."
Jiang Cheng put down the phone and beamed at Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian.
"Brother Cheng, you look so busy. You shouldn't have forced yourself to spare us some time during your busy schedule."
"Nonsense," Jiang Cheng snapped. "What can be more important than my adorable cousin and my cute niece?"
"Uncle Jiang Cheng is the best," Luo Xianxian cooed. Never mind that she said that to every single one of the Jiang brothers on various occasions.
"I saw the picture you posted online," Jiang Cheng told Fang Ruoye. "How are you enjoying your first day of freedom?"
"I cannot be happier," Fang Ruoye said. "It feels like walking on cloud nine, after everything I went through at the Luo house."
Jiang Cheng's face turned grim.
His private investigator updated him on Fang Ruoye's marital situation regularly, so he even knew the exact moment Luo Yanming began cheating on his wife. Fang Ruoye found out not long after, but she still tried her hardest to mend her broken marriage.
Until she could not anymore.
"Ruoye, let us take care of you," Jiang Cheng softly said. "From now on, whenever you encounter any difficulties, you just need to talk to one of us, or all three of us. There is nothing we cannot do for you."
Tears sprang up in Fang Ruoye's eyes, not out of sadness but overwhelming gratitude.
"Thank you, Brother Cheng," she choked out. "When the three of you appeared in front of me last night, I... I was just so relieved. And happy."
Jiang Cheng smiled.
"You are more than welcome. Now..."
Jiang Cheng pushed the menu books toward Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian.
"We should not talk on an empty stomach. Order whatever you like. If you do not order enough, I am going to take you shopping next. I can't believe that you only brought two suitcases out of that house."
Fang Ruoye struggled to stifle her laughter.
"Brother Cheng, I am a guest in Brother Wei's house. Do you expect me to fill up his wardrobe with our stuff?"
Jiang Cheng shrugged.
"I can buy Brother Wei another wardrobe if he needs one."
"..."
Thinking back to last night, when each brother showed up with their prized cars and fought over which car Fang Ruoye and Luo Xianxian should take, Fang Ruoye couldn't help but burst into laughter.
If she said that she could use another wardrobe, the three brothers might see it as another opportunity to show off! Imagine the ruckus they might cause.
After the dishes arrived, they filled their plates and chatted about Fang Ruoye's future plans.
Luo Xianxian, surrounded by a sea of good food, did not bother to pay attention to the adults.
"What are you going to do next, Ruoye?" Jiang Cheng asked while putting a piece of abalone into Fang Ruoye's bowl.
"First of all, I need to find an elementary school for Xianxian. Blooming Peony Elementary School turned us away, and I do not want to wait another year."
Jiang Cheng widened his eyes in disbelief.
"They did what...???"