Chapter 2: Five Years of Marriage, and You Haven't Earned a Single Penny
“Everything above is done in accordance with the law.” Jiang Ruan did not take advantage of him. “As for the child, you are of questionable character, and I cannot let him live with you.”
"We've been married for five years, and you haven't earned a single penny," Huo Zhizhou said coldly. "Why should I share half of my earnings with you?"
“I take care of you and Sui Sui’s daily life,” Jiang Ruan said.
Huo Zhizhou looked at her coldly: "And then?"
Then?
Jiang Ruan acted as if she was meeting him for the first time.
"If you're thinking of using your marital assets to pay for your mother's exorbitant medical bills, I advise you to abandon that idea now." Huo Zhizhou threw the divorce agreement on the coffee table.
Jiang Ruan stared at him: "What do you mean?"
“There is no marital property,” Huo Zhizhou answered her question. “If you don’t believe me, you can file for divorce and request the court to investigate.”
Jiang Ruan was taken aback.
After a brief two-second pause, she understood everything.
From the first time she noticed and questioned him until he voluntarily admitted to having an affair, he had already transferred all of their marital assets.
She commented on how obvious the lipstick mark was on the shirt collar.
And given his usual caution and aversion to having his photos leaked, how could he allow his photos with Su Anran to be exposed by major media outlets?
I see.
He was just waiting for her to find out and ask him, so he could then legitimately bring up the idea of keeping the wife at home while having affairs on the side.
Huo Zhizhou.
You're really something.
"No need." Jiang Ruan understood, knowing that Huo Zhizhou was meticulous in his work, leaving no room for error. "Sign it, I only want the child."
Huo Zhizhou signed it.
His handwriting is as beautiful as he is.
But now, Jiang Ruan only felt nauseous.
The next morning.
Jiang Ruan went to the Civil Affairs Bureau with him to submit a divorce application. Throughout the process, he did not try to stop her, nor did he feel guilty. He was just as calm and uneventful as usual.
Jiang Ruan glanced at him as she signed.
I can't help but wonder how he managed to treat her so well for so many years without loving her.
What does their relationship even mean?
"Your divorce application has been accepted. There is a one-month cooling-off period. Within thirty days from May 13th, either party who does not wish to divorce can come here to withdraw the application." The staff handed them the divorce receipt. "Between June 13th and July 12th, you can come to collect your divorce certificate with valid documents. Failure to apply will be considered a withdrawal of the divorce registration application."
The two accepted them, one for each of them.
When leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Jiang Ruan did not go home with him, but went to find her best friend Su Zhu.
This is such a big deal, she needs to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone.
When she arrived at Su Zhu's house, Su Zhu had just gotten up. Noticing that she was in a bad mood, Su Zhu asked with concern, "Why do you look so down? Did something upset you?"
"I'm divorced from Huo Zhizhou," Jiang Ruan said calmly, but her heart was breaking.
Someone I truly loved.
How could I not feel bad?
Su Zhu: "???"
Su Zhu didn't believe it at all: "Don't be like that. Everyone knows that Huo Zhizhou dotes on you like the apple of his eye. He treats you like a precious gem, afraid that you'll melt in his mouth or break in his hands. Even if everyone in the world gets divorced, he, being a henpecked husband, wouldn't allow you to divorce him."
“It’s true.” Jiang Ruan said seriously.
Seeing her like this, Su Zhu knew she wasn't joking, and quickly pressed for details.
Jiang Ruan also said so.
Upon learning the reason for their divorce, Su Zhu, who was already short-tempered, was furious: "Damn it! Huo Zhizhou is a real scoundrel, how could he make such a shameless request!"
"Does he know about your relationship with Su Anran?" Su Zhu asked.
"I know." Huo Zhizhou had already investigated Jiang Ruan's interpersonal relationships.
"He knows and he still brings it up? Is he out of his mind?!" Su Zhu got angrier and angrier, so she grabbed her hand and stood up. "Come on, let's go beat him up! I can't swallow this anger without giving him a good beating."
"Can you get close to him?" Jiang Ruan offered a gentle reminder.
Su Zhu: "..."
It's not a good thing for a man to be too powerful.
"Are you sure he doesn't have any marital assets?" After a brief silence, Su Zhu thought about it seriously. "Could it be that he's deliberately saying that to lie to you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore." Jiang Ruan saw it clearly.
Su Zhu looked completely puzzled: "How can it not be important?!"
“Even if I did, so what? Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t let me get a single thing,” Jiang Ruan said truthfully. “Not to mention, it’s difficult to collect evidence for a divorce lawsuit. Even if you do collect it, most of it is corroborating evidence and cannot be used as direct evidence.”
Filing for divorce sounds easy, but it's actually very difficult, especially when the person you're divorcing is someone like Huo Zhizhou.
He was meticulous in his work and would never let her find out the money he spent on Su Anran, nor would he let her find evidence that he and Su Anran were living together as husband and wife.
All she could do was take her child and leave this person whose values were completely shattered.
"If you ask me, you shouldn't leave. Just stay in your position as the rightful wife!" Su Zhu felt more and more that Huo Zhizhou was a scoundrel. "Spend his money as much as you want and let Su Anran be a mistress who can't see the light of day for the rest of her life."
"Isn't this exactly what he wanted?" Jiang Ruan was very clear-headed.
Su Zhu paused.
After realizing that this was indeed the case, I was almost furious.
She had previously thought Huo Zhizhou was an exceptionally good man, a rare find in this industry!
"So what are you planning to do next?" Su Zhu couldn't swallow her anger. "We can't just let that scumbag and bitch live like gods, can we?"
"Let's move first." Jiang Ruan had been thinking about these things since she finished crying last night. "After we settle down, we'll find a job."
“It’s not like you cheated on me, why are you moving?” Su Zhu disagreed with this idea. “You can live there with Sui Sui. I’d like to see if he dares to kick you out.”
“He won’t personally drive me away, but he’ll find a way to force me to leave.” Jiang Ruan got to know Huo Zhizhou all over again after what happened last night.
"What a jerk!" Su Zhu's anger hadn't subsided. "I used to think he was the best man in the world."
Jiang Ruan pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.
Before this incident, she had thought that Huo Zhizhou was the light that pulled her out of the mire of her father.
Only now do I realize that he is another abyss.
A man absconded with the money, abandoning the mother and daughter.
One man transferred assets during the marriage and demanded that she accept the existence of another woman.
These two closest relatives.
They are remarkably similar.
Su Zhu was still thinking about how to secure the best possible benefits for her sisters when Jiang Ruan's phone rang.
Seeing that it was a call from the hospital, Jiang Ruan answered immediately.
"Ms. Jiang, Mr. Huo has suspended your mother's medical expenses for next month and beyond," the doctor said. "Would it be convenient for you to come over now to discuss the follow-up treatment plan?"
"I'm coming right away." Jiang Ruan didn't think much of it.
After hanging up the phone, I told Su Zhu that I had something to do and then got up to go to the hospital.
Huo Zhizhou was also waiting for her in the office with the doctor.
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