Chapter 20: I Like Him, So I'll Marry Him...
After Mao Lan calmed down a bit, Xie Tang steered the conversation back to the core of the case: "Let's get back to the point. Regarding these 70 million+ stock options, the law needs to clarify their ownership. Do they belong to your ex-husband, or the one you mentioned...?"
“The nominee,” Mao Lan added through gritted teeth, “that shameless nominee!”
Li Zan secretly admired Xie Tang's ability to control the situation and guide the conversation.
Xie Tang handed over the printed legal analysis report: "Attribution is key. We will apply to the court for an investigation order to obtain relevant evidence from the company involved."
Mao Lan immediately became agitated: "Yes! The court should investigate! That company, to protect him, had that woman commit perjury in court..."
“As long as new evidence can prove that the options belong to your ex-husband and were exercised during the marriage,” Xie Tang said while analyzing, “the chances of us applying for a retrial and striving for a reversal of the judgment are very high.”
Mao Lan flipped through the detailed and comprehensive analysis report in her hand, and for the first time, her eyes showed admiration: "Attorney Xie, I didn't expect you to analyze my case so thoroughly. To be honest, you are the second lawyer I have ever met... who is so humane."
Xie Tang rarely joked like this: "The first one is my teacher?"
"Yes." A hint of shame flashed across Mao Lan's face. "If I had thought of Li Qing earlier, the case might have been closed much sooner."
Xie Tang said seriously, "This report is a draft. I will confirm it with you after it is improved. If there are no problems, we will start preparing the application materials for re-examination."
“Okay!” Mao Lan stood up and extended her hand. “I’ll leave my case to you. Winning or losing is secondary. I’ll feel better if I can drag this out for a few more years! Of course, it would be even better if I could get back what I’m owed.”
Xie Tang stood up and took her hand: "We will do our best."
"Um..." Mao Lan seemed to want to make up for her previous arrogance and took the initiative to invite you, "It's almost lunchtime, shall I treat you to a meal?"
Xie Tang couldn't bear to refuse her kindness.
However, Xie Tang secretly paid the bill for that lavish lunch halfway through.
After seeing Mao Lan off, Xie Tang did not immediately return to the law firm.
She turned to Li Zan: "Are you free? Come with me to look at cars?"
Li Zan immediately agreed, having long harbored some complaints about her old, secondhand car, and enthusiastically recommended several models suitable for women.
In the end, Xie Tang took delivery of a Mercedes-Benz GLB worth 300,000 yuan in full.
As she started the new car, a thought flashed through her mind: she hoped Chu Song wouldn't think this car wasn't good enough to fit in his garage.
After having dinner with Xie Shuang at the hospital, Xie Tang drove his new car back to Chu Song's villa.
Chu Song had already left work early and was sitting alone at the dining table eating, dressed in comfortable home clothes.
Three dishes and a soup, simple yet exquisite.
Aunt Yu asked Xie Tang with concern if she wanted to eat more, while giving her a meaningful look.
Xie Tang understood immediately and, not wanting Chu Song to eat alone, said, "Have some soup."
"I'll serve you some right away!" Aunt Yu said with a smile, turning around to get the bowl and chopsticks.
Xie Tang sat down opposite him.
Chu Song's dining posture was as refined and elegant as ever, with every bite showing respect for the food.
Xie Tang's gaze lingered on him unconsciously.
Chu Song looked up: "Is there something you need?"
She shook her head slightly, a little embarrassed. It was nothing; she was just engrossed in what she was watching.
"Are you free tonight?" he asked.
"Yes..." Xie Tang originally wanted to be a couch potato, but if Chu Song invited her, she would go no matter how tired she was.
"I'm taking you to meet my friend." Chu Song's gaze swept over her business attire. "No need to be so formal. Tong Lan's custom-made clothes are in your room, change into something."
His tone was filled with unquestionable consideration.
"good."
——————
In the darkness of night, Chu Song's car drove into his friend Tang Yunsong's villa.
Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Tang Yunsong had already warmly come forward and opened the car door.
The moment he saw Xie Tang get out of the car, his eyes widened: "Me... sister-in-law? You're so beautiful!"
Xie Tang smiled faintly, accepting the straightforward praise with equanimity.
Chu Song got out of the car from the other side, and Tang Yunsong teased, "Ah Song, if I didn't know you brought your wife, I would have thought you..."
“This is my wife, Xie Tang,” Chu Song interrupted him, introducing her directly, “the eldest daughter of the Qin family.”
"Xie Tang? Not surnamed Qin?" Tang Yunsong was stunned for a few seconds.
"She took her mother's surname," Xie Tang explained.
"Oh... hello hello!" Tang Yunsong smiled awkwardly and quickly shook hands. "My name is Tang Yunsong, and I'm A-Song's childhood friend. Please come in, everyone's here."
Stepping into the brightly lit hall, Xie Tang realized that this was not a small gathering, but a cocktail party for a dozen or so people.
A glance swept across the room. Qin Wu was surrounded by several well-dressed girls, while Shen Yuan sat alone on the sofa in the corner, her eyes fixed on Chu Song ever since he entered.
What made her heart clench most was the icy, piercing gaze from the corner—Gu Chang.
When did he get back?
Why do you see her that way?
Xie Tang suppressed her unease and smiled and nodded at him.
Gu Chang did not respond, his lips were tightly pursed, and he exuded a chilling aura that kept people at a distance.
She had never seen him so cold towards her.
Chu Song had already noticed the gaze filled with murderous hatred from the corner, just as he took Xie Tang's hand to introduce them.
He subtly pulled Xie Tang half a step behind him, his gaze falling on Gu Chang.
Gu Chang looked back at him without flinching, his eyes dark and gloomy.
Chu Song maintained a perfect smile as he introduced Xie Tang to the wealthy young men present: "This is my wife."
His voice was steady and powerful, and he tightened his grip on Xie Tang's hand slightly.
The word "wife" struck Gu Chang like a heavy hammer, instantly turning his face pale. Pain and hatred surged in his eyes as he stared intently at their clasped hands.
When did the person he likes become his sister-in-law?
The girls around Qin Wu stared at Xie Tang with undisguised hostility, as if she were some kind of enemy.
"Finally, I've seen the true face of the Second Young Mistress of Chu," Dou Xiao said, crossing his legs and scanning her up and down with a blatant gaze. "Tsk, she's not bad looking."
Xie Tang suppressed her displeasure at being scrutinized and simply nodded.
Fearing that Chu Song would be displeased, Tang Yunsong quickly smoothed things over, inviting the men to go and taste the wine, leaving the women in the living room.
Chu Song looked at Xie Tang with concern: "Can you handle it? If not, we'll leave."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of several women who had their ears perked up.
Xie Tang didn't want to show weakness, so she responded with a relaxed smile: "It's okay, you can go ahead."
Qin Wu walked over with a glass of red wine, her smile gentle and polite, but deep in her eyes was an undisguised weariness and...fear?
The other women, like sharks smelling blood, immediately swarmed around, chattering amongst themselves:
"Miss Xie, who is older, you or A-Wu?"
"Why have I never seen you at the Qin family's residence before?"
"I heard you've always used your mother's surname? Does the Qin family agree to that?"
The questions became increasingly direct, tinged with probing and a hint of malice.
Xie Tang maintained his politeness and answered concisely and flawlessly: "I am a little older than Qin Wu."
"We didn't live at the Qin family's house before."
"Taking one's mother's surname is a personal choice."
Her gaze calmly swept over the questioner, finally settling on Qin Wu's face.
Qin Wu's fingers tightened suddenly as she held the wine glass, almost hastily avoiding Xie Tang's gaze, and said in a low voice, "Excuse me, I... excuse me for a moment."
He turned around hastily, his back view showing a hint of dishevelment, and disappeared through the side door leading to the terrace.
Xie Tang looked at the closed door, feeling no sense of victory, but rather a complex and indescribable feeling.
-----------------
In the garden, the moonlight was like a veil.
Xie Tang poured the red wine into the flowerbed, walked to the corner and sat down at the white wrought iron table and chairs, wanting to get some fresh air.
A tall shadow suddenly loomed over the area.
Gu Chang held a cup in one hand and slammed the other hand heavily on the table, looking down at her with eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
"When did you get back?" Xie Tang looked up and broke the silence.
“This morning.” Gu Chang’s voice was cold and hard as he turned and sat down next to her.
The cup reflected her beautiful yet resilient profile, hazy like the misty rain of Jiangnan.
"I heard my cousin was going to introduce his wife to his friends, so I came." He paused, then forced a smile that was more like a grimace, his eyes full of sarcasm. "I never expected you to be the daughter of the Qin family, and that you would agree to this marriage!"
He closed in an inch, his tall figure exuding a powerful sense of oppression, almost engulfing Xie Tang. "Why?"
Xie Tang didn't say anything.
"Tell me why, Xie Tang!"
The smell of alcohol mixed with his unique, chilling aura wafted over you.
Xie Tang pressed his back against the cold wrought iron railing and asked blankly, "Why are there so many questions?"
Gu Chang, who had been suppressing her emotions all night, was on the verge of collapse. She almost roared, "Why did you marry someone you don't love at all! Are you trying to fill the hole in the Qin family with your marriage? Or is it for money? For status and position?"
Xie Tang's heart clenched painfully, stung by the sharpness and misunderstanding in his words.
Looking at the face before her, etched with pain and anger, she recalled many memories of the past, of the support and understanding that only they knew of each other.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging bitterness and the urge to defend herself, and said, "Gu Chang, no... nothing like what you're thinking."
She paused, then said calmly, "I like him, so I'll marry him. It's that simple."
"You like him?"
Gu Chang felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. His pupils contracted sharply, followed by an even deeper pain that almost tore him apart.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away; the color drained from his face, leaving only ashen skin.
“Heh…I like him…” he murmured repeatedly, his gaze fixed on Xie Tang’s eyes, trying to find a trace of wavering or a lie in that calm lake.
Xie Tang looked back at him calmly, but deep in her eyes lay an unspeakable emotion that only she could understand.
Finally, the turbulent waves in Gu Chang's eyes slowly subsided, leaving only a stagnant emptiness and coldness.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, like a self-mockery, or perhaps a complete surrender.
"Good...very good." He stopped looking at Xie Tang, slumped back into his chair, as if his soul had been ripped away.
Xie Tang's throat tightened, and the pleasantries and questions he had anticipated could no longer be uttered.
She knew that staying there would only make things more awkward for both of them.
She composed herself, rose, and left the oppressive garden, leaving behind her lonely, desperate figure, along with the unfinished past, in the cold moonlight.
A note from the author:
----------------------
La la la, a belated update~
Thank you to all the lovely readers who have stuck with this series! This concludes the free chapter update. I checked and the full subscription fee is only five yuan. If you enjoy this work, see you in the next chapter! Please continue to support me and my work. Every subscription and comment is a motivation for me to keep going. I also hope you can forgive any shortcomings in my writing so I can improve. Love you all, muah!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com