Chapter 1
The moment Tang Chengting's divorce agreement arrived at Chen Huanong's office, a ripple finally appeared in the half-dark eyes of Attorney Chen, who hadn't seen a ripple in years. The young assistant didn't dare breathe, fearing that the anger would affect her. Although she was also responsible for this incident, since she took on the position of Chen Huanong's assistant, she had opened all the documents that came by courier, which was also Chen Huanong's request. Most of the documents were sent by the court or the parties involved. In order to prevent important documents from being processed in time, they were usually opened on the spot. Who could have thought that today would be a bad day and she would detonate a bomb for herself?
The five bold black characters on the divorce agreement were so eye-catching. Tang Chengting had made it known to everyone this time. He was not such a high-profile person. When they got married, few people knew about it except the relatives on both sides. Now that they were divorced, they made such a fuss. How could Chen Huanong not understand his ruthlessness?
"Are you ready to defend yourself?" The intern who had just been there for three months had no idea who Tang Chengting was. She thought it was just another complaint sent by some party, and she was eager to try. Other people who knew the inside story wanted to knock her out and take her away immediately, and the assistant's eyes were almost sore from blinking.
The only calm party tapped the table a dozen times and said, "Qin Huai, take the intern and take over this case."
Qin Huai's legs weakened when he was called out, and if it weren't for the presence of his juniors, he would have really hugged Chen Huanong's thighs and cried loudly, "How about you find someone else?"
"What? You don't want such a big piece of fat meat? The target amount for property division can be very tempting."
Qin Huai broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to himself, "How dare I take a bite of this piece of fat meat of yours? I'm afraid I'll choke to death." But when the words came to his mouth, he said, "I'm afraid I'm not capable enough and will delay things."
"What are you afraid of? I've got your back. You're just going through the motions. Do you think I'll have to defend my own divorce case myself?" Chen Huanong was now smiling, his previous coldness gone. He then looked at the intern and said, "This case is for you to practice. Whether you succeed or fail, you don't have to worry about it."
The intern now understood the whole story. Feeling nervous, she timidly asked, "So are you going to get a divorce or not?" Everyone secretly gave her a thumbs up in their hearts and really wanted to shout "Awesome" at this moment.
Chen Huanong's smile deepened, "Of course... I won't leave."
Aside from the intern, everyone else was stunned. Qin Huai winked at his assistant, and everyone else was escorted out. After everyone had dispersed, Qin Huai anxiously asked her, "Why didn't you leave? What's so good about a man named Tang that you'd do this to him? What have you done for him in the past five years? And what has he done for you? Haven't you spent enough on him? Do you really have to exhaust yourself to death?"
"Qin Huai, I can't divorce you. I've been doing well these past five years, and he hasn't drained me."
"You're talking nonsense!" Qin Huai cursed and left Chen Huanong's office in a rage. Even the sound of closing the door was twice as loud as usual. Chen Huanong couldn't help but sigh. He was such an adult but still couldn't control his emotions.
Qin Huai looked down on Tang Chengting, and everyone around Chen Huanong looked down on Tang Chengting. This disdain had nothing to do with appearance, character, or ability. The only thing was that Tang Chengting didn't love Chen Huanong. When they got married, Qin Huai tried his best to persuade her to be cautious, but in the end, Chen Huanong said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. If he doesn't love me, how can I still love him? It's just a matter of each taking what we need." Five years passed, and Qin Huai didn't see why Chen Huanong needed Tang Chengting. She didn't even fill in Tang Chengting's name in the emergency contact column of the hospital. He really couldn't understand why Chen Huanong refused to divorce with such a marriage in name only.
Chen Huanong stood in front of the French window, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, she felt that this person was unfamiliar and unlike herself. When had she become like this? Shameless, unscrupulous, unjust... She wanted to stop and think carefully, but no one knew better than she did. She didn't have time to look back. Her phone rang five times. It was a number that had no name saved, but it was the number she was most familiar with.
"How are you doing lately?"
"Aren't you the one who knows best whether it's good or not?"
"Huahua, come back to me. I am more suitable for you than him."
"Shut up." Even after five years of hard work, Chen Huanong still couldn't hide his emotions in front of this old fox. He knew her bottom line too well. "It seems you really didn't remember what I said to you before."
She kept calling him "you," forcing him to raise his level. She used to do the same when she was angry, and her words would make people angry to death. The person on the phone didn't mind her little temper at all. "Huahua, he doesn't have the tolerance to tolerate you. I hope you can see this clearly."
"I never consider whether others can tolerate what I do." Chen Huanong was covered in a layer of coldness, as if he was trying hard to suppress his anger. "I have come this far, climbed to my current position, and achieved the current success, all because I care very little. If the little care I have left is gone, then you'd better think carefully about what to give in exchange."
Chen Huanong hung up the phone, exhausted. Both Tang Chengting and that person were never easy to deal with. Not to mention that person for now, they were holding each other's lifelines in their hands. The worst that could happen was that both would suffer losses. But she didn't know what to do with Tang Chengting. Having come to this point, she actually began to feel confused.
She has always believed in the theory of power. If others can tolerate her, that's fine, but if they can't, she has to tolerate them anyway. But when the target turned to Tang Chengting, she always felt helpless.
The intern knocked on the door and came in, placing the divorce agreement in front of her. He said carefully, "Lawyer Chen, the other party wants to divide the joint property under your names equally. He will give up all other properties purchased in your name."
Chen Huanong understood that the only joint property under their names was the house they lived in now. It was Tang Chengting who paid the down payment when they bought it, and he was also the one who paid off the mortgage later. She had never asked about this matter. Later, when she bought real estate and cars for investment, he asked her to fill in her own name. He always made sure to distinguish clearly.
"Contact the other party's lawyer and tell them that I don't want an equal share of the common property. I want to give it all to him, but I absolutely cannot divorce you."
"Lawyer Chen..." Although the intern had just entered the industry and had seen many divorces, he had rarely seen such a strange situation. He had also heard a lot of gossip outside just now. He heard that it was Lawyer Chen who took the initiative to get married. The intern was very curious about what kind of magical power the man had to be able to conquer Chen Huanong!
The interns' curiosity didn't last long. After Chen Huanong had been working overtime in the office for a week, Tang Chengting walked into their office with a gloomy face. Chen Huanong was a little surprised to see him, "Why are you here?"
"Chen Huanong, you're torturing yourself, you know that? It's fine if you're torturing yourself, but you also want me to comfort you."
Everyone listening in the corner widened their eyes. What was going on? Aren't these two people getting divorced? Is this what someone who is getting divorced would say?
"I'm just very busy with work lately. Didn't I often not go home before?" After saying this, Chen Huanong lowered her head and began to deal with documents. She couldn't go ahead when Tang Chengting was angry. This was a lesson she had learned through blood and tears over the years, so keeping silent at this time was the best choice.
"When did you start avoiding problems?"
Chen Huanong looked into his eyes. These were the eyes she had always feared the most. They could easily see into her inner world and break through her defenses. "Didn't I actively respond to the lawsuit? You should know your lawyer's answer, so you came to me today."
Chen Huanong has been in this business for six years, and he knows what Tang Chengting's lawyer said without having to think. If the other party doesn't want a divorce, they will go to court for mediation first, and then make a judgment if mediation fails. It is basically impossible to get a divorce the first time, so you might as well persuade her and let her give up.
Tang Chengting was distracted for a moment. The person before him, dressed in a neat uniform, wore a cold, indifferent expression, and a wary, superior demeanor that hadn't been fully recovered. This person was Chen Huanong of Shensong. She was treating him as a lawyer, not his wife. Suddenly, an inexplicable emotion welled up in him. Five years of marriage, this was the first time he'd been to her office. Five years of marriage, this was the first time he'd seen her at work. Five years of marriage, this was the first time he'd acknowledged her professional abilities. Five years of marriage, this was the first time he'd come to take her home.
"Is this the conciliatory policy Zhang Xingyan proposed to you?"
"Humph, I came to pick you up, and you're still taking advantage of me?" Tang Chengting was so angry that he laughed. "Let me remind you, who was it that had the audacity to tell me that I wouldn't be arrogant because of my favor, huh?"
"So, you're treating me like a favor by picking me up?" Chen Huanong stopped being pretentious. After sorting out the materials, she stood up to get her coat. Tang Chengting took her bag with one hand and held his hand habitually with the other. When the two of them came out of the office, they blinded everyone's eyes again.
The intern was increasingly confused about the situation. "Is this marriage still going to end?"
Qin Huai's expression grew increasingly cold. "Divorce? Would Tang Chengting be willing to do that? This is just another of Tang Chengting's tricks to play hard to get."
A man's accuracy in judging another man is just like a woman's ability to easily distinguish between different types of green tea and white lotus. In Qin Huai's eyes, Tang Chengting is that white lotus in the world. Qin Huai and Chen Huanong prepared for the bar exam together, interned at a law firm together, and endured all the difficult times together. It's not that Qin Huai has never been attracted to Chen Huanong, but Qin Huai knows that for someone like Chen Huanong, feelings are a kind of bondage. She can be friendly with you and drink with you happily, but she will never flirt with you under the moonlight. They became the best partners. Qin Huai is cautious and not reckless, while Chen Huanong is sharp and daring. They complement each other and grow together. The Chen Huanong that Qin Huai knows is like a female warrior, with accurate goals, decisiveness, and never weak. If Tang Chengting had not appeared, she would have remained like this.
The year Tang Chengting appeared, Chen Huanong first resigned from her advisory position at the Zhao Group and then liquidated the Zhao Group's investment in her beauty salon. Zhao Liangguo, who had always harbored ill intentions, witnessed Chen Huanong's actions before he could act. Naturally, he was furious and secretly contacted several other major companies to terminate their ties with Shensong. That year, Chen Huanong struggled, yet others remained unaware. Qin Huai had assumed that a man worthy of Chen Huanong's actions must deeply love her, but he had never expected such a situation.
After being together for a year, they decided to get married. Qin Huai felt that he was half of his wife's family, so he had to meet Tang Chengting. Tang Chengting was also a standout among people. He joined the China Securities Regulatory Commission at a young age. He had no background and no connections. He worked his way up to the middle level on his own. After years of immersion in the drinking scene, he could talk freely even when facing a group of strangers. He was a little less cold and a little more flattering. He had just the right balance. The problem was that he took care of everyone except Chen Huanong, who he seemed to never care about. Chen Huanong was toasted with one glass of wine after another, but he sat still and chatted happily with others. As they toasted each other, a new topic came up. The atmosphere never cooled down, but Qin Huai felt cold. He didn't dare to hand over such a person to Chen Huanong.
Outside the villa was a large open-air balcony. When Qin Huai went out to smoke, she saw Chen Huanong sitting on the swing. Chen Huanong had always been a good drinker, often falling asleep when she drank too much. That day was the first time she had been drunk yet sober. The mountain breeze was gentle, the moonlight was clear, and Qin Huai turned around and saw Chen Huanong's tears. She looked quite helpless. "If he doesn't love me, I feel much more relaxed. If he does, I would be uneasy. Fortunately, he doesn't love me. This way, we can last."
"Qin Huai, I want this person. I've chosen this path and I'll never regret it until I die. So don't try to persuade me anymore."
Qin Huai was astonished and was about to ask, how did you know I was going to advise you, Chen Huanong said, "Everyone who has met Tang Chengting has advised me to be cautious. You don't even hide your dissatisfaction. If he sees you like that, he will probably think that we are having an affair, although he doesn't mind." Qin Huai's eyes widened a little more.
Qin Huai never understood the feelings between her and Tang Chengting. He said that it was Chen Huanong's wishful thinking, but Tang Chengting was not the kind of person who was easy to get along with. He always felt that something was missing between the two of them, but he couldn't cut it off cleanly.
The relationship between him and me is something that the world cannot understand, but it is my own business and I never need the world to understand it. It cannot be compared with my willingness.
oj
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