Chapter 32
After Shensong's reorganization, Chen Huanong had been so busy with various tasks that she hadn't even attended a single group meeting. At eight o'clock on Monday morning, she sat in the long-missed conference room. Unsurprisingly, she saw a few unfamiliar faces: interns from the nearby university. Shensong's philosophy of nurturing talent was to seize it early and cultivate it as soon as possible. Qin Huai asked her if she wanted to speak, but she shook her head. After all, he was the group leader now, and since she had decided to step back, she couldn't stand out anymore.
Midway through the meeting, Mo Yiyan sent a WeChat message asking when the TV station would begin recording a program. Their magazine was planning to publish a special issue on female lawyers, and given Mo Yiyan's unwavering loyalty, Chen Huanong was her top pick. Ideally, it would coincide with the TV station's first program launch of the second half of the year, so Mo Yiyan wanted to inquire ahead of time.
Chen Xiaohua: The PD asked me to go to the station in the afternoon to record one episode for this Saturday, and the rest will be recorded this weekend.
Silently, don’t say anything: Are you in such a hurry?
Chen Xiaohua: I stayed abroad for a long time before, and we were supposed to start recording last month.
Silently, "Can I give you a beating? Then come to our magazine office tomorrow at noon for a photo shoot, and we'll do an interview with you in the afternoon."
Chen Xiaohua: I want to open the court...
Silently, don't say anything: "You want to lose your best friend online! Then we'll go to your house tonight and tell Lao Tang about this. This is an urgent matter."
In the afternoon, the intern went to the TV station with Chen Huanong. The person who had been following her was naturally Chen Huanong's assistant. The assistant said that everyone in the firm had been to the scene, and only the intern had not seen it. This time she went with them to say hello. In case any PD took a fancy to her, she might be able to replace Chen Huanong and take the position herself. Chen Huanong thought it made sense and immediately asked the intern to go with her. She came to record the show because the law firm needed a walking advertisement. The appearance fee she got for this episode was not as high as the fee she would get for any small case. For the utilitarian Chen Huanong, it was indeed not worth it.
"With rising housing prices, second-hand home sales are now one of the most common and frequently conflicting civil disputes in society today. Ordinary people have limited legal knowledge of real estate transactions, making it easy for loopholes to be exploited, ultimately leading to infringement of their legal rights or even the inability to achieve their transaction objectives. Today, we've invited Attorney Chen Huanong from Shensong Law Firm to explain common legal issues in second-hand home transactions and how to mitigate risks."
"Civil legal relationships are more about mutual agreement, and this agreement is best reflected in various contracts. It's clearly expressed in a real estate sales contract. Both parties determine the price of the house based on its value, and the homeowner agrees to sell it to the buyer at that price. The parties can also agree on the payment method, payment date, and delivery date, including the date of transfer of ownership. The legal relationship involved in a sales contract is more than just a sale. Today, I will focus on two key points, which are also of vital interest to everyone. One is the validity of the deposit agreement before the sales contract is signed, and the other is the ultimate ownership of the house under a chain sales contract..."
The TV station loved working with Chen Huanong. He had a steady presence, quick reactions, and a relaxed, yet focused presence, making the recording process incredibly smooth. The female host and Chen Huanong worked together for a long time, and afterward, they exchanged pleasantries. The intern waited a moment, but no one left the stage. So, she ran up and handed Chen Huanong her phone, which showed eight missed calls.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I was afraid you had something urgent at home, so I answered the last one for you. I told them you were recording a show, and they told you to go home immediately after the show."
Chen Huanong was confused by her father's behavior. If something really happened, he would look for Tang Chengting if he couldn't find her. Tang Chengting would definitely send her a message. Old Chen had never bombarded her with calls like this before. What could it be?
Chen Huanong drove all the way home and called Tang Chengting on the way, but no one answered. She thought Tang Chengting was still busy. As a result, as soon as she opened the door, she saw the shoes Tang Chengting wore in the morning quietly placed on the shoe rack. There were also her parents' shoes and Tang Chengting's mother's shoes at the entrance.
"What day is it today? Why are you all here? Are you here to lecture us about treating divorce like a joke? This matter is over, you all let go..." Before he could finish the last word "heart", Chen Huanong walked into the living room and looked at the heavy atmosphere in the living room. He didn't think they were here because of the divorce. "What's wrong? Old Chen, what's wrong with you? Why do you have such a sour face?"
"Chen Huanong, please sit down. From now on, I will ask you a question and you must answer it. You are not allowed to hide anything or lie. Otherwise, we will sever our mother-daughter relationship."
When Chen Huanong was little, the person he feared most was his mother. She was very strict and had different reasons for beating him. But no matter how she beat him or scolded him, she never said such harsh words. Other mothers would joke, "If you're naughty again, I won't want you anymore." Chen's mother wouldn't even joke like that. She said, "I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you. You're truly a part of my flesh and blood. How could I possibly want to not want you?"
Chen Huanong sat down next to Tang Chengting, looking at Chen Ma, waiting for her to question him. Little did Chen Huanong know that Tang Chengting, who had previously said he would keep it a secret until his death, would actually confess his illness to both parents. The moment Chen Ma asked, Chen Huanong's mind went blank, devoid of any of the aura of the Iron Lady Shen Song.
"When did you know that Tang Chengting was ill?"
"Before we were together."
"Do you know what disease he has? Do you know how long he can live?"
"Polycythemia vera is treated symptomatically, and in the best case scenario, the lifespan is about fifteen years."
"Then what are you thinking? How could you want to be with someone... I don't ask you to be rich, and I never expect you to find someone rich and powerful. Just find someone healthy, responsible, and worthy of entrusting your life to. Is this too much to ask? Chen Huanong, how could you do this to me?" When she said the last sentence, Chen's mother almost fainted. She had been strong-willed all her life, but she indulged her daughter again and again. However, she never expected that she would let Chen Huanong develop such an ignorant character.
"Chen Huanong, I don't care what you think. Since you were getting a divorce before, and both of our parents are here today, you two can go and complete the divorce procedures tomorrow."
"No."
"Chen Huanong, watch your attitude when talking to your mother!" Chen's father, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke. Since Chen Huanong grew up, he has only interfered with Chen Huanong's decisions twice. The first time was when Chen Huanong was halfway through high school and insisted on changing schools, but he suppressed her. The second time was today. As a father, he couldn't bear to see the daughter he had raised with great effort having no one to rely on for the rest of her life. If this was the case, it would be better to end the relationship early.
"My dear in-laws, you are also a parent and should be able to understand our feelings. If it were you, you would make the same decision as us. I heard earlier that they were getting a divorce, but my daughter was dragging it out and refused to go. Her mother and I came here today just to resolve this matter. Chengting, you are a good son-in-law. Even if you and Chen Huanong are divorced, it does not mean that we no longer have a relationship. If you are in trouble in the future, we will naturally help you if we can."
Mother Tang glanced at Tang Chengting. Even though she had been prepared for this, she still felt extremely distressed. She felt sorry for her own life and for the unfairness of fate to Tang Chengting. However, she couldn't tie up someone else's healthy and promising daughter just because of this. It was extremely difficult for Chen Huanong to do this.
"I agree with their divorce. Huahua is a good child. It's Chengting who is unlucky."
Chen Huanong turned to look at Tang Chengting, "What about you? Do you agree too? Have you forgotten what you said to me before? Why don't you discuss anything with me? Tang Chengting, how could you do that?"
"My dear..." I'm selfish by nature and have never considered letting you go, but those are your parents. They love you more than I do, so they will make the decision that's best for you. I feel incredibly guilty for hiding this from them. If they still believe you shouldn't stay with me, then I have no choice but to send you back, because you're not just my belief.
A long time ago, Tang Chengting asked her, no matter what the reason, what is called love is not about sympathy, love, and unwillingness to part? What stage are you in now? Through the phone screen, she couldn't see Tang Chengting's expression, and Tang Chengting couldn't see her seriousness. She replied with four words: unwillingness to part.
Chen Huanong stood up, walked to Chen's parents, and knelt down, "I will not divorce you."
"Chen Huanong, do you want to piss me off to death?"
"Mom, before I got married, I almost broke up with Tang Chengting. You told me that it's not easy to meet someone you like and who's right for you in this life. It's inevitable for two people to have some bumps in the road, and you can't break up over a small matter."
"Is this a small matter? This is a big matter concerning the rest of your life. How many years do your parents have left? After we're gone, we can rest assured that you'll have someone by your side. But the time he spends with you might not even be as long as ours. How can we be assured?"
"The meaning of companionship is not the length of time. Some people have been with me for three or four years, but for me, it's just watching time slip away bit by bit. I'm still myself, confused and stagnant. That's not companionship, that's consumption. The six years that Tang Chengting and I have been together have been like climbing a mountain. The scenery changes with each height. He taught me how to solve problems, opened up my perspective on the world, used his own life to remind me to cherish time, and spent himself to cultivate a person who can face the rest of my life independently. He spent half his life to make me what I am, so how can that not be companionship? He is someone who can chat with me about the daily necessities of life, and he can also discuss with me the saying 'There are sixpences all over the ground, but only he looks up and sees the moon'. With so many people in this world, no one suits my heart more than him."
Everyone's destination is death, though some arrive later, while others arrive earlier. Tang Chengting was the one who waited at the destination early. He had proactively prepared for the journey, and because time was limited, he put in twice, if not several times, the effort of the average person. He didn't let this sink him, nor did he lament the unfairness of fate. Even with the bumpy road ahead, he remained as steadfast as ever, holding my hand, a naiveté, and marching forward with determination.
Tang Chengting, the one and only man in the world, is the one she has loved for a long time.
"He always says he's selfish, but the real selfish person is me. I need him by my side. Every day I spend with him feels like a luxury. I wish it were forty-eight hours, a year. Mom, the days I have with him are already limited. Can you please not make them even shorter?"
This day was the day Chen Huanong cried the most. She had carried Tang Chengting's secret for seven years, wary of everyone, dreading the situation she'd just encountered, dreading her parents' heartbreak, and dreading Tang Chengting's injury. She was caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to move forward. Today had finally arrived, the second most difficult day of her life. Perhaps because she cried so hard, it also became a day of relief for her and Tang Chengting.
Before leaving, Chen's parents still looked grim. They didn't say either "yes" or "no." Chen Huanong knew she had won the battle between parent and child, and even though she felt guilty, she could do nothing about it. It wasn't until after they'd left that Tang's mother burst into tears in front of Tang Chengting. Tang Chengting didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only pat her on the back.
Tang Chengting waited until Tang's mother had almost finished crying before he spoke. "Life and death are determined by fate. This is an established fact. I didn't want to let you know so early because I was afraid you would be frightened, but now I tell you, you can still have a clear mind. I have Qingqing by my side now, which is a blessing in disguise, so don't worry too much about me. Go traveling, find a second life, whatever you want to do, don't leave yourself with regrets, you can't live your life just as my mother."
Sniffling constantly while clutching the cardboard box, Chen Huanong felt that Tang Chengting wasn't suited to comforting others, but she was even less suited to doing so at this moment. So, she went into the room alone, leaving the mother and son alone to talk. Chen Huanong didn't expect such a conversation to dispel Tang's mother's grief. It had taken her two years to come to terms with this matter, let alone Tang's mother, who was so connected to her son. But at that moment, looking at Tang Chengting still before her, Tang's mother might find a little comfort.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
