"Shut up! What's it to you!" Li Qinglan retorted angrily, "A bunch of gossipy women! No manners at all!"
The wealthy women were not pushovers; they wouldn't stand for being insulted and immediately started hurling insults back.
Fortunately, the bailiffs arrived in time and escorted them all out.
The presiding judge also announced that the trial would continue.
Gu Yanqing and I returned to our seats.
"Your Honor, Jiang Wan and I have indeed broken down in our marital relationship and there is no possibility of reconciliation. I agree to the divorce."
Gu Yanqing finally acted like a real man.
My lawyer was taken aback and whispered to me, "How did you guys negotiate? His attitude has completely changed!"
I smiled faintly: "It's a secret."
The lawyer laughed, "Then I made this money rather easily."
The presiding judge was also bewildered by Gu Yanqing's sudden change of attitude and repeatedly asked, "Defendant, please think carefully, do you really agree to the divorce?"
"Yes, I agree to the divorce."
Gu Yanqing reiterated his stance, turning his gaze to me and staring intently at me.
I glanced at him calmly, then looked away at the presiding judge, awaiting the court's verdict.
The presiding judge was exchanging opinions with others when, after a moment, he gave a stern tap of his gavel.
"After investigation, this court finds that the marriage between the plaintiff Jiang Wan and the defendant Gu Yanqing is legal and valid. The parties have voluntarily filed for divorce. This court confirms that the marital relationship has broken down and mediation has failed."
Therefore, this court hereby declares that the divorce between the plaintiff Jiang Wan and the defendant Gu Yanqing is granted.
The case acceptance fee shall be borne by the defendant, Gu Yanqing.
The judgment will be delivered within ten working days. Please check your mail.
The court hearing is over!
As the gavel fell, I sat in the plaintiff's seat and almost wept with joy!
Finally divorced! Finally!
In stark contrast to my ecstatic joy, Gu Yanqing sat blankly in the defendant's seat, as if he had lost his parents.
I looked at him, showing no intention of going over to comfort him, and simply followed the lawyer out.
The wealthy women hadn't left yet, and when they saw me come out, they immediately went up to ask about the result.
"Thank you everyone for your concern. We're divorced, we're divorced. You all deserve credit for this, thank you, thank you!"
A group of wealthy women immediately cheered: "Miss Jiang, congratulations on becoming single again. My nephew is twenty-eight this year, a graduate of Stanford University, a senior executive at a listed company, earning five million a year. Here's his picture, take a look..."
"Miss Jiang, twenty-eight is too old! These days, relationships between older women and younger men are all the rage. My son is only twenty-three, a master's student, sunny and handsome, absolutely a good match for you!"
"Miss Jiang—"
I never dreamed that my life would have such a glorious moment.
I barely stepped out of the grave of marriage before so many people were rushing to bury me back in!
I've never been so popular!
"Thank you all for your kindness. I have no plans to remarry at the moment. Thank you."
Just as I was being surrounded by the wealthy women, Gu Yanqing walked out of the courtroom.
He looked unwell, his figure was tired and forlorn, and even his steps seemed to weigh a ton.
I only glanced at it before forcing myself to look away.
The next second, the figure fell straight down!
Immediately following was Li Qinglan's cry: "Help! Help! Help me!"
Soon, everyone gathered around, chattering amongst themselves.
"What's wrong with Young Master Gu? Is he heartbroken over the divorce and has almost died?"
"Oh dear, what a terrible thing..."
I stood at a distance without moving, and the lawyer next to me asked, "Aren't you going to go and take a look?"
"No need," I said curtly, then took out my phone and dialed 120.
I'm not a doctor, so I couldn't really help much in the past. Helping to call an ambulance was just a final act of kindness between us as husband and wife.
As I stepped out of the courthouse, I felt the warm, bright sunshine and realized that the dark clouds that had been weighing on me for months had finally dissipated.
The lawyer noticed my good mood and sighed, "Don't blame me for dampening your spirits."
I smiled and turned around to ask, "What do you mean?"
As we walked down the steps, the lawyer explained, "In divorce cases where a divorce is granted in the first instance, the judgment only becomes effective after fifteen days from the day after the divorce decree is issued, provided neither party appeals. In other words, Mr. Gu may still change his mind and file an appeal."
"What?" I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at the lawyer. "There's such a regulation?"
"I remember telling you that."
I was a little confused and couldn't remember when the lawyer had said that.
"Therefore, even if the court has granted a divorce, you cannot remarry immediately, otherwise it would constitute bigamy. If it is a second-instance judgment for divorce, then there is no appeal period; once divorced, it is divorced, and no one can change it."
As I listened to the lawyer's words, I started to have doubts again.
Gu Yanqing probably won't appeal again, right?
Li Qinglan knelt down to him in public today. Doesn't the Gu family have any shame?
If he appeals again and doesn't want to get a divorce, wouldn't Li Qinglan be so angry that she vomits blood?
After saying goodbye to the lawyer, I got back into my car.
My feelings are a bit complicated; I'm both happy and apprehensive, relaxed yet worried.
I was thinking of calling my grandmother to report the outcome of the lawsuit when I saw an ambulance speeding towards me.
"Grandma... well, the lawsuit is over. Gu Yanqing still has a conscience; he granted the divorce."
Grandma also breathed a huge sigh of relief.
I listened to my grandmother's happy chatter, but my eyes were fixed on the view outside the window.
Gu Yanqing was carried out on a stretcher by medical staff. Li Qinglan followed beside her. When she went down the steps, she accidentally twisted her ankle and fell to the ground. She was helped up by the medical staff.
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