Boss Pang no longer wanted a divorce.
This scumbag was both stingy and legally illiterate, yet he had built a fortune worth over a hundred million. Besides riding the massive wave of reform and opening up, he clearly had some real ability himself.
One of Boss Pang’s strengths was his extraordinary drive.
When he wanted to remarry, he could not even wait for the divorce and booked the wedding banquet straight away.
Now that he did not want a divorce, his drive was overwhelming. Not only did he swallow his pride to fawn over the in-laws he had previously despised, but with lightning speed he evicted the mistress and illegitimate sons from the villa and immediately cancelled the wedding banquet booked at the Huating Hotel.
For friends who had already received invitations, Boss Pang called them one by one to inform them the banquet was off.
Some teased him, asking if he no longer wanted to divorce and split the property.
Boss Pang explained very earnestly, “I suddenly saw the light. When it comes to spouses, the original one is always best. I was truly gravely mistaken before. From now on, I will properly make amends to Liqun and our son.”
Some believed this, others did not.
Friends who believed Boss Pang had reformed could not resist advising him further, telling him to live well with his wife henceforth. They said that in one’s youth one does not appreciate it, but only when old and sick in bed does one realise that only the original wife will care for you.
Those who did not believe teased privately: Old Pang is not reluctant to part with his long-suffering wife. He is reluctant to part with his hundred-million fortune!
To create momentum, Boss Pang made the female secretary and the two illegitimate sons suffer.
Boss Pang had an especially hard heart. Following his lawyer’s advice to distance himself from the mistress and illegitimate sons, he refused to let the female secretary and children stay in any property under his name.
Over the years, the female secretary had squeezed some money from Boss Pang and bought houses and shops in her hometown under her family’s name.
However, distant water cannot quench present thirst. In the current situation, she could not take the children back home, so they had to stay in a hotel for now.
Most infuriatingly, the two cars the female secretary usually drove were bought under the company name, and Boss Pang forbade her from driving them any more.
The female secretary still understood Boss Pang to some extent.
At first, when told to move out of the villa, she thought it was to win the lawsuit.
Upon learning the banquet was cancelled, and when she contacted Boss Pang his attitude was evasive and cold, even stopping her from using the cars, she realised Boss Pang no longer wanted a divorce.
Yes, Boss Pang could not bear to give away his fortune. When only one option preserved it, he would choose it without hesitation!
There would be no more wedding banquet.
Nor any chance to wear a wedding dress again.
The female secretary could only remain a mistress… Or perhaps, even if she wanted to stay a mistress, the man surnamed Pang, fearing his wife might sue for divorce again, might want to cut ties completely?
Nearly twenty years without status or share. The female secretary tallied the assets truly in her possession. After everyday expenses, everything amounted to just a few million.
A few million was a lot for ordinary people, but far from enough for her. Her own annual spending exceeded a million, not counting her elder son’s overseas study fees!
Naturally, the female secretary was unwilling to accept this outcome. Her elder son was even less willing.
There are no secrets in small circles. Upon hearing Boss Pang cancelled the banquet and declared he would compensate Mrs Pang and Pang Jinglong, friends who had constantly invited the illegitimate son out suddenly lost their previous enthusiasm.
Pang Jinglong had suffered greatly before. The illegitimate sons would only suffer more.
Because Pang Jinglong at least had a steadfast childhood friend like He Zhen. The illegitimate sons had no such luck!
Those people had originally been Pang Jinglong’s friends, later shifting to the illegitimate son’s.
Now, they wanted to rekindle friendship with Pang Jinglong again.
Pang Jinglong was mentally prepared for this.
However, he thought these fair-weather friends would only contact him after his mother successfully divorced and secured half the property. He did not expect it so soon!
Why? Because his father no longer wanted a divorce.
Listening to these so-called friends relay his father’s remorse, Pang Jinglong only wanted to vomit into the Huangpu River.
“Truly disgusting.”
The people Pang Jinglong called “truly disgusting” included not only his father but also these turncoat friends!
Boss Pang was indeed disgusting.
A few days ago, a ruthless cad. These past two days, a prodigal son returned as a good husband.
Wen Ying and Lawyer Liao had anticipated this situation.
Lawyer Liao even laughed about it.
“This is nothing special. Some men, to demonstrate remorse, kneel in court, slap themselves repeatedly, cry rivers of tears and snot. All sorts of ugly behaviour.”
Although Mrs Pang had blocked her in-laws and natal family relatives, she could not refuse others’ “concern”.
There are always nosy people who, under the guise of caring, come to Mrs Pang to relay Boss Pang’s change.
Things like a single day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace.
The original spouse is always best.
Old Pang was confused in his youth but has now awakened in time. He will surely be a good husband and father from now on.
Old Pang truly means it. He not only drove out the mistress and illegitimate sons to vent Mrs Pang’s anger but also said he would buy another river-view apartment for their son Pang Jinglong.
These people rambled on. The core message was that Mrs Pang had won. A clever woman knows when to stop, to take the ladder offered and withdraw the divorce suit.
Not withdraw?
Could it really lead to divorce?
Kind-hearted people also advised Mrs Pang that every couple has quarrels. After so many years married, a man straying midway is common. As long as the final outcome is good, that is alright.
Those offering Mrs Pang a way out, whether cursing the mistress or speaking for Boss Pang, Mrs Pang listened to silently.
She neither agreed nor refuted, as if they had guessed her next move, thinking her lawsuit was merely a tactic to manipulate Boss Pang.
Some advised, “That is enough. Do not push too hard, or you will damage the marital bond. Of course, Old Pang was wrong. You and your son endured so many grievances over the years. He deserves this lesson!”
Mrs Pang remained silent.
Some offered ladders, others came to sabotage Boss Pang’s performance.
Previously, the female secretary feared Mrs Pang divorcing and taking money. Now she especially feared withdrawal and no divorce. She sent people to provoke Mrs Pang, claiming Boss Pang’s remorse was just an act.
“Old Pang is the sort who cannot change his spots. No third mistress means a fourth or fifth. He will not settle until nailed in his coffin!”
This encouraged Mrs Pang to divorce.
Mrs Pang was not particularly stirred.
Dong Runfang could not read Mrs Pang’s thoughts and secretly asked Zhu Xiao, “She will not really withdraw the suit, will she? So many of us running around helping. If she no longer wants divorce…”
Zhu Xiao was philosophical. “Then we drop our saviour complex and respect her choice.”
Living together these days, Zhu Xiao had done all she could.
Helping with the divorce was fine, but if Mrs Pang no longer wanted it, Zhu Xiao could not force the couple apart, could she?
With a clear opportunity to escape the fire pit, if Mrs Pang believed Boss Pang’s tales of reform, then truly no two kinds of people sleep in one bed. Zhu Xiao could only respect and wish well, nothing more.
Fortunately, Mrs Pang did not waver.
Mrs Pang even found it odd why Dong Runfang thought she would withdraw.
Dong Runfang rolled her eyes. “Those people advise you, and you listen so patiently! You do not even refute!”
Mrs Pang said softly, “Of course I can only listen. What good is refuting? They are not my friends…”
If she refuted, would they stop persuading?
No.
They would just find new words.
Dong Runfang paused, then patted Mrs Pang’s shoulder. “Ah, you have really come into your own now. Good, good. Zhu Xiao and I did not waste our time.”
So Mrs Pang had never wavered from wanting the divorce!
The day of the first hearing coincided with freshman registration at Aurora University.
Before that, Wen Ying had resumed normal contact with Xie Qian. Xie Qian missing the registration greatly dampened Wen Ying’s excitement for university, so she simply came to watch Mrs Pang’s first divorce hearing.
It had been years since Wen Ying heard her mentor’s “live teaching”. Just thinking about it thrilled her!
Outside the court, Wen Ying spotted the returned He Zhen.
Seeing Wen Ying, He Zhen truly had much to say but held back.
When had their relationship become so close?
Yet no matter why Wen Ying helped Pang Jinglong, he had indeed received great assistance. He Zhen’s questions turned to “thank you”.
Wen Ying was about to exchange pleasantries when another car pulled up at the court entrance.
It was Boss Pang.
Boss Pang stared fixedly at Mrs Pang, wanting to rush over and speak. Mrs Pang turned and walked away.
Boss Pang pointed at Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang, cursing, “It is you two stirring up trouble, causing discord between husband and wife!”
Zhu Xiao gave Boss Pang a massive eye roll.
