The news of Pang Zhigang’s divorce quickly spread through everyone’s circles of friends.
By securing half the family assets in the divorce, Zhang Liqun achieved what many original spouses dreamed of but could never accomplish. This instantly transformed her from a social nobody into a highly sought-after figure.
Several wealthy wives proactively contacted Zhang Liqun, subtly inquiring about Lawyer Liao’s fees.
How could they not know what kind of person Zhang Liqun was?
The successful divorce was not because Zhang Liqun was formidable, but because the lawyer she hired was exceptional.
Zhang Liqun did not care what these people thought. Whenever someone asked for Lawyer Liao’s contact details, she generously provided them. Whether to accept those cases was entirely up to Lawyer Liao.
Zhang Liqun was truly grateful to Lawyer Liao and wanted to help generate more business for him.
Lawyer Liao could only laugh wryly. “Ms Zhang, after finishing your case, I could rest for the next three years.”
The case involved splitting assets worth over a hundred million. Lawyer Liao charged a percentage based on what Zhang Liqun actually received.
As the saying goes, three years without a deal, then feast for three years when one comes. Lawyer Liao had clearly explained the fee structure to Zhang Liqun from the start, and she had no objections. Now, they just waited for her to receive the money, and Lawyer Liao would get his remuneration.
Zhang Liqun said sincerely, “You told me no one ever complains about having too much money. Besides, if possible, I really hope you can help them.”
Becoming a wealthy woman by taking half her cheating ex-husband’s assets did not change Zhang Liqun’s character.
She harboured no resentment towards those wives.
Although, in the divorce matter, those wives had not supported her as much as her new friends Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang, Zhang Liqun understood the reason. “They were protecting themselves.”
Without independent careers or control over the family finances, and with their husbands not speaking up, which wife would dare help her?
Lawyer Liao thought for a moment. “Alright then. I will take their calls, if they are truly determined.”
Lawyer Liao felt that if he won another two divorce cases, there was a high chance the bosses in this circle would pool money to have him assassinated… Thinking this, he could not help laughing at himself. If a lawyer feared threats, what cases could he fight?
It was no wonder those wives were tempted. Before Zhang Liqun, in this circle, whether主动 or被动 divorces among original spouses, none had truly managed to take half the assets!
Zhang Liqun’s victory stunned many people.
As for the gossip back in their hometown, that was one thing. The relatives who used to flock around Pang Zhigang were now deeply regretful.
They wanted to come and curry favour with Zhang Liqun, but… they discovered she had changed her phone number!
The funniest were Pang Jinglong’s so-called friends. If those people could even be called friends, they found that Pang Jinglong had become a genuine rich second-generation again. Some said they wanted to console him, others to celebrate for him. Using various excuses, they tried to invite Pang Jinglong out for meals.
“Those people are ridiculous. A month ago, they were calling the illegitimate son their brother. A month later, in front of me, they badmouth the illegitimate son in every way, using this to show their loyalty to me. Of course I am happy the illegitimate son is down, but do they think I am stupid?”
The cheating scumbag father would not give much assets to Pang Jinglong.
The divorced mother had eyes only for her son Pang Jinglong.
So Pang Jinglong’s status as a rich second-generation was solid gold!
How could Pang Jinglong still look at those fair-weather friends? With his mother’s divorce victory, he had gained a new circle of friends too.
As he said this, Pang Jinglong kept glancing at Wen Ying out of the corner of his eye.
On the weekend, Li Mengjiao, who had been cooped up obediently at school for over half a month to avoid media harassment, could not hold back anymore. She insisted on coming to hang out with Wen Ying.
Pang Jinglong wanted to treat Wen Ying to dinner alone, to thank her.
Wang Shuang had recently run into some issues with blog operations and wanted to consult Wen Ying.
Peng Guoqing… well, this guy had no real need for Wen Ying’s help. He was purely using the excuse of visiting Wen Ying to come see Xie Tang.
Mu Fan said he had no friends and wanted to have dinner with Wen Ying.
As for Shui Mingyue, Wen Ying was the one keeping an eye on her.
Wen Ying thought about it and simply organised a group dinner, inviting all of them together.
This meal was organised by Wen Ying. The participants were Wang Shuang, Peng Guoqing, Li Mengjiao, Pang Jinglong, Mu Fan, and Shui Mingyue. The only one absent was He Zhen. He Zhen wanted to return to China to develop the company and had a lot to handle.
Everyone was young and did not lack topics. They soon warmed up to each other.
Shui Mingyue really liked Li Mengjiao. She said she had written a female protagonist like Li Mengjiao before.
Li Mengjiao restrained her delight and said reservedly, “Then when your next book is adapted, invite me to be the female lead! If my schedule allows, I would be very willing.”
Shui Mingyue’s eyes lit up. “Is that possible?”
Li Mengjiao nodded. “Of course. Provided it does not conflict with my schedule, and naturally, the script must meet my agent’s standards.”
With Li Mengjiao’s current popularity, these conditions were practically no conditions at all. Shui Mingyue had only been on set for about ten days, yet she had learned more entertainment industry gossip than in all her previous time combined. She had been educated on the current rankings and popularity of various stars.
Inviting Li Mengjiao as the female lead was even harder than inviting Yun Chen as the male lead.
After all, Yun Chen and Zhang Yangning still took external projects. Li Mengjiao only filmed for Tianjiao!
Shui Mingyue immediately started whispering excitedly with Li Mengjiao.
Peng Guoqing had originally come today hoping to ask Xie Tang out. Since Xie Tang was busy, Peng Guoqing was a bit listless.
Until everyone had arrived.
Peng Guoqing gradually sensed something off.
Pang Jinglong and Mu Fan had contrasting personalities, one dynamic, one calm.
Peng Guoqing had accompanied Xie Qian to the literature department once and seen Mu Fan from afar.
Since he had not interacted closely, Peng Guoqing had not noticed anything amiss.
This time was different. Everyone was sitting at the same table eating, allowing close observation.
Pang Jinglong was very eager to perform. Every couple of sentences, he would glance at Wen Ying.
Mu Fan was steadier, speaking less than Pang Jinglong, yet subtly aligning with Wen Ying.
Peng Guoqing could not help kicking Wang Shuang under the table.
“What are you kicking me for?”
Wang Shuang was still pondering the fan stickiness Wen Ying had just mentioned. Interrupted by Peng Guoqing, she rolled her eyes at him.
Peng Guoqing almost laughed in exasperation.
This dumb dog surnamed Wang was so oblivious!
Heh, fair enough. Someone as perceptive and clever as himself was rare in the world. The dumb dog Wang was indeed far inferior.
Peng Guoqing cleared his throat. “Wen Ying, has Xie Qian said when he is coming back? It has been so long. I miss him a lot. Do you… don’t you all miss him?”
Wang Shuang really did miss Xie Qian quite a bit.
Lately, Wang Jun kept praising Wang Shuang, making her a bit complacent. To stay grounded and go further, Wang Shuang urgently needed Xie Qian’s criticism.
Li Mengjiao said the opposite of what she felt. “Whether he comes back or not is up to him. His business is more important!”
Wen Ying naturally missed Xie Qian very much.
She contacted Xie Qian every day.
At first, she controlled the call duration. Recently, they chatted however they wanted. Xie Qian sounded full of energy, meaning his body was gradually recovering.
“He will come back.”
Wen Ying simply said this, her tone firm.
Mu Fan had prepared himself mentally. Pang Jinglong, however, was confused. “Who is Xie Qian?”
Peng Guoqing put one hand on Pang Jinglong’s shoulder. “Xie Qian is just Xie Qian. He is our mutual friend, especially close with Wen Ying. The two of them were deskmates for three years in high school and got into the same university for college.”
Kid, I have made it this clear. You get it, right!
Pang Jinglong seemed to understand, yet not fully.
Poor Pang Jinglong did not even know why Peng Guoqing was saying this. Hearing that Wen Ying had a close male friend made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Mu Fan remained very calm, sipping water. Peng Guoqing’s few words were not enough to make Mu Fan give up.
Wen Ying’s thoughts had already drifted far away.
She really missed Xie Qian so much!
…
Those who wanted to see Xie Qian were not just Wen Ying. There was another person who particularly wanted to talk with Xie Qian: Zhang Zhijin’s son, Zhang Hua.
Zhang Hua had called Xie Qian several times but never got the answer he wanted from Xie Qian.
The police had closed the case on Lu Meishu’s death, determining it was suicide.
The Zhang family was deeply heartbroken over this. The whole family had been in low spirits recently.
The most affected was undoubtedly Zhang Hua himself. In just over a month, the young man had lost so much weight he looked gaunt.
No one knew what Zhang Hua was thinking.
The young man still appeared polite, but he had closed his heart.
Lu Meishu’s body had not yet been buried.
This could not go on. In Chinese culture, burial brings peace. With Lu Meishu not interred, the gossip about the Zhang family would not stop.
No one could bring themselves to persuade Zhang Hua. The young man had lost his mother. He grieved more than anyone.
Zhang Zhijin had also lost weight. Middle-aged, widowed, distant from his son, blamed by family, he looked haggard.
But his wife Lu Meishu’s body could not remain unburied forever!
Facing his son, Zhang Zhijin’s tone was heavy. “Let your mother rest in peace. This is my fault. Forgive yourself…”
Zhang Hua tugged at the corners of his mouth in a smile uglier than crying. “I cannot sleep at night. I keep dreaming of her. Dreaming she stands by the window talking, dreaming she says she wants to go home. Not this home, her own home.”
Zhang Zhijin was dazed. “You want to bury her in her hometown?”
Zhang Hua nodded. “That is where she was born. Leaves return to their roots. She should go back there.”
Zhang Zhijin agreed with his son’s idea and said he would arrange it.
But Zhang Hua refused. “I will take her back to her hometown. That is her old home. You should not go.”
How do you have the face to go?
These were the words Zhang Hua left unsaid!
Zhang Zhijin clearly understood and murmured, “You are right. I truly have no right to go there. When I married your mother, I promised to take good care of her. I failed. Rest assured, in this lifetime, your mother is my only wife. No one can replace her in my heart.”
Zhang Zhijin promised his son.
Belated affection is cheaper than grass. Zhang Hua was not moved at all. He curled his lips. “Is that so? I am afraid you first need to think about how to face the strange looks from others. After all, Third Uncle Xie sued you too. You spent so much money on your illegitimate daughter. You have to pay it back.”
