Does Zhang Zhijun have Zhuo Yue in his heart?
This question, perhaps only Zhang Zhijun himself truly knows the answer.
In any case, Zhuo Yue is utterly convinced that he does.
During the court session, Xie Jinghu’s proxy lawyer spoke passionately. Xie Jinghu wore an expression of fury, Zhang Zhijun looked ashamed, and Sara Zhuo remained impassive.
Zhuo Chen’s face was filled with bitterness. With his parents turning against each other, Zhuo Chen felt the most helpless.
Only Zhuo Yue kept silently shedding tears, glancing at Xie Jinghu one moment and Zhang Zhijun the next, as if she did not understand what was happening. She appeared utterly pitiful.
Sara Zhuo had also hired a lawyer.
Zhang Zhijun admitted to the accusations from Xie Jinghu’s side and was willing to share responsibility with Sara Zhuo for Zhuo Yue’s upbringing costs over the past ten-plus years.
Sara Zhuo, however, challenged the list of property gifts provided by Xie Jinghu.
Sara Zhuo claimed that her late husband was a wealthy overseas Chinese merchant who had left her a considerable inheritance upon his death. What she spent now was merely the benign growth of that inheritance.
Xie Jinghu was so enraged he nearly fell over backwards.
Previously, he had never considered this angle. After his elder brother Xie Yuping’s reminder, Xie Jinghu began recalling details from his time with Sara Zhuo. The more he thought about it, the more he felt Xie Yuping’s guess made sense. Though it was hard to admit, Sara Zhuo truly did not love him. If she did, how could she accept remaining in the shadows for so many years? If she loved him, how could she agree to him staying with Zou Weijun?
So, Sara Zhuo had returned to him solely for revenge against the Xie family, to stir up chaos and leave them in turmoil!
Xie Jinghu signalled his lawyer to go all out, to hammer her relentlessly!
He would pursue the return of the gifts to Sara Zhuo and recover Zhuo Yue’s upbringing costs.
Since Zhang Zhijun was willing to pay that sum, the lawyer smiled. “Mr Xie hopes that Mr Zhang can offset these upbringing costs with 3% of his shares in ‘Jinhu’. After all, given what has happened, it would hardly be appropriate for Mr Zhang to remain a shareholder in ‘Jinhu’.”
Xie Jinghu had spent a considerable amount raising Zhuo Yue and had even bought her some properties.
But if calculated strictly, this amount could not compare to 3% of ‘Jinhu Group’ shares. Raising Zhuo Yue would not have cost that much. However, lawsuits are not settled with such precise accounting. The money Xie Jinghu spent on Zhuo Yue dated back over a decade, when prices were different and ‘Jinhu Group’ was not yet at its current scale.
Money in the bank earns interest. If that money had been invested in developing the company, it might have multiplied many times over.
Moreover, whether the two were equivalent in value also required the defendant’s, Zhang Zhijun’s, opinion.
Wasn’t Zhang Zhijun fond of playing the good guy?
When a good guy wrongs a friend, offering some compensation is normal. How could he quibble over details with that friend?
This lawyer was indeed excellent. When drafting the divorce agreement for Zou Weijun, he had nearly skinned Xie Jinghu alive. Now, switched to representing Xie Jinghu, he naturally considered every angle for his client.
Leaving ‘Jinhu’ shares in Zhang Zhijun’s hands was unsafe.
Zhang Zhijun had already slept with Xie Jinghu’s mistress. Who was to say his next step would not be to covet Xie Jinghu’s property?
After Xie Jinghu’s agreed divorce with Zou Weijun, half his shares had gone to her. Though the divorce addendum imposed many restrictions on Zou Weijun and Xie Qian, Xie Jinghu now held only 26.5% of the shares, a proportion that made him uneasy.
If he could seize this opportunity to reclaim Zhang Zhijun’s 3%, his holding would rise to 29.5%!
The lawyer had discussed this with Xie Jinghu before the hearing. Xie Jinghu wholeheartedly supported the proposal.
As expected, Zhang Zhijun found it hard to refuse. In court, he stated his willingness to offset Zhuo Yue’s upbringing costs with his ‘Jinhu’ shares.
Daddy truly has her in his heart!
Zhuo Yue’s gaze no longer wandered. She refused to spare Xie Jinghu another glance, devoting all her attention to Zhang Zhijun.
Sara Zhuo, however, objected to this compensation method.
Sara Zhuo stated that giving birth to and raising Zhuo Yue had been her own choice. She needed no one’s help with it.
After consulting her client, Sara Zhuo’s lawyer said she was willing to repay Xie Jinghu the upbringing costs for Zhuo Yue over the past years.
Sara Zhuo agreed so readily.
Was it pride?
Xie Jinghu felt no joy at recovering the upbringing costs. This woman had perhaps never loved him. She seemed quite fond of Zhang Zhijun instead, unwilling to let him suffer even a little loss!
Of course, Xie Jinghu would not let it end there. Sara was only willing to repay Zhuo Yue’s costs. She had said nothing about returning the property she herself had received!
One hearing could not resolve the matter. The lawyer had already warned Xie Jinghu that this lawsuit would be troublesome.
At the end of the first session, Xie Jinghu held a slight advantage.
Leaving the court, Xie Jinghu mocked, “Not claiming to be an independent woman now? We’ll fight this lawsuit slowly. I have plenty of time. As for you… you’ve truly disgraced the Zhuo family. The Zhuo family had only a shred of face left, and you’ve thrown it all away as their good daughter.”
Xie Jinghu’s insults stung Sara Zhuo deeply.
Had she disgraced the Zhuo family?
If the Zhuo family had not fallen into trouble, how would she have ended up here today!
If the Zhuo family had not collapsed, she might have dated Xie Jinghu in her youth but still would not have married him.
Sara Zhuo’s red lips parted slightly. “I disgraced the Zhuo family, but you disgraced the Xie family too. The Xie family always prided itself on upright family values, yet it produced someone like you. Xie Jinghu, back then it wasn’t me pursuing you, nor later me forcing you. You sought me out yourself. I was a widow who had lost her husband. You were a married man with a wife. You’re a hundred times more disgusting than I am.”
Assistant Qi thought Boss Xie’s blood vessels were about to burst.
The lawyer also held Xie Jinghu back, whispering a reminder to stay calm. “Getting the money back is what will truly hurt her. Winning an argument is useless. Why get angry over a woman who has been with anyone?”
Yes, recovering the money was what mattered.
Having reached this point, Sara Zhuo still refused to return it, proving she truly loved money.
Loving money was good. Losing it would make her suffer!
Xie Jinghu left with a cold laugh.
Stepping out of the court, he unexpectedly spotted the travel-worn Zhang Hua.
Zhang Hua was Zhang Zhijun’s son. Originally, Xie Jinghu hated the son for the father’s sins and wanted to give him a cold shoulder. But thinking of how Xie Qian had once ostracised Zhuo Chen and Zhuo Yue, plus Lu Meishu’s suicide, Xie Jinghu softened his expression and spoke politely to Zhang Hua.
Xie Jinghu inquired about arrangements after Lu Meishu’s death and about Zhang Hua’s future.
“I’ve watched you grow up. If you ever face any grievances, come to me. Your father… well, anyway, be careful. They say a stepmother brings a stepfather. Take good care of yourself.”
The lawyer and Assistant Qi watched in stunned silence.
Especially Assistant Qi, who found these words eerily familiar. They were exactly what Zhang Zhijun used to say to Xie Qian!
In the past, Zhang Zhijun condemned Xie Jinghu’s infidelity while often playing the kind uncle to Xie Qian.
Now the tables had turned. Xie Jinghu was showing concern for Zhang Hua.
Boss Xie definitely had ulterior motives!
Assistant Qi suddenly had an epiphany.
In the past, even an outsider like Zhang Zhijun knew to care for Young Master Xie, while Boss Xie neglected his son. Every time Zhang Zhijun consoled Xie Qian, he actually drove the father-son relationship further apart.
Zhang Hua, unaware, felt deeply grateful to Xie Jinghu.
On the other side, Zhuo Yue had bottled up a bellyful of emotions, ready to acknowledge her father. But Zhang Zhijun had already spotted Zhang Hua.
Zhang Zhijun had many questions for Zhang Hua. He strode over, passing Zhuo Yue without even a flicker of peripheral vision.
Zhuo Yue was dumbfounded.
Didn’t daddy have her in his heart?!
Zhuo Yue’s heart twisted bitterly into a knot. She whispered to Zhuo Chen, “Brother, am I unlikeable?”
