Zhang Liang had also hired a lawyer.
At the second mediation, both lawyers were present.
Zhao Panpan recognized Zhang Liang’s lawyer—it was Duan Zhibin, the son of Zhou Xiangping’s older sister, Zhang Liang’s cousin. He was thirty and a talented attorney at a reputable firm. Almost immediately, Zhao Panpan realized that the rumors and videos Zhang Jun had posted online were probably his idea.
Duan Zhibin started with a gentle tone: “Sister-in-law, you’ve been with Zhang Liang for so many years. Relationships aren’t easy, and it’s not worth dragging this to court over a few issues. Think carefully—enough has happened already, it’s taught him a lesson. For the sake of your child, shouldn’t we try to live peacefully? After all, you’re still a family.”
Zhao Panpan had already calmed down. At times like this, controlling her emotions was crucial. She replied firmly, “Domestic violence isn’t something that happens once or twice—it’s endless. No matter how deep my feelings for him were, I never hesitated when he tried to hurt me. There’s no possibility of reconciliation.”
“Come on, sister-in-law, don’t let those toxic online posts fool you,” Duan Zhibin said with a smile. “All this talk about zero tolerance for domestic violence is just meant to scare young women. Life together always has bumps and bruises.”
Gu Chen tapped his fingers on the table. “Lawyer Duan, please watch your words.”
Duan Zhibin smiled warmly but didn’t back down. “Well, after all, they’re family. And if you really want this couple to reconcile, isn’t it part of your job to try to make that happen? Mediation is always about seeking harmony.”
Zhao Panpan glanced at Zhang Liang, who immediately avoided her gaze. She sneered in her heart. He knew better than anyone that domestic violence was her ultimate line.
Her own father, Zhao Yongwei, had been an alcoholic, abusive, gambling, and unfaithful man. Whenever things went wrong, he would hit his wife and daughter. Her mother, seeing his endless irresponsibility, had chosen to leave without hesitation.
After that, Zhao Panpan was left with her grandparents in the countryside, relying on her looks and charm to survive, while Zhao Yongwei remarried Liu Fenhong. But he never tried to live a normal life. All his anger at life, his resentment at reality, was taken out violently on Liu Fenhong.
Even the few holidays Zhao Panpan spent with him were filled with bruises and scars from his fists and kicks. Growing up in that environment, she despised abusive men.
So when she dated Zhang Liang, she had made her boundaries crystal clear.
Back then, Zhang Liang swore to heaven that if he ever laid a hand on her, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
After marriage, Zhao Panpan was busy with work, and Zhang Liang sometimes lost his temper while doing housework, lightly striking her. But she never gave him an easy pass. Her insistence was the only reason he never did it again.
Zhang Liang knew perfectly well that when he blocked her from defending herself against her mother, their so-called love had vanished, and the marriage had reached its end.
“I have only one path to take with Zhang Liang—divorce.”
Seeing her resolve, Duan Zhibin nodded and handed over a divorce agreement. “Ms. Zhao, divorce is not an issue. Sign this, and you leave with nothing more to claim.”
Gu Chen glanced at the agreement and placed it on the table. “My client purchased the house with her premarital savings and post-marriage income. By the principle of contributions, she should receive eighty percent ownership. Considering Mr. Zhang has contributed nothing materially to the marriage, this request is fair. I ask him to consider carefully.”
Zhang Liang looked nervously at Duan Zhibin. When he saw the property certificate, his face went pale, and he fiddled with his fingers.
“Gu Lawyer, there must be some misunderstanding. This house belongs solely to Zhang Liang’s mother and has nothing to do with Ms. Zhao.”
The words “Zhou Xiangping” on the property certificate were glaring. The phrase “sole ownership” made Zhao Panpan furious.
She had experienced being kicked out before, so having a house of her own meant everything. She had saved every penny, dreaming of one day having a place that was truly hers.
Zhang Liang had promised her that! That was why, when they bought the house, he had insisted on putting her name on it. She had been overjoyed, believing that after twenty-plus years of hardship, she had finally met someone who loved and cared for her. She had poured her heart into caring for Zhang Liang and even his family.
Duan Zhibin, the same man she had paid to help with college applications, smiled gently. “Aside from that, during the marriage, Mr. Zhang took out a loan for daily household expenses. In divorce, legally, Ms. Zhao would also be responsible for half of that debt.”
He slid a copy of the loan agreement across the table. Zhao Panpan stared at the number in disbelief.
“One million?”
“Zhang Liang borrowed it from Zhang Jun?”
“Zhang Jun didn’t have a million to lend!”
“Zhang Liang never gave me a single cent after marriage!”
Gu Chen took the loan note from her. It was perfectly formatted, clearly drafted under professional guidance. Zhao Panpan’s reaction made it obvious she had no prior knowledge of it.
Gu Chen looked meaningfully at Duan Zhibin. “Joint marital debt?”
Duan Zhibin nodded. “Ms. Zhao, since you’re seeking divorce, there are two options—”
He pushed the divorce agreement forward again. “Either leave with nothing and settle everything, or go through litigation and account for every cent.”
Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, Gu Chen said solemnly, “Prepare for the court summons.”
Duan Zhibin nodded. “We’re ready.”
Zhao Panpan looked at Zhang Liang. He stayed silent the entire time, following Duan Zhibin like a frightened quail as he left.
She quickly explained to Gu Chen, “This debt is fake. Zhang Jun barely earned enough to support Zhang Liang’s schooling. He was a bricklayer making maybe ten thousand a month when he could find work, sometimes going months without jobs. Zhang Liang said he owed him a debt of gratitude, and we paid maybe a hundred thousand over time, but the schooling costs were long paid off.”
Someone barely able to make ends meet, borrowing a million? Impossible. It was deliberate.
Gu Chen looked at Zhao Panpan approvingly. “They want to scare you into leaving and taking the house. Seeing a million in debt would make most people back off.”
Zhao Panpan gritted her teeth. “I won’t back down. I trust the law will give me justice!”
A small smile appeared on Gu Chen’s face as he held up the copy of the loan agreement. “Forging evidence to obstruct justice and violate citizens’ rights is a serious offense.”