Inside the top-floor office of Hengyao Group, Jiang Yi sat across from Lawyer Li. Spread across the wide mahogany desk were thick stacks of documents, each page recording the results of his years of struggle.
“According to the preliminary assessment, your major assets include: a 180 square meter residence in Linjiang Garden, registered under Ms. Shu Jin’s name; a standalone villa in Jinhua Garden; three school-district apartments in the main urban area; 60% equity in Hengyao Group, currently valued at approximately 5 billion; and personal savings of around 800 million…” Lawyer Li adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and continued in a professional tone, “In addition, there are your collections of luxury watches, jewelry, and other items. All of these will need to be clearly divided in the divorce agreement.”
Jiang Yi’s gaze settled on the first line of the asset list… the Linjiang Garden apartment. It was the first decent home he had ever bought. He still remembered that when signing the contract, he had deliberately written Shu Jin’s name on it.
At the time, she had been so moved that she cried, saying she would stay with him for the rest of her life.
“According to the law, since Ms. Shu Jin has committed serious fault, you will have an absolute advantage in property division,” Lawyer Li continued, “Although the Linjiang Garden property is registered under her name, since it was purchased during the marriage and can be proven to be funded solely by you, there is a high chance you can reclaim it.”
Jiang Yi’s fingers tapped lightly against the desk without awareness. Reclaim it? He thought back to when they bought the apartment, Shu Jin leaning against him, excitedly planning the use of every room.
“This will be our bedroom. We’ll get a really big bed.”
“The balcony will be filled with all the succulents I like.”
“The study will be yours. We’ll put a very comfortable sofa there, and I can stay with you while you work late.”
Back then, even the air between them had been sweet.
“CEO Jiang?” Lawyer Li noticed his distraction and gently reminded him.
Jiang Yi came back to his senses and rubbed his temples, “Go on.”
“As for the company equity, since Hengyao Group was founded before your marriage, Ms. Shu Jin has virtually no right to claim a share. Regarding the savings and other assets…”
The lawyer’s voice gradually blurred at the edges, and Jiang Yi’s thoughts drifted back to a winter seven years ago.
At that time, Hengyao had just started. They had taken on a major project, but it got stuck at a critical technical stage.
For an entire week, he ate and slept at the company, trying every possible solution. The capital chain was on the verge of breaking, salaries for employees were nearly impossible to pay, and stress had caused sores at the corners of his mouth. Read this novel at novelping . com for the best experience.
Night after night, he couldn’t sleep.
At 3:00 in the morning one day, he was so exhausted that he fell asleep at his desk. In a haze, he felt someone drape a coat over his shoulders. When he opened his eyes, he saw Shu Jin standing beside him, holding a thermos container.
“I made soup for you,” she said softly, her eyes full of concern, “Drink something warm first. Don’t ruin your stomach.”
He remembered how cold it had been that day, snowflakes drifting outside the window. Shu Jin’s nose was red from the cold, clearly having rushed over through the wind and snow. The soup in the container was still steaming… it was her best dish, yam and pork rib soup.
“The company might not make it,” he had told her at the time, his voice heavy with exhaustion and despair.
But Shu Jin had held his hand, her gaze firm, “Jiang Yi, don’t be afraid. No matter how hard it gets, we’ll face it together. Even if the company really fails, we can start over. I believe in you.”
At that moment, this slender girl had seemed to give him endless strength. Later, the problem was resolved smoothly, the company survived the crisis, and step by step, it grew into what it was today. And the warmth of that snowy night became the most precious memory in his heart.
“CEO Jiang, would you like to review these asset details first?” Lawyer Li’s voice pulled him back to reality.
Jiang Yi took the documents and flipped through them page by page. Every asset recorded the years they had walked together. The three school-district apartments were bought because Shu Jin said she wanted their future children to have the best educational environment.
The Porsche Cayenne was because she liked going on countryside trips on weekends.
Even the luxury watches and jewelry had mostly been bought while he was choosing gifts for her… casually adding something for himself along the way.
He had once placed the entire world in her hands, simply because he remembered the warmth she gave him on that snowy night.
“If we proceed with litigation, this evidence is sufficient to ensure Ms. Shu Jin leaves the marriage with nothing,” Lawyer Li said carefully, choosing his words, “However, I still recommend attempting a settlement divorce first. It will help avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.”
Jiang Yi’s fingers paused on a photograph… it was a painting hanging in the study of the Linjiang Garden apartment, one of Shu Jin’s early works when she had just begun learning to paint. It wasn’t particularly good, but he had always treasured it, even framing it and hanging it in the most prominent spot in the study.
“How has she been recently?” Jiang Yi suddenly asked, a question unrelated to the meeting.
Lawyer Li froze for a moment, then returned to his professional tone, “Based on the information we have, Ms. Shu Jin is still in contact with Mr. Gu Chen. Yesterday afternoon, they were shopping together at Wanxiang City, spending 58,000 using your supplementary card.” Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
Jiang Yi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The girl who once ate instant noodles with him and lived in a rented apartment was now using his money to buy luxury goods for another man.
“Retrieve that painting from Linjiang Garden,” Jiang Yi suddenly said, “As for everything else, proceed according to legal procedures.”
Lawyer Li looked slightly surprised, “Just that painting?”
“That was the first painting she ever made,” Jiang Yi’s voice was quiet, “The rest… doesn’t matter anymore.”
After the lawyer left, Jiang Yi stood alone before the floor-to-ceiling window. The setting sun draped the city in a golden glow, yet he felt no warmth at all.
He took out his wallet. Inside, there was still an old photograph. In it, a younger Shu Jin leaned against his shoulder, smiling brightly like a blooming flower. It had been taken during their hardest days, on the rooftop of their rented apartment. At that time, she had said, “Jiang Yi, as long as I’m with you, I’m willing to endure any hardship.”
Now that the hardships had passed and success had come, the person by his side had already changed her heart.
Jiang Yi gently traced Shu Jin’s smiling face in the photograph. Then he took it out and slowly tore it into two halves. The fragments fell into the trash can, like the end of an era.
Night fell, and the city lights flickered on. Jiang Yi steadied himself and returned to his desk. There was still too much work waiting for him, too many responsibilities to bear.
The Jiang Yi who had once been madly in love was already gone.
The one still standing now was the man steering Hengyao Group forward.
And he had no choice but to keep moving ahead… even if that road no longer had her by his side.