Wen Zhaoning never expected He Huaiqin to ask her that question.
Her eyes curved, dimples appearing on her cheeks, "Lawyer He, is it necessary to ask such a personal question?"
"Of course, when the court determines whether a relationship has broken down, it considers various factors. Whether the marital life has long been a mere formality is important evidence to prove the firmness of both parties' will to divorce," He Huaiqin leaned back in his chair, hands clasped on the desk, looking at Wen Zhaoning with a very rational demeanor. "If you're unwilling to answer, can I assume your marital life is not harmonious?"
"Harmonious, very harmonious. Except for my menstrual period, we do it one, two, three, or four times almost every day. I won't go into details, I'm afraid Lawyer He might feel inferior."
"Is that so?" He Huaiqin gritted his back molars and unhurriedly stood up, walking towards Wen Zhaoning.
Sitting in her chair, Wen Zhaoning instinctively wanted to lean back, but the chair's backrest restricted her movement.
He Huaiqin placed his hands on the wooden armrests of the chair, looking down at her. His tall figure cast a shadow of pressure and aggression over Wen Zhaoning, leaving her nowhere to escape.
"I am your divorce lawyer. For us to cooperate better, you'd best not lie to me."
He was so close that Wen Zhaoning could smell the crisp scent of his aftershave and a faint hint of tobacco.
Despite feeling flustered inside, Wen Zhaoning stubbornly retorted, "I'm not lying. Just because you can't do something doesn't mean other men can't."
"I can't do it?" He Huaiqin leaned down, his lips brushing her ear, and asked in a deep voice, "Miss Wen, have you forgotten who begged me over and over in my arms to let you go back then?"
Wen Zhaoning naturally hadn't forgotten. The man who had his first taste of intimacy back then, relying on his youth, had wanted to exhaust himself every night to please her.
"If you've forgotten, I can help you recall it now."
He Huaiqin's breathing grew heavier.
Wen Zhaoning noticed the changes in his body.
"He Huaiqin, this is your office." She raised her hand to push against his chest. "I'm your client. Is this how Lawyer He treats his clients?"
"If you want me to let you go, you can. Then answer the questions I ask you properly."
"Not harmonious, not harmonious at all." Wen Zhaoning surrendered and answered truthfully, "We've been married for six years, and Lu Hengyu is basically always away on business, he doesn't come home much."
"So it sounds like Miss Wen doesn't have an unharmonious marital life, but rather not much of a marital life at all." He Huaiqin released Wen Zhaoning, throwing out a sarcastic remark, "No wonder you like to look at male models so much."
Wen Zhaoning: "..."
He Huaiqin sat back in his seat and handed Wen Zhaoning a questionnaire, gesturing for her to fill it out.
Wen Zhaoning glanced at it. The questionnaire investigated the basic marital situation of the parties involved in the divorce, child custody rights, and marital property issues.
If He Huaiqin had just brought out this form earlier, why bother asking about marital harmony? This dog man was clearly adding his own agenda.
Wen Zhaoning filled out the questionnaire and handed it to He Huaiqin. He Huaiqin took a look and suddenly asked again, "Lu Hengyu doesn't seem to have a good relationship with the child, why is that?"
With He Huaiqin representing her in this divorce lawsuit, Wen Zhaoning's biggest worry was that he would discover clues about the child's parentage during the proceedings.
As expected, he asked.
Fortunately, she had already thought of an excuse.
"Because Lu Hengyu doesn't like daughters; he wants a son."
He Huaiqin had personally heard Wen Zhaoning's mother-in-law, Zhao Manli, urging her to have a son. He didn't suspect this answer.
He tidied the documents on his desk and said to Wen Zhaoning, "I will have someone prepare the indictment today and formally file for divorce with the court tomorrow."
"Okay, thank you, Lawyer He. You're busy, so I'll be going now."
Wen Zhaoning said this as she stood up to leave.
"Leaving after you're done?" He Huaiqin reached out, pulling Wen Zhaoning to his side, and pressed her onto his lap. "What do you take me for?"
Wen Zhaoning felt his firm, iron-like thigh and certain changes in his body.
Heavens, it's been so long, why hasn't it subsided yet?
Wen Zhaoning subconsciously tried to escape, but He Huaiqin's arm wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her in his embrace.
"Miss Wen, I am your transaction partner right now." His voice was deep and dangerous.
"We are transaction partners, that's true, but this is not the place for a transaction."
"Then let's pay some interest first."
After speaking, He Huaiqin held the back of her neck, pushed her face towards him, tilted his head up, and kissed Wen Zhaoning's red lips.
This kiss was not as fierce as the last, but it wasn't gentle either. His hot tongue forcefully invaded, stealing her breath.
In the quiet office, the gasps of the man and woman gradually intensified.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
There was a sudden knock on the door.
Startled, Wen Zhaoning pushed He Huaiqin away.
He let out a scoff, "Coward."
"Someone's knocking."
"If I don't let them in, no one will dare."
He Huaiqin cupped her chin and kissed her again, their lips entwining deeply once more.
"Lawyer He, Miss Shen is here," Chen Yi's voice came from outside the door.
He Huaiqin stopped his actions. In an instant, his lust receded, his reason returned, and he actively pushed Wen Zhaoning, who was in his arms, away.
Wen Zhaoning felt a pang of disappointment. Just a moment ago, his kiss was so passionate, but in the next, he so coldly drew a line between them.
At this moment, the words "cannot see the light of day" suddenly became tangible.
Yes, it's just a transaction. She should always remember not to indulge in this fleeting warmth, no matter when.
"Lawyer He, I'm leaving now." Wen Zhaoning tidied her hair, gave him a dashing smile, "Goodbye."
After saying that, she turned and left without looking at He Huaiqin's expression.
Outside the door, Shen Yajing was standing there. She saw Wen Zhaoning coming out of He Huaiqin's office, a look of astonishment on her face.
Before Shen Yajing could speak, Wen Zhaoning quickly brushed past her.
Shen Yajing walked into He Huaiqin's office, turning her head to look at Wen Zhaoning's retreating figure as she walked.
"Brother Huaiqin, why is Mrs. Lu in your office?"
"She's getting a divorce. Don't call her Mrs. Lu anymore." He Huaiqin straightened his slightly disheveled shirt, his face returning to its usual detached and calm expression. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, I have a hospital check-up tomorrow. I'm not very familiar with hospitals in the country, and I'm a bit scared. I wanted you to accompany me."
"Alright."
After the divorce lawsuit was filed, Wen Zhaoning waited every day for news of the court session.
However, before she could receive a call from the court, she received one from the hospital.
"Is this Ms. Wen Zhaoning?"
"Yes."
"Your sister, Wen Wanti, was in a car accident and is at the Central Hospital. Please come over immediately."
Upon receiving the call, Wen Zhaoning's heart leaped into her throat, her mind went blank. She immediately took a taxi to the Central Hospital.
The taxi stopped at the hospital entrance. Just as Wen Zhaoning was about to run inside, she was stopped by Lu Hengyu, who was coming towards her.
"Such sisterly affection. One phone call, and you're here so quickly." Lu Hengyu had a smile on his face, the kind that comes after a successful scheme.
Wen Zhaoning realized, "You were the one who had someone make that call?"
"I had someone make the call. Otherwise, with you hiding so well, how would I find you?"
After finding Qing Ning, Wen Zhaoning had blocked all of Lu Hengyu's contact information. Her original intention was not to see Lu Hengyu again before the divorce, but she never expected him to force her to appear in such a way.
"There's nothing for us to discuss."
Wen Zhaoning turned to leave, but Lu Hengyu grabbed her wrist and pulled her in the opposite direction.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Wen Zhaoning struggled but couldn't break free. Seeing that the situation was bad, she started to shout, "Help! Help!"
Unfortunately, the people around were mostly hurried patients' families, and no one had the inclination to meddle in her affairs.
A kind elder brother finally came to intervene, but Lu Hengyu brushed him off by saying, "She's my wife, she's just having a tantrum."
Lu Hengyu dragged Wen Zhaoning into a small park next to the hospital.
At this hour, the small park was deserted.
"Lu Hengyu, what do you think you're doing in broad daylight?"
Wen Zhaoning tried to struggle and escape again, but Lu Hengyu slapped her.
Lu Hengyu used all his strength in this slap, knocking Wen Zhaoning to the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of her lip.
"Bitch, you actually dare to file for divorce! You think you're so great, don't you?" Lu Hengyu pointed at Wen Zhaoning, his eyes blazing with anger. "I'm telling you, you can divorce me, but take your little burden and get as far away as you can. But you won't get a single cent of the Lu family's money!"
"What I'm asking for is my dowry."
"From the moment you married into the Lu family, your dowry was the Lu family's money. I advise you to be sensible, otherwise, whether your sister will really be in a car accident next time is uncertain."
First her daughter, then her sister. Lu Hengyu, this despicable and shameless man, only knew how to threaten her by using people close to her.
Wen Zhaoning suddenly looked up. While Lu Hengyu was caught off guard, she grabbed his arm and bit down hard.
"Ah!!!"
Lu Hengyu let out a piercing scream. The intense pain in his arm enraged him. He raised his uninjured hand and swung it towards Wen Zhaoning again, but before the slap could land on her face, a powerful hand suddenly shot out and intercepted Lu Hengyu's.
"Mr. Lu, bullying a woman is not the act of a gentleman." The owner of the large hand spoke coldly, with a terrifying ferocity, and pushed Lu Hengyu's hand back.
Lu Hengyu stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance. He looked up at the newcomer and saw it was He Huaiqin.
"Lawyer He, what a coincidence, what are you doing here?"
He Huaiqin didn't answer. His gaze quickly swept over Wen Zhaoning. Seeing the bloodstain on her lip, the coldness in his eyes deepened.
"Are you alright?" He Huaiqin bent down and helped Wen Zhaoning up from the ground.
Wen Zhaoning shook her head.
He Huaiqin handed her a handkerchief, gesturing for her to wipe her mouth.
Seeing this, Lu Hengyu quickly came over to explain, "Lawyer He, I apologize. It's just a small argument between husband and wife, you had to witness this."
As he spoke, he tried to pull Wen Zhaoning to his side, but He Huaiqin directly pushed his hand away and shielded Wen Zhaoning behind him. "Don't touch her!"
Lu Hengyu looked at He Huaiqin and suddenly laughed, "Lawyer He, she's my wife. By what right are you telling me not to touch her?"
"I am Miss Wen's divorce lawyer. According to legal provisions and the retainer agreement, during the divorce proceedings, I have an obligation to protect my client's personal safety and legal rights from any form of threat, intimidation, or unlawful infringement." He Huaiqin's tone was unfriendly.
Lu Hengyu thought he misheard, "Lawyer He, as the head of the prestigious Yaohua Law Firm, why would you take on a divorce case?"
"What cases I take on is my freedom." He Huaiqin put his arm around Wen Zhaoning's shoulder and glanced at Lu Hengyu. "However, it now seems that there's no need for this divorce case to go to court."
Before Lu Hengyu could understand what he meant, he heard He Huaiqin add, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, I will personally take Miss Wen to the Lu family to sign the divorce agreement."
"I'm not signing any divorce agreement."
"That's not up to you."
The Cullinan was parked in the hospital's outdoor parking lot.
He Huaiqin first helped Wen Zhaoning into the car.
"Wait for me here," he said, turning back into the hospital.
A moment later, He Huaiqin returned to the car, holding a bottle of iodine and a box of sterile cotton swabs.
"Turn your head over." His voice was curt, clearly showing anger.
Wen Zhaoning didn't know why he was angry, but she obediently turned her head, exposing the wound on the corner of her mouth to him.
He Huaiqin unscrewed the iodine bottle and used a cotton swab to wipe away the bloodstain from her lip.
The cold sting made Wen Zhaoning tremble involuntarily. She instinctively tried to pull back, but He Huaiqin held her shoulder.
"You know it hurts now?" He Huaiqin's tone was displeased. "Who told you to go meet him?"
"He sent someone to call me, saying my sister was in a car accident at the hospital. I was anxious and forgot to call my sister to confirm before coming."
"When you're being clever with me, your mind works pretty fast. What happened today, did it rust?"
"But that's my sister, how could I stay calm?"
"Reckless, you deserve it."
His words were harsh, but his hands became gentler with each movement.
Wen Zhaoning inexplicably felt a trace of tenderness. Knowing she shouldn't be moved, her heart softened at that moment.
"Why are you here?" Wen Zhaoning asked.
"Something came up."
"What a coincidence."
"Yes, if it weren't for this coincidence, you'd be wearing sunglasses and a mask again tomorrow." He Huaiqin threw away the blood-stained cotton swab and picked up a new one. "This man with violent tendencies, what did you even like about him back then?"
"If I didn't marry him, how would I know he had violent tendencies?" Wen Zhaoning sighed. "Men are so cunning. They're good at pretending. One face before marriage, another after marriage, and yet another after having children. Their ability to change faces is superb."
"Don't paint all men with the same brush. Besides, Lu Hengyu hitting women, he can hardly be called a man."
Wen Zhaoning nodded. He Huaiqin was right. Lu Hengyu wasn't a man in any aspect. Everything about him, except his fists, was hard to get up.
"Alright." He Huaiqin finished treating the wound and threw the used cotton swabs and iodine into the car's trash bag.
"Thank you." Wen Zhaoning looked in the mirror and suddenly remembered something. "Are you really taking me to the Lu family to sign the divorce agreement tomorrow?"
"Scared?"
"Not scared, it's just that the Lu family definitely won't compromise easily."
"Don't worry, I'm here."
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