At exactly ten o’clock in the morning, the door to the chairman’s office at Shengshi Group was pushed open.
Gu Jing Shen walked in unhurriedly.
He was dressed in a simple black suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, his expression so calm that there was barely a trace of tension on his face.
Inside the spacious office, Su Zheng Ting was already seated behind his desk.
He had been waiting for quite some time, with a thick file and a steaming cup of tea placed before him.
Hearing the door open, he merely raised his eyes to look at the man who had just entered.
He did not stand to greet him, nor did he show the slightest intention of welcoming his guest.
His gaze was cold and sharp, carrying the imposing presence of a man who was accustomed to making others bow their heads before him.
Su Zheng Ting slowly raised his wrist and glanced at the watch on his hand.
The second hand moved precisely past the twelve.
Exactly ten o’clock—not a second early, not a second late.
He lowered his hand, his sharp gaze settling on Gu Jing Shen .
“Right on time.” Gu Jing Shen was completely unaffected by his imposing presence.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he walked over to the desk, stopped in front of Su Zheng Ting, and calmly replied, “Since it was an appointment with Father, of course I couldn’t be late.” The moment he heard Gu Jing Shen call him Father, Su Zheng Ting’s expression darkened.
He set his teacup down heavily and looked at him coldly.
“Don’t call me that.” Gu Jing Shen raised an eyebrow slightly, but his expression remained composed.
“Have you forgotten that I’ve married your beloved daughter?” Su Zheng Ting let out a cold laugh.
“Do you think marrying Jin Yue means you have the right to call me Father?” Gu Jing Shen fell silent for a few seconds before pulling out the chair opposite the desk and sitting down leisurely.
“Then what should I call you?” “Call me what everyone else calls me.” “Fine.” Gu Jing Shen nodded naturally.
“Chairman Su.” His immediate compliance made Su Zheng Ting pause for a moment.
He had intended to use the way Gu Jing Shen addressed him to remind the younger man of the difference in their status, but Gu Jing Shen showed no sign of embarrassment.
It was as if he did not care in the slightest that Su Zheng Ting refused to acknowledge him as a son-in-law, nor did he have any intention of ingratiating himself with him.
Su Zheng Ting opened the file on his desk, pulled out several sheets of paper, and spoke slowly.
“I’ve investigated you.
Twenty-seven years old, a freelance lawyer.
Both of your parents are deceased.
You have no family backing you, no business standing behind you.
Your track record isn’t bad, but when all is said and done, you don’t have much of anything in your hands.” Gu Jing Shen lowered his eyes to the file but made no move to pick it up.
He simply replied calmly, “Everything you’ve said is true.” Su Zheng Ting had not expected him to admit it so readily.
His eyes narrowed, and his tone grew even colder.
“Then what makes you think you’re worthy of marrying my daughter?” “She agreed.” “Do you really think marriage is that simple?” Su Zheng Ting sneered.
“Do you know how many people want to become my son-in-law?
Some of them spent years trying to get close to Jin Yue .
Some come from families with prominent backgrounds and still aren’t necessarily qualified to stand before me.
And what about you?
You have no money, no family background, no connections.
What gives you the right to stand here?” Gu Jing Shen looked at him for several seconds before the corners of his lips curved slightly.
“You’re asking me what gives me the right to become your son-in-law.
But I think you’re asking the wrong person.
The person you should be asking is Jin Yue .
She knows what I have and what I don’t have, yet she still chose to marry me.
That proves I have value to her.” Su Zheng Ting stared at him, the coldness in his eyes sharpening even further.
He had not expected Gu Jing Shen to use his own words against him.
A man with no family background and no wealth was actually sitting in front of him, calmly declaring that he had value in his daughter’s eyes.
To Su Zheng Ting, that was nothing short of a provocation.
He had met plenty of talented young people over the years, but very few dared to sit before him and remain this composed.
“You should understand one thing.
Here in Dongcheng, all it would take is one phone call from me to turn a promising young lawyer into a man with a ruined reputation.
The cases you’re handling could be affected, and the people who once worked with you could turn their backs on you in an instant.
I want you out of Jin Yue ‘s life.
That isn’t a request.” Su Zheng Ting leaned back in his chair, his voice growing colder.
Gu Jing Shen said nothing.
He merely looked at the man before him, his gaze so calm that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Su Zheng Ting took a blank check from his drawer, placed it on the desk, and pushed it toward him.
“If you sign the divorce papers and leave Jin Yue ‘s life, this check is yours.
Write whatever amount you want.
One hundred million, five hundred million, even one billion.
It’s up to you.” He then placed the divorce papers on the desk.
“That’s the price of keeping your career intact.” The room fell silent.
Gu Jing Shen lowered his eyes to the divorce papers, then looked at the blank check beside them.
For an ordinary person, the mere thought of one hundred million would probably have been enough to make them hesitate.
But in his eyes, the check before him was nothing more than a blank piece of paper.
“So Chairman Su really wants me out of your daughter’s life.” “I don’t want to waste any more words.” Su Zheng Ting looked at him coldly.
“You’re a smart man.
I’m sure you understand which choice is in your best interest.
Don’t let all the years you’ve spent building your career go up in smoke because of a marriage.” Gu Jing Shen raised his head and looked at him.
“And if I refuse?” Su Zheng Ting’s expression immediately hardened.
“Then you can try.” “Try what?” “Try and see how long you can stand against me on your own.” His voice was not loud, but the threat in it was unmistakable.
Su Zheng Ting was accustomed to using his power to make people submit.
As long as the other party knew fear, everything else would be easy.
But Gu Jing Shen merely smiled faintly.
“Chairman Su, do you know the biggest difference between the two of us?” “What?” “You have a lot to lose.” Su Zheng Ting’s eyes changed instantly.
Gu Jing Shen continued to look directly at him, his voice calm and unhurried.
“You have Shengshi Group, your status, your reputation, your family, and countless people whose lives depend on your decisions.
I’m different.
I don’t have that much to lose.
If you want to use your power to pressure me, I can withstand it.
If you want to cut off every path I have, I can find another one.
You can make things more difficult for me, but you can’t make me disappear with a few phone calls.” “You think I’m threatening you?” “No.” Gu Jing Shen shook his head.
“I think you’re a man who can make good on his words.” “Then why are you still sitting here?” “Because I want to see just how far you can go.” Su Zheng Ting stared at him.
His answer was not openly provocative, yet it irritated him more than any direct challenge could have.
It was as though Gu Jing Shen were standing before him, accepting every bit of pressure he could bring to bear, while calmly telling him that he wanted to see exactly how much power he could truly wield.
“Are you challenging me?” “I wouldn’t dare.” “Gu Jing Shen .” Su Zheng Ting gritted out his name.
“Don’t be too confident.
Here in Dongcheng, not everyone is someone you can afford to offend.” “I know.” Su Zheng Ting leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on Gu Jing Shen ‘s face for a long moment before he finally spoke.
“I’ll give you one last chance.
Sign the divorce papers, take the check, and leave Jin Yue .
From now on, I can pretend we’ve never met.” Gu Jing Shen did not answer immediately.
He lowered his eyes to the divorce papers on the desk, then looked at the blank check beside them.
The two things lay neatly beneath the light, one representing the end of his marriage, the other representing the price Su Zheng Ting was willing to pay to make him disappear.
Gu Jing Shen stared at it for a long while.
The corners of his lips slowly curved into the faintest of smiles.
Then he raised his eyes to look at Su Zheng Ting.
His voice remained calm, carrying even a hint of amusement.
“Can I write in any amount I want?”