Early the next morning, Shen Wanci received a call from Bo Jingzhou's lawyer. The two arranged to meet at a nearby café. To be safe, she also called Lawyer Lu.
Judging from Bo Jingzhou's willingness to divorce last night, she had a nagging feeling today's affair wouldn't go so smoothly.
When Shen Wanci arrived, the Bo Group's lawyer was already there—and it was someone she recognized—
Huo Tingdong, the head of the Bo Group's legal team. But he had only ever taken on massive economic cases; she'd never heard of him taking a small one like a divorce.
Soon enough, though, Shen Wanci realized this was no small case.
Because the figure in the property-division column came to over three hundred million!
"Lawyer Huo, what is the meaning of this?"
Huo Tingdong's manner was strictly business, his words not the least bit sharp: "That debt of three hundred fifty million Director Bo repaid on your behalf earlier is your personal pre-marital debt. According to the relevant laws and regulations, after your divorce he has the right to recover that sum."
He turned to the very last page. "Here is the itemized breakdown of all marital property. Once it's divided, you'll still owe Director Bo three hundred million."
Shen Wanci knit her brows. "But I married Bo Jingzhou precisely to pay off that debt. He and I had an agreement."
If she hadn't been driven into a corner with nowhere to turn back then, she would never have married Bo Jingzhou for that money.
"Then do you have any evidence to prove that sum was a gift from Director Bo?"
Faced with Huo Tingdong's question, Shen Wanci fell silent.
Of course she did not.
One look at her expression and Huo Tingdong guessed the answer. He said with a smile, "Since there's no evidence, then it doesn't count as a gift."
As they spoke, Lawyer Lu arrived too. Seeing Huo Tingdong, he was slightly taken aback. "Lawyer Huo?"
In legal circles Huo Tingdong was a legend known to all—a man countless people would give their right arm to retain and still couldn't—and here he was, handling a mere divorce case.
Lawyer Lu stepped forward of his own accord. "Lawyer Huo, I'm Miss Shen's representing attorney."
Huo Tingdong gave a nod, then glanced at his watch. He had other matters to attend to and no time to linger here.
"Miss Shen, I have other business, so I'll be going. Director Bo has already signed the divorce agreement. If you agree, you can go handle the formalities anytime."
Shen Wanci: ......
Five minutes later, Lawyer Lu closed the divorce agreement and said with a grave expression, "Miss Shen, my personal advice is that you have a proper talk with Director Bo. Going to court in a situation like this would be very unfavorable for you. You have no evidence to prove this sum was a gift, and on top of that, the lawyer the other side hired is Huo Tingdong... If you can settle it privately, that would be best of all."
Shen Wanci's expression at that moment was beyond words. She put away the divorce agreement and gave a faint nod. "Thank you for your trouble today, Lawyer Lu. I'll call you once I've thought it over."
After leaving the café, she dialed Bo Jingzhou's number.
At that moment Bo Jingzhou was in a meeting, his phone on silent, but when the screen lit up, he glanced at it...
The three characters 'Shen Wanci' were dancing across it.
He didn't answer.
By now, Huo Tingdong should have finished talking with her.
Since she was so adamant about getting divorced, she ought to bear the corresponding consequences. He knew what she was calling to say: divorce, and shoulder a three-hundred-million debt; don't divorce, and keep enjoying the luxurious life that came with being Mrs. Bo.
Choose one of the two—anyone whose head was screwed on right would know which to pick.
But he didn't want to respond to her so quickly. He had to let her learn a lesson before it would stick, so she wouldn't make a scene again next time, threatening him with divorce over some trifle.
The phone rang until it cut off automatically. He'd thought Shen Wanci would call again, but... she didn't.
It wasn't until the meeting ended and everyone else had left that Chen Xu pushed open the door and came in. "Director Bo, Miss Shen's call came through to me."
Bo Jingzhou's gaze was indifferent, carrying a trace of cold, callous mockery. He had other things to do shortly and no spare time to waste on Shen Wanci.
"Tell her to move herself back. Next time she makes a scene with divorce, I'll grant her wish."
Chen Xu glanced at his own president, hesitated, then gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Shen says... she agrees to your terms. She's signed the divorce agreement and wants you to find time to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and complete the formalities."
Shen Wanci's actual words had been a good deal harsher—she'd even called Director Bo some kind of clingy plaster you couldn't peel off! But even if he were given a hundred times the nerve, he wouldn't dare repeat it word for word!
Bo Jingzhou's eyes abruptly narrowed. "She agreed to the divorce?"
"Mm. That's what Miss Shen said."
"......"
The man stared at the phone in front of him, saying nothing for a long while.
Chen Xu couldn't read his mind, and asked gingerly, "Director Bo, do you need me to relay a reply to Miss Shen?"
"Creeak..."
The next second, Bo Jingzhou shot to his feet and strode out of the conference room, an indescribable, biting chill radiating from head to toe...
Chen Xu hurried to keep up, and was nearly flattened in the nose by the glass door Bo Jingzhou had slammed shut!
Swiping at his phone as he walked, Bo Jingzhou dialed a number—
"Chen Xu tells me you agree to the divorce?"
"Mm."
Shen Wanci was standing at the roadside hailing a cab just then, a fine sweat all over her. The blazing July sun had scorched the pavement, and all she wanted was to get home and take a shower.
But over the phone, Bo Jingzhou's voice was unusually cold: "Three hundred million. When do you plan to pay it back?"
Shen Wanci frowned. Was he in such a hurry?
"Let's handle the formalities first. I'll repay the money in installments."
"Installments? Over how long?" Bo Jingzhou's voice carried mockery. "On the pittance you earn working a job, how many lifetimes would it take to scrape together three hundred million? What if I complete the formalities with you, and then you go back on your word and deny the debt?"
Shen Wanci suppressed her heat-induced irritation and replied, "I can write you an IOU."
"Heh. Even a bank loan looks at assets. What assets do you have to make me believe you can repay three hundred million?"