Chapter 5: Divorce Agreement

Ning Chu smiled immediately when she heard Zhou Ran mention her mother. "Whether she agrees or not is my own business."

When Zhou Ran heard this, she thought she must have misheard. Since when did this mama’s girl stop listening to her mother?

No, that’s not right. She wasn’t really a mama’s girl. At least a true mama’s girl is genuinely cherished by her mother. As for Ning Chu’s mother, Zhou Ran had no comment.

Zhou Ran had known Ning Chu since high school, but Ning Chu’s mother had already labeled her as someone inappropriate to associate with, simply because Zhou Ran came from an ordinary, even somewhat poor family.

Zhou Ran’s grades were excellent, though not as good as Ning Chu’s, so they only met because they were in the same class. Despite Zhou Ran’s modest background, Ning Chu never looked down on her. On the contrary, some wealthier classmates called Zhou Ran pretentious and poor.

That’s why Zhou Ran thought Ning Chu was truly a good person.

When it was Ning Chu’s birthday, she initially invited Zhou Ran to her party. But Zhou Ran overheard some words from Ning Chu’s mother that made her realize what kind of person she really was—someone who fawned over the powerful.

“You shouldn’t have invited some of these people today. They mean nothing to you and only waste your time. Ning Chu, you shouldn’t waste your time on these people.”

“Ning Chu, I raised you to be so outstanding not to play with children from poor families. You should only associate with those from wealthy families who can help the Ning family. Don’t invite poor people to our home again, understand?”

Zhou Ran was shocked when she heard this. She never expected the elegant Mrs. Ning to be such a person. Ning Chu obediently listened and never invited Zhou Ran again.

At first, Zhou Ran was very angry. She even immaturely thought about cutting ties with Ning Chu. But then she noticed scars on Ning Chu’s hands. Though upset, Ning Chu had never done anything to her, so she asked if someone had bullied her.

Unexpectedly, Ning Chu said, “I did something wrong; it’s only right for my mother to punish me.”

In that instant, Zhou Ran understood. She never imagined the wife from a wealthy family could be like that.

She even recalled some rumors at school about Ning Chu. People in their circle said Ning Chu’s mother raised her just to marry into an even richer family.

Later, everything seemed to confirm those rumors. Ning Chu indeed married into a top-tier wealthy family.

Zhou Ran thought it was such a pity that someone as talented and well-rounded as Ning Chu ended up marrying just for someone else.

Ning Chu became a wealthy lady, while Zhou Ran graduated and became a divorce lawyer. Unexpectedly, when they reconnected, Ning Chu asked her to draft a divorce agreement.

“Speak a heretical truth—I always thought you shouldn’t have listened to your mother so much. But… let me confirm: you really want a divorce?” Zhou Ran leaned toward Ning Chu.

Ning Chu nodded. “Yes.”

“All right!” Zhou Ran slapped the table. “Since you came to me first with such an important matter, if it goes to court, I can represent you for free.”

Ning Chu: “No need for free. I’m not short of money, and you might not even win against the legal team from Chaoyang Group. You just need to draft the divorce agreement.”

Zhou Ran: ... That stung a little.

“Fine. I brought my laptop. Tell me your wishes for this divorce agreement. Do you want to fight for any property? Even if I don’t win the case, I have connections.”

Ning Chu said, “I can give up 5% of the shares in Chaoyang Group. After all, that was part of the dowry from the alliance marriage. Also, the villa by the lake, the yacht named Mary… It’s fine to give those up.”

Zhou Ran was typing, but suddenly her hand trembled. “These… these are all money. You really don’t want them?” She finally understood why Ning Chu married for alliance’s sake. If she were in her place, she’d feel wronged.

Ning Chu was calm. “No, it’s fine. I just don’t want to make things complicated. No matter how much I fight, the Tantai family isn’t to be trifled with.”

“Th-that’s just ‘a little money’?” Zhou Ran swallowed hard. “You call that a little money?”

Ning Chu glanced at her.

Zhou Ran nodded. “For you, it probably is a little money.” Those who never lacked money from childhood don’t see such sums as much.

“Have you discussed this with Tantai Chao?”

Ning Chu shook her head. “He should be glad to get it all back. Just draft it for me first. I’ll probably meet with his lawyer later.”

“Okay, I’ll draft it. If you find anything unsuitable, we can revise it.”

“Thanks.”

Zhou Ran sighed, “I never thought the first thing I’d do for you after graduation would be drafting your divorce papers.”

Ning Chu: “Maybe I’ll ask for your help with other things in the future.”

Zhou Ran: “I’ll be honored!” She was truly grateful to Ning Chu. When she was about to enter university and almost couldn’t afford tuition, Ning Chu helped her—a small thing, but it meant a lot.

Zhou Ran quickly finished the divorce agreement. The long list of assets made her numb, as if money were just numbers.

“But… if you divorce, what will your parents say about you remarrying? What if they cut off your cards? TV shows always say that.” Zhou Ran was worried.

Ning Chu replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. As for cutting off cards, they can only cancel the secondary cards they gave me, but I have my own bank cards.”

Suddenly, Ning Chu remembered that Tantai Chao had given her a secondary card too. It was time to return it.

“Besides, I have my education. I can work.”

Zhou Ran said, “I’m afraid you won’t adapt to society. If you work once, you’ll realize that sometimes work isn’t something you have to do.”

Ning Chu smiled. “Then I really have to try it—to see if it’s harder to work or to be a puppet.”

“A pu-puppet?”

Ning Chu said, “My life before was like a puppet without a mind.”

Zhou Ran: “...Sounds about right.” But thinking of Ning Chu’s assets, she seriously wondered whether it was better to be a rich puppet or an ordinary free person who could support herself.

Thinking about how even Ning Chu’s food and drink were arranged for her, Zhou Ran concluded that being free was better. A person without freedom, no matter how rich, is worthless.

Money is meant to fulfill one’s desires, but Ning Chu’s wealth seemed just decorative—some things can’t be eaten, some can’t be drunk, some things can’t be done. She was like a vase filled with money.

Zhou Ran said, “I’ll send you the draft soon.”

Ning Chu: “No rush. Do you want to stay for a meal?”

Zhou Ran, fearing Tantai Chao might refuse, said, “No, I have to get back to work. Call me if you need anything.” After a few steps, she turned back. “By the way, I hope next time we can eat hotpot together—spicy hotpot.”

Spicy hotpot—the very thing Ning Chu had once wanted to eat but was forbidden to.