39: Chapter 39 Dust Settles and New Life Begins
The fluorescent lights in the business incubator hummed. Zhang Fan stared at the progress bar on the screen; when the 100% appeared, he let out a long sigh of relief.
The initial draft for the Digital Power project was finally complete. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his aching shoulders. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the thermal container on the desk next to him—it was the white fungus soup Zhou Yurou had brought over this morning, and it was still warm.
Lately, his life had been filled with two things: rushing the project and accompanying Zhou Yurou through her divorce.
It was a bit ridiculous, really. He was a "lonely loser" who had been single from birth until graduation, and after finally becoming a "simp" for a year, he had been cheated on. His greatest wish in life wasn't career success or health and safety, but to fall in love and find a woman of his own.
In the heart of a true "lonely loser" like him, women were simply the Creator's most favored masterpieces. To others, the saying "every hair on a woman is good" might sound crude, but to him, it was no joke.
Like a person who has been hungry for a long time, even moldy bread smells delicious.
In his perception, women were beautiful beings. Even though he had been deeply hurt by his ex-girlfriend, this thought hadn't been completely extinguished.
This almost pathological longing was like a program etched into his bones. When he met Zhou Yurou, it had unconsciously started up again.
Especially a beautiful older sister like Zhou Yurou—gentle, resilient, like a plant withered by wind and rain yet still taking root—she stirred an inexplicable protective urge in him.
"Fan Zi, what are you dazing off for?" Gu Jingshen walked in carrying a cup of milk tea. "Digital Power just sent a message. The initial draft passed, and they want us to go over and refine the details next week."
"Got it." Zhang Fan picked up the thermal container and scooped a spoonful of white fungus soup. A sweet warmth slid down his throat. "By the way, I heard Auntie Li Lu came by earlier. Did she say if she found a house?"
"She did. She came over specifically for that. A two-bedroom apartment in a neighborhood three streets away, fully furnished, with a monthly rent of 3,500 yuan." Gu Jingshen raised an eyebrow. "You're far too concerned about Sister Zhou, finding her a house and treating her to meals. You haven't actually fallen for her, have you?"
Zhang Fan's face felt a bit hot. "Don't talk nonsense. She just got a divorce; it hasn't been easy for her."
"I'm reminding you, Sister Zhou is ten years older than you."
"Age isn't an issue... Wait, that's not what I meant!" Zhang Fan quickly changed the subject. "Come with me to look at the house this afternoon. If it's suitable, we'll have Sister Zhou move in. It's close to the studio, which is convenient."
Gu Jingshen smiled meaningfully and shook his head. "Fine, you call the shots."
When they went to see the house that afternoon, Zhou Yurou came along too. She wore a beige long down jacket. The knee-length coat looked exceptionally warm in the cold wind, and the drawstring at the waist outlined her slender figure.
Her hair was simply tied back, and she wore light makeup, looking much more energetic than she had in the hospital.
"Sorry to trouble you both." She looked at Zhang Fan, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"It's no trouble." Zhang Fan scratched his head, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, Sister Zhou, my studio is short an administrative and financial assistant. If you don't mind..."
He choked on his words before he could finish.
Zhou Yurou used to be a full-time housewife; what did she know about administration or finance? Was he being too abrupt?
To his surprise, Zhou Yurou was stunned for a moment and then smiled. "Can I do it? I haven't worked in many years."
"Just give it a try. It's not hard, just managing contracts and filing expenses. The monthly salary is 8,000 yuan." Zhang Fan added quickly, "If you feel it's not a good fit, you can leave anytime."
Gu Jingshen stifled a laugh nearby—this kid, in order to keep her around, he even quoted a high salary.
Zhou Yurou was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Okay, I'll try."
She didn't actually say that back when she was in the investment world, she managed dozens of people, and the projects she handled were worth hundreds of millions.
The company Yang Lei was currently at had been recommended by her through her connections before she resigned. Otherwise, with his limited ability, he would be a low-level salesman at most.
It was just that she had been "love-brained" back then, hiding her brilliance and content to be a housewife. She never expected to end up in such a state.
Perhaps starting over in this small studio wouldn't be so bad.
The house was finally settled. On moving day, Zhang Fan and Gu Jingshen ran back and forth, moving Zhou Yurou's luggage from Yujing Garden.
Yang Lei wasn't home. Only his mother stood at the door, cursing and calling Zhou Yurou "ungrateful" and a "social climber." Zhou Yurou ignored her, only taking one last look at the home she had lived in for seven years. Her eyes were as calm as stagnant water.
The divorce trial was set for a week later. As the plaintiff, Zhou Yurou was represented by Lawyer Wang from the Gu Corporation. In the courtroom, Yang Lei sat at the defendant's table in a sharp suit. The lawyer beside him was whispering something to him, a confident smile on his face.
"Your Honor," Yang Lei's lawyer spoke first. "My client believes that the divorce petition filed by the plaintiff, Zhou Yurou, lacks basis, and the so-called 'infidelity within marriage' is pure slander. Furthermore, the assets mentioned by the plaintiff are all my client's pre-marital property and have nothing to do with the plaintiff."
Lawyer Wang stood up, his tone calm yet powerful. "Objection. First, we have sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant, Yang Lei, lived with Yuan Mubai for a long time during the marriage—this is the neighborhood surveillance footage showing Yuan Mubai entering and leaving the defendant's residence late at night multiple times. This is a prenatal checkup report from the hospital, proving that Yuan Mubai was pregnant and that the defendant paid for her significant expenses during the same period."
The evidence was shown on the projector one by one, and Yang Lei's face gradually turned pale.
"Secondly, regarding the assets," Lawyer Wang continued, "these are the transaction records of the defendant's investments after marriage, many of which originated from the plaintiff's pre-marital property. These are transfer vouchers showing the defendant maliciously transferring joint marital property; last year alone, he transferred nearly 500,000 yuan to his mother's account."
He paused and presented the final set of evidence. "Furthermore, the defendant committed domestic violence against the plaintiff—this is the medical record after the plaintiff was beaten, this is a recording of the defendant threatening the plaintiff in the hospital, and this is a video of Yuan Mubai coming to the door to provoke the plaintiff, leading to her miscarriage..."
Yang Lei slumped in the defendant's seat, his face ashen, unable to say a word.
In the gallery, Yang's Mother suddenly jumped up and pointed at Zhou Yurou, cursing loudly. "You bitch! You're the one with messy relationships! You're involved with that kid across the hall, and you still have the nerve to divide the assets? Our Yang family was truly blind to marry you..."
"Silence!" The judge slammed the gavel, his face grim. "If you disrupt the court order again, you will be detained for contempt of court!"
Yang's Mother was escorted out by the bailiffs, still cursing under her breath.
Zhou Yurou remained silent throughout. Only when Lawyer Wang mentioned that "the plaintiff voluntarily waives custody of the child" did her shoulders tremble slightly, and her eyes turned red.
When the final verdict was delivered, sunlight streamed through the courtroom window, falling on Zhou Yurou's face.
"The verdict is as follows: The plaintiff Zhou Yurou's petition for divorce is granted. The facts of the defendant Yang Lei's infidelity and malicious transfer of joint marital property are clear and the evidence is solid. The daughter born of the marriage, Yang Wenjiao, shall be raised by the defendant. The joint marital property shall be divided according to law; the property located on Jiangcheng Road and 650,000 yuan in savings shall belong to the plaintiff..."
Upon hearing the word "divorce," Zhou Yurou let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She looked at Yang Lei at the defendant's table; his head was bowed, and his expression was unclear—perhaps it was regret, perhaps resentment—but none of it mattered to her anymore.
Walking out of the court, Lawyer Wang smiled and congratulated her. "Ms. Zhou, congratulations."
"Thank you, Lawyer Wang, and thank your President Gu as well," Zhou Yurou said sincerely.
"The one you should thank is Zhang Fan." Lawyer Wang gave a meaningful look at Zhang Fan, who was not far away. "This kid almost delayed his project for your sake."
Zhang Fan was talking to Gu Jingshen; seeing Zhou Yurou look over, he immediately broke into a wide grin.
Zhou Yurou walked over and took an envelope from her bag. "Zhang Fan, this is the rent and deposit for the house. Thank you for advancing it for me."
"No rush, you keep it for now," Zhang Fan waved his hand.
"No, business is business." Zhou Yurou stuffed the envelope into his hand, a newfound lightness in her eyes. "Let me treat you all to dinner tonight as a celebration... to celebrate my regained freedom."
"Sure!" Gu Jingshen immediately agreed. "I know a great hot pot place; let's go there!"
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the three people very long as they walked side by side on the road, looking like three warriors who had just won a battle.
Zhang Fan stole a glance at Zhou Yurou. A faint smile played on her lips, and the sunlight caught the ends of her hair, gilding them with gold. He suddenly felt that with the Digital Power project passing, Sister Zhou's divorce finalized, and the studio having its first employee, everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
As for what the future would hold, who knew?
At least for now, the wind was warm, the road was wide, and the person beside him was someone to cherish.