Grassroots lawyers also have their day

Chapter 77 Leaving with nothing

About twenty minutes later, a man and a woman in their thirties were led into the conference room by the receptionist. Wang Chuan then followed Zheng Yi into the conference room.

"Hello, I'm Attorney Zheng, and this is my assistant, Wang Chuan. Which of you can introduce the situation?" Zheng Yi asked, looking at the silent man and woman opposite him.

The man opposite me had his hair parted in a 3/7 style, had a gentle and refined appearance, and looked every bit the artsy young man. He was dressed casually in jeans and a large t-shirt, and had a serious expression on his face.

The woman beside the man had an oval face, was quite attractive, wore light makeup, and exuded the charm of a mature woman.

Some people online use peaches to describe women. The blooming of peach blossoms corresponds to a woman's ten months of pregnancy and childbirth; the time from when the peach blossoms fade to when the peach begins to grow until it tastes unripe corresponds to a girl's journey from learning to speak to graduating from university and stepping into society with a youthful and innocent look.

As the unripe peach is exposed to the sunlight and absorbs nutrients from the earth, it slowly becomes half-ripe. At this time, the girl is also undergoing a transformation, from a girl to a woman.

Finally, as a woman matures over time, she develops her own unique charm. She is like a ripe peach, not necessarily with almond-shaped eyes or a perfect bottom, but with a different kind of allure that cannot be described simply as pretty or beautiful. It is a transformation from the inside out, a composure, a detachment, and a calm demeanor.

Of course, some succeed in transforming, while others fail. It's okay if you don't transform; there's a magical thing called "cosmetics." This stuff can make women, or a small number of men without beards, appear more attractive—but only superficially, to appear mature!

The woman had a cold, indifferent expression, like an ice queen. Judging from her clothes, Wang Chuan guessed she was probably wealthy.

The word "possibly" is used because nowadays it's difficult to judge a person's worth solely by their clothes and accessories. Some people are decked out in designer brands and drive luxury cars, yet they're on a blacklist for dishonesty; others ride a cheap bicycle, wear inexpensive clothes, but carry the keys to properties that many struggling migrants in Beijing crave, collecting rent from all the way down from the Second Ring Road to the Sixth Ring Road. If the Seventh Ring Road hadn't been built so late, they probably could have collected rent all the way down to it.

"Attorney Zheng, we've been married for over two years, and now we're having relationship problems and want a divorce. Here's a list of all our marital property." The artsy young man handed Zheng Yi an A4 sheet of paper listing the couple's shared assets.

Zheng Yi took the list and glanced at it, his eyes lighting up and a hint of envy appearing on his face. After looking at it, he handed the list of assets to Wang Chuan, who was standing next to him.

A Mercedes, a Bentley, diamond rings, various gemstones, and clothing from various international brands—but these were nothing compared to the real estate that surprised Zheng Yi and Wang Chuan the most. And it wasn't just one property.

They own a villa near Miyun Reservoir, a property of over 150 square meters in Wanliu, Haidian District, a duplex in Palm Springs, Chaoyang District, and a school district property near Renmin University Affiliated High School, supposedly for their children's education. Unfortunately, the couple has never had children.

What's most valuable is that this school district property is different from ordinary school district properties. It's not the kind where you can only have a student registration but can't live in it; it's habitable and has an area of ​​nearly 100 square meters.

"How do you two intend to divide this property?" Zheng Yi asked.

Since the couple came to the law firm together to have a lawyer draft a divorce agreement, they should have already discussed it beforehand and have a general plan for the distribution of their joint property.

"Attorney Zheng, I don't want any of the assets on this property list; I'll give them all to her. We have a prenuptial agreement that states each person's assets in their own bank accounts belong to them. We have no debts..." the artsy young man said expressionlessly.

Wang Chuan was startled and gave the artsy young man a deep look. What a man! Leaving with nothing!

Zheng Yi looked calmly at the artsy young man, his eyes questioning, "So much wealth is just being handed over like this!"

"Attorney Zheng, you don't need to doubt me, this is exactly what I meant." The artsy young man smiled faintly, his face resolute.

"Guo Ming, we've been together for so long, is your heart really this cruel?" The mature woman's eyes were filled with tears, and a trace of reluctance flashed across her usually indifferent face.

"It's all my fault, you don't need to say anything more." The artsy young man glanced at the mature woman, pushed a fine leather bag to Zheng Yi, then stood up and looked out the window at the sky: "Attorney Zheng, the bag contains all the certificates you asked me to bring. I'd like to get the divorce papers today, is that alright?"

"No problem, please wait a moment. I will bring you the agreement in an hour at most." After saying that, Zheng Yi nudged Wang Chuan and the other man out of the conference room and went to Director Niu's office.

When Lao Niu wasn't around, his office served as a second meeting room, which anyone from the law firm could use freely. If it weren't for the other party's vast wealth, Zheng Yi could have finalized a divorce agreement in less than twenty minutes.

"Attorney Zheng, apart from the villa, all their properties were bought outright, and the mortgage on the villa was paid off before they got married. They're really rich!" Wang Chuan sighed softly after checking the couple's joint assets.

Wei Ping, who had been pulled in as a conscript, looked on in surprise: "They're so rich, they have no worries about food or clothing, why would they want a divorce!"

"Sigh! You don't understand, do you?" Wang Chuan sighed after tidying up the documents in his hand.

"Hmm, I really don't understand!" Wei Ping said, looking at Wang Chuan and waiting for him to explain.

Wang Chuan was taken aback: "Why are you looking at me? I don't understand either."

Wei Ping was taken aback: "Okay!" After saying that, she rolled her eyes at Wang Chuan.

Zheng Yi, who was standing nearby, chuckled and said, "Alright, stop guessing and get to work!"

Forty minutes later, Wang Chuan followed Zheng Yi back into the conference room. The mature woman was wiping her eyes with a tissue. The artsy young man stood against the wall, staring at the ceiling.

"Mr. Guo, the agreement has been drafted. Please take a look. If there are any changes needed, we will make adjustments accordingly," Zheng Yi said, handing two printed copies of the agreement to the artsy young man and the mature woman.

Ten minutes later, Wang Chuan brought the revised divorce agreement, based on the mature woman's advice, into the meeting room. After reviewing it, the couple signed the agreement directly.

"Mr. Guo, let me remind you both that the divorce agreement will only become effective after you complete the divorce procedures at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Until then, you are still legally married," Zheng Yi said to the couple.

"Okay, thank you, Attorney Zheng. I'll transfer the fee to you." With that, the artsy young man took out his wallet and pulled out a bank card.

The mature woman looked at the artsy young man, reached out and placed her hand on his arm holding the bank card: "We were husband and wife, let's part amicably. Thank you for taking care of me these past two years. Since you're short on funds, I'll cover the expenses!"

(End of this chapter)