Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty-Three: Divorced

Lin Youyou, staying at the hotel, was lying on the bed playing with her phone.

After receiving the message from Xu Huanshan, she was deeply surprised—he had only just returned not long ago.

Unconsciously, Lin Youyou began to suspect something.

She told the staff downstairs to send Xu Huanshan up.

Not long after, a knock came at the door; Lin Youyou opened it and saw Xu Huanshan, clearly different from his usual self.

She froze for a moment, stepped aside to let him in: “What’s wrong?”

Xu Huanshan said nothing, kicked the door shut, picked up Lin Youyou, and rolled onto the bed with her.

After their passion subsided, they leaned against the bed.

After a moment of silence, Xu Huanshan said: “Gu Jia found out.”

Lin Youyou was stunned by the news—she had only assumed they were quarreling, never imagining Gu Jia had discovered them. Combined with Xu Huanshan coming here, the outcome was obvious.

Though secretly delighted, she still asked: “What’s the result?”

“We’re divorcing tomorrow.”

“What about us?”

Xu Huanshan paused for a long while: “Let’s wait and see.”

Though disappointed, the news that Xu Huanshan would divorce tomorrow filled her with excitement.

The next day, Gu Jia had drunk heavily the previous night and was still asleep in the living room.

Wang Yan went out for a run and brought back breakfast, then woke up Xu Ziyang to eat.

Xu Ziyang exercised every day and had plenty of energy; though children naturally crave sleep, he’d already slept enough—he just rolled around in bed, unwilling to get up.

Wang Yan called once, and Xu Ziyang got up immediately—no grumpiness, no resistance at all.

Xu Ziyang stepped out and was surprised to see Gu Jia sleeping in the living room.

He sometimes slept at Wang Yan’s place, but his mother had never once let him stay overnight.

“Dad, why is Mom here too?”

“She got drunk. Your dad’s away, so she just stayed here. Come on, eat up.”

Xu Ziyang was sensible, knew his mother was drunk, and spoke softly so as not to wake her.

After they finished eating, Wang Yan helped Xu Ziyang get ready and drove him to school.

When he returned, Gu Jia was awake and in the shower.

The morning was the best time for action, and Wang Yan felt a flicker of desire. But he controlled it well—after today, he could do whatever he wanted; why rush now?

After Gu Jia finished showering, Wang Yan pointed to the porridge on the table: “Eat a little. It’ll help you feel better.”

“Okay.”

She nodded, sat at the table, and lowered her head to eat.

After eating, Gu Jia tidied up, then Wang Yan asked: “Should I come with you?”

“No, I can handle it myself. Besides, it wouldn’t be good if you two met.” She smiled gently, stepped forward, and kissed Wang Yan, then left.

Feeling the lingering warmth on his cheek, he watched Gu Jia’s retreating figure.

Wang Yan’s lips curled slightly, his eyes filled with amusement.

Old Wang, ascended.

Gu Jia went out, returned to her apartment on the twelfth floor to collect all the documents, then called Xu Huanshan to arrange a meeting at the law firm they’d previously worked with.

When they arrived, she found a familiar lawyer, explained the terms, and asked him to draft an agreement.

After waiting a long while, Xu Huanshan arrived with Lin Youyou, late and smug.

If Wang Yan had been there, even he’d have raised a thumb in admiration—this guy was truly bold, a real man.

This move could be understood—it was simply about bringing her here to make a statement.

Look at how young and beautiful I’ve found—better than your old, faded, dried-up woman by miles? Do you think I can’t live without you, Gu Jia? Let you see what I’m capable of—I’ll be better off without you.

But doing this showed no regard for the years they’d spent together. After so many years as husband and wife, this was cruel.

It was the greatest mockery of Gu Jia—her years of devotion had been nothing but a joke.

The day before yesterday, they were still the perfect couple, deeply in love. Even earlier, at her thirtieth birthday party, he’d loudly declared his love. And now, just days later, yesterday he was begging on his knees for forgiveness, and today he’s parading her in front of you—at the very moment you’re signing divorce papers?

Maybe he’d been oppressed for too long? Now that he’d escaped the cage, Xu Huanshan wanted to make Gu Jia suffer?

He wasn’t that foolish—he and Gu Jia weren’t at the point of mutual destruction. Lin Youyou must have played a role here.

Xu Huanshan looked refreshed, Lin Youyou haughty, and they walked arm in arm to stand before Gu Jia.

Stopping before Gu Jia, Xu Huanshan said: “Gu Jia, let me introduce you—this is...”

Honestly, Gu Jia had still felt a little sadness, a little regret. But seeing the two approaching, her heart turned to ice—she felt nothing at all.

Of course she was angry—but only for a moment. Once it passed, it was over.

If they didn’t even consider her worth anything, why waste time on sorrow and sentimentality? She simply let go.

“No need. I have no interest in knowing who she is.”

Gu Jia gave them not a shred of respect—not even a glance.

She had no intention of lecturing them now. Given the situation, not cursing them was already generous.

Lin Youyou’s face darkened slightly, but then she remembered she’d toppled the lawful wife—she lifted her head again, smiling triumphantly. A loser, after all—she’d be magnanimous and not hold it against them.

Xu Huanshan watched Gu Jia’s expression—his goal had been achieved, and he felt a quiet satisfaction.

Just then, the lawyer emerged: “Sister Gu, here’s the agreement drafted according to your requirements. Please check if there are any issues.”

Gu Jia reached out, took it, and handed one copy to Xu Huanshan: “Take a look. If there are no problems, sign it. We’re running late—we still have to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”

Xu Huanshan read it carefully—this concerned his future happiness; he couldn’t afford carelessness.

He’d already discussed asset division with Lin Youyou yesterday. She naturally wanted more, but she wasn’t stupid—everything they’d built together was jointly owned, so fifty-fifty was fair. Gu Jia had taken only the tea factory and a few other items—more than enough.

If she’d caused trouble, taken it to court, she might not have gotten even five percent. Xu Huanshan would’ve resented her, but the facts were set—she couldn’t change them by throwing a tantrum.

Everything had been settled last night—the agreement was drafted exactly as agreed, with only minor, irrelevant details added.

After reviewing it thoroughly and finding no issues, Xu Huanshan signed.

Gu Jia had already finished—she saw him sign, tucked the contract away, and dropped one line: “See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau,” then grabbed her bag and left.

She was desperate to get it over with—seeing those two fools in front of her was driving her mad.

The Civil Affairs Bureau was always crowded—whether for divorce or marriage, there were always many people.

After waiting a long time, they finally reached their turn.

The clerk, as usual, tried to dissuade them—after all, it was better to reconcile than to separate; every couple that stayed together meant an extra bowl of rice for dinner.

Both insisted no persuasion was needed—this divorce was final. The clerk shook his head, said nothing, and began processing the paperwork.

All documents were complete, the divorce agreement signed, asset division clearly defined, and no dispute over property.

Everything went smoothly.

With a sharp *click*, the official seal stamped onto the divorce certificate—their marriage had finally ended.

Xu Huanshan stared at the divorce certificate in front of him, feeling hollow inside. He felt none of the relief he’d imagined—only deep loss.

Had Xu Huanshan not acted as he had, Gu Jia might have shed a few tears. But now, with no lingering feelings left, she was truly free.

Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, Xu Huanshan forced himself to appear strong—he couldn’t let Gu Jia see his weakness.

Gu Jia looked at the struggling Xu Huanshan and said: “Go home and pack. Once the house is sold, transfer the money to me.”

As for their earlier arrogance, she’d briefly considered telling Xu Huanshan she was with Wang Yan—to strike back.

But she dismissed the idea—adding unnecessary complications would only invite more trouble, and besides, it wasn’t something to be proud of. What was the point of petty one-upmanship?

More importantly, all that empty posturing for temporary pride was meaningless. Living well was what truly mattered.

She called Wang Yan, asked where he was, then drove to meet him.

After Gu Jia left that morning, Wang Yan had already set out.

Now he was in a building not far from Junyue Fu, called Tianyue Gongguan.

Their previous house, though large enough for three, had only one bedroom and one study—flat and open. Now that he and Gu Jia were raising a child, it was inconvenient.

Wang Yan had long planned this—he’d already prepared the house.

The property was worth over a hundred million, a secondhand unit. The main renovation would take a year or more—too long. When he first arrived, he hadn’t had enough cash, so he later mortgaged the Junyue Fu apartment for over two hundred million and used it to secure funding. He didn’t pay in full—he took a loan of fifty million. With that money, he could invest and earn more than the interest.

This was the penthouse duplex Gu Jia had envied—direct riverfront view, excellent visibility, two floors above the twenty-third, with an open rooftop garden. Overall, it was excellent.

He’d always preferred high floors—he loved the feeling of looking down, of dominance. Perhaps when his realm advanced further, he’d come to appreciate standing on solid ground? Who could say?

The previous decor was fresh and clean—he liked it, suited his taste. After buying it, he adjusted the layout, dividing it into zones for children, maids, fitness, storage, activities, and entertainment, then did minor renovations.

Now it was fully ready—perfect for moving in.

Gu Jia drove to Tianyue Gongguan.

Wang Yan had given instructions in advance—after showing her ID at the lobby, the property staff issued her a access card.

She took the elevator to the twenty-third floor, where Wang Yan was already waiting at the door.

Entering the apartment, Gu Jia was slightly stunned by what she saw.

She knew Tianyue Gongguan’s standard—it was even better than Junyue Fu. She could estimate what the penthouse would look like, and though she knew Wang Yan’s strength, nothing compared to the shock of stepping into a home worth over a hundred million.

“We’ll live here together from now on. What do you think? Do you like it?”

Gu Jia nodded, hugged Wang Yan, and kissed him deeply. She was excited too—she’d long envied Mrs. Wang’s penthouse. Now she’d live here—her dream was fulfilled.

She pulled Wang Yan around, inspecting every corner—the layout, decor, renovation—finding no flaw, utterly satisfied.

The loneliness after divorce vanished—Xu Huanshan? Go to hell.

She’d waited in line at the Civil Affairs Bureau for hours—it was nearly evening now, and Xu Ziyang would be getting out of school.

“Wang Yan, let’s go pick up Ziyang together.”

“When we get back, let’s go buy some vegetables nearby—I’ll cook us a full meal.”

After knowing each other this long, Wang Yan had never eaten anything she cooked; today, let him see for himself what a virtuous wife and devoted mother looks like.

“It’s also to celebrate my new beginning and our move into this new home.”

Wang Yan naturally nodded in agreement: “Alright, whatever you say. Let’s go.”

He immediately drove off with Gu Jia.

They picked up the child, bought the groceries, and finally returned home.

When Xu Ziyang stepped inside, he froze—he had never seen such a big house in his short few years: “Wow, it’s so big! Mom, Dad, are we really going to live here?”

Gu Jia nodded: “Yes, go take a look—do you like it?”

The child, innocent and honest, replied: “I like it.”

“Then where will Dad live?”

Gu Jia fell silent. She felt she had let the child down and didn’t know how to explain it to him.

Seeing her silence, Wang Yan stepped in: “Ziyang, do you know what divorce means?”

He wasn’t worried about the child being hurt—modern kids mature early. He might not grasp the deeper meaning, but he at least understood that his mom and dad couldn’t live together anymore. Besides, Wang Yan had been with him a long time and knew him well.

Xu Ziyang heard Wang Yan’s words: “Did Mom and Dad get divorced?”

Wang Yan nodded: “Your mom and dad weren’t happy together, so they decided to separate. From now on, it’ll just be the three of us living together.”

“But if you miss your dad, you can still go see him anytime you want.”

It was time to test how well he’d been raised—after all, he couldn’t have been babysat for nothing.

Some kids at kindergarten had divorced parents, but he saw they were still happy, and it didn’t seem like a big deal. His dad had said he could visit anytime—he wouldn’t be disappearing forever. Besides, compared to Xu Huanshan, he liked Wang Yan more, so he didn’t think much of it.

Xu Ziyang thought for a moment and said: “Oh, I get it. I think it’s great we live together—I’ve always wanted to live with Dad.”

Kids have short attention spans and poor memories. If Wang Yan pushed a little harder, maybe within a month, Xu Huanshan would be completely forgotten—out of sight, out of mind.

Hearing Xu Ziyang had no resistance, Gu Jia glanced at Wang Yan and let out a long breath: “Alright, Ziyang, go with your dad and check out your room. Mom’s going to cook.”

She immediately headed to the kitchen and started bustling about.

Wang Yan took Xu Ziyang to see his room and a dedicated play area filled with toys. Xu Ziyang was thrilled—he’d never seen so many toys belonging solely to him.

Then the two wandered up and down the floors, Xu Ziyang poking and prodding everything, fascinated by every new thing.

After a while, Gu Jia finally finished cooking: “Dinner’s ready. You two stop wandering—wash your hands and come eat.”

The three-story house had worn Xu Ziyang out, and hearing dinner was ready, he responded eagerly.

After Wang Yan washed his hands, the three sat down at the dining table for their first meal together in this new life.

Gu Jia picked up a chopstick and placed a bite of food on Xu Ziyang’s plate, then said to Wang Yan: “Wang Yan, try it—how is it?”

Wang Yan picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the braised carp, and smacked his lips: “Hmm, excellent—better than any master chef at a fancy restaurant.”

Anyone would be delighted to have their skill praised, especially when the praise came from Wang Yan.

Gu Jia smiled gently and added another bite to Wang Yan’s plate: “If you like it, eat more. Try this one.”

“From now on, I’ll cook for you two often.”

The meal was filled with laughter and chatter, warm and joyful.

After dinner, Wang Yan and Gu Jia spent hours playing with Xu Ziyang.

Xu Ziyang was utterly absorbed in the joy of living in the big house—the space was vast—and dragged them both into hide-and-seek.

This harmonious atmosphere was something Gu Jia and Xu Ziyang hadn’t felt in a long time—everyone was genuinely happy.

After much exertion, Xu Ziyang grew tired. Gu Jia bathed him and lulled him to sleep.

She went up to the master bedroom on the top floor and found Wang Yan standing on the balcony, gazing at the view.

Their eyes met, and with a soft “Oh!” from Gu Jia, he swept her up into his arms.

Wang Yan’s usual post-coital cigarette—two words: perfect.

After sweet talk, Wang Yan, utterly content, held Gu Jia close and fell into a deep sleep.