Chapter 13: Conditions for Divorce

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Old Master Zhou remained silent.

Lin Xilan stepped forward with a conciliatory tone, “Grandfather, this isn’t all Zhou Yuheng’s fault. I’m partly to blame too. After all, the best way to solve this is for the two of us as a couple to communicate, isn’t it?”

“Matters between husband and wife must be settled behind closed doors. If it becomes too public, it only invites ridicule from others.”

Lin Xilan spoke so gracefully that Old Master Zhou, who could never truly want to punish Zhou Yuheng severely, naturally found a way to let the matter drop.

“Sigh—”

The old man sighed deeply, looking at Lin Xilan kindly. “Xilan, this is the fault of our Zhou family. I apologize to you. I failed to properly discipline my descendants. It won’t happen again.”

Lin Xilan thought to herself that there probably wouldn’t be a next time, since she was soon going to divorce Zhou Yuheng.

Old Master Zhou gave Zhou Yuheng a few stern words, then let him go.

Watching Lin Xilan support Zhou Yuheng as they left the hall, only after they were far away did Zhou Jinsheng step forward and say, “Dad, don’t you think you were a bit too harsh? Most men make this kind of mistake.”

Zhou Jinsheng thought it was unnecessary to make such a big deal out of Zhou Yuheng's affair. After all, it was just an external woman. He couldn’t understand why his father made such a fuss, especially since they didn’t take Zhou Yuheng seriously anyway.

Hearing this, Old Master Zhou shot Zhou Jinsheng a deadly glare. “What do you mean ‘most men make this mistake’? So you think it’s okay to bring a bastard child back home and ruin the Zhou family’s reputation like you?”

“...”

Zhou Jinsheng immediately fell silent. Zhou Yuheng was truly the black sheep of the family.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Jinsheng couldn’t help but voice what was on his mind.

“Dad, I really don’t understand. If you dislike Zhou Yuheng so much, why bother managing his affairs? Just let him sink or swim on his own.”

“Besides, Zhou Yuheng attacked the son of the Gu family. Honestly, I think he deserved it. The Gu family has been causing trouble lately, and it’s been affecting the Zhou Corporation quite a bit.”

Old Master Zhou said, “Do you think I don’t understand? If anyone else had done this, I would have praised them. But Zhou Yuheng is different.”

“I think I’ve told you countless times—be wary of Zhou Yuheng. We only keep him in the Zhou Corporation out of necessity, but he must never be allowed to meddle. Do you really think he attacked Gu Xuan just for some woman?”

That remark was a wake-up call for Zhou Jinsheng. Upon reflection, it seemed things were indeed more complicated than they appeared.

“I understand, Dad. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on Zhou Yuheng. If he dares to threaten the eldest son, I won’t go easy on him.”

Zhou Jinsheng was naturally biased toward the eldest son. In his eyes, Zhou Yuheng wasn’t even worth being called a tool.

—

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Lin Xilan took Zhou Yuheng back to the villa.

She looked up some medicine online, bought a few remedies, and began treating Zhou Yuheng’s wounds.

“Why bother? I don’t care about you anymore. It’s just a shell of a marriage—you’re really that concerned?”

At this moment, Lin Xilan should have brought up divorce, but instead, she chose to give Zhou Yuheng another chance.

“I want to give the woman I love a proper status.”

Zhou Yuheng lay on the pillow, sweat beading on his forehead. His eyes were tightly shut as he swallowed down all the pain.

Lin Xilan made a self-mocking face and dabbed some medicine powder onto the whip marks on Zhou Yuheng’s back with a cotton swab.

“What use is status? Love is what matters. You gave Song Qingli all your love.”

Zhou Yuheng replied, “Not enough.”

Hearing that, Lin Xilan felt a sudden sharp pain in her chest, and her hand froze mid-action. It had been a long time since she felt such a pang.

“Lin Xilan, holding onto this marriage won’t do you any good,” Zhou Yuheng added.

Lin Xilan’s lips curved into a faint smile as she resumed applying the medicine.

“I know there are many men in Haicheng. If I leave you, I can find another. Life is only about thirty thousand days. If you don’t love me, someone else will.”

Zhou Yuheng opened his eyes and said three words: “You’re enlightened.”

Lin Xilan replied, “Zhou Yuheng, marriage like this really has no reason to continue. I agree to divorce you.”

“...”

“Really?”

Zhou Yuheng ignored the pain and sat up, looking at Lin Xilan with undisguised hope in his eyes.

“Really. But I have one condition. Can you agree?”

Lin Xilan was tired. She no longer wanted to beat around the bush and decided to be straightforward.

“Sure. Tell me.”

She told him about Lin Wei’s bid and her intention to help him win, but she didn’t explain why. She didn’t want Zhou Yuheng to know the ugly details.

—

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“This is it—help Lin Wei win the bid. That’s my condition.”

Zhou Yuheng frowned. “You think this is simple?”

The implication was that it was difficult.

Lin Xilan shook her head. “Not simple. If it were, it wouldn’t be my condition for divorce.”

Zhou Yuheng was a nobody in the Zhou Corporation. This wasn’t impossible for him, but it would be challenging and could easily bring trouble.

However, since Lin Xilan had finally relented, Zhou Yuheng felt he had no reason not to seize the chance.

After a moment’s thought, he agreed.

“Will you keep your promise?” Zhou Yuheng asked.

Lin Xilan nodded. “I will. As long as I achieve my goal, I’ll give you the freedom you want.”

“Deal.”

Lin Xilan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhou Yuheng. “Lie down. I’ll apply the medicine.”

Zhou Yuheng felt much better. He even thought Lin Xilan wasn’t so unbearable after all.

“You’ll find a better man than me someday, Lin Xilan.”

Out of nowhere, Zhou Yuheng said that, causing Lin Xilan to pause before replying, “Yes. I wish you and Song Qingli happiness as well.”

—

Zhou Yuheng kept his word. Lin Xilan had no idea what extraordinary means he used to help Lin Wei win the bid.

In any case, Lin Wei got exactly what he wanted.

On the day the contract was signed, Lin Xilan immediately went home to request custody of Lin Xingmian from Lin Wei.

As soon as Lin Xilan stepped inside, Jiang Cuiping suddenly burst into tears.

Lin Xilan’s heart tightened...