Chapter 10 — Marriage Book

“I just think it should be clear when written.” He gritted his teeth, “There shouldn't be so much ambiguity.”

“Confused.” Chu Nhiem smiled slightly, "When you presented that agreement, considering childbirth as an expense that could be divided by penny, asking a future woman to bear each expense with you, did you clearly write down how 'physiological and psychological values' were compensated for?"

“We're just taking back for her some of the ambiguity that was rightfully hers.”

“If you really care about the future, you should think carefully before making that agreement.”

The light in the conference room shone down, revealing the struggle and confusion in his eyes.

"Okay." He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, "Then I'll ask directly."

"Does this agreement leave absolutely no way out? She doesn't even want to come see me. This marriage is only two days old and she's already determined to divorce. Is she that decisive?"

Chu Nhiem raised her eyes, for the first time emotions appeared in her eyes.

“You really don't know how she lived these two days.”

"The night you proposed the 'AA deal', she lay alone in the spare room all night. The next morning she still had to pretend to be normal, cook noodles, go to work, try not to collapse at the company, discuss terms with me in the afternoon, and go home to pack."

“Do you think she left lightly? In that sixth-floor apartment, she personally wiped every corner of the house, erasing every trace of this marriage.”

“It's not that she didn't give you a chance.” Chu Nhiem's voice lowered, "That morning, before I went out the door, she asked me 'what to celebrate', I answered 'to celebrate lean management'."

“From that moment, today's outcome was decided.”

Chu Khai Hang's mind felt like it had been hit hard, remembering how proud he was when he stood at the door that day. At that time, he really thought he was very smart, both keeping his pre-marital property and building a "fair" image. But right now, it all just seems like a cheap joke.

“What exactly do you want?” He finally lowered his voice, “Give me a clear sentence.”

“My side is very simple.” Chu Nhiem pushed the agreement towards him, "Sign this, you two can go to the civil service agency to complete the procedures, no more entanglements."

“If you still have any requests for property, say it here, for example the bride price that your mother repeatedly mentioned.”

She flipped to the middle page, pointing to a clause.

"Here we clearly state that the bride price is considered a pre-marital gift and is non-refundable. If you still insist on reclaiming part of it, we can re-evaluate the terms."

"Of course." She paused for a moment, "My side can also make a claim for compensation for corresponding mental damages."

“You can consider for yourself whether it's worth it or not.”

“Are you threatening me?” Chu Khai Hang stared at that line, a bitter feeling spreading in his mouth.

“It's not a threat, it's an announcement.” Chu Nhiem was very calm, "Just like when you pushed that agreement in front of her, saying it was so they wouldn't quarrel in the future, you were actually pushing all the risks to her."

“Now, the risk comes back to you.”

The atmosphere in the meeting room seemed to freeze. Chu Khai Hang clenched the pen in his hand, blue veins appearing. He really wanted to tear up those papers, wanted to stand up and hit the table and scold him "accidentally", but thinking about the company, Thinking of Tran Khoa's reminder that morning, then thinking of his mother on the phone screaming for dowry and gold, the anger in his chest was suppressed.

“I may not sign right away.” He put down his pen and forced a smile, "Every contract has time to think about, right?"

"Of course." Chu Nhiem was not surprised, "You can think, the agreement is in your hand."

“But I also remind you of something.” Her voice was still calm, "The longer it goes on, the harder it is to maintain face. You know your mother's personality better than me. If she can't help but go to To Ninh's company to cause trouble, or go to her house to make a scene, my side will immediately collect evidence."

“By then, your bargaining space in this agreement will be even less.”

"Mr. Chu, breaking up peacefully is the way to save the last bit of dignity for each other."

“If you don't need face, we won't save it for you.”

She stood up, signaling the end of the conversation.

“Stop here today.”

Chu Khai Hang held the documents and stood at the door of the meeting room, his throat choked, unable to say a word. By the time he recovered, he had left the law office and stood in the elevator lobby. Outside the twenty-sixth floor window, the Chengdu sky was pale gray, and the mountains in the distance were obscured by mist. He lowered his head and looked at the agreement in his hand, his mind a mess. After a while, he took out his phone and texted his mother.

“Mom, I have the agreement, still negotiating, please don't come here for now.”

In less than thirty seconds, the other party responded with an angry icon, followed by a sentence.

"What's the point of negotiating? If you dare to lose a single penny, I'll pretend I don't have this child."

Chu Khai Hang looked at that text, the corners of his lips twitched slightly, in the end he didn't answer, put the phone in his pocket, and walked into the elevator. The elevator went down, the reflection in the mirror darkened, completely different from the morning's confidence.