Chapter 3 — Nine Months Post-Divorce

Master Tan, the apartment you and Miss Jiang are scheduled to marry in next week.

Among the down payment funds, three hundred and sixty thousand yuan was transferred from Miss Wen account during the period of their marriage.

As these words fell from Shao Ting, the hospital room fell into a heavy silence, as though someone had hit a mute button. Research Director Tan stared fixedly at the folder in the lawyer hand, his complexion even more unsightly than before.

What did you say?

Shao Ting did not bother to repeat himself unnecessarily. He walked over to the side of my bed and placed the file folder on the nightstand.

Before her delivery, Miss Wen entrusted me to investigate the flow of marital joint assets.

We can now confirm that on October twenty-seventh of last year, an account under Miss Wen name transferred three hundred and sixty thousand yuan.

The funds passed through two intermediate transfers before finally landing in the escrow account of the real estate developer for the new apartment.

Jiang Ruixue snapped her head up.

You are talking nonsense!

Shao Ting glanced at her coolly.

Miss Jiang, inside this folder are bank statements, transfer vouchers, and the payment pages of the real estate purchase contract.

If you believe I am speaking falsehoods, you are entirely welcome to call the police right now.

Jiang Ruixue lips trembled. She no longer mentioned calling the police. Instead, Fang Shuhua erupted.

Three hundred and sixty thousand what?

Wen Lan, do not go around spitting venom and making false accusations!

That money was clearly something you gave to the Tan family of your own free will!

I looked directly at her.

When exactly did I ever willingly give you money to buy a marital home for the Tan family?

Fang Shuhua was left speechless. Research Director Tan slowly turned his head to look at her.

Mother, did you know about this sum of money?

Fang Shuhua averted her gaze.

I did not know.

I only heard her mention once that she had kept a little private savings at home during her marriage.

I let out a cold laugh.

Kept at home?

Fang Shuhua, you took my bank card and claimed that Research Director Tan company needed to circulate its capital, so you were borrowing it for a few days.

When I asked you to write an IOU, you said that between family members, writing an IOU ruins affection.

The very next day, when I went to the bank to check, the money had already been transferred away.

Fang Shuhua complexion shifted between shades of green and red.

That was still joint marital property!

Shao Ting stated coldly.

Joint marital property does not mean one can transfer funds to a third party to purchase real estate under someone else name without the explicit consent of the other spouse.

Especially when done right on the eve of a divorce.

Research Director Tan throat bobbed. He looked at me.

Why did you never tell me about this?

Hearing those words, I almost wanted to laugh out loud. He had asked why far too many times today. It was as though as long as he claimed ignorance, every wrongdoing could simply be brushed off as someone else keeping secrets from him. I raised my eyes to meet his.

Research Director Tan, do you even remember how many times you came home during the final week before our divorce?

He fell silent.

Once.

And that was at two in the morning just to pick up a change of clothes.

When I asked if you could sit down and have a proper conversation, you said you were exhausted.

When I asked if the company truly needed the money, you told me not to meddle.

When I asked why Jiang Ruixue was wearing my ring, you claimed she was merely trying it on.

The color gradually drained from Research Director Tan face. Jiang Ruixue hastily spoke up.

That ring was given to me by aunt.

I genuinely had no idea it belonged to you.

I looked at her.

You had no idea?

The inner band of that ring is engraved with my initials.

You wore it on your finger, waving it around and parading it in front of me for a full half-hour.

Tears streamed down Jiang Ruixue face.

Wen Lan, why must you keep cornering me like this?

At the time, I only wanted to make you see reason and back down on your own.

The moment the words left her mouth, she froze in horror. Everyone in the hospital room turned their gazes toward her. Research Director Tan stared at her blankly.

See reason and back down?

Jiang Ruixue face turned deathly pale.

I did not mean it like that.

Fang Shuhua hurriedly stepped forward to shield her.

Research Director Tan, this is hardly the time to dwell on such matters.

The issue with the child has not been sorted out yet, do not let Wen Lan drag you into endless distractions!

I held my baby daughter tightly against my chest, my arms growing slightly sore. A nurse gently reminded me.

Miss Wen, you have just given birth, you must not experience overly intense emotions.

I nodded. Shao Ting immediately turned to Research Director Tan.

Research Director Tan, Miss Wen needs to rest.

Regarding the child and the assets, we will handle them through formal legal channels from this point forward.

Research Director Tan did not move an inch. His gaze remained fixed upon the tiny face of the infant in my arms. In those eyes, there was finally a trace of panic, along with a belated, futile regret. But I no longer had any use for it. His voice was hoarse as he asked.

Wen Lan, what is the child name?

I lowered my gaze to glance at my daughter. Her tiny hand opened and closed, as if trying to grasp a wisp of warm air.

Wen Zhiyi.

Research Director Tan softly repeated.

Zhiyi.

Hearing that surname, Fang Shuhua expression darkened once again.

What right does she have to take the Wen surname?

If she is truly a child of the Tan family, she must carry the Tan surname!

I raised my head to look at her.

Whether this child belongs to the Tan family or not, wasn't that precisely what you were denying just a moment ago?

Fang Shuhua was choked with fury, unable to utter a single word in response. Research Director Tan suddenly took a half-step forward.

Wen Lan, I want a paternity test.

I looked straight back at him.