The Divorce Lawyer Is Very Hard To Flirt With - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Love-Brain Humans

When Ying Zhi’an pushed open the glass door of the law firm, her low-heeled leather shoes made a crisp sound on the floor.

Song Xidan, organizing documents at her desk, looked up almost simultaneously. Due to staying up late studying, compounded by her restless mind, her cheeks, which should have been full of youthful vitality, showed a trace of fatigue, and deep dark circles hung beneath her eyes.

She was visibly flustered, like a small bird that had stumbled in. “Sister Zhi’an, you’re back.” The legs of her chair scraped faintly against the floor as she stood up.

Ying Zhi’an, having understood her own heart, instantly softened her usually detached gaze, and her voice held a hint of intimacy. “Long time no see, Xidan.”

Song Xidan, however, did not dare to look at her and immediately picked up the teacup on the table. “I’ll go make you some tea.”

Her respectful attitude, without the accompanying invincible “little sun” smile she always wore, made Ying Zhi’an pause.

But when Song Xidan returned, carefully carrying the celadon teacup and removing the lid, she said, “Sister Zhi’an, I prepared Hangzhou white chrysanthemum for you. It clears heat and brightens the eyes. You’ve been so busy these past few days. I heard your voice sounded a bit off. Is your throat dry? I added two extra Ningxia goji berries.”

She was still so considerate and gentle that the slight sense of unease Ying Zhi’an felt vanished.

The tea was steaming with a pale golden heat. The chrysanthemum buds and goji berries unfolded beautifully in the water. Ying Zhi’an slowly took a sip, feeling instantly refreshed, as if she had drunk a tonic.

She even smugly boasted to the system in her mind: —Love-brain System, you have half a month left to exist. Once Xidan finishes the bar exam…

The system, which had been playing dead since learning Song Moqiu’s attitude, replied quickly this time: —The system’s value exists to allow the user to find happiness. After the user enters a romantic relationship, the system will enter standby and hibernation mode. However, human relationships are long-term events and full of uncertainties. The user can awaken the system at any time for assistance in the next relationship.

Ying Zhi’an, who had always been pessimistic about human nature, was uncharacteristically defiant this time: —Once I commit to a relationship, I won’t easily give it up. There will be no next relationship.

—Human hearts change in an instant.

To a certain extent, the rational Ying Zhi’an should agree with this statement, but she didn’t feel that way now.

—Two sufficiently good people will have permanence.

The system would not sneer, but replied with a steady tone: —Love-brain Human.

“Sister Zhi’an,” Song Xidan handed over the case materials, meticulously annotated, deliberately avoiding touching Ying Zhi’an’s hand with her fingertips. “I’ve organized the basic details of this week’s divorce cases and highlighted several risk points, points of contention, and potential breakthroughs. In this case, the opposing party might focus on premarital property.”

Her voice was as soft as a feather’s brush, and being able to discuss work matters with Ying Zhi’an already satisfied her.

Ying Zhi’an took the folder, her thumb gently rubbing the edges of the pages with those delicate annotations.

The dark blue handwriting was occasionally interspersed with sticky notes, a working habit unique to Song Xidan. Ying Zhi’an noticed that she had annotated the corresponding judicial interpretations for all possible relevant legal articles and even attached judgment results from similar cases—this was far beyond the requirements for an assistant.

Just as she was about to praise her meticulousness, she saw Song Xidan had already lowered her head, her hair slightly covering her eyes. The bar exam textbook in her hands was open to the section on property rights. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting fragmented shadows on her slightly trembling eyelashes. Her young face was full of a bright future.

A smile unconsciously blossomed on Ying Zhi’an’s lips. Her little fledgling was already trying hard to flap its wings.

She swallowed the words she was about to say and turned to walk into her office, leaving Song Xidan space to study.

What she didn’t know was that the moment the office door closed, Song Xidan, who had been looking down at her book, stared at Ying Zhi’an’s retreating back with a loss that weighed heavily, like cotton soaked in rain.

Song Xidan’s fingernails unconsciously dug crescent-shaped indentations into the bar exam textbook, right next to the definition of “constitutum possessorium” (transfer of possession by agreement). This legal term now read exactly like the secret she dared not speak.

“Constitutum possessorium”: ownership is transferred, but actual possession is not; only the nature of possession changes.

It was just like their relationship: nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.

Constitutum possessorium also requires an explicit declaration of intent, just like liking someone: if you don’t say it, it doesn’t count.

And luckily, she hadn’t said it, so she could still maintain the current mentor-apprentice relationship.

An hour after the afternoon workday started, Zhu Yun walked by, munching on an apple. “Zhi’an, you’re back from training. Let’s have dinner together tonight. There’s a new big-bowl restaurant downstairs, and I heard their chopped chili fish head uses bighead carp from Dongting Lake.”

She leaned against the office doorframe, watching Ying Zhi’an organize a thick stack of documents, her long fingers leaving faint creases on the edges of pages with key information. Remembering Song Xidan’s earlier intention to “take the initiative,” Zhu Yun, consciously acting as a wingman, winked at Song Xidan. “Didn’t little Song keep mentioning wanting spicy food recently?”

“Sure, my treat,” Ying Zhi’an looked up. The twilight outside the window sliced her clean profile into intersecting geometric shapes of light and shadow. Her jawline was elegant, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

“Little Song!” Zhu Yun was exceptionally enthusiastic. “Lawyer Ying said she’s treating you to Hunan cuisine. It’s a rare opportunity!”

She deliberately emphasized the words “Lawyer Ying said.”

Song Xidan’s workspace was bathed in the afterglow of the floor-to-ceiling window. “No… I have an appointment…”

As long as I don’t harbor any hope or inappropriate thoughts, I won’t be pushed away again.

Then I can stay properly by Sister Zhi’an’s side.

Zhu Yun was unaware of the misunderstanding between them or Song Xidan’s existing learned helplessness. She was just very puzzled. She gave Song Xidan an exasperated look. What’s the meaning of this? Who could be more important than your Sister Zhi’an? Are you still pursuing her? What an idiot! This is a rare chance; seize it!

Setting aside the internal complaints, Song Xidan understood some of the unspoken message behind the expressive glances.

However, Ying Zhi’an glanced at her phone and said apologetically, “This dinner will have to be another time. I have an urgent matter and need to leave.”

As soon as Ying Zhi’an left, Zhu Yun immediately said, “What’s going on with you, little comrade?”

Song Xidan sighed. “I was definitively rejected, and Sister Zhi’an said…” She paused, a tiny sob catching in her throat, which she forcefully swallowed back. “…that I should stop doing inappropriate things and stop knocking on the door.”

“So you gave up?”

“I think the way things are now is fine. As long as I don’t have other ideas, I can stay by her side forever.”

“As a colleague?” Zhu Yun’s lips twitched; she was utterly confused. “You young people these days…”

“Sister Yun, please don’t worry about me. Thank you for being my strategist before.” Song Xidan’s mind was a mess. She remembered Ying Zhi’an rushing out just now. Maybe she went to see Judge Song? They only separated this morning and are meeting again tonight. They must be very close already…

Zhu Yun scratched her head. “Fine, if you don’t knock, then don’t knock. I’ll introduce you to someone good later, someone slightly less impressive than Zhi’an.”

“No need. I just want to study now.”

“Alright, alright. Study hard; I won’t distract you,” Zhu Yun lost the desire to talk when the topic turned to studying and left immediately. “I’m going to eat Hunan food by myself tonight then.”

The urgent matter that made Ying Zhi’an leave was naturally not Song Moqiu, but Zhang Zhang.

News of Zhang Zhang’s intended divorce from Jiang Chao had reached Jiang Chao’s mother, who was now causing a scene at Zhang Zhang’s house.

But Ying Zhi’an did not drive toward Zhang Zhang’s house; she drove toward the courthouse.

On the way, Ying Zhi’an called Jiang Chao. A drunken gasp came through the receiver, mixed with the sticky laughter of a woman in the background.

“Jiang Chao,” Ying Zhi’an’s voice was like it was dredged from an ice cellar, every word laced with poison. “Your mother is causing a ruckus at home, smashing up the place, and threatening Zhang Zhang not to divorce. Zhang Zhang hasn’t fully recovered, and your mother has the audacity to cause such a scene. If you can’t control your mother yourself, I don’t mind helping you arrange a few things!”

“Ying Zhi’an! Stop playing the righteous hero here!” Jiang Chao’s voice suddenly rose. “That’s my and Zhang Zhang’s home. What’s wrong with my mother going there!”

“So, you knew about this, or was this entire thing your arrangement?” Ying Zhi’an sneered. “Zhang Zhang gave you a break, and you dare to pull this stunt? I’ve truly been too polite to you.”

“So what if I knew!” Jiang Chao’s voice held the rage of being exposed.

“I can immediately send the recording of you bragging in your firm’s break room about ‘managing’ a certain judge to the Bar Association and the Disciplinary Committee. Also, I have twenty copies of those few contracts where you forged client signatures backed up, and they will all appear in the inboxes of all your clients tomorrow.”

Ying Zhi’an never fought an unprepared battle. Even if Zhang Zhang wanted to let Jiang Chao off the hook out of consideration for their marriage, Ying Zhi’an had quietly collected evidence. At the time, she thought, What if it’s needed? She never expected that what if to become reality.

Ying Zhi’an’s voice was condescending and fiercely cold. “If you immediately make your mother leave now, I can still save you a final shred of decency. The case has already been filed. You drag your hypocritical face to the courthouse. I must get your divorce mediation agreement today. In fifteen minutes, if your mother is still in front of Zhang Zhang and you haven’t arrived at the courthouse, then prepare yourself for the last time you will appear in public as a ‘lawyer’.”

“You… you dare, you son of a bitch!” Jiang Chao’s voice began to tremble.

“You watch me, you son of a bitch,” Ying Zhi’an’s voice was light, as if discussing the weather. “You’re welcome to try.”

The sound of a glass cup shattering came through the phone. Jiang Chao’s breathing was heavy, like a trapped beast. “Fine, see you at the courthouse in fifteen minutes.”

When Ying Zhi’an arrived at Zhang Zhang’s house, Zhang’s father was cleaning up the mess, and Zhang’s mother had just finished cooking soup for Zhang Zhang.

Ying Zhi’an first checked Zhang Zhang’s expression. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I called the building management for help, and his mother didn’t dare to lay a hand on me.” The previous delicacy had faded from Zhang Zhang’s eyes. She spoke calmly. “Did you get it for me?”

“Of course,” Ying Zhi’an took the divorce mediation agreement from her bag. “Congratulations on restarting your life.”

Zhang Zhang held the agreement, reading every word carefully. Finally, touching the seal of the court at the bottom, she smiled. “Filing for litigation ostensibly, but actually going through mediation—that’s fast indeed. Zhi’an, thank you.”

Ying Zhi’an hugged Zhang Zhang. “We never have to say thank you to each other. I should be glad that my profession could help you. Take good care of yourself. Everything will be fine.”

Zhang Zhang nodded. “Everything will be fine.”

Zhang’s mother, standing nearby, spoke in a softened tone for the first time. “Everything will definitely be fine!”