Chapter 8 Divorce

At seven in the morning, Chu Yuxuan had already finished washing up, made himself a cup of tea, and was nestled in his study, engrossed in reading Zizhi Tongjian.At seven-thirty, Zhao Yanan called.Chu Yuxuan raised his eyebrows slightly and answered the phone only after it had rung for a while, "Hmm?""Let's go get the marriage certificate this morning," said the voice on the other end, cold and distant.Chu Yuxuan replied lazily and teasingly, "Can't wait?"There was no response."You left me alone in an empty room for three days. Why should I listen to you?"A faint sound of Zhao Yanan taking a breath came through the phone, "Ten o'clock, don't be late."After hanging up, the smile on Chu Yuxuan's face gradually faded, and he frowned slightly.Whether Zhao Yanan was warm or cold couldn't really affect his emotions, since, after all, they weren't close.What really bothered him was Xia Zhu—they hadn't even gotten divorced yet!After thinking for a moment, he called Xia Zhu.This top-tier celebrity usually slept until she naturally woke up during her leisure time, so it took four or five calls before she finally answered."Xia Zhu, we agreed that we'd divorce after the vacation. It's time to fulfill your promise, don't you think?"There was a long silence on the other end, probably because her brain was just waking up and still a bit fuzzy."Hmm... see you at the Civil Affairs Bureau in the afternoon."Chu Yuxuan responded without hesitation, "No, head to the Civil Affairs Bureau now. I don't have time to waste on you!"Hearing the impatience in his voice, Xia Zhu got annoyed, "Chu Yuxuan, you're just pretending to be magnanimous and indifferent to make me feel guilty, aren't you? Do you think this is fun? I've already said I'd compensate you!"Chu Yuxuan chuckled, "Xia Zhu, to be honest, I did love you, but don't overestimate yourself. I'm the type of person who can let go easily. You're not so special that I'd be devastated."Over the phone, he could hear Xia Zhu's heavy breathing, and he could already picture her furious expression in his mind."Fine, I'm getting up now. I'll head to the Civil Affairs Bureau after I get ready!""Don't keep me waiting too long!"Forty minutes later, Chu Yuxuan drove his Skoda to the Civil Affairs Bureau.The sky was overcast, and the cold wind was like a knife, cutting painfully across his face.Chu Yuxuan lit a cigarette and got back into his car.It takes women a while to get ready, like renovating a blank canvas, and it usually takes at least an hour.It was almost nine-thirty when Gao Ning's white Range Rover finally arrived.Chu Yuxuan got out of the car, his eyes playing over the two of them, then he nodded towards the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau and said, "Let's go, I'm in a hurry."Since she was a public figure, Xia Zhu wore a mask and a baseball cap with the brim pulled low.When she saw the transformed Chu Yuxuan, she couldn't help but pause. Her astonishment was hidden behind the mask, but the disbelief in her eyes was obvious.During their two-year marriage, Chu Yuxuan always wore a pair of old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses, and from the thickness of the lenses, one would think he was nearly blind.But now… he had learned to wear contact lenses? Those narrow, deep eyes were actually so attractive…His clothes, which had always been clean but cheap, looked like they came from a discount bin and were as plain as they could be. But now, he was dressed in a suit, looking wealthy from head to toe.Even his personality had changed. He used to be quiet and submissive, but now… he seemed to have become nonchalant, even a bit roguish.Little did she know, this man she had always thought of as useless had been hiding his true self all along. Of course, it wasn't for her sake.After a long pause, the aloofness returned to Xia Zhu's eyes.Gao Ning, holding her hand, swaggered up to Chu Yuxuan, glanced disdainfully at the shabby Skoda, and sneered, "Chu Yuxuan, do you realize how big the gap between us is?"With a hint of pride, he pointed to his Range Rover, "That's no ordinary Range Rover. It cost over four million yuan, and the purchase tax alone could buy several of your little broken cars. I suggest you accept our compensation so our little Zhuzi here can feel better."Chu Yuxuan remained unfazed and smiled, "I really don't know what kind of plastic bag you are, but you sure can put on a show. I took the compensation, but you can't afford it."Gao Ning twitched his lips, about to retort, but Xia Zhu cut him off coldly, "Let's go, Chu Yuxuan, from today on, we're strangers.""I wouldn't have it any other way," Chu Yuxuan said nonchalantly.With the principles of no hesitation, no consideration, and no regrets, they quickly completed the divorce process.Holding the divorce certificate, Chu Yuxuan's lips curled into a barely perceptible bitter smile. Despite his resolute attitude and outward calm, it still stung a little—after all, she was a girl he had loved for many years.How long had it been? He had noticed Xia Zhu, the class beauty from the neighboring class, back in middle school. Every smile of hers had etched itself into his heart.Later, in high school, fate brought them together in the same class. The young master, who was already infatuated, paid no heed to the taboo of young love and pursued her relentlessly until he was forced to drop out halfway through his second year… Those memories had made the dark years that followed somewhat bearable.Two years ago, he finally married her and had grinned like an idiot all night long.But now, they had gone their separate ways…The staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau, looking at the newly divorced couple, couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.But that regret quickly turned to shock—Gao Ning took out a household registration book from his pocket and looked at Xia Zhu with a gentle gaze, "Zhuzi, since we're here, why don't we get married too?"Xia Zhu hesitated briefly, glanced at Chu Yuxuan, and said awkwardly, "Ning-ge, how about we wait a couple of days… I just don't think it feels right."Chu Yuxuan snorted, "Don't be so hypocritical. It's awkward."With that, he strode out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.Xia Zhu's face turned dark. Seeing this, Gao Ning didn't push her, instead putting away the registration book and smiling, "Zhuzi, how about I take you to breakfast?""Hmm…" Xia Zhu forced a smile, "Thank you for understanding, Ning-ge… We'll come back in a couple of days to get the certificate."The three of them left the Civil Affairs Bureau one after another. Chu Yuxuan leaned against the hood of his Skoda and lit another cigarette, showing no intention of leaving.Xia Zhu looked at him from about ten meters away, opening her mouth as if to express her final apology and guilt, but before she could speak, a red Ferrari pulled up right in front of Chu Yuxuan.Next, a big fat man got out of the driver's seat, glanced at the frowning Chu Yuxuan, who had caused him to kowtow dozens of times just a few days earlier, and hurried to the passenger side, opening the door.Zhao Yanan stepped out, nodded to the fat man in acknowledgment, then looked at Chu Yuxuan, her expression blank. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, "I went to the villa to find you, but you weren't there… Uncle Zhiqing asked him to bring me here."She paused before adding, "Uncle said this car is yours from now on."Gao Ning's hand, which had been on the door handle, had frozen in place, his whole body turning to stone.As a bona fide second-generation rich kid, he naturally knew who this mysterious beauty in black was.She was the dream woman of every man in Jiangcheng! How could she possibly know someone like Chu Yuxuan, this loser?Xia Zhu was even more shocked—Zhao Yanan, besides being known as the most beautiful woman in Jiangcheng, was also the icy CEO of her company!Chu Yuxuan smirked wickedly, "Looking for me? Afraid I'll be late? Can't wait, can you?"Dressed in a black velvet robe, Zhao Yanan's beautiful face was exquisitely made up, looking both noble and elegant.Despite Chu Yuxuan's nonchalant attitude, her icy expression remained unchanged. She glanced at Xia Zhu, who was fully covered up, showing no intention of greeting her, and said to her nominal husband, "Looks like you've finalized the divorce? Let's go, we need to get the certificate. I've got something to do later."