You Have the Right to Keep a Secret Love

Chapter 8: “Who the hell is that girl?”

Qi Xi was very excited with Gu Xuehan’s new plan because it kept Chen Xiang’s best interests at hand.

With this good news, even Chen Xiang seemed a little surprised.

Gu Xuehan smiled, “So, should we proceed with this? If there is no problem, we can proceed with the negotiation with Ai Xiang at any time.”

It was a problematic relationship, but Chen Xiang still had some hesitation, “Let’s wait. I’ll think about it for two more days. Especially because it’s important to consider the children’s emotions and arrangements before the negotiation can proceed.”

Chen Xiang took the initiative to divorce and ask for the property details after Qi Xi gave a hint. Though she was a little hesitant, Qi Xi never thought she would return to the company 3 days later with a different attitude.

“Lawyer Gu, you guys are professional and good, but I…”

Gu Xuehan was patient, “Do you have any other concerns?”

Chen Xiang muttered under her breath for some time before summoning up the courage to say, “I don’t want to divorce anymore.”

Gu Xuehan was calm, but Qi Xi was completely stunned.

What kind of twist is this? Didn’t Chen Xiang initially say she couldn’t accept Ai Xiang cheating? How did it take a few days for her to do a 180 degree flip?

Gu Yan also paused, in surprise like Qi Xi. He frowned, asking, “Ai Xiang is planning to return to the family?”

“I questioned him, but he didn’t feel any guilt. Instead, he was unscrupulous, telling me that he had no feelings for me. I can leave if I want to, and I could get more money as well. He didn’t seem to want the children, and I even think he is willing to give up the alimony, shared property. He was nonchalant as long as I signed the non-disclosure agreement. And he even told me that he was going to leave after speaking to the children one last time.”

Since the other party was willing to negotiate, it was good.

“It’s not because he was ashamed, but rather, he is doing this because of Fengxian. His popularity is rising, and some companies are buying exclusive copyrights for work he hasn’t even written yet. In order to prevent that revenue from becoming shared property in our wedding, he’s refusing to sign any deals right now. He just wants to wait for the divorce and divide the existing property. And later, he wants to marry that cheap mistress and sign the copyright contracts in a high and upright manner.”

Chen Xiang was originally a gentle and kind woman, but now it seemed her face was twisted with a hateful expression, “He wants to be with someone beautiful. That’s why he wants to get rid of me quickly, but I won’t let things go. I’m going to suck him dry until his death. From the moment he was penniless when he first met me to now when he’s struck the goldmine, it was a result of all my hard work and dedication. If I turn around and leave, I would’ve handed over the empire I helped build to the lowly mistress who would just reap the fruits of victory. No chance.”

Qi Xi couldn’t help it, “But he obviously has no feelings for you anymore. This marriage would just be one in name…”

“As long as I am here, that girl will not succeed. He didn’t get his success because of her. If he doesn’t have feelings for me, why would he make all those posts of Weibo of me saying, “My wife!” “My wife!” I’m not going to let this lowly mistress have a place in my home even if I can’t have a relationship with him for the rest of my life. I will never let those two throw me away just so they can turn his future projects into post-divorce property.”

Chen Xiang still took notice of Gu Xuehan’s teams efforts. After paying the fees, she returned to her normal appearance, thanking Gu Xuehan for her help. Even still, she had obviously made up her mind to not divorce.

After escorting Chen Xiang out, Qi Xi felt uncomfortable. Chen Xiang lost a moment of reason just before, getting ready to get into a cockfight. It was so different from her gentle and elegant appearance from before.

She had wasted nearly 10 years of her youth on Xi Xiang. If she had stopped right now, she still could’ve lived her life for the next 10 years. She was so young, yet she faced such misery.

Why should it be this way?

However, Gu Xuehan felt indifferent. She glanced at Qi Xi and Gu Yan who seemed lost from the abrupt end of the case, “You two better get used to it. Many times in civil disputes, the client may ask to withdraw the lawsuit after the lawyer finished up the preliminary work. It happens most frequently in marital disputes. In the beginning, they fight each other with kitchen knives, and in the end, when they have to go to court, they hug, cry, and recall the past.

“As a lawyer, you have to be prepared with the fact that the client may change their mind at any time. Chen Xiang is good, at least she paid the fee upfront. Most others are unwilling to pay the fees because they changed their mind and refuse to divorce.”

Gu Xuehan quickly turned to work on another case, but Qi Xi was still a little sad and lost. She turned to look at Gu Yan, Gu Yan, why do you think Chen Xiang is unwilling to get a divorce? It sounds like her move is to kill Ai Xiang. But, in the process, she would be tied into a loveless marriage that would consume her.”

Gu Yan put away his notebook and lowered his eyes, “Hurting him is just how she finds comfort. In fact, she probably still has some expectations for him and this marriage. She probably doesn’t want to give up completely, so she doesn’t want to let him go yet. Or maybe she is unwilling to accept the fact that he doesn’t love her anymore. That he would be willing to start a new life with the mistress after their divorce. So in her obsession, she took her revenge by putting herself through this.”

Qi Xi still didn’t understand, “But shouldn’t it be easy to leave a scumbag? After all, that piece of trash is not good to Chen Xiang. He hadn’t given her any financial independence, and she was also the one bearing all the childcare. After cheating, he didn’t even want to take custody of his own children. He hasn’t even filled out his parental duties, and maybe that’s why I feel this way. My heart and soul can’t accept Chen Xiang’s decision as I would’ve left.”

Gu Yan pursed his lips, “It’s not as easy as you think.”

Generally speaking, it was easy for a woman to empathize with another woman who was cheated on, but Gu Yan’s words were empathetic. It was a shock to her, and Qi Xi quickly realized why Gu Yan was so sensitive about the matter.

Don’t you feel the same way? Don’t you like a girl who doesn’t even like you back? Yet instead of finding someone else, you continued to stay by her?

This seemed similar to Chen Xiang’s mindset of, “I know I should give up, but I don’t want to, even if it means I’ll succumb myself to death over this.”

It sounds rather pathetic and pitiful.

For a moment, she couldn’t help but express the pity in her own eyes, “You like her that much?”

Gu Yan seemed stunned for a moment before he quickly realized that Qi Xi was most probably talking about the girl he liked. His gaze moved down as he avoided Qi Xi’s eyes, “Don’t talk about such an irrelevant matter during work hours. I’ll go first, you can clean up the conference room.”

The man finished speaking and left.

The more Gu Yan was like this, the more anxious Qi Xi became.

She always felt a little guilty. After all, even if the misunderstanding was clarified, the girl could still be influenced from the past pre-conceived ideas.

What’s more, if Gu Yan is in love and he isn’t happy, isn’t it obvious he would want to express his anger? Who would be the target? Naturally the person who ruined his reputation in the first place…

Qi Xi thought about Gu Yan and then Gu Xuehan, feeling as though there was a pack of wolves in front of her and a pack of tigers behind her. It really was not a good day for her.

Tomorrow, Gu Xuehan was going to speak to her and Gu Yan individually to assign tasks and give one-on-one guidance.

I need to work harder! Qi Xi thought as she hurriedly bought another durian from the internet. After getting off work, she was planning on going up to Gu Yan again to accompany him as they ate durian. Their friendship would blossom from eating the fruit!

Qi Xi felt she was gradually getting used to the taste of durian. When she woke up the next day and remembered how she shared durian with Gu Yan, she felt happy. They were one step closer now in their relationship, and because of this, she was hopeful for her future again.

But, she didn’t expect that this hope would be extinguished this quickly.

After Gu Xuehan spoke with Gu Yan alone, it was Qi Xi’s turn.

“You’re just an intern, and I understand that everyone’s ability to adapt will be different. So I will just adjust the workload assigned to you. First remind me everything you’ve done since joining the company.”

Truthfully, since joining the company, most of Gu Xuehan’s assignments were completing sporadic tasks such as modifying contracts, helping answer legal questions brought on by the legal counsel, and helping Gu Xuehan collect basic facts in a case and create the list of evidence afterwards. Even her first case with Chen Xiang was closed now that the client didn’t proceed with the divorce. These were all the tasks that Qi Xi completed. The only task she hadn’t completed was…

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The matter of graduation where Gu Yan’s reputation was ruined…

Sure enough, Gu Xuehan brought it up herself, “Oh, and what about Gu Yan’s matter? What happened?”

Qi Xi’s heart beat rapidly like a drum. She was truly going to die, “Lawyer Gu, the reputation matter… only Gu Yan has the right to pursue the case. Even if you are his sister, if Gu Yan doesn’t want to pursue it, it would be useless…”

Compared to Gu Yan, Gu Xuehan seems much harder! Gu Yan did not want to take action, but Gu Xuehan, on the other hand, wanted to see to the bottom of this case.

Qi Xi suddenly saw a few of her “deaths” flash through. One death was when Gu Xuehan found out it was her, she would be furious enough to throw Qi Xi out. Even if Qi Xi used her love for durian to beg Gu Yan to help, it wouldn’t matter. Gu Yan might not agree unless she bought him durians for life…

Even though she had a lot in her mind, Gu Xuehan chuckled, “Congratulations, you just passed your first test!”

W-what?

Seeing Qi Xi’s surprise, Gu Xuehan raised her brows, “Of course I know I can’t do anything. It would be useless for me to try and defend Gu Yan’s rights. But through this lesson, I just wanted to see what you would do. Many newcomers accept their boss’s words. Even if there are errors, because of the power dynamics, or because of fear that it is their boss they are speaking to, they are unwilling to point out any mistakes. If you are willing to accept those mistakes, you would be making mistakes, too.”

Gu Xuehan took a sip of her tea, “This is the first lesson I wanted to teach you. Even though I am your mentor, if I make mistakes, even silly ones, I hope you would point them out to me in a timely manner. I’ll always welcome any corrections at any time.”

That’s it? Qi Xi was grateful and relieved.

Gu Xuehan pursed her lips and smiled, “But, who is that girl?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to pursue the matter anymore?”

Gu Xuehan’s expression was elegant and calm, “Oh in addition to testing you, I wanted to see who scolded him like this. I asked for the video not for evidence but because I was naturally curious to see what kind of expression he had on his face at the time. It’s rare for him to encounter such a situation, so I wanted the video as a memento.”

“…”

“So, can that video still be found?”

“…” Qi Xi was a little shocked. Is Gu Yan really Gu Xuehan’s younger brother?

Gu Xuehan probably knew what was on Qi Xi’s mind, but she didn’t seem to care, “Gu Yan is an adult. He’ll be fully invested in the legal field in the future. He’s an independent and shrewd thinker, so I don’t question his ability to judge. Since he doesn’t want to interfere, I will also not interfere.”

“…” Qi Xi tentatively asked, “If you find out who the girl is in the future, will you stand up for Gu Yan and seek back your justice?”

“I won’t,” she said without thinking about it. “I just want to see what type of person she is. She’s a strong and powerful person to make Gu Yan suffer a huge loss while being unscathed. I’ve been with Gu Yan since he was a child. Even when growing up, even though I am a few years older than him, I wasn’t able to succeed in bullying him.”

Qi Xi suppressed her thoughts. Don’t you know that strong and powerful person is dangling in front of you? The rookie intern?