Chapter 57: Naivety

Zhang Shuya recalled her naive thoughts and couldn’t help but laugh at herself. She had thought that with her charm, she could make Liu Kai divorce his wife and marry her. She thought she was special, that she could make Liu Kai turn over a new leaf.

However, reality mercilessly shattered her illusions.

The beautiful scenes in fairy tales only existed in imagination. The love stories between princes and commoners in real life were just a scam.

Now, Zhang Shuya finally understood that she was merely a tool for Liu Kai to seek a divorce from his wife.

She realized that even if she poured her heart and soul into it, she couldn’t change this fact. So, she decided to stop compromising and bravely fight for her own rights.

“For the divorce settlement, I demand three times the amount you originally intended to give me. Otherwise, I will absolutely not agree to the divorce. After all, I have nothing left now, nothing to lose.” Zhang Shuya looked at Liu Kai firmly, her eyes flashing with determination.

Liu Kai was surprised to see Zhang Shuya. He thought the divorce settlement he offered was already generous, but he didn’t expect her to be so greedy, wanting three times the amount.

“You’re just insatiable!” Liu Kai said angrily.

“If you don’t agree, I absolutely won’t agree to the divorce.” Zhang Shuya sat on the bench beside her, her tone firm and resolute.

“I could have had better options, but I was blind and chose you.” She muttered to herself, full of regret.

Liu Kai knew who she was talking about and sneered, “What? Now you’re thinking about Liang Minghui? That’s not what you said when you chose me! Zhang Shuya, the reason you chose me was simply to satisfy your own vanity.” He paused and continued to mock, “You just thought Liang Minghui wasn’t as handsome as me and that he was stupid, so you chose me.”

Zhang Shuya was speechless, it was true. However, now when she looked at Liang Minghui, she realized that the man she had abandoned had become better and better, while she had become worse and worse. She began to regret her decision, sighing inwardly. If she hadn’t left Liang Minghui, maybe everything would be different today.

But Liu Kai didn’t give her much time to think. He looked at Zhang Shuya’s expression and felt a surge of displeasure. He said coldly, “Regretting it? It’s too late. Liang Minghui got married two months ago, and he married a woman from a good family. You won’t have the chance to go back.”

Hearing this news, Zhang Shuya’s heart sank, and a hint of loss and regret appeared on her face. She realized that she had missed a crucial opportunity, lost a man who truly loved her. Now, she could only silently bear the consequences of her mistakes.

“Then give me compensation. I won’t be satisfied unless you do.” Zhang Shuya had come to terms with it. Adults make choices, they don’t try to change people. As the saying goes, why force yourself to lift a pile of mud when it’s perfectly fine to just leave it there? The sun will still rise, the moon will still set, nothing is constant, life will go on.

Liu Kai was a fickle man, he wouldn’t change. Why should she force him? Since she couldn’t change him, she would accept reality. Perhaps divorce wasn’t a bad thing, at least she could escape this painful marriage.

“You know I missed a good man because of you, so you should give me compensation.” Zhang Shuya had figured it out. Liu Kai had mentioned divorce last month, but she had refused. She had even used suicide to buy herself another month, hoping to make Liu Kai change his mind.

But it was clear that no matter how hard she tried to hold onto him this month, Liu Kai was determined to get a divorce. She had even fantasized about using a child to tie him down, but children were not so easy to have. Her period had just ended two days ago.

Liu Kai refused to give her that much. He was rich, but he wasn’t a fool. “Do you think my money comes from the wind?”

“If you don’t give me the money, I won’t divorce you. As for my father’s medical expenses and my overseas study expenses, you promised me those before. Are you going to go back on your word?” Zhang Shuya sneered, “Anyway, your heart isn’t with me anymore. It’s not too much to ask for more money as compensation.”

“You…” Liu Kai was so angry he couldn’t speak. “I’ll give you double at most. We’ll go through with the divorce tomorrow. Don’t be greedy, take what you can get.”

Zhang Shuya looked at his expression, knowing that this was the limit of his tolerance. But getting double was already a pleasant surprise. She readily agreed, “As long as the money is in place, we’ll get a divorce right away.”

Since men were unreliable, she would just take the money as compensation. Zhang Shuya had come to terms with it.

“Okay, I’ll have someone prepare the divorce agreement.” Liu Kai really didn’t want to drag it out anymore. He just wanted to end this marriage as soon as possible and start a new life. So he said directly, “Be at the Civil Affairs Bureau at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Then, he turned and left the room without hesitation, not even looking back. It was clear that he had made up his mind and wouldn’t be coming back tonight.

Zhang Shuya watched Liu Kai’s departing figure silently, her heart filled with sadness and helplessness. She never thought her life would turn out this way, everything was so unfamiliar and unbearable.

Meanwhile, Xiao Miaomiao was stopped by Xiao Lin.

“Xiao Miaomiao, stop!” Xiao Lin’s voice was filled with anger and disappointment. “Do you even see me as your father?” Xiao Lin stared intently at Xiao Miaomiao, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

He had just learned that his ex-wife was actually a member of the Jiang family, and she had already recognized Xiao Miaomiao. Now, his heart was filled with regret and self-blame.

If he hadn’t made those mistakes, maybe the situation wouldn’t be so bad today.

Hearing Xiao Lin’s question, Xiao Miaomiao felt a pang of self-mockery.

She slowly turned around and looked at him helplessly, her eyes revealing deep fatigue and disappointment. “You’re just realizing now that I don’t see you as my father?” she asked softly, a hint of sarcasm and bitterness in her tone.

“You had an affair while you were married, and Xiao Yuyan is your biological daughter, born before me. My uncle told me all this. So everyone knows that you wronged my mother. They haven’t taken any action against you and Lin Yushuang out of respect for my mother’s dying wish. You have absolutely nothing to do with them anymore.”

“If you want to rely on me to improve your status in my grandfather’s family and the Li family, I advise you not to even think about it. It’s impossible.”