Chapter 33: Boss, your future partner must be very happy!

Fortunately, since they both usually wore black suits to work, Qian Heng and Cheng Yao were appropriately dressed when they were suddenly notified to attend Dong Shan’s memorial service.

By the time they arrived at the funeral home, a large crowd had already gathered.

As a businessman, Dong Shan had an extensive social circle. Among those attending, besides his family, friends, and senior employees of Zhenwei Catering, there were also his associates from the business world.

There was an old saying: People leave, and the tea grows cold. Now that Dong Shan was gone, the true nature of his relationships was beginning to surface.

The only ones truly devastated to the point of emotional collapse were his elderly father, Jiang Wenxiu, and Dong Min. As for the so-called business friends, they treated the memorial service as just another networking event.

They politely offered words like “My condolences” or “Rest in peace,” sent over a couple of elegant floral wreaths, contributed to the funeral funds, and exchanged a few formal words of comfort with the grieving family. That was the extent of their friendship.

In death, the greatest pain is always left to those who loved the deceased most.

Jiang Wenxiu, who had already fallen ill and been hospitalized after Dong Shan filed for divorce, was now hit with the fresh blow of his unexpected death. She had become so thin and frail that she seemed almost weightless, like a mere sheet of paper.

Cheng Yao had seen media interviews of her before. Back then, Jiang Wenxiu looked well-maintained—while not particularly beautiful, she had neat and refined features, dressed appropriately, and carried traces of youthful spirit in her eyes.

But now, her eyes were dull and lifeless. Her makeup was smudged from crying, revealing a pale, sickly complexion. Her eyes were swollen, and though she was still breathing, she seemed like a soulless shell, utterly lost.

Even Dong Min, who had always been spoiled and headstrong, was sobbing uncontrollably. The mother and daughter clung to each other, forcing themselves to stand and personally thank every guest who had come to see Dong Shan off.

Since arriving at the memorial, Qian Heng had been uncharacteristically silent. His expression didn’t betray any strong emotions—he simply remained solemn and composed.

It was only during the final farewell to Dong Shan’s body that he finally let out a quiet sigh. “He was my first client.”

Cheng Yao was momentarily stunned.

Qian Heng’s lips were pressed into a tight line. “Back then, I was just a young lawyer, fresh out of law school. I had no experience, no reputation. But Dong Shan chose to trust me. I thought I would be handling his family law matters for a lifetime.”

For someone as reserved as Qian Heng, words were always few and measured. He didn’t say anything more. After those simple sentences, he fell silent again, merely placing a single white chrysanthemum alongside the others.

But Cheng Yao wasn’t slow to catch on.

Those few words were enough for her to realize why Qian Heng had been willing to cancel an appointment with a 2.5 billion yuan client just to attend this memorial.

Dong Shan had been his first client. Even if Qian Heng never openly acknowledged it, deep down, he had always been grateful—he had never forgotten the trust that had been given to him at the very beginning.

People always said that Qian Heng was cold and heartless.

But Cheng Yao thought that if you stripped away the icy exterior, his heart was actually warm.

**

From where Cheng Yao stood, she had a clear view of Jiang Wenxiu’s profile. Her face bore the expression of unbearable grief, yet she was forcing herself to remain strong. It was a sorrow so deep, so overwhelming, that it bordered on despair.

Perhaps there was truth to the saying: Only in death do you truly see who loved you the most.

Cheng Yao thought, If only Dong Shan could witness this scene himself. Then he’d know that while he could so easily sacrifice and abandon Jiang Wenxiu in the name of so-called love, to her, he was her entire world.

After the farewell ceremony, Jiang Wenxiu was supposed to give a short speech as Dong Shan’s spouse. However, she was in no state to do so, both physically and emotionally. Instead, Dong Min tearfully spoke in remembrance of her father.

Following that, Dong Shan’s remains were accompanied by his close family members to be cremated by the funeral home staff.

Just before his body was taken to the cremation chamber, Jiang Wenxiu, supported by Dong Min, specifically approached Qian Heng.

“Lawyer Qian, could you wait for me?” she asked. “I want to say a few words to you after I send Lao Dong on his final journey.”

Though the request was unexpected, Qian Heng nodded.

Qian Heng and Cheng Yao waited in the reception room. They didn’t have to wait long before Jiang Wenxiu, still supported by Dong Min, walked in.

She looked like someone who had just survived death itself—physically and emotionally drained. After steadying herself, she waved her hand, signaling Dong Min to wait outside.

“Lawyer Qian, I know Lao Dong entrusted you to file for divorce. I used to resent you for that. Especially Minmin—she did a lot of impulsive things that must have troubled you. I want to apologize to you in person.”

Even in this state, Jiang Wenxiu remained composed, her tone gentle and dignified. Despite her grief, she carried a warmth that made Cheng Yao feel both sympathy and admiration for her.

At the mention of the word divorce , Jiang Wenxiu’s eyes dimmed slightly. She let out a quiet, pained sigh.

“Maybe it was because Lao Dong was going through menopause, or maybe the company’s pressure was weighing on him. These past few years, his high blood pressure made his temper short. And I… I was too focused on our child. I neglected my husband’s feelings, didn’t care for him as I should have. We had arguments, and somehow, even in our fifties, we ended up acting like children—fighting and pushing for a divorce…”

When someone dies, no matter what wrongs they committed in life, people at the funeral will always choose to remember the good. And for a couple who had spent decades together, in this moment, all that was left in Jiang Wenxiu’s heart was regret, grief, and the bittersweet memories of their years together.

“Lao Dong and I… from the moment we got together, to marriage, to having Minmin, our journey was filled with struggles. My family was well-off, but he came from nothing. Our families opposed our relationship, and we married without any blessings. I ran away from home with nothing, and we built our lives from scratch.

“But just when things finally settled down, when we finally felt ready to have children, I had four consecutive miscarriages. It wasn’t until we got tested that we found out our white blood cell antigens were too similar, making it difficult to carry a pregnancy to term. Minmin was the only child we managed to keep after so much effort.”

Jiang Wenxiu wiped her tears. “Lao Dong loved children. We tried again afterward, but my body had already developed a habitual miscarriage condition. I could never conceive again. That’s why I doted on Minmin so much, spoiling her to the point that she grew up too willful.”

Cheng Yao was surprised. She had heard Dong Shan mention before that Dong Min was a hard-earned child, and that Jiang Wenxiu couldn’t have more children due to health reasons. But the way Dong Shan spoke about it back then had made it seem like it was entirely Jiang Wenxiu’s fault—like he had no part in it. Yet, the truth was far more complex.

Fate had played a cruel joke on them. They had defied societal obstacles to be together, only to find themselves genetically incompatible for pregnancy. And yet, despite everything, they had endured.

If only Dong Shan hadn’t betrayed her… this could have been a love story worth telling for generations.

But life was always full of ifs …

“I know Lao Dong was deeply affected by the divorce proceedings. But in my heart, I was certain—after all these years together, after everything we had been through, it wasn’t a fundamental issue. No matter the conflicts, we could have resolved them.

“This divorce… it would never have gone through in the end. I just never expected him to leave first.”

When Cheng Yao first learned about Dong Shan’s affair, she had despised him. A man sneaking around with a mistress behind his wife’s back—it was disgusting, no matter how one looked at it.

But now, at this moment, she found herself oddly grateful for Dong Shan’s deception.

He had never let Jiang Wenxiu know about Xiaomei’s existence. And so, with his abrupt death, their marriage was sealed with an illusion of completeness in Jiang Wenxiu’s heart.

Perhaps, in its own twisted way, that was a kindness to her.

She probably could never accept that the man she had weathered countless storms with, the one she had relied on wholeheartedly, had taken a lover. What was even worse was that this wasn’t just a physical betrayal—it was an emotional one. And Dong Shan had the audacity to call this betrayal love.

“As for the divorce lawsuit, aside from me, Minmin, and a few close people at the company, no one else knows about it. Given what has happened to Lao Dong now, Lawyer Qian, I hope you can help us keep it a secret. Consider it the last bit of dignity we can hold onto as a family.”

Jiang Wenxiu lowered her head.

“No matter what, if Lao Dong were still alive, I know we would have eventually reconciled and grown old together. Now that he’s gone, I don’t want any rumors spreading. I can’t bear the weight of other people’s judgment anymore.”

“Also, you’ve put a lot of effort into the case. I will cover the legal fees on Lao Dong’s behalf. I’m sorry for all the trouble he caused you.”

“That won’t be necessary. The case never went to trial, so I didn’t put in that much work.” Qian Heng pressed his lips together. “As for confidentiality, family law cases are already bound by strict confidentiality agreements. Even if my representation is no longer valid, the confidentiality clause remains effective permanently. You don’t have to worry.”

Jiang Wenxiu still looked pale and drained, but she managed to force herself to thank Qian Heng.

**

After bidding farewell to Jiang Wenxiu and Dong Min, Cheng Yao sat in Qian Heng’s Bentley, unable to suppress a sigh of emotion.

“I really don’t understand. Jiang Wenxiu is such a good person—why did Dong Shan still cheat? They went through so much together, from dating to marriage, starting a business, and having a child. None of it was smooth, but they endured all the hardships. Now that they finally have everything, why would he do this? Back then, Dong Shan must have loved Jiang Wenxiu deeply to face so many obstacles with her…”

“Only hate that the human heart is not like water, where waves do not rise without cause,” Qian Heng said calmly. “Cheng Yao, love changes. As a family lawyer, you’ll get used to it soon enough. No relationship lasts forever.”

“Maybe this outcome isn’t too bad for Jiang Wenxiu,” Cheng Yao sighed. “Even though Dong Shan filed for divorce, leaving a crack in their marriage, at least she never found out. That way, she can remember him as he was.” But then she hesitated. “But because she doesn’t know about his affair, she still has deep feelings for him. From the way she looked at the memorial, she seemed heartbroken. She’ll probably never move on or start a new relationship…”

“She knows.”

“Huh?”

Qian Heng kept his gaze straight ahead, his tone unwavering. “Jiang Wenxiu knows everything.”

Cheng Yao’s first reaction was disbelief. “How is that possible?! If she knew, wouldn’t she hate Dong Shan to the core? The way she acted at the memorial—it couldn’t have been fake!”

“Cheng Yao, the human heart is complicated,” Qian Heng glanced at her. “Jiang Wenxiu and Dong Shan built everything from the ground up together. What most people don’t realize is that the real driving force behind Zhenwei Restaurant’s success wasn’t Dong Shan—it was Jiang Wenxiu. She’s a brilliant and decisive businesswoman. Dong Shan used to be her only weakness, but now that he’s gone, her intelligence and rationality can be fully unleashed. Her grief is real—after all, they shared many years of love and support. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t making plans for herself. She is an exceptional and admirable woman.”

Cheng Yao instinctively sided with Jiang Wenxiu, the wronged wife. “It’s only fair for her to think about her future. But you saying she knows about the affair—that’s just your guess, right?”

“Before Dong Shan filed for divorce, she truly didn’t know. That’s why she was so overwhelmed that she fainted and had to be hospitalized. But she’s not foolish. A sudden divorce request out of nowhere? She must have figured it out by now.”

“Not only does she know about the affair,” Qian Heng continued, “she also knows that Dong Shan’s mistress is pregnant and about to give birth.” He glanced at Cheng Yao, his lips curving slightly. “That’s why she ignored the tradition of keeping the body for at least three days before cremation. He died at dawn, and by this morning, the funeral was already held, and his body was cremated.”

Cheng Yao had also found the rushed funeral suspicious. If not for the police confirming it was an accident, people might have suspected Jiang Wenxiu of foul play.

Why was she in such a hurry to cremate Dong Shan?

Qian Heng’s voice remained as steady as ever. “For the inheritance.”

Cheng Yao froze before the realization hit her. “Dong Shan’s mistress, Xiaomei, is carrying his child. Even though the baby is illegitimate, as Dong Shan’s offspring, it would still be a first-priority heir! If Dong Shan left no will, this child would have the same inheritance rights as Dong Min!”

Qian Heng let out a small sigh, as if relieved that Cheng Yao had finally caught on. “I thought I’d have to spell it out for you letter by letter. At least you’re slightly better than hopeless.” He held up two fingers, measuring a minuscule gap between them. “Just barely.”

The gap between his fingers was almost nonexistent.

But Cheng Yao was too focused on the revelation to argue back. She suddenly felt like a detective who had found a crucial clue. “Because the child is illegitimate, proof of paternity is required for inheritance. A DNA test would be necessary. But now that Dong Shan’s body has been cremated, his DNA is gone! Xiaomei has no way to prove the child’s parentage!”

Only then did Cheng Yao fully grasp why Jiang Wenxiu had arranged the meeting with her and Qian Heng, emphasizing the importance of keeping the divorce lawsuit confidential.

She wanted to erase Xiaomei’s existence from the start. Even if Xiaomei eventually came forward with the baby, Jiang Wenxiu could dismiss the claim as nonsense or an extortion attempt. To outsiders—including their daughter, Dong Min—before the divorce lawsuit became public, their marriage had seemed perfectly harmonious.

Marriage, Cheng Yao thought, was like a battlefield.

It was the most intimate and stable alliance, filled with love, warmth, and companionship. But at the same time, it was fraught with conflicts, betrayals, desires, selfishness, and suspicion.

Perhaps marriage always began with love. But in the end, it could turn into a silent war between two people.

For the first time, Cheng Yao felt disillusioned—with love, with marriage, with men. She stared at the scenery passing outside the car window before turning to look at Qian Heng’s side profile.

No matter the angle, Qian Heng was flawless. His features were striking—sharp nose, defined jawline, perfectly symmetrical. He was handsome, but there was an aloofness to him, a sense of detachment that made him seem untouchable.

On impulse, she asked, “Do all men, deep down, have the instinct to cheat? Like it’s some kind of biological impulse?”

Even Dong Shan, who had been through so much with Jiang Wenxiu, couldn’t resist temptation.

“No,” Qian Heng answered without hesitation. “I never would.”

Of course, words like these weren’t necessarily reliable. But Cheng Yao still found herself a little moved. At least he had the right mindset. “Boss, your future partner will be very—”

Before she could finish saying “fortunate,” Qian Heng continued—

“After all, there’s no one in this world more perfect than me.”

“…Huh???”

Qian Heng didn’t even bother to look at her. He merely lifted his eyelids slightly. “Loving oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

“If you only love yourself, you’ll never cheat.” He glanced at Cheng Yao again and smirked. “Of course, that requires being exceptional enough. Someone like me? Definitely wouldn’t cheat. But someone like you? Hard to say.”

“…”

Loving oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance?! That sounded so poetic!

But wasn’t this just plain narcissism?!