My Ex Who Dumped Me Comes to Hook Me Up Every Day - Chapter 3

Chong Sheng was Jin Zhou’s client, having approached her a year ago to handle her divorce proceedings.

As everyone knows, the quickest way to divorce is through mutual agreement.

However, after Jin Zhou investigated, she discovered that the other party, Liu Zhi, was stubbornly refusing to agree to a divorce.

It didn’t seem to be out of lingering affection, but rather a deliberate attempt to torment Chong Sheng by dragging out the process.

Considering the circumstances, Jin Zhou advised Chong Sheng on the most suitable course of action.

First, file for divorce in court. Since Liu Zhi’s situation didn’t meet the legal requirements for divorce, the court would likely deny the petition.

After obtaining the judgment, Chong Sheng should immediately separate from Liu Zhi.

Once a year of separation had passed, she could file for divorce again, presenting evidence of their separation. At that point, the marriage would essentially be over.

Chong Sheng accepted Jin Zhou’s proposal.

Today’s meeting was taking place very close to the one-year mark.

As usual, Chong Sheng sent over a backup copy of the evidence.

While operating her computer, Jin Zhou asked routinely, “Have you encountered any recent difficulties?”

Chong Sheng didn’t speak, her hesitation evident on her face.

Jin Zhou tapped the table. “Remember what I told you? Tell me anything immediately. It could be crucial for the judge’s decision.”

Chong Sheng fidgeted with her cup, looking uneasy. “There is something.”

“I feel like someone’s been following me lately. I suspect… Liu Zhi might have found where I live.”

Jin Zhou looked up sharply. “When did this start? How often does it happen?”

Chong Sheng swallowed nervously. “It’s been happening more frequently recently, usually after work. At first, I thought I was just being paranoid, but one time—I definitely saw him.”

Jin Zhou frowned.

This was not a good sign.

Just as the data transfer finished, she closed her laptop.

“Have you reported this to the police?”

Chong Sheng nodded. “Yes, but by the time they arrived, he was gone. There are no surveillance cameras near my apartment. They told me to stay vigilant and report any further incidents.”

Jin Zhou frowned. “I think you should move. This is a critical time, and we can’t rule out the possibility that they might resort to desperate measures and harm you.”

A flicker of fear crossed Chong Sheng’s eyes. She shivered and said, “I’ve looked at a few places and plan to view them today. If I find something suitable, I’ll move within the next couple of days.”

“Make sure to find a place with good security.”

Chong Sheng nodded. “I will.”

“Then let’s end our meeting here for today.”

After a moment’s thought, Jin Zhou added, “You have my number. Call me anytime if anything happens.”

Back at the law firm, Jin Zhou finished her work and prepared to leave for the day.

Her phone rang at an inopportune moment.

The screen lit up with two glaring words:

Mother.

Jin Zhou sighed, knowing her blind date from the other day had likely run to her mother to complain.

“Mom? What is it?” she asked, her tone deliberately detached, as if she were unaware of what had transpired.

“You’re off work, right? Come home.”

Lin Xin’s words were equally concise. She hung up without waiting for a response.

Lin Xin was a renowned veteran lawyer in C City. Father Jin had been in business for many years, and their family’s savings were substantial, allowing them to live in an upscale villa district.

By the time Jin Zhou arrived home, Auntie had already prepared dinner.

Jin Wei was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, while Lin Xin sat beside him.

Before Jin Zhou could even put down her bag, Lin Xin began with a hostile tone, “So you remember to come home?”

Jin Zhou explained, “I’ve been busy with cases lately.”

Lin Xin scoffed, “Just civil cases? What’s so important that you’re running around every day and neglecting your family?”

Unlike Jin Zhou, Lin Xin specialized in criminal defense, believing such cases better showcased a lawyer’s professional expertise. To her, the civil cases Jin Zhou often took on seemed like child’s play.

Jin Zhou paused mid-motion, replying calmly, “Civil or criminal, there’s no hierarchy of importance. Every client’s rights deserve protection.”

Lin Xin pressed her temples. “Fine, I won’t argue these grand principles with you. You’re grown now, and I can’t control you anymore.”

Jin Wei, standing beside them, hadn’t uttered a word. Despite being Lin Xin’s husband and Jin Zhou’s father, he remained strangely detached, as if the scene unfolding in the room had nothing to do with him.

Jin Zhou was long accustomed to this. It had been this way her entire life. Jin Wei never involved himself in household affairs, nor did he ever attend parent-teacher conferences.

This suited Lin Xin perfectly. It allowed her to maintain complete control over Jin Zhou’s life.

Jin Zhou addressed Jin Wei, “Father.”

Jin Wei didn’t even look up, offering a casual “Hmm.”

“I’ll go wash my hands first.”

By the time Jin Zhou returned to the living room, Jin Wei and Lin Xin were already waiting for her at the table.

Jin Zhou sat down.

“Xiao Li said you made him wait outside the firm all afternoon. Is that true?”

Jin Zhou picked up her chopsticks and began eating.

“I’m not sure.”

This was the truth. She had already made her position clear to him in person. Whether he chose to leave was beyond her control.

Lin Xin slammed her bowl down, the marble tabletop ringing with a sharp clack.

Jin Wei startled, his expression darkening, but he ultimately remained silent.

“Do you even know who Xiao Li’s father is? Do you have any idea how vast their family’s business empire is? Do you realize how much effort I put into securing this opportunity for you? And you dare to snub him like that? What do you think you’re making me look like?”

Jin Zhou spoke slowly, “I’ve already said I’m not considering marriage right now. I never gave him any reason to wait for me.”

“Besides, I don’t need this opportunity.”

Slap!

The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the dining room.

Lin Xin’s eyes were slightly red, her chest heaving with anger.

“You’re my daughter! What right do you have to say you don’t need it?”

Jin Zhou felt a tingling numbness and a faint warmth on her cheek, evidence that the slap had been delivered with considerable force.

She gently set down her bowl and chopsticks.

“I hope you understand that before I’m your daughter, I’m first and foremost a person.”

Lin Xin scoffed, clearly dismissing this notion.

From kindergarten to elementary school, and later to university and studying abroad, which stage of Jin Zhou’s life hadn’t depended on her mother’s efforts and sacrifices?

“You’re a person? Then do you realize how much money I’ve spent raising you all these years?”

A deep sense of helplessness washed over Jin Zhou, and she sighed.

“I’ll repay you the money,” she said.

Lin Xin turned to look at her. “What did you say?”

Jin Zhou stood up. “I said I’ll repay you the money. I also hope you’ll stop interfering in my life.”

Lin Xin felt a surge of anger rising in her chest. “Say that again?”

Jin Zhou didn’t want to argue further. “I have other things to attend to. I’ll leave you to enjoy your meal.”

With that, she turned and walked downstairs without a trace of regret.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xin chased after her.

“Don’t you realize I’m doing this for your own good? You’ll have to get married eventually, and the younger you are, the more choices you’ll have.”

Jin Zhou stopped and said earnestly, “I have my own career. I can live independently without relying on anyone.”

Lin Xin’s expression darkened, and she lowered her voice. “Do you still like women?”

Jin Zhou avoided her gaze. “In any case, please stop trying to set me up on blind dates. I won’t go.”

A chill ran through Lin Xin’s heart. “You’ve fallen for another woman,” she stated with certainty.

Jin Zhou didn’t like women, nor did she like anyone else.

She didn’t bother explaining. “Don’t overthink it,” she said.

But Lin Xin refused to believe her, lost in her own world.

“What does it look like when women are together?”

“Is the person you like Su Yun? Lawyer Liu? Or one of your clients?”

Her words grew increasingly sharp and absurd.

“That woman was only with you for money. She used you and then kicked you aside. Have you forgotten those humiliating days?”

A sharp pain pierced Jin Zhou’s heart.

Jiang Yuhuai’s expressionless face flashed before her eyes.

The dark, hopeless days seemed to replay in her mind.

“Please stop,” Jin Zhou pleaded.

Lin Xin persisted relentlessly. “Did I hit a nerve? Then stop doing such disgusting things! Do you know how desperate I felt when I found out you were with that woman?”

What was it like to be considered disgusting by your own mother?

Jin Zhou felt suffocated, her vision blurring. She couldn’t tell if it was from yesterday’s hangover or recent exhaustion.

Finally, she managed to say, “Mom, I’m tired. Let’s not see each other for a while.”

Lin Xin’s rationality snapped completely. “You want to sever our mother-daughter relationship? Fine! Then never come back!”

Jin Zhou stepped past her hysterical mother.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

“I’ll pretend I never had a daughter like you!”

All the harsh words were trapped within that suffocating space.

Jin Zhou let out a long sigh, but her heart remained heavy.

She knew Lin Xin’s words were true.

Even though she hadn’t actively sought everything she now possessed, it was ultimately because of her that she had it.

And that was why, no matter how fiercely they argued or how suffocated she felt, she could never bring herself to say the most hurtful things to her mother.

After standing at the door for a while, Lin Xin didn’t follow her out.

A gentle rain began to fall, and somewhere deep inside Jin Zhou’s heart, it felt like it was raining too.

She noticed her mood sinking.

Part of it was because of her mother.

But perhaps even more of it was because of—

Jiang Yuhuai.

Did she still love her?

It seemed not.

Then had she moved on from that relationship?

Undoubtedly not.

Even after six years, Jin Zhou still longed to stand before Jiang Yuhuai and ask her face-to-face:

“Why?”

Attorney Jin, rarely one to avoid reality, returned home and drank herself into a stupor.

As the night deepened, a knock echoed through the apartment.

Jin Zhou stumbled groggily to the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

The vague reply came from a woman’s voice, and Jin Zhou, too lazy to check the camera, carelessly opened the door.

To her surprise, standing there wasn’t just anyone—it was the “plague god” she had finally managed to send away that afternoon.

Jin Zhou hesitated. “Jiang Yuhuai?”

The woman looked up, a delicate, gentle smile gracing her lips.

“We meet again.”