Did That Doctor Successfully Remarry Today?
Chapter 211 - 207: The Divorce Certificate

Chapter 211: Chapter 207: The Divorce Certificate

Chapter 207: The Divorce Certificate

Friday.

On the day they had previously agreed upon, Jiang An took a car to the Civil Affairs Bureau, arriving at around half-past eight. After paying the fare, she got out of the car, not expecting that Gao Chuan would also be there early, waiting at the entrance for her.

For the last time, he finally wasn’t late.

Since Jiang An had gone back to her hometown to recuperate, they hadn’t seen each other for over half a month. Across the street, Jiang An stared at the man standing alone by his car, smoking.

Hazy smoke curled around his fingertips. Amid the sparse passersby, the man stood straight. He was wearing a white shirt with black cropped straight-leg pants, his cool face was still one in a million.

Jiang An gripped her bag’s strap tightly, lost in thought when the green light came on, and she immediately stepped forward, walking with the hurried pedestrians.

It wasn’t until she reached Gao Chuan’s side, step by step, that the man snapped back to reality. He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, seemingly surprised that the girl would arrive so early, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.

They hadn’t been apart for too long, but upon seeing each other, they both felt a sense of estrangement.

"Why is Dr. Gao here so early?" Jiang An broke the silence first.

Gao Chuan looked down at the girl who was now standing beside him, his gaze pausing for a moment before he replied with a wooden expression, "I had nothing to do, so I just came here to wait."

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. The man’s Adam’s apple moved as if he had a lot to say, but the words were choked in his throat.

Since they were here to divorce, Jiang An didn’t want to drag things out anymore. She looked up at him and said directly, "Then... let’s go in!"

Their divorce was a mutual agreement. Only when Jiang An was about to sign did she realize that Gao Chuan had drafted another new divorce settlement. It clearly stated an equal division of their marital assets, which was completely different from her initial intention of leaving the marriage with nothing.

Gao Chuan, sitting beside her, noticed the girl’s confusion and took the initiative to say, "This is what you deserve; let’s follow this agreement."

What he owed her was far more than this.

"If you both haven’t agreed yet, you can go back and discuss it before coming back," a staff member suggested upon noticing their disagreement.

Jiang An, weighing whether delaying today’s decision would lead to more entanglement, reluctantly started to sign.

She had never intended to divide the property with him in the first place. Even if Gao Chuan insisted on giving it to her later, she wouldn’t take it.

After finally completing the paperwork and coming out, the man walked side by side with Jiang An, watching as the girl put the red divorce certificate into her bag, his deep-set eyes furrowing.

From this moment on, they had no relationship.

This marriage was over, finished.

Jiang An didn’t notice the look the man was giving her at that moment. After descending the steps, she stopped, stood in front of the man slightly turned to the side, and lifted her head with stiff movements. She tried hard to curve her lips to not seem overly sentimental and feigned ease as she said, "Well then... Dr. Gao, goodbye!"

Gao Chuan, standing still in his spot, watched the girl in front of him who still managed to smile lightly. His expression froze suddenly, and even though he was now desperately wanting to speak up to hold her back, it was already too late.

He remembered what Ji Wanwan had said to him: Let her go.

The man ultimately nodded silently, and just as Jiang An was about to turn around and leave, he suddenly raised his hand towards her retreating figure, his lips quivering as he called out to the girl.

"Jiang An..." The tone as low as it usually was, seemed like the murmuring by the bedside during each entangling moment.

"Jiang An!" Suddenly, a sharp female voice came from not far away, covering his voice. When the man looked up again, he saw Xia Zi standing across the street, waving at Jiang An. The girl ran over to her friend without looking back.

He was left standing there, his gaze vacant and profound as he tried to catch sight of her fading figure among the bustling crowd.

Jiang An had already run over to join Xia Zi, and after talking for a few words, they linked arms and left the street, never once glancing back at him.

Even their goodbye was so abrupt, seemingly without a trace of lingering attachment.

The girl’s silhouette slowly vanished into the crowd. It took a long time before the man came back to his senses, his eyes, heavy, finally settled on the divorce certificate in his hand, where faint sunlight cast irregular shadows.

He had imagined this moment in his heart numerous times, but he hadn’t thought that reality would be far more painful than he had envisaged.

"Why are you here?" Jiang An ran up to Xia Zi, taking her hand, her voice not lacking surprise.

Xia Zi pulled Jiang An along, "Originally, Brother Wei Yan was supposed to pick you up, but he had something come up last minute, so he called me."

Jiang An, realizing belatedly, nodded unconsciously and looked back. Due to the distance, the figure of the man behind her had gradually blurred into a mere dot.

"Is everything settled?" Finally, Xia Zi slowed down and asked her.

Jiang An turned back and softly replied with a "Mhm."

The actual moment she received the divorce certificate didn’t bring the sense of relief she had imagined; instead, it left her feeling lost and forlorn.

However, reason told her repeatedly not to be sentimental anymore; there was nothing left to cling to.

Separate paths and peace - wasn’t that the outcome she had hoped for?

Xia Zi could see the loss in Jiang An’s heart and, knowing how difficult it must be for her, didn’t ask any more questions. She called a car to take her home.

That afternoon, Jiang An went back to her alma mater as agreed.

Professor Chen, who had always had high hopes for her, was not too surprised to learn that she now decided to resume her studies. It was as if he had anticipated Jiang An’s return, and he spoke to her earnestly, "It’s good you know to come back."

Jiang An stayed in the office to prepare the necessary documents for studying abroad as required. Even though she had missed the chance as a fresh graduate and it was difficult to prepare now, thankfully, Fang Qing had saved a significant amount of money for her before passing away, enough for her to work part-time and support the expensive tuition fees.

For her, now that the dream was over, it was time to live her own life again.

Jiang An sat by the desk filling forms when some former students of the professor came in to greet him. The sound of their voices was so similar to Gao Chuan’s that she reflexively looked up, only to realize it was not the figure in her heart, and silently turned her gaze back.

Time seemed to have returned to that dim evening a year ago. In the same setting, it was also with such a glance that the man’s figure, dressed in a suit, came into view.

As slow to react as she was, she now realized that it was then that she had fallen.

The moment she lowered her eyes again, fine light flooded into them. Jiang An, trying to be discreet, raised her hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, struggling not to let them fall.

But against her wishes, big droplets of tears began to fall carelessly onto the pristine paper, slowly diffusing the neatly arranged words.