Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
She spoke with such honesty. Luosang wasnât put off by the fact that she liked Nian Junting, too. âHow was that your fault? Huang Haoyun and the translator did you dirty. Itâs not your fault that you canât read Japanese.â
âNo, we are still Shengtingâs legal consultants, after all. Anything that goes wrong with the contracts is our fault. If word got out, our reputation would be badly affected,â An Lan said.
âLawyer An, if... there is an audio recording of the conversation between Zeng Lijuan and Yi Jingxi when they struck up a deal, would it be a good enough piece of evidence?â Luosang asked with hesitation.
An Lan was stunned for a second, and then she nodded her head vigorously. âIf we have the recording and a witness, a witness who can testify against Yi Jingxiâs feud with your family, we might have a chance.â
âWe still need a witness?â
âYeah, we need a believable motive. I know Mr. Nian has been closing in on the Yi Group. When Yi Jingxi loses his footing, he wonât be able to find a good defense counsel. That will be our best time to act.â
An Lan looked at her with excitement. âDo you have any news of the recording? When Mr. Nian found out about Zeng Lijuanâs boyfriend, we suspected that he had incriminating evidence against Yi Jingxi. We were so frustrated when he got his hands on the boyfriend before we had a chance to talk to him.â
âThe recording is not with Yi Jingxi, itâs with Jiang Qifei,â Luosang told An Lan simply. âI wasnât sure how helpful that recording would be, so I had to come to consult you first.â
âYou trust me that much?â An Lan was shocked. âYouâre not worried that I will tell Mr. Nian?â
Luosang smiled. âYou are a lawyer. You must want to win this case, since you took it on. If you can overturn the ruling on this case, you will become the talk of the town. You will be standing on the pinnacle of your career if we win, Lawyer An.â
âMiss Xu, you are quite the sly one.â An Lan turned and smiled. âYouâre telling me all this because youâre worried that he wonât continue to ask me to take on this case when you guys break up?â
âThat is one of the reasons. Another reason Iâm talking to you is that I hope that you will find an opportunity to tell him the truth once I break up with him. Jiang Qifei said that she would only give me the recording after three months. Iâm not sure who is supporting her, so I must fulfill her conditions. Three months apart is a long time for both me and him. When she lowers her guard, Nian Junting could investigate her and find out how she got hold of the evidence in the first place. When she hands the recording over to me, thatâs when we wrap things up and make her pay the price of doing something so despicable.â
âWhy donât you ask Nian Xi or Xiao Si to do you the favor instead, since it matters so much to you?â An Lan was confused. âWeâre just working partners, after all, not even friends.â
âBecause they need to be conned as well to achieve the best effect. Youâre different. We can work together because weâre not friends. When I get the evidence, you can win the lawsuit and gain wealth, reputation, and honor. Itâs a good deal for you, too.â
âAlright, what about the witness?â An Lan nodded. âWithout a witness, it will be difficult to pin down a motive for Yi Jingxiâs actions.â
âZeng Zhun, Kashiwa.â Luosangâs lips were quivering. âZeng Zhun is Yi Jingxiâs personal assistant. What else can be more convincing than that? Kashiwa is his old classmate and a close friend.â
An Lan shook her head. âMaybe Kashiwa, but Zeng Zhun...ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIâve encountered Zeng Zhun a few times. Heâs not a bad person, and he doesnât agree with the things that Yi Jingxi does. Iâve been seeing news of Yi Jingxi lately. Zeng Zhun isnât following him around anymore.â
An Lan sputtered. âWell, but that wonât be enough, right?â
âSo, we need Junting to sow discord between them. It shouldnât be too difficult for him. Everyone in the Yi Group is switching jobs now. Yi Jingxi will be at his most paranoid.â
âAre you sure Nian Junting will still help you?â An Lan raised her brows.
âIâm not sure.â Luosang shrugged. âBut if he wonât help me, Iâll figure something out myself. Iâm talking about our partnership today.â
âSure, I wonât lose anything, anyway.â An Lan nodded and shook her hand.
...
At the Tianhu Villa.
The evening hues painted the sky, and Nian Junting came home from work. He walked in to see Sister Lan watching television in the living room. He frowned. âItâs so late. Why havenât you made dinner yet?â
âSang is cooking in the kitchen. She wonât let me chip in and chased me out,â Sister Lan said indignantly as she pointed at the closed-off kitchen.
Nian Junting was gleeful immediately. He walked over and pushed the door open to see Luosang making fish head tofu stew. The sweetness of the seafood filled the air with an enticing aroma. âYum, smells so good.â Nian Junting hugged her from behind and buried his face in her neck.
âYeah, I just showered and washed my hair.â Luosang was about to touch his face when she realized that she hadnât washed her hands yet after touching the tofu.
âIâm talking about the fish, not you.â Nian Junting hummed lightly. âDonât be so full of yourself.â
Luosang put down her hand slowly. She wanted to smack him with the spatula.
Nian Junting glanced at the countertop. It was filled with his favorite dishes. âLuo, why are you treating me so nice? Itâs not even my birthday yet. Are you going someplace for your job?â
âNo, I just thought you must be tired after all youâve done for my dad. I wanted to treat you to something special to thank you.â Luosang looked at him coyly.
âI should be helping our dad. Itâs just that I havenât been making much progress.â Nian Junting hugged her and mumbled, âItâs so strange that the trail seemed to stop here. I just canât seem to find any further evidence. If we really canât figure things out, letâs bail your father out on account of medical treatment outside. We can diagnose him with a psychiatric problem, and he might feel better staying outside the prison.â
âWonât that be against your principles?â Luosang panicked and said, âI asked before, my dadâs illness is because of his low morale. He wonât qualify for bail.â
âI canât help it. Iâm willing to bend my principles for my woman.â Nian Juntingâs arms were still around her. He looked down at her youthful and beautiful face.
Luosang looked up at him for a while and shook her head. âNo, I donât want that. You have your own principles. I donât want you to make an exception for me. Youâve already done enough for me.â
âBut...â
âJunting, my father wants to clear his name,â Luosang said. âHe is the most worried about my motherâs opinion of him when she finds out about what happened to him. He canât bear the thought of her despising or mocking him.â
Nian Junting remarked, âYour dad is still troubled about love matters even at such an old age.â
Luosang rolled her eyes at him. âI know. You wonât like me anymore when youâre old. I guess you wonât be troubled by relationship matters, then.â