Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sweat bead on Bai Changhui’s forehead when he heard Jin Wanyi’s harsh words. Teach Huo Shao a lesson? –She had a death wish… Wiping his forehead with a tissue, he quietly thought no wonder the cunning lawyers at JD Law Office refused to take his case, while Jin Wanyi was the only one who accepted it. Turns out the newborn calf didn’t fear the tiger, she didn’t know what this case actually involved. Of course, perhaps she was aware but didn’t care because she needed this kind of case to establish a reputation? Going to the mountains while knowing a tiger lurked there, danger can’t be overcome without taking risks… Bai Changhui pondered this and knew he should remind Jin Wanyi so she wouldn’t be instantly taken out by Mr. Huo. Who else could he find to act as Bai Jinyi’s defense lawyer? He spoke with caution, “Major General Huo is the head of the Special Operations Forces, so his address and phone number aren’t easily divulged. Also, this case is very tricky, so I especially found a renowned lawyer like Lawyer Jin to help. How about this, you can go to the military’s official website to find the public contact information for the Special Operations Forces, that’s the only way to get through to them.”
Jin Wanyi was driving in the early morning of New Year Day, so the streets of the Imperial capital were empty. The people who partied all night were still asleep as she traveled through the streets. Fire burned in her heart as she slammed on the gas to push the car to its speed limit, quickly arriving back to the JD Law Office underground parking lot. Jin Wanyi remained in her vehicle, taking our her phone to search for the military’s official website. She quickly found the Special Ops’ public phone number and didn’t hesitate to call. No one picked up–it was lie a death loop that asked her to dial 1, then 2, and lastly 3… then a new round of 1, 2, 3… Jin Wanyi stubbornness was at full force, she dialed as instructed and called for a full 15 minutes before she finally connected to the Special Op’s… voicemail. Normal people who have given up during the calling process, or someone who stayed on the line the whole time would have cooled down their anger by the time they got to the voicemail. However, Jin Wanyi didn’t. To a certain extent, she was just like all good lawyers and refused to easily give up.
She left an angry message to the Special Ops’ public voicemail. “Hello, I am Lawyer Jin Wanyi from the JD Law Office. May I ask if this is the complaint voicemail for the Special Ops? I want to complain about Major General Huo for abusing his power by detaining my client without reason and refusing her bail. You can go check the law provisions to see which chapter, which section says that an unindicted party can be refused bail? If there are special circumstances, please provide written notice. If I do not receive a reply in three days, I will disclose full names in a report to the public.” Jin Wany’s voicemail was quickly analyzed by the Special Ops’ operator, where it moved up the ranks to finally arrive to Huo Shaoheng’s personal secretary, Zhao Liangze. He listened to the fiery message and couldn’t help chuckling and shaking his head, this lawyer has guts, but… she seems totally inexperienced. Zhao Liangze forwarded the message to Yin Shixiong, so he could investigate Jin Wanyi.
…
It was already eleven in the morning by the time Gu Nianzhi woke up. She huddled in the blankets and rolled around, but still didn’t want to get up from bed. Huo Shaoheng emerged from the study and saw it was almost lunchtime. Gu Nianzhi was still sleeping, so he knew she was lazing around in bed again. He pursed his lips as he walked up to her bedroom door and rapped on it. Gu Nianzhi finally put on slippers and got out of bed when she heard the knocking, then picked up a coral fleece robe to drape on her body and hastily tied it up. She opened the door to see Huo Shaoheng standing there. He wore summer casual clothes inside the official residence–black T-shirt tucked in camo pants and short military boots to give his casual look a sense of ruggedness.
“…Huo Shao, aren’t you cold wearing just that?” Gu Nianzhi tightened the robe.
“What cold? This building is always set at 25 degrees Celsius all year round. Aren’t you hot wearing all that?” Huo Shaoheng touched her head and thankfully she didn’t have a fever, “Hurry up, it’s time for lunch.”
“Ok.” Gu Nianzhi answered obediently and shyly smoothed her head, “I feel a little cold, I’m going to wash up first.”
“Yeah.” Huo Shaoheng remembered her surgery, it looked as if losing all that blood marrow had damaged her body to a certain extent and must recuperate slowly. He turned to go downstairs, going to the kitchen first to check and asked the orderly in charge of cooking to simmer spare rib and lotus root soup with gogi berry to replenish her blood, and also blood swallow’s nest for bGu Nianzhi and Song Jinning to both eat in the evening. Blood swallow’s nest was a supplement food for women, and Huo Shaoheng didn’t believe it had much nutritional value. However all the women in the Huo family ate it, so he also prepared servings for Gu Nianzhi and Song Jinning since it didn’t hurt.
When Gu Nianzhi washed up and came downstairs for lunch, she found Chen Lie, Zhao Liangze and Yin Shixiong were all there, and even Song Jinning was already sitting at the head of the table. She wore a lavender cashmere sweetheart neckline dress. On her left sat Huo Shaoheng, and on her left was an empty spot. Chen Lie, Zhao Liangze and Yin Shixiong sat across from each other and were giggling about something, making Song Jinning laugh with them too.
Gu Nianzhi walked over happily and greeted Song Jinning first, “Auntie Song, sorry I’m late.”
“It’s ok, today is New Year’s Day, it doesn’t hurt to sleep a bit more.” Song Jinning took her hand with a smile, motioning for her to sit in the empty spot on her right. Chen Lie sat on Gu Nianzhi’s right. He propped up his head on a head and scrutinized her for a while with a smile, “Hmm? You have dark circles? Didn’t you sleep well last night?”
Gu Nianzhi raised her brows skeptically, “Nope? I slept great…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes drifted to Huo Shaoheng’s direction. She had slept too well that she didn’t even know when he left. He said he would stay until the sun rose… Liar..
Huo Shaoheng ignored her look and glanced at Chen Lie instead, “Time to eat, talk after you finish.” Just like at the Huo household, the rule was to not speak during eating. After lunch, Gu Nianzhi noticed that Song Jinning’s gloominess had mostly disappeared. Looks like Huo Shaoheng was right, Song Jinning was indeed a strong woman and not a weakling obsessed with love… Gu Nianzhi mulled over it as she waited for the orderly to bring over coffee. She stirred cream in her cup and asked Song Jinning, “Aunt Song, today is New Year Day, do you want to go out?”
Song Jinning shook her head with a smile, “I’ll pass, you guys go if you want. I have to sort out the data from all those years ago. It’s been so many years, I don’t know if I remember.”
Gu Nianzhi sighed with admiration. She was truly a scientist–she just woke up and only thought about her experiment…
Huo Shaoheng knew this all too well and had prepared long before, “I’ve already stored everything in the computer in your room. Little Ze, can you go teach her how to use it later?”
Zhao Liangze answered with a loud, “Yes.” He quickly followed Song Jinning to her room to teach her how to use modern computers. Song Jinning lived on the third floor in a suite with full sized living room, study, bedroom and bathroom. Song Jinning followed Zhao Liangze to the third floor, leaving only Huo Shaoheng, Gu Nianzhi, Yin Shixiong and Chen Lie in the dining room.
Yin Shixiong mentioned the voicemail from Jin Wanyi in the morning, “Mr. Huo, what do you plan on doing?”
Gu Nianzhi took the phone from Yin Shixiong and connected the voicemail to listen to the message. She sighed, “Who is this? She’s haughty… But she is pretty diligent about her client.”
“Jin Wanyi, lawyer from the Imperial capital’s largest law firm, JD Law Office. She just joined last year and is said to be a distant relative of one of the partners, her performance has been mediocre.” Yin Shixiong reported to Huo Shaoheng on his findings.
Huo Shaoheng knew instantly that it was the same one Zhao Liangze mentioned in the morning, defense lawyer the Bai’s had hired to represent Bai Jinyi. He was quiet for a long time, then rapped his fingers on the table and answered dryly, “…If it’s a lawyer targeting the Special Ops, we should have our legal department deal with her. –Big Xiong, forward this to Director Bai, she’s the head of the Special Ops’ legal department. This is within her jurisdiction.” It was more appropriate for a member of the Bai family to deal with their own people. Yin Shixiong promptly answered, then got up to call Director Bai Yueran of the Special Ops’ legal department. Gu Nianzhi had wanted to express her own opinion on how to counterattack Jin Wanyi, but she now she just to bow down to Huo Shaoheng as soon as she heard his idea. Taste of their own medicine, letting them fight against themselves, using leverage?! Huo Shao, please accept my humble bow!
…
“Director Bai, this is the legal complaint the Special Ops received, please handle it.” Yin Shixong called Bai Yueran and forwarded the voicemail to her.
Bai Yueran happened to be talking to her cousin, Bai Shuang in her room. The corners of her mouth twitched when she got the call.
“What is it?” Bai Shuang quickly asked, “Is it business? Should I give you privacy?”
“No need…” Bai Yueran grimaced, “It’s not totally business, half and half I guess… It’s about Aunt.”
