CH 16.2

Chapter 16 (part 2)

Gao Yuan really was passing by Yuelan Neighbourhood that day. He had had some business at the nearby courthouse, and as he was heading back to his office, he remembered that he hadn't been in touch with Fu Zheng for a while. He had given Fu Zheng a call, but the line was busy, as it always was. Gao Yuan hadn't expected community law to be this busy.

They had had a dinner together planned, but after Fu Zheng had been snatched away midway by Ning Wan, it was as if Fu Zheng had dropped off the face of the earth. Every single call resulted only in a busy tone. Gao Yuan had even tried inquiring in a roundabout way by attempting to contact Ning Wan, but the results were the same - a busy signal. The endless busy signals even had Gao Yuan wondering if both of them had blocked him or something.

But that was impossible. How silly! Hadn't he always been professional to his clients and affable toward his coworkers? Why, he was a model of virtue in the institute. Why would anyone possibly block him?

If Ning Wan and Fu Zheng weren't answering his calls, it must just mean that there was too much going on at Yuelan Neighbourhood. He, being a senior partner of Zhengyuan Law Firm, should look out for his coworkers and take them out to eat occasionally.

It's just that...

Gao Yuan had not expected this...

What on earth had happened to Ning Wan, who had always been thoughtful and considerate of everyone else? She had chosen a western restaurant where the meal for a family could easily go over 3,000 yuan1... What hurt Gao Yuan even more was that she wasn't skimping at all on the food, choosing only all the fancy and expensive dishes without a shred of hesitation, as if she were a woman on a mission. Gao Yuan could only cling onto his bleeding heart and wallet, and wonder if something had happened to Ning Wan in life or at work recently. He didn't dare ask outright, so he could only glance at Fu Zheng, hoping to glean some hints from him.

What he didn't know, however, was that his innocent glance had been thoroughly twisted in Ning Wan's eyes--

This fucking lecher still dared to cast his eyes on Fu Zheng! It seems that she would have to make a pre-emptive strike!

"Partner Gao, I must report one thing to you." Ning Wan said enthusiastically, clearing her throat, "I've already made Fu Zheng mine."

Likely due to the fact that she hadn't been able to discuss this with Fu Zheng beforehand, his hand holding the glass shook all of a sudden, nearly spilling the red wine within.

Gao Yuan's reaction was far more intense. He had been actually sipping his wine, and when he heard these words, he was so agitated that he almost spat it out regardless of etiquette.

He coughed for a long time before subtly glancing at Fu Zheng. "What happened?! It's only been a few days, didn't you two dislike each other?" Unable to help but raise his voice, he asked, "how have you slept together already?”

Look at how his mind was already in the gutter! Like calls to like.

Ning Wan tried not to roll her eyes. "Fu Zheng has recently decided to follow me here in the community, and has officially taken me as his teacher and mentor. I'll be looking out for him in the future."

"Oh..."

Gao Yuan seemed to breath out a sigh of relief. He gave Fu Zheng a wickedly teasing look. This wicked old goat!

It couldn't be helped. Ning Wan coughed and said frankly, "So you can't steal him from me, Partner Gao. It's rare that I take an apprentice."

Gao Yuan looked at Fu Zheng incredulously. "Are you really her student?"

Likely apprehensive of going against a senior partner, Fu Zheng had an awkward expression on his face. He was silent for a long time before he nodded heavily.

Gao Yuan began tossing back red wine, although his face still looked as though nothing had happened. As he drank, his eyes continually drifted toward Fu Zheng. Hadn't she already told him that Fu Zheng was hers?! Was this pervert still trying to make a futile pass at him?!

The man really hadn't given up! He asked Ning Wan in a roundabout way, "But Ning Wan... didn't you not get along with Fu Zheng in the beginning?"

Look at this evil man. He was ready to use her complaint to sow discord between herself and Fu Zheng.

How could she let him get what he wanted?

She took a sip of tea. "I have a better understanding of him now. Actually, Fu Zheng is quite a good person. He can sometimes be a little indecisive in the face of coercion and somewhat malleable to materialistic things. Every once in a while, he will bow to pressure and go with the flow, but on the whole, he is a man with a positive outlook on life. He has self-respect and self-love, and wouldn't sell himself to take a shortcut..."

It would have been quite reasonable for Gao Yuan to understand and give up now that she had spelled it out for him like this. However, as she was talking, he was looking at Fu Zheng with disbelief all over his face, as if he couldn't recognize the person Ning Wan was talking about.

It was a good thing that Fu Zheng was doing well this time under pressure. He cut his steak very calmly and naturally, his expression deadpan, and firmly ignored Gao Yuan's eyes.

If she didn't need this job and so have to bow her head to those on top, Ning Wan would have already followed her heart and given Gao Yuan a thorough scolding right then and there. Hadn't she already made it clear enough? How could this person still not give up?!

Shortly thereafter, Fu Zheng got up, saying that he was going to the bathroom. Not long after he left, that cheeky little Gao Yuan said the same.

Filled with regrets, Ning Wan watched his retreating back. He was obviously following Fu Zheng. Fu Zheng, you are obviously old enough to take care of yourself, so why are you still so innocent? She should have reminded him just now!

Now that he had left her side, wasn't he making himself easy prey for Gao Yuan? The men's room was the ideal place to commit a crime! Yet she, a woman, couldn't follow. Once he was cornered in the men's room by Gao Yuan, and the door was locked, then... Wouldn't Gao Yuan be free to do whatever he wanted...

Anyway, Fu Zheng was going to the toilet. It was natural to unzip in the toilet, and if he was urinating with Gao Yuan around, then it would be easy for Gao Yuan to look over and to reach out his sinful hands...

Ning Wan got goosebumps and cold sweat just thinking about it. In her imagination, she was already at the point where Fu Zheng had been ravaged, a lifeless look on his face like a pear flower covered by raindrops2...

How could she let this kind of evil go on before her own eyes?!

By then, the expensive meal had already been served, but Ning Wan was unable to eat it. She could no longer sit still. Building up her courage, she went straight to the door of the men's room.

Sure enough, Fu Zheng wasn't coming out, and neither was Gao Yuan, but they had already been in there for almost ten minutes! Had Fu Zheng already suffered... After all, if one was quick about it, ten minutes was more than enough!

She blamed herself as well for having attempted to rip off Gao Yuan. She had found them such an expensive restaurant, one so fancy that they were the only people in the house. There was no one else in the men's toilet. Fu Zheng was a sheep in the jaws of a wolf!

Ning Wan paced back and forth at the door to the men's room before finally having a brainwave.

Gao Yuan felt that Ning Wan had been acting very strangely today. During the meal, he had looked up several times to find her watching him with complicated eyes. When he met her gaze, she then looked away as if nothing had happened. It was extremely puzzling.

And what was even more puzzling was her changed attitude toward Fu Zheng. It hadn't been that long ago that she had reported him fiercely under her own name, yet today she was acting like an old hen protecting her chick. She had even said a lot of things that made absolutely no sense, like Fu Zheng being indecisive and weak? What? He had known Fu Zheng for years. He fancied himself as knowing the man fairly well, and those words had absolutely nothing to do with him. Was this the persona that Fu Zheng had made up?

Looking into the eyes of Fu Zheng, who was cool as a cucumber, Gao Yuan sighed. The sweeter and quieter Fu Zheng was, the more anxious he felt for Ning Wan. This kid was a prime example of a black-belly. He was enduring the humiliation right now in order to have good standing in the community, but when he returned in the future...

When Fu Zheng left for the toilet, Gao Yuan immediately caught up with him. Ning Wan had been cutting off any opportunity he had had to talk to Fu Zheng, so he could only rely on being in the bathroom together to talk to Fu Zheng in private. The two greeted each other, made some small talk, and just as he was about to broach the main topic, he heard a sudden, loud roar at the door of the men's toilet--

"Earthquake! Earthquake! "

Gao Yuan had no time to think. His desire for survival was too strong and he fled the men's room without even zipping up his trousers. Behind him, Fu Zheng was still washing his hands, but Gao Yuan had no time for friendship right then. After all, he was different from Fu Zheng. The man was single, but he still had a family to feed!

The result was that Gao Yuan ran out of the men's room with his pants unzipped to find peace outside the door. There was no vibration, no screaming, no confusion. A few waiters were serving food with calm faces...

That was when Gao Yuan came to his senses. Something was wrong, something was very wrong.

There was obviously no earthquake at all.