Chapter 78 - PACKING UP

In the morning, there was paperwork Luo Jingyi had to process, so she stayed in her study. She only remembered to eat when Yun Jinghan called and asked how she was. It was past midnight on the other side of the world, and he was returning to his residence. He sounded tired but happy at that the same time. They exchanged a few words before she told him to go to rest and ended the call. Then someone brought her lunch. Apparently, Yun Jinghan sent someone to deliver it. 

When she attempted to finish the reports, she was distracted, so she went to the other room and sorted out her things. Luo Jingyi wrapped a selection of paintings carefully. She would be sending them to the capital. She was going to store the rest in this room. She hadn't decided to sell nor rent out this unit anyway.

As she busied herself, her phone rang, which startled her. Extending a free hand behind her, she clasped the device and placed it against her right ear. She greeted the lawyer upon recognizing his voice. 

"Chen Guozhi's lawyer contacted, and he wanted a deal." 

Luo Jingyi stopped the action of wrapping a cloth over the painting. She was quiet. Based on her previous investigation, the original's sister was among Chen Guozhi's victims. When the authorities discovered piles of bones buried in his garden, her remains weren't found among the collection. 

So she wondered what kind of deal Chen Guozhi wanted. Did he have any information about the original's sister? Or did he just want to mess with her? "That depends on what information he has." She replied after giving it a thought. 

"The location where he buried your sister." The lawyer informed and waited for Luo Jingyi's answer. Hearing none, he gave his opinion. "We already investigated all properties under his name and possible dumping site. So this time, he might be only playing with you."

"I know." Luo Jingyi's hand tightened on the handset. He was definitely baiting her to see how much she was willing to bend for Han Mei. And with his trial scheduled, she had a feeling Chen Guozhi was getting anxious about the situation he was in.

There was a photo found in her estate agent's house. It was taken in Venice four years ago. Xiao Wen, who Luo Jingyi sent to track the missing estate agent, reported that the photo was real. So Luo Jingyi started to doubt things. That Han Mei might be alive. If she was, then it changes things. 

But that didn't mean she wouldn't hold Chen Guozhi accountable for what he did. Using humans as experimental subjects was a violation of the Code of Ethics – doctors had sworn to. In fact, Chen Guozhi's grandfather should be held accountable, as well. The mere knowledge of his grandson's actions made him an accessory. But why didn't she reveal it? Because the old man was dying. He was at the last stage of prostate cancer. There were viable treatments, but it was useless. The cancer cells had metastasis, and he had only a month or so to live. The last news she heard was that he was seeking treatment overseas. Even that proved to be least fruitful.

"Then how do we proceed with this?" The lawyer interrupted her thoughts. Then he heard Luo Jingyi say, "There are other ways of getting him to talk without the deal Lawyer Shao." He could sense a smile on her face as she spoke. 

"I understand. I'll arrange for it." Lawyer Shao said and ended the call. There was no way Chen Guozhi could turn things around. He was sure that Luo Jingyi would never let him go. 

Lawyer Shao made a mental note not ever to provoke Luo Jingyi in the future if he didn't want to end up in the gutters too. Nobody dared to offend the Chen Family because of their political influence, but she destroyed and pulled them down from their perch. Overnight, Minister Chen, who imperiously acted like he owned the world – was sent to his doom. With his political career ruined, there was no room for recovery. Sending Chen Guozhi to the military prison was also akin to sending him to hell. Then, Dr. Zhao, who used illegal means to gain power, money, and fame –disappeared from the medical field. She was a force one should never trifle with. 

Meanwhile, Luo Jingyi retracted her gaze and faced the image on the wall. It was the original's sister, which she painted. The woman in the painting was also the spitting image of her favorite cousin, who died horribly in the hands of the Second Prince. "Are you really alive? If you are, where are you now?" 

…..

Luo Jingyi was amused. "So, you're telling me that you wanted to become poor?" She directed the question to Nicolette, who was sitting across her. The other woman took the time to sip her orange juice before clarifying things. They were at the airport waiting for their flight. This morning, Nicolette knocked at her apartment door with a suitcase in tow and told her she was going to the capital too.

"Not exactly. I just want to experience being a normal person. To have a regular job, hang out with my colleagues, and learn to live within means." Nicolette replied as she pulled up her chocolate brown hair into a ponytail. 

Coming from an affluent family, Uncle Robert gave her all life's comfort, pampering her at a young age. Her upbringing was different from most people. She sat at the front row during fashion shows, went to classical recitals, watched theater, visited art galleries, etc.. She knew plates, saucers, and teacups—whether they were expensive or cheap, but she definitely had no idea what's the difference between a screwdriver and a plier. Nicolette's mother is a well-known socialite in Asia, and she raised Nicolette to be one.

"Do not laugh," Nicolette warned, her hazel eyes glinting. 

"I'm not." Luo Jingyi answered

immediately. She was never a judgmental person. Reaching for her coffee, Luo Jingyi asked what had been bothering her. "What did your parents say about it?"

Nicolette locked her arms

together against her chest and leaned back. The chair wasn't as comfortable as those padded ones in the VIP lounge. "Mother is furious, of course. She thinks this is a mistake. She wants me to run her newly opened gallery in Hong Kong. Now that you are engaged, she is also urging me to get married." 

"I bet." Luo Jingyi smiled. Nicolette's mother was different from Aunt Alice. She was stricter. "How did she agree?"

"When I first mentioned it over dinner, Mother refused immediately. I was dispirited, so I went clubbing and bumped into Alexa." She paused, recalling that night she met her cousin at the bar. Alexa's father and Nicolette's father are siblings. "I poured it all out on her, and she agreed to help me. The next day, Alexa called Mother and talked her out of it. I only wanted three months, but Alexa had her agreeing for a year. Could you believe that? Sometimes, I think I am not their child, but Alexa is."

Luo Jingyi laughed at Nicolette's comical expression. "Alexa could be persuasive." The other woman nodded in agreement. Something crossed Luo Jingyi's mind, so she asked, "But what did Alexa ask from you in return?" Luo Jingyi was betting her Ashton Martin that cousin in question didn't do it freely. After all, Alexa was all about transactions and benefits. 

"Nothing." Nicolette's answer surprised Luo Jingyi. It sounded impossible. Oh well! Luo Jingyi set her cup down on the round table. "One year is long. But you might be giving up within a month, even in a week."

"I won't. I will definitely endure everything. This time, I am going to prove myself."

Luo Jingyi liked Nicolette's optimism. But she wondered how Nicolette was going to manage her shopaholic habit. Her spending habit should be the first thing Nicolette had to curb if she wanted to live like an ordinary person. "Have you found a job?

Excitement made Nicolette's cheeks flushed. "Yes. I'm starting on Monday as an assistant."

'Okay. She got a job.'

"What about accommodation?"

"There's a company dormitory."

Luo Jingyi sighed in relief. At least the basic things were covered. She no longer needed to investigate about Nicolette's new workplace. She was sure Uncle Robert covered that area already. 

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