CM | Chapter 15

The image on the photo disappeared.

The tape recorder had also gone on strike.

Xu Shuo’s setup was extremely thorough, with every step carefully planned. He was absolutely an outstanding lawyer, whether in strategy or in method.

But Gu Yao didn’t panic. Things had already come to this, and the restlessness she had felt on the way here had been soothed the moment she stepped through this door. She even started to find it interesting. Even though she had been led step by step into the trap, it was a very interesting game. She was still figuring out how to play, and although it was difficult, it was better than the helpless waiting of the past few days.

Gu Yao decided to take the upper hand: “You lured me here, so what exactly is this about? Why not get straight to the point?”

Xu Shuo raised a brow. “From last night until now, I’ve answered every question of yours honestly. You still think I’m not direct enough?”

Gu Yao sneered. “You did answer, but not a single thing you said got to the point. In other words, everything you said was nonsense. Is that what passes for a lawyer’s negotiation skills?”

Xu Shuo tapped his fingers on the table and suddenly asked, “I’m very curious, why did Miss Gu choose psychology as her major? Oh, I’m just curious. Is it that the eloquence of psychology experts is as good as ours lawyers?”

Gu Yao couldn’t figure out what he was up to, so she copied his style and tossed the question back at him. “Oh? Then why did you choose law?”

Xu Shuo was surprisingly generous about it. “Me? Simple. Stamp out violence, protect the innocent, uphold justice.”

Gu Yao didn’t believe a single word.

Xu Shuo didn’t care at all about the look of contempt and suspicion she gave him. He went on, “My grades were pretty good when I was in school. Based on the cutoff scores back then, the schools I could choose from were only Huagong University, Medical University, Public Security University, Jiaotong University, and the law school. I had no interest in chemical research or being a doctor. Jiaotong University was too far away. As for Public Security University, I was chased by cops from a young age, chased until I was scared of them, so I might as well study law. I figured I could uphold justice in the future, and also learn a little about how to twist right and wrong. Then the next time I ran into cops, I wouldn’t be afraid anymore. Besides, I could still make money off the ill-gotten gains of those lawbreakers. No matter whether the cases I handled for them won or lost, I could still collect my fee.”

By that logic, this Xu Shuo was either shameless to the core or just talking bullshit. Otherwise, it would be a miracle that he was still alive.

Gu Yao didn’t know how much truth was hidden in that story and how much was false, but for the time being she treated it as seventy percent true. At the very least, it was the most he’d ever said at once, and he had also generously given her plenty of key points.

Seeing that Gu Yao didn’t respond, Xu Shuo suggested, “If Miss Gu is interested, why don’t you also analyze me psychologically? Let’s see what kind of pervert I really am, how I ended up so twisted, why I have to pass the time by monitoring other people.”

Clearly, Xu Shuo had already decided to spell out his purpose. He just didn’t plan to say it directly. He wanted Gu Yao to guess.

Gu Yao steadied herself, but she didn’t play by the usual rules.

“If you want to consult me about psychological issues, that’s going to cost money. I charge by the hour. Seven hundred yuan an hour, and that’s still the rate for online counseling. If you need a house call, it’s two thousand an hour. Lawyer Xu, you’ve gone to so much trouble to bring me here, so may I ask, have you prepared the payment? Cash or mobile payment?”

Xu Shuo laughed and shifted into a different sitting position. “What a coincidence. I charge for answering questions too. No matter how many legal opinions I give during this time, even if it’s just small talk, or the time doesn’t even reach twenty-four hours, I charge by the day. Thirty thousand yuan a day.”

“…”

Gu Yao’s face was cold.

Xu Shuo went on, “But today is our first formal meeting, so why don’t we just waive it for each other?”

Gu Yao drew a breath and ignored that line, then steered the conversation back onto the right track. “Lawyer Xu just said your grades were pretty good?”

“Top of the class every year.”

“Then how did you end up being chased by cops from a young age all the way into adulthood? Were you spending your time studying, or committing crimes?”

“I’m very quick on the uptake, have a good memory, and I can read ten lines at a glance and never forget what I saw.”

“Then, Lawyer Xu, do you have a criminal record?”

“No.”

Gu Yao was silent for several seconds.

Being chased by cops all day and still having no criminal record. Either he was the sort who could kick up a fuss and refuse to cooperate, or his family had enough influence that they were constantly bleaching him clean, or someone in his family was a cop…

At that thought, Gu Yao froze.

Her intuition told her the third possibility was right, but her reason told her that if Xu Shuo really had a police officer in the family, he shouldn’t have this kind of background wealth. Besides, his whole body was full of that roguish air, which didn’t match either.

Gu Yao lifted her eyes and met Xu Shuo’s gaze again. At that glance, she couldn’t help but be stunned.

The night before, when the two of them faced each other, it had been in the dark, with insufficient lighting and overlapping shadows, so it was inevitable she might misread him. But today, this room was so bright and clear that everything could be seen plainly.

Only then did Gu Yao realize that this man had a pair of very refined eyes, narrow and double-lidded, with slightly upturned outer corners. Coupled with brows that slanted sharply toward his temples and those deep, pitch-black pupils, his presence was extraordinary.

And he was sizing her up too. Those eyes reflected the daylight, cold and sharp, as if he were studying her as nothing more than a case, without crossing the slightest line.

Gu Yao didn’t know why, but the first time she saw his unserious attitude last night at the event, she had actually thought he was some spoiled rich brat.

Thinking of that, Gu Yao spoke again. “May I ask, since you started practicing law, what kinds of people have you been defending? Mostly ordinary people, mostly powerful figures with money and influence, or people from the underworld?”

Xu Shuo smiled slightly. “Quite a few of all three. But with the last two kinds of people, I take the money and do the job. As for the first kind, I usually only charge a little labor fee. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll just offer it for free and do a good deed.”

Gu Yao said, “Wouldn’t that mean you lose out?”

Xu Shuo said, “Doing good deeds builds merit. Taking a loss is a blessing. Besides, I’m not short on money.”

“So Lawyer Xu not only has a circle of rich friends, but also some connections in the underworld. No wonder you’re so fearless.” Gu Yao quickly changed tack. “You’ve been monitoring my private life, taking photos of my boyfriend, and investigating my family background. What exactly is your purpose? Is this your own idea, or did someone tell you to do it?”

Xu Shuo raised a brow. “You’re the psychology expert. Shouldn’t you be the one telling me that?”

Gu Yao answered without hesitation. “My analysis is that this was your own idea.”

“And why do you say that?”

“First, if someone else told you to do it, then as a lawyer you would have a duty to stop them. Even if you couldn’t stop them, you would still need to clear yourself of involvement, because you know this is illegal. Lawyers generally don’t cross the line lightly. The more familiar you are with the law, the more you see idiots who know the law and break it, the more you understand how serious the consequences are. On the other hand, what lawyers tend to find the most interesting is skirting the edge of the law, doing something a little out of bounds without actually breaking it. That kind of thing gives you a thrill and a sense of accomplishment.”

“Second, because this was your own idea, you couldn’t hand it off to anyone else, so you only looked for one hacker underling you trusted. You knew full well these things had already crossed the legal line, so the first thing you thought of was how to wipe away the traces and make sure no one could catch even the slightest evidence. As long as there’s no evidence, they can’t sue you.”

“Third, you’re not short on money, and you have plenty of free time. For you to run to this unfamiliar city, with no background and no connections, and still take such a huge risk to do something that would offend people, given your wealth and temperament, I don’t think anyone could have hired you. Unless you wanted to do it yourself.”

Gu Yao’s logic could not have been more airtight. While she was analyzing him, she was also observing Xu Shuo’s expression.

This man was definitely an expert at managing his expressions and controlling his emotions. He wasn’t introverted, nor was he born with a deadpan face, but he could control his microexpressions so well that she had difficulty catching any flaws. He absolutely had an unusual history.

Besides, this man might not have lived in luxury since he was a child, but he had at least been living in comfort for more than ten years. Otherwise, he would never have developed that calm and composed bearing in every gesture.

Usually, when a slave suddenly got rich and became the master, the arrogance they showed would be even more vicious than that of other slave owners. That was because the old sense of inferiority had already turned into self-importance. After being oppressed by poverty and inferiority for so long, such people would already be psychologically out of balance. Subconsciously, they would desperately need to be straightened back up, and then they would unknowingly lose themselves and swell up with their own importance.

But in Xu Shuo, none of that kind of sudden wealth or violent upward swing could be seen at all. His confidence, his certainty, and that sense of superiority flowing calmly in his bones had absolutely been built up over years.

Just as Gu Yao quickly reached those conclusions, Xu Shuo’s face also showed a smile. There was admiration in it, and interest as well.

“Miss Gu really is impressive… Oh, should I address you as Teacher Gu?”

His words were half true and half false, not sincere at all. He was only trying to throw her off.

Gu Yao didn’t fall for it. She continued her analysis. “The first time I saw you last night, you had one leg crossed over the other. Usually, people sit like that when they’re reading alone, watching a show, or in a serious setting. Their brains are either in a relaxed state, or they’re concentrating all their energy on what they’re doing at that moment. But when I entered just now, you were sitting with your legs crossed in the figure-four position, which means you were projecting confidence. You were probably getting ready to have a verbal spar with me, and you were certain you could beat me.”

Xu Shuo’s smile deepened. “So even behavioral details can be used to read psychology. Impressive.”

Gu Yao went on, “And your stance and the way you walk. Last night you kept both hands in your pockets. Someone like that is very deep-minded, used to planning things in the dark, advancing step by step, and highly alert. Your pace is also slower than most men. Only people with strict self-discipline and a careful, orderly temperament would be like that. You’re also shrewd, you don’t trust others easily, you have your own thoughts and opinions, and when dealing with people you’re relatively tolerant. From your body language alone, that fits your background and profession extremely well. Other than lawyer, I really can’t think of a more suitable identity.”

In fact, Gu Yao rarely had the chance to analyze a stranger so comprehensively, and to say it all so openly.

She couldn’t remember what happened a year ago, so naturally she also didn’t know how her former self had studied and counseled criminals back then. Over the past year, the cases she had handled were only small disputes, and the people coming to her for help were consulting about the messes of everyday life. Most of those people were extremely sensitive, fragile, lost, and anxious. As a psychology expert, she couldn’t possibly use extreme, cutting words, let alone analyze them so bluntly. The whole process usually had to be gradual and roundabout.

This was her first attempt in a year to analyze Xu Shuo. The excitement she felt was something only she herself understood. She really did want to protect her family, and she really was stirred by this confrontation. Some emotion she had suppressed for a long time was slowly waking up too, just like that day on the rooftop when she faced off with Chen Feiyu, only this time the case was even more challenging.

While Gu Yao was analyzing Xu Shuo, she was also observing him, whether it was that calm gaze, the faint smile at the corners of his lips, or any other minute expression.

Gu Yao knew the time was about right.

So she changed tack and asked the question again. “So I’m really curious. What exactly is it, what kind of grudge, that would attract such a formidable lawyer to come all the way to Jiangcheng and target my father and my boyfriend?”

As soon as Gu Yao finished speaking, Xu Shuo’s eyes narrowed slightly too.

The temperature in the air seemed to drop with them.

After two seconds of silence, his posture finally shifted. He set down his crossed leg, leaned forward, and clasped his hands together on his knees, with his elbows braced there.

Xu Shuo’s smile vanished completely. “Didn’t I already say so in WeChat? This is the first case I took after arriving in Jiangcheng. For an important case, what a professional lawyer should do is ‘target’ it.”

Gu Yao frowned. “Your first case? Which side are you representing? Jiangcheng Gene did not invite you to join their legal team.”

“I said that too. Miss Gu, your identity is sensitive. You’re the girlfriend of the boss of Jiangcheng Gene. I don’t think I should tell you too much.”

Gu Yao did not let up. “If I want to know, then what conditions do you have? Do I need to sign a confidentiality agreement?”

Xu Shuo curled the corner of his lips. “If that thing were useful, then there wouldn’t be those four words, ‘kill to silence.'”

“Then what do you want?”

Xu Shuo glanced at the empty teacup close at hand, but his hand didn’t move.

“I’m thirsty.”

Gu Yao froze, then immediately understood.

She knew he was provoking her, so she didn’t get angry.

Fine, she would lower her posture first.

Gu Yao picked up the teapot and was about to top up his tea, only to discover the pot was already empty. She simply stood up, went to the water dispenser in the corner to get some hot water, then came back and filled Xu Shuo’s cup.

Xu Shuo kept the same posture as before and watched her without moving.

After Gu Yao finished pouring the water, she realized she was a little thirsty too. After all, she had just said so much.

But she didn’t want to touch the cup of tea Xu Shuo had poured for her in the beginning, so she took another cup from the tea tray and refilled it with hot tea.

Gu Yao picked up the cup, blew on it twice, took a small sip, and put it back down. Then she saw that Xu Shuo had only extended one hand, touching the cup with the backs of his index and middle fingers. He seemed to think it was hot and didn’t even pick it up.

Gu Yao asked, “Don’t tell me you want me to blow on it for you?”

Xu Shuo paused, then lifted his eyes. His roguish charm was fully on display. “Such a sultry condition, I wouldn’t dare accept it.”

“…”

Her patience was draining bit by bit. Gu Yao took another sip of tea, trying to suppress her emotions.

At that moment, Xu Shuo spoke. “I took a photo of your boyfriend with an unfamiliar woman. You didn’t come to ask me about that woman’s identity, or where they went after the bar (jiǔbā), or what they did there. Instead, you only asked why I was investigating your boyfriend. Looks like you trust him a lot.”

Gu Yao said, “So what?”

Xu Shuo smiled. “I’m a very compassionate person, especially toward weak women who have been deceived. I’m always very willing to show kindness. This is that woman’s information.”

As he spoke, Xu Shuo pulled a résumé up on his phone and handed it to Gu Yao.

Gu Yao took it and looked. The top half of the résumé was very ordinary, nothing special, just the standard background of a female legal assistant.

It wasn’t until Gu Yao saw the handwritten line in flamboyant script below that it felt as if something had split her skull open, and her thoughts broke off at once.

20xx, April, involved in the death of a Jiangcheng Gene executive after he took medication, and after police investigation, she will be charged with intentional homicide.

This wasn’t…

Gu Yao only felt the blood draining from her face at a terrifying speed.

Xu Shuo’s voice sounded at that moment too. “Looking at your reaction now… what, you didn’t know this woman was the legal assistant involved in the case?”

He was asking even though he already knew the answer.

Ever since the news of the executive’s drug-induced death was exposed, the face of the female assistant who had been the only eyewitness at the scene had never been shown in the media. Even her name had been concealed. Of course, the face of the dead executive had been blurred out too. It was probably Jiangcheng Gene and the law firm together smoothing things over with the media, so Gu Yao, like the great masses of gossip-loving spectators, had no idea what either of them looked like.

Right now, Gu Yao had no mind for anything else. She could only stare in disbelief at the photo of the female assistant on the phone and those seemingly ordinary lines of experience.

Now that she knew the identity of the woman in the photo, every single word on it became horrifying the more she thought about it.

This female legal assistant was named Tian Fang. She was from Jiangcheng, graduated from the law school, and had been with the firm for less than five years. The cases she had handled in the past were mainly commercial disputes.

What was most bizarre was that there was also a note line in this résumé, and it clearly recorded her menstrual cycle…

But Gu Yao only saw that much. Before she could make out the rest of the information, the phone was snatched away by a large hand.

Gu Yao instinctively looked up. Her brain felt a little dazed, a little dizzy. She couldn’t react for a moment, and could only stare blankly at the man across from her.

Xu Shuo’s voice was soft and light. “This female assistant was the only eyewitness to the case, and she’s also the defendant for intentional homicide that the public security organs are preparing to submit to the procuratorate. Tell me, if photos of her with your boyfriend were leaked at this moment… heh.”

A low chuckle slipped into Gu Yao’s ears.

She jolted, then heard Xu Shuo say, “You know the media’s imagination is very rich. They can come up with several versions of a story in minutes. For example, the boss of Jiangcheng Gene, Zhu Shengxi, colluded with a legal assistant and, after making emotional investments, used her to murder some executive in the company, in order to kill and silence him.”

Gu Yao couldn’t get a single word out. She drew a breath, then another, but her strength was failing her. Her heartbeat changed too. Her hands and feet turned cold, and little by little she began to lose strength.

Not only that, even her hearing and vision were starting to dull.

No, this wasn’t a physiological reaction after being frightened!

The tea had a problem!

The moment Gu Yao realized that, she pinched herself hard.

It hurt.

She came to a little, immediately grabbed the sofa armrest and stood up, then clutching her phone she made for the door.

She thought she was walking very fast, but it took a long time of weaving and staggering before she finally reached the door handle.

But at the same time, another oppressive presence appeared behind her.

A large hand pressed lightly against the door panel.

Gu Yao forced her eyes open and shook her head. She couldn’t pull the door open, and the weakness in her body only worsened, so she pressed her forehead against the door and used one hand to pinch her own thigh again.

Then a warm breath slowly brushed past her earlobe, and the man’s voice was not only low, but tinged with mockery.

“Compared with that photo of your boyfriend, isn’t my surveillance of you more comprehensive?”

A low laugh.

“Heh, the person who really interests me is you.”

Gu Yao turned around weakly, her vision already beginning to blur. In the haze, she could only see the man’s smile right in front of her face. She tried to raise her hand and punch him, but she only lifted it to shoulder level before it slid down helplessly.

She wanted to grab his suit jacket, but she couldn’t support her own heavy body. Her knees had already gone numb, the floor beneath her feet was icy cold, and her back was pressed against the door panel as she slid downward all the way.

Just as she was about to collapse onto the floor, Gu Yao suddenly felt a force catch her around the waist.

Then her body was lifted off the ground, as if she were floating on clouds, jostling up and down…

She knew things were about to go badly.

But she could only think that much.

Very quickly, darkness rushed in, dragging her into the abyss and swallowing her whole.

Author’s note:

Actually, the previous chapter wasn’t short at all, okay? It was four thousand words. You guys have just been spoiled by the fat chapter.

→_→ The kidnapper x hostage from the blurb has finally arrived.