Chapter 37 No one in the entire law firm is better at gathering information than this…

The movie tonight was great. It was about a country mother who rescued a little boy and later found a little girl. The boy and girl grew up together and became childhood sweethearts. But before they could get married, the boy's true identity was revealed, and he was forced to return to his biological parents' home in the big city.

The boy's biological mother didn't want him to return to his rural home and wanted him to stay in the city to study. During this time, the boy met a smart and generous female classmate, which pleased his biological mother. However, his mother and fiancée in the countryside were still hoping for his return.

Nie Qingqing's heart was in her throat from beginning to end. She dared not speak loudly in the movie theater, as everyone was engrossed in the film and making even the slightest noise would be considered inappropriate.

Song Zhao knew what she was worried about. In reality, the boy would most likely not go back, but in a movie, there would definitely be a happy ending.

He held Qingqing's hand tightly. When he saw the ending, sure enough, the boy who had been hesitant all along got the consent of his biological parents, returned to his hometown, picked up Qingmei, got their marriage certificate, and the lovers finally got married.

Nie Qingqing was overjoyed and still wanted more: "Romance movies are still the best. I wouldn't mind watching them again."

Although Song Zhao didn't believe it, Qingqing's happiness was the most important thing, so he only discussed the movie: "Movies are all about twists and turns, captivating the audience, and keeping them on the edge of their seats to be good."

If it weren't for the rule against speaking while watching a movie, Tangyuan would have already spoken up; he didn't agree with the ending in the film.

"Mom, you're so gullible. Movies can be made however they want, but in reality, how could he possibly give up a beautiful girl from the city who comes from a good family? It's so unrealistic."

Is this something a fifth-grader could say?

Nie Qingqing tapped his head: "A person should have a sense of responsibility. You're so young, and your morals aren't very high."

Tangyuan: "Am I not morally upright? I'm much more morally upright than the brother in the movie. He has no sense of responsibility at all. His biological mother, who didn't raise him, disagrees with him, so he won't go back to find the mother who raised him. Also, if he really likes that sister in the countryside, he'll fly back there. These are all just excuses."

Nie Qingqing explained to him, "You don't understand. In the era depicted in the movie, without a letter of introduction, you couldn't even leave the house. How could he go back? He wanted to get married, but without his parents' consent, he couldn't even get a certificate. How could he get married? But his personality was indeed like paste. Fortunately, the ending was good."

Tangyuan continued her earnest advice: "Mom, you've been happy with Dad for so long that you've forgotten the hardships you endured before. You're too optimistic. You need to be careful!"

Nie Qingqing, who was in a good mood, got annoyed by the boy's endless chatter and picked up a ruler to hit him.

Song Zhao didn't stop him, but told Xiao Yuan to go take a shower first and not to worry about him.

Xiao Yuan: "Dad, Tangyuan didn't say anything wrong."

Song Zhao said, "That's right, but he chose the wrong time to speak. Your Aunt Qingqing was so happy, and he had to spoil the mood. He deserved to be beaten."

Xiao Yuan asked, "Dad, if you were that older brother, would you choose the sister from the city or the sister from the countryside?"

Nie Qingqing stopped hitting the child and made a "shh" gesture to Tangyuan, telling him not to make a sound.

Tangyuan was nervous; his father's answer would determine whether he would get a beating that night.

Song Zhao thought to himself, "This is really my own son. He doesn't even think twice before betraying his father."

Without hesitation, he said, "No matter what, Dad will marry you, Aunt Qingqing."

Alright, Nie Qingqing was pleased and went easy on Tangyuan, urging him, "Finish your homework, then go take a shower and go to bed."

...

Nie Qingqing went to work with a beaming smile. Now she drives and goes to Lawyer He's house in the morning to wait for her.

Mrs. Liang, beaming, rode the elevator with Nie Qingqing and asked curiously, "I heard the noise of you beating your child last night. Did Tangyuan upset you again?"

Tangyuan was generally good, but Nie Qingqing felt that some of his views were more realistic than those of adults, and she wanted to teach him to be more like a child.

Song Zhao tried to persuade him last night, saying that Tangyuan is just like that, and as long as he doesn't break the law, they shouldn't try to change him.

Nie Qingqing laughed and said, "Tangyuan, that child, doesn't he need to be beaten a few times every month? If I don't beat him, he'll feel uncomfortable. He's used to making a fuss, it's fine."

Mrs. Liang followed her to the building where Attorney He lived. Nie Qingqing asked curiously, "Why are you looking for Attorney He so early in the morning?"

Having been neighbors for so long, Mrs. Liang knows Nie Qingqing well. She's very open about what she can say, but she doesn't even tell her family what she can't say. Otherwise, how could Attorney He trust her so much?

Mrs. Liang said, "I need to ask Attorney He about something. It's perfect timing; I'll also ask for your opinion."

Nie Qingqing loved listening to these kinds of everyday family matters, so she nodded quickly and said, "Go on."

Mrs. Liang blushed and said, "I know a man who is quite nice in terms of personality and looks, but he is a bit poor. He has a daughter who is a few years younger than mine and is being raised in his hometown. I don't care whether he has money or not. I just want to ask you, what should we pay attention to in a blended family? You have experience, so please don't be angry if I ask you this."

Nie Qingqing guessed correctly; Mrs. Liang was indeed in love. Judging from this, the two had been together for quite some time.

She said, "I haven't met the other person, I don't know them, so I can't make any comments. There are many things to consider when forming a family. There is a way to avoid most of the unstable factors. My mother-in-law's experience can be used as a reference. You can have a wedding banquet but don't get a marriage certificate. Wait two or three years. If you get along well, you can get a marriage certificate. If not, you still have the opportunity to change your mind."

Mrs. Liang's experience resonated with her, and she said, "I'm just not sure, and I'm afraid of repeating the same mistake. Your suggestion is quite good. I'll go ask Attorney He for his opinion. You go to work first, and I'll tell her later that I asked you to leave first."

Nie Qingqing agreed and turned to go outside to take the bus.

...

She arrived at the office first, where Attorney Xun was already making coffee for Attorney He. Seeing that she had come alone, he hurriedly asked, "Where is Attorney He? Isn't she coming?"

Nie Qingqing couldn't go into details: "Mrs. Liang seems to want to ask her something. Make your coffee, she'll be there in a bit."

Attorney He drove himself, which was faster than her taking the bus, and he wasn't much later. It seems they quickly got to know Mrs. Liang's matter.

Nie Qingqing discussed with Attorney Xun: "I'll go and bring coffee to Attorney He."

Attorney Xun was very considerate. He knew that what Sister Qingqing and Attorney He wanted to talk about was probably Mrs. Liang's private matters, so he thoughtfully made tea for Nie Qingqing again.

...

Nie Qingqing delivered the coffee to Attorney He's desk, and the two smiled knowingly, each aware of what the other wanted to ask.

Nie Qingqing said first: "I live across from Mrs. Liang. I noticed that she was in love a while ago. She asked for my opinion. I am in my second marriage and I am very happy. I was afraid that she would worry and it would be difficult to persuade her. Based on my mother-in-law's experience, I advised her not to get the marriage certificate yet. Everything else is negotiable."

Attorney He had some connections with Mrs. Liang's family before; their relationships were built on mutual assistance. She didn't want to get involved in Mrs. Liang's affairs, but she owed them a favor, so she had to say a few words.

Attorney He said, "Mrs. Liang's tastes and aesthetics are still the same. The last one was poor, and the whole family relied on her to make a fortune. Now it's the same. I'm not as polite as you. I suggest she only date and not get married. If she insists on getting married, she can sign a prenuptial agreement first."

Nie Qingqing could sense that Mrs. Liang had a romantic air about her, and she worried, "We've tried to persuade her, but I don't know if she'll listen."

Attorney He wasn't too worried: "After going through this once, she should have learned something, right? If she dares to be willful again, don't worry, her family will cut off her subsidies. Without money, let's see what that man can gain?"

This is the most effective method. We've analyzed all the possible scenarios for Mrs. Liang, and now it's up to her to decide.

...

After the conversation, Attorney He had some documents to send out, so he called Attorney Xun in.

There's no need for lawyers to do errands; that's what Nie Qingqing does. She quickly said, "I'm free; I'll deliver it."

Attorney He said, "You have other matters to attend to. You investigated Gu Lehan's family matter very thoroughly. Mrs. Liang's mother entrusted me to help look after her. Go and investigate her new boyfriend. Once you have a good investigation, I will give her family an explanation."

No one in the entire law firm was better at asking strangers for information than her. Nie Qingqing could even go out during work hours to listen to gossip, running around happily.

...

She investigated for several days and even found out how Mrs. Liang met that man.

Mrs. Liang insisted on marrying the poor boy who had saved her life. Her family gave her a sum of money and then ignored her completely.

Later, her in-laws spent all the money and forced her to go back and beg for reconciliation. Mrs. Liang finally couldn't take it anymore and got a divorce.

She was outnumbered and powerless. When she mentioned taking the twins with her, her in-laws mocked her and she was almost beaten. At this point, her own family intervened and hired lawyer He to help with the lawsuit.

The twins were born in mainland China and are not used to life on Hong Kong Island. Mrs. Leung said that the children should study here first. Her family paid for a house for them and gives them a sum of money every year to cover all their expenses.

Mrs. Liang is no longer the rich young lady who had no concept of money. Her family gave her plenty of money, which she could never spend all of, and she was able to save some every year.

This is her situation over the past few years. That day, Mrs. Liang bought a lot of things, and it started pouring rain on the way. She was in a sorry state. A man she had met once happened to be passing by and helped her carry the rice, flour and cooking oil to the elevator.

The man was handsome, exactly the type Mrs. Liang liked: gentle and refined. In the countryside, they preferred strong men who could farm, and someone like him was disliked.

The man had many brothers, and his parents couldn't take care of him much, so they didn't value him much. His wife thought he was useless and couldn't live a good life with him, so she ran off with someone else.

He came to the city from the countryside but didn't have a formal job. He could only do odd jobs, and after deducting food, drink, and lodging, he didn't have much money left. He also had to send money home to support his children, so he was very poor. After getting together with Mrs. Liang, his financial situation improved significantly.

The man's character was the focus of the investigation. Nie Qingqing found many people to corroborate the story and confirmed that the man's character was fine; to put it bluntly, he was weak-willed and unambitious.

But what Mrs. Liang needs is a man who can provide emotional support; whether he is successful or not is irrelevant to her.

...

Nie Qingqing categorized what she had learned, according to the report, into personality, family, and work habits. This way, she could make a preliminary judgment about him.

With this report, Attorney He can give an explanation to Mrs. Liang's mother. As for whether she agrees or disagrees, that's their business.

Attorney He praised her highly: "I always said that I would feel more at ease leaving these troublesome matters to you."

What's troublesome for others is quite simple for Nie Qingqing. It just takes a little effort but doesn't require much thought. It's a simple matter for her.

Nie Qingqing asked, "Attorney He, do you think Mrs. Liang's family will agree this time?"

Attorney He said, "If it were me, I would agree. It's better to find someone controllable than for Mrs. Liang to find a scheming man in the future. What if she ends up not finding someone as good as this one after all the picking and choosing?"

That's true. Nothing is perfect. As long as it's close enough, it's good enough for Nie Qingqing. So, if it were her, she would agree too.

...

A few days later, presumably Mrs. Liang's family made a decision and asked her to go back. Mrs. Liang was overjoyed and entrusted the twins to Nie Qingqing's care for a few days.

Nie Qingqing was puzzled: "You can just ask the child for a few days off, why not take him back with you to visit?"

Mrs. Liang said, "If the children feel uncomfortable and uneasy at home, we won't go."

Nie Qingqing thought for a moment and suddenly realized that Mrs. Liang loved her children and didn't want them to go there and be looked down upon by their relatives, which would affect their mental health. Perhaps she wanted to wait until Da Lin and Xiao Lin became successful before taking them back.

She asked Tangyuan to ask what he thought about having a stepfather.

Tangyuan said, "We asked her a long time ago. Dalin said that his mother has the right to pursue happiness, while Xiaolin said that if his mother doesn't bring men home, then it doesn't matter."

Mrs. Liang loves her children and herself. Every family has its own situation, and her two children are quite open-minded about it.

...

After Mrs. Liang returned home, she reached an agreement with the man according to the conditions set by her family, and then told Nie Qingqing and Attorney He about it.

“He agreed to all the conditions I set for him. I will not remarry before Dalin and Xiaolin take the college entrance examination. Six or seven years should be enough time to test a person. After six or seven years, when Dalin and Xiaolin are adults, I will make a will and divide the property properly so that I will have no worries.”

Nie Qingqing said, "If someone is willing to wait so many years, they must have some sincerity, so let's live our lives well."

Mrs. Liang said with relief, "Right? That's what I was thinking too. If he can't hold on, then so be it."

"What about his daughter?" She's even younger than the twins; I wonder what will become of her.

Mrs. Liang sighed softly, because she couldn't do it, and therefore admired Nie Qingqing.

“It’s settled. His daughter was previously kept in his hometown, and she will continue to be kept there. I can’t do what you do and take someone else’s child with me. My family doesn’t want it, and I don’t want it either, but I’m not being mean. I’ll let him send the money he earns back to support his daughter.”

That would be fine, but Nie Qingqing was worried: "I'm just afraid that his family won't spend the money they sent back on the children."

Mrs. Liang said, "What you said makes sense. I've considered it for him. Fortunately, it's not far, only a few dozen kilometers away. I'll have him go back to visit every month. He'll buy the children's food, clothing, and other necessities. It should be fine."

...

Attorney He has been very busy lately. Mr. Zhong needs to make a will and has appointed Attorney He as his lawyer.

Nie Qingqing followed along several times and met Mr. Zhong's two sons, Mr. Zhong the elder and Mr. Zhong the younger.

Mr. Zhong is married with a son and a daughter. He is quite polite to Attorney He, but he looks down on Nie Qingqing.

Nie Qingqing wouldn't care about any of that. It's not like she's being paid by Mr. Zhong; she doesn't need to care about what other people besides her boss think.

Mr. Zhong was cynical and kept pestering Attorney He with questions. He was also kind to Nie Qingqing, exchanged a few words with her, and even gave Attorney He roses, which Attorney He displayed in his office.

She carefully observed Attorney Xun's expression and sighed softly.

Today, the will was officially signed in a very solemn atmosphere. Mr. Chung gave 80% of the business in Hong Kong Island to Mr. Chung the elder brother, and all the business in mainland China to Mr. Chung the younger brother.

These two brothers will not be developing their careers in the same place in the future, which will reduce friction. In other words, the law firm will be providing legal services to Mr. Zhong from now on.

...

Everything was settled. Attorney He declined Mr. Zhong's invitation to dinner. Afterwards, he said to Nie Qingqing, "It's too uncomfortable to eat with clients. Let's go to Lehan's hotel for dinner."

Nie Qingqing stared at the restaurant across the street, frozen in place, her mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

Following her gaze, Attorney He saw Xun Guangshen, and across from him sat a young, shy girl, both of them smiling foolishly.

This is clearly a sign that they've fallen in love.

Attorney He was moved when he saw Nie Qingqing's incredulous expression.

Everyone knows that lawyer Xun has a crush on her, and Nie Qingqing hopes that she can meet a better partner, but that person can't be Xun Guangshen.

Attorney He said, "Okay, don't be sad. The person opposite Attorney Xun is my cousin. I thought they got along well, so I introduced them, and it turned out to be a good match. Now the whole family is happy."

But Nie Qingqing was upset: "Attorney He, please don't be angry. At first, I really thought you and Attorney Xun were a good match."

Attorney He knew, but she just didn't say it. She asked Nie Qingqing, "We're the same age, aren't we?"

Nie Qingqing nodded: "Yes, you're a few months older than me. You were born in the first half of the year, and I was born in the second half."

Attorney He's thoughts drifted back to the past: "In college, I had a boyfriend. It was almost pure true love, but it didn't work out, and we broke up after graduation. I've never encountered such pure feelings since. Before Xiao Xun got together with my cousin, he had never been in a relationship. I'm someone who doesn't know how to love, and I really don't want to hold him back. It would be unfair to him."

Nie Qingqing understood a little. With his experience and age, Attorney He no longer believed in eternal love. Attorney Xun was a good person, but once such a good person changed, Attorney He would be disappointed.

...

Nie Qingqing suddenly remembered that not long ago, Attorney He had accepted flowers from Mr. Zhong, and asked, "Attorney He, did you deliberately accept Mr. Zhong's flowers to make Attorney Xun give up?"

Attorney He admitted, "Yes."

Nie Qingqing was surprised, but she finally understood: "I thought that Mr. Zhong had become a major client of the lawyer, and you were too embarrassed to refuse him, so you accepted the money."

Attorney He laughed heartily: "He's not worth me making such a big compromise. Attorney Xun is good. My cousin is the youngest child in my uncle's family, the least favored, but she's the kindest sister. I feel very at ease with the two of them together."

Nie Qingqing understood; Attorney He was truly kind to the people she cared about.

The matter of Attorney Xun is over in Nie Qingqing's mind, but what about Attorney He?

She quickly asked, "I understand why you accepted the flowers, but what does it mean that Mr. Zhong sent you flowers? He can't be doing this for anyone else, can he?"

Attorney He said, "They probably have their eye on me and want to find themselves a marriage partner, which is better than having one arranged by their family."

Nie Qingqing never expected this purpose: "Mr. Zhong, do you still need a marriage alliance? Can't he find true love to marry?"

Attorney He found it amusing: "Why should he look for true love? If he doesn't arrange a marriage, how can he compete with his older brother?"

What's the point of fighting now? Nie Qingqing blurted out, "Hasn't the will already been made?"

...

How should He Shunyi explain this to her? She was hungry, so she decided to eat first and not go to Lehan's place. She found a clean little shop by the roadside and ordered a few snacks, and each of them had a bowl of noodles.

Attorney He said, "Business matters are intricately intertwined. Before and after Mr. Zhong's death, the two brothers will fight over him. Mr. Zhong has basically said goodbye to true love and will need to rely on marriage to gain support."

Nie Qingqing felt indignant on behalf of Attorney He: "Then when he sent you flowers, it wasn't out of affection, but because he had ulterior motives, right?"

Attorney He smiled and said, "I don't know, why don't you go ask him?"

She made a joking remark, but unexpectedly, Nie Qingqing's feelings for her were so pure and straightforward that he actually said, "Okay, if you're not angry, I'll go ask."

...

Nie Qingqing really went to ask Mr. Zhong.

She felt that since Mr. Zhong and Attorney He both knew each other's intentions, they should just lay it all out.

However, after waiting for almost half a month, the two of them were still just one sending flowers and the other receiving them, as if they were clocking in and out of get off work.

When Nie Qingqing delivered the documents to Mr. Zhong, she said directly, "Attorney He said she wouldn't fire you, so I dared to ask. She's three years older than you and doesn't have time to play games with you. Don't send any more flowers. If you have any messages you need me to pass on, I can do so. I won't send any more flowers."

Xiao Zhong admired her courage and laughed, "My dad doesn't praise many people, but he's praised both Lawyer He and you. Well then, to be honest, I can't beat my older brother and sister-in-law, but I still have a chance to marry a capable wife and compete with my older brother and sister-in-law."

Nie Qingqing couldn't help but say, "Attorney He also mentioned your situation, but I still don't quite understand. You and your older brother are brothers born of the same mother, with the same father and mother. What are you fighting about?"

Xiao Zhong couldn't help but chuckle: "Yeah, that's why I don't understand why my brother and sister-in-law want to take away even my share. My dad doesn't care. Of course, he hopes the family business will continue to grow and prosper in the hands of the more successful one. Anyway, the other one won't starve even if he only collects rent. But I'm not convinced. I admire Attorney He. We both marry someone to give ourselves and our families an explanation. Thinking about it this way, if I marry her, we'll be a good match."

Nie Qingqing thought back to when she agreed to go on a blind date with Song Zhao. What moved her was housing and salary. Now, how could she talk about Mr. Zhong's views on marriage?

She thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll act as your messenger."

Xiao Zhong cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you."

...

Nie Qingqing acted as a go-between for both sides, completely unaware of what was happening to outsiders. By the time Mr. Zhong and Mr. Da Zhong found out, Mr. Xiao Zhong had already decided to marry Attorney He.

Nie Qingqing couldn't believe it and said to Song Zhao, "It actually happened just like that. Mr. Zhong and Attorney He, this is a transaction of interests."

Song Zhao understood: "Attorney He's uncle's family has a son, but Attorney He's family only has her and her sister. She is using marriage to protect the interests of her own branch of the family. There's nothing to say about it."

Nie Qingqing was still happy for Attorney He: "Attorney He said that no one can guarantee that a marriage based on feelings will last. It's better to focus on tangible benefits. As long as she is happy and doesn't regret it, then I'm happy for her."

...

Attorney He's family background is not as good as the Zhong family's, but when it comes to marrying a daughter-in-law, they are not far behind. Attorney He is very capable, and the Zhong family has such a good daughter-in-law, so Mr. Zhong has no reason to object.

Mr. Zhong disagreed, saying that the He family's social standing was too low and they were not a good match for his younger brother. Moreover, the woman was three years older than him, and he was afraid that his younger brother would not be able to hold onto his wife and would suffer losses.

Mr. Zhong is easygoing: "He chose his wife himself. Whether he suffers a loss or not, he will bear it himself. As for family background, he is the younger brother and the woman's family background is a little lower, so it doesn't matter."

In just a few words, Nie Qingqing witnessed the unseen tension and began to understand Mr. Zhong a little better.

...

When the two families discussed the marriage, the He family wanted to send someone to attend, but Lawyer He did not agree and instead brought Nie Qingqing with him.

It was highly inappropriate for Nie Qingqing to be present in this setting.

But Attorney He insisted: "Some agreements are not suitable for public disclosure. I trust you more than the He family."

With that in mind, she stayed by Attorney He's side without hesitation, without saying a word, only helping to check and keep the agreement safe.

After everything was settled, Mr. Zhong's smile was stiff, while Mr. Xiao Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and jokingly asked Nie Qingqing, "Assistant Nie, you're good at keeping your mouth shut, aren't you?"

The sudden question startled Nie Qingqing.

She reacted quickly and replied immediately, "That depends on what Attorney He wants. If she tells me to keep my mouth shut, I will. I will speak the truth when she needs me to."

Xiao Zhong was surprised for a second, then clapped: "I really envy my fiancée for having such a good assistant like you."

...

Wow, the wedding arrangements for Attorney He were settled so quickly. As she left the Zhong family home, Nie Qingqing was still incredulous and encouraged Attorney He, "Attorney He, you can do it!"

He Shunyi looked down at the road beneath his feet, then looked up at the sky. Sure enough, the view from above was more expansive. He had chosen this path, so of course he had to walk it well.

She said, "I will do my best, but you have to continue being my assistant and not give up halfway."

Nie Qingqing smiled shyly: "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with your increasingly outstanding performance in the future. I'm happy to help you whenever you need me."

...

Attorney He's marriage was settled, and Attorney Xun also found love. It was a wonderful thing, and from Nie Qingqing's perspective, it seemed perfect. However, Attorney Xun insisted on explaining things to her.

"Sister Qingqing, my relationship with Attorney He's cousin isn't the kind of easy way you're thinking of."

Nie Qingqing didn't care: "It's okay, that's your privacy, you don't need to explain it to me."

Attorney Xun became anxious: "Sister Qingqing, I respect you very much, so I must explain clearly. Actually, it was Attorney He who created the opportunity for me and her cousin to meet. Last time, when I delivered the documents, it was for her cousin. There were two movie tickets inside, but her cousin didn't take them out. A few days later, she took the initiative to ask me to go to the movies. Then there was the matter of receiving roses from Mr. Zhong. With all these things combined, I know that if I keep having a crush on her and can't move on, it has already affected Attorney He's life. I've thought it through and decided to try to move on and try dating her cousin. I didn't expect that we would have so many common interests and hobbies. We felt like we had known each other for a long time, so... we started dating."

It must have been quite a feat for Attorney Xun to say so much in one go.

Nie Qingqing had indeed overlooked his feelings: "I'm sorry, I didn't understand the situation clearly a while ago and gave you a hard time."

Attorney Xun breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad you don't want to think badly of my character, thank you."

He actually thanked her. Lawyer Xun is quite adorable. No wonder Lawyer He said that he and her cousin should get along well.

After everything was out in the open, the two of them returned to their previous carefree and playful atmosphere.

Once he relaxed, Attorney Xun remembered something important and slapped his forehead: "Oh dear, my brain! Your friend Shumei called. You and Attorney He went out on business. I answered the phone and asked her what was going on. She said it wasn't anything serious and that you could come over when you have time."

Since they've let her go, they must need her now. Nie Qingqing quickly slipped away to Shumei's place.