31st birthday

Happy Birthday, you bitch!

On the last Friday of November, Luo and his partner were planning to leave work early, but another partner, Feng Yuan, walked gracefully to his office door and knocked on the door that was not closed.

Luo looked up, and Feng Yuan smiled, "Someone downstairs is looking for you. He's a really handsome guy. You don't need any cases, so if he's here to discuss business, give him to me, okay?"

Luo and others stood up, used their index fingers to peel back the blinds behind the boss's chair, and just then they saw the figures of people coming to the downstairs reception room.

Luo said, "You don't have a chance, he's married."

Feng Yuan shrugged: "Who in the industry doesn't know you're the best at divorce litigation? What if the person is actually here to get a divorce?"

“He’s not,” Luo replied firmly, then walked downstairs, with Feng Yuan following behind him.

Luo and the others walked into the reception room. Attorney Xue looked at him and said, "I asked Ya Lin, and she said you have a habit of working overtime at the law firm on Fridays to summarize cases. So I came without saying hello, and I hope I haven't bothered you."

Luo chuckled lightly: "No need to be polite, you're not exactly a very polite person anyway."

Xue Lu realized that Luo and the others were joking with him and meant no harm, so he smiled back.

Feng Yuan was dumbfounded. Luo Deng was already considered a high-profile beauty in Lancheng's legal circle, but the man in front of her was even more outstanding in appearance and had a colder temperament. He was both sexy and aloof! And his smile just now made his originally stern face even more handsome. Who could resist that? Without saying a word, she would definitely make a move!

Feng Yuan pulled out her business card and flashed a charming smile that had won over countless suitors: "Hello, I'm Feng Yuan, a partner at Dadao Law Firm. Compared to Attorney Luo, my business scope is broader, and my prices are more negotiable. Handsome, would you like to work with me?"

Xue declined the business card politely, saying, "Only Attorney Luo can help me with this. Thank you for your kindness, but I appreciate it."

After saying that, he turned to look at Luo and the others: "To your office?"

Luo and the others knew Feng Yuan's personality; if she couldn't win over someone she set her sights on, she'd be miserable. If he and Attorney Xue were discussing business at the firm, Feng Yuan would definitely bring him coffee one minute and fruit the next; it wouldn't be enough to keep up with her antics.

Luo and others made a quick decision: "I've almost finished my work. Let's go. There's a nice coffee shop by the sea. I'll buy you a drink."

...

The coffee shop is called This Shore, located in Lancheng Swallow Reef, right across from the sea. It's sunset now, and the scenery is beautiful.

The proprietress seemed to know Luo and the others, and she was quite perceptive. Seeing that the two of them were dressed in suits and ties and seemed to be discussing business, she arranged a semi-open window-view booth for them, which offered better privacy.

"Ya Lin brought me to this store. The owner used to work at Tianlan before starting her business, and she and your brother are old acquaintances."

Xue Lu glanced at the bar and saw it was her. He had heard Xue Tan mention this girl before. Xue Tan had only ever considered love and marriage once in his life, but his feelings were unrequited.

Luo and the others got to the point: "What do you want from me?"

Lawyer Xue cut to the chase: "I want to investigate the Qinggui incident in Cangcheng ten years ago. Do you have any connections?"

Luo's smile faded, and his expression turned solemn: "Why are you investigating? Do you think she's hiding something from you?"

Xue Lu shook his head: "Everyone has a past. It's Qing Gui's freedom not to talk about it."

Luo and others frowned slightly.

He had only met Xue Lu a few times and they weren't close. Moreover, they didn't like each other very much. But he could tell that Xue Lu wasn't a liar. When he said he didn't care about Song Qinggui's past, he might not be lying.

"Then why are you still investigating?" Luo asked.

Attorney Xue: "Because I was worried, I always felt that if I didn't investigate thoroughly, it would be a hidden danger."

Xue Lu briefly explained Feng Zhe's situation to Luo Deng, and Luo Deng's expression gradually became serious.

If what Feng Zhe said is true, then the injuries he suffered were not ordinary external wounds, but could be described as "abuse".

Feng Zhe said that everything he suffered was related to Song Qinggui.

Why is it related? Who abused him? What was the reason? Has that person been punished by law? ...These are all mysteries.

Luo and the others pondered for a while before speaking: "Cangcheng's economy is underdeveloped, but Changli Island has beautiful natural scenery. When we were young, the security situation on Changli Island wasn't as strict, and there were many prostitution and sex industries on the island. At that time, many businessmen from Southeast Asia and Hong Kong and Macau often came to the island for pleasure. Later, we left Cangcheng for university, and we knew less about these things. But my parents mentioned to me that about six or seven years ago, the officials on Changli Island were seriously corrupt, and criminal cases were frequent. The higher authorities specially dispatched an inspection team to Cangcheng to investigate the cases and severely punished a number of people, and only then did the atmosphere on the island improve."

Xue Lu wasn't surprised by Luo's words. He remembered Song Qinggui mentioning that Feng Zhe was a gambler. Whether he had offended anyone he shouldn't have while he was addicted to gambling, and whether Meng Yuxing and Song Qinggui had been implicated, was hard to say.

After a moment of silence, Luo made a decision: "We can investigate. My family is from Cangcheng, and my parents have connections there. I also know people in the public security system there. Ten years isn't a short time, but it's not a long time either. It shouldn't be difficult to get some information."

Lawyer Xue nodded: "Thank you, the fee..."

"Qinggui is my friend. This matter has nothing to do with money." Luo looked at Lawyer Xue: "But I don't understand. With the Xue family's power, you should have many people at your disposal, so why did you come to me?"

Xue Lu exchanged glances with Luo Deng and said frankly, "Because I know you will stand on her side."

Luo and the others were taken aback upon hearing this.

Xue Lu continued, "I couldn't be there for her in her teenage years. Although I hate to admit it, it seems that only you can protect Song Qinggui in her teenage years. So whatever the truth of what happened back then, please stand on her side."

Luo smiled, somewhat self-deprecatingly, "That's enough, I don't want to be your audience for your love confessions."

Xue Lu smiled knowingly.

The two parked their car by the sea. As they parted, Xue Lu extended his hand to Luo Deng, who hesitated for a moment before finally shaking it.

“Attorney Xue, I’ve handled many divorce cases and witnessed far too many tragic endings, so I don’t believe in love and marriage at all.” She stood facing Attorney Xue, but didn’t look at him; instead, she gazed at the orange-red sunset over the coastline. “But if the other party is Song Qinggui, I would be willing to give it a try. So, please, please don’t get a divorce.”

Xue Lu leaned against the car door and sneered, "Heh...you're willing to give it a try? Is Qing Gui willing?"

Luo's gaze returned to Xue Lu, quite confidently stating, "If Qing Gui and I had reunited a year earlier, no, half a year earlier, you wouldn't be here..."

“There will be no difference.” Xue Lu interrupted him: “In my life, I cannot live without her, whether sooner or later, it will be the same.”

Luo and others saw a faint glimmer in Xue Lu's eyes, a persistent gleam formed from love, desire, determination, and self-confidence.

Luo and the others lowered their heads, revealing bitter smiles.

What a perfect match! Song Qinggui and Xue Lu are both tough guys.

...

In the medical affairs office of Jingtian Hospital, Xiaoqian stretched as she sat in her chair: "Ah! The wonderful weekend is finally here! This week's work... my old back..."

Xiao Li interjected, "Last week was my wedding anniversary with my wife. We had planned to go to the ancient city in the suburbs, but we couldn't go. Doctor, let me tell you first, even if the hospital is bombed by terrorists this weekend, I won't come. I have to comfort my wife."

Song Qinggui smiled and said, "I understand. I'll be on duty this weekend, so you guys get some rest."

The case of the inter-provincial transfer of a cardiac teratoma has finally been resolved after a series of online public opinion shifts and power struggles among various parties.

The Lancheng Health Department issued a notice stating that Haichuan Hospital has refunded all unclear charges to the patient's family. The doctor involved acted with the patient in mind, and although his actions did not conform to standard medical procedures, they were in accordance with medical principles and professional ethics; therefore, no punishment will be imposed. As for Jingtian Hospital, ECMO is an expensive medical device and, in principle, should not be taken outside the province. However, given its prioritization of saving lives, a warning has been issued, and Jingtian Hospital has been ordered to re-examine its emergency department procedures, with regular supervision from relevant departments.

With the jobs of the entire family at Jingtian Hospital secured, everyone naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

But Song Qinggui was somewhat saddened.

As soon as the announcement was released, Director Zhou Huaizhong came to thank Song Qinggui. Having worked in the industry for decades, he naturally knew that if Song Qinggui hadn't been so bold and daring in fighting the media war against unscrupulous people, forcing the higher-ups to give him a lenient punishment, he probably would have ruined his reputation in his later years.

Not only has he not lost his job, but many people online have also spontaneously sent him banners of appreciation. His words of thanks are well-deserved.

After exchanging pleasantries in the office, Zhou Huaizhong confided in Song Qinggui: "I was strongly against you leaving clinical practice back then. And I could tell that Director Xue was just angry with you, not that he genuinely wanted you to do administrative work. I also advised you to apologize to Director Xue; you have surgical talent, and it would be a pity if you left. But now it seems that I think you can do anything very well. Girl, do you still want to go back to clinical practice?"

Because of Zhou Huaizhong's problem, Song Qinggui felt depressed all afternoon.

clinical……

It was indeed a job she once loved, and she enjoyed the sense of accomplishment that came from seeing patients' families genuinely express their gratitude to her.

However, she hasn't been involved in clinical work for two years.

The pace of medical advancements is far faster than the public realizes. When she was pursuing her doctorate, she still needed open-chest surgery, but now many procedures can be performed minimally invasively. Moreover, robotic arms and artificial intelligence are being used more and more in surgery.

Not to mention she doesn't know how to do these things, she hasn't even touched the most basic surgical tools like scalpels and needle forceps for two years.

Two years is enough time for an excellent clinician to degenerate into a quack.

Song Qinggui knew that she was gradually drifting away from her clinical career, but she was not as sad as she had imagined.

She gradually found value in her work in the medical department, and she felt that perhaps doing this well could help many people.

Loss and gain occurred simultaneously at this moment, and Song Qinggui found it difficult to describe his feelings.

She sat in the office for a long time.

Xue Lu sent her a WeChat message saying he would be home late today, so she just sat at her workstation in a daze.

She remained alone in the office until everyone else had gone home, and until night gradually fell outside the window.

At six o'clock in the evening, Song Qinggui's alarm clock rang, and she was jolted back to reality.

Today's alarm clock has a name—"Star's Birthday".

November 29th is Meng Yuxing's birthday, and also the birthday on Song Qinggui's ID card.

She took out her phone, transferred five thousand yuan to Meng Yuxing, said "Happy Birthday," and then turned off her phone screen.

Song Qinggui was about to go home. She took the elevator down to the first floor and saw a man sitting by the flower bed smoking in front of the administration building. She walked over to him, wanting to remind him that the entire Jingtian Hospital area was a no-smoking zone.

But after taking a few steps closer, she recognized the person as Feng Zhe.

"What are you doing here?" Song Qinggui's nerves tensed instantly.

Feng Zhe stood up, threw the cigarette on the ground, stubbed it out with his shoe, looked at Song Qinggui with a gloomy expression, and then threw the box in his hand to her.

Song Qinggui didn't have time to react and could only subconsciously reach out to take it. It was a beautifully packaged transparent gift box containing a doll named Lina Belle.

Feng Zheyin approached Song Qinggui, staring at her with a dark expression. The two were very close, and Song Qinggui could smell the smoke he exhaled as he spoke.

"Do you think that once you've climbed up to Lawyer Xue, everything will be fine? That no one will ever know how despicable you were back then? Do you think if Lawyer Xue knew, he'd find you filthy and disgusting? Hmm?"

Song Qinggui's face remained normal, but his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Seeing Song Qinggui's fear, Feng Zhe chuckled wickedly and couldn't resist reaching out to pinch her chin, forcing her to look up at him: "What a beautiful, and deceptive face. Ten years ago, I promised Meng Yuxing that as long as she was alive, I wouldn't cause you any trouble. So you'd better pray that she lives to be a hundred."

Song Qinggui felt cold, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably.

But she still said coldly, "Feng Zhe, what I did back then was nothing more than an eye for an eye, which is fair."

"Fairness?" Feng Zhe's smile turned ferocious, and tears welled up in his fierce eyes: "You enjoy wealth and glory, while my life is ruined. You call this fair?"

Song Qinggui tried to speak, but Feng Zhe tightened his grip, causing her chin to ache and rendering her speechless.

Feng Zhe leaned close to her ear, his voice suddenly softening: "Bitch, happy birthday."

[Author's Note]

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For a detailed account of the complicated relationship between Xue Tan and the owner of the Ci'an Coffee Shop, please visit the author's column, "She Is Brilliant," which records this story in detail.

But the male lead is someone else.

Xue Tan: Awkward...