"I'm sorry. I was thinking that once I got the house, I could pay you back. It seems I'll have to wait a while longer before I can repay you," Zhou Chunhua said apologetically.

Gu Yao paused in his hand movements, then slowly looked up at her.

"I don't lack money."

“I…I know.” Zhou Chunhua lowered her head. “I just want you to know that even though I can’t pay it back right now, I haven’t forgotten.”

"Okay, I understand now."

"Huh?" Zhou Chunhua looked at Gu Yao, puzzled.

Gu Yao, however, ate his noodles slowly and deliberately, and said again, "I understand now."

Zhou Chunhua smiled as she looked at Gu Yao with a slight upturn of her lips.

This feeling and trust is like that of a longtime friend.

...

That afternoon, Zhou Chunhua took out the business suit she often wore when she was working as a lawyer. Her long hair was neatly tied back with a hairpin, and she wore black professional high heels.

As she was leaving, she dialed the phone number of the first person Zhang Bo had asked her to contact.

The call to wait went on for a long time, but no one answered.

Just when she thought the other person's phone wasn't with them or they were busy and couldn't answer, a deep, resonant voice came from the other end.

Zhou Chunhua's voice turned serious as she gave herself an identity.

Gu Yao said that when you're out in the world, you have to give yourself your own identity.

She can be anyone, if she wants to.

Therefore, she is now Zhang Bo's legal assistant.

Interestingly, the other person's tone of voice changed completely when they heard the name Zhang Bo.

"What... happened to him?"

"This matter needs to be discussed in person to be discussed in detail."

"Okay, okay! But I'm busy right now. If it's convenient for you, could you come over?"

The other party's attitude underwent a complete 180-degree turn, a stark contrast to their previous cold and arrogant tone.

After she agreed, they gave her the address.

The address is a well-known Chinese teahouse in Jiang City.

...

Zhang Bo did not write down the work units and positions of these people in his notebook; he simply wrote down their names and phone numbers.

Therefore, she didn't know what kind of person the other person was.

Upon arriving at the teahouse lobby, I gave the waiter the name of my private room.

A waitress in a long cheongsam respectfully led her to the waiting area outside the private room.

Although it's called a "district," it's actually just a private room.

As soon as she sat down, a waiter brought her tea and snacks.

The teacups and saucers were all of high quality.

It's funny, she's been married to Liao Nanxing for over twenty years, and he's never taken her to a place that's even remotely classy.

For more than 20 years, she was just a country bumpkin living in a big city.

However, in just one month of following Gu Yao, she had been to almost every high-end consumer venue in Jiang City, except for nightclubs.

"Zhou Chunhua?"

The familiar voice pulled her back to reality.

Looking up... it was Liao Nanxing!

She couldn't help but close her eyes and laugh at herself, thinking how unlucky she had been today.

When she opened her eyes again, Liao Nanxing was already sitting on the sofa next to her.

It hasn't been that long since we last met, but Liao Nanxing looks like he's aged quite a bit.

It's clear he dressed up carefully, but he still couldn't hide his age.

"I never would have guessed you'd actually become someone decent."

She raised an eyebrow: "Yes! I only realized now that I've lived like a dog for the past twenty-odd years."

"Hmph!" Liao Nanxing sneered, "Don't blame me for not reminding you, Gu Yao is no good person."

"No matter how bad he is, he's still a human being. What are you?"

"You..." Liao Nanxing's face was turning red at a visible speed.

"Zhou Chunhua! Don't think you're so great just because you have Gu Yao by your side. Let me tell you, even the biggest and thickest tree can fall one day!"

To tell you the truth, if I close this deal today, I'll be able to crush Gu Yao in no time! I advise you to be more polite when you talk to me.

Maybe when you're destitute and have no one to rely on, I might give you a meal out of consideration for our past as husband and wife.

"What are you doing here dreaming in broad daylight?" Zhou Chunhua frowned and got up, moving to a sofa a little further away. She didn't intend to continue the conversation with Liao Nanxing.

"Ha! You think I'm dreaming? Fine, fine, but don't come crying to me later."

She rolled her eyes at Liao Nanxing.

After turning his face away, he cursed his past self once again.

Honestly, she really couldn't understand what she had seen in Liao Nanxing when she was young.

Fortunately, the waiter returned at that moment.

Liao Nanxing stood up and straightened his suit.

"Let's go, take me to see Wang Lin."

Wang Lin?!

Zhou Chunhua looked at Liao Nanxing in surprise. They had come to see the same person today?

"Wang Lin has wanted the patents I have for a long time."

Liao Nanxing spoke these words a few decibels louder than before.

Seeing his smug look, she gritted her teeth.

Just as I shifted my gaze from Liao Nanxing, I heard the waiter say, "I'm sorry, Mr. Liao, Mr. Wang only invites Ms. Zhou in."

"What?" Liao Nanxing demanded, "Did you tell Wang Lin that I was already here?"

“I already said that. But Mr. Wang said he wants to see Ms. Zhou first. So please wait here for a few minutes.”

"Impossible! Go tell Wang Lin I'll come instead."

Seeing Liao Nanxing's embarrassed state, Zhou Chunhua couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"He's a professor, after all, and he can't even understand human language!" She carried her bag, straightened her back, and passed by Liao Nanxing.

Seeing Liao Nanxing's lack of service made her feel much better.

She followed the waiter into the private room, where she saw a portly middle-aged man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window; it seemed he was Wang Lin.

Wang Lin waved his hand, and the waiter respectfully withdrew and closed the door to the private room.

"What happened to Zhang Bo?"

She didn't hide anything; instead, she directly told everyone that Zhang Bo was under investigation.

During the process, Wang Lin silently took out a cigarette and lit it.

A fragrant aroma of wine wafted through the air.

"So? What does Zhang Bo mean by sending you to find me?"

Zhou Chunhua adjusted her posture and, with a smile, stated her needs.

After all, this was written in Zhang Bo's notebook. Once they met, he only needed to tell her what he needed, and the rest would be left to Wang Lin.

"He means..."

Zhou Chunhua said calmly, "It means that once the item is found, he will be the only one to sit on it. If the item he wants is not found, Mr. Wang may also be implicated."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lin's expression turned even uglier.

Seeing that Wang Lin remained silent, she stood up and said, "Since Mr. Wang cannot give a direct answer, I can only convey the message truthfully."

Just as he turned and reached the door of the private room, Wang Lin's voice rang out behind him: "Wait!"

She turned around.

Wang Lin, however, irritably stubbed out the remaining half of his cigarette in the crystal ashtray.

“I can find the things.”