Pretending To Be Affectionate [Transmigration] - Chapter 49

Old Master Zong personally visited QY Law Firm.

Wei Minjun stood outside Gu Qing’s office throughout his entire conversation with Gu Qing, never once receiving permission to enter.

Her face fell as she recalled the razor-sharp look Old Master Zong had given her at the door. She felt certain she had ruined the case.

The situation had changed that afternoon.

Another financial director at the trading company implicated in the Zong family’s case had been exposed.

According to the police investigation, this person had handled another set of fraudulent accounts.

Wei Minjun had previously treated the matter as an ordinary financial-fraud case. All she needed to do was obtain the order records from the Zong family’s foreign-trade company and present their defense in court.

The Zong family could have completely distanced themselves from the case. Their company was a victim too, after all.

However, the latest police investigation revealed that more than three billion yuan passing through the financial director’s hands might have been involved in money laundering.

In other words, the director had abused their position to turn the Zong family’s trading company into a shell for laundering illicit funds.

If the matter was mishandled in even the slightest way, the entire Zong family could be implicated.

After all, the company’s legal representative was the Zong family’s eldest son.

Wei Minjun was quite capable. She could handle straightforward financial cases, but when confronted with a deeply entangled case like this one, she could only assist Gu Qing from the sidelines.

Three hours later, Gu Qing personally escorted Old Master Zong to his car.

Gangcheng was in the middle of summer. When Gu Qing returned from outside, Wei Minjun ingratiatingly offered her a wet wipe—only to discover that not a single bead of sweat marked the woman’s forehead.

Behind her, the temperature had reached thirty-seven degrees beneath the blazing sun, yet Gu Qing’s face remained perfectly dry.

Her pure white shirt was tucked into a black pencil skirt, and she wore her usual calm, unhurried expression.

Wei Minjun smiled awkwardly, curled her fingers, and shamelessly let out a little giggle before taking the wet wipe back.

She genuinely wanted to remain involved in the Zong family’s case.

Her abilities might be inadequate, but she had handled it from the beginning.

Wei Minjun pressed the elevator’s up button for Gu Qing. Once Gu Qing stepped inside, she followed with shameless determination.

“Attorney Gu, regarding the Zong Corporation case… may I continue working on it with you?”

Wei Minjun had followed Gu Qing for years and knew she disliked people who wasted words.

Rather than circling the subject and using elaborate verbal tactics, it was better to state her request directly.

As expected, Gu Qing did not become angry over the mistake that had occurred under Wei Minjun’s supervision.

She merely glanced at her and asked in her usual cool, distant voice, “This will require a business trip.”

Without thinking, Wei Minjun answered quickly, “No problem.”

Travel was inevitable.

The latest evidence traced by the police showed that part of the illicit money flowing out of the Zong family’s trading company had gone to Jiangcheng.

Their destination would almost certainly be Jiangcheng.

Moreover, the appearance of new evidence in the Zong Corporation financial-crime case meant the trial would inevitably be postponed.

Given Gu Qing’s strict regard for time, she would undoubtedly gather every useful piece of evidence as quickly as possible before the next hearing.

As long as they proved that the Zong family had never participated in the operation, the case would be resolved.

Seeing that Wei Minjun had no objection, Gu Qing withdrew her gaze and returned her attention to her phone.

With her eyes lowered, she absent-mindedly instructed, “Prepare everything. We fly the day after tomorrow.”

“Understood.” Wei Minjun visibly relaxed, the weight in her heart lifting by half.

She looked up, intending to thank Gu Qing, when her peripheral vision happened to catch the phone screen.

A chat window in a certain green messaging app was open. Gu Qing’s cool, pale finger repeatedly brushed across the transfer record.

It was impossible for Wei Minjun not to notice the large digits:

QY Law Firm—Gu transferred 520 yuan to Yuyu.

Wei Minjun’s eyes nearly popped out.

She did not consider Gu Qing the sort of extravagant woman who casually sent someone 520 yuan—an amount commonly used to mean I love you.

Attorney Gu was as cold as frost, with a heart like solid iron.

Forget flirting by sending someone 520. Even seeing her smile was a once-in-a-thousand-years event.

That raised an important question.

Who was Yuyu?

It took Wei Minjun three seconds to vaguely remember how strangely Gu Qing had behaved during the flight.

A rough theory formed in her mind.

Not bad, Attorney Gu.

You usually act so proper, abstinent, and aloof.

Who knew that when you secretly pursued someone, you’d be this shamelessly flirtatious? A pleasure to finally meet the real you!

Naturally, Wei Minjun could not say any of that aloud.

She moved two steps closer and encouraged Gu Qing with a gossipy expression.

“Is it that beautiful woman from the plane? She seemed rather popular.”

“If you like her, hurry up and pursue her. When you’re chasing a future wife, you must never care too much about saving face. One moment of hesitation can cost you a lifetime. Once someone else gets there first, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

Wei Minjun spoke with the bitterness of experience.

Three years earlier, while traveling in Jiangcheng, she had met a certain idiot at a bar.

That night, drinks flowed beneath hazy lights. In a moment of mutual excitement, they booked a hotel suite and had a one-night stand.

It should have been an entirely consensual affair.

Unexpectedly, the idiot became unhappy after waking up.

She insisted that she only liked exceptionally beautiful women and would never date Wei Minjun unless she underwent surgery to resemble the famous idol Yue Yue.

Wei Minjun had a temper of her own.

At the time, she had thought there were plenty of other women in the world. If the idiot already found her ugly, forcing themselves into a relationship would only allow her to walk all over Wei Minjun later.

So when the woman made a scene, Wei Minjun honestly told her:

“Then go find your idol.”

Later, the woman really did begin pursuing an idol.

She checked in at the idol’s Weibo fan page every day, posted photographs of merchandise, attended concerts, and spent enormous sums supporting the official fan club.

Not long ago, that idol’s career collapsed in scandal.

Apparently, the idiot had already fallen for someone else.

Wei Minjun was so sour that she did not dare check the woman’s messages.

Only those who had personally experienced such feelings could understand their complexity.

Speaking like a world-weary veteran, she lectured Gu Qing.

“Young people, some wife-chasing crematoriums are too painful to endure. Never torment yourself until you’ve destroyed every chance you had…”

Gu Qing narrowed her eyes.

She had not heard what Wei Minjun was saying at all.

Her mind was elsewhere, her deep blue eyes glancing repeatedly at the WeChat screen.

Four full hours had passed, yet the other person still had not accepted the transfer.

Gu Qing raised her head thoughtfully and studied the supposedly experienced Wei Minjun.

“If someone overpaid you by 520 yuan, would that be common between strangers?”

“Of course not. It isn’t as though she overpaid you by 250 because she thought you were an idiot.”

Wei Minjun answered without thinking, then instinctively looked at Gu Qing.

Standing within the shadows, Gu Qing’s phoenix eyes curved upward, and the corners of her thin lips lifted unconsciously.

It was the first time Wei Minjun had ever seen Gu Qing smile.

She stared for three full seconds.

Feeling encouraged, she smiled along and gestured toward the transfer record on Gu Qing’s phone.

“Young people have all sorts of tactics when they’re dating. For example, someone might deliberately leave your final message unanswered at night. Then she can reply the next morning and keep talking to you for another whole day.”

Gu Qing’s expression shifted.

After considering this seriously for a moment, she nodded.

She gave Wei Minjun a look inviting further instruction.

For the first time, Wei Minjun discovered a sense of accomplishment in Gu Qing’s presence.

Pointing toward the transfer record, she pressed onward.

“Do you know why she hasn’t accepted your 520-yuan transfer? She’s waiting for the system to reject it automatically after twenty-four hours. Then the same 520 will be returned to you. That symbolizes mutual affection. Attorney Gu, your pursuit is practically guaranteed to succeed…”

Gu Qing gave a quiet hum.

Her tone did not fluctuate much, but its lingering final note rose slightly, revealing restrained happiness.

Unfortunately, that happiness did not last.

The elevator doors opened with a chime.

A secretary rushed inside carrying a towering stack of documents that completely blocked her vision.

She was heading directly toward where Gu Qing stood.

Gu Qing instinctively stepped aside. Her finger slid across the screen and accidentally typed and sent a period in the chat.

At the same moment, a notification appeared:

[Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.]

Gu Qing: “…”

The notification sounded abruptly inside the elevator.

Wei Minjun instinctively looked down.

Seeing the exclamation mark indicating that Gu Qing had been blocked, she exclaimed.

Perhaps her own idiot had infected her with stupidity, because she delivered another blow in complete bewilderment.

“Wow, Attorney Gu! She actually blocked you…”

Gu Qing suppressed the emotions in her eyes and turned expressionlessly.

She gave Wei Minjun a light glance, but it scraped across her face like a blade.

It was a look ordering her to shut up.

Gu Qing’s chest rose and fell as she restrained the humiliating urge to drag Ling Yu over and teach her a harsh lesson.

She reminded herself that this was only the second time Ling Yu had blocked her.

There was nothing unusual about it.

The first time was unfamiliar; the second was already a habit.

Irritated and restless, Gu Qing strode back to her office on long, slender legs, shutting the door in the face of Wei Minjun, who had eagerly followed to seek guidance on planning the Zong family’s defense.

Half an hour later, the secretary entered and made her a cup of coffee.

Gu Qing’s hand paused over the document she was signing when her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and pointed toward the door.

Understanding immediately, the secretary withdrew.

Gu Qing leaned back in her office chair and expertly took a slim cigarette from her pocket. She placed it between her lips but did not light it.

She intended to quit smoking.

Perhaps she answered too slowly, because the call disconnected automatically before immediately coming through again.

Fang Jia asked, “Are you in Gangcheng?”

“What is it?” Gu Qing raised an eyebrow.

QY Law Firm’s headquarters were in Gangcheng. Aside from business trips, Gu Qing spent roughly a third of every year there.

Fang Jia had collaborated with Gu Jewelry over the past two years, so she frequently traveled to Gangcheng.

The Gu family’s jewelry exhibition would begin soon, making Fang Jia’s presence there unsurprising.

She was probably calling to arrange a gathering.

Unfortunately, Gu Qing would travel to Jiangcheng for work the day after tomorrow. She needed to finish the documents remaining at the firm and had no time to meet Fang Jia.

“I have a case,” Gu Qing added. “I’m leaving for Jiangcheng in two days.”

The implication was clear.

She had no free time.

Fang Jia paused, then laughed mysteriously.

“That works perfectly. My flight is tomorrow. Why don’t we return together?”

Gu Qing casually flicked open her lighter with her thumb.

Lowering her head, she brought the cigarette expertly toward the flame, only to restrain herself and draw it away at the moment it would have caught.

Sparks flickered before her eyes.

Gu Qing rejected the suggestion without courtesy.

“There are matters at the firm I still need to arrange.”

“Seriously? With your efficiency, can’t you finish everything tonight?”

“No.”

Her answer was concise.

Her gaze swept sideways and unexpectedly caught sight of the jewelry-exhibition invitation on her desk. She smoothly changed the subject.

“The Gu family’s jewelry exhibition on June fifteenth hasn’t begun yet. Why are you returning now?”

Fang Jia clearly hesitated, her tone evasive.

“Xiao Yu returned from abroad. The rich heirs in her circle invited her out, and apparently she’s going clubbing tomorrow night. I was thinking…”

Fang Jia was a thousand-year-old fox who had long since become a spirit.

Ling Yu had invited her to bring friends.

Fang Jia trusted none of her disreputable acquaintances in Jiangcheng. The most reliable friend she could think of was Gu Qing.

Two years earlier, Fang Jia had been present at H University’s postgraduate graduation ceremony.

She had personally watched Gu Qing reject Ling Yu’s confession with absolute certainty.

It was obvious that Gu Qing felt nothing for Ling Yu.

Besides, even if she did care, Gu Qing would only exert a hundred and twenty percent of her effort to distance herself from that person.

Two years ago, the disaster at the rehabilitation hospital…

That had been an offering from the underground forces declaring war upon Gu Qing.

Gu Qing would never again expose someone as her weakness before her enemies.

Therefore, in Fang Jia’s eyes, Gu Qing could not possibly be a romantic rival.

She carefully considered her wording and tried to persuade her.

“You know Xiao Yu too. She pursued you once, didn’t she? Nightclubs attract all kinds of people. If there’s a large crowd tomorrow and Xiao Yu gets drunk, anything could happen…”

The lighter slipped from Gu Qing’s fingers with a clatter.

Pressing her tongue against the cigarette, she interrupted:

“Which flight?”

“You wouldn’t want to see a young woman in the flower of her youth—huh?”

Fang Jia sprang from the sofa.

After a pause, she could not help laughing.

“What a wonderful sister. I’ll remember this favor.”

Gu Qing raised an eyebrow but did not tell her there was no favor to speak of.

Her reason had simply failed to control her mouth.

…

Outside the office, the sun gradually sank toward the western horizon.

Gu Qing leaned forward and maintained the same position for a very long time.

She stared at the concrete ground beyond the window.

Before her eyes appeared a vast pool of blood and mangled fragments of a corpse.

Gu Qing watched indifferently and lit her first cigarette of the day.

The office lights remained off. The glowing ember between her fingers flickered through the darkness.

Gu Qing stood silently within the shadows, so still that she seemed to merge with the air.

After a long time, the city lights blazed to life.

Night lurked in the darkness.

Gu Qing raised her eyelids. Her crystalline eyes stared into the unrestrained night as her lips curved without emotion.

Her world was often filled with endless darkness…

But once, light had appeared within her memories.

She had deliberately buried it at the bottom of her heart.

From then on, whenever she remembered it, she could only yearn for it morning and night.