Chapter 14

Lin Shu has always believed that if I’m not embarrassed, then the one who is embarrassed is the other person. She faced Xu Shijia’s gaze and said calmly, “Xu Shijia, I really consider you as one of my own, let’s be honest and tell each other the truth, okay?”

“A man who works hard is the most charming, I really believe that.”

“Besides, although working won’t make your worries disappear, it will keep you too busy to worry. You know, many emotional illnesses nowadays are the result of excessive internal consumption. As long as you work with me, as long as your body can handle it, I guarantee you won’t even have time to sleep, I will make sure you have no time to think about your imperfect love life, there will be no possibility of internal consumption.”

“Also, thank you very much tonight.”

Lin Shu said sincerely, “When I find someone to marry, you can sell this wedding dress to me. I know you don’t need the money, but I feel bad making you pay for it.”

Lin Shu thought this proposal was a gesture of goodwill from her as a boss, but she didn’t expect Xu Shijia to have a long face after hearing it.

“No.”

“Why?”

“No reason.” Xu Shijia glanced at Lin Shu, “Because I don’t want to.”

Okay, okay.

It’s understandable, maybe by the time I get married, Xu Shijia still hasn’t fallen in love…

But these are minor details, we can talk about the wedding dress later.

The wedding dress shop is not far from Tian Hao Law Firm. The two of them had just walked there, and now they were at the entrance of the Tian Hao office building. Both Lin Shu and Xu Shijia parked their cars in the underground garage, so they took the elevator down together.

Lin Shu’s car arrived first, she smiled at Xu Shijia: “Thank you for your hard work today. Go home and get some rest, tomorrow morning we’ll go to the private hospital where Zheng Xiaoxiao made a large purchase.”

“Mm.”

After saying goodbye to Xu Shijia, Lin Shu opened the car door and got in.

Not far away, Xu Shijia came to his expensive sports car. Lin Shu watched him open the door and get into the driver’s seat.

He came from behind, although Lin Shu got in the car first, Xu Shijia started his sports car earlier. The exaggerated roar of the engine passed by Lin Shu’s side, Xu Shijia stopped.

He rolled down his car window, his face stern, and glared at Lin Shu with a bad expression.

Just when Lin Shu thought he was going to lose his temper, she heard Xu Shijia’s voice:

“I forgot I had something to say.”

“You’re not ugly, whether you wear glasses or not, wear any clothes, you’re a hundred times prettier than her.”

Xu Shijia looked away: “This is true. I think so too.”

After dropping these words, the man quickly rolled up his window, hit the gas pedal, and left without looking back.

…

What the hell!

So boring!

Does he think that by flattering the boss like this, the boss will give him special treatment?

Lin Shu scoffed, she wouldn’t fall for this sweet talk.

She’s seen more complex cases, more irritable clients, and more hypocritical clients who know how to flatter than she can count. Xu Shijia’s few words are nothing.

Lin Shu wouldn’t even be slightly moved.

She started the car, then realized she had stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake.

**

Lin Shu went home and took a nap, secretly resolving to maintain a certain distance from Xu Shijia while getting closer to him, in order to better use him.

Fortunately, Xu Shijia seemed to think the same way. He was wearing a simple black business suit and arrived at the entrance of the private hospital where Zheng Xiaoxiao had made multiple purchases, as agreed. He saw Lin Shu and nodded slightly as a greeting.

Lin Shu didn’t say much to him and went into the hospital with Xu Shijia.

There are many specialized private hospitals in Rong City, but the one Zheng Xiaoxiao frequented is the largest private comprehensive hospital in Rong City. It has all departments, the doctors are all recruited with high salaries, and the surgical skills are no worse than those of a tertiary hospital.

Lin Shu had done her homework before coming. She studied Zheng Xiaoxiao’s spending time and found that she came to this hospital regularly, every Tuesday morning.

Lin Shu chose to come with Xu Shijia today because it was Tuesday.

However, when she actually stood in the hospital lobby, she felt a little lost.

This private hospital was far more crowded than she imagined, and the chances of running into Zheng Xiaoxiao seemed slim.

Lin Shu thought for a moment: “Zheng Xiaoxiao’s spending is not small, she wouldn’t spend so much money on minor ailments. And she’s healthy, it doesn’t seem like she has any serious illnesses, so it’s most likely cosmetic surgery.”

Once they could capture a picture of Zheng Xiaoxiao on the electronic screen waiting for a consultation, it would prove that she was using the studio’s money for cosmetic surgery, which would be a clear case of embezzlement.

Lin Shu looked at Xu Shijia: “Go to the cosmetic surgery department and make an appointment, see if you can run into Zheng Xiaoxiao.”

“Me?” Xu Shijia was stunned, a little incredulous, “Go to the cosmetic surgery department?”

“Yeah, I have an email to reply to.”

Xu Shijia said reluctantly, “With my looks going to the cosmetic surgery department? Don’t you think it’s unconvincing, too easy to be noticed?”

This guy…

Lin Shu said expressionlessly, “Does my face going to the cosmetic surgery department look convincing?”

Xu Shijia clearly wanted to argue, but after looking at Lin Shu’s face twice, the man strangely shut his mouth.

“Then I’ll go wash my hands first and then make an appointment.” He finally accepted Lin Shu’s arrangement, but with a look of disgust, “A guy bumped into me while walking just now, and touched my hand.”

Lin Shu ignored him and quickly picked up her phone to start editing an email to reply to a client.

When she finished replying to the email, Xu Shijia also came back from the bathroom.

“No need to go to the cosmetic surgery department.”

“Why?”

Xu Shijia smiled: “Because I ran into Xin Li in the bathroom.”

“He was washing his hands next to me, and I happened to hear him on the phone.”

“‘Oh, Xiaoxiao, are you not coming today? Okay, then let’s have dinner together next time.'”

Xu Shijia imitated Xin Li’s gentle tone vividly. After imitating, he returned to his sarcastic tone: “No wonder Zheng Xiaoxiao earns money to support him, this guy is really dedicated, you don’t know, his tone is so sticky, like it’s going to drip water, so this is the professional quality of a gold digger.”

“But I didn’t expect him to be a doctor here.” Xu Shijia sneered, “He was wearing a white coat.”

Lin Shu was stunned. She had checked Xin Li’s name, but she hadn’t been able to find anything. He must have just returned to China recently, and his social connections in China were very thin.

This private hospital uses its own developed appointment system. Because the fees charged for commercial insurance and personal self-payment are vastly different, the first appointment requires on-site registration of information to create an account, after which the hospital’s own appointment system can be used.

Lin Shu naturally didn’t have an account, so she didn’t have the right to access it. As for the hospital website, perhaps Xin Li, as a new employee, hadn’t had time to update the website yet.

She thought for a moment and went straight to the reception desk.

“I want to make an appointment with Dr. Xin Li Li.”

The nurse at the reception desk checked briefly and gave a apologetic smile: “Sorry, Dr. Xin Li Li’s appointments are full.”

“Can’t you add me?” Lin Shu showed a helpless expression, “We came all the way from out of town specifically to see him, can you tell me which clinic Dr. Xin Li is seeing patients in? I’ll go find him and see if I can add myself, I really have no other choice, if I don’t see him soon, I’m afraid it will be too late…”

“Dr. Xin Li’s principle is absolutely no adding appointments.” The nurse explained, “And Dr. Xin Li’s patients are all difficult cases, each one says they are running out of time, if we open up adding appointments, it will be chaos.”

“You can register your information first, and quickly book an appointment with Dr. Xin Li for next week.”

As she said this, she looked at Lin Shu, then at Xu Shijia beside her: “You two are not in a hurry, you’re both still young, a day or two doesn’t matter, most of Dr. Xin Li’s patients are almost forty and haven’t had children yet.”

Having children…

This is… the reproductive department?

Xin Li is actually a doctor in the reproductive center of this hospital.

According to the fee standards of this private hospital, and in such a popular department, Xin Li shouldn’t be short of money at all.

“I went back and looked at Zheng Xiaoxiao’s early videos. She did recommend medical beauty and shared her experience with getting hyaluronic acid injections.”

“Didn’t Zhong Peng say that Xin Li’s father gambled? Gambling is a bottomless pit, so he would rather let his girlfriend and others hype up their relationship to make money.” Xu Shijia speculated, “Since Zheng Xiaoxiao has experience with medical beauty, it’s highly likely that her consumption at this hospital is also related to medical beauty. Maybe Xin Li recommended her to come here, and maybe he gets a commission from it.”

Lin Shu’s speculation was actually in line with Xu Shijia’s.

However, since Zheng Xiaoxiao wasn’t coming today, Lin Shu and Xu Shijia didn’t have any reason to stay here. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Xin Li was a doctor here. This information wasn’t entirely useless.

“Do you need me to book an appointment for you with Dr. Xin next week?”

“It seems we’re not destined to see Dr. Xin. We’re leaving Rong City tomorrow, so we won’t be able to make an appointment with him…”

Acting the part, Lin Shu showed a look of regret and helplessness to the responsible nurse. After saying that, she was about to leave with Xu Shijia, but someone called out to them.

“Please wait.”

Lin Shu turned around and saw Xin Li standing not far behind her.

To be honest, Xin Li’s temperament was indeed good. Wearing a white coat made him look even more gentle and refined. He smiled at Lin Shu: “I’ll add you to the schedule.”

???

Didn’t he say that his principle was to never add appointments?

Xin Li probably knew the question in Lin Shu’s mind. He just smiled: “I know you two.”

He paused: “I saw you both at the wedding dress shop yesterday.”

Were they discovered?

Fortunately, Lin Shu quickly realized that her anxiety was unnecessary.

Xin Li didn’t think much of this frequent encounter. Instead, he was very sincere: “You might not have noticed me, but I was also at that shop yesterday. So I saw the little incident at the wedding dress shop. I think you two have a very good relationship.” He looked at Xu Shijia, “It’s really touching how you defend your wife.”

“I didn’t expect to meet you two at the hospital today. Although I really hope we don’t have this kind of connection, since it happens to be within my area of expertise, I’m willing to make an exception and add you to the schedule.”

No need to make an exception! Lin Shu didn’t want to see this doctor!

However, Xin Li obviously didn’t know the inside story. He went ahead and arranged for the nurse to add Lin Shu and Xu Shijia to the schedule immediately.

“Just come to my office after you’ve finished registration.”

…

The character you create, you have to play it through to the end.

At this point, if they just slipped away, it would definitely raise suspicion.

Lin Shu had no choice but to give Xu Shijia a wink and reluctantly took his hand and entered the consultation room.

“Is your problem difficulty conceiving?”

To be honest, Xin Li seemed quite trustworthy as a doctor, but Lin Shu was still on edge.

This was too embarrassing.

But Xin Li was very patient: “Have you been to other hospitals for checkups?”

Lin Shu just wanted to end the conversation and leave: “Yes. I forgot to bring the test results.”

Fortunately, Lin Shu had enough knowledge. She casually said: “Ultrasound, physical examination, sex hormone six items, immune antibody test, and fallopian tube hysterosal pornography, we’ve done everything.”

She showed a look of distress and frustration: “All my indicators are good. I don’t know why it’s not working. Maybe I’m too stressed? Doctor, can you prescribe me some medicine? I’ll go back and adjust my body.”

Lin Shu said with a genuine look of regret: “It’s my fault this time. I left the test results behind. How about next time I bring the test results and make an appointment again?”

With this, she should be able to fool him and leave!

Unfortunately, Xin Li was a bit too responsible. He didn’t let Lin Shu go, but instead continued to ask: “How often do you have intercourse now? Is the frequency very low, almost none?”

Lin Shu understood this question. As long as she said once a month or almost never, and she had already claimed that all the tests were normal, the doctor would most likely attribute the infertility to low frequency of intercourse, which would lower the probability of pregnancy. Then he would advise them to pay attention to frequency and observe for a while.

That way, Lin Shu could leave.

However, Lin Shu understood the implication of this question, but Xu Shijia obviously didn’t.

Before Lin Shu could speak, she heard Xu Shijia, as if he had suffered a great humiliation, say: “I’m not impotent! Why would it be almost none?”

Lin Shu heard Xu Shijia clear his throat and boast: “At least eight or nine times a week.”

“…”

Perhaps Xin Li’s gaze pierced him, Xu Shijia even stubbornly added: “I’m still young and healthy. I have more than that every week.”

Lin Shu had heard people say that men often lose their reason and become childish and stupid when it comes to their male dignity. She didn’t believe it before, but now she knew what it meant to see is to believe.

Ignorance is bliss. Lin Shu looked at Xu Shijia with pity. He was really not afraid of death.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Xin Li, who had been relaxed, became serious again.

“Then it seems it’s not a matter of frequency.” He looked at Xu Shijia and said, “Have you had a checkup?”

“What checkup? Didn’t I say I’m young and healthy, there’s no problem…”

Unlike Lin Shu, Xu Shijia obviously didn’t have this knowledge base. He showed his ignorance in the face of Xin Li’s question.

“Can we leave now? Next time let…” Xu Shijia glanced at Lin Shu and cleared his throat, “Let my wife bring all the test results and come back to see you.”

Xin Li almost immediately frowned: “In our culture, infertility is often blamed on women, but the fact is that the probability of male and female infertility is the same. Your wife has already had so many tests, and there’s no problem. So now you should rule out whether there is a problem with the man.”

“I know it’s very frustrating for a man to admit that he has reproductive problems, but if you really want a child and you really love your wife, you should bravely face the problem.”

Xin Li said sternly, “I’ll give you some simple tests. Pay the fee and get them done. Bring the results to me when they’re out.”

Only at this moment did the clueless Xu Shijia realize the seriousness of the situation. At this point, the man finally understood the meaning of Lin Shu’s previous words. His tone became a little urgent, and he tried to make amends using Lin Shu’s previous words: “I’ve already had all those tests done before, and they were all fine. I’ll bring them next time!”

Unfortunately, because of his previous actions, Xin Li didn’t trust him: “Then tell me what tests you’ve had done?”

Xu Shijia looked at Lin Shu for help.

Before Lin Shu could speak, Xin Li interrupted her.

He looked stern and said, “I’ve seen many patients like you. There’s no need to lie to me. You can’t even say what tests you’ve had done, which means you haven’t done any.”

Xin Li then turned to Lin Shu: “You don’t need to hide it for your husband. Women go through more pain than men for the sake of having children. I’ll give him a semen analysis to see if there are problems with low sperm count, dead sperm, or high sperm deformity rate.”

Xin Li turned to Xu Shijia: “From your attitude towards your wife at the wedding dress shop, it seems you love her and protect her very much. In modern society, with high pressure, lack of sleep, and unhealthy diets, it’s very normal for men to have problems with sperm quality. If there are problems, it won’t affect your relationship. A real man doesn’t dwell on such trivial matters.”

“As for the semen analysis, even if you’ve done it before, it’s necessary to do it again. Because sperm quality fluctuates due to factors like lifestyle habits at different times. Since you’ve come to my department and want to conceive, you naturally need to diagnose based on your current sperm quality.”

After Xin Li finished speaking, he wrote out the test order without hesitation.

A minute later, Lin Shu and Xu Shijia were squeezed out of the consultation room by Xin Li’s patients who were coming for follow-up appointments.

As expected of the most expensive private hospital, the supporting diagnostic services were indeed excellent. As soon as Lin Shu and Xu Shijia left the consultation room, a nurse led them all the way to pay the fees.

By the time Lin Shu and Xu Shijia finally had some space to themselves, they were already standing at the entrance of the sperm collection room.

Xu Shijia’s face was now black, no longer the proud man who had boasted about his youth and strength.

He looked at the nurse at the examination department’s guidance desk, his face full of reluctance: “I think I’m fine, I don’t need a test.”

The nurse at the guidance desk was an elderly woman. As she took Xu Shijia’s payment slip and scanned it to get him a number, she glanced at him and said sagely, “Every man who comes here says that. It’s better to let the test results speak for themselves.”

Although she didn’t say anything else, the way she looked at Xu Shijia was as if she had already concluded that he was a man who was suffering from infertility…

“…”

Xu Shijia deflated.

Lin Shu felt a little sympathy for him, but not much.

“This is what they call being too proud to admit your weakness.” She glanced at Xu Shijia, “But now that it’s come to this, think of it this way. I’ll reimburse you for this test. It’s like a free checkup for you.”

“Usually, public hospitals only test for sperm activity and quantity, which costs about a hundred yuan. This private hospital’s reproductive center is much more comprehensive. They’ll check all the indicators for you.” Lin Shu comforted him, “If there’s any problem, it’s good that you’re still young and can get treatment early.”

Unfortunately, Xu Shijia didn’t appreciate it. He glared at Lin Shu and said incredulously, “Why would I have a problem? I definitely won’t have a problem, I’m fine.”

Fortunately, Xu Shijia’s number was soon called on the electronic screen. Xu Shijia couldn’t argue anymore, and Lin Shu watched him go into the sperm collection room with a pale face and a look of resignation.

However, after waiting for ten minutes, the other sperm collection rooms had all released their patients, but Xu Shijia’s room was still silent.

Lin Shu was in a hurry to go back to the office to do other things. She couldn’t help but call Xu Shijia: “Why are you so slow? Everyone else is out!”

The result was that it was worse to call him. As soon as she called, Xu Shijia on the other end of the phone started to complain angrily: “This place is no good. As soon as I think that there are hundreds or even thousands of other strange men collecting sperm in this room, I feel like this place is full of male diseases, the air is full of viruses, I feel like I’m going to have an allergic reaction.”

“It’s dirty enough, but worse, the person who designed this room has terrible taste. There are so many nude women in the European and American paintings on the wall. Isn’t that desecrating art?”

“This place is too low-class and unsanitary. I absolutely cannot do this kind of thing here…” Xu Shijia seemed to be getting angrier as he spoke, “My future child can’t just die in a place like this without a clear reason…”

He’s talking about a future child. You need to find a partner first!

Lin Shu was really having a headache: “Please, just get it over with. Don’t make Xin Li suspicious, then we can leave! Besides, I’ve already paid! Don’t waste this free checkup!”

She tried to stay calm and persuade him: “There’s only you in this room right now, and they disinfect it every day. Don’t worry about the European and American paintings on the wall. Isn’t there an electronic screen? There should be some small movies on it. Just find one and get it over with quickly!”

As a result, Xu Shijia reacted even more strongly: “You want me to watch that? That’s what dirty men watch! I have such good morals, you want me to watch that, I absolutely won’t watch it!”

“Besides, what do you mean by ‘get it over with quickly’? Are you mocking me?”

…

What a pain in the neck! He’s like a spoiled young master who wants everything his way!

What time is it now! Collecting sperm is such a simple thing, why is he being so fussy!

Lin Shu was speechless. She took a deep breath and patiently said, “Just cooperate. Don’t you remember what we agreed on? You have to follow me, do a good job on the case, become a mature and charming legal elite, and make your first night partner look at you with new eyes. You’re like this now, you encounter a little problem and you give up. How can you succeed?”

Speaking of her first night, Lin Shu had a flash of inspiration: “It’s okay if you don’t look at the paintings on the wall or the small movies. Just think about your first night, think about that girl!”

“Miss her?”

“Yeah!” Lin Shu rubbed her temples and coaxed, “It’s been so many years, but you still remember it clearly, which means it was a beautiful night, right? Just reminisce a little, imagine the other person is right next to you…”

Before Lin Shu could finish, Xu Shijia abruptly hung up the phone.

“…”

What’s wrong with him again?

It’s not like he’s some naive virgin who doesn’t know anything, so why is he so moody and unpredictable!

But if they keep waiting like this, who knows how long it’ll take.

Maybe I should just leave first.

Just as Lin Shu was about to ditch Xu Shijia, the door to the specimen collection room opened, and Xu Shijia came out with a grim expression, holding a sample cup.

It was full of thick…

Lin Shu quickly averted her gaze—better not to look.

Isn’t this good, though?

Turns out the idea of thinking about his first night partner actually worked, didn’t it?

Collecting a sperm sample is no different from giving a urine sample; it’s just bodily fluids and part of a physical exam—nothing to fuss about.

But even though she didn’t feel anything strange earlier, now Lin Shu found herself feeling a little awkward, her face slightly flushed. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt guilty and less confident.

Xu Shijia, his cheeks unusually red, shot Lin Shu a fierce glare, then quickly averted his gaze. He sternly placed the sample cup into the designated window.

“Goodbye, my children,” Lin Shu heard him say sarcastically. “Daddy’s leaving you behind, but it’s not his fault.”

“…”

After that, Xu Shijia turned to look at Lin Shu, as if she were the executioner who had killed his children, holding a grudge against her.

“…”

Never seen a guy so dramatic and spiteful…

Although the whole awkward situation partly stemmed from Xu Shijia’s own issues, Lin Shu figured it was still work-related, so she decided to try and smooth things over.

Luckily, due to their dawdling, the test results wouldn’t be ready until the next day, allowing them to finally leave the hospital.

Passing by a supermarket, Lin Shu casually picked up some eggs and milk.

Xu Shijia, sulking in the car, clearly didn’t want to talk. When Lin Shu handed him the shopping bag, he lifted an eyebrow. “What’s this? Trying to bribe me with groceries?”

Lin Shu, feeling a bit awkward for once, replied, “What bribery? Just something to help you replenish yourself.”

At first, Xu Shijia seemed to not quite understand, accepting the bag out of habit. But moments later, his face darkened. “I don’t want it.”

He handed the bag back, clearly offended rather than grateful. “You think I’m so weak from this little thing? I don’t need any replenishment!”

Lin Shu didn’t make a fuss, simply taking back the eggs and milk she’d bought with her own money. “Fine, then let’s talk about the case.”

Xu Shijia’s eyes widened again. “You don’t let people rest, do you?”

“Didn’t you just say you don’t need to replenish?” Lin Shu replied teasingly. “I thought since you’re young and healthy, you didn’t need rest and could jump straight into work. But I guess you are feeling a bit weak after all…”

Xu Shijia pursed his lips. “Who are you accusing?” He turned away, cleared his throat, and added, “Of course I don’t need rest. I was asking if you don’t need a break.”

Lin Shu smiled. “Nope, I’m fine.”

She glanced at the time. “Since you don’t need rest either, let’s get to work.”

Cheerfully, Lin Shu said, “Why don’t you schedule a meeting with Zhong Peng? Let’s meet at the office in half an hour to discuss the case. With your great stamina, it’d be a shame not to put it to use. How about working late tonight?”

“Give me that,” Xu Shijia said, pursing his lips and extending his hand toward Lin Shu.

“What?” she asked, confused.

“The eggs and milk,” Xu Shijia said, staring at her with a blank expression. “On second thought, there’s truth in the saying ‘a drop of essence is worth ten drops of blood.’ I do feel a bit weak. I guess I should replenish. But there’s no way I’m pulling an all-nighter.”

“And after sacrificing so many of my children for work today, don’t you think I deserve a bit of a bereavement leave?”

“…”

No extra work, but no bereavement leave either—he still had to work as usual.

Although the job clearly didn’t bring Xu Shijia any joy or passion, in the end, he gave Lin Shu some respect.

However, before contacting Zhong Peng as requested, Xu Shijia expressed some doubts. “But the evidence we’ve collected so far doesn’t form a complete chain, does it?”

“Yes, we’ve found proof that Zheng Xiaoxiao and Xin Li were planning to buy a house together. We even know the address of the pre-sale contract, and they’ve looked at wedding dresses together. So, Zhong Peng’s suspicions have been confirmed.”

“But Zheng Xiaoxiao isn’t an idiot. She’s been moving money from the studio account carefully. Even though we’re pretty sure she’s using that public account money, it’ll be hard to find solid evidence of her spending it. We can freeze the property before the lawsuit, but can we be sure we’ll win?”

Xu Shijia analyzed, “Since Zheng Xiaoxiao’s whole charade of being in love is about the money, she’s clearly capable of juggling Xin Li while keeping Zhong Peng satisfied with their affair. So, if she’s moving money, she’ll be very careful and use hard-to-trace methods.”

“And the only account expenditure linked to a private hospital likely went toward cosmetic surgery. But she’ll probably argue that, as a social media influencer, cosmetic treatments are necessary for her appearance and work, passing off the expense as a business one.”

Xu Shijia looked at Lin Shu. “So how do we gather more evidence? Is now really the right time to meet with Zhong Peng?”

Xu Shijia’s question was polite, but Lin Shu knew he was doubting her plan.

He probably had a lot of questions in his mind—

Although they had been busy collecting evidence over the past couple of days, would this evidence really form a strong causal chain? There wasn’t a fully assured case strategy, just more information. Was this really the right time to communicate with Zhong Peng? Had the evidence collection in the past few days been a bit of a waste of time and inefficient? Was the current case strategy even correct?

Lin Shu smiled. “Just schedule the meeting. We don’t need to collect more evidence; the information we have now is enough.”

She glanced at Xu Shijia and added, “Remember, schedule him alone, without his wife.”

Though Xu Shijia was suspicious, he quickly arranged the meeting with Zhong Peng.

Lin Shu had timed it perfectly. Half an hour later, just after she and Xu Shijia returned to the Tian Hao firm, Zhong Peng arrived.

Naturally, they had to share the recent developments and information from the past few days with their client.

As Lin Shu had predicted, Zhong Peng flew into a rage almost immediately after hearing the news. His face turned beet red, and the veins on his neck bulged.

He completely lost control, cursing Zheng Xiaoxiao with the harshest words: “That bitch! That whore!” His eyes were bloodshot. “Not only is she buying a villa for that pretty boy, but they’ve even looked at wedding dresses together!”

Lin Shu had already anticipated this reaction.

“I asked you to come alone today for a reason. As your attorney, we need you to be honest with us.”

Lin Shu looked at Zhong Peng. “When you said that Zheng Xiaoxiao kept pursuing and seducing you even though she knew you were married—that was a lie, wasn’t it?”

Sure enough, Zhong Peng’s expression turned uncomfortable, and the anger he had just shown subsided a bit.

“I’m your lawyer, and since we’re working on a contingency fee basis, your interests are my interests. I’m not here to judge you as a woman but as your attorney, and I need to clarify all the details in this case.”

Lin Shu calmly analyzed, “Whether or not Zheng Xiaoxiao knew about your marriage will change our entire case strategy.”

Hearing this, Zhong Peng hesitated. He asked tentatively, “What I tell you, you’ll keep it confidential, right? You won’t tell my wife?”

“Lawyers have a duty to keep their clients’ information private, of course.”

Zhong Peng was still unsure, and Xu Shijia frowned slightly, giving Lin Shu a puzzled look, as if he didn’t understand why she was asking about something seemingly unrelated.

Fortunately, after a moment, Zhong Peng made the decision to be honest. “Lawyer Lin, you’re right. Zheng Xiaoxiao didn’t know I was married, and she definitely didn’t know my wife is pregnant…”

Zhong Peng’s tone shifted from anger to self-justification as he scratched his nose and said, “But can you blame me? She was the one sneaking around, using my money to support that pretty boy. And I was just trying to protect my wife and child. What if she found out and started harassing them?”

“She looked down on me, thinking I’d never find a wife, anyway.”

“And it’s not like she ever asked if I was already married…”

“I didn’t tell her about my marriage to keep her from moving the money faster. In these situations, isn’t it always better to act first?”

“When you asked me before, I didn’t say anything to protect my wife. Right now, she only hates Zheng Xiaoxiao, but if she finds out I hid my marriage, she’ll definitely be angry with me too. And you know she’s pregnant—what if it affects her health?”

…

While Zhong Peng was quick to condemn Zheng Xiaoxiao, when it came to himself, he had endless excuses and justifications.

But Lin Shu wasn’t interested in those—

“Mr. Zhong, I’m not here to morally judge you or sort out your relationship problems. I’m only here to fight for your best interests.”

“From the perspective of this case, the fact that you hid your marital status and Zheng Xiaoxiao didn’t know anything about it works in our favor.”

Lin Shu gave a professional smile and explained the situation. “We have evidence that Zheng Xiaoxiao and Xin Li looked at wedding dresses and bought a house together. We also have additional evidence, which basically confirms their relationship. So, while we know that Zheng Xiaoxiao is seeing someone else and is about to get married, she has no idea that you are already married. This creates an information gap.”

“To the public, you and Zheng Xiaoxiao appear to be a loving couple, and you have a lot of fans, including some very passionate ‘couple’ fans. If it comes out that one of you broke the promise, cheated, or found someone else—and even used shared funds for it—that person will definitely be targeted by public opinion.”

“We have evidence against Zheng Xiaoxiao, but she knows nothing about your situation. We can use this to our advantage in negotiating with her.”

Sometimes, law isn’t just about impulsively filing a lawsuit.

The legal process—first trial, second trial, and enforcement—takes a long time and is costly. If things can be resolved through negotiation, it’s often much more efficient.

What Zheng Xiaoxiao cares about is money, the value of the couple’s account, and her public image.

“If you both agree to peacefully break up, the account will likely go to you. Zheng Xiaoxiao could still use the fame from the account to build her own new brand with Xin Li, showcasing their love to the public. She’s good at editing and filming, so her success is likely. But if she refuses to compromise and things end up in court, it’s only a matter of time before the truth about her and Xin Li comes out, which won’t benefit her at all.”

Lin Shu smiled. “Of course, going dress shopping and buying a house together could just be explained as friends, but the day after tomorrow, at 1 PM, they’re rehearsing a proposal ceremony at a café in the park. The scene will include both of their names—this evidence is definitive.”

“A proposal ceremony? And a rehearsal?” Zhong Peng’s face turned pale, then red with anger. “Zheng Xiaoxiao really is something.”

Agitated, he asked, “So I can get the money and the account, right?”

“Once we’ve gathered evidence from the proposal rehearsal and confirmed their relationship, then yes.”

Lin Shu now possesses far more information than Zheng Xiaoxiao has about Zhong Peng. Zheng Xiaoxiao is unaware that Zhong Peng is married, and she certainly doesn’t know who his spouse is or where they work. However, Lin Shu knows about Xin Li and is also aware of Xin Li’s workplace.

Information asymmetry is key in negotiations and is a critical part of the exchange.

When Zheng Xiaoxiao mistakenly believes that Zhong Peng has no flaws or weaknesses to exploit, while she herself feels compromised, she will start to back down.

**

After seeing Zhong Peng off, Lin Shu finally relaxed.

Thanks to men’s inherent weaknesses, the case had progressed more easily than expected.

She looked at Xu Shijia and said, “So, aside from proving the names of the two people involved in the proposal rehearsal, the rest is just negotiation.”

Lin Shu was very confident in her negotiation skills, certain she could secure the benefits Zhong Peng desired.

She glanced at Xu Shijia. “Knowing Xin Li’s workplace is also important. It’s like a psychological tactic. When Zheng Xiaoxiao realizes that the person she’s been trying so hard to hide has been discovered by us, even down to their workplace, she’ll panic. She’ll fear we might do something to Xin Li, impacting his job.”

“Of course, we wouldn’t do anything illegal. We won’t harass Xin Li, won’t expose him online, nor will we incite netizens to curse him as the third party in the relationship between Zheng Xiaoxiao and Zhong Peng. But since Zheng Xiaoxiao doesn’t know us, she’ll be cautious, wary, and anxious. As long as she thinks we can and will act, she’ll grow fearful.”

“And that’s why she’ll be more likely to make concessions during the negotiation.”

Xu Shijia, frowning, asked, “Are you saying this to make me feel better?”

“Hmm?”

“To prove that the sacrifice of my descendants was meaningful. To prove that today’s visit to the hospital wasn’t a waste of time, wasn’t pointless.” He cleared his throat and gave Lin Shu a glance. “The fact that you thought of this, it does make me feel a bit better.”

“…”

Heaven knows Lin Shu didn’t say any of that with the intention of comforting him!

She was simply trying to educate Xu Shijia by teaching him through this case!

“Negotiation is a skill every successful lawyer must master, and there are tactics to it—like gaining a psychological advantage. If you make the other party feel insecure, they’ll be more likely to concede. And this advantage often comes from information asymmetry. If the other party believes you’ve already figured everything out, their insecurity and self-doubt will make them more likely to back down during negotiation.”

“So, this time our evidence-gathering wasn’t a waste of time.”

“But in the future, I can’t rule out the possibility that some of the evidence we gather or the preparations we make for cases will end up being pointless.”

Lin Shu said seriously, “Handling legal cases isn’t like students doing math problems, where you’re given a formula that guarantees a solution. Many cases we encounter are complex, with chaotic facts. Your initial medicine might be wrong, and you won’t realize it until you hit a dead end. Then you’ll have to switch directions, and sometimes there may not even be a clear solution. Unlike math problems, there’s no fixed answer. You just have to get as close to the client’s desired outcome as possible.”

“In the future, much of the evidence or preparation we gather may turn out to be useless. But if you don’t make the effort and dive in, you’ll be even more lost when faced with a case.”

Lin Shu took a sip of hot tea and said with some irony, “The fact that our evidence-gathering medicine turned out to be correct this time is also thanks to certain inherent flaws in men. But the irony is that these flaws of concealment and shirking responsibility ended up being a major advantage in our negotiation.”

“Not all men are like that,” Xu Shijia objected, clearly disagreeing. “There are still good men in this world.”

After saying this, as if something had suddenly occurred to him, he turned to Lin Shu, speaking through clenched teeth, “And don’t be sexist. It’s not only men who have problems; there are bad women out there too.”

True enough.

Running off after their first night together must have hit Xu Shijia hard—he probably has a psychological scar from it. Even though so much time has passed, he still can’t stop talking about that woman.

But despite cursing this woman, why glare at Lin Shu? That’s just unnecessary collateral damage.

Still, Xu Shijia’s recent behavior had been good enough that Lin Shu decided to stand with him in solidarity. “Yes, some women can be really bad. At the very least, she should have given you an explanation, right? You’re not some disposable item to be thrown away after one use. Even when returning goods, there’s usually a reason, right?”

“Underwear, for example, doesn’t even qualify for the seven-day no-reason return policy, but she just tossed you aside like that. You weren’t even treated as well as underwear—that’s truly outrageous and immoral!”

“But hey, people grow through setbacks. Having experienced this, it’s a kind of life lesson. You’ve personally experienced how bad a toxic woman can be, so in the future, you’ll have the sharp insight to find a good girl, right? And when you’re with her, you’ll appreciate her even more.”

However, instead of feeling comforted by Lin Shu’s words, Xu Shijia became sarcastic. “If women aren’t bad, men won’t love them. I’m going to find a bad one and then use my charisma to make her turn over a new leaf. What’s wrong with that?”

After saying this, Xu Shijia stormed off, leaving Lin Shu speechless.

???

What?

Is unhealthy dating really that popular nowadays?

If you’re going to try to reform someone, why not just find someone good in the first place?

Have today’s young people become too twisted in their thinking?