Chapter 2: Turning Around ( Part 1)

As the sun set, the sky was filled with colorful clouds.

He Yichen stood in front of the French window in his office on the tenth floor, wondering why he was in the mood to appreciate the sunset.

Maybe because she’s back.

Mei Ting pushed open the door and saw Attorney He standing by the window with his back to her, holding a cigarette in his hand. He looked… lonely? Mei Ting almost doubted her own eyes. Could this word really be used to describe Attorney He, who was always confident and composed?

Yi Chen heard the door open. He turned around and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Oh.” Mei Ting snapped out of her thoughts and quickly said, “Lawyer He, Vice President Zhang of Hongyuan Company is here.”

“Please ask him to come in.”

Yi Chen put away his messy thoughts and focused on work. He glanced at the clock on the wall—five o’clock. She hasn’t come yet.

After finally seeing off Vice President Zhang, Yi Chen leaned back in his chair, exhausted, and closed his eyes to rest.

Suddenly, a large hand slapped down on his desk. Yi Chen opened his eyes helplessly.

“Old Yuan.”

After graduating from university, he had turned down a recommendation to pursue a master’s degree and had gone straight to work at the “Yuan Xiang” law firm, now renamed “Yuan Xianghe.” He was now one of the partners. Old Yuan and another partner, Xiang Heng, were both alumni of C University. Xiang Heng had graduated a year before him, while Old Yuan had graduated many years earlier.

The burly man, who looked more like a bandit than a lawyer, sat down across from him leisurely, crossed his legs arrogantly, and asked, “What are you doing next?”

“Overtime,” Yi Chen replied without even looking up.

“No way!” Old Yuan shouted. “Today is the weekend!”

“So what?”

“So what?” Old Yuan repeated and shook his head. “That does sound exactly like something a cold-blooded workaholic like He Yichen would say.”

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t know you were so eloquent.”

“No, no, no.” Old Yuan wagged his finger.

“This is the consensus of all the women who know He Yichen.” He leaned in slyly. “Yichen, I’ve always wanted to ask you—are you gay, or do you have some hidden condition?”

Only a psychopath would bother with such childish nonsense.

Mei Ting entered and brought two cups of coffee.

Yi Chen stopped her and asked, “Has Miss Zhao come by today?”

Mei Ting thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No.” Yi Chen nodded to show he understood and said, “There’s nothing else to do here. You should go home early.”

Mei Ting shook her head. “I’m not in a hurry. When are you leaving, Lawyer He? Should I buy you some food?”

“No, thank you.”

Mei Ting responded with a quiet “oh” and left with a disappointed look.

Old Yuan clicked his tongue. “Hey, Miss Mei Ting is interested in you. Are you considering an office romance?”

“She’s a decent girl. Don’t talk nonsense,” Yi Chen warned.

Heart of stone! Old Yuan shook his head secretly. Yi Chen’s attitude toward women was always polite and considerate, but he never crossed the line. Over the years, countless women had failed in their pursuit of He Yichen.It wasn’t surprising that women were drawn to him. Even from Old Yuan’s male perspective, He Yichen was simply too outstanding. Putting aside his striking appearance, his steadily rising reputation in the legal profession and his resolute, upright image were enough to attract any proud or beautiful woman.

“What kind of woman do you like? So many women around you, and yet you don’t seem interested in any of them. That beautiful director from the foreign company—she has a stunning figure! That TV station host—you’ve worked together for so long, didn’t any sparks fly? And our smart and capable colleague, Xu Pili—I ran into her at court today, and she even asked about you in a roundabout way…”

Old Yuan grew more and more excited as he spoke, but Yi Chen ignored him, letting him ramble on.What’s so fun about a one-man show? Old Yuan paused in frustration but then his eyes lit up again.

“I know! It must be our little sister Yimei. You finally have a soft spot for her.”

Yimei often visited the office, so Old Yuan was very familiar with her.

“She’s my sister,” Yi Chen said unhappily.

“Don’t give me that. You two aren’t related by blood,” Old Yuan said knowingly.