novel bin Chapter 6 Hypocrisy
Chapter 6 Hypocrisy
Ha ha.
Feeling sorry for her?
Zuo Chujing calmed down, but before she could retort, she suddenly realized something, turned her head, and stared straight at Yu Xingge standing by the bed.
"What are you doing here!"
Yu Xingge walked over unhurriedly and affectionately tucked the blanket around her. "I'm so sad, Jingjing. Why can't I be here?" Her smile didn't reach her eyes as she leaned down and whispered, "Teacher Gu has entrusted you entirely to me. You know, I'm a lawyer now. Surprised? Unexpected?"
A week later at Hongjiang Law Firm.
Yu Xingge looked up from a pile of documents, rubbing her neck wearily.
Since becoming the newest member of the real estate team, she quickly took over the duties of Liu Lin, who was also the team's administrative secretary, and became Director Shen Changsheng's personal travel assistant, preparing all his travel needs and providing reminders. Her first case since joining the company was temporarily put on hold due to the progress of Gu Ping's evidence, and her schedule was completely adjusted to Director Shen's schedule.
After working until 3 a.m. for three consecutive days and working weekends without rest, all that remained, besides her increasingly dark circles under her eyes, was this pile of expense reports she had paid out of pocket.
Before I knew it, it was almost eleven o'clock.
After finishing her makeup in the restroom, Yu Xingge took out the delivery service she had just ordered, tore off the order information on the outside, and carried it to the coffee shop.
Two minutes later, Zhou Yuxuan pushed open the door and walked in. Yu Xingge greeted him, "Attorney Zhou, you haven't had breakfast again?"
"Don't even mention it. I went to the Hexi Detention Center for a visit this morning. It's such a godforsaken place, there's not even a convenience store. I just got back. I have to go meet a client with Director Gu at noon, so I'm grabbing a bite to eat first." He walked towards the dessert table.
"Please don't eat that." She held up the paper bag in her hand. "I specially ordered breakfast for Director Shen from Xue's Steamed Bun Shop this morning. I was just late for lunch, so I bought some extra for myself. It's just been heated up, would you like to try some?"
"That's great! No wonder I smelled so much steamed buns when I came in," he said, taking the bun and confirming again, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."
"Please don't be shy," she said with a smile.
"Hmm, I love their beef buns the most. It's a pity there's no delivery service near the law firm. Thanks to you today."
Yu Xingge smiled and said, "Really? What a coincidence."
"Have you been working on cases with Director Shen?"
She shook her head: "No, I'm still in the odd jobs stage."
Zhou Yuxuan seemed to be deep in thought.
Yu Xingge decided to stop while she was ahead: "I've already eaten, so you can eat first. I'm going back to work now."
"Won't you rest a little longer?"
"No, thank you," she politely declined with a smile. As she closed the coffee shop door, her mind raced, 'What's still on my to-do list?' she wondered. Oh right, she remembered to buy Chen Zhao a milk tea for leaking the information. What did he like to drink again? Ya Jie seemed to have mentioned it…
"Beep beep beep."
As a warning sound rang out, Yu Xingge's computer flashed red. Oh no, it was out of power again.
Yu Xingge jotted down notes in her notebook about replacing her computer when she had some free time, then opened WeChat. Gu Ping sent her evidence and long voice messages. Yu Xingge put on her headphones, carefully selecting and marking the key points from the full minute of voice messages, and hurriedly submitted her appeal online.
Zuo Chujing's condition gradually stabilized, but she suffered from liver and kidney damage, as well as gastrointestinal atrophy. As her consciousness and self-care abilities recovered, the status of Gu Ping's legal guardian became controversial. To address this potential weakness in the subsequent court hearing, Yu Xingge called Gu Ping, asking her and Zuo Chujing to supplement their power of attorney. However, before the call ended, she heard the two arguing about it. Realizing that delay could cause problems, she decided to go and oversee the finalization of the paperwork.
Before even stepping inside, Liu Xi's voice echoed in the room.
"Chu Jing, isn't your throat still bothering you? I saw this medicine recommended on Douyin that seems to work quite well. Shall I buy it for you?"
"Look, there's also this. There's a place not far from the hospital that sells Xinjiang-style baked buns. Don't you love barbecue the most? How about we go get some when you feel better?"
"Oh, there's this too..."
"Oh my daughter, your boyfriend is so good to you. You're so lucky if you get married."
She pushed open the door, revealing a familiar ward but unfamiliar fellow patients. Because the patients had changed, an elderly man was now lying in the bed next to hers. A middle-aged woman, presumably his daughter, was sitting beside him, incessantly praising Liu Xi: "Young man, how many years have you two been dating? They say true friendship is revealed in times of trouble, and I see your thoughtfulness towards you is truly admirable."
A broad-shouldered man sat on the bed in the middle, being gently instructed on precautions by a group of nurses surrounding him. Yu Xingge glanced at him briefly and then looked away.
Zuo Chujing lowered her head, speechless and unsure of what to say.
Gu Ping chimed in smoothly, "Yes, he's been talking for three days and hasn't spent a single penny or made a single trip. If talking is considered hard work, then he's really working hard." When she saw Yu Xingge enter, she stood up briskly, took out a neatly folded A4 sheet of paper from her pocket, and handed it to her.
"Hey Mom!" Zuo Chujing exclaimed, displeased. "Why are you giving it to her?"
"If I don't give it to her, who else should I give it to?" She saw that Liu Xi could easily charm everyone in the room, including her silly daughter, with sweet words. At first, she wanted to stop and explain, but now she didn't want to waste her time and just wanted to get to court quickly: "Xiao Ge, here you go, I had her sign a blank power of attorney, you can write whatever you want on it." Yu Xingge was both amused and exasperated: "Teacher Gu, this isn't appropriate. I'll fill in the information for you."
"No need," Gu Ping said. "I trust you completely. Chu Jing is relying on your help this time."
"Who's relying on her?" Zuo Chujing felt uncomfortable ever since she saw Yu Xingge. The poor little thing who was bullied by her back then, is now helping her? Who would believe that?
"Mom, you should really look into whoever's helping you. Anyone can be a lawyer these days? Is she even qualified?" Liu Xi leaned closer. "Auntie, what are you doing?"
Gu Ping stepped back: "Stay away from me."
Liu Xi tugged at Zuo Chujing's sleeve, hinting. Zuo Chujing understood his meaning: could she plead with Yu Xingge on his behalf?
Seeing that Zuo Chujing was unwilling to speak, Liu Xi couldn't hold back any longer. He grasped Zuo Chujing's wrist, his eyes pleading. Zuo Chujing felt a pang of sadness; when had he ever pleaded with her like this before? She turned to Gu Ping and whispered, "Mom, how about we don't file a lawsuit?"
"Why? Did you commit suicide for nothing?" Gu Ping's anger was building up.
"That's in the past... I'm all better now."
"All better? What's better? Is your liver and kidneys better, or is your rotten stomach and intestines better? Did you see what the doctor wrote? Permanent liver and kidney metabolic dysfunction. You're telling me you're all better? I think you've just developed a love-struck brain!"
"What kind of talk is that? Who's love-struck?!"
"What, am I wrong? You've never been smart since you were little, so I'm finding you a smart person to help you. Look at Xiao Ge, she has no parents, but she worked her way up to become a lawyer. She's even grateful for kindness. Do you think she's been helping you because of you? It's because I was her teacher for two years that I'm helping you."
"She's like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—she's got ulterior motives! Xingge is already being kind by not kicking me when I'm down and laughing at me; how could she possibly help me!"
"Where did we kick her when she's down? Xiao Ge has been busy all this time, has she taken a single penny from us? Besides, why would she kick us when we're down?"
"She..." Zuo Chujing was at a loss for words.
Oh right, her mother doesn't know about that yet. She glanced at Yu Xingge's legs...
Yu Xingge feigned hurt: "How could I kick someone when they're down? Chu Jing, why would you think that about me?"
Zuo Chujing retorted, "Stop pretending. You know perfectly well what's going on."
Yu Xingge's gaze swept lightly over the two clasped hands, and she smiled slightly: "Auntie is only doing this for your own good. Sigh, what can we do now? The lawsuit has already been filed."
"What? It's already been submitted?" Liu Xi: "Then cancel it! Find a way to cancel it today."
"Yes, we need to find a way to withdraw."
Yu Xingge sighed with difficulty: "Chu Jing, look at Teacher Gu, he's so old, yet he's still running around for you, it's so tiring for him. The only thing you need to do is take good care of your health." Her face was troubled: "Withdrawal is probably not an option. At this point, the application for filing the case should have already been approved, and I should receive the court hearing notice in the next few days."
"Damn it! You bitch!" Liu Xi shook off the hand he was holding and raised his arm to swing it at Yu Xingge's head.
"What are you doing!" Gu Ping roared.
A gust of wind sent shivers down her spine. Suddenly, a strong force shoved Yu Xingge away from behind, her hip slamming against the bedside table. A sharp pain shot through her, and things clattered to the floor. The man in the light green shirt grabbed Liu Xi's arm and turned to look at Yu Xingge: "Are you alright?"
"Who are you! Let me go!" Liu Xi struggled, her 1.78-meter height making her half a head shorter than the man who stood up.
The smell of alcohol mixed with the stench of blood wafted through the air. Yu Xingge shook her head. She gestured to the nurses surrounding her, "Could you please call security?"
The nurses, who had just been showing concern for the injured, looked at each other hesitantly.
Yu Xingge clutched her waist, struggled to her feet, and said calmly as always, "If you don't call security soon, you don't want it to escalate into a disturbance, do you?"
One of them glanced at Liu Xi, who was still struggling, and hurriedly went out to call for help. Yu Xingge then turned to Zuo Chujing, who was already stunned and standing to the side, and said, "Are you still sure you want to withdraw the lawsuit? He's become so desperate just because the case was filed, and he rushed up to beat people after just a few words." Yu Xingge sneered, "Your taste in choosing a husband and your choice of friends are exactly the same."
Liu Xi couldn't break free and was forced to kneel on the ground by the man: "Brother, who are you? Do you live by the sea? Why are you meddling in my business? Let go of me now, or believe me, I'll crack your heads open in a minute." He cursed.
The man said sternly, "Leaving aside the fact that your case is still in the private prosecution stage, if you don't want it to be transferred to public prosecution, and if you don't want to be charged with 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble,' I advise you not to make any further rash moves."
"Oh, I forgot to mention." He grinned at Liu Xi, who had his back to him, "My name is Ji Zhijie. You're welcome to try cracking my skull open."