Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Xu Jingxuan Exposed Xiao Xiao passed her interview at Huayue Law Firm and officially started today as a salaried lawyer there. Coincidentally, Yu Jiaojiao had also resigned from Shengke Law Firm and come to Chu Tang's firm, so Chu Tang arranged for Yu Jiaojiao to serve as Xiao Xiao's assistant. Both girls had bright, outgoing personalities and got along very well. For the Hengyang case, Chu Tang organized the evidence materials based on Lu Shuci's suggestions and drafted the complaint. Just before getting off work that day, Chu Tang received a call from the private investigator. "Miss Ruan, I've made progress on the investigation of Gu Zechuan and Xu Jingxuan that you asked me to look into. Do you have time to meet today? I have something to give you." Chu Tang replied, "I have time. I'm about to leave work—come to the café near my office." "Alright." Chu Tang gave him the address and said, "Six-thirty, at the café." "Got it, Miss Ruan." After hanging up, Lu Shuci knocked on the door and walked in. "Lawyer Ruan, about what my aunt said to you yesterday—I thought it over and felt I should apologize on her behalf." Chu Tang raised an eyebrow. "It's fine. I know she was joking. I didn't take it to heart." "How about this," Lu Shuci pushed up his glasses, "let me treat you to a meal, consider it my apology on behalf of my aunt." Chu Tang smiled. "Really, no need. Why be so formal?" Lu Shuci looked at Chu Tang, paused, then rubbed the tip of his nose and said, "Alright then." "Oh, right." Chu Tang pulled out two thick, heavy kraft paper case files. "Several new cases came in today. I'm assigning these two to you—they're in your area of expertise." Lu Shuci took the case files and said with a smile, "New cases this fast? Lawyer Ruan really is a woman of her word. Working under you, we'll never go hungry." "Lawyer Lu, is your ambition really just as low as not going hungry?" Chu Tang smiled. "Open them and take a look." Lu Shuci opened the case file. Trademark infringement disputes. Lu Shuci quickly scanned the materials, a smile curving at his lips. "Looks like yesterday's wine money is already earned back." Chu Tang smiled too. "I told you—I won't let you lose out." "Thanks." Lu Shuci put away the case materials. After work, Chu Tang tidied her desk and went downstairs to the nearby café for the meeting. Chu Tang pushed open the glass door and walked into the café. In an inconspicuous corner, she spotted the private investigator dressed all in black with a baseball cap. Chu Tang walked over and sat down across from the man. "Hello, Mr. Zhang." The private investigator's surname was Zhang—Zhang Ming. "Hello, Miss Ruan." After the greetings, Zhang Ming bent down and rummaged through the backpack he carried. "Miss, these are photos I took over the past few days of Gu Zechuan and Xu Jingxuan meeting." The private investigator handed over a kraft paper envelope. Chu Tang opened the envelope and took out the photos to look through. Seeing the images of Xu Jingxuan and Gu Zechuan together, Chu Tang curled her lips and sneered coldly. "Just as I suspected." "Also, this is a recording I captured when they met last night." The private investigator pulled out his phone. "I'll send it to you." After receiving the audio, Chu Tang put on her earbuds and pressed play. "You want to use my hands to get rid of Chu Tang? You knew full well that Fu Yuanzhou said he'd kill the hostage if we called the police, and you still told me to call them immediately!" That was Gu Zechuan's voice. Xu Jingxuan's voice came through: "So what? I've been wishing Ruan Chutang dead all along!" "Xu Jingxuan! You only said back then that you wanted to break up Chu Tang and Jiang Shixu—you never said you wanted her dead!" "That was then. Now I only want her dead. Only when she's dead will my brother's eyes be on me." Hearing those words, a flash of scorn and disdain passed through Chu Tang's eyes. Ha. Wanting her dead over a man. "You're insane!" Gu Zechuan's voice sounded furious. "Gu Zechuan, look at yourself—useless and pathetic. What good are you? No wonder Ruan Chutang didn't want you. Even after the breakup, she never gave you a second glance. You're useless to me now. Our partnership ends here." "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Jiang Shixu everything you've done?" "Hahahaha... Did I hear that right? Are you threatening me? Don't forget who's behind me. To Fu Yuanzhou, I'm far more useful than you. Guess what—if you spill what I've done and the Jiang Family casts me out, and I lose my value to him, do you think Fu Yuanzhou will let you off?" The recording ended there. After listening, Ruan Chutang furrowed her brow. She had long seen Xu Jingxuan's feelings for Jiang Shixu and had guessed that Xu Jingxuan and Gu Zechuan were in contact, so hearing the earlier part didn't surprise her. But Xu Jingxuan's later claim that she was Fu Yuanzhou's person— Chu Tang's brows knitted tightly, her expression pensive. That truly was something she hadn't expected. Should she tell Jiang Shixu about this? "Thank you," Chu Tang said. "I'll transfer the money to your account as agreed." "Alright." ...... At the same time, at Jiang Shixu's base. In the study, Jiang Shixu sat in the chair behind the desk, while Lu Ze stood before the desk reporting. "Master, these are the results of the investigation into Miss Xu that you requested last time." Lu Ze placed the laptop screen facing Jiang Shixu in front of him. Jiang Shixu reviewed the materials one by one, his expression gradually darkening. "Our people found that Miss Xu has been in close contact with Gu Zechuan recently." Lu Ze reported. "According to the information gathered so far, it was also Miss Xu who instructed Gu Zechuan to call the police when Miss Ruan was kidnapped." Lu Ze continued, "The Gu Group was on the verge of bankruptcy a few months ago, but then suddenly received a large investment. I looked into it—the investment came from an overseas investment company, and the company's legal representative is connected to Sun Licheng, one of Fu Yuanzhou's men." At the mention of that name, a cold glint flashed in Jiang Shixu's eyes. Jiang Shixu curled his lips. "So Gu Zechuan has become one of Fu Yuanzhou's people too." "There's more..." Lu Ze hesitated. "Speak." Jiang Shixu's gaze was sharp and icy. "There's a recording here, concerning Miss Xu. With that, Lu Ze took out his phone, opened the audio interface, and handed the phone to Jiang Shixu. "Master, you'd better listen to it yourself." Jiang Shixu frowned and tapped the play button...