Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Afraid I'll Eat You? On the weekend, Chu Tang brought A Wen to Haicheng to meet with a client. In Haicheng, she ran into Su Qiuyi, an old acquaintance from Gu Zechuan's social circle. Su Qiuyi wanted to catch up with Chu Tang and offered to treat her to a meal, but Chu Tang declined. Back then, Chu Tang had considered Su Qiuyi a friend. When Su Qiuyi's birthday came around, Chu Tang even bought her a bracelet worth tens of thousands of yuan. But when others mocked that Chu Tang's bracelet was fake, Su Qiuyi simply went along with it. From that day on, Chu Tang saw Su Qiuyi for who she really was. Like the rest of Gu Zechuan's friends, Su Qiuyi looked down on her from the bottom of her heart, believing Chu Tang wasn't worthy of being friends with people in their circle. After three days in Haicheng, she returned to Jiangcheng on May 20th—a Wednesday. Chu Tang got off the plane and exited through the VIP passage for business class. The moment she stepped out, she spotted Jiang Shixu waiting outside. Chu Tang slowed her pace. Why is he here? Jiang Shixu wore a dark gray suit, his shoulders perfectly straight, his relaxed demeanor carrying an innate air of refinement. Chu Tang walked over, glanced up at the man before her, and said coolly, "How did you know I was coming back today?" Jiang Shixu: "I checked your flight information." Chu Tang's expression remained cold. "My family's driver will pick me up. No need for President Jiang to make the trip." With that, Chu Tang didn't linger and headed toward the parking lot. A Wen followed behind Chu Tang, dragging the suitcase. Jiang Shixu took the suitcase from A Wen's hand. "Tangtang, ride in my car. I have two new cases I need to commission you for." Chu Tang stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Jiang Shixu. Jiang Shixu's expression was serious. "I've brought all the evidence materials with me—they're in the car. Come take a look." "Fine." If it was work, then she really couldn't refuse. The man's slender, fair hand with well-defined knuckles gripped the suitcase handle. His superior height and striking appearance drew the gazes of many passersby along the way. In the underground parking lot, Jiang Shixu led Chu Tang and A Wen to his black Cullinan. He personally loaded the suitcase into the car. In the car, Jiang Shixu drove while A Wen and Chu Tang sat in the back. "Hungry? Want to grab something to eat first?" Jiang Shixu glanced at Chu Tang in the rearview mirror. Chu Tang replied, "Not hungry yet. What about the case materials? Let me take a look first." "They're in the passenger seat." Hearing this, Chu Tang leaned forward and reached out to grab the case file. With her sudden lean forward, the faint floral-fruity scent of Chu Tang drifted into Jiang Shixu's nose. The man inhaled lightly, his heart itching. It had been a long time since he'd been this close to Chu Tang. Yet, that beautiful moment passed in the blink of an eye. Chu Tang took the case file and settled back into her seat. Disappointment welled up in Jiang Shixu's heart. Chu Tang sat in the back, head lowered, eyes slightly cast down as she focused on reading the case materials. About twenty minutes later, Chu Tang looked up and asked Jiang Shixu some questions about the case. Jiang Shixu answered each one. After a while longer, Chu Tang suddenly said, "Wait—this isn't the way back to the law firm, is it?" Jiang Shixu parted his thin lips slightly and said, "Mm, we're going to my company first." Chu Tang assumed it was to discuss work at his office, so she didn't say anything. Jiangshi Group headquarters building. Basement level one parking lot. Jiang Shixu turned to A Wen and said, "Wait here for now. I'll take Tangtang upstairs." A Wen remained silent, turning to look at Chu Tang with a questioning gaze. Chu Tang said, "A Wen, wait for me here. I'll be right back." Only then did A Wen say, "Okay." Jiang Shixu took Chu Tang directly to the executive elevator and pressed for the top floor—the 28th. In the elevator, only Chu Tang and Jiang Shixu were there. In the small, enclosed space, it was so quiet that even their breathing was clearly audible. Jiang Shixu stood beside Chu Tang, the two of them very close. Chu Tang could smell the faint woody fragrance of the man's cologne—clean and cold, just like the man himself. The distance was too close. So close that their clothes were nearly touching. Chu Tang quietly shuffled a step to the side, putting some distance between herself and Jiang Shixu. The man lowered his gaze—her little move didn't escape his notice. Jiang Shixu raised an eyebrow, leaning down slightly to whisper by Chu Tang's ear: "Afraid I'll eat you?" The man's voice was low and magnetic, laced with amusement. Chu Tang's earlobe flushed slightly. She pressed her lips together and said nothing. A smile curled at the corners of Jiang Shixu's lips. He was in a very good mood. The elevator went straight up to the executive office on the top floor. Chu Tang followed Jiang Shixu out of the elevator. The entire 28th floor was Jiang Shixu's office. Upon entering, the first thing that caught the eye was a cold, austere palette of silver-gray interwoven with ink-black—like frost and snow before dawn in winter, quietly spread across every corner. The walls were clad in dark marble with a matte texture, adorned with several carefully selected modern art pieces. With their clean lines and stark colors, they punctuated the room, blending seamlessly with the overall atmosphere. The minimalist decor exuded coolness throughout, matching the temperament of its owner. In the middle of the office, a silver-gray screen partitioned the space, dividing the room in two. The outer area was a reception area with a sofa and coffee table. The inner area was the office space. Both the sofa and coffee table were ink-black, matching the room's overall color scheme. Chu Tang scanned the office and said, "Should I wait for you by the sofa?" "Follow me," the man said in a low voice. Chu Tang followed Jiang Shixu toward the back. Passing the screen, Chu Tang noticed there was another door in the corner. Jiang Shixu walked over and opened it. There was another room inside. The room was large, roughly a hundred square meters by the look of it, and the overall layout resembled a bedroom. Inside was a large bed, with a wall-mounted TV with an oversized screen hanging across from it. Wardrobe, full-length mirror, sofa, dining table—everything was there, and there was even a separate bathroom and shower. The decor style was similar to the outside, a cool-toned aesthetic dominated by silver-gray and ink-black. Jiang Shixu spoke up, "This is my rest area. You can review the case materials here. The materials are on the desk outside—I'll go get them for you." Chu Tang nodded. "Okay." She walked over and sat down on the sofa. Jiang Shixu carried two cardboard boxes and set them on the table in front of her. "All the evidence materials for both cases are in here." Chu Tang looked at the two cardboard boxes in front of her, then raised her wrist to check the time—seven in the evening. Chu Tang frowned slightly. "That's a lot. Looks like I won't be able to finish today. It's already seven now—I'll pick it up tomorrow." "Should I have someone deliver these materials to your law firm tomorrow morning?" Chu Tang nodded. "That works. I'll head back first, then." "Wait a moment," Jiang Shixu said. "Tangtang, don't leave just yet. I have something to give you." Chu Tang looked up at him. "What is it?"