Chapter 231

Chapter 231: How Much Does President Jiang Cost Per Day? Another half month passed in the sweltering June heat of Jiangcheng. In late June, one of the cases that Jiangshi Group had entrusted to Chu Tang was scheduled for trial. Both Jiang Shixu and Lu Shuci attended the hearing as observers. Inside the solemn courtroom, Chu Tang sat at the plaintiff's counsel table, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit. Her expression was serious and focused, her clear, bright eyes seemingly able to see through to the heart of things. When she fixed her gaze on opposing counsel, her eyes revealed an unshakable firmness and sharpness. When it was Chu Tang's turn to speak, her voice was clear and powerful, her arguments logically rigorous and well-organized. Like a masterful chess player, Chu Tang led her opponent step by step into the trap she had set. Throughout the courtroom debate, Chu Tang displayed extraordinary adaptability. Facing the opposing lawyer's sudden challenges and rebuttals, she remained calm and composed, always quickly finding the weaknesses and striking back with incisive words that caught the other side off guard. Her pace varied between fast and slow, her tone rising and falling with emphasis, controlling the rhythm of the trial with perfect precision, drawing the audience completely into her arguments. In this battle without gunpowder, Chu Tang emerged victorious. After the trial concluded, outside the courtroom. Chu Tang, Jiang Shixu, and Lu Shuci walked side by side toward the exit of the courthouse. "President Jiang, the judgment should be issued in a few days," Chu Tang said to Jiang Shixu. "Mm, I believe the result will be in our favor." Jiang Shixu's voice was cool and clear. When he turned to look at Chu Tang, the admiration and approval in his eyes were undisguised. "Tangtang, you performed excellently just now." Chu Tang blinked and smiled. "Thank you for the compliment, President Jiang." "Chu Tang, you were really amazing just now." Lu Shuci said with a smile. "You showed me the true elegance of an elite female lawyer." "Thank you." Compared to the thanks she had just given Jiang Shixu, the thank you to Lu Shuci lacked the playful blink and her tone was noticeably cooler. Lu Shuci noticed, and the light in his eyes dimmed. "Chu Tang, how about we grab lunch together?" Lu Shuci suggested. Jiang Shixu spoke up coldly from the side. "Sorry, Lawyer Lu, but regarding the case just now, I still have a few questions I'd like to ask Lawyer Ruan. I'll be treating Lawyer Ruan to lunch." Lu Shuci gave a half-smile. "The trial for that case is already over. President Jiang just needs to wait for the judgment. What questions could you possibly still have?" His tone carried a sharp edge. Jiang Shixu wasn't bothered. He simply let out a light chuckle. "I'm the client. If I have questions for my attorney, what business is it of yours, Lawyer Lu? You have nothing to do with this case—aren't you worrying a bit too much?" Lu Shuci smiled too, though the smile carried a hint of mockery. "I'm afraid President Jiang is using the case as a pretext to go on a date with Lawyer Ruan." "So what if I am?" Jiang Shixu's gaze was contemptuous. Lu Shuci's expression darkened. Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Chu Tang felt a headache coming on. As they spoke, they had already reached the parking lot outside the courthouse. Chu Tang said to Lu Shuci, "I'm sorry, Lawyer Lu. President Jiang is my client. If he has questions about the case, I have no reason to refuse." Hearing this, Jiang Shixu curled his lips and shot Lu Shuci a provocative look. Lu Shuci, facing Chu Tang, put away his displeasure. His eyes held a smile, and he said gently, "Alright then, I'll head back first." After Lu Shuci left, Chu Tang turned to Jiang Shixu and glared at him in feigned anger. "Why do the two of you start arguing the moment you speak?" Jiang Shixu curled his lips into a smile. "You'd have to ask him. He was the one who started being sarcastic first." "Enough." Chu Tang said helplessly. "You don't actually have questions for me, do you?" "Tangtang is so clever." A smile lingered in the man's deep eyes, his voice sexy and alluring. "I simply wanted to have a meal with you." "I knew it." Chu Tang walked toward her white McLaren P1. Seeing the car, a pleased smile curved at the corner of Jiang Shixu's lips. This car—it was the one he had given Tangtang last year. Back then, when he and Tangtang had broken up, he had said many hurtful things. He knew that if he tried to give her the car himself, she would never accept it, so he had to have Qin Yan do it on his behalf. Tangtang still didn't know that this car was from him. Ever since A Wen had come to Chu Tang's side, Chu Tang now brought her everywhere. A Wen was now not only Chu Tang's personal bodyguard but also her dedicated driver. It wasn't until they reached the car that Jiang Shixu saw A Wen in the driver's seat. The smile on his lips disappeared. This McLaren only had two seats. If A Wen was driving and Chu Tang was in the passenger seat, then where would he sit? Chu Tang turned back to Jiang Shixu with a smile. "Sorry, President Jiang. There's no room in the car. I'll be going now." With that, Chu Tang moved to get in. "I'll drive." Jiang Shixu reached out and held the car door. "Today, I'll be your driver and bodyguard." "Oh?" Chu Tang raised an eyebrow. "How much does President Jiang cost per day?" "Free of charge." Chu Tang smiled and said, "As the saying goes, the most expensive things are the free ones. I wouldn't dare accept that." Jiang Shixu leaned toward Chu Tang, closing the distance between them until their breaths intertwined. Their eyes met, and the man's gaze was full of adoration. His voice was magnetic and alluring as he said, "Then how about you give me a little something?" Chu Tang was in a good mood and joked with him, "Fifty cents, and not a cent more." "Deal." Jiang Shixu's brows and eyes were filled with smiles. He walked around the front of the car to the other side and tossed the Maybach keys to A Wen. "You drive my car." A Wen turned to look at Chu Tang. Only after Chu Tang nodded did A Wen get out of the car. Jiang Shixu took the driver's seat. "What do you want to eat?" Chu Tang buckled her seatbelt. "Anything's fine." The white McLaren came to a stop in front of an upscale restaurant called "Cloud Nine." Stepping inside, soft lighting and exquisite decor wove together an elegant atmosphere, with the subtle scent of premium spices lingering in the air. Chu Tang had been to this restaurant a few times before. The ingredients were all air-freighted from abroad, and the head chef was from France. Every dish here was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Chu Tang ordered two of her favorite dishes. One was bluefin tuna paired with black truffle and a lightly intoxicating red wine sauce—it melted in the mouth with exceptional texture. The other was a medium-well truffle and foie gras pan-seared steak, made with top-grade Angus beef that was tender and juicy. The steak was paired with foie gras sauce meticulously simmered using traditional French techniques, and every bite was an ultimate temptation for the taste buds. Although she had just said "anything's fine," the restaurant Jiang Shixu chose suited her perfectly—it was exactly what she loved. The atmosphere in the restaurant was romantic, with piano music flowing softly in the background.