Chapter 85

Chapter 85: He's with Chen Jingsu Right Now Chutang left the hospital and immediately went to the law firm to work overtime, organizing Liu Ming's case materials. She planned to take him for a work injury assessment as soon as the Social Security Bureau opened on Monday. After a busy afternoon, she completely forgot that she had promised Jiang Shixu earlier that day that she would meet him in the evening. When Jiang Shixu's call came through, Chutang was still reviewing the case materials. "Tangtang, where are you? I'll come pick you up." "Ah?" Chutang snapped back to reality. "Oh, oh, I forgot to tell you—I'm working overtime at the law firm." "Overtime?" Jiang Shixu was puzzled. "Didn't you go shopping with Zhou Xueluo and the others?" Chutang tilted her head, wedging her phone between her shoulder and ear while typing on the keyboard. "No, I suddenly got an urgent case and rushed back to work overtime." "Have you eaten?" Jiang Shixu asked. "Not yet." "I'll come pick you up for dinner. You can deal with work tomorrow—it's already this late." Chutang glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of her computer screen. "Alright, I'm at the law firm. You can come straight here." Jiang Shixu said, "Okay, wait for me. About twenty minutes." "Mm." After hanging up, Chutang leaned back in her office chair, staring blankly at the case materials on her computer screen. Liu Ming's case wasn't complicated, and the chances of winning were high. But given how his employer operated, they definitely wouldn't be willing to pay compensation. This was a labor dispute, so the first step was labor arbitration. If the original employer refused to accept the arbitration result, they could still file a lawsuit. The litigation process was cumbersome and drawn out. Although the final outcome would most likely be a win, Liu Ming couldn't afford to wait. He needed the money for treatment, and Liu Yue needed it too. She had paid the treatment costs today, but it was far from enough. Given the current situation of the Liu siblings, even their basic necessities were a problem. She rubbed her brow and made a call to the head of a charity foundation. She had donated ten million to the foundation, asking them to prioritize helping the Liu siblings. Then she transferred a sum of money to Yu Jiaojiao, asking her to find a cook who would be responsible for the Liu siblings' three meals a day. Yu Jiaojiao called back in excitement. "Two hundred thousand! That's two hundred thousand! Lawyer Ruan! That's not two thousand, and it's not twenty thousand—that's two hundred thousand!" Yu Jiaojiao was making a fuss. "How could hiring a cook possibly cost this much?" Chutang's tone was calm and even. "Their three meals a day and the cook's salary will all come from this money. I've already taken care of the medical expenses. You can use the rest to buy them clothes, shoes, daily necessities, and such. In short, I'm counting on you." Yu Jiaojiao was so moved she was nearly in tears. "Lawyer Ruan, you're really too kind! I thank you on their behalf. Truly, you must be a bodhisattva reincarnated." Chutang's heart ached with bitterness. She let out a sigh. "This is all I can do." Yu Jiaojiao quickly said, "That's more than enough! Lawyer Ruan, you've already done so much!" "I hope it can help them..." ... On Jiang Shixu's end. He had barely driven five minutes toward the law firm when he received a call from the person in charge at the base. "Young Master, something's wrong—Chen Jingsu is in trouble!" Jiang Shixu frowned, his tone cold. "What happened?" ... Chutang finished organizing the case materials and shut down her computer. By the time she went downstairs, it was already 8:30 in the evening. She stood downstairs waiting for a while when Jiang Shixu's call came in. Chutang answered. "Where are you now?" "Sorry, Tangtang, I can't come pick you up tonight. Go home on your own first—I have something urgent to deal with." Chutang asked, "What happened?" "It's hard to explain in a few words. I'll tell you in person when I've handled it and come find you." "Alright." After hanging up, Chutang went to the underground parking garage to get her car. She still hadn't eaten dinner at this hour, and her stomach was growling. She drove to a nearby restaurant and grabbed a quick bite to tide herself over. By the time she returned to the residential complex, it was already 10 PM. Chutang parked the car and pressed the elevator button. When she reached her door, she had just unlocked it with her fingerprint when she heard someone call her name from behind. "Chutang." It was Gu Zechuan. He was wearing a dark gray overcoat, his features handsome and refined, standing steadily under the light with a faint smile on his face. He looked perfectly presentable, all things considered. Seeing Gu Zechuan suddenly appear here, Ruan Chutang frowned. "Gu Zechuan, what are you doing here?" Gu Zechuan didn't answer her question, instead asking, "Where did you go today? Why are you back so late?" Chutang furrowed her brows. "What does that have to do with you?" Gu Zechuan shrugged. "Just showing some concern." "Not needed." Chutang didn't want to say another word to him. She pushed the door open and walked inside. "Chutang, do you know where Jiang Shixu went tonight?" Chutang paused mid-step. Gu Zechuan's voice continued from behind her: "He's with Chen Jingsu right now." Seeing Chutang stop in her tracks, a glint of satisfaction flashed through Gu Zechuan's eyes. He said slowly, "He didn't tell you? Well, of course not. How could he possibly tell you that he went to see Chen Jingsu?" Chu Tang turned around and looked up at him. "Gu Zechuan, did you come all the way here today just to say this nonsense to drive a wedge between us? Do you really think I'd believe you?" Gu Zechuan curled his lips, seemingly in a very good mood. "I know you won't believe me." He took out his phone and tapped open a recording. "Listen to this first before you decide whether to believe it or not." "Ah Xu, I really almost couldn't go on living, you know that? In this past month or so, you've been my only hope for survival. The moment I think of you, I find the courage to keep living..." "Every day I think, I have to hold on, I have to get out of there alive. Only by living can I see you. If I die, I'll never see you again..." "Ah Xu, please, please stay with me. I'm really going crazy. Every time I close my eyes, I see those beasts violating me. I... the pain in my heart is a thousand times more intense than the pain in my body..." "Talk to me a little longer, please? Even if you scold me... wuwuwuwu... Don't go, don't leave me, don't... I really... I really want to see you so badly... You're the only light in my life!" It was Chen Jingsu's voice. The more Chu Tang listened, the tighter her heart became. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, a shift in emotion flickering in her eyes. Gu Zechuan moved closer, bending down slightly to meet Chu Tang's gaze. "Jiang Shixu never told you that Chen Jingsu was taken away over a month ago, did he? You still think she's locked up in the detention center waiting for trial, don't you?" "What are you talking about?" Chu Tang's eyes widened, filled with utter disbelief, her voice rising a few octaves. Her reaction pleased Gu Zechuan greatly. It seemed he had guessed right. The Jiang family had indeed kept the news under wraps. Ruan Chutang had no idea that Chen Jingsu had been snatched away. Gu Zechuan was rather delighted. He straightened up, his tall frame of over six feet standing before Chu Tang, exuding an imposing presence. A hint of mockery surfaced in Gu Zechuan's eyes. "You really think that woman chased after Jiang Shixu for ten years and he felt nothing at all? Hah, Chu Tang, you're still so naive. You don't understand men at all." Chu Tang lowered her eyes and said nothing, lost in thought. Gu Zechuan continued, "On the day of your engagement ceremony, Chen Jingsu was indeed taken away by the police. But later she claimed she was pregnant, and on the way to the hospital for a check-up, Chen Jingsu was snatched away." "Think about it carefully. In Jiangcheng, who has that kind of power to snatch someone right out of police custody in broad daylight?" The answer was on the tip of the tongue. In Jiangcheng, the most powerful and influential family was the Jiang family.