Chapter 84 “I don’t want to drink unless you feed me.”

Although Cheng Yao’s stomach pain had eased a lot, Qian Heng still insisted on seeing her upstairs. He supervised Cheng Yao taking her medicine and did not leave. Instead he directly took out his laptop, preparing to work.

“Eh?”

“I’m staying here tonight.” Qian Heng arranged it in a tone that brooked no argument. “Your stomach doesn’t hurt now, but what if it acts up again in the middle of the night?” He lowered his gaze, lashes trembling. “I happen to need to work overtime through the night. Anyway I brought the computer—working overtime is the same wherever I am.” At this point Qian Heng finally raised his head and glanced at Cheng Yao. “Besides, I’m originally a legitimate tenant who pays rent. Staying here is very reasonable.”

Just like that, Qian Heng replied to emails in the living room while Cheng Yao went to the bathroom to take a shower. Yet when she finished showering and came out, she discovered that Qian Heng, who had just been writing materials in the living room, was already gone.

Cheng Yao lightly walked over in her slippers and only then discovered that Qian Heng’s computer screen had not yet gone dark. On it was not legal materials, nor an email page, but something completely unrelated—

“How to cook porridge so it tastes good”

“Secrets of simmering plain porridge”

…

Cheng Yao subconsciously looked toward the kitchen. Through the glass sliding door of the kitchen, as expected, Qian Heng was there. He was standing tall and straight in front of the gas stove. The brows that only slightly furrowed even when encountering the most difficult cases were now almost twisted into a pretzel. On his face was obvious frustration and helplessness.

He was staring at a pot of porridge on the gas stove as if facing a formidable enemy. That focused and absorbed appearance was simply like researching an atomic bomb—any slight carelessness would cause huge casualties.

Qian Heng fundamentally hadn’t noticed Cheng Yao outside the door. He was fully concentrated on looking at the pot, now bending to adjust the heat, now glancing at the time. This famous partner who on ordinary days handled matters cleanly and never dragged his feet was actually simmering porridge with a face of having no will to live and clumsy hands and feet…

Cheng Yao was simply a bit between tears and laughter. She pushed open the sliding door and walked in. “Let me do it. You can’t cook porridge with only this little water. If you keep cooking like this it’ll turn into rice.”

She glanced at Qian Heng. “If you’re hungry just tell me and I’ll make you something to eat. What do you want to eat?”

“I’m not hungry.” Qian Heng’s voice was a bit muffled. For some reason Cheng Yao actually heard a bit of grievance in it. His bright black eyes looked at Cheng Yao. “I want to cook porridge for you.”

“Me? But I don’t want to drink porridge.”

Qian Heng looked at the porridge, his tone very serious. “Raymond said you threw up several times. Even if the stomach no longer hurts, it should be empty. It’s best to drink a bit of thin porridge before sleeping.”

So putting aside work and wholeheartedly using a research attitude to cook porridge was only because he wanted to give it to her to eat.

Cheng Yao’s heart only felt warm. “No need to be so exaggerated. It’s really only a small problem…”

“I originally thought the same as you. Every time I felt it was a small problem and it was fine as long as it didn’t hurt.” Qian Heng lowered his gaze. “As a result later I and Raymond the stomach disease specialist became acquaintances. Cheng Yao, small problems can become big problems. My stomach isn’t good. I know how uncomfortable that is. I’ve experienced it, so I even more don’t want you to experience it.”

While Cheng Yao was moved, she only felt heartache. She thought, if only she had known Qian Heng a bit earlier, accompanied him by his side a bit earlier, urged him a bit earlier that he must drink porridge on time, forced him a bit earlier to properly treat his own body during work intervals.

“I’ll scoop you a bowl of porridge. After you drink it I’ll go back to work.”

Yet having just thrown up several times, Cheng Yao only felt there was not the slightest taste in her mouth. She fundamentally didn’t want to eat plain porridge that also had no taste and only wanted to eat something sweet. If she remembered correctly there was a box of candy in the room—she could eat a bit. Looking at Qian Heng, Cheng Yao rarely told a lie.

“I feel a bit weak and want to go back to sleep. I can’t eat the porridge.” Cheng Yao rubbed her eyes. “How about leaving the porridge for tomorrow morning?”

After speaking, afraid of being pulled by Qian Heng to drink the porridge, she flew back to the room at the speed of light.

Yet just as she leaned against the head of the bed and lay down, Qian Heng knocked on the door and actually came in carrying a bowl of porridge.

“Drink a bit before sleeping.”

Cheng Yao also knew drinking a bit of hot porridge was better. Yet many times, even knowing what is good for oneself, people always have various reasons and simply can’t do it. For example, Cheng Yao didn’t like eating plain porridge.

Thus she casually found a reason to refuse. “I don’t want to drink it unless you feed me.”

According to Qian Heng’s logic, feeding someone something to eat unless they were so sick they couldn’t move was otherwise disgusting and cheesy. Cheng Yao happily waited for Qian Heng to give up the entanglement. And Qian Heng, as she expected, picked up the bowl and walked outward.

Yet not long after, he cold-faced walked back in again. This time, besides that bowl of porridge, there was an extra spoon in his hand.

In Cheng Yao’s wide-eyed astonishment, Qian Heng calmly walked to the front of Cheng Yao’s bed, scooped a spoonful of porridge with the spoon, and with not-very-skilled movements sent it to Cheng Yao’s mouth. “I’ll feed you. Eat.”

“…”

At the beginning Qian Heng’s feeding business was still not very skilled. Yet when two people were together, even doing the most boring things seemed not to waste time.

Ultimately, under Qian Heng’s supervision and feeding, Cheng Yao had no choice but to drink a little less than half a bowl of porridge. Only although she didn’t like plain porridge, this time Cheng Yao felt that the plain porridge was unexpectedly quite good to drink.

After drinking the porridge, Qian Heng left to tidy the bowls and chopsticks. Cheng Yao then lay alone on the bed. She couldn’t hold back and took out the couple necklace she had hidden under the pillow. It indeed wasn’t a very expensive brand, but the style was very special. Cheng Yao had almost taken a fancy to it at a glance. Only it was a pity that Qian Heng didn’t like wearing couple necklaces and even less would wear this kind of cheap brand.

“Cheng Yao, you…”

Just as she was thinking this, Qian Heng actually pushed the door open and came in at this time. He naturally also saw at a glance the necklace Cheng Yao was toying with in her hands. “What is this?”

Cheng Yao hurriedly hid the necklace back under the pillow in one motion. “Nothing.”

Unfortunately Qian Heng’s eyesight was truly too good. “The necklace you bought?”

Cheng Yao was afraid Qian Heng would ridicule her and hurriedly denied. “No, you saw wrong.”

Unfortunately she was fundamentally not Qian Heng’s match. Qian Heng stretched out one hand, pulled Cheng Yao into his arms, and restrained her struggling. With the other hand he lightly fished under the pillow. “What is this?” Qian Heng played with the two necklaces in his hands. “It’s even a couple necklace? You bought it?”

“…” Cheng Yao recalled Qian Heng’s complaints about couple necklaces and simply felt a bit ashamed and angry. “Give it back to me!”

Then Qian Heng not only didn’t give it back to her but also carefully looked at it. “Quite distinctive.”

Contrary to Cheng Yao’s expectations, Qian Heng pressed his lips together and said nothing more. He only directly put the men’s version of that necklace around his neck.

“Eh??? Didn’t you say you don’t wear couple necklaces?”

Qian Heng glanced at Cheng Yao. “You already bought it. Do I dare not wear it?” He lowered his eyes. His appearance was actually a bit bashful from receiving a gift. “But your aesthetic sense in picking necklaces is the same as your aesthetic sense in picking a boyfriend—both very good. This necklace looks quite nice. Thank you.”

After Qian Heng put on the necklace, he picked up the women’s version and lightly put it on for Cheng Yao. In the movements his hand lightly touched Cheng Yao’s neck. That slight itch made Cheng Yao couldn’t help shrinking her neck. And what made Cheng Yao even more unbearable was the itching flutter of her heart at this moment. In the posture of lowering her head she lightly bumped into Qian Heng’s arms.

And what made Cheng Yao’s heart even more difficult to calm was that, in this posture of hers, Qian Heng lowered his head and carefully kissed her neck.

That was a series of light kisses, as careful as treating a treasure. Yet the sensitive skin and sense of touch of the neck deepened the sensory stimulation brought by this series of kisses. Cheng Yao only felt that the skin of her neck, along with Qian Heng’s kisses that wound along the way, heated up all the way as if ignited by sparks.

And at such a close distance, each other’s breathing was also amplified. By Cheng Yao’s ear lingered Qian Heng’s light gasps. He abandoned attacking Cheng Yao’s neck, supported the back of her head, and kissed her lips.

This was almost a kiss sweet enough that Cheng Yao was a bit intoxicated. Yet just as Cheng Yao actively hooked Qian Heng’s neck and met him, Qian Heng abruptly pulled away and ended this kiss.

In the eyes with which Qian Heng looked at Cheng Yao was obscure restraint. His chest still had the outline of breathing, and his voice was also lower and more hoarse than usual.

“Cheng Yao, don’t challenge my bottom line anymore.”

Cheng Yao for a moment didn’t react. “Eh?”

Qian Heng stood up. He turned his head away as if working hard to calm his emotions, yet residual flutter still remained in his voice. “I need to go work.”

“Ah?”

Qian Heng looked at Cheng Yao a bit disheveled. “So I need to stay calm.”

“And clear-headed.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t look at me with that kind of gaze anymore.” Qian Heng, however, seemed fundamentally unable to look directly at Cheng Yao anymore. He directly, without regard for politeness, stood entirely away from Cheng Yao.

“What’s wrong with my gaze?”

“If you don’t want me to take a cold-water shower all night on such a cold day, then I suggest you don’t look at me anymore.”

“…”

Only at this time did Cheng Yao react. Her face red, she glanced at Qian Heng. The other party still looked completely composed and natural, yet his standing posture was already slightly unnatural. His voice carried a bit of urgency, and his actions were more urgent than his voice.

Almost as if being chased by something, Qian Heng left a sentence of good night and walked out of Cheng Yao’s room in a manner of fleeing in panic.

Cheng Yao gazed at the door that Qian Heng had closed and suddenly used the quilt to cover her entire person, unable to help hiding into the bedding. Her face at this moment was burning as if on fire, and her heart was beating so fast it was about to jump out of her chest.

Cheng Yao almost resentfully thought that this person Qian Heng was truly toxic.

Perhaps because of Qian Heng’s company, Cheng Yao listened to the sound of him typing and striking the keyboard in the living room and unknowingly had a whole night of good sleep.

Only Qian Heng was not so fortunate. Last night he clearly had to work overtime until very late because of Cheng Yao’s interruption. When he got up in the morning there were still light shadows under his eyes.

It wasn’t the first time the two of them had eaten breakfast in the same room, yet this time, looking at the man opposite her who was elegantly cutting a fried egg, Cheng Yao felt especially shy and uneasy.

Clearly they had done nothing last night, yet she just felt so nervous.

And Qian Heng clearly was also not as composed and at ease as he looked. He, whose dining etiquette could always be called perfect, actually slipped his hand twice when cutting the fried egg with knife and fork.

Ultimately he could only clear his throat, turn his head away again, and unnaturally say, “Cheng Yao, you’re staring at me too tightly.”

“…”

Cheng Yao had never thought that a simple breakfast could still be eaten so beautifully.

Fortunately after breakfast the two of them went to Junheng together. Only after each began working did they finally calm down.

Unfortunately this calm did not last long either, because very quickly the next weekend Junheng’s second Japan team-building was about to begin.

Bao Rui had early settled and arranged his work and was now looking at the shopping-agent list his wife had given him and sighing long and short. Tan Ying was also clearly likewise thinking of Japan and making strategies for Japanese drugstores and cosmetics.

The only one still in a work state was probably only Cheng Yao. She had just been called into the office by Qian Heng and entrusted with the heavy responsibility of a family trust dispute with a subject amount of 2.3 billion.

“This case—you take the lead, I take responsibility for checking. After deducting the firm’s share, of the remaining revenue you take sixty percent, I take forty.” Qian Heng’s attitude was ordinary, carrying his consistent high-coldness. In the office he did not have any of last night’s tenderness and competently did what a boss should do. Only that section of the couple necklace that vaguely appeared at his neck with his movements reminded Cheng Yao that this was that man.

And Cheng Yao was extremely excited at being able to handle such a large case. After finishing it, according to the share ratio Qian Heng gave, she was probably going to become a rich woman! This cognition completely covered the other emotions in Cheng Yao’s heart. She almost subconsciously and excitedly thanked him. “Thank you, Boss!”

“No need to thank me.” Qian Heng, however, didn’t even raise his head. “Don’t feel that this is because of your identity so I’m accommodating and taking care of you. On Lin Fengjuan’s this case you proved your ability. This is what you deserve. If it were Bao Rui or Tan Ying, under the same circumstances I would also give this kind of case source and share ratio.”

“Mm!”

Even after leaving Qian Heng’s office, Cheng Yao’s heart still hadn’t calmed for a long time. She flipped through the materials of that family trust case, her hands still trembling from excitement.

Receiving Qian Heng’s affirmation and recognition in work and ability seemed not inferior at all to the impact and joy brought by being liked by Qian Heng.

And as if to verify Qian Heng’s words, the next afternoon Cheng Yao received the appraisal report sent by the appraisal institute.

Hanhan and Lu Jian—the parent-child relationship is established!

Looking at the paternity test report, Lin Fengjuan almost wept with joy. “Thank you, Lawyer Cheng! Truly thank you! Thank you for seeking a measure of justice for Hanhan!”

“This way later in the second instance, after proving the existence of the parent-child relationship, we can enter the part of the child support dispute. I’ll try my best to fight for more child support for Hanhan. Leave it to me.”

This time the trust that appeared on Lin Fengjuan’s face was complete.

And what Cheng Yao brought to Lin Fengjuan, besides this good news, also included other things. “By the way, this is the money our law firm raised for Hanhan. You take it. I heard there’s still a shortfall for Hanhan’s heart surgery. With our this money, plus those you previously crowdfunded online, Hanhan’s surgery fees should no longer be short.”

Lin Fengjuan couldn’t hold back. Tears flowed down on the spot. “Lawyer Cheng, I really don’t know what to say. Truly thank you. You’re the best, most responsible, and most human lawyer I’ve ever met. You’re still so young. One day you will definitely become a nationally famous big lawyer.”

“Additionally, regarding those marketing accounts and netizens online that smeared you and publicly revealed your address information, I’ve already finished collecting evidence. Through suing the Weibo platform I’ll first obtain the personal information of these marketing accounts and netizens. Afterward I’ll further sue these people.” Cheng Yao’s train of thought was clear and orderly. “This kind of infringement lawsuit may not necessarily have a lot of monetary compensation even if won, but at least it gives you a measure of justice. As for those people who came to your home to smash things and beat you, I saw that at the intersection of that necessary road by your home there’s a 24-hour supermarket. There’s a camera at the supermarket entrance. I’ll try to retrieve the recordings there and see whether I can locate the suspects.”

“And the hospital that issued the forged azoospermia diagnosis medical records for Lu Jian—I’ve also investigated it. When this private hospital first opened it received investment from Lu Jian’s father. To this day Lu Jian’s father still holds shares. I’ve also submitted these pieces of evidence together to the court. Later the court will pursue the criminal responsibility of Lu Jian and the hospital for false evidence.”

One item after another, Cheng Yao had arranged everything clearly and distinctly. Lin Fengjuan also nodded repeatedly with red-rimmed eyes.

And after leaving Lin Fengjuan, Cheng Yao’s heart was still surging with that sense of satisfaction and professional pride of handling a matter by herself.

Being a lawyer—probably the most proud and most cool moment is also this moment!

Now that she had obtained the paternity test report, overturning the case in the second instance was already a foregone conclusion. Cheng Yao finally called Cheng Xi.

“Jie, I won.”

On the phone Cheng Yao carefully explained the entire trial, describing Deng Ming’s shipwreck in the gutter so vividly that in the end even Cheng Xi couldn’t help laughing. “Yaoyao, I’m truly proud of you. You’ve truly grown up.” Cheng Xi’s tone was gentle and emotional. “You’re stronger than me, more capable than me, and more able to persist than me.”

Cheng Yao had no intention of comparing superiority with Cheng Xi. Only she herself, who had always been less outstanding than Cheng Xi in her parents’ eyes, also longed for recognition deep down.

These few simple sentences of Cheng Xi’s were already enough to satisfy her.

“Jie, only it’s a pity that I learned from the judge that this little man Deng Ming completely washed his hands of the criminal responsibility for forging evidence, claiming he himself was also deliberately deceived by the party Lu Jian. Therefore in the second instance Deng Ming will also no longer represent Lu Jian and has had Lu Jian engage someone else. He’s also on social networks vigorously creating an image of himself being taken in, righteously stating in various ways that if he had known Lu Jian would be this underhanded in order to avoid the parent-child relationship and child support, he would rather die than take this kind of party’s case.”

At this point Cheng Yao couldn’t hold back the anger in her heart and couldn’t help curling her lips. “Fishing for fame and reputation, high-sounding and hypocritical. I’ve never seen a more two-faced and more disgusting person than him. Only it’s a pity that this time I couldn’t in one stroke pierce his painted skin. I still wanted to continue confronting him head-on. As a result when he saw the situation wasn’t right he immediately ran away. His so-called undefeated myth originally comes from this—specially picking those cases that can absolutely be won, specially picking cases where the opposing lawyer is a soft persimmon to squeeze.” Cheng Yao said mockingly. “Look, Jie—as a result even I he couldn’t win against. No wonder as long as Qian Heng takes a certain case he doesn’t take it. If he faced Qian Heng he’d probably die without knowing how he died.”

Cheng Xi also sighed. “He just has a mouth that talks nicely and is very good at packaging himself. For the sake of success he can stop at nothing and even suppress his own heart to disguise himself. Back then it was just that I myself was blind and didn’t see through it in the least. I only felt he was mild, refined, and elegant, considerate toward me, thinking ‘don’t bully the poor young man.’ He had no money and no connections—as long as he was good to me it was enough.” At this point Cheng Xi’s tone was full of self-mockery and helplessness. “Only who would have thought that money is the kind of thing that in a short time is hard to say will suddenly be gone, but the subjective thing of being good to you can truly be taken back overnight if one wants to take it back.”

“So Yaoyao, if you get married, you must open your eyes wide. Don’t like me fall headfirst into this kind of pit.”

Cheng Yao guiltily “mm”ed.

“By the way, last time I heard Dad mention that you have a boyfriend? Seems also a lawyer?”

“Yes…”

“When I finish clearing my mind and return home this time, remember to bring him for me to meet.” Cheng Xi laughed. “At that time maybe I can also give you a surprise.”

The sisters chatted a bit more about other things. In the end Cheng Yao had a bit of work on hand and could only reluctantly say goodbye to Cheng Xi.

Only before hanging up the phone, Cheng Xi actually remembered something and specially reminded Cheng Yao with one sentence. “Be careful of Deng Ming.”

“Hm?”

“He’s a person with a very strong desire for revenge. This time you made him fall such a big fall. He won’t just let it go. You’re both people of the same work circle. I’m afraid he’ll trip you up behind your back.”

Yet regarding Cheng Xi’s worry, Cheng Yao had not the slightest fear. “Then let him come at me.” She had the toughness of a newborn calf not fearing a tiger. “I’m not afraid of him at all!”

“If he could openly and uprightly come at you it wouldn’t be so terrifying. Mainly I heard he recently took another legal variety show program called something like ‘Lawyers Come to Debate.’ Every time he participates in this kind of activity he has to vigorously publicize himself and along the way use the media and public opinion to suppress dissenters.” Cheng Xi instructed. “It’s always good for you to pay more attention.”

Cheng Yao responded a few sentences before finally hanging up the phone.