Chapter 90 Even after becoming Cheng-par, she’s still my girlfriend.

The moment Liang Yiran left, Qian Heng called Cheng Yao into the office.

What somewhat surprised Qian Heng was that regarding transferring under Liang Yiran’s name, Cheng Yao almost without thinking nodded and agreed. “Following Liang Par is quite good. I’m very grateful she could speak for me.”

“In the current situation we indeed can only change teams to avoid suspicion. Later I’ll have admin send the relevant email. I’m a partner, so regarding this matter I will also give an explanation.”

Cheng Yao nodded. After thinking she explained for Bao Rui and Tan Ying. “This matter has nothing to do with Tan Ying and Bao Rui. I also don’t know how it suddenly got exposed today.”

“Maybe because I like you too much.”

Cheng Yao raised her head. Qian Heng at this moment was casually flipping through the documents in front of him that needed signing. His tone was so natural that people could not even react that those words just now had been spoken by him.

“Because I like you too much I can’t hold back. I’ll always be discovered by someone.” Qian Heng looked toward the window, his tone a bit awkward. “Mainly a person like me—smart, outstanding, clearly a perfect score is ten yet I have to strive to do one hundred—being discovered because I like you too much is not surprising at all. Only that I can’t personally mentor you anymore is a bit of a regret.”

Qian Heng coughed and said completely seriously, “The following words are not because of the boyfriend-girlfriend relationship but completely based on superior and subordinate.” He worked hard to hide the expression on his face. “Losing a boss like me, you may progress comparatively slowly. Changing teams midway, I also have responsibility. So once you have any place that needs help I will not sit and watch without intervening.”

Qian Heng had worked so hard to find excuses. Cheng Yao felt that if she exposed him again it would really not be very humane.

His saying one thing while meaning another—she understood it all.

And the instant she heard Qian Heng’s voice Cheng Yao’s nasal cavity felt a bit sour. Just now no matter how awkward the scene she had endured it. Yet now facing her own man she only felt a bit wronged and only wanted to throw herself into Qian Heng’s arms and hide.

“Qian Heng, I miss you a bit.”

Qian Heng paused. Cheng Yao’s glittering eyes were staring at him, open and direct.

“Although you only walked away for half a day, I miss you a lot.”

Qian Heng’s heart softened. “How long have they been discussing this matter? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If Liang Yiran hadn’t heard, were you preparing to carry it alone?”

“I’m not a child anymore. I can’t always look for an embrace the moment I cry and hide the moment I’m hurt.” Cheng Yao bit her lip. “I hope I can become a person like Liang Par, outstanding and strong like her.”

“You can become Cheng Par. But even if you become Cheng Par you’ll still be my girlfriend.” Qian Heng pressed his lips together and stared at Cheng Yao. “Being a girlfriend, you have the inborn right to cry in your boyfriend’s arms.” He reached out and finally rubbed Cheng Yao’s head. “Tonight go eat the claypot rice you like.”

She did not know why. Just this action and Cheng Yao felt it was not so wronged anymore.

Qian Heng handled matters swiftly and vigorously. Very quickly Cheng Yao switched teams. Qian Heng also generously acknowledged the romance with Cheng Yao. And to avoid suspicion Cheng Yao even stated she would give up the case with a subject amount of 2.3 billion and give the case to Bao Rui. This kind of open frankness instead made everyone at the firm naturally accept this development. Quite a few colleagues again recovered the bantering mode of getting along with Cheng Yao. There were even people who began teasing her to produce a secret manual for dating the boss.

Like this Cheng Yao also formally began working under Liang Yiran.

Liang Yiran was very good to Cheng Yao—one could say she took extremely good care of her. Only after a few days Cheng Yao felt this kind of care was a bit too much.

Liang Yiran had jumped to Junheng and herself had also brought her own team from Golden Brick. By her side she originally already had two assistant lawyers. Now adding Cheng Yao three people was not many either. Only Cheng Yao gradually discovered that Liang Yiran almost did not let her do any substantive work. She was more like an administrative assistant, doing work even interns could do: printing files, binding case files, booking conference rooms, delivering materials to clients, communicating court times with judges…

This was work content completely different from on Qian Heng’s team. Cheng Yao held her temper and did it for a week. Finally she could not hold back and actively found Liang Yiran.

“Liang Par, I want to participate in some cases.”

Liang Yiran’s face was still gentle. She smiled toward Cheng Yao. “Between new team members and the boss there will always be a running-in process. My style and Qian Heng’s are not the same. I like to find each employee’s most skilled work area and then assign cases.”

The tone was gentle and polite, reasonable and proper.

And at the next team regular meeting, after talking about business, Liang Yiran also mentioned team building. “Cheng Yao is a newly joined member of our team. On ordinary days if everyone has anything you can exchange with each other.” At this point Liang Yiran turned her head and looked at Cheng Yao, softly comforting. “Our team’s style may not be the same as Qian Heng’s team. If you have any discomfort exchange at any time. The other two lawyers on the team are both a bit older than you and have more experience. Everyone also won’t hide things. If you have anything just ask them.”

She smiled. “I know at Qian Heng’s you directly participated in big cases. But don’t look down on these basic jobs of printing files and binding case files either. In every item of work there are many details worth us learning. Precisely this bit-by-bit accumulation can lead to progress.” After Liang Yiran finished speaking she glanced again at the two lawyers on the team. “You ask them. Which of them didn’t also start from this work? Zhang Ran in the first two years of practice basically did these things.”

This series of words sounded like comfort. Yet Cheng Yao carefully tasted them and always felt there were words within words, as if hinting she was too impetuous. The other two lawyers under Liang Yiran were also older than Cheng Yao. Because of the matter of Cheng Yao dating Qian Heng their attitude toward her was more or less cautious, as if afraid that offending her would get them reported in a memorial to Qian Heng.

Because of Liang Yiran previously stepping forward Cheng Yao in her heart was convinced and grateful toward her. Only after successive contact she began to feel Liang Yiran’s behavior was a bit subtle. She looked extremely friendly and caring toward herself, yet also seemed extremely unfriendly toward herself. For a time Cheng Yao was also a bit confused. She somewhat could not grasp it accurately and also did not want to rashly alarm Qian Heng, even less wanted to leave the other colleagues the impression that relying on her special identity she was always lodging imperial complaints. What’s more Qian Heng at this moment was busy with a foreign-related marriage case and spent most of his time in Los Angeles.

Fortunately after doing odd jobs like this for more than half a month Liang Yiran finally took her to do cases.

Only in several cases in succession, although Cheng Yao participated, she had no way to participate in depth. Almost every important meeting with clients Cheng Yao would very unluckily be sent out to work, for example happening to go to the industrial and commercial bureau to check files, or going somewhere to help retrieve evidence… These things of course were also things lawyers should do. Yet after a period of time Cheng Yao was exhausted running about with these auxiliary jobs. Although she also participated in cases, what she did was all these chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin matters. She fundamentally could not glimpse the full picture of the cases and also completely could not get her hands on them, quite having a kind of restless sense of wasting time and life.

It was not that she had not found Liang Yiran again. Only once again she was gently yet forcefully blocked back by the other party.

Qian Heng was still in Los Angeles, but during video calls he keenly discovered the problem with Cheng Yao’s mental state.

“Is the work intensity Liang Yiran gave you too great? Why is your complexion so poor?”

Cheng Yao did not want such small matters to disturb Qian Heng. She only said vaguely, “I entered a new team and am just in the process of adapting. It should be fine once I adapt.”

What Cheng Yao said was also not false. Liang Yiran’s style and Qian Heng’s were completely different. She required every lawyer must wear designer suits, carry LV bags, and the silk scarves also had to be designated brands. Especially female lawyers, from head to toe they must be carefully groomed, unable to find a single flaw. Makeup must be exquisite to perfection, wishing they could be pulled out and walk a runway.

“Our image is our face. The high-end family-law clients we face must know that our income is ample and we don’t lack case sources. This is like a kind of marketing. The more beautifully you package yourself, then even if the price is expensive people who want to buy still flock to it.”

Liang Yiran’s words naturally had reason. Only Cheng Yao wearing the designer suit she had gritted her teeth to buy, stepping in thin high heels, carrying a light-luxury brand she had no money for and could only settle for second-best to buy, always had a slight blankness in her heart. What she had been taught at Qian Heng’s was not like this. A lawyer’s primary task was to be professional, not to look professional.

Yet although her philosophy was completely different from Qian Heng’s, this move of Liang Yiran’s was also extremely effective.

A pretty, elite-style, and socially adept female partner no matter what was extremely trustworthy. Wanting to join Junheng as a partner required a revenue-generating threshold. That Liang Yiran could reach this threshold indeed meant she was very capable. After observing several cases Cheng Yao discovered Liang Yiran was very good at grasping people’s hearts. Her professional ability was clearly not as outstanding as Qian Heng’s, but her interpersonal public relations were extremely fierce.

Although the style was different Cheng Yao worked hard to learn Liang Yiran’s strengths. Only the more composed she herself became, the more she felt Liang Yiran became more restless and hostile toward her.

This day going out together with Liang Yiran to visit a client, on the way back Liang Yiran stared at Cheng Yao’s Coach bag for a few glances. She was still gentle. After looking a few times she said nothing. Only when about to get out of the car she smiled at Cheng Yao. “Qian Heng is about to come back from Los Angeles.”

Cheng Yao somewhat didn’t understand. “Hm?”

“His flight today. Don’t forget to remind him to bring you a gift.” Liang Yiran said considerately. “Because of the current exchange rate buying bags in America is especially cost-effective.” She again lightly swept a glance at Cheng Yao’s bag. “You can have Qian Heng buy you a bag. This time he went on a business trip and couldn’t accompany you for so long. Have him bleed a bit and make some compensation.”

Seeing Cheng Yao not speak she like a confidante older sister took out her own Hermès crocodile skin. “Do you like this style? You can have Qian Heng buy you one. Once you use a real luxury brand you’ll discover that first-tier luxury brands indeed have the reason first-tier luxury brands are expensive.”

Although she spoke very implicitly, Liang Yiran deliberately stressed the pronunciation of the words “real luxury brand.”

Even if Cheng Yao were a fool she would hear the words within words mocking her for using light-luxury Coach.

It was also at this moment that Cheng Yao confirmed that Liang Yiran toward herself was probably not truly friendly. She still liked Qian Heng and still had not given up. Toward herself she was probably also in the depths of her heart full of hostility and jealousy. The appearance of this kind of feeling had nothing to do with whether she was professional or not. Before being a senior female partner Liang Yiran was first a woman. And understanding this point, Cheng Yao’s recent treatment of sitting on the cold bench also had an explanation. Even Liang Yiran previously protecting her and specially pulling her onto the team all seemed subtle.

In the sealed space of the car there were only Cheng Yao and Liang Yiran. Only Cheng Yao had not the slightest intention of showing weakness. She also smiled.

“Liang Par, buying Coach is fine for me.”

Liang Yiran had just wanted to say something when Cheng Yao interrupted her. “Sometimes, once identity and status have arrived, buying a light-luxury brand like Coach, people won’t feel your grade isn’t enough. They’ll only feel that someone this rich still using Coach is low-key as a person and reliable. For example some new-money types drive Porsches and Mercedes and carry a Coach. No one will feel they’re poor and sour. They’ll only feel they have money yet don’t care about brands, don’t compare, and are more worth associating with. But there are also some people who all day are still squeezing onto the subway. Even if they use a real Hermès others will instead feel it’s fake.”

Liang Yiran was a bit blank.

Cheng Yao showed her teeth in a smile. “I’m Qian Heng’s girlfriend. Qian Heng’s girlfriend, even using Coach, everyone will also feel I’m only being low-key. Besides I also don’t want my boyfriend to spend money recklessly. Although one Hermès is over a hundred thousand, to Qian Heng it’s only a little bit of pocket money, but to me it’s still quite a lot. I also don’t hope he wastes it recklessly. After all once we’re married later this will all be marital common property. Him spending like this I also feel quite heartache. After having a child there will be even more places to spend money. We should still be diligent and frugal in managing the household. So although Qian Heng gave me the supplementary card of his credit card I also won’t go use it.”

Cheng Yao bravely met Liang Yiran’s eyes. “Besides I actually always felt a bag is only an accessory. If you must rely on a luxury brand to hold up the scene, that means the person’s own aura still isn’t strong enough. I believe if it were Qian Heng, even carrying a broken cloth bag to meet clients the clients would still flock to him.” She blinked. “Actually if it weren’t for Lawyer Liang’s requirement I also wouldn’t have bought Coach, because without Coach I’m also very confident in myself.”

Cheng Yao wore a smile, appropriately revealing the sweetness of falling into love. Joking—she was not a foolish rookie who let people bully her. As a lawyer, fighting was instinct. Encountering a blow Cheng Yao’s first reaction was to counterattack. This was almost a habit formed by Qian Heng’s side. Any unfairness and mockery—don’t endure it. Face it head-on. Don’t retreat.

Liang Yiran clearly completely had not expected Cheng Yao’s reaction. Her gaze flickered. In the end she only arduously said, “Qian Heng and you have plans to marry?” She restrained the sourness and shock in her tone and worked hard to say calmly, “You may not know. He’s a firm non-marriage-ist and DINK. He doesn’t want to marry and have children…”

Cheng Yao was not unaware of this principle of Qian Heng’s in the past. But at this moment she occupied the upper hand and in her heart also had some psychology of pressing the victory. “Is that so?” She looked as if surprised and casually fabricated. “But the first day Qian Heng was together with me he said he wanted to immediately marry me and have children. Only I felt I was still young and still wanted to fight for a career. Fortunately he respects my opinion very much and said he would keep waiting for me.”

After these words Liang Yiran no longer opened her mouth. She tightly bit her lip and silently looked forward. After a long time her voice was dry as she said, “Then tomorrow night our university law school same-year alumni gathering—did he tell you?” Liang Yiran worked hard to keep a smile and said as if kindly, “In university in the past there were truly quite a few girls who liked Qian Heng. He’s so outstanding now. I’m afraid going to the alumni gathering he’ll attract bees and butterflies even more. You have to watch him well.”

Cheng Yao smiled and glanced at Liang Yiran. “He asked me to go with him.” She blinked. “Thank you for the reminder, Liang Par. Tomorrow night I will definitely watch him well.”

“…”

Liang Yiran finally could not say a single sentence. Not only that, she looked as if she was about to explode on the spot.

Ever since Cheng Yao came to her team Liang Yiran had not been happy for a single day.

She admitted she was jealous. She also admitted that mixing public and private like this was very unprofessional. Only she could not hold back. Every time she saw Cheng Yao’s side face full of collagen, beautiful to the point of being flawless, she could not control that malice rising from the bottom of her heart.

She deliberately did not let her participate in any important case and instead worked hard to consume her time, waiting for her to anxiously go complain to Qian Heng and throw her own formation into chaos, once again placing herself in a position of being isolated by colleagues. Yet unexpectedly Cheng Yao fundamentally did not go find Qian Heng. She quietly accepted her arrangements and fundamentally did not anxiously jump.

Once she determined she would not give her case sources she actively went out to find them. For a new lawyer finding case sources was an extremely difficult and frustrating process. Only Cheng Yao actually did it with relish. She went to participate in family-law forums, handed name cards to every possible potential client, and was not the type to aim high and have low ability. After a period of time she was actually taken on several cases. Although the subject amounts were not large she was dedicated and focused.

Neither arrogant nor impatient, her professional ability outstanding. Qian Heng had not lied. Those cases he gave her were indeed obtained by her relying on ability.

Only this kind of recognition instead made Liang Yiran even less able to accept it. She would rather hope Cheng Yao was a mediocre girl who used looks to serve people and climb up.

This kind of jealousy twisted to distortion reached its peak when she saw Qian Heng bring her to the alumni gathering.

Cheng Yao wore a red dress, gorgeous as peach and plum, linking arms with Qian Heng as she walked over with composure. Qian Heng held her waist and lowered his head to speak softly by her ear. On his face was a smile she had almost never seen.

He truly liked her very much.