Chapter 266: Gu Sen Sees Jiang Lai

Ke Zhongyu gestured for Zhong Poqian to continue.

Zhong Poqian: "Our country legislated against abandonment long ago; coincidentally, the year Dr. Jiang was found, we amended this law. The wording didn't change, only its placement."

"The chapter changed; the legal status is completely different. Originally abandonment resembled a family ethics crime; after revision it is clearly a felony endangering personal safety."

"But back then abandoning children or sending them to another home was common; usually ordinary people couldn't know or catch it."

Chi Ce: "Director Tang told me that Miss Jiang's bag isn't something ordinary families can afford."

Zhong Poqian, pondering: "Then we exclude ordinary families; left are merchants and officials' households. First, exclude officials."

Ke Zhongyu: "How so?"

Zhong Poqian: "When the state amends a law, who gets it first?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Officials."

Zhong Poqian: "Exactly. Officials must lead by example; raising a family dispute to a personal safety offense, once discovered, directly affects their own career and indirectly affects family members' careers. In principle no guilt by association, but children and relatives face strict political vetting. In this sensitive period, those who don't want to jeopardize their own or family's careers dare not do so."

Chi Ce nodded: "Then only merchants remain."

Ke Zhongyu said nothing.

Chi Ce: "But that's hard to find, Chief Ke. Is Miss Jiang looking for her parents?"

Ke Zhongyu: "No. Don't tell Jiang Lai about this for now."

The two nodded.

……

Gu Sen saw part of Lin Shutong's file; her appearance, education, and background were decent, the key being that she is Ji Xiu-cheng's granddaughter, but judging by paper count and downloads, she's somewhat lacking.

It seems she lacks real ability; going abroad is just gilding, a common tactic parents use to plan their children's lives.

"Have you looked into the trial?"

Gu Hui pointed at the tablet interface: "Later, the cause is an invalid gift contract dispute; Lin Shutong is the defendant, third party, and the plaintiff is Jiang Lai."

Gu Sen froze.

Again this name.

He flipped back and finally saw how these two characters are written.

"Jiang Lai..." Gu Sen stared at the name, feeling a strange pull, and suddenly thought: "Isn't she the leader of that self‑developed chip?"

Back then he had heard that article in the morning, but hadn't clicked to see the photos and video interview.

Gu Hui also hadn't thought of that; he immediately pulled out his phone, searched the keywords, the article popped up on his phone, the link was sent to the tablet, and Gu Sen opened it.

At first sight of the photo of Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu signing a cooperation agreement, Gu Sen's heart jolted.

Gu Hui: "She's the one I saw yesterday."

Gu Sen stared blankly at the photo, especially the side profile of that young girl in frameless glasses; from this angle she really looks like her.

He gripped the tablet tighter.

Gu Hui: "With Jiang Lai's status, we can't investigate on our own."

Gu Sen remained dazed.

Gu Hui continued: "But we can meet Jiang Lai through Chief Ke or Ke Zhongying."

Upon hearing about the meeting, Gu Sen snapped back: "You handle it."

Gu Hui agreed.

Gu Sen took a while to come back from Jiang Lai's article, then continued reviewing Lin Shutong's materials; a few pages were insubstantial.

"Let's inquire sideways about Lin Shutong; I'm not in a rush to go back, important meetings have moved online, other schedules are pushed back."

Gu Hui: "I'll pass it on."

Gu Sen hummed absentmindedly; compared to his son's lover tangled in the wife‑mistress dispute, he'd rather know more about Jiang Lai.

"What time does Ke Clan finish work?"

"Six thirty."

"Let's go to Ke Clan this afternoon."

Gu Hui called the driver; at four p. m. they left the hotel, arrived at Ke Clan by four thirty, and the car parked opposite the Ke Clan building's gate.

Neither got out; they kept watching the gate as people streamed out of the Ke Clan building—some hailed the car, some scanned shared e‑bikes, some drove, some walked.

Gu Sen's eyes scanned the thick crowd, trying to find the person he sought.

When the crowd thinned, a slender figure appeared; just as a bit of facial contour became visible, a black Hongqi Car Car Car car blocked the view.

The driver got out, opened the door, and Jiang Lai got in.

The black Hongqi Car Car Car car lingered; the old car lacked privacy glass, so Gu Sen could only see a blurry side profile.

He frowned, a hint of urgency in his eyes, his body turned toward the car door as if wanting to get out.

The next second, Ke Zhongyu stepped out and also got into the black Hongqi Car Car Car.

The car drove off.

Gu Sen urged: "Follow."

Gu Hui immediately shouted: "No, Jiang Lai has no security detail with her, but she can contact security directly; even if it's a false alarm, if we're filmed and it spreads, it'll cause a chain of problems, hard to explain to the family elders."

Only then did Gu Sen stop; he could only watch the car recede, his gaze growing complex.

After a while, Gu Sen asked his cousin: "Do you think so?"

Gu Hui is over ten years younger; personally selected by Gu Sen from a family branch, he's been by his side for twenty years and knows many things others don't.

Gu Hui also dared not conclude: "Maybe, but many people look alike; perhaps we're overthinking."

Gu Sen watched the car disappear, whispering: "Maybe."

The black Hongqi Car Car Car drove toward Number Ten Courtyard on Yanping Road.

Jiang Lai wondered why Ke Zhongyu's driver was driving this car; Ke Zhongyu replied without changing expression: "Isn't this the only car registered?"

Jiang Lai nodded: "Yes."

But what she wants to ask is, why are you driving Ke Zhongying's car—does Ke Zhongying know?

Ke Zhongying doesn't know.

By the time she finds out, the car has already stopped on the concrete ground below Number Ten Courtyard, and Ke Zhongyu is walking the stairs with Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongying makes a phone call.

Ke Zhongyu hangs up.

He makes a second call.

Still hangs up.

Jiang Lai silently glances at him: "Not answering?"

The third call comes again; Ke Zhongyu stands at Jiang Lai's new home door, helplessly presses answer, but he skillfully lowers the volume and moves the phone away from himself a bit.

Ke Zhongying's angry voice still leaks out.

"Well done!"

"Brother, you're something!"

"You're really my brother! You actually stole my car! You're done, you're done, you're done..."

On the other end of the phone, Ke Zhongying seems to be spinning with anger; Jiang Lai presses her lips, glances at Ke Zhongyu, then silently looks away, but the corner of her mouth slightly lifts a small arc.