Chapter 90: Beautiful Women Invite, Lawyer Pays the Bill

"The case of Shang Wuliang isn't worth talking about."

"No need to think about this; at a glance you know they want to get Shang Wuliang out."

"Damn hilarious."

"I finally managed to send that spoiled rich kid to jail, yet he hasn't even cooperated with me to do work, not even telling me where Shang Keqing is getting treatment."

"Now they complain the prison food isn't tasty and want to get out? This isn't that easy."

"Refuse to communicate!"

"Absolutely understanding!"

"Put on an aloof, heartless demeanor; that's the best way to apply pressure."

"Lin Dongfan ignored Shen Bi, took his wife's hand and strode forward: 'Tang Jing, didn't you just say you'd treat us to a meal? Nanzhou homestyle restaurant, let's go.'"

'"Haha, Brother Fan, you also like hometown homestyle restaurants? How coincidental, that\'s also my favorite."'

"Tang Jing hurried to keep up with Lin Dongfan's pace."

"Her heart felt warm."

"She had heard people say Lin Dongfan made a lot of money from stock trading; the bodyguards he hired for Chu Lingxi earned a monthly salary of fifty thousand, and he splurges on his wife's safety without blinking, which is admirable."

"A tycoon eating homestyle dishes?"

"Tang Jing felt Lin Dongfan should know her family background is modest, not wanting her to spend too much, so he specifically chose the homestyle restaurant, which is affordable."

"Such a handsome, wealthy warm guy is really rare."

"Tang Jing looked at Chu Lingxi with an envious expression: 'Lingxi, you're really blessed to have found such a perfect husband.'"

'"Your taste isn't bad; my husband really is perfect."'

"Chu Lingxi happily linked arms with Lin Dongfan, thoroughly enjoying the praise."

"Shen Junlan always says she's full of foolishness."

"Not a word wrong."

"For example, now she never thinks: her husband has become a hot commodity like Tang Sanzang's flesh, coveted by countless female demons with lustful thoughts."

"She also didn't notice that Tang Jing's gaze toward Lin Dongfan was off."

'"Main wife and mistress?"'

"Shen Bi of Zhihe Law Firm, seeing this scene, felt suspicious in his heart."

"Shen Bi felt that Tang Jing was almost certainly Lin Dongfan's mistress."

"Otherwise..."

"Why did Lin Dongfan stand up for Tang Jing that day? He didn't even hesitate to offend Xiao Shang Zong, who is worth over a hundred million, and dare to take on a terrifying battle where a single strike costs a million."

"Thinking about it, Shen Bi couldn't help but feel a little envious of Lin Dongfan."

"Awesome!"

"Damn awesome!"

"With his stunningly beautiful wife linked on his left and his mistress on his right, the three of them could actually chat and laugh, their harmony index so high it leaves the constantly slumping Shanghai-Shenzhen index in the dust."

"Wrong!"

"We haven't even talked about the main matter, and you just left me hanging—what's going on?"

"Shen Bi panicked, immediately steeling himself to catch up: 'Mr. Lin, could you spare a few minutes? Let's have a proper talk…'"

'"I already said just now, there's nothing to discuss about the Shang Wuliang case."'

"Lin Dongfan didn't stop, not even glancing at Shen Bi, directly pushing his aloof pretentiousness to the peak of life, leaving Shen Bi helpless."

"Shen Bi still wanted to catch up and say a few more words, but was blocked by bodyguard Xie Xiaofeng."

"Xie Xiaofeng, stern and solemn, warned Shen Bi: 'Lawyer Shen, please conduct yourself properly!'"

"In court, shouting matches are Shen Bi's forte; whether the opponent is a prosecutor from the procuratorate or a fellow lawyer from some firm, he's never feared anyone."

"But faced with Xie Xiaofeng reaching out to block the way, he had no idea what to do."

"He could only stop in frustration."

"Usually well-versed in reading people, he could tell at a glance that this bodyguard wasn't some makeshift militia; only if they gave you face would they call you 'Lawyer Shen'."

"Shen Bi watched Lin Dongfan and the others walk away, eyes wide, feeling a bit unwilling."

"Shang Media is also a sizable company in the entertainment industry, having signed many artists; each year it faces countless lawsuits, a veritable goldmine."

"If I could handle this Shang Wuliang case well, I might even secure Shang Media's legal work."

"After some thought."

"Shen Bi headed straight for the Nanzhou homestyle restaurant."

"Seeing Lin Dongfan's group sit down by the window, Shen Bi didn't approach to disturb them, choosing to sit at the neighboring table and wait patiently."

"Waiting for Lin Dongfan's group to finish eating."

"Shen Bi went to the front desk and asked the owner: 'Check for table 6, I'll pay—how much?' As he spoke, he turned and pointed at Lin Dongfan's group."

'"Table 6? Let me calculate—total consumption is 328." the owner replied.'

"Shen Bi was slightly surprised—so cheap?"

"After a brief thought."

"Shen Bi then told the owner: 'Please send a pack of Soft 95 to the guy at table 6.' He then pulled out 1300 yuan in cash and placed it on the counter: 'Keep the change.'"

'"Okay."'

"The 28 yuan change was trivial compared to a pack of Soft 95; the owner didn't think twice and even threw in a free windproof lighter."

"The owner brought the cigarettes to table 6."

"She said to Lin Dongfan: 'Handsome guy, someone paid for your table and even gave you a pack of cigarettes.'"

'"You bought the check? Who is it? Today I'm the host.' Tang Jing asked the owner angrily, as if someone had pried loose her foothold."

I don't know that one either.

The boss lady pointed at Shen Bi, who was standing in front of the counter.

Seeing Lin Dongfan and the others turn to look, Shen Bi quickly smiled and greeted them, silently saying they were all brothers, no need to be polite.

Who asked him to pay? I'm short a few hundred bucks—this is hilarious!

Tang Jing snatched up her bag, angrily pulled out cash, declaring that today she, Miss Tang, was treating everyone, and no one should try to butt in.

Lin Dongfan laughed and advised: 'Let him treat if he wants; what's the rush?'

'You'd better save your money for band-aids.' Chu Lingxi pressed down on Tang Jing's hand reaching for cash, then whispered in her ear: 'These cigarettes are insanely expensive—worth a week's wages...'

Hearing that, Tang Jing was stunned speechless, her eyes fixed on the soft 95 on the table.

She couldn't fathom whether these men were stupid; smoking this stuff neither prolongs life nor preserves beauty, yet it costs more than her cosmetics.

You go back first; I need to have a word with Shen Bi.

Saying that, Lin Dongfan summoned bodyguard Xie Xiaofeng and had him escort Chu Lingxi and Tang Jing home.

Earlier, during the meal, Xie Xiaofeng sat alone at a neighboring table; this was Lin Dongfan's rule: when on bodyguard duty, he must keep his distance from the female host and cannot share a table with her.

After Xie Xiaofeng had seen them off,

Shen Bi, understanding without words, walked over and sat opposite Lin Dongfan: 'Mr. Lin, thank you for giving me this opportunity.'

Take the cigarettes back.

Lin Dongfan pulled a pack of Liqian from his pocket.

He lit one.

Shen Bi, sitting across from him, chuckled embarrassedly: 'Between friends, treating someone to a meal and giving two packs of cigarettes is nothing out of the ordinary; this isn't bribery. Besides, today Tang Jing is treating, I'm paying the bill for her. She left the cigarettes for you as a gesture of goodwill; there's no exchange of interests between you two.'

Your explanation is badass, but I like Liqian.

In the midst of chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan had already taken a deep drag.

This made Shen Bi's smile grow increasingly awkward.

Shen Bi, steeling himself, pleaded: 'Mr. Lin, regarding the matter of Young Manager Shang, I hope you'll show leniency and not treat him as an equal. Look past the monk's face to the Buddha's—his father, Shang Keqing, used to be a leader as well.'