Interest

Xu Tianjing really didn't know where Jiang Qiu got such immense confidence. After promising to look into Yin Yueqi's related actions, Jiang Qiu only glanced through some basic materials and didn't ask a single additional question.

Although Xu Tianjing knew very well that Jiang Qiu wasn't the type to accept a task and abandon it halfway, he was, after all, asking for help. Facing someone who behaved so differently from others, he finally couldn't restrain his temper and asked back.

"Jiang Qiu, if you are truly determined to meddle in the case on my side, I naturally have no objections," Xu Tianjing didn't know how much sarcasm was in his words, or if his sharp edges had been worn down by Jiang Qiu's rippleless, lake-like persistence, but he still had his principles, "I demand that you present a plan first—how do you plan to approach Yin Yueqi without alerting others?"

Even if he couldn't resist, at least he had to get a reliable promise.

Jiang Qiu naturally didn't mind explaining: "Just now, you showed me Yin Yueqi's phone number. Two weeks ago, the owner of this number called me. I think this is a reason."

Xu Tianjing's pupils contracted, and for a brief moment, he was even speechless. Just now, he had only brought out a paper file about two fingers thick, which he had spent so much effort gathering, and let Jiang Qiu skim through it for a few seconds. Yet this guy had already found a breakthrough. It relied entirely on his terrifying reading speed and memory.

"How can you remember... forget it." Xu Tianjing felt the shock of his youth rushing back, realizing that asking this question was futile, so he switched to a more practical topic: "If you want to use the previous call as an excuse, what do you plan to say? Say that you were busy with previous matters and are now calling back to confirm?"

This was perhaps Xu Tianjing's final stubbornness in trying to make a reasonable association, but Jiang Qiu shook his head: "Not like that. When he called back then, before I could answer, he hung up."

"Then you..."

"I remember seeing this phone number before, so I checked it just now." Jiang Qiu seemed to be frequently bothered by spam calls, so he didn't find it strange. "Since that's the case, I can call back out of politeness to ask if he had any business."

If anyone else had said this, Xu Tianjing would surely think they were joking; but since it was Jiang Qiu, he considered it and found it made some sense. However, Xu Tianjing was a meticulous planner. He looked down at his watch and hastily stopped Jiang Qiu as he was about to make the call.

"It's working hours now!"

No matter how poor his work capability was, Yin Yueqi was currently still Jiang Zhuo's assistant. At this time, letting Jiang Qiu call to probe—even someone as anxious as Xu Tianjing didn't have the courage. It would be better if Jiang Zhuo wasn't in the same room as his assistant, but there was no need to gamble on that probability right now.

Jiang Qiu didn't usually have such wariness, obviously not understanding much, but if the "client" didn't allow calls during working hours, he felt that complying was the right thing to do. Therefore, Jiang Qiu temporarily let go of the phone where he had half-entered the number, his eyes staring unblinkingly at Xu Tianjing.

That gaze made Xu Tianjing feel a bit creeped out. Over the years, Jiang Qiu's appearance, which was identical to Jiang Zhuo's, had left an even deeper impression on him. Because of this, despite having been desk partners for several years in school, when he saw Jiang Qiu's face, his first reaction was still to think of that deep and unfathomable middle-aged man. Although in Xu Tianjing's view, the difference between the two was extremely vast. If not for that realization, simple hatred wouldn't have made him feel such a sense of contradiction toward Jiang Qiu.

Maintaining this atmosphere made Xu Tianjing feel very awkward, so he quickly changed the subject: "So what exactly do you want from me by coming here?"

Not knowing Yin Huixi, nor being curious about her, Xu Tianjing really couldn't think of anything on him that was worth Young Master Jiang wasting his time. He knew Jiang Qiu wouldn't get involved in Jiang Zhuo's "business," and he also understood that despite being the only relative and the natural heir, Jiang Qiu couldn't have any substantial relationship with the power center of the Fengyue Group. It wasn't a matter of trust; simply put, the situation didn't allow it—Jiang Qiu was completely opposite to the liars needed for a conspiracy.

"I just want to help." He emphasized this again.

"Here we go again..." Xu Tianjing felt as if he had found the familiar feeling of his youth, realizing he had to take the initiative. He might as well try to probe what had driven Jiang Qiu here. "If someone wants you to monitor me, that's fine; I work uprightly. The problem is, Young Master Jiang, as a grand doctor, what reason do you have to accompany a lawyer like me?"

Xu Tianjing wasn't stupid. After being threatened to back off, the biggest suspect he thought of was naturally Liang An. He didn't understand why that captain, who was both brave and cowardly, still kept in touch with Jiang Qiu. Although the recent investigation brought him some more clues, if the purpose was the same, he understood even less what Liang An was doing this for. Even if Jiang Qiu himself wasn't threatening, could this son, who was so obedient he couldn't be more obedient, actually do something to sell out his father?

"You are taking on the Yuan family's case." Jiang Qiu said calmly. "You must know the complicated relationships between them, so you are having a massive headache."

Mentioning this, Xu Tianjing felt an even bigger headache. The car accident of Yuan Yao alone was enough to drive him mad. Now that Yuan Qi's body had been found, the internal conflicts of the Yuan family were immediately exposed. Those who were originally on the same side, at most mocking each other with a few words, immediately changed their attitudes.

The Yuan family that Xu Tianjing served wasn't just a family bound by blood, but also involved the struggle between factions within the group. Regardless of whether Yuan Yao directly killed Yuan Qi or not, the grudge had been sealed—Yuan Yao transporting Yuan Qi's dismembered body was an undeniable fact.

After meeting Liang An, which was after the matter was widely publicized, Xu Tianjing had received countless phone calls with soft but contradictory words. If he accepted them all, he would have to refute himself in court, which was why his time for other things was so scarce. He was truly at his wit's end, so he sighed: "That's correct, but this matter..."

He was about to say this had nothing to do with Jiang Qiu. But Jiang Qiu interrupted him rather impolitely: "Yuan Zhen. The older brother of Yuan Yao and Yuan Qi, I know him. I can help you so that you don't have to worry about which side to stand on in this matter. Others won't hold you accountable; you only need to choose the side most likely to win the lawsuit."

While Xu Tianjing was still dazed, Jiang Qiu looked down at his phone screen and continued: "Lately... I've been quite interested in a few cases."

The phrase "interested" didn't sound like Jiang Qiu's style; it sounded like a professional threat. But Xu Tianjing suddenly realized that he didn't seem to have any reason to refuse.