Final Civilization

Chapter 5: Yan Jing

Anke’s case was a big case for the firm. Although Han Ming didn’t take it on, he knew most of the details, and with the copyright fuss over Paradise raging across the internet, one could say that aside from classified sensitive information, he understood Mr. Zhao’s demands at Anke.

Even so, based on Han Ming’s analysis, the conclusion was at best nearly certain. But because he disliked Qin Big Cannon’s habit of using incidents to bully people and build authority, after predicting that Mr. Zhao’s call would come, he publicly voiced what sounded like a mystical judgment.

Outside the rain drizzled. Han Ming booked a ride in the elevator and intended to head straight home.

Aside from the muggy heat, he actually liked weather like this. The rain curtain gave the world a sense of separation and shelter. Staying in a safe room made one feel pleasantly calm.

“Lawyer Han.”

Someone called behind him. Han Ming turned and found it was Xiao Luo from the same firm. Xiao Luo was carrying a briefcase and looked a little restrained; it was clear his emotional state had been through highs and lows.

“Lawyer Luo, I heard they came to cause trouble this morning. You had guts to argue with them, stay on the facts. That’s brave,” Han Ming said approvingly. Xiao Luo had graduated from Jing Law, and could be considered his junior schoolmate.

Xiao Luo pushed up his glasses and looked at him with some gratitude. “Thank you, Lawyer Han. I heard you helped me out in the conference room.”

“Helped you out?” Han Ming smiled inexplicably. “You didn’t make a mistake. Why would you need help?”

“But because of this incident, the firm almost—”“Let me ask you something.”

Han Ming looked at him and changed the subject. “You know this is such a simple case, ironclad proof of property possession. Why did that couple come all the way here to make a scene?”

Xiao Luo was stunned. “Huh? Why?”

Han Ming patted his shoulder. “Because for human beings, knowing the law is not an obligation, and greed doesn’t require a cost.”

Ding.

The elevator doors opened. Han Ming stepped out, leaving a somewhat dazed Xiao Luo behind. For a moment Xiao Luo couldn’t tell whether Han Ming was talking about that couple, or someone else entirely...

Han Ming opened his umbrella and walked out into the CBD square. But when he followed the GPS to the curb, he saw a black Maybach S680 stopped in front of him, and two men in suits holding black umbrellas standing by the car.

He stopped, his gaze darkening slightly, and didn’t speak.

What’s meant to come won’t be avoided.

“Lawyer Han, hello. Chairman Yan Jing of Tianzhou International would like to see you. Are you available now?”

The other side had clearly checked his identity, address, contacts, even his off-duty time. Asking if he was available was obviously unnecessary. So Han Ming canceled the ride booking and replied directly, “Let’s go.”

The bodyguards were surprised by how decisive he was and didn’t ask questions. A flicker of astonishment crossed their eyes.

They didn’t know that Han Ming had actually ‘asked’ them many times already... so he chose the most straightforward answer.

“Not going? I’m on a schedule.” Han Ming glanced at them.

“Oh, right.” The stunned bodyguard immediately recovered and opened the car door for Han Ming.

Outside, Jinghai was splendid at night. The Maybach glided elegantly through the rain. Han Ming sat in the rear seat, catching the occasional glance from the front-seat bodyguard through the rearview mirror.

He suddenly realized that “foresight” was not entirely a beneficial thing. Especially for someone in his role as Lawyer Han—if his behavior exceeded what that role could reasonably explain, it would arouse suspicion.

“Watch out for Wallbreakers!”

For some reason, this thought surged up in Han Ming’s mind. He furrowed his brow and thought to himself: this was a murder case. Yan Jing finding him was almost certainly because he had saved Yan Duoduo’s life. So this meeting would likely be expressions of gratitude or some reward. For someone who had performed a righteous deed and then left without giving their name, he shouldn’t appear so calm or as if it were expected. Such abnormal composure might lead people to suspect he was involved in the incident itself.

With that in mind, Han Ming adjusted his internal calculations and turned his gaze back outside, no longer worrying about the bodyguard’s stares.

When the Maybach drove onto Yujin Road, that familiar feeling washed over him. He had seen the street scenes, the road, even the guardrail landscaping at least once today. Because there had been no casualties, Tianzhou Square returned to normal soon after the traffic police left. The broken railings and the smashed fountain tiles were repaired by the CBD property management with remarkable speed, a tangible display of the cash power in such expensive real estate.

The Maybach entered Tianzhou Tower’s underground parking. After Han Ming got out, he saw a pretty secretary waiting at the elevator entrance, with four black-suited men standing behind her, solemn.

“What a show. Do ordinary wealthy people need this many bodyguards?”

Perhaps Han Ming had not seen enough of the world. Lin Xiaoyi’s family was rich too, but that guy who liked to roam around didn’t even have one person following him.

“Mr. Han, hello. We apologize for inviting you in this manner without arranging an appointment,” the secretary said in a pleasant tone that felt like spring breeze.

“That’s fine. I just got off work anyway.” Han Ming tried to be polite, but the secretary went on.

“Chairman Yan desperately wants to meet the lifesaver who helped her daughter. From the fact that you left the scene after your brave act without giving your name, she can tell you must be a man of great character and magnanimity. But Chairman Yan believes good people should not only be silently respected, kindness should be rewarded. That is how the world ought to be. She sincerely wants to meet you.”

It had to be said that the secretary spoke extremely well. Instantly the awkwardness Han Ming felt from being brusquely escorted away by bodyguards dissolved. The secretary elevated Chairman Yan’s stature, while making Han Ming feel deeply respected. He smiled inwardly; this secretary’s monthly salary was probably several times higher than his as a senior lawyer.

“Thank you,” Han Ming said.

“Chairman Yan is waiting. Please, Mr. Han.”

There were two elevators leading to the chairman’s floor in Tianzhou Tower. One was a high-rise elevator to the 42nd-floor observation deck, where you would transfer to an authorized top-floor lift. The other was a private elevator from the parking garage straight to the board level.

This elevator was different from the rest. It had personnel guarding both ends. It was evidently reserved for Yan Jing or Tianzhou International’s highest authority. There was no entrance to this elevator on the public floors.

The elevator rose. Han Ming hadn’t expected that the top of a five-star office building would be an aerial villa. The three-story-high space had been opened up. The enclosed area was like a rain forest filled with vines and floral halls. Slanted floor-to-ceiling windows seamlessly connected to a domed skylight that captured both the Milky Way and the Jinghai Ming River night view. It was the height of luxury.

Stepping out, Han Ming felt the atmosphere open up, as if entering a small botanical garden. Under the ten-plus meter ceiling was a broad hall. A double-arched sunken sofa didn’t look like a reception area, more like someone’s private lounge.

But all of that blurred automatically in Han Ming’s vision. His gaze was invisibly compelled to focus on one woman.

Beautiful, refined, shapely—those were not the first impressions that mattered. The first thought that rose in his mind when he saw Yan Jing was: this woman is extremely dangerous!

That was his lawyer’s instinct. Danger here was not a derogatory term. It meant intelligence. Intelligence represented everything—scheming, depth, wisdom, learning. In plain language, this was a woman hard for any man to deceive. Such a woman could only be tamed by absolute strength; there was no other way to covet her.

Yet very soon, Han Ming began doubting his judgment.