Chapter 5 — The Wedding That Became a Goodbye

Miss Lin, to be completely honest, the reason I am making this phone call is simply to offer you a piece of advice. His voice was deep, resonant, and carried a natural composure that involuntarily inspired trust. The security camera footage you broadcasted at the wedding today—if you did not secure the explicit consent of the parties involved, it carries a very real risk of violating privacy laws. Lu Huaihuai may not fully grasp the legal implications of this yet, but that does not mean his team of attorneys will fail to exploit it later to turn the tables on you.

Lin Tran froze. The truth was, this thought had not crossed her mind even once.

Then what would you advise me to do?

I do not offer advice, only a professional heads-up, Shen Du replied evenly. However, if you happen to require legal assistance, I would be more than happy to recommend a few competent lawyers who specialize in matrimonial and family law.

Lin Tran considered this for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. You are Lu Huaihuai's lawyer, yet you are offering to recommend a lawyer to me?

To be precise, I am not officially his legal counsel yet, Shen Du corrected her calmly. I was merely retained by him to conduct a preliminary consultation. As for whether I will actually take on his case, I have yet to make a final decision.

Why on earth have you not decided yet?

The line fell silent for a full two seconds.

Because I harbor a strong aversion to representing unfaithful husbands, Shen Du said, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather outside.

Lin Tran burst into a laugh, a crisp, liberating sound that was carried away into the gathering dusk by the cool night wind sweeping through the car window.

Lawyer Shen, I am officially beginning to like your personality. She declared, Let us make a deal. I will propose an offer you simply cannot refuse—I will hire you as my attorney, and I will triple the retainer fee that Lu Huaihuai offered you. You help me win this lawsuit, and I want to make sure he loses everything down to the very clothes on his back.

Shen Du was quiet for a moment. Miss Lin, you have not even met me in person yet.

Which firm are you with? Lin Tran asked.

Heng Tai.

Heng Tai is indisputably one of the finest law firms in the entire province, and anyone who manages to secure a position there must possess exceptional legal acumen. Lin Tran reasoned aloud. Furthermore, the fact that you reminded me of the privacy issue demonstrates your professional competence. And given that you despise defending cheating spouses, it proves your personal values are grounded in integrity. That makes three compelling reasons.

Shen Du chuckled again, this time the smile lingering a fraction longer than before.

Miss Lin, you are a truly fascinating woman.

So, will you take the case or not?

I need to review the specific details of the case first, Shen Du said. If it is convenient for you, would you mind coming to my office tomorrow morning so we can discuss this face-to-face?

Tomorrow morning is out of the question, Lin Tran replied. Tomorrow morning I have to go sign a settlement agreement with Lu Huaihuai. He still owes me twenty million yuan.

Then tomorrow afternoon?

Tomorrow afternoon works perfectly. Lin Tran nodded to herself. Send me your address, and I will bring all the evidence with me.

After hanging up, Lin Tran glanced at her screen and saw a text message that Shen Du had just sent—it contained the office address along with a polite note: Tomorrow at 3:00 PM, it will be my absolute pleasure to welcome you. She tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and started the engine. The hot pot restaurant in the East District was about a twenty-minute drive away. Lin Tran turned on the car stereo, synced it with her personal playlist, and the first randomly selected track that began to play happened to be I by Jolin Tsai. *I stand before the mirror, gazing at myself, wondering if I am already perfect.* Lin Tran hummed along softly to a few lines before suddenly turning the steering wheel and pulling into a roadside parking lot. She parked neatly, retrieved a small compact mirror from her handbag, and scrutinized her reflection—her makeup was still largely intact, the lipstick had faded just a tiny bit, but her expression radiated an unexpected vibrancy. There were no smudged trails of eyeliner from crying, no swollen eyes; she looked as effortlessly stunning as ever.