roccoschili Chapter 260 Fearless
Chapter 260 Fearless
As Zhou Chengjing finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the conference room.
The rosewood conference table reflected the cold light from the ceiling, slicing the tense faces of the attendees into fragmented shadows.
Zhou Chengjing slowly stood up, the folds of his suit trousers hanging down as if they were carefully designed, vaguely outlining the muscle contours beneath, making him look like a Tang sword drawn from its sheath.
—A seemingly elegant curve conceals a deadly sharpness.
His knuckles tapped lightly on the table, his voice steady: "Since there are no objections, let's leave it at that for today. We'll need your cooperation in the investigation in the future."
His tone was gentle, and the end of his voice even carried a hint of a smile.
But his slightly grayish eyes swept over everyone present, devoid of any warmth.
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Leaving the conference room, which felt as cold as if it were frozen, Zhou Chengjing loosened his tie.
A person walked into the smoking room at the end of the corridor.
He slowly took out a cigarette, lit it, but didn't put it in his mouth. He just let the cigarette burn quietly in his hand, gazing out the window at the vast, flat plain.
After experiencing such a high-level meeting fraught with undercurrents, Zhou Chengjing was surprisingly calm.
Footsteps approached from behind. Zhou Chengjing turned around and, upon seeing the person, immediately extinguished the barely lit cigarette in his hand, bowed slightly, and respectfully said, "Uncle Liu."
The elderly man who walked in was also dressed in a sharp suit. In the conference room, he had been sitting solemnly and without saying a word, looking as if he was in a bad mood.
Upon encountering Zhou Chengjing again in private, she revealed a kind smile and said softly, "Xiao Jing, I knew you were here. How has Old Zhou been lately?"
Zhou Chengjing, who had been very assertive in the meeting room, stepped aside to make room for him, lowered his eyes, and said in a gentle tone: "My father is doing well. He recently relieved himself of several heavy responsibilities and went to the countryside with my mother to enjoy a peaceful life."
"Good, good, good." The old man, whom Zhou Chengjing called Uncle Liu, smiled and said "good" three times in a row. "No wonder I haven't heard from him recently. It turns out he has retired. Unbelievable. Old Zhou, he is so carefree, leaving all the burden to you."
Uncle Liu had a very strong Beijing accent, so Zhou Chengjing naturally switched to his own accent and joked with a smile, "What are you saying? As children, we should share our parents' burdens."
Uncle Liu nodded in satisfaction: "You are such a filial child. I have always thought highly of you since you were a child in the yard."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp glint flashed in his narrowed, smiling eyes, and his expression suddenly turned serious. He said in a deep voice, "However, you'd better discuss this matter with your father when you get back."
If Zhou Chengjing is merely investigating the protective umbrellas and interest chains related to the case, as he claims on the surface, given his current status and capabilities, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths to form an investigation team, let alone personally get involved. Evidence would naturally be delivered to him.
But this current commotion clearly indicates an ulterior motive.
Based on his years of experience and the details of the case, Uncle Liu had a general idea: this kid was definitely up to more than just an investigation.
If Zhou Chengjing is planning to take a bite out of that cake, he's no joke.
Zhou Chengjing was a junior whom Uncle Liu had watched grow up, and Uncle Liu didn't want to see him suffer, so he couldn't help but come over and give him a reminder.
Faced with Uncle Liu's sudden change in tone, Zhou Chengjing's expression did not change much. He simply looked into Uncle Liu's eyes and smiled faintly: "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Liu, but this is not a matter that requires my father's intervention."
Seeing Zhou Chengjing's confident and fearless demeanor, Uncle Liu knew he couldn't persuade this younger man, so he sighed helplessly: "Alright, you young people are indeed quite bold."
Zhou Chengjing certainly has the right to be arrogant.
The Zhou family is a giant tree that has stood in the capital for a century.
In this circle, connections are an extension of power.
Zhou Chengjing's network of connections was not only extensive but also deep.
Many people are wary of the power behind him and dare not easily become his enemies.
In addition, Zhou Chengjing's own abilities and methods should not be underestimated. He is meticulous, decisive, and holds an important position at a young age.
Uncle Liu sighed, pondering to himself:
If Xiao Jing'er wants to eat that cake, then go ahead.
Could it possibly make someone sick?
At most, it's just a matter of not being used to the local environment, a bit of diarrhea, and you'll learn your lesson and it'll pass.
Behind him, there are many people who support him.
In short, Uncle Liu had a very high opinion of this younger member of the Zhou family whom he had watched grow up.
Before leaving, he patted Zhou Chengjing on the shoulder: "If you encounter any problems you can't solve, just come to Uncle Liu."
Zhou Chengjing smiled and agreed, "Definitely."
But a coldness, contrary to his smile, surged in his eyes.
If even this small matter requires the help of one's elders' connections, then it's better to exit this game.
Zhou Chengjing glanced at the cigarette butt he had extinguished. Tiny sparks flew from the cigarette butt in the crystal ashtray, and wisps of smoke curled around his well-defined fingers.
For the past three months since quitting smoking, he has become accustomed to using this almost self-destructive method to combat his nicotine addiction.
—Lighting a cigarette but not inhaling it, letting the nicotine evaporate into the air, is like playing a game with a part of yourself inside your body.
But very few normal people can do that.
Ordinary people would find this behavior difficult to understand.
Most people who quit smoking can't stand the smell of cigarettes, let alone someone like Zhou Chengjing, who lit one himself and never touched it, and remained calm throughout.
What would be a difficult task for an ordinary person is simply commonplace for Zhou Chengjing.
He glanced one last time at the cigarette butts discarded in the crystal jar, then, as usual, looked away and turned to leave.
Patience, ruthlessness, and self-discipline—Zhou Chengjing possesses all of these qualities.
His success was not accidental.
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At the end of the corridor, the assistant, who had been waiting for a long time with a folder in his arms, quickly followed him when he saw him push open the door and hand him his phone to report the information he had received during the meeting.
Zhou Chengjing lowered his eyes and scrolled through his phone screen, listening to the report casually, until a certain keyword made his fingertips pause slightly, and his pace gradually slowed down.
He raised an eyebrow with interest: "Oh? Say it again?"
The assistant rephrased what had just been said: "The young master of the Luo family joined a high-end club about a month ago. I heard that he doesn't take clients because the club has signed an exclusive service agreement with a woman surnamed Bai."
The assistant's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor.
“The surname Bai…” Zhou Chengjing murmured in a deep voice, his fingertips gently stroking the phone case, the coldness of the metal spreading from his fingertips.
As if he had thought of something interesting, he suddenly turned to look at the neon lights outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
In the reflection of the glass, Zhou Chengjing seemed to see the curve of his own lips.
His tone held a hint of amusement: "What's it called specifically?"
The assistant replied, "White pear."
—It really was her.
The wind in the corridor ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, and Zhou Chengjing chuckled softly, feeling as if he had finally seen the light after the fog had cleared.
The investigation into where the materials used to overturn the verdict against Luo were from has now become clear.
If it is that person, they certainly have the ability and means to obtain such materials.
But how did she end up in this game?
What is its relationship with Luo?
How much do you know about the case?
What role is he playing?
Zhou Chengjing's eyes darkened in an instant, revealing an unfathomable depth.
A moment later, he quickened his pace: "Make some arrangements, find a suitable opportunity, I want to meet with Bai Li."
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"We won the case!"
A clear male voice pierced the twilight. The young man stood against the setting sun, his shoulders taut and straight, his voice lighter than ever before.
The moment those eyes, tinged amber by the sunset, met Bai Li's figure, their gaze suddenly burst forth with a fiery light.
The boy's face was still covered with a thin layer of sweat from running, which shimmered in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Luo Nan rushed over, his sneakers leaving light, quick footprints on the bluestone pavement.
Fearing the other party might miss the good news, he approached and repeated, "Mr. Bai, we won the case today! Thank you so much!"
When Luo Nan arrived, Bai Li was busy in the yard.
Today is a rare weekend, the sun is shining brightly, and with nothing to do, she decided to loosen the soil in her garden.
The weather is getting warmer, and she plans to plant some seasonal gardenias and jasmine here.
Although these gardening tasks could be left to Ahe and the others, Bai Li occasionally wanted to experience the joy of planting herself.
But Sanmao, that "mischievous cat," would come and cause trouble whenever she saw Baili busy, and she loved to dance under Baili's "knife tip."
The orange cat was leisurely curled up on the newly tidied ridge, its tail rhythmically sweeping across the tender green seedlings, and occasionally brushing against Bai Li's legs and arms, clearly treating Bai Li's serious gardening as a game.
This resulted in Bai Li spending the entire morning without managing to cultivate even a few plants.
Upon seeing Luo Nan, Bai Li simply stopped what she was doing and casually took off her gloves, which were covered in mud.
She thought to herself, why make things difficult for myself? Let others enjoy the rest of the planting fun.
Bai Li straightened up and looked at the boy standing in front of her with a puzzled expression.
The setting sun cast a golden glow on Luonan, and the steam rising from the boy was almost visible to the naked eye.
With a somewhat complicated feeling, she packed her gardening tools into her wicker basket and asked hesitantly, "How did you get here?"
Luo Nan then realized his disheveled state and hurriedly wiped his forehead with his sleeve: "The court proceedings ended early, and I figured it wasn't far away..."
His voice trailed off, as if he were a little embarrassed.
But Bai Li's pupils widened even more, and she asked incredulously, "You ran here?"
Goodness...
Did you travel across two districts to get here?
Kid, are you serious?
Bai Li was deeply shocked.
Is this what physical strength young people have?
Even if I were to improve my physical fitness to the maximum level thanks to the Myriad Manifestations Wheel, I wouldn't dare say that I could run such a long distance in one go.
Luo Nan touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly: "Wasn't it too presumptuous of me to come here so suddenly..."
With the case now overturned, Luo Nan no longer had any reason to go to the Emerald Land.
He decisively resigned from his job in the land of jade.
This way, Bai Li won't have to lose 500 million yuan a day in "private venue fees" for him anymore.
To make it easier to stay in touch, Bai Li had previously told Luo Nan where she lived.
If Luo Nan needs help, she can come to her house.
Today's successful victory filled Luo Nan with a warm and encouraging feeling.
He was too young to hide the secrets of a young man.
After finishing all the important matters, he rushed over immediately, eager to share the good news with Bai Li.
Because he was excited and considering that the two places were "not far" apart, Luo Nan simply ran all the way from the courthouse to Bai Li's house.
Now that he's calmed down, Luo Nan realizes that his behavior of showing up without prior notice was rather abrupt, and all the social etiquette he had learned before was probably for nothing.
He inwardly berated himself, his face turning red to his ears. He quickly said, "I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous. Please go ahead with your work. I'll make an appointment to visit you again next time."
Bai Li quickly waved her hand and said with a smile, "No need, no need. You've come at the perfect time. Help me loosen the soil."
As he spoke, he casually handed the gardening tool bag in his hand to Luo Nan.
Luo Nan was a little confused, but he still obediently squatted down and began to help Bai Li with the unfinished gardening work.
As a wealthy young man who was once truly well-rounded in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education, Luo Nan was no stranger to gardening and worked with great skill.
Bai Li pulled over a small stool, sat down next to him with her legs crossed, and supervised Luo Nan's work while listening to him recount the details of his victory in the case.
Luo Nan said as he turned over the soil:
"Mr. Bai, we were so grateful for the financial records you provided last time that helped us overturn the case."
However, that hearing was halted midway through because it involved sensitive issues, so it cannot be considered a true victory.
Bai Li chuckled twice: "Alright, how many words of thanks have you said already? You're not allowed to say any more today."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Luo Nan's focused profile: "So what was the reason for this victory?"
Luo Nan stopped what he was doing, his memories spreading with the scent of the earth: "This victory went very smoothly."
"It's like it's on fast-forward. Our legal team is still sorting out the chain of evidence, while the disciplinary inspection commission's working group has already entered the scene with a stack of physical evidence."
He lowered his voice: "They have more crucial information. The electronic ledgers of the three companies involved were presented directly at the hearing, and the companies involved have been summoned on the spot."
Has the government intervened?
Bai Li raised an eyebrow.
That explains it.
The timing of each hearing is not fixed; sometimes, it can take a month or two.
But this time it was so fast that there wasn't much difference in time between the beginning and the end.
As Luo Nan recounted more details of the case, Bai Li felt a growing sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings of emotion and reflection):
It's too easy for the authorities to gather evidence.
Moreover, the entire case was never properly investigated.
It's quite normal for someone to expose your secrets.
The official investigation this time was so thorough and detailed...
Bai Li suddenly thought of someone.
I heard that person was involved in the discipline inspection department...
Was he involved in this incident?
Bai Li had a strong intuition that perhaps it was his extremely efficient speed of investigation, or perhaps it was the ruthless methods he subtly revealed behind it, but it was indeed his style.