A Fatal Attraction from Lawyer A - Chapter 17

The autopsy required a significant amount of time, and during this period, Luo Pan Zhi began to investigate the people involved in the matter.

The atmosphere in the CEO’s office was currently somewhat gloomy.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Luo Pan Zhi frowned as he looked at the investigation reports in his hand. There were simply no leads on the matter involving Gu Yu Xi at Feng Fei Orphanage fourteen years ago, and there was no starting point for finding the scumbag who had touched Gu Yu Xi.

The paranoid son of the major shareholder of Ruixing Hospital, as mentioned by the Omega, had also been investigated. Ruixing Hospital had two major shareholders, and there was indeed one who had a son with a mental illness, but that son had died fourteen years ago.

What gave him an even bigger headache was that when he asked Xu Wen to investigate the Omega, he received a medical report diagnosing the Omega with a neurological disorder.

In other words, the Omega’s statements that day could not be entirely trusted, and even with the recording, it would be difficult to use as evidence.

“Little CEO Luo, could it be that Ruixing Hospital said something to that Miss Song? Or perhaps threatened her? Otherwise, why would they offer a five-million-yuan Exotic Star Apartment as compensation? Logically, aren’t they suing us because they believe the fault lies with us? There must be something fishy going on here,” Xu Wen, standing nearby, couldn’t help but say.

Luo Pan Zhi put down the documents, his gaze overlooking the dense high-rises outside the floor-to-ceiling window, his expression cold. Then, as if he thought of something, he turned to look at Xu Wen: “Where does Attorney Gu live?”

“Siji Peninsula on Kangle North Road.”

“What’s the environment like there?”

“The environment there is quite good. It’s a mid-to-high-end complex by the river.”

Luo Pan Zhi thought about it but still couldn’t feel at ease. Last time, they went to the Exotic Star Mansion together. Assuming that woman was telling the truth about being monitored and controlled, their visit would have been a blatant provocation.

No one dared to touch him, but Gu Yu Xi was different.

Moreover, the case Gu Yu Xi was taking on was an adversarial case, which was bound to attract many hostile forces.

“Xu Wen, starting today, aside from within the Group, whenever and wherever Attorney Gu is, regardless of who he’s with, send two people to follow him. Also, go buy me an apartment in Siji Peninsula right now. It should preferably be ready for occupancy, one that he can move right into. The price doesn’t matter; get the apartment finalized this week. But you must get me the community access card today, otherwise the bodyguards won’t be able to get in.”

Xu Wen looked at his Little CEO Luo’s cold and serious demeanor and suddenly realized that the situation was not as simple as he had imagined.

The current case was involving more and more people, and the lawyer handling it, Attorney Gu, was very likely to become a target for some. If Gu Yu Xi was safe, the case would be resolved quickly.

But what if something happened to him?

Who would dare take on such a tricky adversarial case then?

“Little CEO Luo, do you think someone might try to harm Attorney Gu?”

“We can’t rule out that possibility,” Luo Pan Zhi said. “So, he must be protected. Perhaps I should go to his place tonight.”

Xu Wen: “?” Did the topic change too abruptly? Could we have a transition, please?

Luo Pan Zhi seemed to notice the subtle look in his assistant’s eyes. He looked down and cleared his throat, then said calmly: “What I mean is, as a superior, protecting employees in special positions is necessary. Doesn’t that facilitate a harmonious relationship between superiors and subordinates?”

Xu Wen dared not say no, nor did he dare to mention that the Little CEO Luo was famously two-faced, a fact that had been evident since Attorney Gu was late the day before yesterday.

“What’s the afternoon schedule?”

“The research institute has a new project proposal that requires your attendance.”

“I wasn’t asking about mine.”

Xu Wen: “? ” Am I not the CEO’s assistant? Why am I managing the Group’s lawyer’s schedule? But he did know: “Attorney Gu is supposed to go communicate with Ruixing Hospital’s legal department today, I believe.”

Luo Pan Zhi nodded, then picked up his jacket and put it on: “Alright, I understand. You may go back to work.”

Seeing Luo Pan Zhi about to leave, Xu Wen quickly called out: “But, Little CEO Luo, you have a mid-level department meeting coming up.”

Luo Pan Zhi stopped. He turned slightly to face Xu Wen: “Cancel the preliminary project meetings from now on. Instead of spending time painting a pretty picture for their superior, they should focus their energy on their own projects and let me see results as soon as possible.”

Xu Wen’s eyes lit up at the word “cancel.” This was great news.

“Also, make sure this wall in my office is finished quietly this weekend,” Luo Pan Zhi finished before turning and leaving to attend to his business.

Xu Wen watched his Little CEO Luo’s hurried exit, rubbing his chin in contemplation. The workaholic Little CEO Luo is finally going to let his subordinates and himself off the hook and start a life of balancing work and leisure!

The Unprofessional Excuse

Luo Pan Zhi walked up to Gu Yu Xi’s office door. The door wasn’t closed. He poked his head in, saw no one, and frowned. Could he have already left for the hospital?

He can’t do that. He was planning to volunteer as a driver and escort.

However, over the past two days, Gu Yu Xi’s attitude toward him had reverted to its initial coldness, and he was so busy that even the chance of running into him in the hallway felt deliberate.

But the most deliberate one was Gu Yu Xi.

The man was clearly distancing himself from him.

“Little CEO Luo, what are you doing?”

A silent voice suddenly sounded behind him, startling Luo Pan Zhi so much that he recoiled against the door frame. He looked at Gu Yu Xi in alarm, then remembered his current image wasn’t very CEO-like. He cleared his throat, stood up casually, and feigned a serious expression: “Attorney Gu, you’re not in your office during working hours. Where were you?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the coffee cup in Gu Yu Xi’s hand.

Gu Yu Xi subtly raised the coffee cup as a gesture, his expression calm: “I went to get a cup of coffee. Does Little CEO Luo need one?”

“Yes, I do.” Luo Pan Zhi casually took the cup from Gu Yu Xi, his sharp eyes noticing the faint lip print on the clean white surface. He smiled, turned the cup to face him, glanced at Gu Yu Xi, and took a sip of the coffee right where the lip print was.

Gu Yu Xi: “!”

“Mmm, delicious.” Luo Pan Zhi contentedly handed the coffee cup back to Gu Yu Xi and then smiled: “Attorney Gu, your ‘boyfriend’ wouldn’t mind me drinking from the same cup as you, would he?”

Gu Yu Xi: “…” Why does Luo Pan Zhi not seem to object to his “boyfriend” anymore, unlike before?

Luo Pan Zhi leaned against the doorway, his long legs in the suit trousers slightly bent. He looked seriously at Gu Yu Xi: “I spent the last two days analyzing what you told me. You said you didn’t know if you still had a scar on the back of your neck, and that even your boyfriend hasn’t shown concern for you. That means he’s not good enough for you. You deserve better.”

The implication was clear.

Gu Yu Xi was stunned by Luo Pan Zhi’s sudden move.

His gaze involuntarily met Luo Pan Zhi’s eyes. Those deep, ink-black eyes were filled with such affectionate intensity that it was hard to look away. Logic screamed at him to pull back before he fell in too deep. He subtly shifted his gaze away.

“Little CEO Luo, during working hours, we shouldn’t be discussing things unrelated to work.”

I promised myself I couldn’t get close again.

For the past few days, he hadn’t touched the blinds, nor dared to go near the door, afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist pulling them open. He also tried to avoid appearing when Luo Pan Zhi was around, minimizing their chances of meeting.

But he had miscalculated Luo Pan Zhi’s aggressive approach.

The “boyfriend” excuse didn’t seem to work anymore.

“I am the CEO. I sign your paychecks. Can’t I allow you to chat with me while getting paid?” Luo Pan Zhi folded his arms, gazing at the man in front of him with a gentle smile: “Yes, I can.”

Gu Yu Xi: “…” But he didn’t want to: “Little CEO Luo, this still isn’t appropriate, and I have—”

“What does it matter that you have a boyfriend? I have power and influence. I can steal the object of another’s affection, I can take by force, I can be a bastard whenever and wherever I want, can’t I?”

Luo Pan Zhi’s nonchalant words rang in his ears. The tone was neither warm nor cold, yet full of a playful intensity and dominance. It also sounded like he was being serious—that he truly would turn into a beast the next second.

These words fiercely tugged at Gu Yu Xi’s tightly wound nerves, stretching them to the breaking point. Yet, they also oddly coincided with the shameful desires buried deep within his heart.

Gu Yu Xi took a step back, looking up at Luo Pan Zhi: “Little CEO Luo, mind your words.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Luo Pan Zhi leaning towards him. He subconsciously gripped the coffee cup tightly. Wanting to retreat further, his back hit the door panel.

Just as he tried to move sideways, Luo Pan Zhi’s arms bracketed his face, his long arms practically caging him in. The overwhelming, yet intoxicating, Alpha pheromones advanced, gently enveloping him.

They were nearly the same height, yet in that instant, Gu Yu Xi felt completely suppressed by Luo Pan Zhi’s aura. He met Luo Pan Zhi’s gaze, then quietly let his eyes fall to Luo Pan Zhi’s lips.

His Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed.

“Mind my words? I wonder who said: *’Little CEO Luo, give it to me, please.’ ‘Little CEO Luo, you smell so good.’ ‘Little CEO Luo, I want it.’ ‘Little CEO Luo—'”

“Luo Pan Zhi!” Barely above a whisper, choked with furious embarrassment, Gu Yu Xi looked angrily at the nearby Luo Pan Zhi: “I have a boyfriend.”

To which Luo Pan Zhi merely laughed, the curve of his lips particularly wicked.

Gu Yu Xi was about to push Luo Pan Zhi away and escape the embrace that was making his heart race, but the moment he shifted, a hand pressed down on his shoulder. Then, he felt a knee—not his own—slowly slide up between his legs.

The friction against his trousers, the sensation created by the slow caress, was magnified infinitely in slow motion.

It stopped just before it reached a dangerous point.

Gu Yu Xi’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked down, and upon seeing Luo Pan Zhi’s presumptuous leg, he immediately turned his face away and took a deep breath. The hand gripping the coffee cup was trembling with almost enough force to shatter it. He was already struggling painfully to hold back, and Luo Pan Zhi’s provocation felt like a deliberate humiliation, leaving him speechless with anger.

Luo Pan Zhi was about to say more, wanting to see how long this man could maintain the pretense of having a boyfriend, but then he noticed that Gu Yu Xi’s eyes seemed to be turning red.

The offending leg chickened out and immediately dropped down.

Even the hands that had been pressing on Gu Yu Xi’s shoulders silently lifted and moved to his own ears, as if in surrender.

He cautiously probed: “Attorney Gu, did I make you cry?”

Gu Yu Xi turned his face away and took a deep breath, avoiding Luo Pan Zhi’s gaze: “Step back.”

Luo Pan Zhi took a small step back.

Freed, Gu Yu Xi quickly walked out, throwing a cold sentence over his shoulder: “Don’t provoke me.”

Don’t provoke him?

Luo Pan Zhi watched Gu Yu Xi’s cold, tall figure retreating, a slight upward curve to his lips, and a look of amused interest in his eyes.

He preferred to provoke him.