The Divorce Lawyer Is Very Hard To Flirt With - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Boldly Speaking of Love

“This is just the beginning,” Ying Zhi’an replied, her eyes showing a practical candor. “It’s true that it takes effort, but one can’t be at odds with money either. The evidence leads in this case aren’t ambiguous. As long as we collect evidence step by step, the chance of winning is high. We can gain both reputation and considerable income. Why not?”

When it came to principles, Ying Zhi’an truly had them.

When it came to pragmatism, she also genuinely loved making money.

Song Xidan nodded upon hearing this: “Then I’ll immediately contact the auditing firm.”

Ying Zhi’an responded: “I have contacts. You don’t need to worry about this. The law firm is having a team-building event for Halloween. Are you planning to go?”

“Are you going, Sister Zhi’an?”

Ying Zhi’an nodded.

Song Xidan broke into a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with joy: “If you go, I’ll go too!”

“Alright,” Ying Zhi’an replied with a doting tone.

…

Halloween was that Friday.

The law firm’s administration spared no expense, booking a private section of a well-known lounge bar in the city as the party venue.

The venue was already festively decorated. Heavy velvet curtains shut out the outside world, and the dim lighting was adjusted to deep purple and orange hues.

The walls were draped with exaggerated spiderweb decorations and lit with pumpkin lanterns. The speakers played low, ambient music mixed with the sounds of wind and eerie laughter, creating a perfectly spooky atmosphere.

It was quite elaborate.

The colleagues, usually clad in sharp professional attire, relaxed. Some young people wore heavy face paint, while others just sported a cartoon headband to fit the theme. They gathered in small groups, chatting and drinking.

Zhu Yun and Song Xidan arrived together. Song Xidan only wore a small devil horn headband, while Zhu Yun next to her was hilarious. She had put on a gigantic, comical, orange pumpkin head mask that practically covered her entire upper body.

That’s the funny girl for you. She didn’t feel awkward at all along the way; instead, she posed for photos with passersby, becoming a pumpkin superstar.

Once at the venue, the pumpkin superstar was full of energy, making a dazzling entrance and immediately starting a sexy little dance on the dance floor. The round pumpkin body, combined with the “seductive posing,” made it even funnier.

Song Xidan found a relatively quiet corner, watching Zhu Yun’s antics while searching for Ying Zhi’an.

She wondered what Sister Zhi’an would dress up as, her gaze sweeping around the room with silent curiosity.

Suddenly, a cheer erupted in the crowd.

Song Xidan looked over and saw Luo Qingcheng.

No one expected that the person who would truly steal the show tonight would be Director Luo, who was always so concerned with appearances and dress code.

Luo Qingcheng, the lawyer who was perpetually in a suit, with his hair neatly slicked back and a face serious enough to freeze a fly, was wearing a clearly ill-fitting vintage vampire count’s costume!

The black velvet coat was tight around the shoulders, the lace-frilled shirt collar made him look very uncomfortable, and his face was forcefully dusted with white powder, with his lips dabbed red, attempting to create the vampire’s pallor and mystique. The only remaining effect, however, was stiffness and awkwardness.

At the same time, he was holding a large, out-of-place bouquet of red roses, walking stiffly into the venue.

The destination of the 99 red roses was the giant pumpkin right in the center of the dance floor.

As Luo Qingcheng walked, colleagues automatically parted a path, their faces filled with shock, curiosity, and barely contained laughter.

The vampire stopped in front of the big pumpkin, took another deep breath, his voice muffled with nervousness, but the surrounding colleagues had fallen silent, making his low voice surprisingly clear: “Zhu Yun!”

Zhu Yun, who was dancing with her back to Luo Qingcheng, was startled. She abruptly took off the mask, revealing her flushed face, which was full of confusion and surprise. Staring at the conspicuous bouquet of roses, her mind completely crashed.

“I thought about this for a long time,” Luo Qingcheng’s voice echoed, particularly jarring and sincere against the eerie background music. “Didn’t you say that only a bold, public declaration of love counts as a pursuit? Zhu Yun, although you are careless at work, impulsive in action, and always talk back…”

The sound of suppressed booing and low laughter began to rise around them.

Luo Qingcheng realized his habitual sharp tongue and immediately cleared his throat, making an awkward transition: “…However, you are such a vibrant girl. Being with you, I feel very happy every day, and there are many new and interesting things. You said you are a happy puppy, and our MBTI isn’t the best match, but I think the pursuit is my business. So I want to use this plan to openly declare my love for you, and then pursue you. Please accept these flowers. If you feel we are unsuitable, that’s fine too. Just give me a chance to pursue you first.”

He seemed to have exhausted all his literary talent and courage, saying it all in one breath. Then, as if completing an epic task, he abruptly shoved the flowers into the arms of the completely dumbfounded Zhu Yun, standing rigidly in place, awaiting the judgment of fate.

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd erupted in loud jeering, whistling, and applause! “Say yes!” “Director Luo, you’re awesome!” “Zhu Yun, hurry up and say yes!”

Zhu Yun hugged the bouquet that nearly swallowed her, her face redder than the pumpkin. Amidst the friendly teasing, she nodded forcefully, then grabbed the pumpkin mask and pulled it back over her head: “I know! Then let’s start getting to know each other properly!”

“Wow!” With this answer, the applause and cheers from the surrounding colleagues exploded.

Luo Qingcheng was visibly relieved. Although his expression still tried to maintain solemnity, the laughter and relief that were almost spilling out of his eyes were impossible to hide.

The colleagues, even more excited than the two people involved, surrounded them, showering them with playful teasing and blessings.

Song Xidan was deeply moved watching this dramatic scene. At the same time, the anxiety about her exam results and the anticipation of her secret feelings for Ying Zhi’an stirred a complex pang of wistfulness in her heart.

She subconsciously looked up, searching for that familiar figure in the crowd.

Ying Zhi’an was leaning alone against the bar, decorated with cobwebs and bats, holding a crystal glass of sparkling wine. Her lips held a faint smile as she watched Luo Qingcheng and Zhu Yun, who were surrounded by people.

She had only symbolically applied a small silver star near her eye for the evening, wearing a black trouser suit. Against the bizarre backdrop, she looked particularly refined, with a cold elegance that seemed slightly detached.

Sister Zhi’an is truly beautiful!

Song Xidan quietly moved next to her and whispered: “Sister Zhi’an, I didn’t expect Director Luo to be quite romantic.”

Ying Zhi’an turned her head to look at her. Under the dim light, the silver star near her eye faintly shimmered: “Do you like this kind of thing?”

Song Xidan was momentarily surprised by the question and hesitated: “Me? Not really.”

Ying Zhi’an nodded: “Me neither. I feel like a relationship is a matter between two people and doesn’t need so many spectators. I prefer a quieter setting, just the two of us, where we can talk properly.”

Ying Zhi’an’s voice was very soft, yet it brushed against Song Xidan’s heart like a feather. She couldn’t help but start imagining her own confession scenario, getting a vague, yet heart-pounding, idea of what kind of confession Ying Zhi’an might prefer. “Then I know what to do.”

“Hmm?”

It was Ying Zhi’an’s turn to be slow to realize. She took in Song Xidan’s thoughtful, slightly flushed appearance. The realization that Song Xidan planned to confess to her suddenly hit her. The next second, her face also lightly flushed.

She could almost certainly confirm that the “leaked” information from Zhu Yun was highly likely true.

The background noise of the party became the perfect accompaniment to the subtle silence between the two of them.

…

After the party ended, Ying Zhi’an returned home, her mood still unsettled.

Lying on the leather sofa, she was even doing something rare: staring blankly.

The reason for her distraction was anxiety. She worried about how to respond appropriately if that day truly came.

Would she scare her away if she was too calm?

Would it be inconsistent with her usual image if she was too passionate?

When she couldn’t figure out the answer, she sought advice from someone with experience.

Ying Zhi’an picked up her phone and video-called Zhang Zhang.

When the video call connected, Zhang Zhang was doing yoga, with soothing background music playing.

“What’s wrong? Calling me at this hour, not working late? That’s rare!” Zhang Zhang had finished her confinement period and was officially entering the recovery and recuperation stage.

Zhang’s mother had returned home for her classes, and Zhang’s father had moved in to start researching dietary supplements for Zhang Zhang.

Zhang Zhang’s condition was gradually improving.

No matter how great the grief, life must go on!

Faced with Zhang Zhang’s inquiry, Ying Zhi’an was uncharacteristically hesitant, organizing her words: “I have something to ask. It’s about a relationship issue.”

Zhang Zhang immediately stopped her movements and leaned closer to the screen, her eyes wide: “Wow! The iron tree has blossomed? Who is it? Tell me quickly! What do they look like? What do they do? How old are they?”

Ying Zhi’an felt a headache coming on from the barrage of questions: “Don’t ask so much first. I just don’t know what to do.”

Zhang Zhang laughed uproariously, as if she had discovered a new continent: “Hahaha! Ying Zhi’an, you have a day like this too! Didn’t you claim to solve everything with rational analysis? What, can’t analyze a solution for a racing heart? Oh dear, this is truly the best news I’ve heard recently. I really hope you can enjoy love.”

Even though her own experience wasn’t good, Zhang Zhang didn’t deny love altogether.

Ying Zhi’an: “If you laugh again, I’m hanging up.”

“No, no, no!” Zhang Zhang quickly stopped laughing. “Fine, fine, fine, I won’t laugh. So what are you worried about?”

“The person might confess to me in a while. How should I accept the confession appropriately?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhang smiled again: “Since you’re not worrying about how to reject them without hurting their feelings, it means you like them too, Zhi’an. I think you could prepare a small gift for them too. When they confess to you, you present the gift and tell them you like them too. A mutual pursuit is just so sweet!”

Ying Zhi’an found this suggestion very sound.

Zhang Zhang was still gossiping: “Who is it? Just a little hint?”

Ying Zhi’an then told Zhang Zhang some of her stories with Song Xidan. Zhang Zhang was delighted, her face seemingly glowing with color as she repeatedly said, “I’m so happy!”

To make Zhang Zhang happier, Ying Zhi’an shared a bit more.

Thinking about it, the more Ying Zhi’an talked, the more curious Zhang Zhang became about Song Xidan. A few days later, after Zhang Zhang went to the hospital for a check-up and confirmed her body had recovered, she immediately showed up at Ying Zhi’an’s law firm.

She was meticulously dressed, exuding the air of a corporate elite. She had also asked Ying Zhi’an beforehand on WeChat and, knowing Ying Zhi’an was meeting another client, specifically requested a consultation with a lawyer from Ying’s team.

When informed by the reception that Lawyer Ying was unavailable, Zhang Zhang “took the opportunity” to ask Song Xidan to meet her first.

However, Song Xidan was not in a good state today. It was the day the results were released, and just moments ago, she had checked her Subjective Test score.

She had failed.

She was only 2 points short of passing! Just 2 points!

She felt cold all over, her mind a blank.

She forced herself to go to the meeting room. Facing Zhang Zhang, a new client, Song Xidan tried hard to focus, but she was distraught and slow to react.