Five years after their breakup, a prominent lawyer is desperately seeking reconciliation.

Downstairs at Kairong Building, there's a newly opened Western restaurant in the alley to the left.

Jiang Wan followed the location on her phone and walked in; someone immediately stood up.

"Wanwan, here."

Jiang Wan walked over quickly, looking at the handsome and extraordinary man in front of her with surprise.

"Long time no see, you're back too?"

Gu Yang was a friend she met abroad.

Coincidentally, he was also from Haicheng, and during those three years abroad, he took good care of me.

Three days ago, he said on WeChat that he had returned to China.

After learning that Jiang Wan had been transferred to Kairong, they arranged to meet here.

Gu Yang was dressed in a well-tailored black suit.

His eyebrows and eyes were gentle and warm, with a faint scholarly air about him.

"Wanwan, I knew we were destined to meet again, right?"

Jiang Wan lowered her head and smiled faintly, her already beautiful features becoming even more radiant.

Gu Yang was momentarily lost in thought, but after regaining his composure, he pulled Jiang Wan down to sit.

The dishes had already been ordered, all of which were Jiang Wan's favorites.

Gu Yang picked up the steak in front of her and carefully cut it into small pieces.

It was placed back in front of her.

"I remember you loved my black pepper rum steak, try some."

Jiang Wan asked in surprise, "This...you made this? This shop..."

"My father is getting old and he insisted that I come back to help my older brother. I studied useless art for several years and I don't know anything, so I had no choice but to open this shop to practice first."

"Don't say that. If you want to do something, there's nothing you can't do."

Jiang Wan's words were not meant to be perfunctory towards Gu Yang.

Gu Yang is steady, has a long-term vision, and is very methodical in her work.

Gu Yang gave her invaluable advice, both in life and in terms of career direction.

Even when Wang Yiran invited him to return to China to start his own business, it was Gu Yang who encouraged her to take a chance.

To some extent, Gu Yang was her mentor.

Gu Yang smiled and steered the conversation back to Jiang Wan.

"Didn't you start a business with your classmates? How come you're at Kairong? I heard it's the industry leader in Haicheng."

Jiang Wan told him the whole story, deliberately omitting her past with Lu Jingshi.

"I am now a proton, penniless, powerless, and without freedom."

"But Wanwan, you're in such great shape right now. You're like a completely different person compared to when I first met you."

Jiang Wan smiled, her dimples appearing and disappearing on her cheeks.

I couldn't help but recall how I met Gu Yang.

Jiang Wan found it very difficult to adapt when she first arrived abroad.

Tormented by pain and longing, she was like a walking corpse.

On the subway back from the hospital, she was drawn to the "local specialties" of the United States.

The man, with a dark, grotesque face and a zombie-like appearance, rushed up and snatched her bag.

Having just finished treatment, she was in pain all over and had no strength.

But relying on strong instinct and willpower, he chased him for three carriages.

The reason was that there was an old cell phone in that bag that she had brought from China, and the photo album and email were filled with memories of her and Lu Jingshi.

This is what keeps her alive in a foreign land, and she absolutely cannot lose it!

Just as she watched the man jump off the subway and disappear into the crowd, a tall, handsome Asian man suddenly stepped out from the platform and blocked his way.

The man had already been drained of his strength by the contraband, and he was knocked to the ground in no time.

The bag was returned to Jiang Wan, and that's how she met Gu Yang.

Even more coincidentally, Gu Yang lived in the same apartment building as her, right upstairs.

From then on, a sliver of warmth finally appeared in the bitterness of being in a foreign land.

"Gu Yang, thank you for taking care of me over those years."

Jiang Wan blinked, and the gloom in her heart vanished.

Meeting friends like Wang Yiran and Gu Yang in such dire straits shows that the world isn't too bad for her.

After a long separation, the two ate and chatted, completely engrossed in their conversation.

Jiang Wan stopped talking when her phone, which was lying to the side, rang several times.

I picked up my phone and saw eight WeChat messages from Lu Jingshi.

"500 yuan for being one minute late."

Repeat eight times.

Jiang Wan hissed. He was supposed to be a lawyer, yet he was blatantly disregarding labor laws.

"Something came up at the company? Then hurry up and go upstairs. Want to grab a drink after get off work?"

Jiang Wan hesitated.

Lu Jingshi is keeping a close eye on her; he definitely won't let her have an easy time.

I don't know how late I'll be able to get off work today.

"It's okay if something comes up, we can reschedule for another day. But... don't you want to see how Summer has changed?"

Jiang Wan's eyes lit up instantly, and her voice rose several octaves.

"You brought Summer back?!"

Summer is a smart Border Collie who has been by her side abroad for the past few years and has long since become family.

It's a pity that I returned in such a hurry that I couldn't take it with me, so I could only give it to Gu Yang.

She had refrained from asking about Summer from the moment she arrived, not wanting to put Gu Yang in a difficult position.

After all, she was already very grateful that Gu Yang was willing to take Summer in, so she didn't dare to hope for anything else.

I never expected that he would actually bring Summer back!

"It took a lot of effort to bring it back, but unfortunately I had it taken for a check-up and vaccinations today. If you could come tonight, you would have been able to see it."

"I'll do it!"

Jiang Wan agreed without hesitation.

Gu Yang chuckled; she really was much brighter than before.

"Okay, I'll wait for you tonight."

As he spoke, he opened his arms.

Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, then thought that he had just returned to the country and might not be able to change his manners for a while, so she stepped forward and hugged him.

Gu Yang tightened his arms around her, affectionately ruffled her hair, and watched her leave.

Turning around, I was met with eyes as deep and cold as a pool.

In the transparent private room on the second floor, a refined-looking man sat by the window, staring intently at him.

His eyes held a deep scrutiny and...coldness. Gu Yang searched his memory, confirming he didn't recognize such a person.

He returned a polite smile, turned and left.

"Ah Shi, this restaurant's food is very similar to the one we ate at in LA."

In a private room on the second floor, Fang Tian served the cut steak to Lu Jingshi.

"Ah-Shi, what are you looking at?"

"It's nothing."

Lu Jingshi turned around, suppressing the emotions surging in his eyes, and quickly stood up.

"It's almost time. I have something to do. You can go back right after you finish eating."

Fang Tian called out several times, but it didn't stop him from leaving.

He could only sit back down resentfully, turning his head slightly.

His gaze fell on the spot where Jiang Wan had just been sitting...

Jiang Wan spent the entire afternoon immersed in the joy of seeing Summer.

Even when Lu Jingshi made unreasonable demands, he always greeted him with a smile.

But Lu Jingshi didn't know what illness he had.

Seeing her obedient, his expression turned even more unpleasant.

The internal bell on the corner of the table rang for the fourth time.

The call was automatically connected after two seconds.

"I need the case files of the West City Construction Company."

Not a single word wasted.

Jiang Wan got up and found the documents in the small filing cabinet.

Lu Jingshi was frowning as he stared at the computer screen.

He unconsciously bit his right index finger joint—a habit he had when he was thinking.

"Director Lu, this is the fourth document you requested."

Jiang Wan deliberately emphasized the word "fourth".

He could have easily called out to her so she could find all four documents at once, given how close they were.

But he refused.

They just kept tormenting her.

Lu Jingshi looked up and took it, speaking casually.

"I heard from Lao Wang that you've published papers in quite a few national-level journals in recent years?"

"……yes."

Jiang Wan majored in environmental law during his university years.

Although my studies abroad were interrupted for a few years, fortunately, the foundation was still there.

During my two years back in China, I resumed my studies and was fortunate enough to publish several related research papers in major journals.

One of them was even selected as a guiding case by the judicial authorities.

Lu Jingshi rubbed the knuckles he had just bitten.

"Fang Tian wants to become a senior partner, but it's not as simple as becoming a partner; you need to have impressive professional papers to show for it."

He stopped and looked at Jiang Wan.

"Could you take her with you?"

Jiang Wan didn't understand what he meant.

Should I take her with me?

It means involving her in the project and giving her credit.

Or...should we just give her the project results directly?

Seeing Jiang Wan remain silent, Lu Jingshi continued to offer his bait.

"I heard your lease expires next month. I can pay Old Wang two years' rent in advance."

Jiang Wan frowned. Such generous terms must mean something else entirely.

"Director Lu, this is academic fraud, and you will be held legally responsible."

"I don't need you to remind me. I didn't ask you to just hand her over. All you need to do is bring her into the project and get her credited. Besides..."

"If Fang Tian can join Gao Huo, you can switch back."

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Wan immediately changed her mind.

"Ms. Fang Tian, ​​please feel free to contact me with any questions. I will provide unconditional and full support!"

Lu Jingshi's face immediately darkened.

Does she really want to go back?

Is working with me really that unbearable for her?

She was hugging another man at noon and seemed so happy.

Now, in order to leave this place, they are willing to have such a shameless attitude and share their academic achievements with others.

This woman is always hypocritical and has no sincerity!