Gold-Medal Lawyer Alpha and Her Doctor Jiang - Chapter 10: Little Farmer

Chapter 10: Little Farmer

Qin Zhen’s plane landed at Berlin Tegel Airport in Germany. Her first action was to turn on her phone. WeChat vibrated briefly, displaying a row of unread red dots.

Qin Zhen opened the pinned chat. The message she sent after landing was no different from usual. She frowned. That brat—was she now ignoring her questions completely?

In the airport hall, Qin Zhen and Gu Tinglan split up. Qin Zhen suppressed her emotions, went to the hotel, closed the door, and called Cen Qingyi.

Winter’s sunrise was lazy. At 6 a.m., Jiang City was dark and hazy. The faint gold of dawn glowed at the horizon. A room with half-drawn curtains felt like twilight after sunset.

Two people immersed in the moment were interrupted by a phone. Jiang Zhiyi tilted her head slightly. The sudden ringtone prevented her from fully enjoying the pleasure.

Cen Qingyi, unaffected, continued. The phone rang only once. Jiang Zhiyi raised her hand, stroking the soft hair in her arms, and sank back into the heated world.

When Cen Qingyi’s phone stopped ringing, Jiang Zhiyi noticed the first ray of sunlight entering the room. She remembered she needed to take leave.

**

The phone was on the coffee table. They were on the sofa, very close, but her body felt weak, not her own.

Jiang Zhiyi tried to reach for the phone. Cen Qingyi pulled her into an embrace, refusing to let her move. Jiang Zhiyi tilted her head, making it easier for Cen Qingyi to act, while soothing her, “I need to send a message to take leave.”

“Hmm,” Cen Qingyi responded but still didn’t let go. Jiang Zhiyi turned her head, dodging, and struggled to grab the phone.

The five words, “I’m taking leave today,” took three minutes to type and send. Her hand ached, and sweat beaded on her nose.

This winter was a bit hot.

Not just a bit—very hot.

On the sofa, the two embraced each other. The musky scent mingled with tuberose in the air. Their souls merged at that moment.

On a day they didn’t want to work, the morning felt endlessly long, yet the entire day passed quickly.

Cen Qingyi’s phone didn’t ring again later—not because no one called, but because it ran out of battery and shut off.

Working at sunrise, resting at sunset, Cen Qingyi was like a diligent little farmer. She toiled all day and finally rested.

Jiang Zhiyi was completely exhausted. She held the person sleeping soundly in her arms, like a little wolf cub asleep, retracting its claws and resistance, resting in her embrace.

Cen Qingyi had a dream. In it, a woman called her. She turned to see dazzling light. It vaguely looked like Qin Zhen, but as the distance closed, the person seemed to become Lin Yuanzhi. When a breeze blew, the scent at her nose was tuberose.

Not Qin Zhen, not Lin Yuanzhi—whose tuberose was it?

**

Cen Qingyi slept until late at night. When she woke, her body felt exhausted. As she yawned, her brain gradually resumed functioning.

The air held traces of tuberose. Cen Qingyi realized something, sat up abruptly, and the blanket fell to the floor.

In the dim room, she could vaguely see the cold dishes on the table. She looked around. The quiet room held only her.

Cen Qingyi didn’t remember how she got inside or when Jiang Zhiyi left. She felt like she had a ridiculous dream, one with Jiang Zhiyi, where they merged like that night.

Cen Qingyi sat dazed for a long time, got up in the dark to pour water, and then collapsed onto the bedroom bed.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Cen Qingyi opened a drawer, took out her tablet, and checked her inbox for unread emails.

Yunsheng’s legal director, Di Qingwen, had sent her all the originals and copies related to a debt issue. Cen Qingyi’s head ached after reading. This old, rotten account was a mess. The partner company’s name had changed, and critical settlement documents lacked signatures, let alone company seals.

Hoping for better, Cen Qingyi opened the “Sales Department” file. A few photos couldn’t even confirm the company’s identity.

Forget recovering the debt—if the partner denied the collaboration, there was no recourse.

Cen Qingyi rubbed her tired eyes, yawned, and finally felt sleepy. She crawled back to bed and slept deeply this time.

When she woke again, it was morning. Cen Qingyi had to work. After washing up, she noticed her phone was off.

On the way to the law firm, she charged her phone and checked the time, thinking she was mistaken. But it was indeed Wednesday.

What? Where was Tuesday? Who stole her Tuesday?

**

Along the way, Cen Qingyi’s body still felt weak. Her memory stopped at waiting in the hallway for dawn. Her forehead was still warm, and she felt dizzy walking. She guessed she had stayed too long by the flowerbed, then slept in the hallway, likely catching a cold. Plus, today was her heat period…

No matter how muddled her brain was, Cen Qingyi couldn’t help overthinking. The gland on her neck was swollen. That night, Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t left and would have seen her leaving… At a red light, Cen Qingyi hit the steering wheel. They might have done something unspeakable again.

They agreed to avoid entanglement, yet it happened twice in a short time.

Director He returned from his business trip yesterday. Noticing Cen Qingyi’s absence, he asked Qin Chuan and Ange, who both shook their heads. Ange covered for her, “Maybe she went to meet a client.”

Director He called Cen Qingyi, but no one answered. Seeing her at work today, looking exhausted, he asked, “What’s wrong with you? I haven’t heard you’re busy lately.”

Cen Qingyi poured coffee for herself and water for Director He. “I felt unwell yesterday and rested.”

Director He eyed her, noticing her flushed face. “If you’re unwell, get it checked.”

Cen Qingyi shook her head. Director He lifted his hot water, blew on it, sipped, and, as if recalling something, asked, “Did you make a fuss about not running for the bar association president because you were unwell?”

In a way, yes, but now, knowing it was a misdiagnosis, Cen Qingyi wanted to progress. “Not really. I thought it over. I was too impulsive. I’ll prepare for the election properly.”

Director He was surprised. Before he could lecture, his goal was achieved. He smiled, “Alright, I won’t nag you.”

Before leaving, Director He told Cen Qingyi to take care of herself.

**

Cen Qingyi leaned back in her chair, holding her coffee with both hands. Golden sunlight poured through the window onto the clear blue sky. These days felt like a dream.

Her phone rang once—an unknown number. She ignored it and called Yunsheng Group’s Di Qingwen first.

“Per Lawyer Cen’s opinion, how should we handle this debt collection?” As legal director, Di Qingwen wasn’t arrogant, knowing Lin Yuanzhi valued Cen Qingyi. Cen Qingyi was respectful. “Director Di, feel free to share your thoughts.”

Di Qingwen suggested calling the debtor directly. “Our companies haven’t collaborated recently, but we worked together many times before. They’re old clients.”

Old clients who don’t pay… Cen Qingyi grumbled inwardly, hummed, and said, “Director Di’s method could work, but do you think putting it in writing might be better?”

“Your suggestion?”

“I recommend sending a letter in Yunsheng Group’s name to see their response and whether they reply.”

Di Qingwen exclaimed, laughing, “Good. Wait a moment. President Lin is at the company. After I consult her, if approved, you can draft the letter.”

Cen Qingyi didn’t mind Di Qingwen’s attempt to dodge the mess and agreed readily. As Yunsheng’s counsel, she reported to Di Qingwen.

While pondering the letter’s content, Cen Qingyi sipped hot coffee. Assistant Ange knocked, saw the coffee cup, and handed over ginger tea. “Boss, you’re sick and still drinking coffee.”

Her half-drunk coffee was taken away. Cen Qingyi drank the ginger tea and asked Ange, “How’s the bigamy case you and Qin Chuan are handling?”

“It’s bizarre.” Ange leaned on the desk, her expression mysterious. “A says B committed bigamy. B denies it. A has a marriage certificate. C, the current groom, says he didn’t know B was married and is on the verge of collapse.”

“Bigamy’s easy to verify, right?” Cen Qingyi said casually. “The Civil Affairs Bureau must have records.”

“That’s the issue!” Ange slapped the desk, spreading her hands and shrugging. “The bureau has none.”

“So someone’s lying.” Cen Qingyi stared at the steam from her ginger tea, lost in thought. Ange gazed at her beautiful face behind the mist and sighed. “They ruin beautiful love. They marry and divorce so easily. Love’s worthless to them.” Unmarried and idealistic, Ange worked at a law firm, handling many divorce cases with strange reasons.

Cen Qingyi stayed silent as Ange complained. Ange leaned closer, asking, “Boss, you’ve worked so long. Does it affect you?” She meant whether Cen Qingyi had lost faith in love.

“I never had any expectations.” Cen Qingyi set down her cup. “I’m a non-marriage advocate now.”

Ange wanted to ask more, but Cen Qingyi’s phone rang. She left tactfully.

Cen Qingyi grabbed her phone. A text from an unknown number, its style unmistakable—Jiang Zhiyi. Wasn’t she embarrassed?