Chapter 40: Yu Xi Is My Friend

It wasn’t until Yun Fu stood up and walked into the room that she finally snapped out of her daze.

Yun Fu… had she always been like this before?

No wonder so many people claimed the entertainment industry was a giant dye vat— even Yun Fu had changed into someone she could hardly recognize.

Yu Xi sat for a while, then, glancing at the takeout boxes still cluttering the coffee table, got up and tidied them away. After cleaning the table, she felt it was still a bit dirty, so she fetched a cloth and wiped it down.

When Yun Fu emerged, she saw Yu Xi diligently wiping the table, looking every bit the picture of domesticity.

Yun Fu paused in the act of putting on her hat. “Someone will come to clean up.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Yu Xi replied with an embarrassed smile. “I just did it out of habit. I don’t have much else to do, anyway.”

Seeing Yun Fu had changed into different clothes and was now wearing a hat, she asked, “Are you going out?”

“Mm.” Yun Fu picked up the keys from the entryway cabinet, not bothering to look back as she instructed, “Don’t go out.”

With that, she opened the door and disappeared into the night.

Watching her leave, Yu Xi was filled with emotion. The Yun Fu she knew had truly changed.

The Yun Fu from before, though not particularly delicate, had always been a typical girl unable to make decisions for herself. Yet now, she had become someone with a commanding presence— decisive and courageous.

Yun Fu mounted her motorcycle and headed straight to her destination.

A law firm.

Everyone at the firm noticed something odd today. Their boss was acting strangely. Normally, at this hour, he’d be upstairs working late, as committed as ever. But today, he’d come down early, looking tense and expectant— almost reverent, as if awaiting someone important.

The whole firm buzzed with curiosity— who could make their boss, renowned across the capital—no, across the nation—display such an attitude?

After all, their boss was famous. Countless people tried to hire him, only to be turned down. In ten years of practice, he’d never lost a case; every one he handled ended in a stunning victory.

People in the legal circle even had a saying: if your opponent’s lawyer is Fang Zeming, don’t bother hoping to win— just try not to lose too badly.

Finally, the sound of a motorcycle echoed at the entrance, and everyone saw their boss dash outside, practically stumbling over himself.

The more gossipy staff craned their necks to see, catching only a glimpse of long, slender legs in black trousers swinging off the bike.

Judging by the figure, it was a woman— tall, slim, and with an air of elegance.

When she removed her helmet, their boss immediately took it from her, grinning obsequiously as he did so.

This scene left the firm’s staff utterly dumbfounded.

Their boss— a legend in the legal world! Someone whom others would beg on their knees to meet— was acting like an eager puppy. It was unimaginable.

But curiosity about the girl soon overshadowed everything else.

She wore a mask, and after taking off her helmet, put on a hat. Besides her slender, pale hands, nothing else was discernible.

—

Upstairs, Fang Zeming poured Yun Fu a cup of tea with utmost respect, even addressing her deferentially, “Boss, have some tea.”

Yun Fu removed her hat, revealing eyes cool and proud.

“I need your help with something.”

Fang Zeming was momentarily stunned.

Even the boss had matters she couldn’t handle? Then he would give his all, no matter what.

“Boss, just say the word. If you need me to scale mountains or cross fires—”

Before he could finish, Yun Fu took a document from her backpack and placed it before him.

“This case— I want none of them left untouched.”

She spoke as casually as if asking if he’d had dinner.

But Fang Zeming shuddered. Only someone of her caliber could utter such a bloodthirsty statement with such ease.

He had met Yun Fu a few months ago online.

At the time, an international forum featured a case hotly debated by almost every renowned lawyer. Even he couldn’t see a perfect solution.

Then, someone with the username “Y” appeared in the discussion, and with just a few words, identified the loophole in the case and turned the tables, ensuring the criminal received the maximum punishment.

No one had ever wielded the law so flawlessly. Overnight, “Y” became a legend.

The forum exploded. Fang Zeming still remembered the rush of excitement he felt.

He relentlessly pestered this person into accepting his friend request and discussed legal issues with her daily. Though she seldom replied, and then only with a word or two, he learned much over those months.

He discovered the boss was also from Huaguo and, more astonishingly, a nineteen-year-old girl.

He didn’t know her name or what she looked like— until today. Seeing her in person, he realized her bearing matched her reputation; she must also be quite beautiful.

To be chosen by someone like her, Fang Zeming felt deeply honored.

He’d thought any case she couldn’t solve must be formidable, but after glancing through the file, he suspected she’d picked up the wrong document.

“This…”

“Yu Xi is my friend.”

That explained everything. Fang Zeming understood without need for further words.

Neither that top celebrity nor that company would escape— nor would the colleague who framed Yu Xi.

“Boss, don’t worry. I guarantee this will be handled perfectly.” For such a straightforward case, even if the odds weren’t in their favor, any lawyer at the firm could win it easily. But since the boss had come to him, it meant she trusted him— and Fang Zeming felt a surge of pride.

“Mm.” Yun Fu nodded, stood up, and prepared to leave.

Just as she reached the door, she turned back to look at him. “My name is Yun Fu.”

Fang Zeming was momentarily startled. By the time he gathered his thoughts, she’d already entered the elevator.

He scratched his head—a nagging sense of familiarity with her name, though he couldn’t place where he’d heard it before.

Chasing downstairs, he arrived just in time to hear the motorcycle roar away.

Frowning, he asked the receptionist, “Xiao Lin, have you ever heard of someone named Yun Fu? Is she responsible for any cases here?”

The young woman’s face lit up with excitement. “No, boss! You know Yun Fu? She’s a celebrity! She’s the one in the red dress I posted about on my Moments the other day— she’s stunning!

“Boss, are you a fan too? Let me tell you, Yun Fu, she—”

Over the next ten minutes, Fang Zeming was bombarded with Xiao Lin’s enthusiastic account of Yun Fu’s life.

Afterward, he questioned reality itself.

Looking at the photo of the breathtaking beauty in red, he was certain she was the very person he’d just met.

No wonder— no wonder the boss didn’t show her face in person.