Chapter 6, Irreplaceable

After the case is adjudicated, the level of anger that Dan Shuxi feels towards Dan Shurou's actions could very well lead her to sue her sister again. She needs to grasp more information in order to provide reasonable advice and opinions

It is not inappropriate for him to be so direct; however, Shuru's pride was somewhat compromised. Yet, she quickly regained her composure and spoke candidly: "I want to reclaim everything that belongs to me, even if it means resorting to extreme measures." As her gaze met Gao Chi's unusually cold and stern eyes, her heart inexplicably tightened, and she continued, "Even if the court rules the will invalid, I will appeal."

He furrowed his brows and made a sound of acknowledgment, then gently yet firmly extended his arm to embrace her slender shoulders

The thin lips curled into a self-mocking smile; at the moment of stepping out, he thought that if it were him, there would naturally be no need for thanks, after all, he had always been an outsider.

The early autumn sunlight remains warm, yet Dan Shuru has been sitting in the reception room for nearly two hours, already shivering from the air conditioning.

After a long while, she carefully placed the hourglass back in its original position, walked out of the room, locked the door, and proceeded to work.

Whenever she falls ill, this scene inevitably resurfaces in her mind: she nestles in his arms like a child, her nose surrounded by his unique masculine scent, imbued with a reassuring strength. No matter how good Luo Yiheng is, it seems he cannot overshadow the shadow that lives in her heart.

Shu Rou's gaze swept over the casually unbuttoned collar of his shirt, moving up to his handsome face, and she smiled gently: "Long time no see, Gao Chi. I apologize for my thoughtlessness in interrupting you; I forgot that you just returned to the country and must have many matters to attend to at the company. I hope I am not delaying you"

Secretary Ding has already understood the situation and called back to the front desk in the lobby to inform: "Mr. Gao is currently in a meeting. If Miss Shan has time to wait, please take her to the reception room"

"I have kept you waiting, Miss Dan." His expression was somewhat indifferent, and his tone rarely carried a hint of warmth, yet there was not a trace of apology to be heard

Has Mr. Gao not finished the meeting yet?" Shan Shurou could not help but ask the receptionist who had previously led her in and shown her the pictures and books.

This is necessary. Luo Yiheng agreed and after a moment of thought said: "Shu Rou's lawyer will definitely advise her, and I believe she is already aware that the chances of winning a lawsuit under the current circumstances are extremely slim. In my judgment, it is very likely that she will take the initiative to arrange a meeting with her brother."

"Jintai." Gao Chi struck the final note with a decisive blow, reaching out to push open the heavy glass door

Despite her efforts to conceal her feelings, a hint of emotion still leaked from the depths of her eyes. Luo Yiheng quietly gazed at her. She did not ask him anything about Gao Chi, including the magazine report mentioned by Ye Youri. He certainly would not bring up their chance encounter from yesterday, as if nothing had happened. He merely smiled faintly, gently touched her hair, and explained, "I was delayed by a car race on the way." As he spoke, he reached out to push open the door to her office.

The door of the reception room gently closed behind him, and Gao Chi did not pause in his steps as he made his way back to his exclusive office. Passing by Secretary Ding's desk in front of the glass door, he instructed, "Please expedite the arrangements for the hotel’s legal advisor."

"Could it be a cold?" I lifted the blanket and got out of bed, speaking with a heavy nasal tone.

Secretary Ding had already grown accustomed to her superior's indifference, and in a respectful tone, she inquired: "Mr. Gao, there is a Miss Shan Shurou who wishes to see you, but she does not have an appointment. Would you like to meet her"

When it comes to work, Jian Norton immediately became spirited, a glimmer of confidence flashing in her eyes. She said, "I wonder if Dan Shuxi will consider the bond of brotherhood and agree to settle out of court. I always feel that he appears to be indifferent to everything, but in reality, he is quite thoughtful."

He did not turn around, facing away from her, and then he heard her say: "Thank you!"

Perhaps the more difficult the love, the more it makes one persistent. However, whether their respective persistence can lead to the happiness they desire remains to be seen

Shan Shurou's smile faded completely in the moment she turned around, as if she somewhat understood Gao Chi's meaning. It seemed she should not have approached the *Tushu* door directly. If he intended to help, he would naturally reach out to her. However, her lawyer had already made it very clear that if her father's writing habits were indeed verified as Jian Nuo had stated, then the will in her possession would become invalid, and she would undoubtedly lose this lawsuit. Furthermore, the method by which she had her father change that will would also be a question she must answer in court. She did not know how to justify herself, and in her anxiety, she decided to take the initiative to visit. Yet, things were clearly not as easy as she had anticipated. Shan Shurou realized that, for that man, her matter was as light as a straw.

The invalidation of the will was to be expected. With his hands casually clasped in front of him, he cast a glance at her and said: "The key issue now is whether your brother will accuse you of extortion, or even bring up your father's passing..." Gao Chi slowly paused, not finishing his sentence.

At that moment, the internal line rang. He composed himself, and as he connected the call, his gaze remained fixed on the screen. He asked, "What is it?" Upon listening closely, his tone revealed a hint of displeasure, as if he was quite unhappy to be disturbed at that moment.

"It is truly not easy for you to have lived this long." Pinching her slightly flushed face, Gao Chi said with a stern expression, "I told you not to rush to take off your clothes after your morning run, but you never listen. Finally, you've caught a cold; it feels very comfortable, doesn't it?" He helped her lean against the headboard and brought the medicine directly to her lips, then handed her some water. The actions were seamless, skilled, and natural.

False accusation? Upon hearing this, Gao Chi unexpectedly smiled faintly, the smile merely lingering at the corners of his lips, and he said in an extremely calm manner: "So it seems that Miss Shan is merely overly assertive in her words, at most it can only be considered a moral lack of filial piety."

"Alright, Secretary Ding." The receptionist hung up the phone, led Shan Shuro to the reception room, and politely poured her a glass of water before leaving

The indulgent tone deepened the smile on her lips as she gently leaned against his chest, shyly and obediently calling him "Gao Chi".

Dan Shuru felt a sense of clarity. Previously, her lawyer had also reminded her that Dan Shuxi was very likely to request detailed medical reports from the hospital regarding Dan Laosheng's condition in the days leading up to his passing, in order to verify whether their argument had caused an excessive emotional disturbance that ultimately led to his death. To say she was not afraid would be a lie, yet at this moment, she still stubbornly insisted, "We did have an argument in the hospital, but he lived for several days afterward, so Dan Shuxi cannot accuse me unjustly."

Hearing the sarcasm in his words, Shan Shurou's face suddenly turned pale. Before she could speak, he reminded her: "Shan Shuxi must provide sufficient evidence to request the public security authorities to file a case. Before that, Miss Shan might as well talk to your brother. It would be best to reach a settlement outside of court; otherwise..." After a slight pause, Gao Chi added as he stood up: "Otherwise, Miss Shan will have to hire a good lawyer to fight back. If needed, I can introduce Lawyer Su to you."

In the moment he lowered his head to drink water, he saw her lips curl into a warm smile. He gently ruffled her fluffy hair, his tone unconsciously softening: "You are always so carefree, just knowing how to smile foolishly." The cold and hard exterior he presented to outsiders always softened and warmed in front of Jian Nuo.

Jian Nuo gazed at his silhouette, feeling a desolate emptiness within her. Her eyes fell upon the cold medicine placed on the table, recalling the scene of that person visiting her dormitory when she was ill, a tumult of broken-hearted pain surged in her chest

It is said that the hourglass symbolizes love and happiness, but Jian Nuo is no longer certain whether the sand flowing within it represents the beautiful memories of the past, and whether the reunion she is waiting for is a beginning or an end

Jian Nuo nodded, a faint smile gradually appearing at the corners of her lips, subtle yet revealing a sense of tranquility and beauty. She said: "It can now be confirmed that the will was made under Mr. Dan's unwillingness. I would like to arrange a meeting with Dan Shuxi to further understand any unusual behaviors exhibited by his father before his passing. After all, if we can deduce how Dan Shuxi used certain methods to compel Mr. Dan to leave that will, it would be more beneficial for the entire case."

The heavy rain from yesterday indeed had serious consequences. During the morning meeting, Jian Nuo began to cough. By the time she reached the door of her private office, she was already coughing so hard that she could hardly catch her breath, with tears and mucus streaming down her face. Luo Yiheng timely handed her a tissue, which she accepted, saying in a nasal voice, "I thought you weren't coming to meet the client after all." She had not seen him at the morning meeting and assumed he would not come to the office.

With a slight furrow of his brow, Gao Chi's voice was extremely cold as he said, "Please have her wait in the reception room." Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone.

The meeting should not be over yet, Miss Dan, please wait a moment, I will ask for you. The receptionist smiled politely and picked up the microphone

"Alright, Mr. Gao." Secretary Ding stood up and, seeing that he was about to leave, promptly offered a suggestion for him to decide: "I have reviewed the information of several law firms in Yicheng and believe that Zhiyuan, Sifang, and Jintai are all equally competent."

Regarding her insincere remark about "intruding rashly," Gao Chi remained noncommittal, his expression unchanged. He politely raised his hand to gesture for her to sit down and directly stated: "What did Miss Dan say about that will?"

Senior Brother? Just as his hand touched the door ball, he was called by Jian Nuo

Should I help her like this? Shan Shuro stared at his tall figure, frozen in her seat, unsure whether she should say "thank you".

In the spacious office, it appeared particularly empty. Gao Chi lounged lazily in the large executive chair, his elbows resting on the desk. His cold, stern eyes rarely revealed any warmth, yet they were fixed intently on the computer screen, following the movements of the girl with a charming smile in the video, the corners of his angular lips barely curving into a slight arc.

It seems that he did not notice the fleeting light in the corner of her eyes. Luo Yiheng naturally shifted the topic to work: "The case of Shan Shuxi will be heard again in ten days. During this time, apart from the necessary work that needs to be handled, there won't be any urgent matters from hetushucomcom. If you are not feeling well, you should go back and rest early"

No one speaks, the world is enveloped in silence, and a sense of happiness flows through the air

Not knowing how long she had been standing, until the alarm on her phone rang, Jian Nuo calmly changed her clothes. Before leaving, her gaze inadvertently glanced at the glass bookcase. She paused, reached out to take the blue hourglass she cherished the most from inside, gently caressing it in her hand, as a deep sense of sadness surged within her

Human hearts are difficult to gauge. The siblings never had any feelings for each other, and now that things have escalated to this point, Shan Shuxi is unlikely to let it go easily; this case is bound to drag on. Thinking of the meeting with the parties involved, Luo Yiheng walked towards the door while saying: "If you feel unwell, don't force yourself; just reach out to me if you need anything"

Luo Yiheng stood with his back to the window, sunlight streaming in from behind his head, casting a faint shadow on his eyes and chin. The strands of hair at his forehead were perhaps slightly disheveled by the wind due to his hurried pace, making her feel that at this moment, he seemed to be in a state of unutterable disarray. Jian Nuo felt a pang of discomfort in her heart, took the medicine, and with a sip of water, tilted her head back and swallowed it in one go.

After entering, he took a cup from the table and poured water for her, handing the medicine to her: "Do you have a fever?" He touched her forehead with the back of his hand, "It's good if you don't have a fever. First, take the medicine." Having been thoroughly soaked yesterday, he had already anticipated that she would feel unwell.

After waiting for two hours, she reluctantly sat down again

The heavy rain fell throughout the night, until the sky began to brighten. A ray of light streamed through the window and landed perfectly on Jian Nuo's face. She lay with her eyes closed for quite a while before finally managing to open them with great effort, feeling that her breathing was quite labored and her throat was burning with pain.

Twenty minutes later, the door to the reception room was pushed open, and Gao Chi, dressed in a dark suit, walked in slowly

Pushing open the window, fresh air rushes in, bringing a sense of refreshment and tranquility. Holding a cup of hot water, Jian Nuo leans against the window in a thick coat. The post-rain Yicheng resembles a sleeping infant, exuding endless charm and vitality.