Chapter 944: Gathering Together

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“You have tangible evidence?” Huo Shaoheng sat behind his office desk. He checked his emails from his personnel while communicating with them in real-time.

“We are still looking for direct evidence. However, when the American lawyer was fighting the lawsuit, he disclosed that the Angels in the World charity made a large donation two years ago in support of a research project at the Tokyo Imperial College of Medicine. That research project was conducted by Professor Oda Masao, but when he suddenly died, the project was stopped.”

Huo Shaoheng’s hand suddenly paused, his gaze freezing. “Oda Masao?”

He was their old friend…

“Right, that was the professor in charge of the project. We discovered that his research was actually commissioned by the Ishihara Corporation.”

“Commissioned? It was probably cooperative research.” Huo Shaheng froze for a moment, then shook his head. “The Ishihara Corporation isn’t a simple business organization, I suspect that they are still engaged in their previous industry.”

“Do you mean that…?” The field personnel in Japan listened very carefully because he was terrified of missing any important instructions.

Huo Shaheng raised his head to look at the video on the monitor. He replied sternly, “What did Ishihara Shiro use to do? Did you forget about that?”

The highest commander of Japan’s infamous military corp, Colonel Ishihara Shiro, was the one who’d made an offer to the United States using the research results obtained from human experimentation on the Huaxia people to ask the United States for the right to not face trial after the war.

Ishihara Shiro happened to be the founder of the Ishihara Corporation. He was also the father of Ishihara Wakashi and the grandfather of Ishihara Taro.

“Roger, Huo Shao. We will follow up on this clue.”

Huo Shaoheng considered it, then instructed them, “The Ishihara Corporation will turn into a big mess right away. You must remember to make things as chaotic as possible.”

This way, they could unearth even more secrets from the investigation.

The field personnel in Japan were very shocked. “It will turn into a big mess?! This corporation has a very tight organizational structure, so our investigation has been developing very slowly!”

Fate would truly be in their favor if things turned messy!

Huo Shaoheng smiled. He agreed, “Yes, be prepared.”

Not only would the personnel push things along, but Huo Shaoheng’s men would also push things along from their home base.

It was the wisdom of the Huaxia ancestors to give other people a taste of their own medicine.

…

Two hours later, Gu Nianzhi’s thesis defense was approaching its end.

Her thesis topic was on the scope of the application of inheritance law.

He Zhichu had helped her select this thesis topic to alleviate her academic burdens.

Because Gu Nianzhi had contended over the Gu family fortune with Gu Yanran, she had already consulted a lot of relevant legal knowledge and cases. She had already accumulated a lot of information on the topic.

It was truly very easy to write her master’s thesis using the materials and cases she had applied during her lawsuit.

As a result, Gu Nianzhi was very well prepared. It was unlike a typical master’s graduation thesis which typically remained at the level of state armchair strategies in the academic field.

As for Gu Nianzhi, she had actually applied this theory to guided practice when she’d used it to debate with others in court.

Because of this, her graduation thesis defense went very smoothly. The professor presiding over the defense gushed with compliments and even expressed that her methods were very clever and that her thinking was flexible. This could become a poster example for future B University Masters of Law graduate theses!

Gu Nianzhi was very grateful. Still, she managed to control her own emotions as she politely thanked all the professors for their high praise.

After the thesis defense concluded, all the professors stood up to shake her hand before leaving the small conference room. Only He Zhicihu and Gu Nianzhi remained.

He Zhichu wore a smoke-gray suit. He looked very handsome as he walked to Gu Nianzhi’s side and bowed. “Congratulations, Nianzhi. You’ve finally graduated.”

Gu Nianzhi remained in her seat, a dreamy expression on her face as she slowly replied, “Professor He, I really can’t believe that I’ve actually graduated…”

She hadn’t felt this strongly when she’d graduated from her undergraduate studies. Perhaps it was because she’d known at the time that she would continue to advance her studies, so she hadn’t felt like she was stepping away from university studies after graduation.

But this time was different. She didn’t plan to continue to Ph.D. studies, so graduating with her master’s degree signified that her career in the ivory tower was now over.

From now on, she would be entering society and be like the majority of people, using her skills and abilities to seek her place in the world.

He Zhichu couldn’t help patting her head. There were a few traces of tenderness in his icy and aloof voice as he said, “Yeah, you’ve graduated. You should go to work in the United States.”

Gu Nianzhi was his assistant, which also meant she was now an official employee of the largest law firm in the United States.

He Zhichu paused, then said, “…I’m going to the United States too. The master’s students here will be graduating in six months. After that, I’ll be resigning from my role as a law professor at B University.”

Gu Nianzhi widened her huge eyes and was very shocked. “But Professor He, they all like you a lot! They like going to your classes!”

He Zhichu was quiet.

He didn’t need these students to like him, he only needed her to like him.

“I’ll teach them until their graduation.” He Zhichu discreetly changed the topic. “If you don’t want to start working right away, you can take the next six months off.”

Gu Nianzhi shook her head. “I want to work, but I don’t want to go to work in the United States. Professor He, it’s too early to be talking about these things. I still haven’t wrapped my head around it. I’ll wait until the Lunar New Year is over before I start thinking about where I want to work.”

He Zhichu didn’t pressure her. “Okay, it’s fine if you don’t want to go to the United States. I also have a law firm here, so you can work there and I’ll make you partner.”

Gu Nianzhi was stunned.

If she became a partner as soon as she graduated, other people would forever stick the label of “He Zhichu” on her, even if she had her own merits.

Gu Nianzhi had struggled hard to finally break free from Huo Shaoheng’s protection and care, so she didn’t want to immediately carry the weight of someone else’s label.

“Professor He, I want to make my own achievements first, then bring my own clients to join your law firm. What do you think?” Gu Nianzhi replied politely as she stood up from her seat.

He Zhichu understood what she meant as soon as she said it. He replied with a smile, “Do you also worry about what other people think?”

“I’m not worrying about what other people think, but I don’t want to bury my own talents either.” Gu Nianzhi confidently put on her backpack and picked up her laptop bag with her other hand. “Professor He, is it okay if I do some exploring myself?”

“…I didn’t say I wouldn’t allow you to explore, but what’s the point of taking so many other detours? You will become my partner in the end anyway, so if it’s only a matter of time. Why not make it earlier?” He Zhichu teased Gu Nianzhi with persuasive reasoning.

Gu Nianzhi giggled and shook her head. “That’s not the same thing. Let’s change the perspective and say that the detours are actually experiences. Without taking detours, there is no experience. In this industry, the most important thing is to be able to convince the public. If other people can’t trust my ability, why would they ask me to be their lawyer? Also, I’m not any less skilled than others, so why aren’t you assured about letting go and allowing me to try things out on my own?”

He Zhichu stared at her, the expression on his face turning icy.

Gu Nianzhi knew that He Zhichu was looking out for her, but just like Huo Shaoheng, he always believed that she couldn’t be independent.

“But I must thank you for your suggestion, Professor He. Your suggestion has given me more courage to go out and work without being afraid of failure. I know that you won’t turn your back on me, right?”

Now Gu Nianzhi also knew how to express her thoughts in a circuitous way and express her goodwill without hurting other people’s feelings.

As expected, He Zhichu’s mood improved greatly. Picking up his briefcase, he walked out of the small conference room with Gu Nianzhi and replied dryly, “Oh? But you already refused my suggestion, how can that give you even more courage?”

“Because I know that you’ll always be my strongest supporter! That’s why I have the courage to go forward!” Gu Nianzhi waved her arms and smiled at He Zhichu.

This statement greatly pleased He Zhichu.

A pleasant arc involuntarily formed at the corners of his lips. It wasn’t until he returned to his suite in the professor’s building and went to the bathroom to wash his hands that he realized he was still smiling faintly.

No wonder his cheeks were a bit sore…

He Zhichu flattened the corners of his lips.

Coming out of the bathroom, he called Gu Nianzhi on the phone. “Nianzhi, you’ll be on break after the exam today. May I treat you to dinner?”

Gu Nianzhi had just returned to the dorm and was in the middle of telling Ma Qiqi and Yin Shixiong about the interesting things that had happened during her thesis defense.

Hearing her ringtone, Gu Nianzhi picked up the phone and said to He Zhichu, “Professor He, I was just about to treat other people to dinner. Do you want to come too?”

“Okay, where?” He Zhichu glanced at his schedule. Today was especially blanked out because he needed to return to the United States for a trip after celebrating with Gu Nianzhi.

Gu Nianzhi told him the location of the restaurant they were going to for dinner, then said to Ma Qiqi and Yin Shixiong, “You guys can come too. I booked a private room so we can play all afternoon and night.”

After eating two meals, they could also sing karaoke and play mahjong and cards. This place was an entertainment and dining one-stop-shop.

Yin Shixiong replied with a smile, “Sounds good, but it’s just a few of us. How about we all invite a few more people?”

Gu Nianzhi blinked. She recalled Huo Shaoheng telling her to call him after the thesis defense concluded.

After being berated by Huo Shaoheng on the highway, she was a bit afraid of him.

Yin Shixiong made a face at Gu Nianzhi. “Nianzhi, you wouldn’t be that petty, right?”

Gu Nianzhi could only smile. “I want to invite a few more people, but it’s the holidays right now. Our classmates either have to go home or to work, so we won’t be able to get that many people to come on such short notice. How about Brother Xiong asks if Huo Shao and Brother Ze are free?”

The day before was Friday, the last day of finals exams at B University.

Winter break began after the exams finished.

It was Saturday, the date for Gu Nianzhi’s thesis defense. It had been moved up to this day because she was graduating early.

As for the graduation ceremony, she would have to wait to be with the group of students who would be graduating normally.

B University only had one graduation ceremony per year.

Yin Shixiong pinched his fingers together and snapped them. “Okay, I’ll ask them for you.”

He walked to the balcony to call Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze.

Of course, Zhao Liangze was happy to agree. He asked a colleague to cover his shift for a few hours and drove over to meet them.

When Zhao Liangze arrived at the door of the restaurant Gu Nianzhi, he somehow ran into Bai Shuang and Bai Yueran.

They’d been there to have lunch earlier in the day. When they heard that Gu Nianzhi had graduated early, they smiled and said they wanted to help her celebrate.

Zhao Liangze couldn’t make that decision himself, so he smiled. ‘I’ll go ask, but there’s nothing I can do if there are too many people.”

“That’s okay, we’ll just go over to say hello.” Bai Shuang only wanted an opportunity to spend a bit more time with Zhao Liangze, so she was being very friendly.

Zhao Liangze brought them inside.

Gu Nianzhi had booked a rather large private room, but there actually weren’t that many people inside.

Bai Yueran glanced around and was slightly reassured when she recognized everyone.

She went over to greet everyone one by one.

“Lawyer He, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Big Xiong, are you shirking your duties?” Bai Yueran laughed, then shook hands with Ma Qiqi. “Are you Qiqi? I’ve seen you before.”

When Gu Nianzhi saw that it was Bai Shuang and Bai Yueran, she winked at Zhao Liangze and invited them in cheerfully. “The two Miss Bais! Do you want to join us if you’re free?”

Bai Yueran looked at Bai Shuang and said, “I can stay for three hours before I have to return to the base. What about you?”

Bai Shuang replied with a smile, “I’m not busy. I’ll join in the fun if Miss Gu doesn’t mind.”

Of course, Gu Nianzhi didn’t mind. She had rather good impressions of these two people and had also heard the blabbermouth Yin Shixiong once say that Zhao Liangze was pursuing Bai Yueran, but Bai Shuang liked Zhao Liangze.

Gu Nianzhi loved watching these love triangles and gossip. She now had the chance to see it in live-action, so how could she miss out on it?

Also, she’d graduated today and was feeling light as a feather. She was much more cheerful than normal.

Bai Yueran and Bai Shuang stayed and had lunch with them.

However, Huo Shaoheng was in a meeting and couldn’t pick up his phone.

When his meeting was over, he discovered that it had already been two hours since Yin Shixiong called him.

He called back and asked, “Big Xiong? What happened?”

Yin Shixiong quickly replied, “Hurry up and come over, Huo Shao! I saved food for you! Nianzhi is having her graduation celebration. You can’t be absent!”

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