55: Chapter 55 Inspection

It was already past 1 a.m. when he left the Sub-bureau.

He was basically uninjured, while the others, including Jiang Yu, had been taken to the hospital.

The outcome of this incident was still pending, so the police informed Lin Ning not to leave Capital.

It wasn't until he was outside that he remembered—damn, his little electric scooter!

After finally retrieving his scooter, Lin Ning couldn't help but think as he rode home.

If he were Jiang Yu, how could he escape such vampire-like family members?

Back at the Sub-bureau, Lin Ning had heard a rough outline of Jiang Yu's story.

She had been beaten, scolded, and not allowed to attend school since childhood. Thanks to her school teachers' persuasion that 'educated girls fetch a higher bride price,' she managed to get an education. She paid her own university tuition, but in her final year before graduation, her family went to her school and caused a scene, insisting she drop out and return home to get married.

The groom was a man nearly fifty who had beaten his wife to death and served time in prison.

But the bride price was high—enough to cover the bride prices for both her older and younger brothers.

But was her family poor? Not at all. It was said they owned two mountain slopes planted with jujube and walnut trees and had three properties in the county town.

Enduring the strange looks from classmates and teachers, Jiang Yu gritted her teeth and graduated, then fled directly to Capital.

She had worked at two companies, but her family ruined both jobs for her by causing trouble.

This time, they seemed determined to drag her back home to marry, even if it meant using force.

Lin Ning mentally ran through all sorts of legitimate strategies and found that none of them were particularly useful.

Concepts like marriage freedom, the illegality of arranged marriages for profit, and domestic violence being a criminal case... in reality, you find that the law is one thing, but real life is another.

Once they start making a fuss, it's labeled a 'family dispute.' Even if public opinion is on your side, colleagues and friends around you can't stand the constant disruption to their lives.

As if struck by a thought, a sly grin crept onto Lin Ning's face.

Dirty tricks are still tricks, right?

Ring ring~~

Chen Zhi was calling.

"What did you do this time? The police are requesting your file."

"Acting bravely for a just cause!" Lin Ning declared righteously.

Chen Zhi: "..."

Lin Ning quickly followed up, "The person I saved is in a pitiful situation. Can you guys scare those scumbag family members into leaving her alone?"

The response Lin Ning received was a "beep... beep..."—the sound of the call being hung up.

The next day, Lin Ning contacted Jiang Yu, "I have a plan that might not be a proper solution, but do you want to hear it?"

They agreed to meet at a cafe near Juma Bridge.

Jiang Yu wore a mask and sunglasses. Overnight, the bruises on her face had darkened, becoming more pronounced.

Meeting again, perhaps because Lin Ning had seen her at her most vulnerable, or perhaps out of gratitude for saving her life, Jiang Yu shed her icy exterior and became more genuine.

As Lin Ning explained his idea, her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Is... is that possible?"

Lin Ning shook his head, but before her disappointment could set in, he asked, "Do you understand them? Is money the most important thing to them?"

Jiang Yu nodded, "At least more important than I am."

"To kill a snake, you must strike its head. Attack their weakest point—that's the principle, right?"

Jiang Yu nodded emphatically.

Lin Ning: "I'll go back and schedule a meeting with a lawyer. You can consult him in person, or you can find your own lawyer. Then I'll introduce you to a few people."

A simple, happy smile appeared in her eyes, "Okay."

"Then find a place to rest for a while where they can't find you. Do you have money? I can lend you some temporarily."

Her short hair, tinted gold by the sun, fluttered as Jiang Yu shook her head, "I have money. I've earned quite a bit from food delivery."

Lin Ning suddenly averted his eyes, "Then I'll head back first. Contact me anytime!"

Riding his little electric scooter, Lin Ning tried to calm his suddenly racing heart and headed straight for Lawyer Zhang's office.

After hearing Lin Ning out, Lawyer Zhang was speechless, "What were you thinking?"

Lin Ning was completely meddling in other people's business, so the only possible answer was, "Do you have feelings for her? You need to think this through. Even if you solve it now, there could be trouble later."

Lin Ning retorted, "What nonsense! This is called championing a just cause!"

Seeing Lawyer Zhang Qi's expression that said 'keep spinning your tale,' Lin Ning grew a bit flustered and angry, "Don't you have any compassion?! Your thoughts are really dirty!"

"Hurry up, are there any legal risks?"

Zhang Qi clicked his tongue, "Just sending a lawyer's letter doesn't involve legal risks, but your own finances could be at risk."

"And you finding people to back you up—that's a gray area too. You need to consider it carefully."

"As long as it's not illegal. Help me draft the contract and prepare the lawyer's letter."

Returning home that evening, he found Jin Er and the others.

"That's the gist of the situation. Can you help?"

The three of them, Jin Er and his friends, didn't mind. Getting yelled at a bit, and it was all prearranged—what was the big deal?

But—

All three spoke in unison, "Do you have feelings for her?"

Lin Ning immediately flushed with anger, "Don't you have any sense of chivalry? Why do you only think of such dirty things?"

Xu San burst out laughing, "Hahaha, he's getting worked up! He's getting worked up!"

Jin Er and Zhang Shitou: "Hahahaha..."

Lin Ning fled in defeat. To say he had no thoughts at all would be a lie, but he had genuinely stepped in because he saw an injustice.

What a bunch of bastards!

He called Jiang Yu, "I've asked around on my end. No problems."

Jiang Yu: "Then after this case is over, we can start, okay?"

Lin Ning: "It's up to you."

Jiang Yu was quiet for a moment on the other end, "Lin Ning, thank you!"

...

Indeed, they had to wait until the so-called 'kidnapping' case was concluded.

Lin Ning also needed to start getting busy.

Although Tuesday was the official day of the Technology Forum, preparations for all aspects of the venue had long since begun.

Starting Sunday, Lin Ning would follow Chen Zhi to begin sweeping the venue.

Chen Zhi was responsible for deploying personnel to ensure the safety of the venue's facilities, while Lin Ning needed to check the backgrounds of all non-attendee staff.

Chen Zhi and his team were exhausted, but Lin Ning was quite leisurely.

As he swaggered past Chen Zhi for the Nth time, munching on spicy strips, Chen Zhi finally lost his patience and kicked out at him.

Lin Ning's reflexes were fast now, "Heh, can't catch me."

The Ministry of State Security officer beside Chen Zhi stifled a laugh and quickly said, "Chief, I'll go handle it then."

So bold! And theirs was such a serious department—where did this joker come from?!

Chen Zhi felt his blood pressure must be at three hundred. What sin had he committed? Why did a director have to personally receive a whistleblower back then?

A little mischief was fine, but Lin Ning was afraid of actually giving Chen Zhi a heart attack.

He handed his notebook to Chen Zhi, "That's all for now. I've gone over it several times; there shouldn't be any unfamiliar faces left."

Chen Zhi took it but didn't open it immediately.

"Can't you be a bit more steady? What kind of impression are you giving?"

Lin Ning put on a standard, professional smile.

Chen Zhi sighed. He knew Lin Ning's antics all too well. Thank goodness they hadn't recruited him as a formal team member, or he'd probably have lost several years off his life.

He opened the notebook, glanced through it seriously, and tapped on it a couple of times with his own device.

"Tomorrow, you'll be on standby behind Director Ou. Rest well tonight, and don't stir up any more trouble, understand?"

"Understood, I won't drop the ball!"