137: Chapter 137 Attorney Lin

With no classes in the afternoon, Jiang Chen stepped out of the administrative building. Instead of heading straight for the car parked by the roadside, he leaned against the shade of the corridor and sent Lin Wan a message.

"Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."

Less than two minutes after the message was sent, his phone vibrated softly. Lin Wan had replied almost instantly.

Jiang Chen opened the chat box. The first thing that popped up was a side-profile photo of her lying on her desk at the law firm.

The afternoon sunlight slanted across the tips of her hair, casting a soft halo. A clear smile curled at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes were filled with a small joy hidden amidst her exhaustion.

This was immediately followed by a long string of complaints.

"Help, I'm practically being worked like a horse. Classes during the day, the law firm in the afternoon, and organizing case files at night. My feet haven't touched the ground; I even have to time my sips of water."

"The assignments from my tutor are piled up like a mountain, and the lawyer mentoring me is incredibly strict. I feel like I'm being squeezed dry."

Jiang Chen looked at the screen, his fingertips tapping lightly as he leisurely replied: "Working that hard? Perfect. My company will need a legal director in the future. I see you have a bright future, so I'm booking you in advance."

The other side was silent for a few seconds before a text message with a crying tone came back, followed by a face-palm emoji.

"Oh heavens! When other people 'draw cakes' [make empty promises], they paint a blueprint for the future. You're drawing the cake directly to my graduation and employment, aren't you!"

Jiang Chen chuckled, his fingertips quickly tapping the screen: "It's not an empty promise; we really do need one."

"Besides, I can't let our great Lawyer Lin keep being worked like a horse by others."

Lin Wan stared at that line of text. Her heart skipped a beat for some reason, and her cheeks felt slightly flushed. She quickly typed to cover it up: "Who wants to be your legal counsel? I'm someone destined for a top-tier law firm."

After a pause, her tone softened unconsciously, "But... seeing how sincere you are, I'll reluctantly consider it."

Jiang Chen: "Then come out for dinner tonight first to recharge your energy."

"I've already booked a place. I'll pick you up after you're done with work."

Lin Wan hardly hesitated: "Then it's a deal, no backing out! I'm going to fleece you for a big meal to make up for my hard work this week!"

Outside the window, the autumn wind swirled a few golden plane tree leaves, which slowly drifted onto the steps.

Jiang Chen put away his phone and looked towards the distant teaching buildings. A rare, relaxed smile spread across his eyes.

Before long, a lexus lm slowly drove up and came to a steady stop. Lu Zheng got out nimbly and respectfully opened the rear door: "President Jiang."

Jiang Chen nodded, bent over, and sat in the spacious rear cabin, giving instructions in a lighthearted tone: "Go to the shopping mall in the business district first. I need to buy something."

As for what to buy, he already had a clear idea in mind.

After all, to reward this girl who had been working non-stop, he couldn't show up for the date empty-handed.

The car drove smoothly into the underground garage of the business district, and Jiang Chen went straight upstairs to shop.

He didn't choose those flamboyant and flashy big brands, but went straight to the Van Cleef & Arpels counter and picked out a Carnelian Alhambra Lucky Necklace.

The carnelian had a warm and full color, and the four-leaf clover design symbolized smoothness and well-being. It was a classic piece from a top luxury brand, yet it was low-key and not ostentatious, perfectly matching Lin Wan's gentle and capable temperament.

In addition, he went to the Hermès counter on the same floor and customized a limited-edition rose gold fountain pen.

The body of the pen was discreetly engraved with the initial "L" of Lin Wan's name. The nib was platinum-plated, ensuring smooth and fluid writing—tailor-made for her constant task of organizing case files and writing documents.

Finally, he chose a bottle of Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia cologne. It was sweet, elegant, and long-lasting, suitable for the rigorous office environment of a law firm without being too overpowering or intrusive.

The packaging of the gifts was simple and exquisite, with no exaggerated logos. They were valuable but not flashy, and each one hid his attentiveness and care.

After finishing the shopping, Jiang Chen got back into the car. Lu Zheng then drove to the vicinity of the law firm where Lin Wan was interning and waited quietly.

At 6:10 PM, the sunset dyed the sky into a gentle orange-pink. Lin Wan finished packing up and walked out of the law firm.

She had specially changed into a formal outfit, shedding the rigid work clothes she wore during the day at the firm.

A haze-blue waisted satin maxi dress perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. The dress had an excellent drape, and the hem reached her knees, looking sharp yet gentle.

The neckline featured a subtle cowl design, revealing her slender and elegant neck and adding a touch of feminine charm.

Her long hair had been meticulously styled, half-pulled back into a lazy low bun, with soft strands of hair resting lightly on both sides of her cheeks, framing her delicate jawline.

She wore clear, light makeup. The base was clean and flawless, and the dusty rose lip gloss made her look gentle and moving. The corners of her eyes were slightly highlighted, making them appear even more vivid and stunning.

She wore a pair of stiletto sandals in a matching color. Her steps were light. The usually capable and spirited legal girl now had a bit more gentle and elegant beauty. Her appearance immediately drew the gazes of passersby; her overall aura was both gentle and breathtaking.

Lu Zheng took the initiative to get out of the car and open the rear door for her. With a faint smile on her lips, Lin Wan nodded slightly in thanks, lifted her skirt, and bent over to sit in the car.

As soon as she sat down, she clearly felt the soft fit of the seat. The backaches from days of running around were significantly relieved. The cabin was spacious and quiet, providing excellent privacy.

She instinctively looked around, then at Jiang Chen, her eyes curving into a smile as she spoke with a hint of lightheartedness: "This car is so comfortable to sit in. Did you get a new car again?"

"It's not exactly a new car. I just bought a few for the company's convenience in travel and receptions."

Jiang Chen looked up at her. His gaze lingered slightly on her exquisite outfit, and a flicker of hard-to-detect amazement crossed his eyes. His tone remained natural and calm as he handed her a bottle of warm water.

"This kind of car is comfortable to sit in and offers good privacy. It's also suitable for picking you up."

"No wonder it's so pleasant. My back felt like it was going to break after being busy all day, but I felt relaxed the moment I sat down."

Lin Wan took the water and took a sip, then raised her hand to gently tuck a stray hair behind her ear. Her skirt clung smoothly to her figure.

Every movement exuded a gentle and elegant charm. Much of the fatigue in her eyes had faded. She chatted idly with Jiang Chen.

From the strict seniors at the law firm to the life-threatening school assignments, her tone was relaxed and casual—completely the state of relaxation found only between close acquaintances. Despite her formal attire, there wasn't a hint of restraint; instead, she appeared even more vivid and moving.

Lu Zheng focused on the steering wheel. The car drove smoothly and silently. He remained silent throughout, not disturbing their time together, carving out a warm and comfortable little world in the back row.

Before long, the car arrived at the private courtyard for the dinner Jiang Chen had booked in advance.

It was hidden deep in the alleys of the busy downtown area—a private, detached courtyard with emerald bamboo and ginkgo trees planted inside.

It only accepted guests with reservations and had no walk-in customers to disturb them. The privacy was extremely strong, completely isolating them from the outside hustle and bustle. It was a place he had carefully selected for the two of them to be alone.

Once the car came to a steady stop, Lu Zheng got out first and opened the doors for Jiang Chen and Lin Wan respectively.

As Lin Wan got out of the car, she carefully pressed down her skirt with her hand to avoid any exposure, her movements elegant and proper.

She looked at the quaint and elegant courtyard before her, with its gray bricks, dark tiles, and green plants. A flash of amazement crossed her eyes. It complemented her exquisite outfit perfectly, making her look like someone out of a painting.

Jiang Chen naturally walked by her side, his gaze falling on her face.

He could see the fatigue she couldn't hide in her eyes at a glance, yet her eyes remained bright and her makeup exquisite. Her appearance, having dressed up for the date, was exceptionally moving. His voice turned gentle.

"I went to pick out gifts in advance and then finalized the flavors you like with the kitchen here. It took a bit of time; I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

The two of them already had a close history, and there was an inherent familiarity and tacit understanding in their interaction. As they walked side by side into the courtyard, their arms inadvertently touched, but neither made a conscious effort to move away. The atmosphere was relaxed yet intimate.

The evening breeze blew past, lifting a corner of Lin Wan's skirt. The satin fabric shimmered with a soft luster, further accentuating her graceful figure.

Lin Wan's gaze naturally fell on the exquisite gift box bag in his hand. Her eyes curved into a smile as she spoke with a hint of amusement: "Just coming for dinner, and you specially prepared a gift for me?"

"Yeah. Seeing you running to the law firm and writing case files every day, I thought of some practical things you could use."

Jiang Chen naturally handed the bag to her, his movements casual and without excessive pleasantries.

Lin Wan took it and opened it. When she saw the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace, the Hermès pen engraved with her name, and that bottle of perfume, her fingertips paused slightly.

She knew the weight of these gifts well. She looked up at Jiang Chen, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness, though she didn't stiffly refuse: "This is too much; these are all very valuable."

"Compared to our great Lawyer Lin's hard work over the past few days, it's nothing."