Chapter 50 – Agency Relationship

The next day, it was Yan Ankuo who woke up first, noticing Bian Ji curled up in a corner. He frowned slightly, then gently pulled him back to the center of the bed.

Sleeping so restlessly. Yan Ankuo silently thought as he looked at his sleeping partner.

When Bian Ji’s alarm went off, Yan Ankuo had already brought breakfast back.

It had been a long time since Bian Ji had woken up to a hot, tasty meal right away. He thoroughly enjoyed it, watching his partner pour coffee while stealing kisses, hanging around his boyfriend’s neck like a large dog. “You’re like a fairy maiden from the legend.”

After responding to this kiss, Yan Ankuo turned away his face, reminding him, “Don’t mess with me. We only have fifteen minutes for breakfast.”

They had to leave earlier than usual because Yan Ankuo needed to drop Bian Ji off at security first, then travel twenty kilometers across town to catch the high-speed train to Nanjing from Hongqiao station.

Thus, Bian Ji had to rein himself in and focus on finishing this lovingly prepared breakfast.

The case Yan Ankuo was handling this time involved a plaintiff named Gu Huixin, the daughter of the chairman of Wenshun Group. A few years ago, she married Liang Jingliang, stepping down from the company due to poor health and supporting her husband’s entry into the core of the group. Last year, the Wenshun chairman passed away suddenly from a heart attack, leaving a huge inheritance to his only daughter, yet Liang Jingliang suddenly requested a divorce, demanding a share of the assets.

The stakes were high, and the defendant, Liang Jingliang, was the party being sued in this case. As both the husband of the plaintiff and a high-ranking member of Wenshun Group, considering the company’s image and public relations preparation, Gu Huixin delayed for half a year before deciding to file a lawsuit. Yan Ankuo hadn’t initially planned to take the case, but when the original lawyer fell seriously ill and no one else was available, the director personally assigned it to him, and he took up the mantle under duress.

Yan Ankuo had arranged to meet Liang Jingliang at 2 PM, but after waiting for half an hour, there was still no sign of him.

Huang Xiaoxiao kept checking the time. “Boss Yan, I’ve called President Liang several times, but he hasn’t answered.”

“Go prompt the receptionist,” Yan Ankuo said, continuing to look at his laptop without raising his head.

The receptionist’s feedback was that President Liang was in a board meeting and they would need to wait a bit longer.

Twenty minutes later, Liang Jingliang finally arrived, holding a cigarette between his fingers, not extinguishing it even as he sat down, spewing out smoke. “Why is it you? What happened to the previous lawyer?”

“He’s sick, Director Zhou should have mentioned it to you.” After Yan Ankuo finished speaking, he gave a brief self-introduction. “My name is Yan Ankuo.”

Liang Jingliang furrowed his brows. “I know you. Hmm…you’re a bit young, lacking experience compared to Lawyer Liu.”

Yan Ankuo loosened his watch strap, smiling stiffly. “President Liang, your choice of Hengtian must have been based on comprehensive consideration of various factors. Since Director Zhou has assigned me this case, I will certainly do my utmost.”

Liang Jingliang asked disdainfully, “Do you have confidence to win? “

Yan Ankuo replied, “No lawyer can give you that guarantee.”

Liang Jingliang spoke with a half-threat in his tone, “Right now, everyone in the company is watching this case closely. If I lose, it won’t just be about losing money. Therefore, regardless of how you do it, you must win.”

After hearing this, Huang Xiaoxiao sighed, looking helplessly at Yan Ankuo. The latter paused for two seconds before calmly saying, “I can only assure you that within the framework of facts and law, I will help you strive for the maximum benefit.”

“Enough of this nonsense. You take the money and work for me, it’s that simple.” Liang Jingliang sneered, glancing at his watch, and waved his hand. “I have another meeting coming up, whatever you need, talk to Xiao Wang.”

The girl dressed in a pure white business suit beside Liang Jingliang immediately stepped forward, extending her hand towards Yan Ankuo. “Hello, my name is Wang Xi, I’m President Liang’s assistant.”

Yan Ankuo shook her hand lightly, Liang Jingliang picked up his suit jacket, and hurriedly left in a dedicated car.

Huang Xiaoxiao looked at the smiling Wang Xi, troubled. “Based on the information provided by Lawyer Liu, we’ve compiled some detailed issues that need confirmation from the parties involved.”

“It’s fine, I can answer,” Wang Xi said confidently. “Anything related to President Liang, you can ask me.”

Huang Xiaoxiao wanted to push for direct communication with the party involved, but was stopped by Yan Ankuo. Yan Ankuo took out his glasses from his bag, put them on, and slowly asked, “May I ask, what is your relationship with President Liang?”

Wang Xi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “I’m his assistant.”

“Has it always been that way?”

“I started working here in July 2021, and have been ever since.”

“Directly as an executive assistant upon graduation?” Yan Ankuo asked, looking at her.

Wang Xi smiled bashfully. “Yeah, there happened to be a position open during campus recruitment that year.”

Yan Ankuo didn’t say more, nodding and praising, “Miss Wang has a bright future ahead.”

Wang Xi gripped her purse awkwardly and said, “Thank you.”

Yan Ankuo didn’t press further, simply lowering his head to remind her, “Then, I’ll trouble you. However, I must remind you: if there is false representation of facts or evidence, or significant concealment, the lawyer has the right to terminate the agency relationship.”

Wang Xi froze for two seconds, nodding slowly. “Mm, I understand.”

Following that, Huang Xiaoxiao asked questions based on the organized table, while Yan Ankuo pursued detailed inquiries. They didn’t disperse until the afternoon.

Before leaving, Yan Ankuo suddenly proposed a new request. “Perhaps tomorrow Miss Wang is free, could you show us around the company? We’d like to gain a preliminary understanding of the group’s operating conditions and internal organizational structure.”

Wang Xi nodded. “Okay, I’ll arrange it.”

Wang Xi greeted them early the next morning at the group’s entrance, accompanied by several men in black suits. She introduced, “These are the heads of each department. If you have any questions about the organizational structure, you can also ask them.”

Yan Ankuo nodded to each of them, asking about the situation in each department as they walked.

Arriving at Liang’s office door, Yan Ankuo suddenly recalled something. “By the way, when did President Liang enter management?”

Wang Xi answered quickly. “President Liang only began taking over group affairs two years ago. Before that, it was Gu Huixin managing everything, and the directors didn’t think highly of him. The reason he proposed a divorce was to escape from her shadow and prove himself.”

Huang Xiaoxiao questioned, “Prove himself? Shouldn’t he have left Wenshun then? After all, Wenshun was founded by Gu Huixin’s parents.”

“Exactly because of that, President Liang must stand firm here,” Wang Xi suddenly stood still, speaking passionately. “Attorney Yan, I know there are many rumors about President Liang outside, but please believe in him. Because Gu Huixin has poor health and a strong desire to control, that’s why they divorced. Now that she realizes President Liang won’t be controlled by her anymore, she wants to destroy him with rumors!”

Yan Ankuo interrupted, “Miss Wang, I’ll verify these points with the parties involved. You only need to continue introducing the company’s situation.”

Wang Xi lowered her head. “Oh.”

“We found that Wenshun has a printing factory in Luhua. Would it be convenient to take us there today?” Yan Ankuo asked.

Wang Xi’s eyes flickered evasively. “Sorry, the factory is currently closed for renovations, it’s not convenient to receive visitors.”

“Renovations?”

“Yes, upgrading equipment.”

Yan Ankuo nodded, exchanging a glance with Huang Xiaoxiao, and said as usual, “Alright, then let’s wrap it up for today.”

The midday sun was bright, the sky high and the clouds light.

Yan Ankuo stood by the lake, hailing a taxi and giving the driver an address.

Huang Xiaoxiao followed him into the car, asking, “Are you thinking of going to the printing factory yourself?”

“Mm, since we’re here,” Yan Ankuo said, pulling up Wenshun’s recent risk records on his computer. “I found that they have several administrative penalties recently, but they have nothing to do with our case, so you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“Forget it, I’ll go with you,” Huang Xiaoxiao said. “Anyway, I have nothing else to do right now.”

The printing factory was located in Luhua, roughly an hour’s drive from the headquarters. Yan Ankuo led Huang Xiaoxiao to the gate guard post, explained their intentions, and unsurprisingly, they were denied access.

“No entry! Go back!” The security guard waved his hand. “No matter where you came from, we’re closed!”

Yan Ankuo asked, “When will it reopen?”

“I don’t know, we have to wait for notification from headquarters,” the security guard said impatiently. “Besides, even if it reopens, outsiders aren’t allowed in. Hurry up and leave!”

Yan Ankuo didn’t insist, leaving the factory.

Huang Xiaoxiao asked, “Boss, just leaving like this?”

Yan Ankuo made a gesture, indicating they should observe nearby. Huang Xiaoxiao suddenly understood, saying “Oh,” pretending in front of the guards, “Let’s go eat then, are there any shops nearby?”

Hearing this, the guard returned emotionlessly to his booth, lowering his head to play with his phone.

“Let’s go, the printing factory doesn’t have much to do with this case anyway,” Yan Ankuo suddenly noticed a small bun shop by the roadside that was still open as they walked. He pointed at the sign. “Eat something along the way, we’ve been busy all day, these buns look decent.”

Huang Xiaoxiao said, “Alright, I love buns!”

The small bun shop was located on a side road, inconspicuous. Perhaps due to the saying that good wine needs no bush, even past lunchtime, there were still many people, most of whom were workers from the surrounding factories.

Yan Ankuo and Huang Xiaoxiao arrived late and could only set up a table outside to eat.