Chapter 249: Chapter 249

Ye He rushed up, grabbed the reporter from the "Black Curtain," and stood between Xiang Yuan and Xiong Jie, spreading his arms as if protecting Xiang Yuan like a mother hen.

"What are you doing? Lawyer Xiang has already agreed to give us an exclusive interview, yet you’re still pestering him? Reporter Xiong, aren’t you breaking the rules?"

With Ye He present, Shi Nian also arrived, and Xiong Jie paid no attention to Ye He, instead looking up to find Shi Nian.

Ye He seized the opportunity to quickly advise Xiang Yuan: "Brother-in-law, don’t be foolish. Have you forgotten you’re a lawyer? Why aren’t you protecting your interests!"

"What’s so special about him being a lawyer? Can he escape murder suspicion just by talking?"

Xiong Jie’s words suddenly pierced sharply: "The more panicked he is, the more it proves he has something to hide!"

Ye He, confused about the situation, quietly turned to Xiang Yuan: "Brother-in-law, what’s going on?"

Shi Nian asked the nurse and went straight to the emergency room. Rosa was still being resuscitated inside, and the hospital blocked all visitors.

Tang Yanqing had already arrived earlier, and was speaking quietly with the officer in charge.

Seeing Shi Nian approach, Tang Yanqing pulled Shi Nian aside.

Shi Nian pointed inside: "How is she?"

Tang Yanqing also frowned slightly: "She’s not out of danger yet."

Shi Nian’s heart felt a bit heavy.

The two, who had fought for four years, finally ended all grievances with the signing of the agreement last night. Rosa’s good days had finally come, yet she encountered such a severe car accident.

Shi Nian glanced at the officer handling the case, then looked through the large glass window in the corridor towards the still-standoffish Xiang Yuan and Xiong Jie... She lowered her head: "Could it not be a simple car accident?"

If it were just a simple car accident, why would it warrant Xiong Jie’s high-profile visit and tense interviewing?

Tang Yanqing nodded: "Her phone happened to have numerous missed calls from her secretary. When the officer called back, we learned she was supposed to attend a partner meeting she organized this morning. The main purpose was to strip Xiang Yuan of major decision-making power in the law firm."

Shi Nian’s heart couldn’t help but sink.

If it’s proven this was not an ordinary car accident, then Xiang Yuan, due to his vested interests, would become the prime suspect.

In the corridor, Xiong Jie also sneered: "Such a story of former partners turning into enemies due to love is what readers are most curious about. How could I miss such a good topic?"

Moreover, it’s the feud and hate between Shi Nian’s husband and Rosa; she absolutely loves this subject.

Even from a distance, simply watching Xiong Jie’s smug face allowed Shi Nian to guess what she was feeling pleased about.

She walked towards the officer handling the case: "Sir, Xiang Yuan’s murder suspicion is unfounded."

The officer glanced at Tang Yanqing. As the youngest decorated Chinese detective in this state, no one in the police force didn’t recognize him.

Tang Yanqing walked over as well.

Though Shi Nian wanted to say what he already understood; the officer, unseeing the bigger picture, asked Shi Nian: "Why?"

Shi Nian glared at him, understanding he was providing her a platform to speak out.

"Because... last night, Xiang Yuan and I just signed the divorce agreement, invalidating the accusations from Rosa and the partners regarding him. His conflict with Rosa is thus resolved, ruling out any chance of him plotting to murder Rosa."

The officer remained expressionless, "Unfortunately, the police’s view differs from yours, miss. Due to confidentiality needed in the investigation, I cannot share the reasons with you."

After speaking, the officer walked away, and Shi Nian looked back at Tang Yanqing imploringly.

Tang Yanqing understood her intentions yet could only shake his head: "I must respect my colleague’s authority in handling the case. He belongs to another team, I can’t command him."

. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fire·net

The officer handling the case walked out, prompting Xiong Jie to rush over, enthusiastically asking many questions, but the officer responded little, instead speaking to Xiang Yuan, seemingly intending to take Xiang Yuan back to the police station.

Shi Nian approached and extended a hand to support Xiang Yuan: "It’s alright, I am willing to testify for you."

Xiang Yuan nodded grimly, "I didn’t expect just last night we..."

Shi Nian knew he wanted to talk about the divorce, but with Xiong Jie right beside them, Shi Nian hastily tugged Xiang Yuan: "It’s okay, you go ahead. I’ll call a colleague from Huatai Hall to help you later."

Only then did Xiang Yuan follow the officer, while Shi Nian met Xiong Jie’s gaze.

Xiong Jie walked over with a smile: "Shi Nian, as the suspect’s wife and the rival in love of the injured, are you happy now, or nervous?"

Shi Nian gave a calm smile: "Xiong Jie, are you interviewing me formally in your capacity as a reporter, or are you just being nosy, trying to dig some gossip?"

Xiong Jie’s face reddened at the jab: "Of course, it’s for work."

Shi Nian raised her hand to point at Ye He: "Ye He, my assistant, whom you also know. If you want to interview me, out of professional courtesy, I won’t refuse. But you’ll need to schedule an appointment with my assistant first. As for when I will have time for your visit, please patiently wait for my assistant’s call."

Ye He immediately understood, stepped forward, and unceremoniously stared at Xiong Jie: "Rest assured, Xiong Jie, when I remember to notify you, I’ll definitely give you a call."

Xiong Jie sneered at the words: "No need then. Since you’re so busy Shi Nian, I’d rather get my news from other sources. I’m sure the stories about your love triangle will be more colorful and entertaining from someone else’s perspective."

Tang Yanqing standing to the side finally couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, stepping forward to scrutinize Xiong Jie through his sunglasses.

Xiong Jie, startled, quickly asked, "Is there something you need, officer?"

Tang Yanqing shook his head with a smile: "No, it’s just that your tone of voice strangely feels familiar."

Xiong Jie, not knowing this was the Tang Yanqing that the entire media circle of Jiazhou had been seeking, spoke with a tone of discord.

Tang Yanqing smiled good-naturedly: "The injured in this case, Rosa, I’ve seen her once or twice in private. If I may be frank, her tone was very much like yours. Both having the same ’need a beating’ vibe with their chins lifted to the skies."

Xiong Jie was taken aback: "Officer, what are you saying?"

Tang Yanqing snorted lightly: "You must know where she’s lying now, Reporter Xiong. So, we at the police want to officially remind you to mind your words in the future, and to leave yourself an out with your actions. You should know, journalism is indeed a high-risk occupation. Next time I see you, I hope you aren’t lying in an emergency room, lives hanging in the balance, just like her."

Xiong Jie hadn’t expected this officer, with features handsome as a supermodel, to say such ominous and uncensored words!

Ye He immediately raised a fist: "Mr. Tang, that was awesome!"

Shi Nian, unable to listen any longer, couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to grab his wrist, whispering a stop: "That’s enough."

Xiong Jie sharply caught the name Ye He accidentally blurted out and suspiciously looked toward Tang Yanqing.

"Mr. Tang? Which Mr. Tang?"

Shi Nian hadn’t anticipated that Ye He would let slip with just one sentence, couldn’t help but glare at Ye He. Then Ye He remembered how low-profile and media-averse Tang Yanqing was, and realized his mistake, bowing from afar to Shi Nian and Tang Yanqing, signaling an apology.

But just now Mr. Tang was really awesome! He had managed to rile up Xiong Jie into such a state that neither she nor her boss could accomplish, yet Mr. Tang did it with ease—how could she control the urge to cheer?

Xiong Jie’s intuition was indeed sharp: "There are two ’Mr. Tang’s in this state. Seeing your age, officer, could it be that you are—Tang Yanqing?!"

Tang Yanqing then raised his chin high, shrugged his shoulders, and smiled proudly: "I remember you once mocked Shi Nian, saying you were waiting to read her exclusive interview with me. Rest assured, Xiong Jie, she’ll definitely write it. Then we’ll certainly remind you to take a look at it."

"And I also assure you, what she gets will be a super exclusive interview of mine. Apart from her, I won’t accept exclusive interviews from any other media or reporter."

Saying this, Tang Yanqing took two steps closer to Xiong Jie, lowering his voice to whisper with a smile: "As for you, you don’t even have the right to speak with me."

Shi Nian couldn’t be bothered arguing with Xiong Jie; she was thinking about Xiang Yuan. She hurriedly dragged Tang Yanqing and Ye He away, meanwhile calling one of Huatai Hall’s partners, Lu Zhao, a friend of Xiang Yuan, to help them at the police station.

Just as they were leaving the emergency center, Rosa regained consciousness.

The emergency center, checking her phone’s call records, contacted her secretary, Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin rushed over, holding Rosa’s hand, tears rolling down: "Boss, thank goodness you’re okay. You don’t know, early this morning, Lawyer Xiang sought out each partner individually, discussing how to target you in the partners’ meeting, saying they wanted to push you out of Huatai Hall."

Rosa was dumbfounded: "Really?!"

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[Stay tuned for the third part.]