Chapter 18: Take the initiative, say goodbye to being single, set yourself free, and get rich together!

Since morning, Qian Heng’s left eyelid had been twitching non-stop.

Was it a sign of disaster or fortune? He wasn’t quite sure.

“Qian Heng! The bar association has an event on Saturday…”

Of course, the moment Wu Jun made a flamboyant entrance into his office, his peach blossom eyes gleaming with mischief, Qian Heng was finally certain—

His left eye was definitely twitching for disaster.

Without even looking up, he said, “Not going. No time.”

Wu Jun was unfazed by Qian Heng’s response. He chuckled. “I know you have zero interest in events that don’t make money, but this time, President Zhang of the bar association specifically requested you. After all, we’re still under their management. Are you really going to refuse? Do you still want Junheng Law Firm to make it into the top ten law firms in City A by the end of the year?”

Qian Heng finally lifted his head and frowned slightly. His tone was cold. “This is a one-time exception.”

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

“Xq nswapl! R zshl usw ps xwnb—oswze R wpwyzzu zlv usw oypvl uswa vkxl yv vblpl rwczkn lhldvp? R’hl czsnjle yp xydu yp R nswze qsa usw.”

“Ebyv vkxl sd Fyvwaeyu?”

“Fyvwaeyu, 9 GY vs 3 VY. Mbl cya yppsnkyvksd kp lhld rashkekdt zwdnb.” Ew Kwd ryvvle Ckyd Tldt’p pbswzela. “Fyhlp usw qasx byhkdt vs saela vyjlswv yv bsxl sd vbl olljlde.”

Ckyd Tldt kdpvkdnvkhlzu alrzkle, “R esd’v lyv vyjlswv vblpl eyup.”

“Twb? Ebyv?”

Ckyd Tldt ralpple bkp zkrp vstlvbla. “Lsvbkdt.” Tl zssjle wr yv Ew Kwd. “Fs obyv lmynvzu kp vbkp lhldv ycswv?”

Ew Kwd pnayvnble bkp blye, zssjkdt pzktbvzu yojoyae. “Rv’p fwpv yd lhldv sd vbl prkakvwyz yde xsayz elhlzsrxldv sq uswdt zyoulap. Fsxl xllvkdtp, psxl kdvlaynvksdp okvb svbla uswdt zyoulap—usw nyd valyv kv yp y calyj.”

Ckyd Tldt oyp pjlrvknyz. “Ebu oswze Valpkeldv Hbydt prlnkqknyzzu aliwlpv xu ryavknkryvksd kd yd lhldv zkjl vbkp?”

Wu Jun cleared his throat. “Maybe he thinks you have influence and a strong presence?” He averted his gaze. “Also, each firm needs to send one male and one female lawyer. President Zhang specifically requested you as our male representative, but we haven’t decided on the female lawyer yet. Who do you think would be suitable?”

“You decide.”

“Among our female lawyers, Qian Hui and Li Meng are already married. Tian Sihe and Wang Lu both have boyfriends. That leaves Cheng Yao and Tan Ying as the only single ones. But I heard Tan Ying just broke up recently, so she might still be feeling down. I think Cheng Yao should go.”

Qian Heng frowned slightly. “It’s just a professional development event. Why does their relationship status matter?”

Wu Jun chuckled sheepishly. “Well, married women have families—they need to spend the weekend with their husbands and kids. Those with boyfriends will obviously want to go on dates. Recently broken-up ones need time alone to recover. But single ones? Their schedules are free, so of course, they’re the best choice for these kinds of events.”

Qian Heng listened and, though something felt off, he couldn’t find any flaws in Wu Jun’s logic. He nodded in agreement.

“I’ll go inform Cheng Yao, then.”

Qian Heng remained expressionless. “No need. I’ll do it.”

Wu Jun was surprised. “You usually hate doing these kinds of notifications. Why the sudden interest?”

“To prevent you from leading the new hires astray.”

“But aren’t you always trying to push Cheng Yao to leave? Why do you care if I lead her astray?”

“If she gets influenced by you, even if she’s eventually dismissed, she’ll still reflect poorly on Junheng Law Firm after she leaves.”

“…”

…..

After submitting Bai Xingmeng’s case to the court, there wasn’t much Cheng Yao could do as a lawyer except wait for the court to file the case and schedule the hearing.

Suddenly, she found herself with free time. After enduring Qian Heng’s relentless torment and criticism, she wasn’t quite used to having a break. Knowing her foundation was weak and her experience lacking, she proactively found a collection of guiding precedents from the Supreme Court’s Marriage Tribunal to study.

It was Friday, and the weekend was just around the corner. As she got off work, Cheng Yao felt both fulfilled and happy. This weekend, she planned to relax and sleep in.

Tonight, Qian Heng had a client meeting and wouldn’t be home for dinner. Cheng Yao was overjoyed as she enjoyed a meal alone at home, ready to savor her Friday night.

Then, Qian Heng came back.

“Cheng Yao, tomorrow at 9 AM, you’ll represent the firm at the bar association’s seminar on the spiritual and moral development of young lawyers.”

It was essentially mandatory overtime on a Saturday, yet Qian Heng said it with absolute conviction. Cheng Yao was momentarily stunned before realizing she needed to resist. “Why me?”

Was it just because she was the newbie? But her moral and spiritual development was already excellent—she really didn’t need any more “construction”! Cheng Yao glanced at Qian Heng, thinking, If anything, you’re the one who seriously needs some moral and spiritual development.

“This isn’t about bullying the newbie.” Qian Heng gave her a brief glance. “I’m going too.”

Cheng Yao was just about to give Qian Heng rare praise for his fairness when she heard him chuckle softly and continue—

“9 AM to 3 PM. I don’t usually bring female lawyers to bar association events. You’re lucky.”

“What?” Cheng Yao was dumbfounded. Explain to me—how exactly is this ‘lucky’? Being stuck under my boss’s clutches even on a Saturday? THIS is luck???

Qian Heng let out a light snort. “Bringing you to this event is essentially announcing that you’re part of my team. This is a resume boost for when you eventually job-hop. Do you know how in-demand lawyers from my team are when they transfer to other firms?”

What was there to be so proud of?! Qian Heng, maybe instead of bragging about how desirable your former lawyers are, you should reflect on why they keep leaving for other firms!

Cheng Yao held back, but in the end, she couldn’t resist and said tactfully, “So many lawyers you’ve personally trained have left. Doesn’t that make you feel sentimental? And isn’t this just grooming talent for other firms and creating competition for yourself?”

“What kind of contract did you sign when you joined Junheng?”

“A labor contract.”

Qian Heng gave her a condescending look. “We have a simple employer-employee relationship. This is business—why talk about sentimentality? As for competition, they’d have to be good enough to qualify first.” He then gave Cheng Yao a once-over. “Take someone like you—if another firm hires you, it’s not called poaching. It’s called taking in a liability.”

“…”

Forget it, forget it—bide your time. Cheng Yao comforted herself. Endure for now, Cheng Yao. One day, when you’re successful, even a single glance from Qian Heng will be a crime!

….

The bar association’s seminar was scheduled to start at 9 AM, which meant Cheng Yao’s plans for a lazy Saturday morning were completely ruined. The only silver lining was that she could hitch a ride with Qian Heng. Both of them dressed in professional business attire and arrived smoothly at the venue.

However, as soon as they reached the conference hall, Cheng Yao started feeling that something was off…

First, the venue didn’t look like it was set up for a seminar. Second, the other lawyers attending were all dressed very casually. This was supposed to be a discussion on “spiritual and moral development,” yet both the men and women had clearly put extra effort into their appearances. While Qian Heng’s formal attire didn’t seem too out of place, Cheng Yao, in her full professional outfit, stuck out like a sore thumb.

If she had only felt slightly uneasy at first, that feeling turned into full-blown alarm the moment she looked up and saw a large banner hanging at the front:

“A City Young Lawyers Social Mixer”

As if that wasn’t bad enough, there was a poster on the wall beneath the banner, featuring a giant red heart and a slogan that read:

“Take the initiative, say goodbye to being single, embrace yourself, and build wealth together!”

And below that, in even bolder print:

“Getting married in accordance with the law is the duty of every eligible young adult.”

…

This was a freaking lawyer speed-dating event!!!

At that moment, all Cheng Yao wanted to do was turn around and demand an explanation from Qian Heng—why had he chosen her to attend this shameless matchmaking event disguised as a seminar?!

She didn’t even need to say anything. Qian Heng had already realized the situation. His expression turned dark, and without a word, he pulled out his phone and called Wu Jun.

Wu Jun’s voice was still groggy, clearly having been woken up from his sleep. “What’s up?”

“Young Lawyers’ Spiritual and Moral Development?”

“Heh heh…”

“Wu Jun, explain to me how a spiritual and moral development seminar turned into a singles mixer.”

Wu Jun still sounded cheerful. “Oh, that’s on you! Solving the singlehood crisis is one of the most critical spiritual and moral development issues for young lawyers today!”

“…”

“Qian Heng, China’s population is aging rapidly—it’s a matter of national survival! As a promising young professional, it’s your social responsibility to get married for the country, have kids for the country, and even go for a second child! Your anti-marriage mindset is dangerous. Of course, you need to attend this event and get some ideological re-education!”

Qian Heng’s face remained expressionless. “Wu Jun, you’re not getting a year-end bonus this year.”

“No, no, no! Don’t do that!” Wu Jun quickly begged for mercy. “Look, I had no choice! President Zhang personally insisted that I make sure you attended. You’re currently the highest-earning, best-looking, and most full-haired single male lawyer in A City. Female lawyers usually aren’t interested in these types of events, but as soon as President Zhang mentioned that you’d be here, they all enthusiastically signed up. It would’ve been bad PR if you didn’t actually show up after all that hype.”

“This is false advertising.”

“Come on, just take one for the team. I’ll treat you to dinner later! Now I’m going back to sleep—bye!”

…..

Qian Heng was on the phone, and Cheng Yao, standing beside him, could more or less piece together the situation. This time, she couldn’t blame Qian Heng—he was just as much a victim as she was.

But regardless of being victims, the law firm and the bar association had both spoken. Even if Qian Heng’s expression was as foul as a stone in a latrine, he still had no choice but to cooperate.

As expected, the event was organized by an enthusiastic older woman from the bar association. She had taken on the role of host, and her voice was loud and powerful—perfect for the job.

“Hello, dear lawyer friends! Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join our bar association’s social mixer. Today’s event is divided into two parts: the indoor session, which we’re about to begin, and the outdoor session after lunch. Now, for the indoor portion, each law firm has sent one male and one female lawyer to participate, ensuring an even one-to-one ratio.”

The woman smiled brightly as she surveyed the room. “We want every lawyer to have the chance to get to know each other. In this session, every male lawyer will have three minutes to chat with every female lawyer. You can use this time to ask about relationship views, dating preferences, or even discuss legal cases to see if your values align. Once the three minutes are up, our timer will signal you to move to the next person. After one full round, if any lawyers wish to continue their conversations, you’re free to chat privately.”

Cheng Yao stole a glance at Qian Heng. As the event’s format was explained, his expression was growing darker and darker…

That said, even with his stormy expression, Qian Heng’s looks were simply on another level. Among the male lawyers present, he could only be described as having the face of a celestial being. His strikingly handsome features and tall, commanding presence made him stand out like a main character in a low-budget drama—the kind where the production team spent all their lighting budget on him alone, leaving the supporting male cast looking dull and washed-out in comparison.

Sure enough, a few of the shorter male lawyers subtly edged away from him, but as the male public enemy number one, Qian Heng’s popularity among the female lawyers only skyrocketed in response. Even Cheng Yao, standing beside him, could feel the eager gazes directed his way. Many of the women were clearly raring to go.

Although Qian Heng was notorious in the industry for being a “toxic tumor,” most of these women had never interacted with him personally. They probably assumed the reputation was exaggerated.

Cheng Yao sighed inwardly. Oh, you poor, naïve souls. You’ll soon learn the hard way that knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart! A handsome face doesn’t guarantee a good personality! And when they say he’s toxic, they mean it!

“Alright, now let’s have the male and female lawyers line up facing each other. Please take your seats in order so we can begin!”

Cheng Yao had zero interest in sitting directly across from Qian Heng, so she quickly maneuvered herself to a diagonal spot. Meanwhile, across from Qian Heng, a stunning female lawyer had taken her seat at some point. She was clearly well-prepared for this event, wearing an eye-catching red dress that accentuated her figure, paired with black stilettos. Her long, voluminous curls framed her exquisitely made-up face, and her every glance was brimming with charm. She was obviously the bold and confident type.

“Hello! What area of law do you specialize in?”

Cheng Yao’s conversation partner was a shy male lawyer who smiled sheepishly as he searched for a topic. She returned his smile politely and engaged in small talk.

Unfortunately, he was so introverted that their conversation quickly ran dry. Awkward silence stretched between them—until their neighbor, Qian Heng, unknowingly rescued them from the awkwardness.

Compared to Cheng Yao’s uneventful conversation, the atmosphere at Qian Heng’s table was much more intense.

Cheng Yao and her conversation partner silently tuned in to the drama unfolding next to them.

“Lawyer Qian, what type of women do you like?”

“90, 60, 90.”

“Huh?”

“Measurements.”

“…”

“Besides physical appearance, do you have any other criteria?”

“The face has to be good too.”

“…”

“Oh, and she needs to be obedient.”

“Aside from these superficial traits, is there anything else?”

“She must be a virgin.”

“Anything else?”

“She should be understanding and considerate. As a successful man, it’s inevitable that I’ll have social obligations and sometimes make mistakes—mistakes that all men are bound to make. In those moments, she must be able to understand me and reflect on herself. She should ask herself if she’s been neglecting her looks, if she’s failed to maintain her figure, or if she hasn’t been attentive enough to my emotional needs.”

Cheng Yao sneaked a glance at the woman in the red dress. The previously confident, flirtatious expression on her face had now been replaced with a look of pure constipation.

Ah, Cheng Yao thought with sympathy. Out of all the men here, why did you have to set your sights on our cult leader of toxicity? You’ve basically just poisoned yourself.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Cheng Yao: Why?! Our Five Poison Sect is full of talent—why did it have to be me, a lowly disciple, who gets dragged into accompanying the Sect Leader to a matchmaking event?! I refuse to accept this!

Bao Rui: Accompanying the Sect Leader to a matchmaking event is a duty that every disciple must fulfill. The Sect Leader is giving you an opportunity—how dare you be dissatisfied?!

Cheng Yao: …

Tan Ying: Exactly. Not only that, but if the Sect Leader fails at matchmaking, it becomes every disciple’s duty to ensure that he gets married. Cheng Yao, take your household registration booklet—tomorrow, you and the Sect Leader are going to the Civil Affairs Bureau!

Cheng Yao: ?????