Cheng Yao was curled up in front of her computer, browsing a hot thread on the legal gossip site LAWXOXO—”Ranking the Top 10 Most Attractive Partners in A City’s Legal Scene.”
The post, arranged in descending order of looks, rated the city’s top male partners based on anonymous submissions of their candid photos taken in everyday life.
Starting from the tenth place and scrolling down, Cheng Yao had to admit that the legal profession was becoming increasingly youthful and elite. Some of these partners weren’t just top-tier in their expertise but also undeniably good-looking. The second-place winner, Qin Hao from Jin Special Law Firm, had the kind of looks that could rival a minor celebrity. If even he was only ranked second, just how stunning was the person in first place?
Curious, Cheng Yao continued scrolling down.
“First place: Qian Heng, Junheng Law Firm.”
Unlike the others on the list, this top-ranking partner had a special note next to his name:
“Although this man is pure poison, his looks are undeniably top-tier. Even if you deduct 100 points, he’d still be the undisputed number one.”
This wasn’t the first time Cheng Yao had heard Qian Heng’s name. She had come across plenty of descriptors for him—arrogant, ruthless, utterly lacking a sense of justice, the bane of the legal profession. Yet none of these criticisms changed the fact that Junheng Law Firm generated over a hundred million yuan in annual revenue, with partners earning millions in bonuses.
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.
Rd vbl zltyz osaze, calyjkdt vbl bwdeale-xkzzksd xyaj oypd’v wdnsxxsd. Jwv Kwdbldt oyp y cswvkiwl qkax prlnkyzkgkdt pszlzu kd qyxkzu zyo, wdzkjl zyatl qkaxp pwnb yp Pynbldt sa Zkdtjl, obknb bye sqqknlp yzz shla vbl nswdvau. Kwdbldt srlayvle sdzu kd G Ukvu, okvb fwpv ycswv vbkavu raynvknkdt zyoulap, yde eked’v bydezl zwnayvkhl dsd-zkvktyvksd osaj zkjl RVXp sa xlatlap yde yniwkpkvksdp. Plprkvl kvp dknbl qsnwp yde pxyzz pkgl, Kwdbldt bye pvkzz xydytle vs calyj kdvs vbl vsr vld bktblpv alhldwl rla zyoula aydjkdtp dyvksdokel.
Mbkp pwnnlpp oyp zyatlzu yvvakcwvle vs Ckyd Tldt’p kasd-qkpvle awzl.
Gde okvb dwxclap zkjl vblpl, ds yxswdv sq awxsap—oblvbla vawl sa qyzpl—ekxkdkpble vbl ldvbwpkypx sq uswdt zyoulap elprlayvl vs plnwal y rspkvksd yv Kwdbldt.
Jwv obyv Ubldt Zys byed’v lmrlnvle oyp vbyv vbl dsvsakswpzu elprkple “cydl sq vbl zltyz rasqlppksd” oyp yzps kdnalekczu bydepsxl.
Ebkzl bkp dyxl oyp olzz-jdsod kd zltyz nkanzlp, hlau qlo bye ynvwyzzu plld Ckyd Tldt kd rlapsd. Tl yhskele yzz cya yppsnkyvksd lhldvp yde, elprkvl bkp yaastydnl yde ekqqknwzv rlapsdyzkvu, jlrv yd lmvalxlzu zso rasqkzl kd bkp rlapsdyz zkql. Rq dsv qsa vbkp ydsduxswp pwcxkppksd sd vbl zltyz tsppkr qsawx, vblal oswzed’v lhld cl y pkdtzl rknvwal sq bkx sdzkdl.
Kwpv yp Ubldt Zys oyp ycswv vs nzknj sd vbl kxytl, lytla vs pll obyv bl zssjle zkjl—
G qwakswp pbswv lawrvle qasx vbl zkhkdt assx.
“Pyxd vbkp pbkvvu kdvladlv!”
That was Li Mengting, Cheng Yao’s university classmate and current roommate. The two had been close since college and decided to move in together after graduation. Lately, Li Mengting had become obsessed with gaming, constantly talking about “PUBG” and “Honor of Kings.” Judging by her outburst, the internet had probably lagged at a critical moment in her game…
Sure enough, when Cheng Yao glanced at her computer screen, Qian Heng’s photo had failed to load, replaced by a broken image icon. No matter how many times she refreshed, it wouldn’t appear.
And as if fate was playing a joke on her, at that very moment, Cheng Yao’s phone rang.
It was a call from the HR department of Junheng Law Firm.
*****
After hanging up the phone, Cheng Yao still couldn’t quite believe it. She was so excited that she didn’t know what to do with herself. The pressure of quitting her last job without another lined up had finally turned into the exhilaration and anticipation of landing a new position.
She had been hired by Junheng! The same Junheng that generated over a hundred million yuan in annual revenue!
Unable to contain herself, Cheng Yao rushed into the living room to share the news with Li Mengting.
“Wow, that’s great news, Yaoyao! Junheng is seriously impressive,” Li Mengting said with a hint of envy, though it wasn’t particularly strong. Her mind was clearly still immersed in her game. “Since you’ve secured a job, why don’t you play with me? I’ll teach you! I’m actually pretty good—if it weren’t for the lag, I would’ve won that last round!”
Cheng Yao had passed the bar exam while still in university. But nowadays, 80 to 90 percent of law graduates had postgraduate degrees, many even with overseas credentials. Some had not only passed the Chinese bar but also obtained licenses to practice in New York or California. With such intense competition—on top of the fact that law was a notoriously difficult field for employment—someone like Cheng Yao, who had only a bachelor’s degree from a non-elite 211 university, had no chance of entering a mid-to-high-end law firm straight out of school.
So she had taken a step back, spending a year interning at a small local firm where she officially registered her lawyer’s license. But once she had her license, she wasn’t content with staying in an ordinary firm with limited cases. That was when she started sending out applications to higher-tier firms.
Li Mengting, on the other hand, was different. She hadn’t passed the bar yet. She had initially found a job at a magazine while studying for the exam on the side, but the magazine job was high-pressure and often required overtime. Now that the bar exam was approaching, she had quit her job to focus on studying full-time. Somehow, though, her study routine had gone off track, and lately, she had become obsessed with gaming instead.
Regardless of all that, Cheng Yao was still thrilled about getting into Junheng. She couldn’t hold back her excitement and immediately picked up her phone to call her sister, Cheng Xi, to share the news. But just as she was about to dial, she hesitated, remembering the way her sister’s eyes had brimmed with tears. She was afraid that the words “law firm” and “lawyer” would bring back painful memories for her sister.
After a long moment of indecision, she changed her mind and sent a text instead.
“Sis, I got hired by my dream firm, Junheng!”
It didn’t take long for her sister to reply.
“Yaoyao, I knew you could do it! I’m so happy for you. Next time you come home, you have to treat me to a big meal.”
Seeing the message, Cheng Yao finally let out a breath of relief. She smiled and, feeling lighter, made another call—this time to her childhood friend Qin Qin. To celebrate, the two quickly made plans for dinner.
******
Cheng Yao and Qin Qin met at a quiet, elegantly decorated café.
By the time Cheng Yao arrived, Qin Qin was already waiting impatiently for her.
But just as Cheng Yao sat down and was about to speak, Qin Qin shot her a meaningful look, then subtly motioned toward someone sitting not far away. She lowered her voice mysteriously, “See that guy sitting by the window?”
Following Qin Qin’s gaze, Cheng Yao saw the man’s back. Though she couldn’t see his face, his physique alone was striking—model-tier, at least 188 cm tall, with broad shoulders, long legs, and perfect proportions. He wore a well-fitted American-style suit that emphasized his tall, commanding presence. His entire outfit was impeccable. Even though Cheng Yao wasn’t well-versed in brands, she could tell at a glance that his clothes were expensive.
The man had his back to Cheng Yao, sitting across from a middle-aged woman dripping in jewelry.
Cheng Yao turned back to Qin Qin with a teasing smile. “What, are you smitten?”
Qin Qin rolled her eyes. “Smitten? Please. The only thing I love is money.”
“Then why are you making me look at him?”
Lowering her voice even more, Qin Qin whispered, “He’s a gigolo.”
Cheng Yao was taken aback. “Huh?”
“I got here early and ended up witnessing his entire business negotiation,” Qin Qin clicked her tongue. “I swear, society is going downhill. Even this kind of business is being conducted so openly now. Morals are dead!”
“That blatant???”
Qin Qin nodded. “See that wealthy cougar sitting across from him? They just settled on the overnight rate. This gigolo isn’t playing around—he named his price outright, no haggling. And get this: his starting rate is 10,000 yuan per night! Plus, he requires advance booking.”
Cheng Yao was stunned…
“Did you notice his shoes?” Qin Qin went on. “Silvano Lattanzi—an Italian luxury brand. I just saw it in the promotional materials at work the other day. Do you know how much those shoes cost? Even in Italy, they’re nearly 3,000 euros per pair—that’s about 20,000 yuan! And they’re even more expensive in China!”
Qin Qin worked in public relations and marketing, frequently dealing with luxury brands, so there was no way she could be wrong about this.
Hearing this, Cheng Yao felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of injustice. Here she was, slaving away at a law firm, working overtime every day, and yet… in one night, this guy made more than she did in a month! How was she supposed to keep believing that knowledge could change her fate?
As she brooded over this cruel reality, her gaze lingered on the man a moment longer—only for him to suddenly turn his head.
Their eyes met.
Their eye contact lasted only a brief moment, but the man’s gaze was icy cold. Yet, in that instant, Cheng Yao felt her heart skip a beat. She wasn’t the type to judge people by their looks, but this man was simply too striking. She had never seen a face with such visual impact.
Especially his eyes—cold, yet incredibly captivating.
Though he worked in a “special industry,” there wasn’t the slightest trace of sleaziness about him. His features were almost unnaturally handsome, with a perfectly high-arched nose that made Cheng Yao wonder if it had been enhanced. His entire demeanor exuded an air of refinement, tinged with arrogance and impatience, even a hint of nobility.
Face, physique, presence—he was flawless. The only drawback? He didn’t seem to have a great temper.
Qin Qin, who had also caught a fleeting glimpse of his face, promptly betrayed her previous stance and switched sides without hesitation. “Okay, yeah… this is definitely worth 10,000 yuan.”
“……”
The man seemed to have finalized his deal and didn’t linger. The middle-aged woman across from him wore a satisfied, knowing expression. One after the other, they walked out of the café. There was an outdoor parking area just outside, but to Cheng Yao’s surprise, the two of them went their separate ways, each heading to their own car.
Qin Qin helpfully provided an explanation. “To avoid leaving any traces, they usually split up like this. One person books the hotel room first, then the other just picks up the room card and goes straight in.”
As Cheng Yao processed this new bit of knowledge, she watched that absurdly handsome man walk toward a Bentley…
“How many sleepless nights would it take to afford a Bentley?” she murmured, watching his steady, composed stride. A sudden wave of sympathy washed over her. “10,000 yuan per night… Even the cheapest Bentley costs at least five million. That’s 500 nights—almost two years of non-stop ‘work.’ I wonder if his legs ever give out. His waist… probably isn’t in great shape either…”
******
After that little episode, Cheng Yao shared her good news with Qin Qin. They chatted about all sorts of things, but just as they were about to continue, Qin Qin received a call from her company asking her to work overtime. With no other choice, Cheng Yao waved goodbye and parted ways.
But today seemed to be Cheng Yao’s lucky day. Just as she left the café, she received a call from the real estate agent.
“Miss Cheng, the landlord has agreed to rent you the apartment you were interested in. Come sign the contract right away.”
The place she currently lived in was originally rented by Li Mengting—just a one-bedroom apartment they shared, which was quite cost-effective.
But now, Li Mengting had a boyfriend, and their relationship was going well. They were planning to move in together.
Although Li Mengting had offered to let Cheng Yao take over the lease while she and her boyfriend rented a new place, Cheng Yao didn’t feel right about it. After all, it was Li Mengting who had found the apartment and handled all the renting procedures. Now that the situation had changed, it was only fair for Cheng Yao to find a new place on her own.
Unfortunately, in A City, where every inch of land was precious, finding a suitable place had taken her ages. But she had finally found one she liked and spent a long time negotiating. Now, the landlord had finally agreed.
After hurrying to the agency and signing the contract, Cheng Yao let out a deep breath of relief.
She was incredibly satisfied with this apartment. It was a brand-new, fully furnished unit that had never been lived in before. Surprisingly, it was also very close to Junheng. A two-bedroom, one-living-room layout—she planned to find a roommate later to split the rent. It was perfect.
That morning, after signing the contract, Cheng Yao wasted no time and went to pick up the keys in the afternoon.
Humming a tune, she waited for the elevator. It was taking its sweet time, slowly rising from the underground parking garage to the ground floor.
When the elevator doors finally opened, Cheng Yao froze.
There was someone inside, of course. But it was someone she had seen not too long ago.
The tall, long-legged man with an elegant presence was standing right there. His high-bridged nose was so perfectly shaped it looked almost artificial. His expression was cold and slightly impatient.
“Getting in or not?” he asked.
Cheng Yao quickly stepped inside but couldn’t stop her thoughts from running wild.
She glanced at the elevator panel—12th floor.
The same floor she was heading to.
She was going to be neighbors with that guy?!
As she stood beside him, she stole a few more glances. He was ridiculously good-looking. His eyelashes were absurdly long, his lips were thin, and his skin was so fair it almost looked like that of a Caucasian.
What a waste. With a face like that, he had still ended up in such a… precarious profession.
But then, why would someone who drove a multi-million-yuan Bentley be living in a place like this?
Cheng Yao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
It seemed like no industry was easy. Even he had his own struggles. Maintaining appearances with a luxury car… who knew how many clients he had to take on just to afford it?
******
When the elevator reached the 12th floor, Cheng Yao stepped out first.
1203—this was her apartment.
Her handsome new neighbor, dragging a suitcase, was walking right behind her.
But as they passed 1201 and 1202, he was still following.
Cheng Yao started feeling uneasy.
And when she stopped in front of 1203 and saw that he also stopped at the same door, her sense of foreboding peaked.
“You…”
Before she could finish, the man interrupted her in an indifferent tone.
“Move aside. You’re blocking me from unlocking my door.”
With that, he pulled out a key.
“Are you sure you’re not at the wrong place?” Cheng Yao pointed at 1203. “I just rented this apartment today.”
The man paused for a second but didn’t turn to leave. Instead, he frowned and said, “You’re the one who’s mistaken. I rented this place and I’m moving in today.”
Cheng Yao didn’t argue. She simply took out her key and inserted it into the lock, turning it effortlessly. The door swung open.
“See?”
The handsome man pressed his lips together, then pushed the door shut again. He picked up his own key, inserted it into the lock—
Click. The door unlocked once more.
Cheng Yao wasn’t new to renting apartments. At this moment, a clear scenario played out in her mind. The man in front of her obviously wasn’t stupid either. They exchanged looks, both recognizing the truth in each other’s eyes.
Their unscrupulous landlord had double-rented the apartment!
Without hesitation, Cheng Yao pushed the door open, ready to throw her bag inside to claim possession first.
But the man scoffed coldly, grabbing her bag with one hand while blocking her path with his foot.
“Trying to take possession first? Keep dreaming.”
Cheng Yao raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
So even ducks knew the law these days?
He was clearly aware that in a double-renting dispute, whoever legally occupied the apartment first would have the upper hand.
Now, both of them were locked in a standoff, neither willing to let the other step inside first.
A thought flashed through Cheng Yao’s mind.
“Did you register your lease with the authorities?”
The man arched a cold eyebrow. “Did you?”
That was enough of an answer.
Neither of them had.
In a double-renting situation, if neither party had officially registered their lease, the first to complete the registration would win.
But for now, they were still at a stalemate.
Which meant there was only one last move left to determine the winner!
******
In a double-renting situation, if neither tenant had taken possession of the apartment and neither had registered their lease, the one who signed the contract first would win.
The stalemate between them continued, so naturally, they called in the agent and the landlord. But after cross-checking the information, everyone was stunned.
Both of them had signed their contracts on the same day.
The handsome man remained indifferent. Pressing his lips together, he said to Cheng Yao, “I’ll compensate you with two months’ rent. Find another place to live.”
But finding a suitable apartment wasn’t that easy!
Besides, Li Mengting’s boyfriend was moving in within days, and Cheng Yao was starting her new job at Junheng tomorrow. She had no time to apartment hunt again!
Backing down was simply not an option.
Clenching her teeth, Cheng Yao decided to play her trump card. She locked eyes with the man and declared, “I’m a lawyer. I suggest you give up this apartment. You won’t win against me. Do you know my consultation fee starts at 1,000 yuan per hour?”
For the first time, the man seemed taken aback. He lifted his gaze and looked at her properly.
Sensing the advantage, Cheng Yao pushed further.
“Ever heard of Junheng Law Firm? I’m a lawyer there! Even if you don’t know me, you should at least know our senior partner, Qian Heng!”
Most people had no real understanding of the legal world, so she decided to use his reputation to her advantage.
“Attorney Qian thinks highly of me. If I get mistreated, he wouldn’t just help me out of personal loyalty—it’s also about protecting our firm’s reputation! A Junheng lawyer losing a double-renting dispute? Impossible! As a lawyer, I must fight for my rights until the very end. I will never back down!”
For a moment, Cheng Yao thought she saw the man freeze when she mentioned Junheng.
And when she brought up Qian Heng, his expression turned outright shocked.
Looks like Qian Heng really was famous. Even a duck knew who he was.
—
[Author’s Note]
【Mini Theater】
Many years later.
Qin Qin: So? How’s the 10,000-yuan-a-night service?
Cheng Yao, dark circles under her eyes: … A little too worth it. This might actually be a 20,000-yuan experience. Someone save me…
Second Life Translations' Comment Policy
1. Be kind and respectful. Comments with curses will be put under moderation.
2. No links to other websites or asking for links.
3. No spoilers!