chapter 10
“Come in, watch your step. Thank you all for coming to sign the contract.”
I led the way, with Daniel, Zhao Cheng, and the Ghost driver-Manager Gu-and the lady in the passenger seat-Lawyer Fei-following behind.
We carefully stepped over bricks and waded through puddles, entering the remote, abandoned cardboard box processing plant.
Manager Gu’s handmade leather shoes with red soles and his tailored trousers were splashed with dirty water. He frowned in disgust:
“Why is the Workshop set up in a place like this? Who would come here?”
I smiled, “Mainly, we help Loan Sharking operations collect debts. There are also quite a few clients like you-people who’ve been cheated out of money, can’t get it back, and can’t go to the Cops.
“Doing this job means offending a lot of people, and we have to avoid the Cops. We can’t exactly set up in the CBD, can we?”
Lawyer Fei adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and spoke softly, “Oh? I’ve lived and worked in Haishi for many years. How come I’ve never heard of your place?”
I led them into a musty, abandoned building and up the stairs:
“We’re a shady business that can’t see the light of day. You and Manager Gu, all polished and sitting in offices, wouldn’t have a chance to know about us.
“Besides, you can only find us through introductions. We don’t dare advertise; our reputation is everything.”
Lawyer Fei paused, “…But you approached us directly.”
Manager Gu slowed his steps at her words.
Zhao Cheng was still huffing and puffing up the stairs, “I was found by this young man, then together we found the clue to your car.
“I don’t know the details. Ask this Dan, Dan-”
“Daniel.” Daniel was the youngest and fittest, and was the first after me to reach the third-floor Workshop door. He looked down at the others:
“A trustworthy buddy introduced me.
“Besides, you all agreed to come to the Workshop to sign the Entrustment Contract. If you don’t want to entrust Sister Yun, you can just leave!
“But I suggest you stay. Since we’re all after the same person, we should pool our information for a better chance.”
Lawyer Fei put away her suspicious look and continued upstairs.
Manager Gu followed her.
An Underling inside heard the commotion and opened the door to greet us.
The Workshop wasn’t big; there were seven or eight people in the outer room, all busy with their own tasks.
I led them straight into my small office, each taking a seat in a row before my desk.
Everyone got a copy of the Entrustment Contract. Lawyer Fei, who came with Manager Gu, was carefully reviewing his contract.
“No rush,” I said with a smile.
“You can send me that woman’s photo. I’ll have the tech team start analyzing it.”
Manager Gu was puzzled, “Analyze what?”
“Her real appearance,” I explained.
“I haven’t seen a photo of her without makeup yet, so it’s hard to find her.”
I tilted my head, “Unless you have one?”
Manager Gu looked down and scrolled through his phone, showing a picture, “This one?”
“She’s wearing colored contacts.”
“This one?”
“She’s contoured.”
“This one?”
“…Forget it. Daniel said she usually stays at Yiju Hall, which is your property, right?
“So you’ve spent the most time with her. Even if you don’t have a photo, you must have seen her completely bare-faced.
“If you can accurately describe her natural look-like moles, birthmarks, tattoos-we can use those features to find her.”
Manager Gu opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated.
Zhao Cheng couldn’t help but mock, “You two have both actually slept with her, yet neither of you has a bare-faced photo? You’re a disgrace to men!”
Manager Gu’s expression darkened, “I’m usually busy with work, out early and back late, often on business trips; she lives a refined life and is always made up, so…”
Daniel couldn’t help but retort, “She only comes to my place once a week, and often leaves for online classes before I wake up.
“You’re just a toad who can’t eat swan meat, and you say those of us who did are a disgrace?”
“You-”
“Stop!”
I quickly reached across the desk, blocking between the men:
“We’re all here today because we’ve been played by this bad woman. No need to argue! You’re all in the same boat!”
All three clients turned their gaze to me.
I put on a friendly face:
“I mean, the tech team needs time to reconstruct her natural look. Since Manager Gu has Lawyer Fei checking the contract, you’re free anyway-
“Why not tell us how you got scammed? Maybe you’ll provide more clues.”
Daniel and Zhao Cheng looked at him. Seeing his hesitation, they briefly shared how they’d been deceived.
Manager Gu relaxed a little, took off his black Face Mask, and revealed a handsome face marked by time but still striking.
“Huh?” Zhao Cheng’s eyes widened, “You, where have I seen you before?”
Daniel stared curiously, “Has Manager Gu been on TV? You look familiar…”
“Ten years ago,” Manager Gu’s voice was low and magnetic, “I was an actor.”
Zhao Cheng slapped his thigh, “I remember! You acted in that idol drama, my ex-wife used to watch it. No wonder you look familiar!”
Daniel suddenly understood, “Oh! Are you the one whose girlfriend was exposed by Paparazzi and had a scandal-”
“Gu Jingxing,” Manager Gu said, “That’s my name.”