Chapter 1320 - Getting Something For Nothing
Chapter 1320: Getting Something For Nothing
Luo Jialan’s mind was a mess.
Did she really have to say it?
She actually didn’t want to reveal too much about Yamaguchi Aiko. For one thing, Yamaguchi Aiko had warned her not to tell anyone about their relationship.
Second of all, what they had done together wasn’t something that could be told to outsiders, especially not to Gu Nianzhi.
But the temptation was too great..
She pondered over it again and again. If she could get Gu Nianzhi to drop the lawsuit by telling her the truth, then the risk was worth it.
Otherwise, she might really have nothing left.
As someone who had once owned a huge fortune, asking her to give up such a huge fortune was like asking for her life.
If that was the case, then it was worth a gamble.
Luo Jialan thought that Yamaguchi Aiko was already dead, so all she had to do was push all the blame onto Yamaguchi Aiko.
No matter what she said, only her words stood.
Could Gu Nianzhi really go to the grave and drag Yamaguchi Aiko out for questioning?!
Gu Nianzhi waited for a while, then started thinking that Luo Jialan would insist on not saying anything now.
But just as she was about to give up, Luo Jialan asked hesitantly, ” … If I tell you, will you really withdraw your lawsuit? Can you write it down in paper?”
Gu Nianzhi raised an eyebrow, and thought to herself: she was actually trying to get something for nothing? This Luo Jialan was really greedy…
She didn’t show it on her face and said with a smile, “I won’t lie to you. I’m saying that it depends on the situation. If it meets the requirements, we’ll withdraw the lawsuit. If it doesn’t, then I’m sorry, but the case has to continue.”
Luo Jialan was a little disappointed. “Really? Then what difference does it make if I say it or not?”
“Then you don’t have to say it. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s not my trust fund anyway. You’ll still have to say it when you go to court.” Although Gu Nianzhi was anxious, she didn’t want to show it on her face. Instead, she retreated in order to advance. She appeared apathetic, as if she didn’t care whether or not she spilled the beans.
At this moment, Grandfather Huo was really anxious. He frowned and said to Luo Jialan, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and spill the beans. It’s more important to withdraw the lawsuit! ”
“She didn’t promise that she would withdraw the lawsuit… ” Luo Jialan still wanted to settle this matter, but she kept glancing at Cai Shengnan.
This lawyer Cai, who took five million USD in advance payment, didn’t say a single word!
This money was too easy to earn.
Luo Jialan felt extremely indignant. She couldn’t help but say to Cai Shengnan, “Lawyer Cai, what do you think? I can say it, but can you guarantee that they’ll drop the lawsuit? ”
Cai Shengnan spread out her hands. “I can’t guarantee that.”
Luo Jialan’s face completely darkened. She said, ” … then why do I need you to represent me?”
Cai Shengnan smiled. She wouldn’t stoop to her level.
After all, no one had a problem with money.
Gu Nianzhi’s eyes sparkled.
Luo Jialan was about to pick a fight with her lawyer.
If Cai Shengnan left in a fit of anger, there wouldn’t be a strong assistant to help with their questioning today.
That was because only when Luo Jialan’s own lawyer was present would she be unable to retract her statement…
Gu Nianzhi cleared her throat and added, “Lawyer Cai is a famous laywer both at home and abroad. Miss Luo, you have laywer Cai as your assistant. It won’t be difficult for you to dismiss the case.”
Although Cai Shengnan knew that it wasn’t a good thing to be praised by the other party, she still felt invigorated after hearing Gu Nianzhi say such a thing. It tasted like the raisins on the häagen-dazs ice cream in her mouth during the hottest days of summer. It tasted sweet, refreshing, and creamy. It was exhilarating.
It was a pity that Huo Shaoheng wasn’t there.
If he had been there and heard Gu Nianzhi say such things about her, he would definitely see her in a different light…
Cai Shengnan was lost in thought.
Luo Jialan also felt that Cai Shengnan was quite capable, so she felt more confident. She turned to look at Gu Nianzhi and asked, “What do you want to ask? ”
She was going to answer Gu Nianzhi’s question.
Gu Nianzhi perked up and took out a recording pen. As she recorded, she asked, “Miss Luo, your lawyer just said that you didn’t transfer the money yourself. You lent it to your friend to transfer it. Yes or no?”
Luo Jialan nodded. “Yes, that’s true.”
Her voice was calm, and her eyes were focused as she tried to organize her answers. She was afraid that she would say the wrong thing.
Gu Nianzhi asked again, “May I ask which friend you lent it to?”
“Didn’t I just say that?” Luo Jialan frowned. “You forgot so quickly? Aren’t you called a genius with a photographic memory?”
Gu Nianzhi chuckled lightly. “That’s because my colleagues were complimenting me. Don’t take it seriously. ——Please answer my question. May I ask which friend you lent the money to?”
Luo Jialan snorted and pursed her lips. Her bright red lips opened and closed. “Yamaguchi Aiko, my lawyer said so just now.”
Gu Nianzhi nodded. “May I ask how much money you lent to Yamaguchi Aiko?”
Luo Jialan hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help glancing at Cai Shengnan, who appeared lost in thought. Her gaze was dazed, and there seemed to be a faint smile on her face.
Luo Jialan had no choice but to tell the truth. ” … Five million euros.”
“With as much as five million euros, did you ask Yamaguchi Aiko to write a IOU when you lent it to her?” Gu Nianzhi blinked and started beating around the bush.
She couldn’t let Luo Jialan realize that she was actually interested in Yamaguchi Aiko, so she tried to focus on the loan.
Only by showing that she cared about the money Luo Jialan lent would Luo Jialan let down her guard in terms of Yamaguchi Aiko.
Gu Nianzhi could tell that every time Luo Jialan mentioned Yamaguchi Aiko, she would shut her mouth after saying a few words.
This nuanced expression showed that she didn’t want to say anything more about Yamaguchi Aiko.
It also showed that she was very wary of other people digging into Yamaguchi Aiko.
However, Gu Nianzhi was an experienced interrogator. She could speak freely under the high pressure of the crowd in the courtroom, so Luo Jialan’s little tricks were nothing to her.
At that moment, Gu Nianzhi was like a completely different person. Her entire vibe had changed.
She was no longer the cute and adorable little girl that people would coddle at the first sight of her. Instead, she was a sharp-tongued, ruthless, levelheaded, and sensational trial lawyer.
In her field of expertise, her strong academic reserves made her feel at home.
As expected, Luo Jialan was confused by Gu Nianzhi’s mention of an “IOU”.
She frowned and said, “Yamaguchi Aiko is my friend. How could I ask her to write an IOU if she wanted to borrow money from me?”
Even if she had written it, it would be invalid now, because Yamaguchi Aiko was already dead, and the debt would be suspended because of her death.
Luo Jialan could have given up on the claim.
She had thought this through thoroughly.
Gu Nianzhi seemed to be following Luo Jialan’s train of thought. She said regretfully, “I don’t think the Swiss court would believe that such a large amount of money could be lent without an IOU. Unless… ”
“Unless what? ! ” Luo Jialan thought about it and became anxious.
That’s right. How could she have forgotten that the Huaxia Empire’s people could understand that there were friendships that were beyond money, but those foreigners wouldn’t understand.
If it was a loan, they would definitely want an IOU.
What should she do?!
Forge a loan at the last minute? What if she was exposed?
Luo Jialan asked Gu nianzhi sheepishly, ” … Unless what? Do you know?”
“Unless you can prove that you and Yamaguchi Aiko were really close friends, so close that you don’t need to write an IOU to borrow money from each other. All that is needed is a verbal promise.” Gu Nianzhi nodded with a smile, and her eyes were filled with encouragement. Her warm gaze fell on Luo Jialan like the sun.
Luo Jialan actually felt warm inside, and she couldn’t help saying, “Oh, yes, I was indeed very close friends with Yamaguchi Aiko. So close that we could borrow many things from each other. Not to mention money. Besides, she and I aren’t people who can’t afford to pay. Five million euros might be a lot to others, but to us, it’s just like ordinary people borrowing 500 euros from each other.”
“In your eyes, do you need to write an IOU to borrow 500 euros?”
Gu Nianzhi gave her a thumbs up in approval. “Well said, that makes sense. To you, a year’s worth of trust fund income isn’t a small amount, right?”
“Only 10% of the trust fund income is transferred to my bank account every year, but that 10% is seven-figures.”
Every year, 10% was seven-figures. A year’s worth of income was eight-figures.
Five million euros was only a year’s worth of income.
Luo Jialan was very pleased with herself, and her confidence immediately increased.
Gu Nianzhi chimed in with a few compliments. “Is that so? Then you’re really too rich. You’re truly a fair, rich, and beautiful woman!”
Luo Jialan had completely let her guard down. Thinking to herself that Gu Nianzhi wasn’t that unreasonable after all, she pursed her lips and smiled…
Gu Nianzhi then nonchalantly changed the topic to Yamaguchi Aiko.
“Then how did you two meet? To be such close friends, you must have spent a lot of time getting to know each other, right?”
Luo Jialan was lost in her memories. She smiled and said, “I met her when I was in France, in a flower arrangement class and tea ceremony… ”
“Really? You were in France at that time. I remember that you had accompanied grandfather Huo to the Xie family manor for relaxation. You actually had time to go to flower arrangement classes and tea ceremonies.”
Luo Jialan snapped back to reality. Her smile turned into a wry smile. Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Yes, I didn’t have many friends in France. Sometimes, I felt depressed, so I went out and signed up for many training classes.”
“I see. You guys went out to relax, but you still felt depressed. It looks like the Xie family wasn’t very hospitable to you… ” Gu Nianzhi gave Grandfather Xie a meaningful look.
Grandfather Xie didn’t mind at all. He smiled with his hands behind his back and listened with relish.
Gu Nianzhi: ” … ”
Luo Jialan felt a little awkward. She quickly glanced at Grandfather Xie and saw that he wasn’t unhappy at all, so she quickly said, “Actually, it wasn’t the Xie family’s problem. It was my own. I had just finished my lawsuit at that time. When I thought about what happened to my father and mother, naturally I felt upset.”
“Yes, it’s understandable.” Gu Nianzhi was brimming with energy.
Gu Nianzhi was the lead lawyer in that lawsuit. Of course, she knew how badly she had messed with Luo Jialan…
If old master Huo hadn’t turned around and taken her to France, Huo Shaoheng would have sent Luo Jialan to prison at that time.
Gu Nianzhi covered her mouth with her fist to cover up a cough. She asked again, “What training classes did you sign up for?”
“Yoga, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, fitness, and French. I just wanted to fill my life to the brim, so I didn’t have to think about those terrible things,” Luo Jialan admitted frankly.
“Then you met Yamaguchi Aiko in the tea ceremony and flower arrangement training classes.” Gu Nianzhi made a mental note and continued to ask calmly, “What was she doing at the time? How old was she? What did she look like?”
“She was doing business in Europe. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, right? She was fair-skinned and clear-complexioned. She had round face, a small mouth, and straight black hair. She liked to wear black-rimmed glasses. She wasn’t tall, and was petite and dainty. She looked like a doll of women from ancient dynasties.”
Gu Nianzhi’s heart skipped a beat, and she continued, “After you met Yamaguchi Aiko, was it because the two of you were the only Asians in class, and were about the same age, and because she deliberately put in effort to become friends with you, that the two of you became good friends at first sight?”
Luo Jialan was flabbergasted.
What kind of monster had Gu Nianzhi transformed into?!
How did she know what she wanted to say?!