Very clear-headedly watching herself, sinking.

“You’re absent-minded today.” While discussing a tricky case, Henry Wilson suddenly blurted out.

Ian Mitchell calmly looked up at him. “I think my suggestion is pretty good.”

“It is good.” More than good, it’s excellent. “But you’re still distracted.”

“All right.” Ian Mitchell tossed aside the pen in his hand. “What do you want to ask?”

Henry Wilson laughed—it was rare to see him so unsettled. “Our junior, Freshman Morgan, is back?”

Ian Mitchell raised his eyebrows. “How did you know?” Was he really acting that out of character?

“I saw her downstairs the other day,” Henry Wilson explained, solving his confusion. “She seems… quite different.”

Quite different indeed. Ian Mitchell fell silent.

At that moment, Old Wilson burst in through the door, shouting, “Hey, the people from United are treating us to dinner tonight. You all have to come with me.”

United Law Firm and Wilson Mitchell’s firm were both among the four major law firms in City A. Although they often clashed in court, they got along well in private. This time, Old Wilson had helped them out a bit, so a banquet was arranged at Deyuelou.

To be honest, the United folks weren’t entirely well-intentioned. Everyone knew United’s “Thunder Rose” had a thing for Wilson Mitchell’s Ian Mitchell. Putting them together was clearly for the drama. Thunder Hughes was skilled at attacking, while Ian Mitchell’s defense was always flawless. It was easy to imagine tonight’s dinner would be lively and entertaining. Old Wilson was already looking forward to it.

Deyuelou was located in the city’s most bustling area. Night had fallen, the city lights were just coming on, and after a few rounds of drinks, Old Wilson and several lawyers from United, all masters of witty banter, were laughing and making a ruckus. Henry Wilson sat by the window, listening to their chatter, but his eyes unconsciously drifted outside.

The city night was ablaze with neon lights, and crowds of people wove across the wide avenue.

Wait, what’s that…

“Old Xiang, what are you looking at so quietly?” Lawyer Carter leaned over, following his gaze. Across the street, a woman was taking photos with a camera. She had shoulder-length hair, wore a loose light blue shirt and jeans, and had two or three cameras of varying lengths slung over her shoulder.

“Is that your type?” Lawyer Carter asked with interest. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but she looked like a student.

Definitely not his type. Henry Wilson turned away and saw Belle Hughes relentlessly pursuing Ian Mitchell, who was responding politely and courteously. If she joined in too… now that would be interesting!

“以琛.” Henry Wilson got his attention, then pointed outside the window.

Now not only Ian Mitchell, but everyone looked outside. But what were they supposed to see? Everyone was confused.

Ian Mitchell immediately spotted Mason Morgan in the crowd, adjusting her angle for a photo, and put down his wine glass. “I’ll be right back.”

Except for Henry Wilson, who remained calm, everyone else nearly pressed themselves against the glass. They watched as Ian Mitchell’s tall figure quickly crossed the street and stopped a few steps away from a woman he didn’t know, just quietly watching her without disturbing her. The woman seemed completely unaware. When she finished taking photos and turned around—ah! What a pity! She had her back to them, so they couldn’t see her expression, and then the two exchanged a few words.

Then…

Everyone’s jaws nearly dropped—Ian Mitchell! He, he, he…

He actually grabbed her hand, forcefully?

Ian Mitchell, who had always been indifferent to women, would make such a bold move? Impossible!

Everyone tacitly and sympathetically looked at the only woman present. Belle Hughes’s face was already looking quite unpleasant.

Of course! They’d always thought Ian Mitchell’s aloofness toward women was just his cold nature, but it turned out that when necessary, he could be this passionate.

This was a huge blow to female self-esteem!

Although Thunder Hughes’s sharp tongue often drove them crazy, she was still a colleague. The chubby Lawyer Wright spoke up to gather intel: “Old Xiang, who is she?”

Henry Wilson’s expression was a bit inscrutable. “Why ask me? You should ask Ian Mitchell.”

Lawyer Wright quickly declined, “I wouldn’t dare hope to get anything out of Ian Mitchell.”

Henry Wilson smiled. “His jacket’s still here. He’ll have to come back for it.”

Sure enough, after a while, Ian Mitchell returned and apologized, “Old Li, I have to leave early.” Old Carter was technically the host tonight.

Before Old Carter could say anything, Henry Wilson spoke up first: “Leaving like this is a bit rude. Why not invite Mason Morgan to join us? I haven’t seen her in years.” He turned to Old Carter, “Mind if we add one more?”

Old Carter nodded quickly, “Family members are welcome, family members are welcome.”

Ian Mitchell hesitated.

Thunder Hughes spoke up coldly, “So, the great lawyer He has to sneak around to date a girlfriend? Afraid to let people see?”

Mason Scott was still dazed on the sidewalk across the street, wondering what exactly her relationship with Ian Mitchell was. Not quite friends, not quite lovers… She hadn’t figured it out when her phone rang again. It was Ian Mitchell.

“I can’t get away…”

Oh, that’s fine then. Mason Scott breathed a sigh of relief.

“…Come over here.”

The call ended. Mason Scott didn’t even get a chance to discuss it with him. She looked at Deyuelou across the street, packed up her things, and crossed the road.

Ian Mitchell was waiting for her at the door. Mason Scott hesitated, “Is it really okay for me to go in?”

Ian Mitchell replied lightly, “Just a few colleagues, it’s fine.”

But, in what capacity was she appearing?

She swallowed the question. Lately, Ian Mitchell would occasionally seek her out, but always kept a deliberate distance. Even so, this contact already made her uneasy.

It shouldn’t be like this. She should stay away from him…

As soon as they walked in, the group unabashedly sized up Mason Scott. She looked pretty good, dressed casually, her hair a bit short, lacking some charm. Compared to the women usually around Ian Mitchell, she was average.

Henry Wilson was the first to greet her.

“Mason Morgan, back in the country so soon?” He smiled gently, but his words had a subtle edge. “I thought you’d make Ian Mitchell wait eighteen years for you.”

A real smile with a hidden knife, soft words with a sharp point. What could Mason Scott say? The usual: “Senior Xiang, long time no see.”

“Don’t call me senior, but it really has been a while.” Henry Wilson’s smile was ambiguous.

Ian Mitchell gave a brief introduction. As soon as Mason Scott sat down, the beautiful female lawyer immediately fired at her.

“Miss Zhao, I’ve heard Ian Mitchell is famously hard to get. What tricks did you use to win him over?”

Not just heard—she spoke from experience. The table fell silent.

Henry Wilson nearly spat out his tea. That Thunder Hughes!

She didn’t really mean any harm; she was just used to being direct, especially after spending so much time with a bunch of men. She could even scold a judge in court for being incompetent and ignorant—how tactful could you expect her to be? Today’s question was already considered polite, but Mason Morgan had never faced such a situation and probably wouldn’t know how to handle it.

He was about to help out, but saw Ian Mitchell watching indifferently from the sidelines, so he held his tongue. If the boyfriend himself didn’t care, why should he meddle?

Mason Scott was stunned for a moment before reacting. Seeing everyone silent, she felt apologetic, thinking her arrival had ruined the mood. She had no idea they were just waiting for a good show, holding their breath in excitement.

So she half-jokingly said:

“Actually, Ian Mitchell is easy to pursue.” She summed up her past experience. “The key is to be thick-skinned and persistent—cry, make a fuss, threaten to hang yourself, and he’ll surrender for sure.”

Everyone looked at Ian Mitchell in disbelief. So the great lawyer He liked this kind of thing?

Thunder Hughes glared at her disapprovingly. “Don’t you think that’s undignified for a woman?”

“Uh… I didn’t think about it at the time.” Mason Scott smiled.

“A man you win over by being shameless—how much could he really care about you? Without a meeting of souls, one day he’ll get tired of you and abandon you.” Thunder Hughes pressed on.

“Ah!” Old Wilson, who hadn’t spoken, suddenly exclaimed, interrupting Thunder Hughes’s attack. He stared at Mason Scott excitedly. “I remember now! You’re the woman who dumped Ian Mitchell and went to America, aren’t you?”

What?! Except for Henry Wilson and Ian Mitchell, everyone stared at Mason Morgan in disbelief. She dumped Ian Mitchell?

Mason Scott was stunned too. She dumped Ian Mitchell? Where did that come from? And why did this burly man look at her with… admiration?

“No, I didn’t…”

Still trying to deny it? Old Wilson switched tactics. “Did you go to America?”

“…Yes.”

“Were you his girlfriend before?”

“…Yes.”

“Then that’s it.” Old Wilson slapped the table with his bear paw—case closed!

Mason Scott was dumbfounded. Are lawyers these reckless with people’s lives now?

She was about to explain when Ian Mitchell pulled her up. “Sorry, we’ll be leaving first.”

No one stopped them, just watched in a daze as they walked away.