Not long after the soiree, the First-Class Lawyer selection committee finally started its evaluation process.
The original list of nominees had lawyers involved with the Manson Group case, who had improper dealings with the Manson brothers and Southcross partners, thus faced incarceration and their nas automatically revoked from the list.
Among these included Hobbes, who used to fight Gu Yan at every turn.
But even without the removal of his na, there was no competition.
The reason was that, excluding Yan Suizhi who had to abstain from voting, every First-Class Lawyer whose na decorated the Wall of Fa voted in complete accord for Gu Yan.
This was a rare sight during the final evaluation. After all, the selection committee was harsh; few were voted through with unanimous support.
The last ti this crowd of very different personalities was so united in their opinions probably dated decades back.
After every selection, the First-Class Lawyer Association would always hold a summit.
Although the bigwigs found these summits boring, they would always be in attendance. It wasnt easy for fresh faces to be introduced to their ranks, after all, thus it was an accomplishnt that should be celebrated.
The summit this ti was scheduled for a month later at the association building on Redstone.
But before that, Yan Suizhi went down to Spring Ivy Hospital for a check-up with Lin Yuan.
All the data is normal; its even better than I expected. Lin Yuan studied the results slip and asked, Did you get fevers or headaches or anything of that sort?
Yan Suizhi, No, not for a long ti.
Lin Yuan joked at this, Seems like Lawyer Gus gene segnt has taken well to you without any rejection whatsoever. If you encountered a gene source that likes to party around, it would have been harder on you.
It was the first ti that Yan Suizhi heard soone using such descriptors for genes and it amused him. Maybe the genes take after the owner and are just as taciturn as the person himself.
Lin Yuan couldnt contain his laughter.
I heard on my way up that youre going on a trip? asked Yan Suizhi.
Lin Yuan set down the results slip and jogged his shoulders, saying, Yeah, I was too caught up in work to take a break. Im going on a nice long vacation this ti.
How long?
Half a month, tops. Lin Yuan said. Using the leaves I saved over the past three plus years. Im planning to drop by Helan; didnt Uncle Braids bring Jack there to recuperate? Ill take a look then hop around a few other planets.
Helan? Thats a coincidence. Yan Suizhi said, Im also planning to head over with Gu Yan in a few days.
But the plans fell through in the end. They got held up a few days by a case at Nan Lu, so Lin Yuan departed a step ahead of them.
Having worked at the hospital around the clock, it was ages since Lin Yuan last enjoyed such a long vacation.
It was hard for him to get used to at first; he would have insomnia at night and startle awake in the mornings. He would keep checking his smart device, ascertaining that there werent any ergency calls before flipping over and going back to sleep.
It took around four days before he was truly able to set his mind at ease.
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So of these had lost all vestiges of the past, whereas so others remained untouched by the years.
After a week thereabout at Helan, he bought a departure flight ticket, intending to head to other destinations.
As he stood at Helans port preparing to go through the gate, his smart device suddenly buzzed twice.
He flippantly pulled up the interface and glanced at it; there were two new ssages.
The first ssage was a notice from Spring Ivy Hospital that the alliance had a newly established dical charity foundation, specialising in the research and relief of genetic diseases. It would be partnering with several major hospitals, and the headquarters had appointed him as the person in charge of this project on Spring Ivys side.
The ssage that followed imdiately after was a greeting from the charity foundation.
Lin Yuan swiped down, planning to skim through it before closing the interface, but the last two lines pulled him short.
Those two lines read:
Wishing you all the best. Bon voyage.
Ruan Ye
The ssage was clearly just official felicitations, and those two words clearly carried the foundations seal and not a personal signature.
Yet, for a split second, it still created an illusion.
As though one day many years later, a far-travelling ssage from a deceased person suddenly ca in, telling himLong ti no see.
Lin Yuan stared at the sign-off, rooted to the spot for a long while, before soundless laughter suddenly bubbled from him.
It was a week later that Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan touched down on Helan.
Gu Yan had spent his childhood years at 24 Sequoia Avenue in the Golden Rose District of Helan.
When did you move away? It was Yan Suizhis first ti visiting Gu Yans old family house and he was curious even before arrival.
Until middle school, then I went to study and work at De Carma. This place was vacant for a few years, said Gu Yan.
Vacant? Your grandfather doesnt live here?
He lived on both sides. He works at Tian Qin and has an apartnt there so he only returned after his retirent. Gu Yan said, After he moved back, I would stay here for a few days every few months.
At the ntion of Tian Qin, a thought flashed across Yan Suizhis mind, but he didnt manage to tug onto it, simply responding with an oh.
It wasnt until they stood in front of the mansion that Dean Yan gleaned what that fleeting thought was all about
Because when the door opened, Gu Yans grandfather was sitting on the plush sofa in the drawing room, glasses in hand as he turned his head over.
The seniors hair was silvery white and he appeared hale and hearty. It could be seen that he must have been an exceptionally handso youth, just that he habitually kept a poker face, thus looking unusually strict.
Well that was quite the coincidence. He was the spitting image of the Chief Justice at Yan Suizhis first court trial.
The very sa gentleman who Yan Suizhi had described as an upstanding man of integrity but possibly suffered from slight paralysis in his facial nerves.
That he had described right to Gu Yans face.
Yan Suizhi,
The old judge,
Even from this stare-down halfway across the living room, it was clear from their expressions that both parties had equally deep impressions of each other.
They woodenly turned to look at Gu Yan.
Lawyer Gu coughed with a hand over his mouth.
It was on such occasions that the true nature of the otherwise-aloof student was exposed.
Fortunately, both Yan Suizhi and the old judge had favourable impressions of each other. More than favourable, even, with mutual respect.
Therefore, when they did sit together, the ambience as they conversed was still rather pleasant.
Although the old judge was serious by nature, even reserved by virtue of his occupation, Gu Yan could tell that his grandfather was in a good mood, relaxed and happy as he listened to Yan Suizhi speak.
It didnt co as any surprise to Gu Yan, since that was Yan Suizhi.
Nearing the end of their visit, the old judge also ntioned, Ive already retired and were in a personal setting, too, you dont have to address
so formally. It makes
feel as though Im in a court session.
Yan Suizhi turned the glass in his hand, as though on purpose, asking, What address would be appropriate, in that case sire?
Gu Yan lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
When a certain dean got up to his antics, it was irrespective of age; there was no one he dared not to tease.
The old judge silently sipped his tea, then expressed his opinion of this address, It reminds
of visiting university students.
Yan Suizhi elegantly took a sip of warm water. Thengranddad?
The old judge austerely choked on his tea.
Yan Suizhi smiled, hastily reaching over to pat the old judge on the back.
After the old judge recovered his breath, he said, Mn thatll do.
Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan accompanied the elder for lunch. Thereafter, they rested briefly before driving down to Zone 13.
The southern suburbs of Zone 13 of Helan had a wide expanse of quiet pines, backed by a rolling gentle slope and surrounded by a deep lake.
That was Juniper Cetery.
The resting place of Yan Suizhis parents.
They parked the car in the shade outside the cetery and, with a bouquet of pink roses, weaved the long flight of steps up to two gravestones standing side by side.
It was only upon closer inspection that Gu Yan discovered that the two gravestones were actually connected. On them, the attractive couple had eyes that resembled Yan Suizhis, smiling softly and quietly.
Yan Suizhi held the bouquet of pink roses, his eyes cast down, gazing upon them just as softly and quietly.
Once, Gu Yan had pictured this scene; he imagined that Yan Suizhi would linger here for a long while, with many, many things that he wanted to tell the two elders.
After all, so much had happened in this ti. A whole day could pass just talking about any random affair.
But Yan Suizhi did not.
He simply stood for a while before the graves, then said, Quite a bit has happened this year, so I havent been able to take ti to co over Did you miss ?
The cetery was tranquil, with only the breeze rustling through the branches of the pines diluting the silence.
Yan Suizhi laughed softly. Nevermind. Such sappy words dont suit . Im here today because I wanted to let you et soone. His na is Gu Yan; you might have heard
ntion him before? The student who always stord off but would return without a word to write his reports. But that was a long ti ago. Hes my partner now.
It doesnt matter if you dont recall, just rember him from now on When I co back to visit in the future, hell probably also be with .
By the way, I went to the hospital a while back. That little defect in my genes is gone for good, so you dont have to worry.
He stuck a hand into the pocket of his pants while his other hand gently brushed the fallen twigs from the gravestone.
Just like that, he breezed past the close shaves with death in the past year.
There was a musical touring Fa Wang District the previous day, the sa one you tricked
into watching last ti. I went to catch it with Gu Yan again. I dont know if the cast has changed; the stage lights were too bright for
to make out their faces. I ended up dozing off again less than halfway through. But I woke up earlier this ti and watched the ending. Its the usual cliche, happy ending all around, but admittedly, I can see why you like it.
Now that I think about it, I seem to rember a line that goes till we et again.'
So, then. Till we et again.
Yan Suizhi softly tapped his finger on the gravestone, like a casual but intimate greeting. Well be going first. Sleep tight.
Good night.
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