Chapter 496: Chapter 470: Tighten the Wind and Pull the Call

Xiao Qian felt that her mother was great in many ways, but her strong temper with a touch of petty bourgeois trivia was a bit headache-inducing.

Why are you going in when they’re cooking!

Especially since this was Liao Fugui’s house, and Liao Fugui was there. He was a person Xiao Qian would have preferred to avoid due to his penchant for reciting scriptures. Yet her mother eagerly went straight to him. Collapse, crash!

However, Jia Xiufang did not hear her daughter’s inner scream and swaggered into Liao Fugui’s home.

Xiao Qian could only grit her teeth and follow. Actually, she preferred staying in the corridor with the smell of rotten cabbage that had been there for several months, than staying in Liao Fugui’s musty house.

Although she had worked with this guy in her past life, she had never been to his house. Upon entering, Xiao Qian was a little surprised.

Mother said he and his father lived together, and the two bachelors actually kept their home so clean!

Although Yu Minglang’s house was also very clean, it was not the same. Yu Minglang rarely went back, didn’t buy many things, and only had simple furniture. It was the home of a carefree bachelor, whereas Liao Fugui’s father and son were obviously living their daily lives. They raised many flowers at home, and the balcony was full of them, as well as several bird cages with birds inside. It was clean and tidy, with a hint of floral fragrance in the air, giving off a very homely vibe.

Thinking of her own Xiao Qiang, Xiao Qian decided to go to his place tomorrow and clean up the room before returning to school. Xiao Qiang had given her a spare key last time he came.

While Xiao Qian was thinking about Yu Minglang, Liao Fugui glanced at her and thought that this seemingly cold girl looked especially warm at this moment. She sat quietly on the sofa, staring at the small succulent plants on the windowsill, and appeared aloof and elegant at first sight, but now looked like a well-behaved little girl. The same person had two different charms, each with its unique flavor.

“Do you like succulent plants, little sister Xiao Qian?”

Xiao Qian continued to daydream, thinking about her plans for visiting Yu Minglang tomorrow. Jia Xiufang nudged her daughter, and then Xiao Qian snapped back to reality.

“Hmm?”

Liao Fugui asked again.

“Oh, no, I don’t.”

Well, that’s awkward.

The atmosphere suddenly cooled. Liao Fugui had initially wanted to find a topic of conversation to ease the awkwardness, but Xiao Qian poured cold water on it, not giving any room for maneuvering.

Jia Xiufang didn’t know about the grievances between her daughter and Liao Fugui in their past lives. She only felt that her daughter was acting a bit unusual today and hurriedly changed the subject with a smile.

“She doesn’t know anything except studying. She’s becoming a bookworm and doesn’t know how to raise flowers. Yun Chang, these flowers you’ve raised are quite pretty. Are they easy to take care of?”

“They are quite easy to raise. They don’t need watering all the time. Auntie Jia, would you like some? I’ll break off a few leaves for you. Just throw them into a flowerpot when you get home, and they’ll take root on their own after a while. They’re very easy to take care of.”

“That’s great.”

While Liao Fugui went to break off some leaves, Jia Xiufang gave Xiao Qian a glare. You ungrateful girl, did you leave your manners with your dinner?

Xiao Qian scoffed, thinking that her behavior today was absolutely polite compared to what this guy had done to her in their past life.

It was also hard for Xiao Qian to imagine that this gentle man would become a sharp and musty old bachelor in ten years or so.

The two of them had different positions in their past lives and had often clashed. However, Xiao Qian had to admit in her heart that this guy’s professional skills were indeed strong. What was particularly commendable was his adherence to principles. In that particular environment, he fearlessly stood for justice against any power or wealth. This was the aspect that Xiao Qian admired the most.

According to current regulations, mentally ill people who cause harm while being unable to identify or control their behavior should not be held criminally responsible, but their family members or guardians should be ordered to supervise and treat them. If necessary, the government will enforce treatment.

Liao Fugui was an expert in psychiatric assessments. There were countless people who tried to bribe him to get certain results, but he held strong principles. Whether the person had a mental illness or not, he would not compromise or be swayed by anyone.

So in their past life, he was just a respected but not wealthy public servant. Although Xiao Qian despised his musty demeanor, she admired the integrity that he shared with her own teacher.

Many people can maintain justice for a year or two, but very few can persist for a lifetime without compromise, even when beaten numerous times.

Well, they’ve met, so be it. After all, their circle was small, and those who could make it to the top in the domestic arena were only a few people. Sooner or later, they were bound to meet. Xiao Qian comforted herself while taking a glance at Liao Fugui, who was wrapping leaves in newspaper for Jia Xiufang. This guy didn’t seem to have the same annoying behavior as in his past life, and those irritating catchphrases hadn’t shown up yet—

“I don’t know if I can keep these alive.” Jia Xiufang took the leaves and said modestly.

“It’s alright. Happiness is about creating new experiences. If you create a new experience, you are a happy person,” Liao Fugui said earnestly.

Jia Xiufang obviously didn’t understand what he was talking about. She laughed awkwardly, thinking that this young man was good in every way, but it would be better if he didn’t always say things others couldn’t understand.

Xiao Qian inwardly snickered. See, people just can’t stand compliments. Just as she was about to praise Comrade Liao Fugui for not having the problems of his past life, he immediately said that catchphrase.

Worried that Jia Xiufang would want to continue chatting with Liao Fugui, Xiao Qian pulled at her mother’s sleeve, “Mom, I’m hungry.”

“We should go back to cook. Please greet your father for us, Yun Chang. We’ll head back first.”

Liao Fugui’s father was a senior judge who hadn’t returned from overtime work. Xiao Qian had not met the old man in her past life, but he was said to be very similar to Liao Fugui, a more intense version of Liao Fugui.

Liao Fugui accompanied Xiao Qian and her mother to the door. As they opened the door, they saw a middle-aged woman in black standing outside, startling Jia Xiufang.

The woman was about to knock on the door when it opened, making her a bit surprised. But when she saw the people inside the house, she immediately changed her face and smiled.

“Is this the residence of Deputy Chief Forensic Physician Liao Fugui?”

At this point in time, Liao Fugui was not yet a professor, and his official title at the research institute was Deputy Chief Forensic Physician.

“It is. Who are you—”

“Oh, Heaven’s sake! You must help my brother get justice!” The middle-aged woman suddenly knelt down.

Jia Xiufang stepped back in shock, wondering what kind of trouble was this, and why did trouble always come knocking at the door when she just wanted some flower leaves?

Xiao Qian immediately understood that this woman must be a family member of a suspect in a case, here to seek favors from Liao Fugui.

“It’s not my working hours now. Please leave, and we can discuss any complaints at my workplace,” Liao Fugui said politely.

Xiao Qian didn’t want to get involved in such messy matters and pulled her gossiping mother away. Come on, mom! Let’s get out of here!