CHAPTER 37: 37. THE WORLD IS REALLY SMALL

Unexpectedly for Shi Nian, this legal aid office called "Tang Dynasty" was unusually busy. Looking around, the living room was mainly filled with Asians, mostly elderly, women, and children. They all looked at her with bewildered eyes. According to state law, only residents living below the poverty line can enjoy legal aid services. Lawyers engaged in legal aid generally do not charge fees.

Shi Nian had also been to Xiang Yuan’s law firm, where it was luxurious and elegant, with interior designs that were the works of famous designers, proudly and nobly like a narcissus reflecting in a rippling lake.

Towards this unfamiliar lawyer, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect. Yancy, she remembered the meaning of this name: benevolent.

A blonde, red-framed glasses-wearing female secretary finally noticed Shi Nian and shouted, "Ma’am, do you have an appointment?"

Shi Nian quickly shook her head, "No, I’m queuing."

However, the blonde secretary frowned at her, "Ma’am, you’re in designer clothes and driving a Mini, have you come to the wrong place? The doors of high-paid lawyer firms are open for you."

Shi Nian understood the sarcasm in that tone, so she explained with a smile, "I’m not here to seek legal aid. I came to see someone named Yancy, it’s a personal matter." Shi Nian handed over her business card.

The secretary then became a little more amiable, "You came to see Yancy... and you even brought this card."

.

Shi Nian bewilderedly entered the office.

The office was spacious and bright. Although it did not use branded furniture, it also reflected the owner’s taste. Ivory-colored bookshelves, paired with a brown fabric sofa, were strict yet warm.

A man stood with his back to the door behind the desk, standing at a file cabinet reading documents, backlit such that only his slender and perfect silhouette could be seen.

Shi Nian’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat — a strange familiarity. She knocked and asked, "Excuse me, are you Yancy?"

The lawyer turned around. Such a contour as if carved by a knife, a gaze as clear as a spring... Shi Nian trembled, "Excuse me, who are you?"

An odd feeling, this man was like another version of that officer.

Yancy wasn’t very welcoming, just professionally invited her to sit and asked what case she wanted to discuss.

Shi Nian had to explain the reason for the search and said, "The officer abused the search, I want to file a lawsuit."

Yancy listened carefully, his long brows furrowed slightly, "Ma’am, forgive my directness, but if you really want to go to court, you have no chance of winning."

"Why?" Shi Nian was slightly agitated.

Yancy remained calm and professional, "Firstly, you clearly knew the other party’s identity as a detective; secondly, when the detective clearly warned you to stop, you made a clear attempt to escape. Thus, the detective had every reason to believe you were hiding related evidence on your person."

"And next, when he conducted a search, he did indeed find evidence related to a suspect on you — here I must clearly remind you, ma’am, the detective conducted a ’search of items’ on you, not a ’body search’ as you claim. In other words, his purpose was to find evidence you might be hiding using physical advantage, rather than directly touching your body."

He raised his eyes, "Please pay attention to one word: directly. The detective wore gloves and made this detail clear to you."

Shi Nian took a sharp intake of breath, her eyes couldn’t help but fall on a group photo on his desk, then she rolled the name Yancy on her tongue again and couldn’t help but chuckle coldly.

"You are also Chinese, may I boldly ask your Chinese name?"

The man glanced at her casually, "Yan Xi."

Shi Nian clenched her fingertips, "Could it be such a coincidence your full name is: Tang — Yan Xi?"