The Rose Code

[A story set in the legal world, with a heroine who grows over time and a focus on cases involving women] People say Xiao Rang, a big shot at a top-tier law firm, has never lost a case. He’s cold and uncompromising, and he won’t even let his own personal assistant become a trainee lawyer. His assistant tried every way she could to get a chance, but still came up empty-handed and had no choice but to leave. People urged Xiao Rang, “You’ve made your point. The girl came all the way to Beijing to make a life for herself. Don’t be so ruthless.” Xiao Rang lazily took a drag on his cigarette. “She’s the one who dumped me. How is that me being ruthless?” “Of course she left because you were too cold. She couldn’t take it anymore.” Xiao Rang crushed out his cigarette, thinking back to that night in London. His assistant had pressed close to him like a homeless kitten, burrowing into his arms and murmuring softly, “Lawyer Xiao, I’m cold. Hold me.” That night, he’d wanted to tear out his heart and give it to her. A trainee lawyer position was nothing by comparison. …Three years later, at a family dinner at the Lin residence, his former assistant was the prospective match for the Lin family heir, while Xiao Rang was an honored guest. When he saw her smiling sweetly at another man, he gritted his teeth but couldn’t hold back. In front of everyone in the Lin family, he walked into her room, pinned her against the door, and asked in a restrained voice, “You like that bookish guy? Hmm?”