I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 1264 - 873 as brothers, in the heart_2

Chapter 1264: 873 as brothers, in the heart_2

"My place is much cleaner than his establishment, but when they came for me, his place remained untouched—not the slightest hint of trouble. Even Fang Qing knows about Golden Coast, so why hasn’t Golden Coast been investigated? Does that seem normal to you?"

The reasoning was becoming increasingly convincing.

"If you’re truly clean, even if someone comes after you, there’s nothing they can do."

Fu Zili gave a bitter smile, carelessly disregarding that Fang Qing was also present. "Jiang Chen, we’re not kids anymore. If something exists, there must be a reason for its existence. If you don’t do it, does that mean nobody else will? Why do you think I went to Capital City and East Sea to gain exposure to the world? I wanted to learn from big cities’ experiences. When I came back, I worked hard toward standardization. I recruited talent from out of town, hoping to synchronize with big cities and formalize this industry. I can guarantee you, right here in Sha City, among all the similar establishments, none of them can compare with mine in terms of cleanliness and professionalism."

Existence is justified by reason.

On this point, Jiang Chen agreed.

For an industry to exist, it must have its rationale.

Even Fang Qing—both a woman and a legal professional—had nothing to say about it.

When it came to similar establishments, Qinyuan was undoubtedly the gold standard. To some extent, Lan Peizhi and Fu Zili could barely be considered peers in the industry; the difference was only a matter of leagues apart.

Jiang Chen had never been to Fu Zili’s establishment, nor experienced Sha City nightlife culture. However, he had frequented Qinyuan.

The women there exuded charm—an aura radiating from within that far surpassed the drudgery of corporate workers.

At least, they certainly seemed more comfortable and happier than the workaday folks out there.

Xia Wanqing was a stark example.

She even owed Qinyuan her thanks.

"If someone has already made their move, they’ve surely prepared thoroughly. You think you’re clean now, but what about before?"

Jiang Chen’s nonchalant statement hit Fu Zili like a nerve-striking jab.

After a while, Fu Zili finally responded, "Aside from those who work strictly by the book, who doesn’t have dirt under their shoes?"

Jiang Chen nodded calmly. "That reasoning, I understand. But in the courtroom, do you think the judge will care?"

"..."

Fu Zili was instantaneously at a loss for words.

"Take some time inside to reflect," Jiang Chen said, getting up and turning to leave without hesitation.

It was almost too cold-blooded.

Yet Fu Zili didn’t appear angry. Instead, he reiterated, "Fang Qing, I can handle this myself; you and Jiang don’t need to get involved."

"The only thing I can do is serve as your defense attorney—if you’re willing to hire me, that is."

Fu Zili gave another bitter smile.

Fang Qing turned and walked away.

Stepping out of the Ximen Police Station.

The night blanketed the city.

The Dongmen (East Gate) area was the most bustling part of Sha City’s old district, far surpassing the other city gates. Ximen (West Gate), by contrast, was desolate.

"What do you think?"

"I’m a lawyer." Fang Qing’s response was succinct.

"Really going to just leave him hanging?" Jiang Chen turned his head slightly, teasing, "He used to stick up for you quite a bit as a kid."

"If he wants my help, I’ll defend him, but I can only promise he gets the judgment he deserves."

Her words sounded cold, but Jiang Chen could sense a deeper layer of meaning.

From her standpoint, offering such a statement was already remarkable. Could anyone really expect her to ignore ethics and break the law for him?

Ensuring Fu Zili wasn’t falsely accused or maliciously framed—or burdened with overly harsh sentences—was already enough to embody the loyalty between childhood friends.

"I don’t think he’ll hire you," Jiang Chen softly remarked.

"I think so too," Fang Qing promptly replied. "After all, if he hires another lawyer, he might still plead not guilty."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, strolling along the roads of his hometown. "From your professional judgment, if it goes to court, how serious is his potential sentence?"

"Based on his current narrative, it’s not severe—at most, a fine and a few months inside. But that assumes he’s telling the truth."

"A few months."

Jiang Chen mulled it over, then chuckled softly. "He’s still young. A few months should be manageable."

Fang Qing nodded lightly, looking ahead. "Brotherhood lies in the heart."

Jiang Chen, struggling to suppress his amusement, seemed to justify himself, saying, "The higher you stand, the harder you fall. Tripping now might not be a bad thing for his entire life journey."

Fang Qing didn’t comment.

"That said, one thing doesn’t cancel out the other."

Jiang Chen’s tone shifted, his expression remaining composed. "His sentence is to answer for his own actions. But if someone deliberately set him up, as his childhood friends, we can’t just stand by and do nothing."

Fang Qing wasn’t surprised in the slightest. "What do you plan to do?"

Jiang Chen pulled out his phone, waving it in his hand. "Didn’t they already show us? Anti-prostitution operations are a must for any civil city, and whistleblowing is every citizen’s duty."

"But the other side has connections." Fang Qing reminded him kindly.

"How big can their connections really be?" Jiang Chen responded with a smile. "Bigger than the sky above us?"

Fang Qing, realizing belatedly, pursed her lips and let out a breath. "Forget I said anything."

Indeed.

Even if someone could obscure the sky, so what?

For Jiang Chen, Sha City might already be far too small.

He was dialing the number.

Sha City’s most widely known entertainment venue.

Golden Coast.

In the most exclusive suite.

Fan Dehan, the infamous entertainment tycoon of Sha City, appeared to be celebrating something joyous. His face was flushed red from drinking, flanked by women on either side, laughing heartily.

"Damn it, just a dirt-poor kid from a laid-off workers’ housing project—what does he have to take me on?"

"Exactly, that Fu guy is nothing compared to Fan Ge. Not even worth mentioning!"

"President Fan, from now on, Sha City belongs to us!"

"Hahaha, there’s enough money for all of us to make! Cheers!"

The most attractive girls in Golden Coast were gathered in this suite, each seemingly competing to wear less than the next. The room was thick with intoxicating perfume, enough to smother a person’s sense of reason.

Drunken men became reckless, their hands wandering freely; one of them, in his impatience, slipped off a short skirt and yanked down underwear, eliciting a stream of playful giggles.

"Go, dance for us!"

Fan Dehan shoved aside the courtesan attending him.

The sultry, internet-famous courtesan obediently obeyed, teetering on high heels as she strutted seductively toward the pole, stirred by the rhythmic music.

No wonder this was the top establishment in Sha City.

The entertainment was undeniably well-curated.

Just as the men’s eyes lit up with anticipation, the shrill sound of a phone shattered the atmosphere, entirely out of place in such a scene.

Fan Dehan, clearly in high spirits, frowned as he whipped out his phone, about to reject the call. But upon seeing the caller ID, his expression shifted subtly, and a touch of sobriety returned to his gaze.

"Turn off the music," he ordered, then answered the call.

"A surprise inspection is coming your way."

Fan Dehan’s face froze.

"They’re already en route—five minutes away."

"I’m at Golden Coast. Can we delay it a bit?"

"I just got the news myself. This is a large-scale operation—an order issued urgently from above."

The caller’s tone was hurried, speaking rapidly and hanging up before Fan Dehan could say more.

Fan Dehan’s expression grew dark, his forehead glistening with sweat, his drunkenness abruptly swept away.

As someone in this industry, he had a knack for reading the room.

"Fan Ge, what’s going on?"

Fan Dehan snapped back to reality and abruptly stood up. "Evacuate! Get out now!"

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

"Still standing around? MOVE!"

Fan Dehan roared.

Surprise checks weren’t new, but one conducted with such urgency was rare. Usually, he’d receive some warning earlier in the evening.

The scantily clad hostesses paled, scrambling in panic, shedding their earlier allure as they rushed to leave. In their fluster, several twisted ankles in their high heels, but not one dared to pause, all fighting to flee first.

Despite his connections, it seemed they were too late. Just as Fan Dehan hurried out of the suite and was about to order the evacuation of all patrons—

"Wee-oo wee-oo wee-oo!"

The piercing sound of police sirens roared to life.

Fan Dehan stumbled briefly, then barked into his walkie-talkie, his face filled with desperation. "Get all the guests out through the back entrance!"

"President Fan, the back...the back exit is surrounded too."

A terrified voice replied through the walkie-talkie.

Fan Dehan turned ashen, staring blankly at the chaotic corridor, as though his soul had left his body, frozen in place.