Thinking of Gong Shilin, Li Cheng felt completely conflicted.

Did he really have to go beg that fellow?

That was his mortal enemy!

On one hand was his dignity!

On the other hand was his pride!

Between the two, how should he choose?

His brows furrowed higher and higher as he sighed.

His face full of distress.

Ji Yinshu and Jingrong exchanged glances but said nothing.

At this moment, Li Cheng gritted his teeth, stood up abruptly, straightened his spine, and said, “Since I promised you, I absolutely won’t go back on my word. In any case, leave this matter to me. I will definitely help you find that person.”

Full of confidence.

Ji Yinshu asked, “What method do you have?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. In any case, when the time comes, I’ll definitely take you to the Ministry of Personnel.”

Being mysterious.

Jingrong didn’t probe further. “Fine, then we’ll wait for your news.”

“Mm.”

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave first.”

With that, Jingrong pulled Ji Yinshu away.

After just a few steps, Li Cheng called out to Ji Yinshu’s back, “Master Ji, now that you’ve finished painting, can I… come find you anytime?”

In order not to disturb Ji Yinshu’s painting.

He hadn’t gone to that residence these past few days.

Ji Yinshu turned to look at him. “If it’s regarding the case or our search for someone, you can come anytime.”

The implication being, don’t come for other matters.

Li Cheng felt awkward and smiled without saying anything.

After they left—

Li Cheng stayed in the room for a while longer.

Thinking about how to approach Gong Shilin.

Then he took out the morgue key and weighed it in his hand a few times.

Thinking it over again and again.

He got up and went out.

…

At this moment, Gong Shilin was still sitting in the morgue.

The faint light filtering through the door crack and window paper was just enough for him to see the shadows of objects in the room.

At least he wouldn’t trip over things.

Inside, there emanated a very strong damp smell.

Plus a slight moldy odor.

Rushing into his nose, extremely unpleasant.

Gong Shilin wrinkled his nose, feeling uncomfortable all over. That sensation was nearly approaching the edge of collapse.

It strongly compelled him to burst through the door.

But reason suppressed his impulse.

Li Cheng was a lunatic, but he couldn’t become one too.

Otherwise, if word got out, news about the Li and Gong families would probably make headlines again.

Becoming fresh gossip for everyone’s after-dinner conversations!

He sat upright, his body held very straight, his toes seemingly twisted together, his entire being written with disgust and disdain.

His hands rested tightly on his knees, eyes closed, actively trying not to think about the chaotic smell filling the room.

Outside the door!

The minor official kept guard, not daring to leave.

He had waited a long time without seeing Li Cheng come, so his heart grew increasingly anxious.

After all, the person locked inside that door wasn’t just anyone, but the son of Left Minister Gong.

An important figure!

Everyone knew that Li Cheng and Gong Shilin didn’t get along. The two of them practically created an incident once a month for the common people to discuss.

However, ever since Li Cheng left Gaoding to gallivant about, their warfare had quieted down. Now that the little tyrant had returned, the warfare had started up again.

He just hadn’t expected this fire to burn all the way to the City Department.

Even pulling this minor official into it.

He stood guard at the door now, his heart trembling.

Occasionally peering through the door crack to see what Young Master Gong was doing inside.

At first, Gong Shilin had still been standing inside walking a few steps, but now he sat quietly on the stool.

Currently… “resting with closed eyes.”

This left the minor official puzzled.

Somewhat worried.

He knocked lightly on the door.

Calling through the crack toward the inside, “Young Master Gong?”

Very quiet.

He asked again, “Young Master Gong, can you hear me?”

The person inside didn’t respond.

“Young Master Gong? Are you… alright?”

Still no movement.

This time the minor official was truly anxious.

If something happened to the person inside, when Left Minister Gong called him to account, he would definitely be the first to suffer.

His heart tightening, he knocked on the door several more times.

“That… Minister Li has gone to find a locksmith. He should… should be back soon. Young Master Gong, you absolutely must not have anything happen to you!”

Though worried to death, he didn’t dare open the door.

Otherwise, before Left Minister Gong could call him to account, Li Cheng would do so first.

Early death or late death—he still chose late death.

Gong Shilin had completely shut out his voice.

Didn’t hear a single word.

Sitting there quietly, like a Buddha statue.

At this moment, Li Cheng came hurrying over.

Seeing this, the minor official rushed over, saying, “Sir, Young Master Gong, he…”

Pointing at the door.

Li Cheng wore a sour expression. “Is he still there?”

“Sitting inside. Without your orders, I didn’t dare open the door.”

“Good that you know.” Li Cheng walked to the door and was about to take out the key to open it when his hand suddenly paused.

He brewed up a performance in his mind.

Then getting into character, he raised his voice and called out, “Gong Shilin!”

His voice was very loud.

Gong Shilin heard it, his ears twitching.

Listening to hear what else he would say.

Li Cheng said, “That locksmith—who knows where he went? Can’t find him. Looks like you’ll have to stay inside a bit longer.”

Gong Shilin slowly opened his eyes.

Staring at that tightly closed door.

Li Cheng didn’t hear a response, so he pressed his ear against the door and asked, “Hey! You’re not dead in there, are you?”

Previously, he would have really hoped the person inside was dead.

But now he had matters requiring Gong Shilin’s help, so that fellow better finish the job before dying.

Gong Shilin’s face looked terrible. He took a heavy breath and said, “You’ve had your fun. Hurry up and open the door.”

He had long since seen through Li Cheng’s act.

Li Cheng was too lazy to keep pretending. He took out the key and unlocked the door.

Pushing it open.

With a “bang.”

Very loud.

He stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, the keyring hanging on his index finger, spinning it around.

Deliberately showing Gong Shilin that he was the one who had locked the door.

“Come out. If you don’t come out now, this door… might get closed by the wind again.”

Gong Shilin’s expression grew even worse. He stood up, dusted off his robes, walked to the doorway, and glared fiercely at Li Cheng.

“Utterly unreasonable!”

Throwing down these four words, he stepped through the door.

Walking away without looking back.

By the time Li Cheng processed those four words “utterly unreasonable,” Gong Shilin had already left.

His nostrils flared with anger.

“Dare to call me utterly unreasonable?”

This temper of mine.

Without another word, he tossed the key to the guard at the door and took off running after him.

The minor official hastily caught the key, calling out, “Sir, what are you…”

He was confused too!

What was all this about?

Gong Shilin left the City Department.

Originally, the two had come in the Li Manor’s carriage, and the carriage was still waiting outside.

However, Gong Shilin didn’t want to deal with Li Cheng anymore, so he chose to walk back to the manor.

Fortunately, the heavy snow had already stopped!

He walked forward through the snow, not looking back.

His cloth shoes stepping in the snow made a “swish swish” sound.

They quickly got wet.