The world begins with shameless people

"Ding Xiu, I..." Kim didn't know what to say.

Ding Xiu smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. I just expressed my feelings. It will take a long time, so take your time."

Kim heard it, relaxed a little, and smiled.

For Ding Xiu... In fact, for any man, as of now, Kim had no such thoughts.

But now, Ding Xiu mentioned...

Kim had an idea more or less, but it was weak and not that strong.

"Then let's continue talking about this case," Ding Xiu probably guessed that Kim might feel uncomfortable bringing it up again, so he took the initiative to say, "The reason I just mentioned is the main reason why I came to you. The secondary reason is that I I don’t plan to become a partner in any firm. I practice alone outside and enjoy the freedom. I like it very much.”

“With this in mind, rather than going to an unknown law firm, it would be more appropriate to go to you.”

"Anyway, I just want my final share of the settlement money."

Kim listened quietly, believed it, and became more relaxed, "So that's it. Indeed, in a law firm, even if you become a partner, you will have a lot of troubles and you will not have the freedom to practice alone."

Kim understood, thought about it, and asked, "What are your expectations regarding the settlement amount?"

"Twenty percent. In addition, I have another request," Ding Xiu said very directly. "I know that whether it is HHM or any other law firm that takes this case, it will be based on interests. I want to keep pushing and trying to get as much settlement money as possible.”

"My other request is that this case must be settled within a year and cannot be dragged on forever."

"The reason why I made this request is, on the one hand, because I want to get the money as soon as possible. On the other hand, and most importantly, it is because the elderly in Sandpiper Nursing Home will die at any time, and there will not be much time. I We must consider those elderly people.”

Look, how sincere and noble he is.

at this time.

If Ding Xiu had a favorability system, he would have seen prompts such as favorability +1 and +1 pop up on Kim's head.

Kim smiled even brighter, "Your request is very reasonable, but I can't agree to it now. I have to discuss it with Howard and see what he says...but I will try my best."

"That's enough," Ding Xiu nodded, "When the time comes, don't forget to get more benefits for yourself."

Kim smiled, "Okay."

In this way, the relationship between the two suddenly became much closer.

Just then, the waiter brought the meal.

The two stopped talking about work and enjoyed a rather sumptuous dinner.

finished eating.

Kim proposed not to wait until tomorrow, but to go to HHM together immediately to finalize the matter.

Ding Xiu has no objection.

The two quickly got into their cars and moved to HHM.

HHM's conference room.

Howard understood the situation and was overjoyed. He immediately praised Ding Xiu without hesitation, and all kinds of beautiful words came out.

After blowing a rainbow fart, Howard got to the point, "Ding Xiu, I can promise you 20% of the settlement money."

"However, I'm afraid I can't promise to end this case within one year, because time is beyond my control, but I can promise you that for the sake of the elderly in Sandpiper Nursing Home, HHM will try its best to end this case within one year. case."

After listening to this, Ding Xiu pretended to think for a while before agreeing, "Okay, what about Kim?"

Howard looked at Kim and said, "Kim, you brought such a big case for HHM. It seems it's time for us to talk about partners."

This is actually quite particular.

It's time to talk... The meaning is obvious. For the time being, Howard does not intend to upgrade Kim to HHM's partner, but it is not a complete rejection, but there are conditions...

In short, in Howard's view, the Sandpiper case was not enough for Kim to become a partner, and Kim still needed to work hard.

Kim is a smart person. How could he not understand? He smiled and responded, "Okay, let's talk later."

Ding Xiu also understood the meaning, and did not say more, and it was not convenient for him to say more. After all, with Kim's character, it would be unsightly if he forced himself to say more to Howard.

Howard turned to Ding Xiu at this time and said, "Ding Xiu, HHM does not have a rule about referral fees. We believe that it is unethical to have referral fees when it comes to the case."

"So, what I'm thinking is, HHM is paying you $25,000 for your legal services over the past few days. What do you think?"

Ding Xiu simply nodded, "Okay."

"Okay, let's go to my office now," Howard stood up.

About ten minutes later.

Ding Xiu received the check and was sent to the gate of HHM by Kim.

"Ding Xiu, thank you so much this time. I'll treat you to dinner another day," Kim said gratefully.

Ding Xiu smiled slyly, "Dinner and a movie."

Kim was stunned for a moment before he understood the meaning and thought about it, "Okay."

"Then it's settled," Ding Xiuxiao said.

"Yeah," Kim nodded.

"Then I'll go first and call you."

"Okay, bye, drive slower."

Ding Xiu got in the car and left, returning to the hotel to end the day.

*****************

a new day.

morning.

The DNA comparison of the blood collected from Chuck's family finally yielded results.

The blood belongs to Chuck and Jimmy respectively.

The police officer in charge of the case didn't waste much time and almost immediately called the reporter, Kim, to explain the situation.

After hearing this, Kim felt that even though it had been so many days, he had already guessed that this would be the case, but he still couldn't help but feel in a daze. He couldn't believe that this kind of thing actually happened...

After a long while, Kim calmed down a bit, found Howard, and headed to the police station together.

On the way, Kim hesitated for a while and sent a text message to Ding Xiu.

Ding Xiu was also on his way to the police station. Mike called not long ago. He needed to deal with the aftermath of the record book stolen yesterday, so he called Kim directly, "I'm almost at the police station." , see you at the police station later."

"Okay," Kim responded in an extremely low tone.

Police parking lot.

Ding Xiu saw Mike and smiled, "Is the matter resolved?"

Mike was still the same, unsmiling and expressionless.

In this regard, Mike really fits in well with Uncle Fried Chicken and his gang of thugs... He doesn't look like a normal person at all.

Mike didn't answer, just said, "Let's get this over with."

Ding Xiu smiled and said, "Give me the things and don't talk for a while."

The two walked into the police station and met two police officers, an old man and a young man from Philadelphia.

Solving this problem is very simple.

In America, no one is innocent until proven guilty.

This is why lawyers are so popular in the United States.

Ding Xiu was in charge of speaking. From the perspective of a lawyer, he explained the matter to the indignant young policeman. He only said that Mike had picked up the record book and knew nothing else.

Of course the young policeman didn't believe it. The problem was that he couldn't prove it, so he had no choice but to threaten Mike angrily, "I know you stole it, and I also know you killed Hoffman and Fensky..."

"Hey, hey, officer! If you say one more thing, I will sue you on behalf of my client!!" Ding Xiu heard this and decisively interrupted the young policeman's words and said sternly.

Angry as he was, the young policeman was still very smart and immediately forcibly stopped speaking, not daring to say any more.

Ding Xiu grinned, "That's right, then let's stay here, we are all busy."

The young policeman left angrily.

The old policeman didn't leave. Mike spoke and asked Ding Xiu to leave first.

Ding Xiu simply left and went to the police responsible for Chuck and Jimmy's case.

After finding the police, we waited for a short while.

Kim and Howard showed up.

The three of them talked for a while, then wasted no more time and listened to the police explain the situation together.

That's the situation.

The DNA results showed that Chuck and Jimmy were attacked in that house and lost a lot of blood. The gangster later cleaned up the blood on the floor and took Chuck and Jimmy away...

"The key is whether Chuck and Jimmy are still alive," the police said. "We can't determine this issue just based on the blood we found."

The police put it mildly.

Ding Xiu and the three of them all understood.

What the police mean is not complicated...

Because it is uncertain whether Chuck and Jimmy are dead or alive, this case is essentially a disappearance case. It is classified as a suspected homicide at most and cannot be regarded as a real homicide.

and…..

If it is not a homicide, there is actually very little that the police can do.

What's more, so many days have passed since the disappearance was investigated...

To put it bluntly, there is basically nothing to check.

This means that unless any new clues emerge, this case will remain unsolved like other disappearances in the city of Albuquerque...

You know, there are really many disappearances in Albuquerque.

Kim gritted her teeth and listened patiently, unable to accept the result.

The same goes for Howard... Of course, Howard's consideration is more for HHM. Simply put, Howard needs to determine whether Chuck lives or dies.

Subsequently.

There was nothing wrong at all. Howard went to the police chief and wanted the police department to think of other ways and do more...

Ding Xiu and Kim went to the rest area to sit down and wait.

Sitting on the chairs, neither of them spoke for a while.

For a long time.

Kim let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly, "I never expected that this kind of thing would happen around us..."

Ding Xiu nodded in agreement and said without further ado, "Yeah."

"Who did Jimmy offend? This would happen..." Kim didn't mention Chuck directly. After all, Chuck couldn't go out and stayed at home for so long. It was almost impossible to get killed.

"Maybe it's a criminal," Ding Xiu thought for a while, trying to pretend to be as complicated as possible, "Maybe Jimmy has returned to the romantic Jimmy before and provoked someone who shouldn't be provoked."

After a pause, Ding Xiu added, "Chuck is probably just implicated."

Kim was quite aware of Jimmy's past, and she really felt that this possibility existed, but she didn't know what to say.

Ding Xiubian said no more.

The two of them just sat quietly, waiting for Howard.

About five or six minutes later.

Kim raised her hand and wiped her face, wanting to distract her attention and not want to think about Jimmy anymore, so she asked Ding Xiu, "Why did you come to the police station?"

"I have a client who was troubled by the police," Ding Xiu said briefly.

"Public defense case?" Kim asked again.

Ding Xiu shook his head, "No, outside customers."

"You're developing very well," Kim was slightly surprised, "Have you gained another customer so quickly?"

Ding Xiu smiled faintly, "The city of Albuquerque is very chaotic and there are many potential customers. It's easy to find the right direction."

Kim thought for a while and roughly understood what he meant, "Is this client of yours a criminal?"

"Everyone has the right to obtain legal defense," Ding Xiu said, knowing Kim's attitude towards this.

Kim blinked and did not comment further. After thinking about it for a moment, he said, "You have to pay attention to your safety. Dealing with criminals is very dangerous."

"Yeah, I know," Ding Xiu responded with a smile, then changed the subject and asked, "How was your conversation with Howard yesterday?"

Kim's expression changed a bit, "Fortunately, the case you brought has accelerated the speed of me becoming a partner. Probably, after I find a big case myself, I can become a partner of HHM."

Ding Xiu heard this and deliberately remained silent for a few seconds before turning to look at Kim and asking without blinking, "Kim, is this really what you want?"

Kim: "???????"

Kim didn't respond, "What do you mean?"

"It means, as I told you before dinner last night, I like you, so I have been observing you. I found that after you became HHM's lawyer, you rarely smile..." Ding Xiu said calmly in one breath ,"are you happy?"

For Kim, this is a question that cuts right to the soul.

Kim froze.

happy?

Probably unhappy.

Kim was speechless.

Howard came back at this time and spoke about the situation.

At Howard's request, the police chief stated that he would not shelve the case of Chuck and Jimmy for the time being, and would send someone to investigate...

However, the police chief also said that this kind of investigation cannot continue forever. If no discovery is found after a period of time, the police will have no choice but to give up.

Done.

Howard called Kim and returned to HHM.

Kim said goodbye to Dingxiu.

Ding Xiu also left and went to the court, where he continued to deal with criminals and expand his reputation in the criminal circle.

In a blink of an eye, it’s noon.

After having lunch outside and having nothing else to do for the time being, Ding Xiu drove to the law firm next to the court.

So far, he has not hired a paralegal, so the doors to his office remain closed most of the time.

It's the same today.

Ding Xiu took out the key, opened the door and walked in, turned on the answering machine, then lay down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.

There was no voice message on the answering machine.

Not surprisingly.

Ding Xiu didn't care, smoking and resting leisurely.

Rest and rest.

Suddenly, there was the sound of the door being pushed open.

Ding Xiu heard it, opened his eyes, turned and looked outside.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Accompanied by the footsteps getting closer, the door of this office was pushed open.

Take a closer look.

Oh?

Nacho is here.

What is this guy going to do? (End of chapter)