Because American law was based on questioning public power, the defendant’s rights were protected by various laws. On the other hand, the plaintiff had their own parties protecting themselves, so picking a fight with the prosecution carried the least amount of consequences and provided the maximum benefit.
If Huo Shaoheng fell into the tap, then Cai Sumin could immediately rescue Cai Songyin from detainment. However, it didn’t really matter whether Huo Shaoheng agreed or not. Cai Sumin wouldn’t suffer any losses, either way. But what if Huo Shaoheng agreed? Wouldn’t Cai Sumin hit the jackpot then? Only fools would refuse to take a potentially rewarding chance that posed no risks.
Cai Sumin patted Tan Guiren’s shoulder and replied kindly, “Don’t cry, Little Darling. Major General Huo won’t sit idle. Didn’t he personally go to the United States to bring you back to the Huaxia Empire? I think that you should follow Major General Huo back there, so at least you can see your Mommy and Daddy everyday. If they have any needs, you can also help take care of them.”
Tan Guiren had been holding onto a shred of hope to begin with, so she became even more eager when she heard Cai Sumin say that she could help take care of her parents’ needs. She clasped her hands before her chest, and she stared at Huo Shaoheng with huge, glittering eyes as she continuously pleaded, “Major General Huo! I’m begging you! I’m begging you! Can you take me back, too? The only thing I care about is if I can just see my Mommy and Daddy everyday!”
Huo Shaoheng’s expression was aloof. With one hand balled into a fist, he pressed it next to his lips as he coughed quietly. “Lawyer Cai, is there a precedent in the United States for what you’re doing?”
Cai Sumin had worked as a lawyer for so many years, he didn’t mind even if he was being openly insulted by someone else. He chuckled. “Why does it matter if there’s a precedent in the United States? As long as you’re willing to do this favor, it’s just a matter of lending a helping hand. Little Darling admires you more than anything, so she will certainly be obedient if she says so. Little Darling, isn’t that right?”
Tan Guiren quickly nodded. “I would never run away! You can even lock me up with my Daddy and Mommy!”
Huo Shaoheng saw that Tan Guiren and Cai Sumin both refused to give up on this idea, so he didn’t care anymore. Dropping his white-gloved hands, Huo Shaoheng calmly asked Tan Guiren, “Do you know what charges Tan Dongbang and Cai Songyin were arrested on?”
Tan Guiren bit her bottom lip as she contemplated. “Was it because my Daddy committed election fraud? As for my Mommy… I don’t know what my Mommy did, but I don’t think what you’re saying can be true. My Mommy didn’t launder money, bribe, or steal state secrets. She’s a good person and would absolutely never do those things.”
Huo Shaoheng raised his hand to stop Tan Guiren from continuing. “Miss Tan, we must allow the courts to judge whether your parents have actually done those things. But right now they are being held on those charges. It’s fine if you want to be locked up with them. You must sign and confess you are your parents’ accomplice, that you knew about everything they did. The natures of your crimes are consistent, so you’re also an accomplice. Only then would I be able to lock you up on the same floor as them.”
Tan Guiren’s eyes glittered but quickly dimmed. She was about to speak when Cai Sumin was already interrupting her with a huff and pointing at Huo Shaoheng. “Major General Huo, I really thought too highly of you! How could you lead an innocent and weak woman into a confession?! I will report you!”
Huo Shaoheng broke into a smile. “Wasn’t Lawyer Cai the one to actually make the suggestion just now? Could you also be leading a confession? Hehe, is coaxing your very own niece into going to jail any more noble a deed?”
“When did I ever coax Little Darling into going to jail!?” Cai Sumin could feel his blood pressure instantly rise, and his eardrums began to buzz. “Don’t make false accusations!”
Huo Shaoheng pointed to the person beside him. “Every action we’ve made here has been entirely recorded by the recording device. That includes every word you said and every move you made. If you are still dissatisfied and need to lodge a complaint, I will provide you with the complaint hotline.”
Cai Sumin’s expression was instantly darker than the bottom of a pot. He had been a lawyer in the United States for over 30 years and had always been known for his good temper. Oftentimes he would anger the other party so badly, they wanted to stomp their feet, but he could still manage to chuckle. As a result, he earned the moniker of “the smiling tiger.” But a few statements by Huo Shaoheng was actually enough to make him so angry he wanted to stomp his feet. Cai Sumin increased his vigilance towards Huo Shaoheng once again. He didn’t dare to underestimate him anymore.
Tan Guiren finally mumbled, “But I didn’t conspire with my Mommy and Daddy, nor do I know what they did. How could I sign that? Wouldn’t that be lying?”
Huo Shaoheng frowned slightly, and he began to feel some impatience. However, he still managed to reply calmly, “This was your Uncle’s suggestion, so you should ask your Uncle. Goodbye,” he said and turned to walk away.
He hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Cai Shengnan rushed in through the doors of the VIP lounge. She jerked her head up to see Huo Shaoheng and froze for a second before instinctively saying, “Major General Huo? Why are you here?”
Huo Shaoheng stopped in his tracks and replied languidly, “Because your father is trying to coax your cousin into going to jail. I was trying to persuade him otherwise. You should also persuade your father when you have the chance. Although Miss Tan has no common sense, it’s impossible for your father to not have any. For him to dig a trap for his very own niece, that is truly…” He shook his head in disgust and appeared deeply regretful.
Even Tan Guiren’s mind couldn’t help but swoon at those words. Did her Uncle really mean that? She discreetly sneaked a glance at Cai Sumin and was terrified by the furious expression on his face, so she quickly averted her eyes. After a little while, she couldn’t help but look over at him again.
Cai Sumin’s anger flared because of Tan Guiren’s furtive and fearful glances. However, his sense of patience honed from years of working as a lawyer still prevailed. He suddenly chuckled out loud and said, “Major General Huo is truly interesting. You have a great sense of humor. I admire it! There are very few people with your sense of humor in the Huaxia Empire nowadays!”
“Dad, what on earth is going on?” Cai Shengnan was even more confused, but the alarms in her heart blared when she looked at Huo Shaoheng, then looked at the delicate and shy expression on Tan Guiren’s face.
Cai Sumin said with a smile, “I was merely making a joke earlier about asking Major General Huo to take Little Darling home, so that way she would be close to your Auntie and Uncle, haha. But Major General Huo misunderstood me and claimed that I was coaxing your cousin into going to jail. Hahaha, that is too funny!” Although he laughed happily, there wasn’t a trace of amusement in his eyes.
Cai Shengnan nearly passed out as soon as she heard this. Have Tan Guiren follow Huo Shaoheng home?! Wasn’t that giving Tan Guiren the opportunity to be with Huo Shaoheng?! Was he actually her biological father or not!? How could he push the man she loved toward another woman…
Cai Shengnan’s rage rose from the depths of her heart, yet the smile on her face was soft. “How could that be possible? Dad, you’ve been practicing abroad for many years now, so you don’t understand the rules of the Huaxia Empire. Auntie and Uncle must be held separately because of the crimes they committed, so how could Cousin go there? Also, Auntie and Uncle are being detained by the Special Operations Forces. That’s not a place that just anyone can go to. Cousin doesn’t have a permit, right?”
Tan Guiren nodded, then said in an aggrieved tone, “I don’t have a permit and was originally hoping to beg Major General Huo to make an exception by allowing me to go in. Major General Huo asked me to sign before I was allowed to go in…”
“Sign what?! I won’t agree to it, even if he allows you to go there!” Cai Shengnan suddenly panicked, so she quickly embraced Tan Guiren. “Here, come stay with Cousin. Ignore these scumbag men!”