Office One was simply and neatly furnished, with white as its main color and pale yellow as an accent. The overall effect was warm and pure, making people unconsciously lower their guard.
There were no flowers or plants in the room, nor any incense burning, yet a faint fragrance still drifted through the air. It made people feel as though they were back in their mother's embrace, utterly at ease.
Only after finishing her corrections on the last document did the middle-aged woman behind the desk look at Gao Ming. The instant she raised her head, the room seemed to brighten, even the darkness in its corners dispelled.
Her slightly full lips parted as she took off her glasses and looked at Gao Ming. There was something unusual about her gaze: it held compassion and sympathy without making him feel uncomfortable.
The woman was not particularly beautiful, but being watched by her brought a sense of peace and comfort, like a traveler returning home and seeing his family.
"Mother, I've brought him."
"How many times have I told you, child? When we have guests, you must call me Councilor Ci Mei." The middle-aged woman's voice was gentle and clear, perfectly suited to her appearance. "All right, go outside, and close the door behind you."
After Ci Tong left, a faint smile appeared on the woman's face. As if she had known all along that Gao Ming would come, she pointed at the chair across from her. "Come over here. My eyesight isn't very good, so sit a little closer."
"No need." Gao Ming tossed the photocopied evidence of her crimes onto the desk. "You have quite the taste in pastimes, Councilor Ci Mei."
"Why would you say that?" Councilor Ci Mei rested her chin in both hands without even glancing