Chapter 662 - Good News, Bad News

Regardless of the media's stance, the voices on the internet, representing the majority of the public, were overwhelmingly supporting Downey. They believed he had indeed done something heroic and hoped for a fair judgment.

In just one day, Laila managed to exert such a significant influence with the media and her massive online army, making it a remarkable achievement. Although Downey's suspicions had not been completely cleared, and there was no news yet about the drugged girl, at least for now, the situation seemed favorable for them.

On the second evening, Laila finally temporarily set aside her work and returned home with a weary body.

When she arrived home, Abel was already asleep, and Downey, having consumed too much alcohol, was already in a deep slumber. Only Roy remained in the living room, waiting for her return.

"Tired, huh?" Roy looked at the faint bruises under her eyes, feeling a pang of heartache, wishing he could erase them with his own hands.

"I'm okay." Laila wearily smiled, unceremoniously leaning her body weight against him. "Help me to the bedroom." While she didn't feel it at the office, seeing him again at home made her feel like the pressure and fatigue of the past two days exploded, leaving her unwilling to move even a finger.

Roy, of course, wouldn't settle for merely assisting. He lifted her at the waist, carried her upstairs, and gently placed her on the bed in the bedroom.

"Hungry? Do you want me to make you something to eat?" Having lived alone for a long time, he might not be able to prepare exquisite dishes, but making sandwiches or something similar wouldn't be a problem.

Laila shook her head. "I ate before coming home. I just want to get a good night's sleep now."

Seeing that she was about to fall asleep while talking, Roy knew she was exhausted. "Then, rest well."

Laila softly responded with a "Mmm," and as he looked at her, the even sound of breathing indicated that she had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Roy had initially planned to inquire about the progress of the situation after her arrival, but seeing her exhausted state, he couldn't bring himself to ask more. He sighed lightly, helped her remove her outerwear, covered her with a blanket, planted a goodnight kiss on her forehead, turned off the lights, and left the room.

Laila was truly worn out; she had barely slept for two or three hours in the past two days. To control the direction of public opinion, she had to continuously command and respond to those under her. In this situation, being anything but tired would be a miracle.

Her efforts, however, were not in vain, as Roy had been keeping an eye on the development of the situation at home. Laila didn't allow Downey to watch television news or browse the internet, but she hadn't prohibited him from doing so. After Downey had drunkenly gone upstairs to sleep, Roy had been searching for relevant information.

He knew about the video Laila had released, the media coverage of the incident, and the discovery of Cole by resourceful individuals. From his perspective, the development of the situation had been surprisingly smooth.

Unfortunately, the judge needed evidence to prove that Downey didn't intentionally provoke the situation. In the current circumstances, although Downey might have the support of the public, he might not have legal support. To avoid legal consequences, crucial evidence needed to be found.

But where was that girl? Why hadn't she appeared yet?

When all major and minor media outlets were reporting on the incident, Roy couldn't believe that someone hadn't seen it. So, was the girl afraid, or were there other reasons keeping her from appearing? Or had she been found by Cole's people ahead of time?

Roy couldn't help but think in a conspiratorial direction.

At the same time, he felt dissatisfied with his own role once again. Apart from voicing support for Downey on Facebook, he found that he couldn't do much more. He had considered accepting some media interviews to express his trust in Downey. With his fan base, he could potentially influence public opinion. However, he was concerned that his actions might disrupt Laila's plans, and he didn't want to unintentionally cause trouble.

In the early morning, Laila was awakened by the vibration of her phone. Opening her eyes, she saw her familiar room decor and took a few seconds to remember that she had returned home the previous night.

Picking up her still buzzing phone, she looked at the displayed name and pressed the answer button. "This is Laila."

With a somewhat hoarse voice, still groggy from just waking up, her voice unexpectedly reached the other person's ears.

Xiao Yi, holding back his slightly racing heart, inwardly exclaimed, "Goodness," her voice was so magnetic and sexy! He believed that even with his strong self-control, he couldn't help but feel his heart flutter. If he were a fan of hers, wouldn't he immediately kneel and sing "Conquer"?

"Boss, do you want to try singing? It's such a waste not to become a singer with that voice!"

Laila furrowed her brow, still carrying a hint of morning grumpiness. "You called so early just to say something so unproductive?"

Xiao Yi chuckled twice. "I have some good news and some bad news to tell you. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Did you find the girl?" Laila had no patience for such trivial games.

"Tsk, can't you pretend to be clueless occasionally? Ever heard of the phrase 'ignorance is bliss'?" Xiao Yi rolled his eyes, too lazy to ask her how she had guessed it.

In fact, for Laila, there was nothing difficult to guess. After the incident, she had asked him to help investigate the girl's identity. After all, he used to be a special agent and still had some connections even after being expelled.

It was now early in the morning, and if he hadn't found the girl and rushed to report to her, he wouldn't have bothered to wake her up early, knowing she hadn't rested for the past two days.

"Where is she?"

Xiao Yi rolled his eyes at the ceiling, "I can bring her to your office this noon, but the problem is, we couldn't find that piece of clothing."

"What happened?" That piece of clothing was crucial evidence, and if it couldn't be found... Laila's brows furrowed even tighter. This was not good news.

"That day, considering the situation, she took the chance to run away. Her family is strict, and if they found out she sneaked out to drink in the middle of the night, she'd definitely be in trouble. So, she stripped off the clothes and tossed them away halfway.

Laila pinched her forehead. She had considered such a possibility, but she didn't hope it would happen. The subsequent action plans were designed based on finding the clothes. Now, what should she do? Her mind raced, trying to come up with a Plan B to replace the original Plan A.

She remained silent for a while, and Xiao Yi knew she had already grasped the seriousness of the situation. So, with a mischievous smile, he said, "You haven't even asked what the good news is!"

----

Xiao Yi (Jia Xiaoming): Haha, you also have moments of being fooled!

Laila ╮(╯_╰)╭: Slightly cunning than someone who just woke up, there's really nothing worth being proud of.