I want it all!

Seeing her reaction, Xu De asked in confusion:

"Is that strange?"

"How is that not strange?!" Lin Yue was stunned.

She was struggling to keep her composure.

After studying law for years, this was the first time in her life she had heard anyone put "stealing" and "legal" together.

Seriously, what kind of thought process let him string those two words into the same sentence?!

"Lawyer Lin, as someone trained in law, I can't believe you think I'd break it..."

Xu De looked displeased. He stared at her, reproaching her conscience.

"That's blatant personal discrimination!"

Lin Yue paused, instinctively feeling a little guilty, and said, "I'm sorry..."

But a second later, she suddenly caught herself. The corner of her eye twitched as she said:

"Wait, there's nothing wrong with what I said. You're planning to steal a child!"

Xu De said:

"Who told you stealing a child was necessarily illegal?!"

He corrected her again, then paused and looked up behind her.

Two slight figures had appeared in the corridor around the corner of the lobby and were heading toward them. Seeing them, he spoke faster:

"Whatever else you might say about me, I absolutely won't do anything illegal."

"I guarantee that everything I do will be fully legal and compliant!"

"Of course, I'll need your cooperation as the attorney handling the case, along with someone capable in a fight to assist us. If all goes well... we can wrap up the case before the New Year!"

At that,

Lin Yue wanted to say more, but the two figures had already reached them and stopped.

"Ms. Wang, Ms. Xu."

Xu De stood up and looked at Wang Mei and Xu Hong, who had returned after completing the paperwork, with a polite smile.

"Did the police give you any unexpected answers?"

When they had arrived at the police station from the courthouse,

Xu De had first sent them to deal with the custody matter. By now, they should have finished discussing it with the police.

Wang Mei still looked utterly haggard, so thin that her bones stood out. At his question, she fell silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"No."

Only now had she realized that although custody had been decided by the court, it did not mean she could immediately reunite with her child.

"Mr. Xu... all I want now is to spend a little time with my child before my dad goes on trial."

Wang Mei's voice was bitter, filled with helplessness.

She knew that the day Wang Qiang went on trial would be the day her child left her for good.

All Wang Mei wanted now was to have her child with her for a little while before that separation... even if it was only a week, or just a day!

But... after asking the police, she discovered that even this wish was an extravagant hope.

The police would only enforce the ruling after Li Youcai had long exceeded the deadline for compliance.

Until then,

if Li Youcai and Liu Cui refused to hand over the child, there was nothing she could do to them.

Helplessness.

It felt as though every bone had been pulled from her body, leaving her limp as a pile of flesh, without a shred of spirit or strength.

"A little time?"

Xu De folded his arms, rubbing his chin with one hand as he considered it.

"Actually, I don't think you need to give up your child because of Mr. Wang."

At those words, Wang Mei felt tears sting her nose and said bitterly:

"Mr. Xu, he's my father... he ended up at the police station because of me. I can't abandon him..."

Xu De froze briefly at that, then understood.

She probably thought he was urging her to abandon Wang Qiang.

Realizing this, Xu De explained:

"Ms. Wang, what I mean is, your child and Mr. Wang..."

"We can save them both!"

Both... both could be saved?

Wang Mei froze. She raised her face, so thin it was little more than skin and bones, and a trace of hope emerged among its coarse wrinkles.

She and Xu Hong seemed to have caught hold of the only firefly floating through their despair, a tiny symbol of hope. Holding her breath, Wang Mei looked at him and asked in a trembling voice:

"Really?"

Anyone would struggle to choose between their father and their child, to face that judgment of their own humanity.

Wang Mei was on the verge of losing her mind. Even if he was lying, she was willing to believe him!

Xu De nodded.

"I have a preliminary solution now."

"Please go home and get some proper rest today. Once I'm back at the firm, I'll work overtime to draw up a detailed implementation plan and give it to Ms. Lin in a few days."

Of course,

he called it a plan, but its real purpose was simply to dispel her suspicions about anything "illegal."

After all, words alone were no proof. No one would risk their own safety on a gamble about a stranger's morals. One wrong bet could destroy their entire career!

Especially someone with a bright future like Lin Yue.

Xu De understood that.

"All right... all right!"

Wang Mei's dry, unlovely hands gripped his tightly, as though she feared they might part.

Xu De looked up and met eyes filled with a thousand unspoken words.

"I... I trust you..."

Xu De nodded. Holding her hand, he patted its back with his other hand, then discreetly withdrew.

He borrowed a pen and paper from the police, wrote down his phone number, and gave it to them.

"Here's my contact information. If you have any questions later, you can get in touch with me at any time."

"It's getting late... I'll head back now."

"Rest assured about the Wang Qiang Case. I'll do everything I can to secure an outcome you're satisfied with!"

With that,

Xu De said goodbye to them and slowly left the police station.

Wang Mei watched him go until even his silhouette had vanished.

Only then did Wang Mei come back to herself.

She felt dazed.

For the past two weeks, she had suffered day and night. Whenever she snapped out of a daze, she would discover that tears had begun streaming down her face without her noticing.

Even Lin Yue could only turn the reality of her situation into a blade, tearing a fresh wound in her heart!

Every moment, her soul had been in torment.

Until now, when Xu De had suddenly told her...

There's no need to worry!

Those words were like the only straw a drowning person could grasp. Fragile as it was, the instinct to survive made her clutch it desperately and refuse to let go!

"Lawyer Lin... Mr. Xu, he..."

Wang Mei felt as though she were dreaming, as though none of it was quite real. She wanted to ask something, but did not know what.

Beside her, Lin Yue heard her.

Her expression was peculiar. Clearly, she had no idea how to describe the man.

Honestly, she had never met anyone who casually talked about threats and stealing children, and even claimed he could "steal legally" and "threaten in compliance with regulations"!

And... he was so confident. Could it be... that it really was legal and compliant?

The more Lin Yue thought about it, the more curious she became. It was like a cat scratching at her heart, making her eager for him to hurry up and give her that "implementation report."

In the end, she restrained her emotions and gently reassured Wang Mei:

"Don't worry. He probably wasn't lying. After all, he calls himself..."

"A moral exemplar of the legal profession."

At four thirty that afternoon,

A taxi stopped outside Jinmao Law Firm in Greenwood City.

Clack!

The car door opened.

Xu De got out, pushed open the door, and strode into the law firm.

The moment he entered,

He ran straight into his team leader, Sun Hao, who was dressed like a respectable gentleman.

Sun Hao had been looking around the lobby, searching for something.

Hearing the door open, he turned and happened to spot Xu De coming into the firm. His eyes immediately lit up, and a friendly smile spread across his face.

"Xu De."

"A few of our team's longtime clients are coming in for consultations. Come to the firm early tomorrow..."

At that,

Xu De paused mid-stride and glanced at Sun Hao.

He showed no emotion, did not wait for Sun Hao to finish, and did not even stop walking.

Instead, he walked straight past him, leaving only a casually tossed reply.

"Busy."

In that instant,

as he stared at the empty space in front of him,

Sun Hao's smile froze on his face.