He Couldn't Break the Law, Could He?

"On the face of it, the information we have is very unfavorable to the defense."

"The abduction and murder charges are being tried separately. Looking at the killing alone, Wang Qiang struck first. Defending him will be extremely difficult."

"If the judge at the trial hearing isn't inclined to side with the defendant, then..."

Sitting side by side, Lin Yue voiced her greatest concern.

"The verdict... could be very bad for the defendant."

Silence fell.

To be honest, Lin Yue had initially wanted to take the case. But after hearing the details, she had given up without hesitation...

She knew she lacked the ability to sway the outcome of a case like this. Taking it on rashly would only make things worse for the victims!

There was no way around it.

The case could go either way, and the best- and worst-case sentences were worlds apart!

First, judging by Wang Qiang's actions, the court could convict him of intentional murder under the law. Even a death sentence with a reprieve would be reasonable.

But if the judge took the circumstances into account...

The judge could also acquit him on the grounds of legitimate self-defense.

Death or acquittal. The difference came down to the lawyer's ability. One mistake, and...

"Wang Qiang will most likely get a death sentence with a reprieve."

Lin Yue took a deep breath, her delicate face grave.

Looking at Xu De, she asked:

"So... what do you think?"

Xu De crossed one leg over the other and looked back at her with interest.

"What would you do, Lawyer Lin?"

At that, Lin Yue paused. After a moment of silence, she sighed and shook her head, her voice full of resignation.

"Give up custody of the child in exchange for the other side signing a Letter of Understanding in the Wang Qiang Case."

"Then have them change their statement so the court can acquit him on the grounds of legitimate self-defense."

As things stood, those were the two choices.

Either trade custody for a retracted statement and a Letter of Understanding.

Or win custody and leave Wang Qiang's fate hanging in the balance.

"The child wouldn't be with Wang Mei, but at least the child wouldn't be in mortal danger. She could fight for custody again later."

"But if Wang Qiang dies... he's dead for good."

Xu De spoke thoughtfully, then smiled and nodded.

"A common approach. But rather than win that way, I'd prefer..."

"Both!"

Lin Yue froze at the word, as though she hadn't heard him clearly.

"What did you say?" she asked hesitantly.

Xu De's smile faded. "Custody and a win in the criminal case... I want both!"

He hadn't forgotten that his reward for the case depended on his client's satisfaction.

Would Wang Mei be satisfied with an either-or outcome? Anyone could tell she would accept it only because she had no choice!

Unless...

He got both!

But...

Lin Yue stared at him in surprise and shook her head instinctively. "That's impossible."

"Nothing's impossible."

Xu De smiled.

Just as he was about to explain further...

A loud voice suddenly rang out behind them, filling the police station lobby.

"Is Lawyer Xu De here?"

Hearing it, Xu De paused. He and Lin Yue turned toward the entrance.

A neatly dressed man stood by the main doors, wearing glasses and holding a briefcase.

After speaking with a police officer, the man followed the officer's pointing finger toward Xu De. Their eyes met.

He's not here to make friends, Xu De thought.

The man smiled as he approached Xu De and held out his hand.

"I'm Chen Wei, a lawyer from Yang Teng Law Firm."

"We've signed a contract with Li Youcai and Liu Cui, and I'll be acting as the victim's litigation representative in the Wang Qiang Case."

"You must be the defense lawyer, Xu De?"

Chen Wei smiled, but the look he gave Xu De carried the disdain of a man certain he had already won.

Without giving Xu De a chance to answer, he continued:

"I came to see you..."

"To find out where you stand on the case."

Li Youcai's lawyer?

After tormenting Wang Mei for ten years, the man still had the nerve to hire a lawyer to fight for his interests!?

Lin Yue's eyes widened. She pressed her lips together, anger rising within her, but said nothing.

Xu De said nothing either. He didn't shake Chen Wei's hand.

After looking him up and down, Xu De suddenly smiled.

"Where I stand? Be specific."

Chen Wei's smile faltered. He quietly withdrew his hand and composed himself.

"My clients are willing to give your side a chance to offer compensation. If we're satisfied, perhaps Mr. Wang could face less criminal liability. What do you think, Lawyer Xu?"

A chance?

Would Li Youcai and Liu Cui really be so generous?

"What's the price?" Xu De asked.

Chen Wei kept smiling. "Custody of their grandson, of course."

As expected, Li Youcai and Liu Cui wanted the child. Things were unfolding just as Lin Yue had feared.

However...

"The court has already ruled on custody. Surely you know that, Lawyer Chen?"

Xu De stood and faced him. His tone was mild, yet something about him was as prickly as a hedgehog.

Chen Wei sensed his attitude but pressed on.

"That was only the first trial. At the second trial... if the lovely Lawyer Lin beside you can persuade Wang Mei to give up custody voluntarily..."

Chen Wei let the implication hang without saying more.

Lin Yue's anger flared. She stood at once, teeth clenched.

"That's a threat!"

Chen Wei waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.

"No, no. It's a discussion."

"Besides..."

He looked up at Xu De.

By Chen Wei's reckoning, Xu De would probably agree.

After all, this was a chance to win an acquittal in a homicide case. It could transform a lawyer's career. What lawyer could resist?

And as for Chen Wei?

He would count it as a win too. He would secure what his clients wanted and earn a fee.

If Xu De could also get Wang Mei and Xu Hong to pay Li Youcai a large sum, so much the better. Both lawyers would win!

They ought to be working together.

As for the victims, Wang Mei and Xu Hong... who cared?

Those unsophisticated people should consider it a privilege to be of use to an elite like him.

"What do you say?" Chen Wei asked.

Xu De looked at him. "Lawyer Chen, would you like to use the restroom?"

Chen Wei blinked. "What do you mean?"

"If there's no mirror, there's still your reflection in the toilet. Take a good look at your face."

The air around them seemed to freeze. Even Lin Yue stared at Xu De, her expression odd.

Chen Wei's face went from pale to red. At last, he drew a deep breath, clenched his fists, and spoke through his anger.

"Think carefully. This is a homicide case. Losing it would be a major blow to your entire career!"

"Without a Letter of Understanding or a retracted statement... there's no telling how the court will rule."

"And you should inform Ms. Wang and let her decide."

Xu De refused outright.

"As you said, there's no telling. You needn't worry about my client."

"I have some tea leaves. Tea helps when you need to use the restroom. Want some to take home?"

"You!"

Staring at the immovable Xu De, Chen Wei's face darkened. He had never met anyone so unable to recognize a good offer.

What was wrong with both sides winning, making money, and improving their chances?

"Hmph. I'll see you in court, then."

After glaring at Xu De for a long moment, Chen Wei left him with those words, took a deep breath, and turned away.

Lin Yue watched him go.

She let out a breath, then looked at Xu De with a small smile.

"You have quite a way with words."

After a pause, though, she sighed and lowered her voice.

"But... as irritating as he is, without a Letter of Understanding, our chances really are much worse."

Xu De answered at once.

"Who says I can't do anything about it?"

Lin Yue went on:

"Honestly, I'd rather negotiate and keep fighting for more time with the child..."

She stopped mid-sentence. Then, as though his words had finally registered, she looked sharply up at Xu De. Surprise filled her clear eyes.

"You have a way!?"

"Of course."

Xu De nodded as if it were obvious.

"The way is, we..."

Outside the lobby.

Chen Wei walked out with a dark expression. Before leaving, he turned to give Xu De, still seated in the lobby, one long look.

At first, Chen Wei had thought they could both win. But Xu De had refused to see reason...

In that case, Chen Wei had no objection to putting pressure on the defendant and pushing the judge to give Wang Qiang a harsher sentence!

Hah. What an ungrateful fool!

Chen Wei burned with anger and humiliation.

It was the first time someone so young had insulted him like that. Fine. He would teach Xu De a lesson about the real world!

"Just wait."

With that, Chen Wei marched to his car, pulled open the door, got in, and drove away.

Not far off.

"Was that Chen Wei from Yang Teng Law Firm?"

In the parking lot, the doors of an official vehicle opened and several men got out. One watched the departing car thoughtfully.

"Probably. The court informed us he's the victim's litigation representative in the Wang Qiang Case," someone beside him replied.

"Given the timing, it makes sense for him to be at the police station."

The first man nodded in agreement.

There were three of them: two men around thirty-five and one in his twenties, all dressed in black formal uniforms.

The uniforms resembled suits, with white shirts and red neck scarves. Red national emblems were pinned to their chests, and they carried an air of authority.

There was no doubt about it.

The three were prosecutors from the Greenwood City Procuratorate!

"Isn't Chen Wei a notorious shyster? Why is he representing the victim?" the young prosecutor, Zhang Qing, asked through clenched teeth, frowning.

They were the prosecutors responsible for bringing charges against Wang Qiang. They had come to the police station this time to gather evidence.

"Be quiet."

The middle-aged prosecutor, Hu Guang, frowned. His stern face hardened as he rebuked Zhang Qing.

"We're prosecutors."

"We cannot be biased, and we certainly cannot let personal feelings interfere!"

Zhang Qing protested.

"Sir, I've read the case file on Wang Qiang. What he did was clearly—"

Before Zhang Qing could finish,

Hu Guang cut him off.

"Whether he deserves to die depends on objective evidence and the court's decision. It isn't up to you, and it isn't up to me!"

"If you still don't understand what it means to prosecute a case, get yourself transferred to another team!"

His words were harsh, and the tension was unmistakable.

At that,

the other prosecutor, the easygoing Wang Wei, hurried to smooth things over.

"Come on, Hu. Zhang Qing's still young. Weren't we all like that once? You didn't have to be so hard on him."

Hu Guang heard him out.

He glanced at Zhang Qing, then walked away without another word, heading into the police station with his head down.

Wang Wei turned to Zhang Qing with a good-natured smile.

"Zhang Qing, you shouldn't let personal feelings get mixed up in a prosecution either."

"If Chen Wei heard you say that... it could cause trouble."

Zhang Qing opened his mouth, then stopped himself. In the end, he said nothing.

Only after a long pause did he suddenly ask,

"Uncle Wang, what do you think will happen to Wang Qiang in this case?"

Wang Wei was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head and sighed.

"Hard to say. The evidence the police provided, the statements from Li Family Village... none of it favors him."

Zhang Qing asked quietly,

"Is there no other way?"

Wang Wei shook his head.

"Enough. Don't worry about that. By our estimate, the first hearing will be in early November. Go help your mentor investigate the case."

"As for what happens to Wang Qiang... that depends on how his defense lawyer handles it."

"And what anyone can do under these circumstances..."

As he spoke, he led Zhang Qing in the direction Hu Guang had gone and added casually,

"I couldn't tell you."

"After all, the lawyer can't break the law, can he? That's hardly an option."

"Let's go steal the child!"

"Mm... huh?"

"What did you say!?"

Inside the police station lobby,

Lin Yue stared at Xu De in shock and sprang to her feet. He tried to calm her, then repeated himself slowly, one word at a time.

"I said, my plan is..."

"Let's go steal the child!"

Lin Yue: ?

After hearing his plan, Lin Yue looked at him in disbelief.

A moment later, she blurted out,

"What do you mean, your plan is to steal the child?"

"That's illegal!"

"Hey, hold on. How am I breaking the law?"

Xu De looked offended. Then he softened his tone and explained slowly.

"Calm down and hear me out. I guarantee that what we're going to do is completely legal."

"You could read the Criminal Code until it fell apart and still not find a single word that says it's illegal!"

Lin Yue: ?

Steal a child? Legal? How did a lawyer put those words in the same sentence?

Did he even hear himself?

And besides...

Lin Yue covered her mouth and cried out,

"Why would you steal a child for no reason!?"