A veteran lawyer

"How old?"

"Thirty-six."

"I meant the mistress."

"Oh, oh, the mistress? Probably in her early twenties. Looks like she's still in college. Pah, shameless little thing! She's so young, with so many things she could be doing, but she just had to seduce someone else's husband!"

An exceptionally well-preserved woman kept cursing as she described her husband's various acts of infidelity.

After a while, she seemed to catch on and asked, "Why do you want to know how old the mistress is?"

"Under criminal law, sexual relations with a girl under fourteen carry a prison sentence, regardless of whether she consented."

"Oh, I see. What a shame."

The woman clicked her tongue regretfully and continued denouncing her cheating husband.

Su Bai listened carefully, noting the key information she provided, then made a few marks in his notebook.

Half an hour later, the woman's mouth had grown dry from talking. "Do you have any water? I'd like a drink."

Su Bai expertly handed her a bottle of mineral water, then listened to another half hour of her tearful account.

Finally, the woman seemed to tire and wiped away her nonexistent tears.

"Counselor, I'd like to ask: since he cheated, can I make him leave the marriage without a penny?"

Su Bai glanced at the key information he had recorded.

"There's no legal basis for that. Under certain conditions, the division of assets would favor you somewhat. But if you hire our firm to handle the lawsuit, we can get you seventy percent of the marital assets. Would you consider pursuing legal action?"

"I see. That bastard would be getting off too lightly. Thank you, counselor, but I'm not planning to divorce him just yet. I'll come back if I need to."

"Then why did you tell me all that?"

Su Bai rubbed his temples, trying his best to maintain his professional composure.

"You're quite handsome, counselor. Talking to you made me feel so much better that I just kept going without realizing it."

She dragged me into a two-and-a-half-hour conversation just because I'm handsome?

Su Bai was struggling to keep his composure. This was a law firm, not a paid companionship service.

Even male escorts charge several hundred an hour. Doesn't that mean I got shortchanged?

"You're welcome. The consultation fee is three hundred and fifty. Thank you."

Su Bai spoke helplessly, and the woman waved enthusiastically.

"I'll come again when I have time. Goodbye, counselor."

After watching the woman sway her hips out of the firm, Su Bai looked away and focused on the three hundred and fifty that had just reached his account, letting out a faint sigh.

"I never thought I'd end up as a professional divorce consultation lawyer after transmigrating."

Su Bai was a transmigrator. In his previous life, he had practiced law for nearly twelve years and been a partner at a top-tier law firm.

His career win rate had been 99.9 percent. In the only case he had lost, he had won in the courtroom and lost his life outside its doors.

He hadn't lost inside the courtroom. He had lost outside it.

When he woke up, he discovered that he had transmigrated to a parallel world called Blue Star. Today marked his fifteenth day here.

By now, he had largely adjusted to life on Blue Star.

The good news was that its laws were identical to those on his original planet, so his legal knowledge and insights still had a use.

The body's original owner had also left him a solo law practice specializing in marriage consultations.

The bad news was that business was lousy. There were practically no cases!

Nothing but divorce consultations, divorce consultations, and more divorce consultations.

Surely an accomplished lawyer like him could easily pick up a major case, right?

But as far as anyone here knew, Su Bai was merely a lawyer who had practiced for years without winning many lawsuits.

Calling him a rookie wouldn't be unfair. Who would hire a rookie to handle a lawsuit? What firm would want one?

"This can't go on! I still don't have next month's rent!"

Su Bai frowned slightly at the bank notification showing a balance of 1,860.57 yuan.

"If all else fails, I'll switch careers and get a job. I could make a living off my looks!"

But remembering the perverse demands of wealthy women sent a chill through his crotch, and he instantly abandoned the idea.

Getting a job was out of the question, but without one, he had no spending money.

Su Bai sank into helpless indecision. Just then, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Your Madman System is now online. Please select accept.]

[Forced installation in progress.]

[Beginner welcome package issued. Complete ten legal consultations or take on one case to receive a cash reward of 50,000 yuan.]

A system!?

The beginner welcome package would give him fifty thousand in cash for completing ten consultations or taking on a single case!

That worked out to five thousand yuan per consultation.

Not bad!

With his financial worries resolved, Su Bai felt much more relaxed.

Now he only needed to complete ten consultations or take on one case, and the fifty thousand would be his.

Fifty thousand yuan would last him at least six months, and six months was enough for him to get the firm on its feet.

"Now I just have to wait for ten consultations or one case!"

No longer worried about rent, Su Bai leisurely brewed a pot of Lao Banzhang tea that had cost 9.9 yuan for three jin.

While Su Bai was enjoying his tea, the firm's front door opened, and an elderly couple slowly walked in, supporting each other.

Judging by their appearance, they were at least seventy.

Surely they aren't here for a divorce consultation?

The thought suddenly occurred to Su Bai as he set down his cup. He looked them over. They seemed affectionate and were advanced in years, so this had to be a case.

Following the principle that the customer was king, Su Bai went over and introduced himself.

"Hello, welcome to White Jun Law Firm. We handle both civil litigation and criminal defense. I'm the head of the firm. May I ask what brings you two here?"

The elderly woman spoke first, her voice trembling, perhaps because of her age. "Are you a lawyer?"

"Yes, I'm both the lawyer and the head of this firm. Are you here for a legal consultation, or do you need a lawyer for a lawsuit?"

"We... want... to go to court!"

A case!

This was Su Bai's first case since transmigrating, and he couldn't help feeling a stir of excitement.

"What kind of case is it? Criminal or civil?"

The elderly woman hesitantly glanced at her husband.

Su Bai caught the subtle change in her expression and knew she was worried his firm might not be reliable.

He stepped up to her and smiled, showing two white teeth and making himself look much more approachable.

Whatever the case was, he would get them seated and talking first.

"Don't worry. Our firm only opened recently, and our fees are fair and reasonable. We won't charge you an outrageous price. Why don't you both come in and sit down so we can discuss the case?"

"It's free!"

The elderly man looked at Su Bai and nodded. "This lawyer looks clean-cut and respectable, not like some unscrupulous lawyer. Let's go in and sit for a bit."

Su Bai's mouth twitched. What do you mean, I don't look like an unscrupulous lawyer!?

Never mind. The firm couldn't get any cases right now, and he had no money to spend. The customer was king. He would take it as a compliment.

Once the two elderly clients had settled on the sofa, Su Bai placed two bottles of mineral water on the table and sat upright across from them, asking about the specifics of the case they wanted to bring.

"Is it a civil case or a criminal case?"

(End of chapter)