Earlier, Wang Wu had watched the trial livestream with Xu Zhiqiang in the legal affairs office and been furious. But after returning to his office, he still could not resist secretly tuning back in.
This livestream was not just about whether they could win the case. Nandu Bank's reputation was on the line, too.
Nandu Bank was only a local bank.
If its reputation suffered, the losses to the bank would be incalculable.
After watching the entire trial livestream, Wang Wu could only describe his mood as a roller coaster.
No, there had only been drops. Down, down, down, until he was numb. There had not been a single rise.
The moment the verdict was announced, Wang Wu snapped and went straight to the legal affairs office to confront Xu Zhiqiang, the head of the legal department.
Xu Zhiqiang felt wronged. Who could have imagined that a lousy lawyer specializing in divorce consultations would be such a beast in a Criminal Case?
He had steamrolled everyone in court!
And to make matters worse, they had drawn a seasoned presiding judge like Yu Caixia.
The final judgment was so well supported by facts and law that there was no basis even to challenge it.
"President Wang, this was a mistake on our legal department's part. But although we lost, we haven't lost completely. All the judgment requires is a simple apology."
"As long as we win in the court of public opinion, our Nandu Court will still come out on top!"
Wang Wu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Public opinion? Public opinion, my ass!"
"The bank has been ordered to apologize, and you're still talking about public opinion? Do you take me for an idiot?!"
"How are we supposed to win over public opinion after losing the case?!"
Xu Zhiqiang looked troubled. He had only said it offhandedly. Of course he had no idea how to win over public opinion. Those words had been nothing more than an attempt to calm Wang Wu down.
Wang Wu saw through him and immediately waved a hand. "You'd better come up with a solution! If losing this trial damages our bank's standing and reputation, you can kiss your job as head of the legal department goodbye!"
"President Wang..."
Xu Zhiqiang wanted to say more, but Wang Wu gave him no chance and stormed out of the legal affairs office.
Xu Zhiqiang's expression darkened.
Fucking hell!
Everything had been airtight. Who could have expected a marriage consultation lawyer this fucking good at criminal cases to show up out of nowhere?
This was infuriating!
Back in the courtroom.
After announcing that court was adjourned, Yu Caixia and the other two judges left the courtroom.
Since Wang Li had not been acquitted outright and was still implicated in unjust enrichment and transferring illicit funds, the required procedures still had to be followed despite his suspended sentence. The court officers escorted him away.
Li Xuezhen looked at Su Bai, her face brimming with excitement.
"Lawyer Su, we won this case! We won!"
"Wang Li was sentenced, but it was only a few months, and even that was suspended!
"Compared with the twenty-year prison sentence from the first and second trials, this was a huge victory for us, Lawyer Su!"
Li Xuezhen bounced on her toes, trembling with excitement.
Su Bai glanced at the unusually excited Li Xuezhen, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Hadn't he told her long ago that they would definitely win this case?
Yu Caixia's ruling had been well within his expectations.
Even an ordinary lawyer, though perhaps unable to secure such a light sentence, should have prevented the second trial from upholding the original judgment.
The lawyer Wang Zizhong had hired before was simply too incompetent.
Hiring a lawyer who was all talk for the second trial had been quite a feat, too!
There were actually several crucial issues that had not been raised in this case.
But the central issue was whether Wang Li's actions constituted robbery. That was what mattered most.
As long as that was disproved, the accusations from Nandu Bank and the prosecution would fall apart completely.
Then there was the presiding judge's attitude.
Wang Li's case was unusual. Both the first and second trials had resulted in twenty-year prison sentences, and a final hearing would often take those earlier judgments into account.
Fortunately, Yu Caixia was a seasoned presiding judge who stood firmly by the impartiality of the law.
The final outcome was therefore no surprise.
"All right, don't get so excited. Hurry up and organize the documents. We still have some related matters to handle, so there's plenty left to do."
"Of course, Lawyer Su."
Li Xuezhen reined in her excitement, dutifully finished organizing the documents, and followed behind Su Bai, ready to leave the courtroom.
Meanwhile, Li Mo stared fixedly at Su Bai. It was hard to tell whether his eyes held dejection or bitter jealousy.
Whatever it was, it was complicated.
As they passed him,
Li Xuezhen murmured something.
"Lawyer Su, that lawyer from Nandu Bank's legal department, Mr. Li, seems very unhappy with you..."
Su Bai smiled faintly. "Maybe he's been doing too many eye exercises. Let's just be on our way."
"Of course, Lawyer Su. That was a pretty funny deadpan joke."
"Then smile a little more."
"Of course, Lawyer Su. Hehe."
Li Xuezhen quietly followed behind Su Bai.
Hearing their exchange, Li Mo was so furious he nearly spat blood.
Never mind losing the case. Could you two at least lower your voices when you whisper as you walk past me?
You're standing so close and talking so loudly. Do you think I can't hear you?
There was nothing he could do. A loss was a loss, and getting angry in the courtroom would change nothing. The final verdict was already out.
After organizing his trial documents, Li Mo followed Su Bai out of the courthouse.
Outside, the reporters were already itching to conduct interviews. Some even called their offices on the spot to have articles drafted and headlines prepared.
[Shocking reversal in Wang Li's case! Nandu Bank actually...]
[Smug Nandu Bank meets its doom]
[Justice finally prevails! Nandu Bank faces a righteous verdict]
Headlines like those. It was clickbait, after all-the more shocking, the better.
As soon as Su Bai emerged from the courthouse, a swarm of reporters rushed toward him, cameras on their shoulders and microphones thrust in his face.
"Lawyer Su, what are your thoughts on the arguments you presented in court today? How did you come up with the idea of making the bank prove that its money belonged to it?"
"Lawyer Su, we understand that your firm only provides marriage consultations. How did you manage to perform so brilliantly in this criminal case?"
"Lawyer Su! Lawyer Su!"
Wasn't this the perfect chance to advertise the firm?
Faced with the reporters pursuing him with cameras and questions, Su Bai briefly straightened his suit.
"Although our firm provides marriage consultations, our lawyers are well versed in criminal, civil, and financial disputes. We handle all kinds of legal matters, which is why we were able to win this case.
"If you need to go to court, please consider White Jun Law Firm first."
Su Bai flashed two white teeth, looking utterly sincere.
With his advertisement delivered, he hurried away with Li Xuezhen.
Only Nandu Bank's people remained at the scene.
Just then, one reporter seemed to sense a fresh story and approached Li Mo with a camera on their shoulder.
"Mr. Li, how do you feel about being so confident before the trial, only to lose to a little-known law firm?
"When you told us not to worry about Nandu Bank's chances of winning, was it because you secretly believed the bank was certain to lose?
"Mr. Li... do you have any financial ties to the plaintiff's lawyer?"
Li Mo: ????
You're deliberately stabbing me where it hurts, aren't you, you fucker?!
You're trying to destroy me inside and out, aren't you?!
What the hell do you mean by that?! Are you suggesting I'm a mole?!
Before you continue