Li Mo was about to lose his mind.
The other reporters' eyes lit up at such an explosive question. They had a natural nose for news.
Put bluntly, they were good at setting traps. Some unscrupulous reporters who manufactured sensational stories immediately swarmed around Li Mo.
"Mr. Li, what have you learned from losing this case? Did you lose on purpose, or are you simply less capable than a lawyer from a marriage counseling firm?"
"Mr. Li, what impact do you think this defeat will have on Nandu Bank?"
"Mr. Li! Mr. Li... Don't leave!"
"Mr. Li, please answer our questions."
This time was different from the last.
Li Mo had entered the courtroom brimming with confidence. When he came out, not only had he lost the case, but they had also hit him right where it hurt.
What the fuck kind of bullshit questions were these?
They weren't just stabbing him in the heart anymore.
They were trampling on it for good measure.
Facing the reporters, Li Mo knew that the more he said, the more enthusiastically they would "welcome" him.
He simply lowered his head and stayed silent, though he kept his back straight to preserve his dignity as a lawyer as he left.
A female reporter quietly snapped a photo of Li Mo's retreating figure and sent it to an editor.
The editor replied immediately, "This is huge news!"
"I've already got the headline: 'The Silent Figure!' He lay low for years, sharpening his sword for a decade, all to make Nandu Bank lose its case. Taking all the blame alone-if that isn't a silent figure, what is?"
"This Li Mo is going to be famous in no time!"
Li Mo: Listen, thank you. I really fucking thank you.
Inside the White Jun Law Firm.
Su Bai gazed at the system panel.
[Congratulations on winning the lawsuit. Reward: bronze treasure chest.] [Open now?]
"Yes."
As his voice faded, a line of text appeared on the panel.
[Congratulations on obtaining Basic Microexpression Observation Ability.] [New system mission: complete twenty consultations or two cases. Different treasure chests will be awarded based on your evaluation (bronze, silver, gold).]
Conducting consultations and handling cases were things Su Bai ought to do as a lawyer anyway.
Su Bai set that aside for the moment and focused on the line about Basic Microexpression Observation Ability.
Basic microexpression observation?
Did that mean he could glean simple information from other people's microexpressions?
Su Bai called Li Xuezhen over, wanting to test just how useful this ability was.
Li Xuezhen had been organizing documents. After entering the office, she asked:
"Lawyer Su, did you call me?"
Su Bai looked over Li Xuezhen's résumé again.
Previously, he had been so pressed for time with the case that he had never read this trainee lawyer's information.
But today, he had happened to notice it.
Something about it struck him as a little odd.
"Your résumé says you're a law student at CUPL, doing your internship in your senior year. During your freshman, sophomore, and junior years, you participated in multiple mock trials, attended actual court hearings, and spoke with numerous leading lawyers in the industry.
"With a résumé this good, you could easily get into a well-known firm. Why come to a tiny firm like this?"
Oh no.
Had he found out?
Li Xuezhen's expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Lawyer Su, I just made all that up. If I really had that kind of experience, why would I come to a small firm, right?"
"So you falsified your résumé?"
Li Xuezhen looked as though she had been struck by lightning, at a complete loss for an answer.
Seeing her reaction, Su Bai understood. He smiled to ease the awkward atmosphere.
"I was just asking. Whether it's fake or not, you're part of our firm now. Work hard, and I'll promote you to partner someday!"
"We'll make this firm bigger and stronger!"
"Yes, Lawyer Su! Bigger and stronger!"
Li Xuezhen looked utterly serious.
Su Bai had dangled a grand promise before her, never expecting Li Xuezhen to actually believe it. He waved her off and let her get back to work.
He waved her off to get back to work.
After Li Xuezhen left the office.
Su Bai felt that this microexpression ability was somewhat useful, but not very. Perhaps its level was too low.
From his observations just now, he had still been able to tell that Li Xuezhen's background was anything but ordinary. She had been lying when she said those things.
How could an ordinary undergraduate possibly meet so many leading lawyers?
She was probably studying under some top legal scholar.
Curious, Su Bai opened CUPL's official website and looked through the profiles one by one. Eventually, his gaze settled on one of the law department's foremost scholars.
"...Well, well."
He had hired an unpaid trainee lawyer, playing the role of an ugly capitalist, only to stumble onto an incredible bargain!
He shut down his computer.
Su Bai decided to act as though he knew nothing!
That connection would definitely come in handy someday!
After Wang Li's trial ended, major media outlets raced to cover the story, all taking aim at Nandu Bank.
Su Bai's memorable line-"How can the bank prove that the money in the bank belongs to the bank?"
-quickly went viral far beyond legal circles.
Nandu Bank's reputation and public image suffered tremendous damage.
Just then, a comparison video also went viral across the internet.
The video opened with Li Mo declaring confidently, "As for our chances of winning, there's no need to worry. I'm sure everyone can judge that for themselves!"
The video ended with a shot of Li Mo's upright figure walking away.
The headline read: "The Silent Figure."
The caption read: "In fact, Nandu Bank's lawyer, Mr. Li, knew from the very beginning that Nandu Bank would lose this case.
"Why?!
"Because he was so admirable. Single-handedly infiltrating Nandu Bank, he enabled a marriage counseling firm to win and brought the bank's reputation crashing down.
"What was this?!
"This was fucking ten years undercover, all for one decisive moment!"
As soon as the video was posted, it received a flood of recommendations.
Countless users left teasing comments below.
"This is the first time I've heard of a lawyer infiltrating enemy ranks. What a god-tier play! Awesome!!!"
"That's one way to spin it! You can actually whitewash an unscrupulous lawyer like this? Holy shit! Amazing!"
There was no helping it. The internet was just
like that. Even users who knew the truth couldn't resist joining in the jokes.
"Hahaha, this caption is pretty damn impressive!"
"Ten years behind enemy lines, all for one decisive moment. Await my return... Hahaha, I can't keep this up! Next contestant, please!"
At an internal staff meeting at Nandu Bank.
Wang Wu held up the video, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What is the meaning of this, huh? You live off the bank. What do you think the bank pays you for?"
"I'm making an official announcement. Because Li Mo has caused severe damage to the bank's public image, he is hereby dismissed!"
"Li Mo, you can pack your things and leave!"
After watching the video, Li Mo was utterly baffled: *???*
This was how I fucking went viral?
Fine. If I'm fired, I'm fired!
As if I couldn't find another job.
He immediately packed his things and left Nandu Bank.
Meanwhile, the enormous impact of the livestreamed trial sent Nandu Bank's reputation plummeting to rock bottom.
As a result, the bank had no choice but to apologize to its customers.
It also fully compensated the customers who had previously lost their lawsuits over property that had gone missing at the bank.
It did so to salvage its damaged reputation.
(End of chapter)
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