The eve of the hearing

Li Xuezhen left Su Bai's room with the information on the presiding judge and returned to Room 502.

Once she was back in her room.

Li Xuezhen looked over the information on the presiding judge, her brows slightly furrowed.

This information was available online, so getting hold of it had not been difficult.

As for this presiding judge.

Li Xuezhen had heard of him, but had never met him.

Because...

She had often heard her teacher berate him, exasperated that he had failed to live up to his expectations.

She had asked why, and her teacher had told her that a junior schoolmate had once agreed to go to the Southern Capital with him to make their way together. Instead, that schoolmate had stayed in the Northern Capital himself after tricking her teacher into going to the Southern Capital.

Her teacher had never gotten over it. Every time he remembered it, he would curse the man out.

For all his grumbling, however, the two were very close.

The information seemed to match.

The man her teacher constantly berated, yet remained so close to, should be the presiding judge for this hearing.

Lin Youping, vice president of the Northern Capital Higher People's Court.

The real question was how she should ask her teacher about Lin Youping's personality and preferences...

Li Xuezhen frowned slightly.

After some careful consideration, she finally settled on how to broach the subject and called her teacher.

"Good afternoon, Professor."

"Hmm? Xuezhen? What made you suddenly think to call this old teacher of yours? Have you run into trouble with your internship?"

"Tell me, which law firm is it?"

"If you're having trouble, come to me. I'll make sure it gets sorted out!"

Feng Lijian chuckled cheerfully when he received Li Xuezhen's call.

He was not just saying that. As a professor and vice president of Nandu University of Law, and a leading figure in the legal profession, he commanded at least some respect from every top law firm in the Southern Capital.

Li Xuezhen was his last disciple, and Feng Lijian adored her.

Li Xuezhen was his last disciple, and Feng Lijian adored her.

Anyone who bullied her was picking a fight with him!

They could forget about staying in the Southern Capital's legal circles!

Hearing Feng Lijian's words, Li Xuezhen let out a long breath.

"Professor Feng, I haven't run into any trouble with my internship. I just wanted to ask you for a favor."

A favor?

Feng Lijian waved a hand. "Go ahead. What favor? I'll definitely help."

Hearing her teacher agree so readily, Li Xuezhen said with a beaming smile:

"Well, I have a friend who's going to intern at the Northern Capital Higher People's Court. She'll be interacting with President Lin quite a lot, so she asked me to find out about his personality and preferences. The President Lin you're always mentioning."

"President Lin of the Northern Capital Higher People's Court? Lin Youping?!"

"Yes, yes, that's him."

Li Xuezhen nodded repeatedly.

"Sure. I know Lin Youping's personality well. You came to the right person to help that friend of yours."

Chuckling, Feng Lijian told Li Xuezhen what he knew.

On the other end of the phone, Li Xuezhen diligently took notes.

Once she had learned everything she needed.

Li Xuezhen smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Thank you, Professor."

Then, click, she hung up.

Feng Lijian stared at the disconnected call and fell silent for several seconds. He felt the heartache of someone whose little pet rabbit had been led astray!

As her teacher, of course he knew where Li Xuezhen was interning!

He also understood Li Xuezhen's desire for independence, which was why he had tacitly approved her internship at White Jun Law Firm!

It was just...

"Ah..."

Feng Lijian heaved a long sigh.

The little rabbit he had raised had already run off with someone else's wolf pup!

It broke his heart!!

Northern Capital.

Inside Room 502 of the hotel.

After organizing everything Feng Lijian had told her about Lin Youping's personality, Li Xuezhen left her room and knocked on the door of Room 506.

The door opened.

"Lawyer Su, here's some information on the presiding judge for this hearing. It's everything you asked for."

Su Bai took the information on Lin Youping. After a quick scan, he had formed his assessment.

"You've really earned your stripes this time! Once the case is over, I'll personally approve internship pay for you!"

"As soon as your internship ends and you meet the requirements, I'll make you a permanent employee!"

That last promise was no empty carrot. Su Bai meant it.

At Su Bai's promises, the wealthy young Li Xuezhen, who had no shortage of money, nodded enthusiastically.

"Thank you, Lawyer Su. But could I ask how much the internship pay will be?"

Su Bai: ???

Wait, you're serious?!

You're not short of money. Back then, the original owner put up an ad for an unpaid position, and you came running.

Internship pay... Su Bai really had not thought that through.

But since Li Xuezhen had asked, and he had already made the offer, he could hardly refuse to answer.

"You'll receive internship pay at the standard rate for trainee lawyers in the Southern Capital!"

"All right, Lawyer Su."

Li Xuezhen's little face lit up with excitement.

She might not need the money, but earning it herself was entirely different from receiving it from her family.

Getting paid for her internship was naturally a good thing.

It meant she had taken her first step toward independence and self-reliance!

As the hearing approached.

Qi Feng's case also began gaining traction online.

During the first trial, the question of whether Qi Feng's actions constituted negligent excessive self-defense or intentional homicide had generated considerable online debate.

After all...

Something like this could happen to anyone at any time.

When facing a stranger's threats, one careless move while fighting back could seriously injure the other person. Get convicted of intentional injury or intentional homicide, and your life was pretty much ruined.

Media commentators seized on this sore spot in the public's concerns.

A wave of public debate swept across the internet.

Most of the commentary sided with Qi Feng.

Because most people imagined themselves as the person being bullied and fighting back.

On the eve of the hearing.

Beneath the video with the most views, one comment had received over a hundred thousand likes.

[The fundamental reason we're paying so much attention to Qi Feng's case is that he represents how ordinary people feel.

Who wants to be unable to fight back when they're being bull-

ied?

If fighting back is deemed mutual fighting or intentional injury, are we supposed to stand by and let ourselves be bullied, then take up the weapon of the law afterward?

Is justice that comes too late still the justice we want?]

The comment struck a powerful chord.

The number of replies beneath it shot upward.

"Well said! All we really want is for the law to protect us, not turn around and protect the bullies! Those are the people the law should punish, not the vulnerable!"

"Exactly! Is justice that comes too late still what we want? That was so well put! For the victim, the harm has already been done. Nothing can make up for it!"

"Fuck! That's so damn true! You've said exactly what we're all thinking!"

"Waaah, this really brought tears to my eyes. The legal definition of self-defense is way too vague. Once a case goes to court, they usually just call it intentional injury or mutual fighting. It's so damn frustrating!"

Meanwhile.

Inside Room 506 of the hotel.

As Su Bai watched his own comment remain at the top of the comment section, with its likes steadily increasing, a faint smile curled his lips.

Please keep reading~

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(End of chapter)