With a win, everything was easy to talk about.
Losing would have been embarrassing.
Su Bai unscrewed the cap of his water bottle, savored the soothing sensation of water sliding down his throat, and let out a long breath.
He had won the case and was in a good mood.
The case had been a little tricky, though. Without the influence of public opinion, getting a ruling of justifiable self-defense would have been difficult!
That comment he had submitted at the end hadn't been intended to sway the judge with sentiment, either.
If judges were that easy to sway... why the hell would anyone bother arguing a case?
They could just put on a show and call it a day.
What he had really wanted to demonstrate was the influence of public opinion: the verdict for Qi Feng needed to take the public's sentiments into account.
Only when that influence was strong enough would the judge lean toward a particular choice.
Based on what Li Xuezhen had learned from Feng Lijian about Lin Youping's personality, public opinion would carry considerable weight in Lin Youping's decision.
And the facts had borne that out. During this trial, Lin Youping had ruled that Qi Feng acted in justifiable self-defense.
After finishing his water, Su Bai glanced back at Li Xuezhen.
"The case is over. Gather up the documents, and let's go."
Li Xuezhen nodded earnestly. "Lawyer Su, we've won another one. This case is over."
Hearing her reply, Su Bai felt that something was off. Normally, this innocent, slightly clueless college girl would simply nod and say, "Okay, Lawyer Su." She was noticeably more talkative this time.
Su Bai turned toward her in confusion. Seeing her standing there with a conflicted look on her face, he asked:
"What are you trying to say...?"
At Su Bai's question, a glimmer lit up Li Xuezhen's eyes.
"Lawyer Su, didn't you promise to make a special exception and pay me for my internship once this case was over?"
"?"
Wait, she still remembered that?
They'd only just announced the verdict. Aren't you a rich girl who doesn't need money?
To you, an intern's pay is just the difference between peanuts and pocket change.
What's this little bit of money to a wealthy girl like you?
A drop in the bucket.
Su Bai was genuinely surprised that she had brought it up immediately after the trial ended.
"Ahem."
Su Bai cleared his throat twice to ease the awkwardness. Since he had made the promise, he naturally had to keep it.
Legal interns in Southern Capital weren't paid particularly well-around 4,500 a month, with some earning only two or three thousand.
Now that he had won this case, Luo Daxiang would send more cases his way, and his wallet would naturally grow fatter.
As for spending money, he could spend more when he had it and refrain when he didn't.
Since he had promised to pay his intern, there was no way he would welch on it. With a grand gesture, he transferred Li Xuezhen her internship pay at a rate of 4,500 a month.
Looking at the amount credited to her phone, Li Xuezhen's eyes lit up in surprise. "Lawyer Su, you really sent it? I thought you were just dangling empty promises in front of me..."
Su Bai: "?"
Wait, you even know what empty promises are?
So that was a test just now?
Su Bai rubbed his brow. Apparently, this innocent, clueless college girl did have a few little schemes of her own!
"Ahem."
"You're our firm's only legal intern. Previously, the firm was short on funds, so we couldn't pay you for the time being."
"Now that our firm is thriving and we have money, of course we'll make up your internship pay."
"Don't tell me you thought all that talk about making you a partner at White Jun Law Firm was just an empty promise?"
Li Xuezhen shook her head. "No..."
Then her gaze grew determined.
"I know you really want me to become a partner, Lawyer Su. I'm not good enough yet, but I'll work hard!"
Su Bai nodded slightly. She had a few little schemes, but not many. Nothing to worry about.
He immediately felt much more reassured.
"Let's go, then."
"Okay, Lawyer Su."
Li Xuezhen looked earnest, then seemed to suddenly think of something.
"Lawyer Su, are we just going to walk out like this? There must be a huge crowd of reporters waiting outside. Shouldn't we prepare a little advertising?"
"To improve our reputation and get the firm's name out there..."
"If we advertise well, we'll get more cases. More cases will make our firm better known, and once we're better known, the money will come pouring in. Then our firm will be amazing!"
"Don't you want our firm to be amazing, Lawyer Su?"
Li Xuezhen blinked in confusion.
Wait, hold on.
Seriously?
Now you're the one selling me dreams?
Before Su Bai could speak, Li Xuezhen pulled a red banner out of her briefcase.
White Jun Law Firm of Southern Capital: Amazing in court! Need a lawyer? Choose Su Bai-he'll get it done!
Su Bai: "?"
Are you trying to turn me into a walking spectacle?
Little Li, you're really getting a mind of your own!
And when did you make that banner? When did you stuff it into your briefcase?
The corners of Su Bai's mouth twitched as he shoved the banner back into her briefcase.
"There's no telling what's real or fake online. We don't need to advertise. Teacher Luo is sending cases our way, and that's enough."
"Besides, with our firm's current size, we couldn't handle that many cases even if they came in."
"...Oh."
"Okay, Lawyer Su."
Looking a little disappointed, Li Xuezhen tucked the banner into her briefcase and pattered after Su Bai.
As they passed the prosecution's table, Lü Wei kept his eyes fixed on Su Bai.
Just as Su Bai was about to walk away, Lü Wei sighed deeply.
"I lost this trial. Does that mean my earlier thinking was wrong...?"
"?"
Su Bai stopped and turned to look at Lü Wei.
"Losing does mean your earlier thinking was wrong. If you weren't wrong, how could you have lost in court?"
Those words struck right where it hurt.
In truth, Lü Wei's thinking really was extreme.
Someone who killed another person had to face the harshest judgment, but the sequence of events, the circumstances, and the surrounding conditions still had to be considered.
Insisting that someone face the harshest judgment regardless was nothing short of bullying, wasn't it?
Besides, they were all civilized people who relied on the law.
The legal grounds and the facts did the talking. Whoever lost was wrong. Did that even need asking?
If you weren't wrong, why did the presiding judge rule against you instead of me?
Presiding judge: Holy shit, are you questioning my ruling?
At Su Bai's cutting words, a complicated emotion flickered through Lü Wei's eyes. There was no telling what he was thinking.
Su Bai shook his head slightly and walked straight out of the courtroom.
Li Xuezhen turned to glance at Lü Wei. After less than a second, she turned back and pattered after Su Bai.
Outside the courthouse.
Quite a few reporters and media crews were already raring to go.
Qi Feng had won, going from a death sentence to an acquittal. This was a major case with plenty of headline appeal.
The first-instance trial, in particular, had sparked extensive discussion online, attracting hundreds of millions of views across the internet. Its impact had been enormous!
If they could find a good angle for an interview and obtain firsthand information, traffic for their respective outlets would naturally shoot up.
Now, they were waiting for their chance to make those numbers explode.
Before you continue