Chapter Summaries

Public outrage over Laihai Bank’s missing four billion-plus and its handling of investors’ funds intensified as the bank and regulators tried to stall. The Central Bank, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the Law Enforcement Department formed a joint investigation team, leaving Lin Sheng unable to protect Lin Feng.

• Yu Wandong and Meng Zijian agreed that Laihai Bank had no way to restore public confidence immediately and issued a vague announcement saying it was investigating.
• The China Banking Regulatory Commission announced a review of the issues raised online but did not explain where the four billion-plus had gone.
• Li Xuezhen told Su Bai that online anger was affecting banks and that Laihai Bank and the Upper Capital branch of the China Banking Regulatory Commission were staying silent.
• The Central Bank, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the Law Enforcement Department classified the matter as illegal fundraising and formed a joint investigation team to bring those involved under control.
• Lin Sheng learned from an old friend that Upper Capital had been told to cooperate with the investigation and realized he could no longer protect Lin Feng.

Uchiha Itachi learned that Konoha was reeling from a defeat on the Land of Grass front, but Uchiha Setsuna refused his request to suppress reports of the truth. At a jonin assembly, Hiashi Hyuga impeached Hiruzen Sarutobi, and a vote removed him as acting Hokage, leaving Konoha’s leadership in upheaval.

• Uchiha Itachi heard villagers discussing the defeat on the Land of Grass front and went to Uchiha Setsuna to demand that the Police Force suppress the reports.
• Uchiha Setsuna showed Itachi a report confirming the defeat, rejected his request to arrest people for telling the truth, and sent him away as Uchiha Gen watched from the shadows.
• Hiashi Hyuga accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of five serious offenses at a meeting of 107 Konoha jonin, and Homura Mitokado defended Hiruzen’s succession as Hokage.
• Uchiha Setsuna challenged Homura’s account of Tobirama Senju’s death, and Hiashi proposed removing Hiruzen as acting Hokage pending an investigation.
• Hyuga, Uchiha, Aburame, Inuzuka, and other jonin voted to remove Hiruzen, while some clans and jonin began wavering.
• Hiashi announced that the vote passed 71 to 36 and declared Hiruzen removed from his position as acting Hokage.

Su Bai’s work on the Laihai Bank collapse secured a repayment plan for investors and helped bring the bank’s responsible executives and staff to trial. Lin Feng received life imprisonment, and White Jun Law Firm awaited the upcoming selection of the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms.

• After the Supreme People’s Court ruled Laihai Bank’s investment agreement invalid, Su Bai sought asset preservation and asked the Joint Task Force how investors would be repaid.
• The Central Bank announced that investors would receive their principal in batches, with repayment deadlines based on the amounts owed.
• Jiang Wei thanked Su Bai and White Jun Law Firm in an Official Media interview, bringing the firm praise for its work on the case.
• At trial, the court sentenced Lin Feng to life imprisonment, Yu Wandong to twelve years, and Meng Zijian to ten years.
• Li Xuezhen celebrated the verdict and asked Su Bai whether the case had secured White Jun Law Firm’s place among the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms; Su Bai said the selection would reveal the answer.

After the Laihai Bank case closed, White Jun Law Firm entered the national evaluation for the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms. The firm’s four cases made the ten most influential list, and Li Xuezhen waited with Su Bai for the announcement of the selected firms.

• Xiao Haibo congratulated Su Bai after the Laihai Bank case ended and praised White Jun Law Firm’s growing influence.
• The evaluation institution began announcing the ten most influential cases from the past four years.
• White Jun Law Firm’s wrongful conviction case, fallen-elderly case, and Laihai Bank case were named among the top ten.
• The host ranked the Qi Feng Justifiable Self-Defense Case first, giving White Jun Law Firm four of the ten influential cases.
• Lawyers at the evaluation banquet congratulated Su Bai, while Li Xuezhen became emotional over the firm’s achievement.
• Su Bai reminded Li Xuezhen that the selection of the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms was still ahead, and they waited for the announcement.

White Jun Law Firm was named one of the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms, and Su Bai and Li Xuezhen later welcomed a son while Su Bai mentored the firm’s lawyers. Years later, Little Su Bai asked how to become an outstanding lawyer, and his parents prepared to tease him after he asked how they had gotten together.

• The host announced that Southern Capital White Jun Law Firm had earned a place among the Eight Major Red Circle Law Firms, prompting Su Bai and the firm’s staff to celebrate.
• Xiao Ya and Old Li asked Su Bai and Li Xuezhen whether they planned to have a child, and the couple said they would keep the baby if Li Xuezhen became pregnant.
• Over the next six months, White Jun Law Firm’s reputation grew as Su Bai mentored its lawyers, and Li Xuezhen became pregnant.
• Li Xuezhen reminded Su Bai that the law should protect people’s rights and ensure justice, and Su Bai reflected on his years handling cases.
• Another six months later, Little Su Bai was born, and Su Bai told him that a good lawyer needed professional knowledge, a just heart, patience, and firm principles.
• Little Su Bai asked whether Su Bai had shamelessly pursued Li Xuezhen, and the couple decided to give him the full childhood experience.