Filing a lawsuit can be hitched like a ride?
Wen Ying was hearing this for the first time.
But hearing Xiao Ni’s good spirits, Wen Ying accepted her playful metaphor.
A hitchhike it is then. Zheng Zhihe showed no hesitation, clearly eager to take on the magazine and Han Qin.
Wen Ying didn’t even get to spend her money, as Xiao Ni refused to let her cover the legal fees.
“This isn’t your fault. Even without you, with Han Qin’s way of doing things, I’d have clashed with her sooner or later.”
Xiao Ni, a workplace newcomer with little savings, clearly didn’t want to take advantage of Wen Ying financially. Zheng Zhihe thought Wen Ying’s case could make for a paper, and while Xiao Ni’s case wasn’t as notable, it was a small matter for him. Considering Xiao Ni’s finances, he quoted her a very low fee.
This fee was almost like legal aid for Zheng Zhihe, definitely affordable for Xiao Ni.
“Thank you, Lawyer Zheng!”
Xiao Ni didn’t refuse this time.
With Zheng Zhihe offering a discounted fee, she wasn’t taking advantage of Wen Ying or Zou Weijun, but rather owed Zheng Zhihe a favour.
She couldn’t repay it now, but that didn’t mean she never would.
As for Zou Weijun’s invitation to work in Rongcheng, Xiao Ni agreed immediately.
“Sister Zou, thank you so much. Thank you for letting me join the planning for Youth Idol’s publication, it means a lot to me!”
Wen Ying was a new author Xiao Ni had discovered independently. Wen Ying wrote Youth Idol largely because of Xiao Ni’s encouragement. They had discussed the outline together, and Xiao Ni watched Wen Ying shape the book’s framework and fill in the details bit by bit. Youth Idol was Wen Ying’s work, but it also carried Xiao Ni’s heart and effort.
If Zou Weijun hadn’t invited her, Xiao Ni would’ve shamelessly asked for the chance.
She wasn’t clinging to Zou Weijun. Even if it was just a temporary gig, she wanted to be part of Youth Idol’s publication planning. Helping push Youth Idol to market would be the best memento of her first job.
When she submitted her resignation, Xiao Ni had already decided to do this!
Being a proofreader was a job, but choosing to proofread and being sidelined by Han Qin to do it were two different things!
Han Qin had slapped her twice, then offered her a sweet date. Xiao Ni wasn’t desperate enough to kiss up to Han Qin. When she resigned, she felt some reluctance about leaving the magazine, but mostly relief.
Action speaks louder than desire. Han Qin was surprised that Xiao Ni didn’t make a fuss and calmly accepted the magazine’s “dismissal penalty” because Xiao Ni knew she was powerless alone. Making a scene would be futile.
Fighting an entire magazine single-handedly? She couldn’t win by fighting or arguing, so why bother?
Besides, she had already booked a train ticket to Rongcheng, so where was the time to haggle with the magazine?
“So you—”
“So I’m at Rongcheng train station right now. Want to come pick me up?”
She’d come all the way to join Wen Ying.
She hadn’t even considered the possibility of rejection.
Wen Ying didn’t believe Xiao Ni would solicit bribes, and Xiao Ni trusted Wen Ying just as much.
With her already at Rongcheng station, of course they had to go pick her up.
Zheng Zhihe smiled, “I’ll drive you there, and I can talk with Editor Xiao Ni on the way.”
Zheng Zhihe drove Wen Ying and Zou Weijun to the train station. Xiao Ni, with a backpack and a suitcase, was looking around outside the station. A plain, unadorned young woman, who’d have thought she had such guts?
Not to mention suing her former employer, for most young women, leaving a familiar environment to work elsewhere was daunting enough!
Wen Ying rushed up and gave Xiao Ni a hug.
Xiao Ni patted Wen Ying’s back, “Now I’ve got plenty of time to enjoy Rongcheng, but the promise I made to you, I’ll have to keep later. Can you wait?”
Xiao Ni was referring to her last rushed visit to Rongcheng, when she didn’t have time for many attractions. Now that she was working in Rongcheng, she could visit anytime.
She’d also promised to be Wen Ying’s guide to Daming Lake, but that clearly wasn’t happening soon.
She couldn’t return home without making something of herself in Rongcheng!
“I’m still so young, of course I can wait!”
Yes, Wen Ying was still young.
Xiao Ni flicked her ponytail, her eyes behind her glasses as clear as the blue sky.
Wen Ying was young, and so was she. If Han Qin could be editor-in-chief, why couldn’t she?
Xiao Ni’s fighting spirit blazed.
Zou Weijun watched from the side, deeply moved, “Lawyer Zheng, seeing young people like them, doesn’t it make our lives feel more vibrant?”
Zheng Zhihe was puzzled, “…?”
Poor Lawyer Zheng touched his face, feeling a bit wronged. He only looked mature and dressed deliberately so because clients didn’t trust young lawyers.
He was young too!
Hearing Zou Weijun’s words, Zheng Zhihe wasn’t sure whether to be happy. His mature, steady image was clearly well-established. Setting aside his grievances, he asked Xiao Ni about her lawsuit. Before he could give his usual spiel about lawsuits being time-consuming and draining, Xiao Ni pulled a file from her backpack and handed it to him.
“Lawyer Zheng, can these be used as evidence?”
The file contained some receipts and a voice recorder.
It couldn’t be what he was thinking, could it?
Zheng Zhihe glanced at Wen Ying, who immediately protested, “I didn’t teach her that! I only got in touch with Xiao Ni today!”
Xiao Ni was a bit shy, “I didn’t want to do this, but after I returned, Editor Han took my work QQ account and reassigned me to proofreading. When she suddenly became all friendly, I got scared.”
Xiao Ni hadn’t intended to harm anyone.
But she didn’t want Han Qin to keep bullying her.
Doing this for the first time, Xiao Ni was very nervous.
But thinking of Han Qin’s smug admission to posting on the forum and her threat to keep her proofreading forever, Xiao Ni didn’t feel recording was wrong!
Zheng Zhihe reviewed the receipts and listened to the recorder’s contents, his heart calm. This was a case of familiarity breeding ease.
If every client came with evidence like Wen Ying and Xiao Ni, how easy would his job as a lawyer be?
No, if everyone was this capable, he’d probably be out of a job.
Zheng Zhihe’s expression turned serious, “Don’t worry, your case is simple. You were forced to resign due to threats from your superior. The magazine didn’t address the workplace bully and instead smeared you with bribery accusations, causing you significant emotional distress. The magazine owes you compensation!”
No, I wanted to resign myself.
Xiao Ni blinked. Zheng Zhihe made a zipping gesture over his mouth.
Wen Ying earnestly advised Xiao Ni, “Lawyer Zheng says you were coerced into resigning, so you were. If you’re entrusting him with your lawsuit, you have to trust him.”
Brother Zheng’s motto was “peace is paramount.”
Peace comes at a high price, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
