Today’s court session saw Zheng Zhihe and Wen Ying’s actions aimed at proving one thing: The Fish Against the Current had no subjective intent to delay the manuscript or terminate the contract. The termination statement published in Aige and Han Qin’s exposé on the forum were retaliations because The Fish Against the Current signed a publishing deal with Rongcheng Publishing Group, causing financial losses to the magazine, prompting Han Qin and the magazine to seek revenge in their anger.
Lawyer Xiong’s efforts were the opposite.
As it stands, Zheng Zhihe and Wen Ying have the upper hand, while Lawyer Xiong and Han Qin are at a disadvantage.
Lawyer Xiong lost his composure under the weight of the recording evidence.
When the judge called for new evidence, Lawyer Xiong had nothing to offer, whereas Zheng Zhihe had already compiled all critical reports about The Fish Against the Current from print media, along with excerpts from the forum exposé, into a dossier. This was the confidence behind Zheng Zhihe’s claim for 300,000 in emotional damages.
Lawyer Xiong tried desperately to prove the recordings were illegal, but after questioning Wen Ying, the young judge announced the trial’s conclusion. Civil lawsuits rarely see immediate verdicts, and though this case isn’t complex, it has unique aspects, so the judge won’t rule lightly and needs careful consideration.
As the trial ended, the lean man in a grey suit left. Apart from Wen Ying, who paid special attention to him, and Zheng Zhihe, who knew his identity, no one else took notice.
Her mentor’s departure unsettled Wen Ying’s mood.
Until Xie Qian asked her:
“You don’t seem happy? Though I’m not a lawyer, I can see you and Lawyer Zheng worked well together today. This case seems like a sure win, it’s just a matter of how much compensation the court will award.”
300,000 was certainly impossible.
It was a case of asking high to settle low.
But Xie Qian felt the compensation wouldn’t be less than 50,000.
The hot sales of Youth Idol brought fame to The Fish Against the Current. This view might spark controversy, but it’s true: an ordinary person’s reputation isn’t worth much, but a celebrity’s is different. Celebrities rely on their fame for a living, so damage to their reputation causes greater financial loss.
“I’m not unhappy!”
Xie Qian was too perceptive, and Wen Ying didn’t dare let her mind wander again. Hammering Han Qin’s lawyer into disarray naturally made Wen Ying happy.
On the other side, Lawyer Xiong was struggling to restrain Han Qin.
With the trial over, Han Qin’s anger was at its peak.
She had so much to say to Zou Weijun and Xiao Ni. If she didn’t curse out these two shameless people, she couldn’t vent her frustration.
Lawyer Xiong, of course, couldn’t let Han Qin act recklessly:
“You’ll look bad doing this, like you’re lashing out in shame. The case’s outcome isn’t certain yet, but you can’t lose basic decorum, can you?”
Cursing or fighting wasn’t an option, this was Rongcheng Court!
It’s not uncommon for plaintiffs and defendants to brawl after a trial, but what kind of people do that? How could Han Qin, with her status, be compared to them?
Han Qin was a cultured person, and cultured people act with grace.
Han Qin shook off Lawyer Xiong’s hand, “Didn’t you say we had at least a fifty percent chance of winning?”
Yet in court, she couldn’t even outdebate a young girl!
Lawyer Xiong was speechless, “I said fifty percent based on what you provided. You never mentioned they’d have recording evidence.”
Lawyer Xiong’s professional skills weren’t lacking.
He believed the judge was likely to accept the recording evidence.
The situation was truly unfavorable.
This was the downside of fighting a lawsuit on someone else’s turf, you never know what personal connections they might have. Fortunately, Ni Sisi’s case would be heard in Shandong.
Thinking of Ni Sisi’s case, Lawyer Xiong asked Han Qin with lingering fear:
“Ni Sisi was really fired for taking bribes, right? You must assure me of this, I’m your lawyer, the one person you can’t deceive. If Ni Sisi pulls out recording evidence too…”
Han Qin bit her lip, “The author who bribed Ni Sisi has agreed to testify in court, Ni Sisi’s bribery is a fact!”
At this point, Lawyer Xiong had to keep fighting the case for Han Qin and the magazine.
With both witness and material evidence, it was enough to nail Ni Sisi’s bribery.
Plus, with Rongcheng Publishing Group, where Ni Sisi jumped ship, being a commercial rival to Aige, Lawyer Xiong didn’t believe he’d lose in Shandong!
As for today’s trial, Lawyer Xiong had prepared for the worst and advised Han Qin, “The verdict won’t come quickly. Even if someone pulls strings to make us lose, we can appeal if we disagree with the ruling. A first and second trial could drag on for over half a year, and by then, the heat around this will fade.”
Han Qin nodded mechanically, but she wasn’t optimistic.
Lawyer Xiong’s idea of dragging it out for a year or more to let the heat die down was good, but she feared Zou Weijun and Xiao Ni wouldn’t agree.
They’d surely seize this opportunity to hype up Youth Idol!
From industry sources, Han Qin learned that the initial 100,000 copies of Youth Idol had sold out, with an additional 200,000 copies being urgently printed and rushed to bookstores nationwide.
This was just half a month after its release!
No bookstore would refuse a bestseller.
The largest bookstore chain in the country, Xinhua Bookstore, under the China Publishing Group, is an official chain with outlets everywhere,不受 Shandong Publishing Group’s control. If Shandong’s Xinhua Bookstore wanted to sell Youth Idol, neither Han Qin nor the magazine could stop it… With Youth Idol already being reprinted urgently, it would surely catch the attention of Shandong’s Xinhua Bookstore. Youth Idol was becoming unstoppable in Shandong!
Han Qin’s face was ashen.
Just as she descended the court steps, reporters with cameras and microphones rushed toward her.
They quickly snapped photos of her grim expression, then asked if they could interview her.
These reporters were ruthless, Han Qin and Lawyer Xiong didn’t look like they’d won, yet the reporters smiled and asked about their chances of victory!
“My client isn’t taking interviews!”
“No comment.”
“We await the court’s verdict, trusting the judge will deliver a fair and just ruling.”
Lawyer Xiong stood in front of Han Qin, shielding her from the reporters’ harassment.
Han Qin shot a venomous glare at Wen Ying’s group, who had already descended the steps.
Such despicable people, arranging reporters to ambush at the court entrance!
All for publicity, truly unscrupulous.
Zou Weijun and Xiao Ni were baffled.
Neither of them had arranged for reporters.
But having reporters cover the trial wasn’t bad for Youth Idol, and sure enough, some were already approaching.
Zou Weijun’s first thought was that an interview would boost Youth Idol’s publicity, but then she remembered Wen Ying’s reluctance to be exposed and turned to check on her, only to find Wen Ying had nimbly ducked behind Xie Qian.
Xie Qian was taller than Wen Ying.
Even a slim boy has a larger frame than a girl.
In the rush, a corner of Wen Ying’s clothing was still visible, but Xie Qian subtly adjusted, hiding her completely behind him.
