People who win lawsuits walk out with their heads held high and smiles on their faces, having vented their grievances and seen justice within reach. Why wouldn’t they smile?
Only those who lose, like Editor Han, wear a sour expression.
Losers can’t muster a smile.
Hahaha!
Deng Shangwei laughed heartily and called Wen Ying to confirm.
Wen Ying’s family of three was having dinner. Wen Dongrong had a habit of reading the newspaper while eating—morning papers in the morning, evening papers at night. Today’s Rongcheng Evening News had a full page on the lawsuit, and Wen Dongrong tapped the paper, commenting with conviction: “This Han Qin is done for. Public opinion is against her, she’s on the wrong side of the people. If she doesn’t lose, who will?”
Keep talking, you’re on a roll, Wen Ying thought, finding her dad increasingly savvy. When Deng Shangwei’s call came, she quickly picked up.
“Hello, Uncle?”
“You won the lawsuit, right?”
Deng Shangwei suppressed his laughter, keeping his voice low, like an undercover agent making contact.
It was indeed a covert operation. Wen Ying replied vaguely, “It’s not certain yet, depends on the final outcome.”
Noticing Chen Ru’s gaze, Wen Ying kept her tone normal. “Uncle, you want to ask my mom about the renovation progress? I don’t know, we’re eating dinner. Should I pass the phone to her?”
Deng Shangwei quickly agreed.
He was so excited he forgot it was dinnertime and Wen Ying’s parents were likely nearby.
Almost selling Wen Ying out, Deng Shangwei felt guilty. As a seasoned businessman, he smoothly followed Wen Ying’s script, asking Chen Ru about the renovation, transitioning without a hitch.
Wen Ying scarfed down her food, said she was done, and took her bowl to the kitchen to wash. After Chen Ru hung up, she still felt something was off.
Wen Ying was hiding something!
Chen Ru couldn’t rest easy until she got to the bottom of it.
Saying she’d let Wen Ying be was just talk—how could she really not care?
“You really think she’s been fine lately?”
Chen Ru asked Wen Dongrong, who groaned inwardly.
—There might actually be something off. After all, she raised his allowance to a thousand yuan and hasn’t asked for any favors. Until that dangling sword falls, how could he spend with peace of mind?
He had the allowance but hadn’t dared touch it for half a month.
Fearing discovery, he couldn’t even hide it at home, stashing it under the car seat instead. Chen Ru didn’t drive, so it was safe for now.
Life without pocket money was tough, but having it and living in fear was worse. Wen Dongrong felt utterly miserable.
“You think something’s wrong? Her grades improved significantly last semester, and when we followed her last time, she was meeting that Qin girl for a study group. The summer’s almost over, and she’s been sleeping at home every day.”
Sneaking off to Hunan couldn’t have happened unless she could make a round trip in a day.
Theoretically, it was possible—morning flight out, afternoon flight back while he and Chen Ru were out. But practically, it was tough.
Flight times were short, but getting to the airport and waiting took time. What could be so urgent that Wen Ying needed to handle it in another province herself?
Not to mention the frequent flight delays!
Wen Dongrong knew flights were often delayed—fog in winter, storms in summer. Punctual flights were rare.
He and Chen Ru analyzed it bit by bit, and she was somewhat convinced.
“No sneaking off, but there’s definitely something else.”
What was it?
What could a student be hiding from parents? That girl wouldn’t be in an early romance, would she?
Chen Ru’s heart sank.
Wen Dongrong was unreliable, with a history of being swayed by Wen Ying’s sweet talk, so she decided to investigate on her own.
Deng Shangwei was right—Youth Idol had been hyped for so long, but thanks to Wen Ying’s low profile, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong hadn’t connected her to the book. With reporters mistaking Xie Qian for The Fish Against the Current and using “he” in reports without publishing his photo, the couple was even less likely to suspect Wen Ying.
But every gain comes with a loss.
Chen Ru still sensed Wen Ying had a secret.
Unaware that Youth Idol was Wen Ying’s book, Chen Ru boldly guessed “early romance.” If her suspicion was confirmed, a massive storm awaited Wen Ying!
…
At the Song household.
Song Foxiang and Editor Wan opened a bottle of wine, ordered a few dishes from a restaurant, and drank while chatting.
They pored over the Rongcheng Evening News and watched the evening news on city TV, noting that neither the paper nor the broadcast included Xie Qian’s photo.
“Old Song, don’t blame me. That Lawyer Zheng was too sharp, throwing out threats left and right, making the reporters delete Little Zou’s son’s photos on the spot. After the interviews, two or three complained to me! Zou’s not even from Rongcheng, yet she found such a formidable lawyer. Do I dare cross her at work? I steer clear when I see her.”
Zou Weijun hired a lawyer for The Fish Against the Current using company funds.
Lawyer Zheng’s fees weren’t cheap, but his reputation didn’t match. Editor Wan had quietly considered stirring trouble for Zou Weijun.
But the moment he tried, the boss chewed him out.
The boss said Wan only saw Zheng’s high fees, missing the bigger picture.
You can skimp on many things—even a coffin can be bargained down, maybe getting thinner wood, but the dead still get buried!
But some things you can’t skimp on.
Like medical treatment for the living.
Or hiring a lawyer for a lawsuit!
Saving on medical bills could cost a life.
Skimping on legal fees could lose a case. If you’re spending money, why not go all in? Better to pay a lawyer than let the defendant get off cheap!
After the scolding, Wan quietly looked into Zheng Zhihe’s background.
He found that though Zheng hadn’t practiced long and wasn’t a big name locally, he was a student of a major figure in Southwest legal circles. Cases others couldn’t handle, Zheng could, as the big shot needed to save face. So, with Zheng as The Fish Against the Current’s lawyer, the case moved at lightning speed, from filing to trial!
Song Foxiang glared, “Why pick a fight with Little Zou? Are you daft? She’s got a hit science book series and now a bestselling novel. Supporting her work boosts your own career, doesn’t it?”
Sure, that’s the logic, but did he have to say it so bluntly?
Wan felt he deserved some dignity. He was a publishing veteran, balding from years at the company, sacrificing his youth. Hugging the thigh of an industry newbie required mental preparation!
