The old saying goes, “Help reason, not family.”
In real life, it’s hard to follow through on that.
What is reason?
With things escalating to a lawsuit, *Aige* magazine and Han Qin still believed they were in the right.
Especially Han Qin, who thought Wen Ying was ungrateful, Xiao Ni was disloyal, and Zou Weijun was scheming.
Most people aren’t saints, just ordinary folks with their own biases and closeness to others. When it doesn’t involve core principles, most choose to “help family, not reason.”
Han Qin is an ordinary person, and so is Chen Ru.
Whether Du Li was an excellent lawyer didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was Han Qin’s lawyer, and any advice from his mouth felt to Chen Ru like a weasel wishing a chicken happy New Year!
Wen Ying had guessed Manager Chen would tear into Du Li, but Chen Ru’s handling of things had become far more polished than before. After hearing Du Li’s purpose, Chen Ru didn’t grab the paper cutter from her desk to attack him, her tone was even fairly polite, “Lawyer Du, thank you.”
Chen Ru’s voice was calm, “I understand your advice. Though you said it with ulterior motives, it’s the truth.”
Wen Ying was shocked.
Had her mum actually learned to be courteous before striking?
Du Li, unsure of Chen Ru’s thoughts, probed, “Once Ms. Chen deals with the publisher, can we sit down and talk? Rest assured, my client is sincere. If your side agrees to drop the lawsuit, any terms can be discussed.”
Han Qin’s pride wasn’t worth 300,000, but *Aige* magazine’s reputation certainly was.
If money could settle this lawsuit, both *Aige* and Han Qin were willing.
Three hundred thousand, how long would Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong have to save for that?
Though Chen Ru’s expression darkened, she reluctantly agreed to Du Li’s request.
Du Li, guessing the first-instance verdict was imminent, feared Chen Ru was stalling and proposed a three-day consideration period, after which Chen Ru should give him an answer. She agreed.
Things went so smoothly that Du Li felt a faint unease. Chen Ru, arms crossed, sneered, “I’ll get answers from the publisher. *Aige* magazine and Editor Han won’t get off lightly either. I’m not letting this go, I’m just busy educating my child and don’t have time to argue with you!”
Now that’s the right attitude.
Du Li glanced at Wen Ying, advising, “Wen Ying is indeed talented. I don’t think her actions were wrong, but not discussing decisions with her parents is a bad habit.”
Wen Ying wanted to curse Du Li. Those words were just pouring fuel on the fire!
If she got a beating because of Du Li’s provocation, the grudge would be deep. Du Li was targeting her mentor and Brother Zheng, so she’d target him back, letting him taste what it’s like to be singled out.
Hmph.
Chen Ru frowned and suddenly asked Du Li, “Are you married with kids, Lawyer Du?”
Du Li smiled slightly, “Of course I’m married, but my wife and I are firm believers in the DINK lifestyle.”
No kids, no wonder he’s so smug!
“DINK is a trendy concept in China. Small-town folks like us didn’t know about it before, we just followed the crowd and had kids. Now we’re stuck worrying about how to raise them. I envy your carefree life, Lawyer Du.”
Chen Ru seemed to complain, but she was truly relieved, personally escorting Du Li downstairs.
Du Li’s car, a grey Mercedes, was parked below the bank’s office building, its well-maintained paint gleaming with wealth in the sunset, making the second-hand Fukang parked beside it look dusty and shabby.
Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei were huddled in the Fukang, trying to minimise their presence.
That Du guy moved fast!
His car was already parked nearby, and he’d arrived before them.
But Chen Ru didn’t clash with Du Li and even politely saw him off… Did Wen Ying not swallow her pride and cry on her mum’s leg?
She’s usually so sharp, yet drops the ball at critical moments!
Once Du Li left, Chen Ru’s gaze swept to the side.
Du Li might not recognise the car, but how could Chen Ru not?
Two grown men pushing Wen Ying to “confess” first, how impressive!
Chen Ru sneered, turned, and went upstairs, leaving Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei uneasy.
“Brother-in-law, what’s the situation?”
“That was Lawyer Du.”
“What?!”
Du Li had indeed moved fast.
Deng Shangwei felt guilty.
If he hadn’t delayed at the bookstore over his book donation, Du Li wouldn’t have beaten them to it.
Du Li met Chen Ru before Wen Ying. Who knows what nonsense he fed her?
Deng Shangwei thought Chen Ru’s temper wouldn’t agree to a settlement, but he feared her anger might be exploited by Du Li’s provocations, leading to a rash decision.
Deng Shangwei was still judging Chen Ru by old standards, her fiery temper long etched in people’s minds.
Wen Dongrong was equally worried.
He wasn’t afraid of Chen Ru settling, that was impossible.
He was afraid she’d let Wen Ying off but not him.
Both men, each with their own concerns, sighed in the Fukang. As Deng Shangwei was about to speak, Chen Ru came downstairs with Wen Ying.
Wen Ying’s eyelids were swollen, clearly from crying, trailing obediently behind Chen Ru like a docile quail.
Wen Dongrong’s heart eased significantly.
She actually cried?
All that tough talk, and she still cried.
Good, crying would soften Manager Chen’s heart.
Wen Dongrong eagerly opened the car door for his wife. Wen Ying meekly squeezed into the back seat with Deng Shangwei. Having just witnessed another side of her mum, she didn’t dare stir trouble, clinging tightly to her “good daughter” persona to avoid getting burned.
What’s scary about a temper tantrum? Everyone has those.
What’s terrifying is a hot-tempered person forcibly holding back their anger, that’s when you know things are serious!
Chen Ru didn’t spare Wen Dongrong a glance. He wasn’t fazed, showing concern, “That Lawyer Du was pretty arrogant. Don’t get mad over someone irrelevant, just treat his words like hot air.”
Heh.
Lawyer Du was full of hot air!
All the world’s rotten men share the same flaw, self-important, looking down on women from the bottom of their hearts.
A man who’s never raised a child, how could he understand the pain of ten months’ pregnancy? Thinking money could sway her into dropping the lawsuit!
Dream on!
Chen Ru sneered, “Du said he’d give us three days to consider whether to drop the lawsuit and settle. I don’t want to bother with him, but some of what he said makes sense. Your daughter had the gall to sign a contract with the publisher behind our backs. Shouldn’t we look into the contract and meet the lawyer?”
Wen Dongrong thought his wife was brilliant!
Du Li wanted a settlement, they didn’t. Why should they follow his pace?
Let Du Li wait three days. Once he and Chen Ru figured out the publisher and lawyer’s details, they’d tell him face-to-face there’d be no settlement, slapping back his arrogance and letting him get his hopes up for nothing!
Wen Dongrong was thrilled, feeling Chen Ru’s approach showed their marital synergy, but Deng Shangwei was deeply shocked.
Since when did big sister Chen Ru become so rational?
Chen Ru suddenly turned, “Did you know about Wen Ying’s book-writing all along?”
In that instant, every hair on Deng Shangwei’s legs stood on end, practically saluting Chen “Tiger” Ru.
