Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 107 - 106: Is Working Overtime a Blessing? Analyzing the Case

Chapter 107: Chapter 106: Is Working Overtime a Blessing? Analyzing the Case

Procuratorate Headquarters.

2nd floor, tea room.

A tiny tea table saw electric sparks flashing and flames dancing above it.

Zhang Wei and Xiao Baihe faced each other, their gazes meeting in mid-air as if the air itself around them was distorting and scorching.

The atmosphere was so tense, it frightened Tan Yingying and Lin Yumeng nearby into utter silence.

Tan Yingying was afraid of Zhang Wei, still haunted by the psychological shadow from her first time in court.

Lin Yumeng, on the other hand, was scared of Xiao Baihe; she found the woman in front of her terrifying.

Is this the kind of frightful prosecutor I’ll have to deal with as a defense attorney?

Is it too late to go back home now?

"15 months!"

After a long pause, it was Zhang Wei who spoke first.

"We won’t go to trial; we’ll settle on a plea deal, and that’s my final offer!"

Although he had agreed with Ying Qingli on one year, Xiao Baihe was not yielding, so Zhang Wei had to concede an extra three months.

"Hmph, do you really think I’m so easy to dismiss?"

Xiao Baihe sneered and was about to refuse outright.

But Tan Yingying tugged at Xiao Baihe’s sleeve.

"Baihe sister, actually, I think pleading guilty isn’t too bad, at least we don’t have to go to court with Zhang Wei..."

"Ying Ying, what are you talking about? Armed robbery, and you think one year is enough to deal with you?"

Seeing Tan Yingying mutter quietly, Xiao Baihe felt like she was dealing with someone failing to meet expectations: you’re actually that scared of Zhang Wei.

"What one year, it’s 15 months, and the sentence was three years, with two years suspended..." Zhang Wei interjected quickly.

"Scram, I’m talking to Ying Ying, it’s none of your business!"

Xiao Baihe angrily scolded Zhang Wei, causing him to shut his mouth.

After weighing matters for a while, Xiao Baihe gave Tan Yingying a meaningful glance, and then revealed a "kind" smile to Zhang Wei.

But that smile caused Zhang Wei’s heart to pound in trepidation.

It certainly wasn’t the expression of someone about to show goodwill, definitely not someone who would compromise.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Baihe then said, "Although doing this might get me reprimanded by my superiors, I still have to go ahead..."

"You’re compromising?" Zhang Wei’s eyes widened, hardly able to believe it.

That Xiao Baihe would actually make a deal with him, it felt as if the sun had risen from the west.

"500 bucks!"

"What?"

"Didn’t you hear me clearly? I bet 500 bucks, you~will~lose~"

"You, you want to bet with me?"

Zhang Wei finally understood. Xiao Baihe’s aforementioned risk of being scolded by the leaders wasn’t about making a plea deal with him, but about this bet.

"What, even you, Lawyer Zhang, have something to fear?"

Xiao Baihe raised an eyebrow, her face challenging as she stared him down.

"You’re very confident?" retorted Zhang Wei, not one to back down.

Xiao Baihe gave a small laugh, her tone easing: "This case was given to your firm by the Aid Association, right?"

"Yeah!"

"So for a single case, you earn at most a few hundred bucks. Now, I’m offering you a chance to earn an extra 500. Do you want it or not?"

For the first time, Zhang Wei felt outmaneuvered; his hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

But soon, he relaxed them.

"Alright then, I’ll take you up on that bet!"

Zhang Wei said, smiling and raising a finger: "But I have a condition too!"

"What is it?" Xiao Baihe’s eyes flickered, slightly curious.

"The lead attorney on this case is my apprentice, and the chief prosecutor is your sidekick. So on both sides, there are two of us, 500 each, which means the stakes should double. If you win, I lose 1000 to you, and if I win, you also lose 1000 to me!"

Zhang Wei explained, pulling over Lin Yumeng, who’d been standing with her head down, to show her face in front of Xiao Baihe.

"Since you put it that way, I’ll add another condition as well. Since neither of us will be the main person responsible for the case, let Tan Yingying and your apprentice handle the trial, and we’ll observe without interfering!"

"Great, I was just looking to train my apprentice anyway. No problem with your request!"

"Then it’s settled!"

"Settled, each one bets 500, and let them decide the winner in court!"

Zhang Wei left, pulling Lin Yumeng with him as they departed from the Procuratorate Headquarters.

He had to go back and explain to Ying Qingli that the deal had not been made and the Procuratorate Headquarters’ prosecutors insisted on going to court.

In the pantry.

"Sister Baihe, are we really going to sue Zhang Wei again? I’m so scared..."

Tan Yingying was still a bit frightened, especially when she saw Zhang Wei’s smiling face, she felt shivers down her spine.

"Yingying, what are you afraid of? I won’t get involved, and neither will he. Your opponent is his apprentice, a newbie just by looking at her. Plus, I’m here with you this time; you’re not fighting alone!"

Xiao Baihe immediately encouraged her, conveying that she was there to support.

"But didn’t you say you wouldn’t get involved?"

"Yes, I said I wouldn’t get involved. We prosecutors just talk, right? I’ll tell you what to do, and that settles it, doesn’t it?"

"Ah, this..."

Tan Yingying looked at Xiao Baihe blankly as the latter revealed a smile that suggested her scheme had succeeded.

Elsewhere.

Outside the detention center.

Zhang Wei explained the situation to Ying Qingli who, though a bit disappointed, understood his situation and didn’t say much.

After all, they would settle things in court in the end.

"Master, do I really have to go to court? But by myself, I’m so scared..."

Lin Yumeng stood beside Zhang Wei, looking frightened and anxious.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here for you!"

Zhang Wei quickly comforted her, signaling her to stay calm.

"But, didn’t you say you wouldn’t interfere?"

"Yes, I did say that, but we lawyers are all talkers too. If I command and you follow, we haven’t broken any bets or rules, have we?"

"Ah, this..."

Lin Yumeng stared at Zhang Wei blankly as he put on an expression of confident anticipation.

...

At Jincheng Law Firm, the criminal division.

When Zhang Wei and Lin Yumeng returned to the firm, it was nearly the end of the workday.

Employees from the Jincheng Building were gradually exiting the elevators. Most of them were not lawyers, and many of the lower-level staff did not work overtime.

"Xiao Meng, are you planning to work overtime this weekend?"

Zhang Wei hurriedly asked.

"Overtime?"

Lin Yumeng tilted her head, not quite understanding the term.

"An excellent lawyer will think about cases even on workdays, and even at home, the thing they consider the most is their client’s affairs. So I’m asking you, since you have a case at hand, do you need to work overtime on the weekend?"

"This..."

Seeing her master speak so self-righteously, Lin Yumeng thought carefully; if she didn’t work overtime on the weekend, what would she do?

She would stay home chatting with her mother, listening to her bragging about gossip in the circle of wealthy wives, or how her luck was at mahjong today, then go out in the evening for a fancy dinner, and that would be the day.

"Well, Master, I’ve decided to work overtime on the weekend. Not that I’m bored at home, but I want to become an excellent lawyer and do my part for my client!"

Lin Yumeng "firmly" nodded her head, and Zhang Wei was very gratified.

This little apprentice had the makings of a great lawyer!

"All right, but I have to ask Old Tie whether the company gives overtime pay on the weekend."

After riding the elevator, they returned to the criminal division’s office, and immediately inquired with Old Tie about the overtime issue.

"What, you’re working overtime on the weekend?"

Tie Ruyun exclaimed, drawing the attention of Li Yueqin, Jin Mingming, and Tie Cuilan, who were preparing to leave work.

The three were packing up their things when they suddenly heard the sensitive word "overtime," their expressions varied.

Jin Mingming’s brows furrowed, then he immediately shouted to Tie Ruyun, "Team leader, I’ll get going then, see you Monday!"

He was clearly resistant to working overtime, especially for the criminal division that he knew he wouldn’t be in for long. There was no way he would work overtime!

With that spare time, he could arrange to meet colleagues from other litigation departments over the weekend to develop relationships, preparing for his eventual transfer.

Li Yueqin hesitated because the case she was working on was quite urgent, and she was considering whether to work an extra shift.

Tie Cuilan, on the other hand, looked at Zhang Wei in surprise, as it was rare for a newcomer on an internship to choose to work overtime. Usually, they were strictly nine-to-five, leaving right when work ended.

Asking them to work overtime was like asking for their life!

"To be honest, I don’t encourage overtime in principle, especially since both of you are still newbies..."

"However?"

Seeing Tie Ruyun hesitate, Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know I won’t be able to win the argument?"

Tie Ruyun was stunned for a moment, and seeing that both were looking at him, he continued, "However, our big boss said that when you stand at the highest point in the future, looking back on your youth spent working overtime, you’ll feel that those sleepless nights working were a blessing!"

"Damn, that’s an old capitalist for you!"

Zhang Wei complained inwardly, but superficially he agreed, "The boss is right, working overtime is a blessing!"

"So you’re saying that the boss earned his wealth and status all by himself?"

"Not exactly, the Jincheng Group was built up by the boss’s father, our big boss is the second generation, Jincheng Law Firm was inherited from his father!"

Fuck, what a letdown!

Zhang Wei was completely speechless.

Turns out you, Lin Xiangtian, didn’t start from scratch but are actually a rich second-generation. Those words you said are useless, they don’t have any credibility at all!

"Since you’ve decided to work overtime, I should come over tomorrow too!"

Tie Ruyun looked at Zhang Wei and Lin Yumeng, and understood the reason behind their willingness to work overtime.

"Old Tie, there’s no need for that, we two can handle it!"

"No, no, how can the employees work overtime on the weekend while the leader rests at home!"

Seeing Tie Ruyun insisted, Zhang Wei was left with no choice.

After agreeing to meet at the law firm the next day, they each went off work.

...

Saturday morning.

Inside Lin Mansion.

Zhang Wei was busy in the bedroom, packing lunch for today into food containers.

And in front of him, Zhao Xiaoxiao was uncharacteristically up early and sipping the porridge he had made, bite by bite.

"Since the boss is in today, I need to bring enough for one more person!"

As he spoke, Zhang Wei took another food container, planning to bring lunch for Old Tie as well.

"Speaking of which, second daughter, why are you up so early today?"

"It’s the weekend, so I’ve made plans to go shopping with my sister," Zhao Xiaoxiao said.

"Sister, how many of you are going, is Silly among them?"

Zhang Wei looked at Zhao Xiaoxiao, referring to the sisters as the group they dined with before the New Year.

God knows how these women got so close after a meal together, now they even call each other sisters.

Zhao Xiaoxiao surely knew who Zhang Wei meant by Silly.

"Your big daughter isn’t around, it’s that busty blonde woman who asked me out!"

"Oh, it’s Jessica~"

Zhang Wei was mildly curious about Jessica inviting Zhao Xiaoxiao out.

"By the way, what has Silly been up to lately?"

"Can’t you send a message yourself?"

"Haven’t I been busy with the case recently? Besides, she’s joined the major case squad, so both of us are busy."

"Didn’t you just say she joined the major case squad? Naturally, she’s also busy with cases~"

Zhao Xiaoxiao lifted her head and thought for a moment before adding, "I remember your big daughter mentioning that their team 7 is investigating an organized crime group."

"Looks like she’s really got her hands full!"

Zhang Wei nodded, understanding the workload of the major case squad.

"Alright then, have a good time shopping with Jessica today, and say hi to her for me, would you?"

"Heh, don’t think I don’t know you’ve got your eye on that voluptuous woman!"

Zhang Wei ignored Zhao Xiaoxiao’s sarcastic comment and headed out after getting ready.

The weekend has an advantage over weekdays, which is the absence of morning rush.

Taking a relatively uncrowded subway, Zhang Wei arrived at the Jincheng Building quite early.

He took the elevator to the 26th floor and arrived at the litigation department’s office.

Walking through the spacious office area, he entered the criminal group’s office and began to get down to work.

He pulled over a blank 2-meter wide whiteboard from outside and started to record case information.

Ying Qingli was arrested on Monday night at 10:14 PM.

According to his statement, he was just walking along the street, humming a tune and preparing to grab supper when he was nabbed by the Martial Association’s field agents, he himself was baffled.

The Martial Association had a basis for arresting him.

Near the place where Ying Qingli was caught, there had been an armed robbery in an underground parking lot. The suspect had robbed the victim’s wallet and fled. The field agents were following up on the clues from the report when they encountered Ying Qingli in the vicinity.

And here comes the most crucial point, the victim identified Ying Qingli as the robber, the sole eyewitness to the case.

According to the testimony of an eyewitness who was also involved, the Martial Association naturally had to arrest Ying Qingli.

After entering detention, Ying Qingli immediately requested a lawyer and filed an application, which ultimately led the legal aid organization to hand over the case to Jincheng.

"The whole sequence of events is very clear. Someone was robbed, and that person identified Ying Qingli. Theoretically, that makes him the culprit. However..."

Zhang Wei paused a moment, recalling what Xiao Baihe had said.

"The robbery took place in an underground parking lot, yet the lighting was very sufficient..."

He immediately went to Lin Yumeng’s workstation, pulled out the case file and the public photos from a drawer, and then started posting them one by one on a board.

"The underground parking lot has lights, and the lighting is plentiful. Logically, the eyewitness shouldn’t have made a mistake. But he must have been scared out of his wits at the time. The human body is an amazing thing. Excessive nervousness and fear can cause hallucinations."

"The victim in this case encountered an armed robbery and saw a ferocious person with a knife ready to stab him. He must have been so nervous that he could’ve wet his pants. Could he have been mistaken?"

Zhang Wei naturally had doubts about the victim’s testimony.

Unfortunately, as a defense attorney, he was strictly forbidden from contacting any other people related to the case outside of the courtroom, except for his own client. The only chance to learn about the case details was to cross-examine the other side in court.

"Looks like I’ll have to wait for the trial to find out more details..."

Zhang Wei felt helpless but continued to analyze the case.

While he was analyzing the case, someone else arrived.

Tie Ruyun had come early too, but seeing Zhang Wei busy at the board, he did not interrupt.

However, he felt somewhat moved seeing Zhang Wei’s focused appearance.

This lad was born to be a criminal defense lawyer, not only high in trial skills but also extremely dedicated to his cases.

This was a case he wasn’t personally handling, yet he was still giving it his all.

If it were anyone else he had mentored before, upon hearing it was a pro bono case and not their responsibility, they would have been too lazy to bother with it.

After a while, Lin Yumeng also arrived.

She jogged all the way to the criminal group and saw that both Tie Ruyun and Zhang Wei were there.

"Ah, team leader, master, you’re both..."

"Shh!"

Tie Ruyun quickly made a silencing gesture, using his eyes to tell Lin Yumeng not to speak and disturb.

Can’t you see Zhang Wei boy is thinking here? You, girl, should choose the right moment to talk!

Lin Yumeng nodded her understanding and immediately stood next to Tie Ruyun, together watching Zhang Wei.

After several tens of minutes, Zhang Wei finally stopped his analysis.

"I really need to check out the scene..."

He muttered to himself and then noticed that both Lin Yumeng and Tie Ruyun were there.

"Yo, Old Tie and Xiao Meng are here too!"

"We saw you were thinking about the case, so we didn’t dare come over and disturb you!"

"There’s no such thing as disturbing. Working on this kind of case is like playing an escape room game. Sometimes when a clue is stuck, a sudden interruption might actually lead to the key to solving the case!"

Zhang Wei laughed and shared a bit of his experience.

"That’s true, but you’re just a fresh law school graduate, why do you sound like an old lawyer?"

"Maybe it’s because I’ve taken on an apprentice, and my manner of speaking has naturally changed!"

"Yes, yes, master is right!"

Zhang Wei quickly brought up Lin Yumeng as an explanation, and she naturally stepped forward to support her "master."

"Alright then, what are you planning to do today? Do you have any plans?"

Zhang Wei thought for a moment and then glanced at Lin Yumeng.

"This morning, Xiao Meng and I are responsible for rehearsing courtroom cross-examinations. I have a lot of questions that need to be answered, and she needs to ask all these questions to the eyewitness during the trial."

He looked at Tie Ruyun again, "Old Tie, since you’re here too, why don’t you play the role of the eyewitness?"

"Me?"

"Right, but Old Tie, can you put yourself in the mindset of the person involved? We need a witness who has just been robbed, is still unsettled, and somewhat panic-stricken."

"That’s... a bit difficult..."

Hearing Zhang Wei’s request, Tie Ruyun showed a troubled expression.

He was a lawyer, not a professional actor, and given the high demands, how was he supposed to act?

"Alright, I’ll guide you..."

Zhang Wei said, gesturing with his hand for both his apprentice and Old Tie to come closer.

Next, Zhang Wei took the lead in analyzing and instructing, while Tie Ruyun had to internalize the witness’s psyche.

On the side, Lin Yumeng pulled out her notebook, beginning to record all questions that Zhang Wei wanted asked.

After all, it wasn’t Zhang Wei who would be in court that day, but her.