Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 227 - 226: Crying Again? Driven by Interest, Li Qingmu

Chapter 227: Chapter 226: Crying Again? Driven by Interest, Li Qingmu

In court.

"Your Honor, we call Miss Ji Guoguo, the victim of this case, to testify!"

As Chen Baoluo announced, all eyes in the venue focused on the plaintiff’s bench.

Finally, finally...

The victim was finally going to testify!

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the courtroom, Ji Guoguo struggled to stand up.

Her complexion seemed a bit off.

She appeared somewhat scared and uneasy...

But that was normal, after all, she was the victim, and the person who had assaulted her was sitting right there in the courtroom.

However, Ji Guoguo’s behavior seemed rather odd to a certain individual.

"She looks scared, but it’s more of a panic, and it seems the source of her fear is not actually my uncle!"

Zhang Wei could naturally tell that Ji Guoguo’s eyes were evasive, and she occasionally looked around.

Compared to Xia Qianjun, who supposedly wanted to molest her, she seemed more afraid of the people around her.

This behavior was somewhat abnormal...

Because as the one harassed and assaulted, shouldn’t you be most afraid of Xia Qianjun?

Unless...

The only regret was that these were Zhang Wei’s own insights, and they couldn’t be shared with others.

Even the experienced Li Qingmu couldn’t detect these subtleties. He thought Ji Guoguo’s slight fear was a normal reaction.

However, that wouldn’t stop him from cross-examining her later on.

Under the watchful eyes of Li Qingmu, including everyone else, Ji Guoguo took her seat on the witness stand.

"Hello, Miss Ji!"

"Hello..."

Ji Guoguo seemed a bit shy. After responding to Chen Baoluo’s question, she carefully looked around. As soon as she saw Xia Qianjun, she quickly averted her gaze, looking pitiable.

This scene was also clearly witnessed by all six members of the jury, who sighed inwardly.

Such a fine young lady, now reduced to this state—the defendant truly deserves severe punishment!

"Miss Ji, I know it’s very risky for you to take the stand, because you have to face not only the cross-examination by the defendant’s attorney but also the defendant himself!"

"I... I understand." Ji Guoguo nodded slightly, looking a bit frightened.

"But don’t be afraid because there are so many people in this courtroom, and they are all fighting alongside you. You are not alone; you have us behind you!"

"Thank you."

Chen Baoluo’s words seemed to ease Ji Guoguo’s fear somewhat, and her mood appeared to improve a lot.

"Alright, Miss Ji, I won’t beat around the bush. I believe what everyone in the courtroom wants to know is what exactly happened to you at the time of the incident. Would you be willing to tell us?"

"I..."

After glancing at the defendant’s bench, Ji Guoguo nodded, "I will."

The entire courtroom held its breath, focusing on the witness stand and waiting.

In the spotlight of the entire courtroom, Ji Guoguo finally spoke up.

"That day, I had made plans with someone and also invited my good friend Chengzi. But unfortunately... the other party stood us up, so Chengzi and I had to go alone to the place we’d agreed on. It was there that we met him!"

As she spoke, Ji Guoguo pointed to the defendant’s bench, "him" naturally referring to Xia Qianjun.

"At the entrance of Love Kitchen, this man was stopped by an auntie, as he was not allowed to enter by himself. Chengzi and I felt sorry for him, so we decided to help him out. The two of us joined his team and entered the kitchen together."

"Then, in the kitchen, we cooked for him. Unfortunately, he was ungrateful and extremely unfriendly. He didn’t talk to us at all, was very dismissive of us throughout..."

As they listened to Ji Guoguo’s account, the image of a dismissive man was forming in everyone’s minds.

"Although she’s telling the truth, why does it feel off? She seems to be skirting the key issues, mixing half-truths with half-lies to muddle the truth?"

Zhang Wei watched the woman on the witness stand start to narrate the "truth," shaking his head internally.

What she described was not the whole truth but only a part of what she witnessed.

Ji Guoguo didn’t know that Xia Qianjun’s reason for wanting to get into Love Kitchen was actually to track and monitor Zhang Wei.

His indifference towards Ji Guoguo wasn’t due to being dismissive; it was because his attention was entirely focused on Zhang Wei and Jessica.

For Xia Qianjun, who was on a mission, everything else except for his targets were distractions!

Unfortunately, no one in the courtroom knew this.

On the witness stand, Ji Guoguo continued her narrative.

"...After that, we left Love Kitchen and went to a coffee shop together..."

"Excuse me for interrupting."

Chen Baoluo suddenly spoke up, interrupting Ji Guoguo’s account.

"I’d like to ask, was it your idea to go to the coffee shop, or was it the defendant’s?"

"It was him!"

Ji Guoguo pointed towards the defendant’s bench and recalled, "At that time, he was the one who actively walked towards the coffee shop. Chengzi and I could only follow him."

"So, you’re saying the defendant had premeditated it?"

"Objection!"

Seeing Chen Baoluo start to play tricks again, Li Qingmu immediately stood up.

"Sorry, I take back what I just said!"

Chen Baoluo, however, gave a slight smile and quickly "admitted his mistake" to the judges’ bench, and Ni Qiuping naturally had nothing further to say.

"Miss Ji, please continue."

"Okay."

Ji Guoguo nodded and began to continue her statement.

"...We entered the coffee shop together, and he chose a corner seat. Chengzi and I didn’t suspect anything and just sat down with him, but what I didn’t expect was..."

At this point, Ji Guoguo’s voice paused for a moment, and then tears began to glisten in her eyes.

Clearly, she wanted to cry too.

"Miss Ji, don’t be nervous, don’t be afraid, take a deep breath, and speak slowly..." Chen Baoluo hurriedly consoled and soothed her.

After taking a few deep breaths, Ji Guoguo calmed her emotions.

"I clearly remember, right there in the coffee shop, he... he reached out to touch my face, then tried to come closer to embrace me, and eventually he... he tried to molest me... he really is inhuman..."

"Hey, wasn’t it touching your leg?"

From the audience bench, Zhang Wei seemed to notice something and appeared puzzled.

However, when he looked around, he found that apart from himself, others were indifferent to Ji Guoguo’s testimony.

It seemed that they were more interested in Ji Guoguo’s tearful accusation than the details of her statement.

Zhang Wei thought for a moment and leaned over to Xia Donghai, whispering, "Father-in-law, don’t you think Ji Guoguo’s testimony differs from her best friend’s?"

"It does seem a bit off, but I can’t quite put my finger on it..."

The father-in-law clearly had not paid much attention to the discrepancies in Ji Guoguo and Zhou Chengzi’s testimonies but was instead watching the witness stand with a grave look and a slight sigh.

Zhang Wei realized that, father-in-law included, everyone was captivated by Ji Guoguo’s story and had neglected logical consistency.

However, the so-called logical issues could be brushed aside by the victim with excuses like "It happened too fast," or "I was too nervous and remembered it incorrectly."

Therefore, delving into this aspect was actually pointless for most people.

Zhang Wei had wanted to say something, but considering that he was just an onlooker today, he could only sigh to himself.

After all, it wasn’t Zhang Wei whom Xia Qianjun had chosen as his lawyer.

In the courtroom, Ji Guoguo’s accusation was reaching its final stage.

"...Finally, just when he tried to take it further, I mustered up the courage, grabbed his hand, and then screamed for help, accusing him of indecency. After that, everyone gathered around. I was very scared at the time, but I knew I couldn’t just let him get away with it. I had to make him pay, or I was afraid other girls would suffer from his evil claws like I did!"

"Thank you for your reply, Miss Ji. I also believe that justice will prevail and this court session will show more girls what kind of person the defendant is. Your words will also tell all girls to stand up bravely in the face of persecution; tolerating it in silence will only encourage the perpetrator’s arrogance!"

"Your Honor, is Lawyer Chen making a closing statement?"

Seeing Chen Baoluo launch into a long speech, Li Qingmu couldn’t help it.

"Lawyer Chen, although your last words make sense, the court must remind you that now is not the time for your summation!"

"Sorry, Your Honor, I was just moved by the sight of a female victim accusing her assailant in court!"

"Hmm!!!" Ni Qiuping glared again with disapproval.

"Cough cough, I retract my previous statement!"

Chen Baoluo quickly apologized, but the smile at the corner of his mouth could not be concealed.

Because it was clear that the jury had heard his final words.

"Miss Ji, thank you again for your statement, I have no further questions!"

After thanking her, Chen Baoluo smiled towards the defendant’s bench as a gesture.

That smile seemed to say: The witness is yours now!

Li Qingmu stood up and slowly walked towards the witness stand.

"Miss Ji, you..."

"Wuwuwu..."

Just as Li Qingmu was about to speak, Ji Guoguo suddenly started crying uncontrollably in the courtroom.

"This..."

Li Qingmu was instantly baffled.

Zhang Wei in the front row of the audience bench was stunned as well, then he turned his gaze towards the plaintiff’s bench.

The corner of Chen Baoluo’s mouth revealed a sly smile.

Clearly, it was another use of the "crying strategy."

Sometimes, it’s not about the novelty of the move, as long as it’s effective.

Ji Guoguo is a girl, and a victim at that, so her being in pain in court isn’t such a big deal, right?

If you cross-examine her and she loses control of her emotions and starts crying, that’s to be expected, isn’t it?

Chen Baoluo knew that although the court is serious, the jury is human, and they would surely sympathize with Ji Guoguo.

"Your Honor, how am I supposed to ask questions?"

In court, Li Qingmu finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.

"Witness, please control your emotions, or I’ll hold you in contempt of court!"

Although Ni Qiuping was cursing inside, she maintained her dignity and warned in a cold voice.

Ji Guoguo showed a face full of fear and anxiety, holding back her tears and nodded.

This pitiful scene was all witnessed by the jury.

What they saw was the defendant’s lawyer, in collusion with the judge, "bullying" a fragile woman.

The jury’s gaze towards Li Qingmu was filled with dissatisfaction.

"Witness, can you recount what exactly happened that day at the coffee shop, please?"

"That day... that day, I was by that person, I was forcefully kissed, molested, I was... wuwuwu..."

Li Qingmu’s question made Ji Guoguo cry once again.

Watching the girl in tears, Li Qingmu didn’t know how to proceed with his questioning for a moment.

All he could do was seek help from the judge: "Your Honor, this..."

"I know!" Ni Qiuping sighed, raised her hand to indicate for Li Qingmu to stop questioning.

Then she knocked her gavel and announced, "In light of the witness’s emotional breakdown, which has significantly complicated the cross-examination for the defendant’s lawyer, this court declares a temporary adjournment for today!"

"The trial will continue tomorrow morning..."

As Ni Qiuping spoke, she looked towards the plaintiff’s bench, "Lawyer Chen, I hope your witness can be more composed tomorrow. If she continues to be uncooperative, you know the consequences!"

"Your Honor, our side will certainly try our best to cooperate, and we will also arrange psychological counseling for Miss Ji afterward!"

Chen Baoluo quickly promised.

Ni Qiuping sighed and finally announced, resigned, "Court is adjourned!"

And so, today’s trial had come to an end.

It ended very abruptly.

And it had a significant impact.

From the spectator’s gallery, Zhang Wei could see something: the jurors, as they left, gave Li Qingmu and Xia Qianjun very unfriendly looks.

Their gaze towards Ji Guoguo, however, was filled with sympathy and pity.

Clearly, Chen Baoluo’s strategy had been effective.

"Big Uncle, who would’ve thought this is all you’re capable of!"

Zhang Wei shook his head internally, honestly disappointed with Li Qingmu’s performance today.

If it had been him, he would never have allowed Ji Guoguo to perform like this.

In any case, the court was adjourned.

Everyone, back to their own homes!

...

That evening, at Qingmu Law Firm.

"What’s with that girl, cry, cry, crying, that’s all she knows!"

"My Xia Qianjun has been wronged and yet hasn’t cried, and there she goes, bursting into tears after just a few words as if someone in her family has died!"

Li Qinghua finally couldn’t hold back and started complaining.

"Sister, calm down, anything can happen in a courtroom."

"Sister, you didn’t see it, that girl in the courtroom, she really was..."

Li Qinghe and Li Qinghua, the sisters, were chattering in the conference room.

Li Qingmu, however, was frowning, sitting in his office.

The day’s trial had not gone as he anticipated, and he was very disappointed with his own performance.

Ding-a-ling!

Suddenly, a ringtone interrupted his thoughts.

"Hello, President Zhang, why are you calling all of a sudden?"

"What, you’re asking about today’s case, about me representing my nephew in court, what about it?"

"You say you’re very disappointed in me and considering terminating the contract with my Qingmu Law Firm?"

"How could that be, he’s my nephew, of course I have to help!"

"You’re telling me to open a webpage, oh, let me see..."

Li Qingmu hurriedly opened a web browser, only to see many glaring headlines on the front page news.

Most of these articles were about the case, and several of them were about him and Qingmu Law Firm.

"Heartless Lawyer, Harboring and Protecting a Felon!"

"Li Qingmu, Did Your Conscience Get Eaten by a Dog?"

"Everyone, Please Take Action, Unite to Boycott Qingmu Law Firm!"

Li Qingmu knew the content of the articles without even having to click on them.

He quickly picked up the phone, "President Zhang, listen to me, I..."

"Beep beep beep..."

As he listened to the busy tone on the phone, Li Qingmu’s expression turned sour.

"Ring ring ring!"

Another call came in.

"Director Gu, what brings you to call today?"

"What, you say your wife doesn’t like our firm and wants you to terminate our contract, but didn’t your wife pass away last year?"

"Oh, oh, oh, I forgot, you married that mistress at the beginning of the year... no, no, I mean your lady..."

"Director Gu, please, we had a great collaboration, didn’t I help your company with that patent case last year..."

"Director Gu, Director Gu..."

The call was cut off again, and Li Qingmu’s frown deepened.

Ring ring ring!

Ring ring ring!

Following that, several more calls came in, all from long-term clients of Qingmu Law Firm.

And their purpose for calling was simple, to terminate their contracts!

This time, Li Qingmu truly panicked.

He had not expected the case to have such a profound impact on the firm.

"Big Brother, the group clients I manage all called just now, they all implied... that they want to terminate their cooperation with our law firm..."

Soon after, Li Qinghe rushed in, looking flustered and pale.

"No need to say it, I understand already!"

Li Qingmu had foreseen this scene.

As he spoke, as if making some firm decision, he suddenly got up and walked out.

Li Qingmu walked into the adjacent conference room, where Li Qinghua’s family was seated, except Zhang Wei was not there.

Zhang Wei had taken time off to attend the trial, and after it concluded, he went to work at the firm.

"Sister, and nephew, I have no choice but to announce something here..."

"Big Brother, what do you have to say?" Li Qinghua’s heart felt inexplicably anxious when she saw the look on her eldest brother’s face.

"Our Qingmu Law Firm has decided to terminate the contract with Xia Qianjun, we will no longer represent Xia Qianjun!"

"Big Brother, what are you doing..."

"Sister, no more words need be said, I am doing this considering the interests of Qingmu!"

Li Qingmu sighed, but his tone remained firm, "Don’t waste your time here with me. I can tell you clearly that Qingmu will no longer help Xia Qianjun. You’d better go find another lawyer quickly!"

Li Qingmu said his piece, seemingly indifferent to the expressions of Li Qinghua’s family, and walked straight out of the office.

He quickly summoned his secretary and started issuing orders.

"Quick, contact several media outlets for me overnight, I want to issue a statement!"

"Tell Lawyer Zhuo to draft a statement for me. The content should state that our Qingmu Law Firm will no longer handle the case of Xia Qianjun and that we have unilaterally terminated the engagement contract!"

"Then send an email to all our clients explaining these matters, make sure you contact each one!"

After giving the instructions, Li Qingmu then thought of those clients who had refused him earlier.

"Also, prepare some valuable gifts. Tomorrow, in my name, contact President Zhang, Director Gu, and others, tell them I want to visit them personally!"

"This matter must be handled with utmost seriousness, make sure you secure an appointment time with them. Do you understand?"

The female secretary nodded, taking on the task with a serious expression.

"Sister, don’t blame me. In comparison to Xia Qianjun’s case, I place a higher priority on the life and death of Qingmu!"

The case involving Xia Qianjun was supposed to be a pro bono service.

But its impact was a matter of life and death for Qingmu Law Firm.

He had not expected such a minor case to cause such significant repercussions.

Li Qingmu could only hope that Li Qinghua would find a willing lawyer in a short period of time.

Alas, lawyers these days who didn’t care about their reputation were few and far between...