Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 270 - 268: Venting Anger on Yang Chuanfang? Zhang Wei’s Defenses Broken by Father

Chapter 270: Chapter 268: Venting Anger on Yang Chuanfang? Zhang Wei’s Defenses Broken by Father

(Woke up at 5:20 to get ready for the nucleic acid test, this Chapter was coded last night and set to be released at the scheduled time... For the first few days of the month, Author Germ can only maintain one update per day...)

...

In the courtroom.

With the testimony of the second witness, Han Julì, Zhang Wei found a breakthrough to counterattack.

Within the courtroom’s prevailing wind, an unusual countercurrent had surprisingly begun to blow.

Han Julì left, taking with him the disdain of those in the courtroom as he stepped down from the witness stand and exited the court.

As for whether he would be pursued for perjury, that was no longer a concern of Zhang Wei and his team.

Now, all he cared about was whether the prosecution had any more formidable tactics up their sleeve.

At the prosecutor’s bench, Xiao Baihe’s complexion was so dark it was unbearable to witness.

Even Judge Wang, seated on the bench, couldn’t help but click his tongue in secret.

You’re such a fair and beautiful girl, how did you manage to turn your face as black as "Bao Qingtian"?

But he still had to issue a reminder, after all, he was the judge.

"Ahem, the prosecution?" he called out tentatively.

Xiao Baihe, at that moment, was truly at a loss for words.

She had thought that by finding a "character witness," she could prove that the defendant, Yang Chuanfang, was a person of bad character.

But the witness turned out to be unreliable and, to make things worse, the defense had found just the right breakthrough.

Now!

Although the witness had left the stand, Xiao Baihe had no intention of letting him off the hook so easily; after all, the matter of perjury was definitely something to be pursued.

And because of his unreliability, for the first time, the direction of the court had tilted towards the defense and the defendant.

Heaven only knows how a video from ten years ago had been dug up by Zhang Wei.

It was obviously a recorded video, and even a cut version, yet Zhang Wei happened to see it!

In fact, what Xiao Baihe didn’t know was that.

Zhang Wei’s main goal in this case was not to help Yang Chuanfang get rid of the charges but to serve his own civil lawsuit.

And his civil litigation target was none other than Cheng Lisha.

Since the target had been locked down, he certainly needed to understand everything about her, especially the most important "Hotel by the Seaside" series.

So he used all available resources, even shamelessly going to Zhao Xiaoxiao again to dig up all the dirt on Cheng Lisha.

Reliant on his abilities, Zhang Wei had watched the series "Hotel by the Seaside", along with interviews, behind-the-scenes extras, and even content that was deleted but still locally stored, more than once.

He discovered that it wasn’t just Han Julì alone; the contents of many people’s interviews were edited.

They had originally thought these were documentary interviews, so they disclosed information that had actually happened.

But whenever the topic came to Yang Chuanfang, Cheng Lisha would "timely" interrupt and cut out dozens of minutes of recorded content.

After those dozens of minutes, those interviewees would immediately "change their tune", painting Yang Chuanfang as a murderer.

If there was no trickery involved, even Zhang Wei would be surprised.

Clearly, it was Cheng Lisha who had used certain benefits to make the interviewees change their statements, as to what those benefits were?

All one could say was... riches motivate people!

It was precisely for this reason that when Xiao Baihe found Han Julì, Zhang Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

Out of all people, why choose a witness through whom I can find a breakthrough?

Shouldn’t I be thanking you?

Therefore, seeing Zhang Wei sitting at the defense bench with a smile on his lips, Xiao Baihe was so annoyed.

Her painstakingly discovered witness had been turned to the opponent’s advantage; it was simply...

Outrageous!

"Since this is the case, it is you who have forced me to pull out my trump card!"

Xiao Baihe’s eyes swept towards the back of the prosecutor’s bench to the family seats.

She nodded at the male in her elderly father’s company, who immediately understood.

"Your Honor, the defense summons Mr. Wen to testify in court!"

Here it comes!

Upon hearing Xiao Baihe’s summons, everyone in the courtroom knew the main event had arrived.

The family member of the deceased, Wen Xiaoyun’s father, was about to take the stand.

"So, it’s come at last, has it?"

Seeing Wen’s father step by step approach the bench, Zhang Wei muttered to himself.

"The victim’s family, an inevitable hurdle in the courtroom."

Although these witnesses can’t provide much useful information when they testify.

But the purpose of the prosecution summoning them isn’t for the progress of the case.

There’s basically just one tactic when the prosecution summons the victim’s family, and that is... to incite pity!

"Mr. Wen, hello!"

As the witness took the stand, Xiao Baihe immediately nodded in greeting.

Wen’s father, however, remained quite aloof, keeping a stern face and staying silent throughout.

"Mr. Wen, although this may invoke painful memories for you, could you please share with everyone in the courtroom about your daughter Wen Xiaoyun?"

Upon hearing this question, Wen’s father finally showed emotion.

His originally stern face suddenly crumbled, followed by tears flowing like a spring, his old face twisting slightly in distress.

"My daughter, she was a very, very gentle girl, she..."

The rest of it was pretty much the usual routine.

As one of the only two family members, Wen’s father began to recount stories about his daughter Wen Xiaoyun.

Every little detail of her life was a beautiful memory.

As the victim, Wen Xiaoyun’s image gradually became clear in the eyes of those in the courtroom.

In the end, everyone could see a vivid Wen Xiaoyun emerging beside Wen’s father.

"...My Xiaoyun was an exceptional girl who got into Dongfang Capital’s key university on her own merit, and her future was limitless, but it was because of him!"

As Wen’s father spoke, his gaze involuntarily locked onto the prosecution’s seat, his eyes chillingly cold and fearsome.

Although there’s no evidence yet, Wen’s father knew that the person who killed his daughter must be Yang Chuanfang.

So the way he looked at the latter was no different than looking at a murderer.

Influenced by Wen’s father, everyone in the courtroom also began to harbor some hostility towards Yang Chuanfang.

This bit of hostility, to be honest, is unnecessary, but many people tend to think this way.

Someone’s precious daughter is gone, leaving two old people to bear the pain of losing a child, all because of you!

Now that the daughter’s body has not been found, we must find a scapegoat, and that’s you!

That, probably, is the reason everyone present resents Yang Chuanfang.

"Objection!"

Although Zhang Wei knew it wasn’t appropriate to interrupt a bold witness, who asked the witness to target his client directly?

"The witness’s baseless speculation has no factual evidence. Your Honor, please remind the prosecution’s witness that testifying in court requires factual basis, mere words are not proof!"

Old Wang was also helpless but nodded, then looked towards the witness stand with a warning glance, "The defense attorney is right. Please, witness, be mindful, I understand your feelings, but the courtroom is a serious place. Please align your statements with the existing evidence and do not..."

"I know it was him!"

But Wen’s father was just as resolute, slamming the table and standing up abruptly.

"It was him who killed my Xiaoyun, my daughter. It’s all his fault!"

"If I had known you were a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I would have opposed my daughter working at your hotel at all costs. If she hadn’t worked at your hotel, she would never have met you, nor would she have been entangled by someone as vile as you!"

"Do you know? Ever since my Xiaoyun met you, she cried every day when she came home. Do you understand the pain she suffered? You wouldn’t know, because you’re the young master of the Yang Family, you wouldn’t know the suffering of a poor family!"

"You beast, you murderer..."

At this moment, Wen’s father became agitated, his face turning bright red as he launched a tirade against Yang Chuanfang and the defense.

Zhang Wei intended to stand and object, but seeing the direction of the courtroom’s sentiment and the tear-stained face of the prosecution’s witness, he could only hold back.

This outburst had to be weathered by them without interruption.

"Young Master Yang, may I ask bluntly, was your relationship with Wen Xiaoyun unhappy?"

"Not at all, although Xiaoyun and I occasionally had arguments, I also find it strange because I was clueless whenever Xiaoyun got angry."

Yang Chuanfang, at this very moment, was also shouting his innocence, "I really never made Xiaoyun angry. Since I met Xiaoyun, I have actually been reformed, and cut off contact with all those other women I used to see!"

"So you’re saying you never provoked Wen Xiaoyun?"

"Yes, Xiaoyun was an outstanding girl, independent and self-reliant. The first time I saw her, I was attracted by the quality of her character, and from that moment, I knew I had to change to be worthy of her!"

"That’s odd then. This father insists Wen Xiaoyun has been crying at home. What’s that all about?"

"This... I don’t know..."

Seeing Yang Chuanfang’s confused expression, Zhang Wei quietly thought it strange.

There seemed to be something fishy going on here.

The dossier from ten years ago indicated that Wen Xiaoyun, while in school, worked part-time at the Changqing Hotel to pay for her tuition and became a waitress there.

It was there that Yang Chuanfang, the young heir to the Changqing Hotel, met this girl and was deeply attracted to her, soon after which the two became boyfriend and girlfriend.

But the dossier made no mention of any behind-the-scenes story.

Logically speaking, a woman who has suddenly made it onto the arm of a rich man’s son should be very happy.

However, Wen Xiaoyun’s behavior didn’t seem happy. Instead, she seemed to be under some unknown pressure.

Being with a rich heir but still feeling pressured, did she feel unworthy of Young Master Yang?

That shouldn’t be the case!

From the way Yang Chuanfang acted, even if he was a bit of a scoundrel at the time, he also thought that Wen Xiaoyun was an excellent girl. Such a woman should be cherished, shouldn’t she?

When a man dotes on a woman, the woman should be happy, right?

Is there something that he doesn’t know hidden within this?

And this secret had vanished without a trace along with Wen Xiaoyun’s disappearance?

Zhang Wei fell into deep thought, but Wen’s father in the courtroom continued to roar,

"It’s all because of you, you hypocrite in gentleman’s clothing, you caused me and my love to lose our daughter, you took away the only hope of our family, it’s all because of you..."

"Witness, please maintain your composure!"

Seeing Zhang Wei wasn’t objecting, Old Wang had to speak out.

Although he knew that interrupting a father who had lost his daughter during his court testimony was a sure way to attract hatred.

But with Zhang Wei remaining silent, he had no choice but to play the villain.

"Witness, I understand that you are distressed, but let me remind you once more, this is the solemn ground of a courtroom, not a place for you to vent your emotions!"

"Beneath you sits the sacred witness stand of the court, a place where fairness and justice are paramount, and I must uphold this honor. Your actions are a provocation against the court and an offence to me!"

At that moment, Old Wang transformed into Judge Wang, and his face finally revealed a trace of a judge’s authority.

Influenced by him, Wen’s father’s rage finally subsided somewhat, and his gaze at the bench held a hint of reverence.

"Sorry, Your Honor, I am too heartbroken and couldn’t restrain myself..."

"Let there not be a next time!"

Faced with Wen’s father’s apology, Old Wang could only issue a warning.

He had no choice. With so many eyes upon him from both the jury box and the witness stand, saying too much might stick in the minds of the onlookers.

Since the man had sincerely apologized, he might as well leave it at that, a mere formality.

"Prosecution, do you have any further questions?" Old Wang looked toward Xiao Baihe.

What he meant was: your witness has said all he had to, do you want to add anything?

Xiao Baihe, who was no fool, understood the undertone of his words.

"Your Excellency, I have nothing else to add!"

Xiao Baihe returned to the prosecutor’s bench, her eyes fixed intently on Zhang Wei.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly in a subtle curve.

Because she knew Zhang Wei wouldn’t dare to challenge the witness.

Considering it’s a family member of the victim, an elderly father who lost his daughter, if you dare attack him, the jury certainly won’t let you off.

Haven’t you noticed that the jury has already been swayed by Wen’s father? Many are already touched by the witness’s sorrow and are giving hostile looks towards the defense bench.

If you dare ask one more question, it would be like fanning the flames, adding fuel to the fire, splashing water on a grease fire, creating a terribly difficult situation, like ants on a hot pot...

A hint of triumph flashed in Xiao Baihe’s eyes.

This was in the bag!

The next table over.

Zhang Wei straightened his collar and walked step by step toward the witness stand under the somewhat hostile gaze of the jury.

"Ahem, Mr. Wen, hello!"

"Hmph!" Hearing Zhang Wei’s greeting, Wen’s father didn’t even bother with pretense and let out a cold laugh.

"Mr. Wen, although I know you hold hostility towards me and my client, please be aware that once you sit in the witness box, you must answer my questions. Do you understand that?"

"Humph, ask your questions if you must, do you think I’m afraid of you!"

Wen’s father, though harsh in tone, was still somewhat rational and knew where he was.

"Alright then, I’ll just ask you a few simple questions!"

After his eyes shifted twice, Zhang Wei asked, "You mentioned earlier that your daughter would cry every time she came home; was this a frequent occurrence?"

"Of course, I saw it with my own eyes, there was a period of time when she came back and cried every day!"

"Was it after she met my client?"

"Yes!"

"As her father, did you ask her why?"

"We asked, but she wouldn’t say!"

As Wen’s father spoke, a trace of helplessness flashed across his face.

His daughter was crying, and as a father, he was certainly concerned.

But his daughter wouldn’t say anything. She kept saying nothing was wrong, which only added to their anxiety.

"You asked her many times, but Wen Xiaoyun just wouldn’t tell?"

"She just wouldn’t say, no matter how much we asked. She came back every day crying, and it drove us crazy!"

As Wen’s father spoke, his face turned angry, his glares toward Yang Chuanfang full of hostility.

"Oh, that’s strange. If you don’t know who upset your daughter, why are you so sure my client is to blame?"

Zhang Wei loudly protested the injustice for Yang Chuanfang, "You said it yourself, Wen Xiaoyun cried every day, almost washing her face with tears, but she wouldn’t tell you who upset her?"

"So I want to ask, you all know she was with my client, if it was Young Master Yang who upset Wen Xiaoyun, would she keep it from you?"

"Worst case, even if you knew it was Young Master Yang who upset your daughter, couldn’t you as a father warn my client, asking him not to bother your daughter again?"

Wen’s father’s expression paused slightly.

Zhang Wei continued to question, "Mr. Wen, as a father, when your daughter wouldn’t tell you the reason for her sorrow, surely you must have asked her this question?"

"Was it that Yang boy who bothered you?"

Wen’s father’s complexion grew uglier.

"Mr. Wen, you haven’t yet answered my question. Did you ask Wen Xiaoyun this?"

"Yes, I asked!" Wen’s father said through gritted teeth but replied.

"Then may I ask, did your daughter tell you that my client was the one who troubled her?"

"No, she said it wasn’t that boy..."

Wen’s father, clenching his teeth with resentment, retorted, "But I know it was definitely him, who else could it be?"

"So, you didn’t trust your daughter. Why, as a father, don’t you believe your own daughter?"

"How am I supposed to believe her?"

"That’s no excuse for your animosity toward my client!"

Despite Wen’s father’s aggressive stance, Zhang Wei did not indulge him.

"Mr. Wen, do you know what I see when I enter this courtroom?"

"I see not a father who has lost his daughter but an unreasonable old man. He failed in his paternal duty, yet instead of admitting his mistakes, he blames others for his own negligence!"

"I see a man who shirks responsibility, accusing an innocent person without any evidence. Not only is he unrepentant, but he also attempts to garner the jury’s sympathy through tears, misleading them to make the same mistake as him, smearing a potentially innocent man!"

"Mr. Wen, many people empathize with your loss, but it’s not a weapon to sully my client with!"

With Zhang Wei’s vehement speech, a hint of rage emerged on Wen’s father’s face.

"What do you know? Her death was all his fault!"

"I may not understand your daughter, but I understand you!"

Zhang Wei faced Wen’s father head-on, "As a father, you failed to understand your daughter’s pain, instead, you unjustly blamed others. People like you, I’ve seen plenty of them in court!"

"Let me ask you, as a father, isn’t it a dereliction of your duty that your daughter, obviously unhappy, didn’t confide in you? Your daughter is unhappy, and instead of guiding her, you harbor resentment and suspicion toward my client. Yet, there is no evidence to prove that my client murdered your daughter. Do you think this is appropriate?"

As Zhang Wei raised his voice, he managed to dominate Wen’s father.

Under the relentless questioning and denunciation, Wen’s father’s voice indeed lowered significantly.

"I... I..."

"I asked... but she... wouldn’t tell..."

"Ah, I hate myself so much... Why, when my daughter was wronged, didn’t she confide in me? I hate myself so much..."

Finally, Wen’s father’s psychological defenses collapsed, and he started crying on the witness stand.

"Mr. Wen, you finally realize your own negligence, right?"

Zhang Wei looked at the weeping witness, his expression finally returning to calm.

If it wasn’t necessary, he really didn’t want to be so harsh with a father who had lost his daughter.

The consequence of doing so was, naturally...

Being resented by the jury!