Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 272 - 270 Cheng Lisha Kicks Someone When They’re Down, Cyber Attack Incoming?

Chapter 272: Chapter 270 Cheng Lisha Kicks Someone When They’re Down, Cyber Attack Incoming?

(They promised the lockdown would last three days, but reopening seems like an eternity away. Gotta keep working with no holidays in sight... emmm...)

...

In the eyes of the prosecution, this round was a sure win!

To bystanders, this round seemed just as secure.

But to the defense, this round was now in jeopardy!

Because the testimony of the new witness, Old Lin, was hugely detrimental to Yang Chuanfang.

Zhang Wei was in trouble, but he had to grapple with the issue.

So after organizing the witness’s statements, Zhang Wei summarized, "You’re saying that you only saw a man wearing a colorful shirt leaving the party with Wen Xiaoyun."

"And this shirt, in all your time working at Changqing Hotel, you’ve only seen Young Master Yang wear it?"

"Yes!"

The old man nodded, then added, "Actually, there’s another thing that made me sure that person had to be the young owner."

"Oh? What’s that?"

Zhang Wei was stunned for a moment, but then quickly thought of something.

The reason why Wen Xiaoyun would leave with that man was obviously because... he was Yang Chuanfang!

The old man didn’t care if Zhang Wei had figured it out or not and stated in court, "Actually, everyone in the hotel knew that Young Master Yang was pursuing that young lady, and she didn’t reject him."

"So think about it, who else could have taken the girl away if not Young Master Yang?"

The logic was just that!

If it was someone she didn’t know, it would obviously be impossible for them to take Wen Xiaoyun away!

Who else could it be but Yang Chuanfang?

Zhang Wei frowned, sensing he was powerless to change the situation.

The testimony of the old man could be said to be flawless; at least as an eyewitness, he had provided sufficient leads.

To attack the old man, he had to disregard the testimony itself!

The only point of attack left was one issue!

"Mr. Lin, I’d like to ask, you said you were paid 200,000 by the hotel’s owner, who is also my client’s father, to stay silent and not testify, correct?"

"Yes!"

"Since you can be swayed by money, why should I believe in the authenticity of your testimony this time?"

Zhang Wei turned and walked towards the jury, interrogating word by word, "Since you could tell one lie, who’s to say you won’t tell a second lie!"

"What I’m saying is true. This time I haven’t held anything back, I really did see the young owner take the girl away that night!"

The old man seemed to anticipate Zhang Wei’s accusation and immediately affirmed his position.

"But I don’t believe you, because I know that a liar who has lied once may well lie a second time, and it’s possible you’re slandering my client again for some ulterior motive!"

"What’s the matter with you, young man? I’m telling you the truth. I just recounted what happened that night. Why won’t you believe me?"

"Mr. Lin, I have serious doubts about what you’ve said, because you’re not getting any younger, and you could easily have been confused that day. Therefore, I believe the court needs to test your eyesight!"

"Objection!"

Just as Zhang Wei was about to make his request, he was interrupted by Xiao Baihe.

"Judge Wang, I believe that the defense attorney is harassing the witness, and Mr. Lin’s eyesight is without any problems!"

"Besides, even if Mr. Lin’s eyesight has deteriorated with age, the incident happened ten years ago. Back then, Mr. Lin was very healthy!"

Xiao Baihe spoke while casting a mocking glance at Zhang Wei.

What now, out of options, aren’t you?

"Your Honor, I..."

"Lawyer Zhang, please don’t dwell on the witness’s physical condition any longer. As the prosecutor said, even if the old gentleman’s eyesight is not good now, how can you prove that it was also poor ten years ago?"

Zhang Wei was at a loss for words; this was a direct challenge against him.

My concern isn’t the witness’s eyesight, but rather the witness’s credibility!

Eyesight was just a passing mention, so how did it become the main issue when it got to you?

"Prosecutor, I understand you are feeling cornered, but please make some reasonable statements now. Dwelling on the same point over and over is pointless!"

Xiao Baihe displayed magnanimity at this moment, as if forgiving Zhang Wei’s "unreasonable behavior," and her tone carried a hint of mockery and lecturing.

What could she do, the advantage was too great; wouldn’t she want to regain some ground from Zhang Wei?

"The prosecutor is correct. Please, defense attorney, let’s not dwell on these points anymore. Do you have any other questions?"

"Your Honor, our side... has no further questions for now!"

Zhang Wei gritted his teeth but stopped asking further questions.

However, he shot a glare at the prosecution’s bench, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction.

He was anxious, he was truly anxious!

Xiao Baihe saw the look in Zhang Wei’s eyes, and her heart abounded with joy, the corners of her mouth almost uncontrollable.

It was exhilarating, never had there been a day more exhilarating than today!

She actually had the upper hand facing Zhang Wei.

No way, she had to brag on her Friend Circle; she was definitely going to show off there once the trial ended today!

Zhang Wei returned to the defense bench with a look of discontent, his face scarily dark.

Damn it!

Today, of all days, he had been pinched by Xiao Baihe!

"Lawyer Zhang?" Yang Chuanfang next to him noticed Zhang Wei’s unusual complexion and immediately asked.

"Young Master Yang, don’t panic, the prosecution has only a slight upper hand this time, we still have chances!" Zhang Wei quickly reassured him.

"This is called a slight upper hand?"

Yang Chuanfang thought to himself, that use of the word "slight" was something else, as if we didn’t have a significant disadvantage.

Can’t you see that all 12 jurors think I’m guilty?

Zhang Wei didn’t dwell on this issue; he was already contemplating how to find a turning point after the trial ended.

"I see it’s getting late, let’s conclude today’s session," said Old Wang in court, not disappointing the two men, and announcing a temporary adjournment.

Finally, it was over, and he, in fact, breathed a sigh of relief.

Not bad, these two young ones hadn’t caused any serious trouble, and he managed to maintain control over the court.

"Let me check, oh, I am free next Monday, so let’s reconvene the court Monday afternoon after lunch, and please, no one be late!"

With Old Wang banging the gavel to announce, the court temporarily adjourned, beginning to disperse.

On the prosecution’s bench, Xiao Baihe couldn’t even wait to celebrate, quickly pulled out her phone, which was already on airplane mode, and started crafting a Friend Circle post.

Tan Yingying walked over to Zhang Wei with a look of fright, cautious as she handed back the USB drive he had given her earlier, her head bowed, afraid Zhang might take his anger out on her.

But at this moment, Zhang Wei had no time to deal with her.

"Young Master Yang, let’s go!"

He led Yang Chuanfang and his brother Yang Chuannan, the three of them heading out of the courtroom together.

However, as they left the courtroom, his expression was deeply troubled, and he didn’t even have time to greet his buddies.

...

The entrance to the courtroom.

Countless reporters gathered outside, an astonishing number.

"Look, they’re coming out!"

Amid the siege by a group of reporters, it was seen that Zhang Wei and the Second Young Master Yang were escorting Young Master Yang out the main entrance.

"It’s all Old Lu’s fault, he had to go out and accidentally locked up the security passage!"

Looking at the dense crowd of reporters at the door, Zhang Wei inwardly complained.

Old Lu: Blame me, will you?

Why would a lawyer like you skip the front door and insist on using the back? If the back door’s not an option, then march through the front one!

And the price of using the front door was to be surrounded by a pack of paparazzi.

"Young Master Yang, someone testified with concrete evidence—it seems you are the one who killed Wen Xiaoyun?"

"Regarding the unfavorable allegations in court, do you have anything to say?"

"Young Master Yang, rumors have it that you maintained relationships with several young women after leaving Dongfang Capital—do you have any comments?"

"Young Master Yang, is it true that you killed Wen Xiaoyun and hid her body? Do your current girlfriends know about your past?"

As soon as the reporters saw Yang Chuanfang, they swarmed around him like sharks smelling blood.

"Young Master Yang, ignore them, let’s get out of here quickly!"

Zhang Wei protected the defendant, with Yang Chuannan’s assistance, ensuring his safe departure.

At that moment, he missed Simple-minded person immensely.

Because he and Second Young Master Yang simply couldn’t push through the reporters surrounding them.

If Xia Hanhan were here, maybe she would have had more strength than a dozen people combined.

Just then, a reporter saw an opportunity and made his way to the front of Yang Chuanfang.

"Mr. Yang, is it true that you are planning to sue Ms. Cheng Lisha, the screenwriter, director, and producer of ’Hotel by the Seaside,’ for defamation?"

"Of course!"

The reporter’s question was interrupted by a discordant and sharp voice.

All eyes turned at the same time to see that the person arriving was... Cheng Lisha!

She walked with confident strides, her face beaming with joy, clearly having received the news from the courtroom.

Initially informed by Hu Yaode, Lisha had decided to rush to the scene to see what was happening.

And with Hu Yaode’s second message after the court adjourned, Lisha also knew that the scales were now tipping in the courtroom, and she was overjoyed.

As the top figure in the news media industry, Ms. Cheng Lisha’s arrival parted the reporters to make way.

It couldn’t be helped, as they were all frontline journalists, naturally showing respect to a bigwig in the industry.

"Who would have thought that Young Master Yang, once so highly esteemed, would now hire a top lawyer from Jincheng Law Firm to attack me, a vulnerable woman? Is there no justice left in this world?"

Immediately upon her entrance, Lisha pointed at Yang Chuanfang and Zhang Wei, her face full of mockery and ridicule.

Zhang Wei was not one to indulge her, and since the reporters had already cleared a path, he took a step forward as well, "Justice, alas, is something that seems to have no relation to you, does it?"

"Lawyer Zhang really has a way with words, but I know only one thing, the truth is the most powerful weapon against defamation, and the actual truth is that the defendant, Yang Chuanfang, murdered Wen Xiaoyun and hid her body to conceal the evidence!"

As Lisha spoke, her gaze swept over the two, "Sadly, sadly, even Heaven could not overlook this and allowed a previous witness to have a change of conscience, to stand up and accuse you. Young Master Yang, do you know the saying, ’The net of justice has large meshes, but lets nothing through’? You can’t escape it!"

"If you have a shred of conscience left, then in front of all of us here, tell those grieving parents, and also inform everyone following this case, where did you hide Wen Xiaoyun?"

"I didn’t kill her, I didn’t kill Xiaoyun!"

Chuanfang, provoked by Lisha’s questioning, immediately denied it.

"Young Master Yang, you can’t respond like that, pulling one thing might affect the whole situation!"

Zhang Wei quickly tried to comfort him.

"But she..."

"Don’t worry, I’ve got this!"

Zhang Wei gave him a reassuring look and then stepped forward to face the media.

"Ms. Cheng Lisha claims her series to be a docudrama, but I consider it a pretty good entertainment drama, for Ms. Cheng has manipulated known facts to garner maximum traffic, the most intense discussions, as well as the highest TV ratings of the time!"

"However, we will present the actual truth in court, that my client, Yang Chuanfang, is in fact completely unaware of Wen Xiaoyun’s disappearance, and whether Wen Xiaoyun was murdered is also unknown. As for the last witness, their testimony is somewhat misleading, and their credibility is also questionable!"

"What Ms. Cheng just said is but her own wishful speculation. If she truly has a conscience, then please return the income made through sensationalizing Wen Xiaoyun’s death over these years to her parents. After all, the money she’s made from playing up the heat around the Wen Xiaoyun case is ill-gotten wealth!"

Upon hearing Zhang Wei’s words, a venomous glint flashed deep within Lisha’s eyes.

This money, she had earned through long-term vision and professional publicity stunts; why should she have to spit it out? It’s laughable.

As for the elderly couple, they had initially been given tens of thousands of yuan—money that ought to have been enough to send them packing.

"Lawyer Zhang, really, you do go to great lengths for face. Even when the evidence is conclusive, you still harp on that little matter. Next, you wouldn’t be planning to pin all the guilt on the late Yang Changqing, would you?"

"Ms. Cheng, you still face our accusations. The statements you are making now will all be recorded, and will serve as direct evidence of defamation against my client. Please be aware of the position you are in!"

"Hahaha, do you think I’d be afraid of you? I believe in justice and fairness, and they have always been on my side!"

Lisha crossed her arms with a smug expression, radiating confidence.

"Young Master Yang, let’s go!"

Zhang Wei didn’t care to bother with this woman anymore and promptly led the two young masters of the Yang family away.

This time, none of the reporters tried to stop them, as they had already gathered enough news.

"Hmph, trying to leave? I have a surprise for you!"

Lisha watched the three of them leave, a sinister smirk on her face.

...

Dongfang Capital.

In the city center, a certain hotel.

Yang Chuanfang drove Zhang Wei and his younger brother to the front of the hotel.

This was where he was staying, and one of the investors of the hotel was himself.

The Yang family might have a tarnished reputation, but the capital and connections that Yang Changqing had left behind were still there.

"This time, you really went through a lot, Lawyer Zhang!"

No sooner had he gotten out of the car than Chuanfang couldn’t help but thank him.

Although the situation in court today was not good, Chuanfang had taken note of Zhang Wei’s ability to argue justly.

If it had been one of the other lawyers he knew, they might not have been able to hold on even at the second or third witness, let alone the latest one.

"Young Master Yang, don’t say that, I... wait, who are those people..."

Zhang Wei was about to say something but suddenly his eyes turned cold.

Just near the hotel entrance, suddenly numerous reporters rushed out.

These weren’t the regular reporters with interview equipment, though. They were...

Paparazzi!

"Hurry, hurry, Yang Chuanfang is here!"

"Start shooting quickly, he’s a murderer!"

"Don’t let them enter the hotel, block them!"

This group of paparazzi had no moral baseline whatsoever, not only blocking the entrance to the hotel but also pointing and giving orders at Yang Chuanfang.

Meanwhile, one dedicated paparazzi was constantly taking burst shots with his camera, the sound of the shutter clicking incessantly.

"Yang Chuanfang, you murderer, you killed Wen Xiaoyun!"

From the crowd, a woman lunged forward, attempting to scratch Yang Chuanfang’s face.

He immediately reacted, shoving the woman away.

"Ah, he’s hitting people, he’s hitting people!"

The woman, as if rehearsed, fell to the ground screaming once pushed, her voice shrill and piercing.

"This is bad, this move is..."

Seeing this scene, Zhang Wei’s heart sank.

This trick, which he had used back in his "younger" days, was intended to disgust people.

"Second Young Master Yang, protect your elder brother..."

Zhang Wei quickly shouted a warning, but alas, it was too late.

"This kid is hitting a woman!"

Out of nowhere, a burly man charged forward and swung a punch at Yang Chuanfang.

But Yang Chuanfang, having endured online backlash and paparazzi harassment over the past few years, was not someone to be trifled with.

As the punch flew out, it hit only air, and the attacker found himself staring down an incoming fist.

Bang!

Yang Chuanfang clenched his fist, while the attacker was knocked to the ground, nose gushing blood, his face wracked with pain.

"Yang Chuanfang has hit someone!"

Watching the scene unfold, the surrounding paparazzi became even more frenzied in their photography, their expressions ecstatic.

"Retreat, retreat, let’s get out of here quickly!"

Zhang Wei quickly pushed Yang Chuanfang into the hotel, finally taking a breath of relief.

Although many people were gathered at the hotel entrance, the hotel security did their job and kept the paparazzi at bay.

Watching the still-provocative paparazzi at the door, Zhang Wei hurriedly instructed Yang Chuanfang to take them upstairs to take refuge.

Soon after the three of them "fled in disarray," the scenes that unfolded at the hotel entrance spread throughout Dongfang Capital’s internet.

Although Zhang Wei had Zhao Xiaoxiao guard against paid internet trolls, there was no way to deal with the paparazzi’s tactics.

Blocking keywords might censor the terms "Yang Chuanfang" and "Zhang Wei being attacked," but that does nothing against videos posted directly!

Moreover, the internet trolls and paparazzi had learned their lesson this time; they seemed to have figured out a way to avoid the blocking techniques, not even mentioning names in their headlines.

"A certain Yang surnamed rich second generation commits assault in the street, beating an innocent bystander!"

"Still claiming he’s not a murderer, yet he’s so skilled at beating people!"

"Exposed for his ugly true colors, how can he still cry injustice?"

"What misfortune have I encountered to be beaten by this person?"

The last one was an interview from the first-person perspective of the beaten woman, who was crying and shouting, loudly claiming injustice and blaming Yang Chuanfang for starting the physical altercation.

Anyway, the headlines in Dongfang Capital were all about videos and photos of Yang Chuanfang hitting someone.

This time, the frenzy surged like a tsunami, and the fervor discussing the incident in Dongfang Capital was not unlike the buzz that surrounded discussions of Cheng Lisha’s dark material.

Even the news ranking second on V-blog had become about Yang Chuanfang hitting someone at the hotel entrance.

And the gap between this and the top-ranked news about Cheng Lisha’s scandal was narrowing, as the distances between the two stories closed in.

It seemed that someone was fanning the flames behind this news.

As one of the whole scene’s participants, Zhang Wei didn’t even need to look to know who was behind this.

There was only one person with such means and ability, and such a shameless baseline.

"Cheng Lisha, I’ll remember this!"

Zhang Wei looked at the smartphone trend, receiving text message notifications, and a cold light flickered in his eyes.