Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 549 - 544: Is This a Sure Thing? The Collapse Begins!

Chapter 549: Chapter 544: Is This a Sure Thing? The Collapse Begins!

Gao Tianri never imagined that he would be betrayed by a friend with whom he had once shared a drink.

It could only be said that friends and brothers at the drinking table are not real brothers.

Those who talk about life and call each other brothers at the drinking table are all fake, not true friends or brothers.

"Director Gao, since there is no issue with the source of the video, then may I ask, the phrase you said in the video about wanting to ’**’ my client, did it indicate your intent to commit marital rape?"

"This... it was all just drunken words, they can’t be taken seriously, right?"

"But you don’t appear to be drunk at all in the video!"

"This..."

Gao Tianri fell silent, because even if he told the truth, it seemed like no one would believe him.

The jury and those in the audience looked at him with disgust, and even Judge Ni on the bench had an especially cold look in her eyes.

Left with no other option, Gao Tianri forced a smile, "Well, I really just blurted out drunken words; it was a slip of the tongue after drinking. I truly did not mean it."

"Alright, since Director Gao you insist on answering that way, we won’t dwell on this matter any longer."

Laura opted not to dwell on it because the video did not contain much content and lacked any substantive evidence.

"Director Gao, let’s put the rape accusation aside for a moment, and now let’s talk about your threatening my client."

"A threat, how could that be?"

Hearing this topic, Gao Tianri was even more speechless.

I haven’t touched Gu Shimang for over two years; how could I possibly threaten her.

Moreover, with bodyguards in black always following her, how could I possibly threaten her by myself.

"Really? Then how do you explain this?"

Seeing Gao Tianri deny it, Laura immediately turned to her subordinate Grey and snapped her fingers.

A video appeared again on the projector screen.

The video belonged to street surveillance, showing Gu Shimang shopping alone.

She entered a shop in the shopping center, and then suddenly, two bodyguards in black appeared, seemingly shadowing Gu Shimang as they entered.

After that, Gu Shimang visited many stores, and these two bodyguards in black continued to follow her every step of the way.

"Director Gao, according to my client, these two bodyguards in black seem to be your men. You dispatched two burly men to follow my client. May I ask for what purpose?"

"No, these are not my men, they’re hers!"

Seeing the bodyguards in black in the video, Gao Tianri quickly raised his hand, pointing at Gu Shimang.

"Director Gao, there’s no need to deny it at this point!"

Laura spoke, then walked back to the plaintiff’s bench and took a piece of paper from Grey’s hand.

"This is a declaration from one of the bodyguards in black appearing in the surveillance video. He tells us that he was hired by you to monitor and track Gu Shimang!"

"Impossible!"

Seeing the declaration in Laura’s hand and hearing the "confessions" of the bodyguard in black, Gao Tianri immediately lost his composure.

These people were clearly Gu Shimang’s, or perhaps arranged by the people behind Gu Shimang.

Even the purpose of these people was to monitor himself, and if necessary, even to kill him.

How could such people be arranged by himself? Wasn’t that a contradiction?

"Oh, switching things up, playing tricks?"

Zhang Wei on the other side was also somewhat surprised.

He never expected that Laura and Gu Shimang would go so far as to dress up the man in black, who attempted to kill Gao Tianri, as Gao Tianri’s own man looking to threaten him.

This act of distorting the truth was admirably executed.

To portray the good as bad, the bad as good, to claim their own people as bad guys arranged by Gao Tianri, that was the tactic of Gu Shimang and Laura.

After all, the man in black was on their side; whatever they chose to testify was entirely up to them.

The so-called declaration was nothing more than a load of rubbish.

"Objection, the declaration and the bodyguard witness were not presented on the public list!"

Zhang Wei, of course, understood that he must stand up and interrupt at this point.

"Exactly!"

Judge Ni nodded and looked towards Laura, "Plaintiff’s side, your declaration and the so-called bodyguard witness, how is it that this court knows nothing about them?"

"Sorry, Judge Ni, the witness was only found by us yesterday, and he provided us with this declaration then. Due to the tight timeline, we have not yet had the chance to submit the evidence!"

Laura’s excuse was simply that, an excuse.

Zhang Wei saw right through it; the "declaration" had clearly been prepared in advance and was not something penned in a last-minute decision yesterday.

Ni Qiuping, as a seasoned courtroom veteran, could easily see just how perfunctory Laura’s excuse was.

However, Laura was well-prepared.

"Judge Ni, if you don’t believe me, we can also summon this witness. I believe he would be very eager to appear in court to testify against all the crimes committed by his employer, Director Gao!"

"This..."

Gao Tianri was dumbfounded. What have I done to have someone testify against me?

It’s unfair. I haven’t done anything, and I really don’t know that person.

"Cough cough, since the plaintiff has stated their case, this court declares that the objection is invalid and the testimony will be accepted as evidence."

Ultimately, Ni Qiuping agreed to Laura’s request.

"However, although this court agrees to accept this sworn testimony as evidence, if the defense wishes to call a witness, please be prepared on your end as well," Judge Ni warned.

"Of course, Judge Ni. We have been ready all along."

As Laura spoke, she flashed a slightly sinister smile at Zhang Wei.

Her implication was clear – the witness was well-prepped, and no matter what interrogation tactics Zhang Wei might use, he would never get to the truth.

"Well, they have really got me covered!" Zhang Wei realized the implication immediately, and with a wave of his hand, he indicated that he didn’t need to summon the witness anymore.

The truth was, it wasn’t very meaningful to call that witness over.

This was someone who was merely a lackey, only following their master’s orders; interrogating him would be pointless.

"Since Lawyer Zhang has opted not to summon the witness, let’s move on."

Laura said, and then turned her gaze back to Gao Tianri on the witness stand.

"Director Gao, I really didn’t expect it. To deal with your wife, you actually resorted to such despicable measures!"

Gao Tianri’s eyes widened in shock. What have I done? I’m wronged!

"Not only did you use violence against your wife, but you also sent dangerous individuals to track and follow her. Let’s not even mention that when you saw your wrongdoing exposed, you still tried to settle with the exchange of 50% of your properties and 20 million," Laura accused fiercely.

This time, Laura had finally caught her opportunity and went on full offensive.

Pointing at Gao Tianri, she delivered her accusatory statements with intense and forceful language.

Especially towards the end, she emphasized one particular point.

Gao Tianri decided to settle with 50% of his properties only after his wrongdoing had been exposed.

Emphasizing this 50% was not to suggest it was Gao’s bottom line, but rather the price he set to shut Gu Shimang up.

In other words, if the jury could help my client Gu Shimang, we could aim for more!

This insinuative statement was certainly perceived by the jury.

They pondered, how much more?

60%, 70%, 90%, or all of it?

If we opt for 100%, would the court agree?

Whether the court would agree or not, Laura did not know.

But she knew that in the wake of her litany of accusations, the jury was now contemplating the possibility of 100% ownership of the properties.

"Humph, it’s in the bag!"

Seeing this turn of events, Laura knew she had nearly secured an advantage.

Because the jury was now deliberating on how much compensation to award, not whether Gao Tianri was guilty.

This meant Gao Tianri’s guilt was as good as confirmed.

So, seizing the moment, Laura intended to press the advantage and expand it further.

"Director Gao, as a woman, I find your actions beyond my understanding. But I believe everyone present, regardless of gender, is clear about one thing: Your behavior is undoubtedly despicable!"

"Just to prevent Shi Man from doing anything that goes against your wishes, you even went to the extreme of having her monitored, and I guess, what would be your next step? To imprison her, illegally restrict her personal freedom?"

"If you get away with it this time, what about the next? Will my client get a meager few million in compensation and then be disposed of by you, just like your previous three wives?"

"No, I didn’t plan on doing that, I..." Gao Tianri frantically shook his head in denial under Laura’s relentless barrage.

"Enough, I don’t want to hear your excuses!"

But Laura cut him off and sneered, "All I know is that a man’s words are lies crafted by a deceiving tongue. Until you receive a clear punishment, I consider everything you say to be untrustworthy!"

Having said this, she nodded at the jury, hinting that they also shouldn’t believe Gao Tianri’s deceitful words.

With that move, Laura felt she had completely blocked any chance of Gao Tianri and Zhang Wei turning defeat into victory.

That’s wrapped up!

That’s the message Laura conveyed to Gu Shimang with her eyes as she returned to her seat.

She could hardly imagine any possibility for Zhang Wei to turn the tables, unless the man with whom Gu Shimang allegedly had an affair walked into the courtroom and openly confessed their relationship.

But who would do such a thing?

It was absolutely impossible!

Therefore, there was no possibility they would lose!

"Witness, you may step down now!"

Just at that moment, Ni Qiuping waved her hand at Gao Tianri, who was still sitting there, dazed.

Your self-verification has ended, it’s time to give up your seat.

Gao Tianri had no choice but to stand up, with a look of grievance, and sit back down at the defendant’s bench.

"Lawyer Zhang, we..."

"Director Gao, rest assured, we can’t lose this round!"

Zhang Wei reassured him, then stood up and walked to the front of the courtroom.

"Lawyer Zhang, do you have any other witnesses to call? I see from your public list that you only have Manager Chen and Director Gao, right?"

Ni Qiuping asked this naturally because Zhang Wei loved to attack unexpectedly, and she asked just in case.

"Hahaha, no one knows me better than Judge Ni. How did you know I was about to summon a new witness?"

Ni Qiuping: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a

At the words of Zhang Wei, Ni Qiuping was stunned.

I was just joking, and you’re actually calling a new witness!

"Objection!"

Seeing Zhang Wei intended to summon a new witness, Laura naturally interrupted immediately.

Of course, Zhang Wei was infamous for causing uproar, and she naturally wanted to thwart him.

"Judge Ni, if my memory serves me right, wasn’t it the plaintiff who first played the ’act first, report later’ card today?"

Zhang Wei, however, was utterly calm, even pointing his hand at Laura.

At this statement, Laura’s heart lurched.

Damn, it’s over!

"That’s right, this court had approved the plaintiff’s capricious actions earlier, so naturally for the defense..."

Judge Ni was about to say something but suddenly furrowed her brows, then looked at Zhang Wei, "Lawyer Zhang, the witness you’re summoning must be extremely important to this case, right?"

"Of course, I guarantee the importance of the witness to this case surpasses even that of my client!"

"That exaggerated? Fine then, call your new witness!" Ni Qiuping, surprised, nodded her head in agreement to the summoning.

"Ahem, the defense calls a new witness to testify. This new witness is named..."

"Wu Yuanzong!"

As Zhang Wei announced the identity of the forthcoming witness, the doors of the courtroom opened once again.

A muscular middle-aged man, dressed in a formal suit, walked into the courtroom step by step.

"Brother Wu!"

At the sight of the new arrival, Gu Shimang on the plaintiff’s bench could no longer sit still.

"It really is him!"

Similarly, at the sight, Laura also could no longer contain herself, her face showing shock.

"Impossible, Zhang Wei has no interest ties with the Wu Family, how did he manage to summon Wu Yuanzong!"

This time, she truly was shocked.

According to Laura’s understanding, Wu Yuanzong was the spokesman for the Wu Family, one of the members of the oldest of the Five Great Families behind Dongfang Capital.

Zhang Wei’s identity was merely that of an underling of the Lin Family, a lawyer at Jincheng Law Firm.

Although the Lin Family was a part of the Five Great Families, Zhang Wei wasn’t one of the Lin Family; to be realistic, Zhang Wei was at best considered a dog kept by the Lin Family.

Yet Zhang Wei had indeed summoned Wu Yuanzong, and Wu Yuanzong had actually appeared in court.

Why was this so?

Seeing Laura’s expression and the shock on Gu Shimang’s face, which was close to losing composure, Zhang Wei was quite satisfied with the effect.

As for why I could summon Wu Yuanzong, that was naturally because of interests.

The benefit to Wu Yuanzong from this case would be half or even all of Gao Tianri’s fortune, valued at roughly 10 billion.

But what would Wu Yuanzong lose if he chose not to appear in court?

Wu Shentong would be challenged by Xia Qianyue and would likely lose, which meant giving up the position of the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch.

Similarly, without the protection of the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch’s position, the standing of the Wu Family would plummet.

Moreover, the Wu Family, unlike the Zhang, Lin, Zhao, and Hua Families, only had martial arts-related industries and networks. Once Wu Shentong lost his position as the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch, these networks might all vanish.

Not only that, but once the Wu Family lost its power, their enemies, who once had reservations, would likely become merciless and take their revenge without humanity.

After all, in order to secure the position of Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch, the Wu Family had done too many unscrupulous things and offended too many people.

Now the entire Wu Family was almost entirely reliant on the position of Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch, and the status of this righteous leader, to operate.

Should they lose these, the loss to the Wu Family could be said to be immeasurable.

It was exactly for this reason that the Wu Family was caught in a tight spot by Zhang Wei, and Wu Yuanzong had no choice but to appear in court to testify.

Compared to all the industries of Gu Shimang and Gao Tianri, it was clear that the Wu Family was more important.

Even if Wu Yuanzong liked Gu Shimang, after all, he was a man of the Wu Family, and his first priority was always the interests of the family.

Love and relationships could be considered, but when it came to family interests, they must be set aside!

It must be said that once Wu Yuanzong considered the family interests, he was actually quite ruthless.

Therefore, upon entering the courtroom, Wu Yuanzong didn’t even glance at Gu Shimang before taking his seat in the witness stand.

Still, his arrival had provided quite a shock to many people present in the courtroom.

Some who recognized him were especially surprised, unable to understand why he would testify.

Zhang Wei smiled faintly and approached the witness stand.

"Mr. Wu, this is your first time in court, right?"

"I suppose so," Wu Yuanzong curled his lip without disputing.

After all, the Wu Family was a martial arts clan, and in the past, they resolved disputes in combat on the martial arts stage or on the platform, not with verbal sparring in court.

"Okay, then, Mr. Wu, let’s get to the point. I would like to ask you, do you know the plaintiff, Gu Shimang?"

"I do."

Wu Yuanzong faced straightforward, responding calmly.

"Good, the next question, and also the most crucial one!"

Zhang Wei said and then his expression turned serious as he raised a finger.

"I want to ask you, is the child in Gu Shimang’s belly yours?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtroom erupted into an uproar!

No one had expected such an explosive question!

An earthquake, and it was a magnitude 12 on the Richter scale!

The whole courtroom was shaken.

Many people nearly fell off their seats, it was quite a tumult.

"It’s actually him!"

At the defendant’s bench, Gao Tianri stood up incredulously, looking at Wu Yuanzong and then at Gu Shimang, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two.

"Heh heh, what a killer move!"

Zhao Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, started to laugh, her eyes crescent-shaped, revealing her cute little canines.

Meanwhile, at the plaintiff’s bench, it was as if the sky had fallen and the ground had caved in.

Gu Shimang stood up in shock, her gaze fixed on Wu Yuanzong as she stood there, motionless for a long time.

"It’s over, all over!"

Laura was also gaping, her face a mask of despair.

She had never anticipated this turn of events. The expression of complete surprise on her face showed that she was truly caught off guard.

All eyes in the courtroom, whether puzzled, astonished, or perplexed, were all watching Wu Yuanzong, waiting for his response.

Yet facing everyone’s gaze, Wu Yuanzong showed no change in expression and calmly replied, "If the timing isn’t wrong, then it should be mine!"

"The timing isn’t wrong?" Zhang Wei pondered momentarily, pressing on, "The time when you and the plaintiff Gu Shimang had an affair, which is to say, the time you slept together, was it around the end of August to the beginning of September, at the location of..."

"It was at a suburban villa owned by Gao Tianri. During those days, she and I both stayed there without leaving," Wu Yuanzong interrupted before Zhang Wei could finish, preemptively answering the question.

With that, he had completely admitted to having an affair with Gu Shimang.

Similarly, the entire courtroom was thrown into an uproar by his admission.

Everyone was caught off guard by how quickly the case had turned.

Just moments ago, they were considering how much to penalize Gao Tianri.

But to think, in just a few minutes, the plot had taken a 180-degree turn!

Turns out, the one who was unfaithful was Gu Shimang!