CM | Chapter 35

When Tian Fang arrived at the meeting room, Gu Yao and Xu Shuo had already reached an understanding.

Tian Fang had just come through the morning’s trial, and her spirit carried the fatigue of surviving a battle, but there was also a kind of relief in her. She no longer looked as uneasy as she had yesterday. Just as Gu Yao had described, Tian Fang seemed to have already accepted the facts, and she had made her choice between herself and Tian Tian.

As soon as Tian Fang sat down, Gu Yao smiled and spoke first. “Miss Tian, we meet again.”

Tian Fang looked at Gu Yao, then at Xu Shuo, and said with great firmness, “I won’t hire you as my defense lawyer. I’m willing to plead guilty.”

Xu Shuo smiled, said nothing, and instead lifted a brow at Gu Yao, meaning, please begin your performance.

Gu Yao shot him a look, then said to Tian Fang, “Miss Tian, if I say that I’m willing to testify for you as a psychological expert, and can confirm your mental state on the day of the incident, as well as the fact that your life was under threat at the time, and that your actions were completely in self-defense, would you be willing to change your mind?”

Tian Fang froze instantly.

What… Gu Yao was going to testify for her?

Before Tian Fang could respond, Xu Shuo lazily started “chatting” with Gu Yao. “According to judicial procedure, the presiding officers must verify the witness’s identity and the relationship between the witness, the parties involved, and the case. You also have to report it in advance before appearing in court, especially your relationship with President Gu of ‘Chengwen Real Estate’ and President Zhu of ‘Jiangcheng Gene.’ Of course, the prosecution may also object to your identity and your pretrial testimony.”

Gu Yao said, “Oh,” and asked, “If the prosecution objects, will it affect the procedure for my testifying in court?”

“If the witness’s testimony has a major impact on conviction or sentencing, the court will determine that there is a need for you to testify in person. But if it’s only supporting evidence, it’s very likely to be rejected. Still, Miss Gu, it would be better to discuss this with your boyfriend first, so as not to affect your relationship.”

Xu Shuo tossed out those words in a fake-serious tone, and Tian Fang finally spoke up. “Wait, you… why are you helping me?”

Gu Yao raised a brow. “Two reasons, I have an agreement with Lawyer Xu, and I sympathize with what happened to you.”

A flash of embarrassment crossed Tian Fang’s face. “I don’t need your pity!”

Yes, Tian Fang truly didn’t need it, and that kind of “need” was entirely from her own subjective standpoint.

Gu Yao saw through the real reason at a glance and said bluntly, “It’s because you like my boyfriend. You know full well it’s only wishful thinking on your part. Now that this has happened, the distance between you two is only even greater. And now his girlfriend is willing to help you out of sympathy, so of course it’s hard for you to accept.”

As soon as Gu Yao said that, not only Tian Fang, even Xu Shuo was startled.

Tian Fang’s face turned even uglier. Furious, she was trembling all over. “You… you’re talking nonsense…”

Gu Yao’s expression remained cold. “Whether I’m talking nonsense, you can ask your own heart. Tian Fang, you don’t need to be so hostile toward me. Lawyer Xu and I are both here to help you. My motives aren’t important. What matters is whether I can help get you acquitted, so you can reunite with your younger sister, Tian Tian, as soon as possible.”

Tian Fang was left speechless by that.

“I was at this morning’s trial too,” Gu Yao continued. “Honestly, from a bystander’s perspective, I think the likelihood that the charge of murder with intent will stand is very high. You studied law, so you should know very well how severe the consequences will be. I heard there’s a legal principle called ‘once tried, no retrial,’ and as I understand it, it probably means that once a case has been adjudicated and taken effect, it can’t be prosecuted again. If that interpretation holds, then once you’re sentenced this time, you’ll never get another chance to overturn the verdict. Even if you come to your senses and regret it later, you’ll still have to pay for that moment of impulse.”

As soon as Gu Yao finished, Xu Shuo’s light cough sounded in her ear.

“Ahem, on this point I need to clarify.”

Gu Yao turned her head, and heard Xu Shuo say, “The so-called ‘once tried, no retrial’ is also called the principle of ‘no double trial for one offense.’ It applies in many countries. Simply put, facts that have already been judged should be regarded as true. But in some countries, criminals who commit murder can be found not guilty and released because of insufficient evidence and loopholes in the justice system. Even if it’s later discovered that they really did kill someone, the court still can’t sentence them again in the same case. That’s the drawback of ‘once tried, no retrial.’ So our country’s current law does not expressly provide for this principle, because it creates problems when applied to our national conditions. It has to be used together with our retrial system. In other words, if new evidence is found later and it’s enough to overturn the trial result, then the case can still be retried.”

After Xu Shuo finished his very earnest lecture, Gu Yao quickly cut him back down. “Lawyer Xu, I know some of what you’re saying too. I hadn’t even finished my second half before you interrupted me.”

Xu Shuo paused.

Gu Yao then said to Tian Fang, “Just now Lawyer Xu mentioned the retrial system. I think you probably understand the rules here better than I do. If better evidence appears in the future, you do have the right to appeal and request a retrial. But Tian Fang, will there really be more favorable evidence in the ‘future’? Isn’t it already in your hands now? You just chose to hide it. And I also don’t think you’d dare to file an appeal. I know exactly what you’re afraid of. You don’t dare offend ‘Jiangcheng Gene’ and ‘Zhaoyang Law Firm.’ You think you and your sister are too weak and powerless to fight these two companies. And I can guarantee that even if you truly regret it later, no lawyer in Jiangcheng will take your appeal case, and Lawyer Xu definitely won’t pay you any mind either. So whether it’s ‘once tried, no retrial’ or the retrial system, the result is the same for you. But if right now there were a possibility that could keep you from offending anyone, clear your name, and still not require Tian Tian to testify in court, would you be willing to try it?”

Gu Yao spoke very slowly. While she talked, she observed Tian Fang’s facial expression and body language. Tian Fang’s pupils had dilated slightly, because she was already completely drawn in and had begun to hope for it. Even her hands were obediently gripping her knees, her fingers slightly curled. She was sitting very straight, even leaning forward, and her complexion had improved quite a bit compared to before.

Though Tian Fang would never admit it out loud, in her subconscious she had already quickly built some kind of trust with Gu Yao.

What Gu Yao had done was precisely seize that psychology of Tian Fang’s, building for her a ladder that could lead out of the abyss of despair, and it was the only ladder. Though it didn’t look sturdy, it happened to fit the tiny sliver of “expectation” lurking in Tian Fang’s subconscious.

When people are in such a predicament, they instinctively choose to believe in that almost nonexistent “possibility.” After all, trying it wouldn’t hurt. Even if it failed, things couldn’t get any worse than they already were.

As expected, after thinking for a long while, Tian Fang finally spoke under Gu Yao and Xu Shuo’s scrutiny. “How much confidence do you have in this ‘possibility’?”

Gu Yao said calmly, “You should know about my relationship with Zhu Shengxi. With me here, at the very least ‘Jiangcheng Gene’ won’t move against you. As for the rest, it depends on Lawyer Xu’s methods.”

Xu Shuo smiled faintly and took over. “I said last time that I can definitely get you acquitted.”

Tian Fang fell silent. She bit her lip and struggled for a while longer.

Only when Gu Yao spoke again did she finally say, “If I were you, I’d choose to make use of the ‘sympathy’ of the two people in front of you first. Using someone else’s sympathy may sound a little despicable, but you’re innocent to begin with, and we don’t mind being used by you. Why not gamble for your sister?”

Tian Fang murmured, “But if you fail… there’s no loss for you, but for me and Tian Tian…”

Xu Shuo cut her off. “Haven’t you always wanted to know what my motive was for taking this case?”

Tian Fang paused and suddenly looked up at him.

Even Gu Yao was drawn in.

Facing the gazes of the two women, Xu Shuo smiled and said, “I’ve also had a situation similar to the one you’re in now. Surrounded by despair, calling out to the heavens and getting no answer, crying out to the earth and getting no response. Back then, I was just like you, hoping someone would give me a hand, even if it was only to buy a little ‘hope.’ But I wasn’t as lucky as you are now, to meet such a well-connected psychological expert, and a criminal defense lawyer as professional and as full of compassion as me, and on top of that, we’re willing to spend our own private time convincing you, without asking for any benefit. Opportunities like this don’t come around all the time.”

Tian Fang was a little moved. “You… you’ve also been in the kind of situation I’m in now…”

But Xu Shuo’s expression shifted as his smile faded completely. “Or, I can give you one more reason. If you’re still wavering, I guarantee you’ll never get another chance to see me.”

Xu Shuo deliberately paused for a few seconds. He could clearly feel Tian Fang holding her breath.

“This morning, I went to the sanatorium where Tian Tian works.”

Tian Fang reacted extremely fast. “What!”

She even raised both hands and gripped the edge of the table hard, as if she might stand up at any moment.

Even Gu Yao shot him a startled look.

Xu Shuo, however, crossed one leg over the other and put on the face of a spoiled rich kid, casually dropping the final straw. “Tian Tian looks a lot like you. She’s not only pure and innocent, her mind is still forever stuck at the naive age of thirteen. From a man’s point of view, I can tell you very responsibly that any man with even a slightly unusual kink won’t let her go. Especially when Tian Tian heard the name ‘Lian Qiyun,’ it was like someone had flipped a switch. Not only did she take the initiative to lead me to the men’s restroom, but in front of me she even lifted her…”

“Shut up!”

Xu Shuo’s description was finally cut off by Tian Fang’s scream. She stood up, furious and ready to lunge at him.

But just then, Gu Yao snapped, “Tian Fang, this is the detention center!”

Tian Fang froze again. She knew the guards were watching her from outside. If she touched Xu Shuo, it would all be over…

Her eyes were bloodshot. Tears fell instantly, and both hands gripping the table trembled uncontrollably. But she could do nothing. She could only force herself to sit back down at once, while swallowing the rage clogged in her throat.

Then she said in a low voice, “If you want to… come at me. Don’t touch her.”

Gu Yao was stunned. The words she had been about to blurt out were instantly forgotten. In that moment, she clearly felt Tian Fang’s intense urge to protect Tian Tian. That feeling was like a mother gazelle facing the hungry stares of a pride of lions. Even though it knew it could run, it still stood motionless, until the lions tore it apart. Its determined gaze stayed fixed on the figure of its child fleeing into the distance, because it knew that if it ran, its child would become the lions’ meal.

Yes, that was exactly the feeling, and it shook Gu Yao deeply.

And then, at that moment, the only one still calm in the meeting room, Xu Shuo, had already taken out the lawyer appointment letter and placed it in front of Tian Fang.

Under Tian Fang’s hopeless gaze, Xu Shuo said softly, “Don’t worry, I didn’t touch Tian Tian with even one finger.”

Tian Fang paused. Her lips trembled as if a condemned prisoner had just been granted release, but she couldn’t get a single word out.

Xu Shuo blinked slowly and said, “This is your last chance now. Only if you get out of here clean can you protect Tian Tian yourself, take her out of this city, and start over.”

At last, Tian Fang signed the lawyer appointment letter.

Gu Yao and Xu Shuo walked out of the detention center one after the other. The sky had also gradually turned overcast, and it looked like a heavy rain was about to come.

Gu Yao looked up at the sky, the shock in her heart lingering for a long time. She walked a few steps ahead, then stopped and turned back to look at him.

Xu Shuo showed no expression and walked past her straight toward the parking lot.

Gu Yao followed after him and asked, “You really went to see Tian Tian this morning?”

Xu Shuo said, “Mm.”

“She really took you to the men’s restroom?”

“Mm.”

“And in front of you she lifted…”

Xu Shuo suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned sideways to look at Gu Yao. “You might as well just ask directly whether I turned into Lian Qiyun or not.”

Gu Yao froze and stared at his half-smiling expression, then said with complete certainty, “You wouldn’t.”

Xu Shuo raised a brow, genuinely a little surprised.

Gu Yao explained, “If you were really that kind of pervert, I absolutely would never have gotten in your car, much less provoked you on your own turf.”

Xu Shuo let out an “oh.” “I didn’t expect your evaluation of me to be so high.”

The two of them kept talking as they walked toward the parking lot.

Halfway there, Gu Yao added, “Not becoming a pervert like Lian Qiyun, isn’t that the basic moral bottom line for a normal person? Is that really considered a high evaluation?”

Xu Shuo was amused. “Compared to how you treated me the first time we met, this is already much better.”

At the mention of that first meeting, Gu Yao got angry.

And then there was that time in his office, when he drugged her and told her terrifying horror stories in the middle of the night. He was basically the king of lunatics.

Looking back now, even Gu Yao found it unbelievable. The first time, in her eyes, he had been just a spoiled rich kid who crashed an awards banquet and impersonated someone else. Later, in his office, he became a lawyer who broke the law he was supposed to uphold. After that, he kept forcing his way into Tian Fang’s case, snooping on her and Zhu Shengxi’s lives through surveillance, and even ran to the scene of the crime to illegally collect evidence… Until just now, when he had said such a thing to Tian Fang.

Gu Yao frowned and said reluctantly, “I think you really do want to help Tian Fang.”

Xu Shuo had already reached the car. He turned back around. “I always have been.”

Gu Yao paused. “No, I mean, you’re not doing it for fame or profit. You really want to help the sisters out of their predicament from the bottom of your heart.”

Xu Shuo smiled in a less-than-serious way. “Yeah, I’m basically overflowing with compassion.”

Gu Yao fell silent.

Just thinking about putting the words “compassion” on his face made her want to roll her eyes.

Xu Shuo had already opened the car door and was halfway in.

Then Gu Yao suddenly asked again, “Just now, when you told Tian Fang that you’d also had times when calling to the heavens got no answer and calling to the earth got no response, what were you talking about?”

Xu Shuo looked at her with some surprise. “If I didn’t say it that way, how was I supposed to build ’empathy’ with her so quickly? Isn’t that the usual trick your psychology experts use?”

Gu Yao paused. “Just a trick?”

On instinct, she didn’t believe it.

Xu Shuo helplessly shook his head and, before getting in the car, tossed out one last sentence. “You know the ’80/20 rule,’ right? My goal is to be that twenty percent.”

Only after Xu Shuo got in the car and drove out of the parking lot first did Gu Yao return to her own car.

Of course she knew the so-called “80/20 rule.” It referred to the fact that eighty percent of resources are occupied by twenty percent of people, while the remaining twenty percent of resources have to be fought over by the other eighty percent. It was just like how product manufacturers were always trying to win over that twenty percent of customers, because they were the main purchasing power behind eighty percent of the goods.

The same went for lawyers and most other industries. Twenty percent of the lawyers stood in the upper middle and top tiers of the pyramid, and eighty percent of the people seeking help would first target them, while the other eighty percent of lawyers lurked in the middle and at the base. They had to use every possible means to compete for the remaining twenty percent of clients. That was the cruel reality.

But Gu Yao didn’t think Xu Shuo belonged to that eighty percent. With his methods, he was probably already one of the twenty percent. It was just that his choice was rather picky. With eighty percent of clients available for him to choose from, he had stubbornly set his sights on only one, ‘Jiangcheng Gene.’