Chapter 02 Wanting to Sleep Around Without Paying
At five in the morning, Lin Chong woke up, excited and unable to fall back asleep. This was the first real job of his life.
Some of his classmates had already interned at prestigious law firms during the summer, thanks to connections from their parents or relatives. Lin Chong, however, had no family in the legal world. He lacked the network to get into a big law firm, and his lazy, aimless personality meant he had never actively sought internship opportunities during university.
Even though he was wide awake, Lin Chong continued to lie in bed, tossing and turning, reluctant to get up.
At seven, his alarm finally rang. He got up, brushed his teeth and washed his face, tossed the toast he bought last night into the toaster, brewed a cup of coffee, and spread garlic butter over the hot toast. Crossing his legs, he sat on the small IKEA sofa in front of his little dining table, absentmindedly enjoying the fragrant garlic toast.
Suddenly, the thought of meeting his strange new boss popped into his head, and a grin unconsciously spread across his face.
“Ah, Lawyer Hu said I have to be at the office by nine sharp. I can’t be late,” Lin Chong reminded himself. He hurriedly stuffed the rest of the toast into his mouth, gulped down the coffee in one go, ran to his room to change into a shirt and trousers, and rushed out the door on his scooter toward the law office.
When Lin Chong arrived at the firm, Hu Shuo was already in his office. Hearing the door open, Hu Shuo stepped out, holding a thick stack of case files. He handed them to Lin Chong and said, “You’re not late. Good. I hate tardiness. I have a court hearing at ten, and I’m bringing you along. Look through this case file first.”
“What kind of case is this?” Lin Chong asked.
“Don’t you have eyes? Read it yourself! I’m going to quiz you on the key legal issue in this case later. The most important skill for a lawyer is identifying the crux of a complex case.”
Thirty minutes later, Hu Shuo came out of his office and said, “Pack up the files. We need to leave, or we’ll be late. Make sure you bring everything — I need them for the hearing.” Lin Chong quickly packed the documents into a briefcase and followed Hu Shuo out the door.
As they sat in the taxi, Hu Shuo asked, “So, tell me — what’s this case about?”
Lin Chong raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “It’s only been thirty minutes. I barely got through five pages! How do you expect me to report the whole case already? You’re way too strict, Lawyer Hu!”
“Is that how you speak to your boss? If you were at another law firm, with this poor attitude and performance, you’d be fired on the spot. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t. All you had to do was find the indictment and read the section on the facts of the crime. That alone would’ve given you a basic overview in ten minutes. Tsk. From your reaction, I can already tell what kind of person you are. Maybe I should send you home for the day.”
Lin Chong, noticing that Hu Shuo was only a few years older than himself, instinctively treated him more like a friend than a boss. So instead of feeling offended, he chuckled and said, “Come on, Lawyer Hu, don’t be like that. I know I’m not top-tier — I’ve accepted that a long time ago. But everyone has their strengths. I have my own talents too. Why don’t you just tell me the case summary yourself? That way, I’ll understand it faster.”
“This case involves a woman working in the adult entertainment industry. One of her clients came over to her place and spent the night. Now, that man’s wife is accusing her of adultery and demanding one million dollars in damages. The woman claims she didn’t know he was married — the guy had told everyone he was single.”
“Holy crap! He slept with her and now he wants her to pay him? That’s low, man!” Lin Chong exclaimed.
The taxi turned a corner and pulled up in front of Fengcheng District Court. The driver stopped the car and said, “Ninety bucks.” Hu Shuo paid and asked for a receipt before getting out with Lin Chong.
“Today’s just a preliminary hearing. We’re in Courtroom No. 7,” Hu Shuo said.
Lin Chong scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. “I remember reading about preliminary hearings in criminal procedure class, but I still don’t really get what they are.”
“In the preliminary stage, the judge asks whether we intend to admit or deny the charges. They also ask if we have any objections to the evidence used by the prosecution. Most importantly, if we want to investigate any favorable evidence — like summoning a witness or retrieving CCTV footage — we have to request it now. When the witnesses are finally brought to court, both the prosecutor and defense attorney will take turns cross-examining them. That’s the trial stage.”
“We’d better hurry. We’re almost late,” Hu Shuo added as he picked up the pace.
They climbed the stairs to the second floor and found Courtroom No. 7. The defendant, Miss Lan, was already waiting on a bench outside.
“Are we up next?” Hu Shuo asked.
“Not yet. They’re still on the first case. We’re third,” Miss Lan replied.
Hu Shuo pulled a lawyer’s robe from Lin Chong’s bag, put it on, and sat next to Miss Lan. He gestured for Lin Chong to find a seat nearby.
Miss Lan looked pale and worried. She wore light makeup. “I’ve been so stressed over this case lately. I can’t sleep, and I keep getting sick. Yesterday, I went to Xingtian Temple and drew a divination stick. The interpreter told me that I’d meet someone who could help me, but the case would be long and full of setbacks.”
Hu Shuo looked at her and thought, You’ll meet someone to help you? That must be me. Who else could it be? He said, “Since it’s a good omen, try not to worry too much. Legal proceedings take time. Stay calm — if you fall ill before the case is over, you’ll suffer more. I’ll do my best to help you.”
“I’m lucky to have met you!” Miss Lan said. Noticing that Hu Shuo’s bangs covered his eyes, she instinctively reached out and brushed his hair aside. Seeing his eyes clearly for the first time, she blurted, “Wow, you’re actually quite handsome. Do you have a girlfriend?”
Lin Chong leaned in with interest and chimed in, “Yeah, Lawyer Hu, do you?”
Hu Shuo shot Lin Chong a glare, straightened his face, and replied sternly, “I only discuss cases. Not personal matters.” Feeling uncomfortable with the growing intimacy, he subtly scooted away and quickly said, “Miss Lan, let’s go inside the courtroom. It’s cooler in there.” Then, turning to Lin Chong, he added, “You can sit in the audience area and observe.”
“We’re up next,” Hu Shuo said.
He and Miss Lan took their places at the defense table. The plaintiffs — a tall, scholarly-looking man named Li Xing and a plump, fierce-looking woman with bulging eyes named Ye Luosha — approached the prosecution side.
On the elevated bench sat a young, elegant-looking female judge. Many district court judges had only graduated university one or two years earlier before passing the judicial exam. After a short period of practical training, they began presiding over trials. While most of them were exceptionally smart, not all had the life experience or empathy needed to truly understand the hardships of those before them.
The defense and prosecution tables sat on either side of the courtroom. Between them was the witness stand, and behind it were the seats for plaintiffs and defendants. The prosecutor represents the state in criminal cases and is responsible for presenting evidence to prove guilt. Even the most heinous criminal must be acquitted if the prosecutor fails to provide sufficient evidence — such is the principle of presumption of innocence. But such verdicts often fail to satisfy public expectations.
“Prosecutor, please state the facts of the indictment,” the judge said.
“The defendant, Lan Yaling, knowingly engaged in sexual relations with Li Xing — a married man — two to three times a week at her residence, from February 2016 to January 2017, totaling approximately 150 encounters. We request that she be prosecuted for adultery,” the prosecutor stated.
“Defendant, do you accept the charges? Do you plead guilty?” the judge asked.
“I plead not guilty. Li Xing would come to my place drunk, crying and making a scene. He even hit me. The building manager can testify. He gave me a concussion once and I needed stitches for bleeding from my eye. I still get dizzy. That’s why I went to his house to demand compensation. His wife found out and is now trying to get revenge by accusing me of adultery. We were just friends. We never had sex. And I had no idea he was married. Why would I go to his house if I knew?”
“Counsel, do you have any comments?” the judge asked.
“We believe the witness Li Xing is retaliating because the defendant demanded compensation. His statements contradict those of the plaintiff Ye Luosha. Their testimonies are inconsistent and untrustworthy. Thus, we argue that their statements are not reliable enough to serve as evidence,” Hu Shuo replied.
“Even though the indictment mentions 150 instances of adultery, case law considers this a continuing offense. It will be treated as a single count. Are you sure you don’t want to consider pleading guilty?” the judge asked.
Hu Shuo looked at Miss Lan. She shook her head and whispered, “I was set up. They’re trying to make me pay a million dollars. I don’t even have five thousand, let alone a million. I won’t plead guilty.”
“The plaintiff is demanding a huge amount. Our client can’t afford to pay and maintains her innocence,” Hu Shuo said.
“Ms. Ye Luosha, do you have anything to say?” the judge asked.
“Your Honor, the defendant constantly harasses us and keeps asking Li Xing to marry her. I can’t sleep, I have insomnia, and I’m depressed. Please give us justice!” Ye sobbed, handing a medical certificate to the court through the clerk.
“Very well. Does the defense have any objections to the prosecution’s evidence?” the judge asked.
“We believe the statements given by the plaintiffs during police and investigative questioning lack evidentiary value since they were not cross-examined,” Hu Shuo said.
“Prosecutor, do you wish to present any evidence?” the judge asked.
“We request to summon Li Xing and Ye Luosha as witnesses,” the prosecutor replied.
“Defense?” the judge asked.
“We also request to summon Li Xing and Ye Luosha, and we ask the court to obtain Ms. Ye’s travel records and income records from the relevant time period,” Hu Shuo said.
“Very well. Witnesses will be examined in the following order: Li Xing, then Ye Luosha, with the prosecution questioning first, and defense cross-examining. Any objections?” the judge asked.
“No objections,” both the prosecutor and Hu Shuo answered.
“Trial dates will be scheduled and sent out in writing. Plaintiff and defendant may be dismissed,” the judge concluded.