ATLAS TRANSLATES

“No, ten years later, how much do you still distrust me?” Chi Yundai sneered, “Don’t you know that the first rule for the person involved is to completely trust their defense lawyer.”

Zhang Shize muttered, “I do want to trust you.”

Chi Yundai entered the room full of worry, but when he was about to leave, he was almost angered to death by Zhang Shize.

He could never have imagined that Zhang Shize would be persuaded like this by a few words from Young Master Jiang.

You’d be better off as a mute.

He couldn’t expect Young Master Jiang to do anything good.

Chen Ju was waiting for him at the entrance.

When Young Master Jiang left, his expression was as usual. Chen Ju couldn’t tell how things had progressed and didn’t dare to speculate or ask.

“How did it go?” As soon as Chi Yundai came out, Chen Ju hurriedly came forward to ask.

“Why do both of you not trust me? Ten years? Fifteen years? Death penalty?” Chi Yundai complained to Chen Ju, then pointed at his own face, “I think my face looks very authoritative, why can’t they have a bit of trust?”

Hearing this, Chen Ju silently looked up, “…Maybe because of the hat.”

“Hat?” Chi Yundai frowned.

What hat?

“The one on your head,” Chen Ju could tell from his tone that Zhang Shize’s situation wasn’t too bad, so he looked away and walked outside, feeling somewhat speechless, “The chef’s hat.”

Chi Yundai’s feet were instantly rooted to the spot.

He looked down at his suit pants and white shirt.

Then he tremblingly touched his head, felt the chef’s hat, and was struck as if by lightning, “So, I’ve been parading around with this hat on all afternoon?”

“Yes.” Chen Ju nodded.

“Why didn’t you remind me?” The cool and serious face of the great lawyer Chi started to crumble bit by bit.

He had walked from the cake shop to the Zhang family, then to the police station, wearing this thing all the way? This ridiculous appearance—

Passersby had seen it.

Miss Bai had seen it.

Young Master Jiang had seen it.

Chen Ju was even more surprised to see that he didn’t know, he scratched his head, confused and cautiously said: “I thought you must have had a special reason for doing this.”

Like making the opponent let their guard down.

“Tell me,” the great lawyer Chi calmly said to Chen Ju, “How many years do you want to go in for?”

Chen Ju: “…”

** Xiangcheng No.1 High School.

Jiang Fuli parked the car by the roadside with a cold face.

Bailian didn’t get in the car, she just lazily knocked on the passenger door. The window rolled down.

“Why didn’t you reply to my messages?” She raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Fuli coldly opened his phone. WeChat still showed two messages Bailian had sent two hours ago—

[Zhang Shize is afraid of you. He’s emotionally fragile now, you need to be gentle with him]

[It’s his first time doing something like this, he’s definitely scared. Comfort and encourage him]

In front of her, Jiang Fuli coldly replied with one word—

[1]

Bailian: “…”

She opened the car door, “So what’s his situation now?”

“Alive.” Jiang Fuli waited for her to sit down before starting the car. He was concise and polite.

Young Master Jiang was always indiscriminate when it came to criticizing people. The fact that he held back from scolding Zhang Shize today was already out of consideration for Bailian. In his view, Zhang Shize didn’t use his brain at all when doing this.

Otherwise, Chi Yundai had a hundred ways to get him acquitted.

Jiang Fuli drove the car to the manor. Chi Yundai and Chen Ju were there, as there were still many details and evidence about Zhang Shize’s case that needed to be investigated.

When Bailian and Jiang Fuli arrived, the two were discussing heatedly.

“Young Master Jiang, Miss Bai,” Chi Yundai was holding documents and still wanted to scold Chen Ju a couple more times. Seeing the two from the corner of his eye, he stood up with the documents, remembering something important, “My lawyer’s badge is still in Jianjing.”

The lawyer’s badge is a badge issued by the Lawyers Association to every lawyer.

It can only be worn when appearing in court.

Chi Yundai didn’t bring it along this time when he came to Xiangcheng.

“Badge?” Chen Ju remembered someone, “Chen Jingyu will come to Xiangcheng in a couple of days. I’ll tell him to bring your badge.”

Chen Jingyu? Chi Yundai wasn’t familiar with this person. He looked towards Jiang Fuli.

“Give it to Jiang Xiju.” Jiang Fuli sat down on the sofa, lowering his eyes to pour two cups of tea.

Chi Yundai took out his phone and instructed this matter.

** Because of Zhang Shize’s incident, Class 15 had been in low spirits recently.

Tuesday evening.

Chen Ju was waiting for Bailian at the school gate. Ming Dongheng went to watch Mr. Bai’s competition, so the person sending Jiang He today became Chen Ju.

He was waiting for Bailian at the intersection.

Jiang He was squatting at his feet, hugging his little schoolbag.

There was still half an hour before Bailian’s class ended. Jiang He would rather squat by the roadside staring at tree leaves than stay at home.

For this young master, Chen Ju could only keep him company.

“Hey,” the phone in his pocket rang. Chen Ju answered. It was a number from Jianjing. “You’ve arrived? I’m at the intersection of Xiangcheng No.1 High School. Just drive over here directly.”

After saying this, Chen Ju sent the specific location to the other party.

Half an hour later, a car stopped on the opposite side of the road. A young man wearing a black windbreaker got out of the driver’s seat. He had a crew cut, bronze skin, and bright, piercing eyes.

“Jingyu.” Chen Ju waved his hand, calling out to him.

Seeing Chen Ju, Chen Jingyu’s steps paused. He walked steadily towards this side, his gaze pausing slightly when he saw Jiang He squatting by Chen Ju’s legs.

There were hardly any photos of Jiang He circulating. The Jiang family had protected him very well.

But Chen Jingyu had seen him with Old Master Chen before.

Chen Ju’s position in the Chen family was neither high nor low. He had always been running errands. In the past month, his right to speak had been gradually increasing. Not only that, but his policies and strategies were frequently praised…

Now, he even saw Chen Ju alone with Jiang He.

Not to mention when Young Master Jiang started trusting Chen Ju so much, even the legendarily eccentric Jiang He was obediently squatting beside Chen Ju?

Chen Jingyu was surprised in his heart. How did Chen Yongkun, a mere collateral branch, manage to do this? Wasn’t it said that he failed to secure the mineral project?

“Officer Chen,” Chen Jingyu stood three steps away from Chen Ju, handing him a five-centimeter wide black wooden box, “This is what Lawyer Chi asked for.”

Chen Ju took it.

This was Chi Yundai’s badge.

“But what case in Xiangcheng needs his intervention?” As a person from Jianjing, Chen Jingyu was naturally very familiar with the devil lawyer team under Jiang Fuli, especially Chi Yundai.

Hearing this, Chen Ju just smiled, “A local murder case. The trial starts tomorrow. Do you want to go watch? I can give you my seat.”

Chi Yundai was now focused on teaching.

Apart from the Jiang family’s cases, he rarely took on other cases.

A local case?

Chen Jingyu shook his head. He had no interest in this, “No need. I’m going to the fighting arena tomorrow to find Master Tongpa.”

“Tongpa?” Chen Ju’s heart moved. He looked up, “Are you… going to learn Muay Thai from him?”

Tongpa, the teacher who defeated Ming Dongheng, had won the international first place in the martial arts competition for three consecutive years.

People were rushing to become his disciples.

“I must enter the East Wu Organization within three years.” Chen Jingyu was ambitious.

The East Wu Club was the most famous martial arts organization in Asia.

Chen Ju wasn’t interested in these things. Xiangcheng No.1 High School was dismissing. He saw Bailian standing out from the crowd and quickly waved, “Miss Bai, over here.”

Chen Jingyu followed his gaze.

He immediately saw a girl in Xiangcheng No.1 High School uniform walking slowly towards them, with earphones in her ears.

Her eyebrows and eyes reflected the sunset, as graceful as floating clouds.

“Jingyu,” Chen Ju smiled and introduced to Chen Jingyu, “That’s Miss Bai. I’m waiting for her.”

“Miss Bai? Who is she?” Chen Jingyu heard this name for the first time.

He was somewhat surprised at why Chen Ju’s attitude towards this girl seemed very unusual.

Chen Ju smiled and spoke, also introducing to Chen Jingyu: “Her grandfather’s embroidery is very beautiful. I often go fishing with her grandfather. Miss Bai herself is also very impressive… I’m betting this year that Miss Bai will get into Jianjing University!”

He couldn’t talk to Chen Jingyu about those policy matters.

Embroidery? Fishing? Chen Jingyu frowned. And even betting whether she could get into Jianjing University?

They were all betting on Liang Wuyu and Xu Zhiyue’s scores.

“Officer Chen, I have other matters to attend to.” Chen Jingyu had no interest in inquiring further. He interrupted Chen Ju and politely bid farewell.

He quickly returned to his car across the street and drove into the crowd.

Chen Ju still had a bunch of flattering words unsaid when he saw Chen Jingyu leaving quickly.

“Miss Bai,” he frowned, seeing Bailian approaching from the corner of his eye. He quickly withdrew his gaze from Chen Jingyu and handed the small square box to Bailian, “This is Lawyer Chi’s lawyer badge. He needs it tomorrow morning.”

Chen Ju couldn’t go tomorrow.

There wasn’t much of a problem with Zhang Shize’s case.

Chen Ju wasn’t worried.

He now had to work overtime to finish the important matters. Shen Qing would be discharged from the hospital the day after tomorrow, and he needed to make time to be there.

“Okay.” Bailian looked down at the black-brown wooden small square box.

It was also engraved with the pattern of the law firm.

Very distinctive.

Chen Ju sent Bailian and Jiang He back to Qingshui Street, and also went to see Ji Heng on the way.

While Bailian was giving Lansi acupuncture, Chen Ju and Jiang He squatted on the side watching Ji Heng embroider a Chinese cabbage.

“Uncle, the day after tomorrow I’ll go with Brother Ji to pick up sister-in-law,” Ji Shaojun still had classes, Chen Ju had already arranged everything orderly, “In a couple of days, we’ll go fishing by the river.”

Ji Heng squinted his eyes, threading the wool-like thread through the almost invisible needle eye.

Chen Ju and Jiang He were both very amazed watching this.

After threading the needle, Ji Heng finally spoke, “Shaojun going alone is enough.”

How could Chen Ju agree to this? However, he didn’t say much, only changing the subject, “How are Miss Bai’s grades in high school now that she’s switched from liberal arts to science?”

The parent-teacher meeting hasn’t been held yet.

Bailian would never voluntarily talk about her scores.

Ji Heng still remembered the monthly exam scores from last time. Because Bailian’s score was beyond his expectation, he remembered it very clearly, “450, not asking for much, reached the second-tier university admission line.”

“Ah?” Chen Ju was instantly confused.

Se-second-tier university line?

He was still betting on Miss Bai getting into Jianjing University.

** Wednesday.

Zhang Shize’s case was going to trial.

At eight o’clock, the court hadn’t opened yet, but Zhang’s mother and Yan Lu were already waiting at the court entrance, looking anxiously.

At nine o’clock, Bailian, Jiang Fuli, Lu Xiaohan, and Wen Qi arrived.

At 9:20, Chi Yundai finally arrived fashionably late.

Today he was wearing an ordinary black lawyer’s robe, which he had just bought last Sunday. There were no requirements for lawyer’s robes at the trial, so he didn’t have his usual robe brought over.

“Lawyer Chi,” Bailian gave him the wooden box, “This is the lawyer’s badge.”

Chi Yundai casually took it, opened it, inside was a black badge. He glanced at it, then took it out and pinned it on the left side.

A very casual attitude.

Bailian lowered her voice and whispered to Jiang Fuli, “The lawyer they hired today seems very powerful. Can Lawyer Chi handle it?”

“Who did they hire?” Jiang Fuli slightly lowered his head, his voice was low.

“Zhao Jingzhou.” Bailian thought for a moment.

Jiang Fuli pondered for a while, then shook his head, “Never heard of him.”

Bailian: “…”

Forget it.

Sister Xin stood behind the two, looking at Chi Yundai’s solemn face as he adjusted his lawyer’s badge, then looking at Bailian and the unapproachable Jiang Fuli…

This group of people, why did they seem both reliable and unreliable? Can they really handle this?

At 9:30.

Everyone arrived at the courtroom.

Zhang’s mother and Yan Lu finally saw Zhang Shize in the defendant’s seat.

After not seeing him for nearly ten days, Zhang Shize had lost a lot of weight, but his spirit seemed okay. Seeing his mother and Yan Lu, he didn’t speak, just sat there silently.

Zhang’s mother held Yan Lu’s hand, trying hard to hold back her tears.

The group sat down in the audience seats on the left side.

Close to 10 o’clock.

Director Liu and the judge arrived one after another.

Director Liu arrived first. He was walking side by side with a young man who was also wearing a black lawyer’s robe. Unlike ordinary lawyer’s robes, his lapel was red.

Director Liu’s face was wrinkled. As soon as he entered the courtroom, his gaze slid over Zhang Shize like a venomous snake, the corner of his mouth curling into a weird arc.

It made people’s hearts go cold.

A few minutes later, he finally moved his gaze away and looked at the lawyer in the defendant’s seat—

It was a middle-aged man he hadn’t seen before.

The lawyers from both sides took their positions.

In the audience seats on the left, Lu Xiaohan pinched Wen Qi’s arm and lowered her voice, her hand trembling uncontrollably: “Wen Qi, i-isn’t that the undefeated general Zhao Jingzhou?”

Wen Qi’s gaze was still on the young man in the opposing lawyer’s seat.

There were some differences between most videos and the actual person, but Wen Qi was very sure, “Look at the red lapel on his clothes. Didn’t the internet say that he’s the only one in the whole network who has this honor? This is his signature.”

“How did they manage to hire Zhao Jingzhou?” Lu Xiaohan looked at the opposite side, almost crying out in surprise.

In front, Yan Lu and Sister Xin, who had barely built up some confidence during this period, felt their hearts rise to their throats again because of these two people’s conversation.

The judge solemnly sat down in the middle chair. With a light tap of the gavel, after confirming the identities of both parties, he began the court opening statement.

That Lawyer Zhao stood up. He first looked at Chi Yundai’s side.

Then he picked up a pile of documents and began his statement: “Esteemed presiding judge, members of the jury. The defendant brutally assaulted our client in the underground parking garage, without any prior conflict. This is an extremely vicious…”

Zhao Jingzhou spoke with reason and evidence, his words forceful and clear.

He listed a bunch of evidence about the interpersonal relationships between the two and proof of Liu Xinming’s daily charitable deeds.

His words clearly reached everyone’s ears.

In the audience seats on the left, with every word they heard, Yan Lu and Zhang’s mother became more tense, their hearts suspended in mid-air, neither up nor down.

Even without facing Zhao Jingzhou directly, even though they were separated by several meters, even without eye contact, they could clearly feel the pressure coming from Zhao Jingzhou.

“As expected of the undefeated general…” Wen Qi took a deep breath.

An absolutely overwhelming presence.

Many lawyers are overwhelmed by the opponent’s presence right from the start, and the outcome is basically decided then.

Yan Lu and the others nervously looked at Chi Yundai sitting in front, just hoping he could withstand Zhao Jingzhou’s pressure.

“Don’t worry,” Zhang’s mother didn’t put pressure on Chi Yundai, her voice trembling, “No matter the outcome, we are very grateful that you are willing to defend my son.”

Opposite, the person beside Director Liu lowered his voice and looked mockingly at the other side: “Director Liu, the other side is scared. Don’t worry, with Lawyer Zhao here, this Zhang Shize is undoubtedly doomed.”

Director Liu gave an “Mm” sound, his gaze sliding sinisterly over Zhang Shize before landing on the opposing lawyer.

Chi Yundai stared intently at Zhao Jingzhou.

He didn’t take any documents, only raising his hand after the other party finished explaining the last law, “Nonsense! I told you in class, a qualified lawyer should treat every law rigorously. I just revised Article 233 of the Criminal Law last month. Have you been studying criminal law recently? I feel your mind is completely blank.”