Chapter 70 – So-Called Justice

Huang Xiaoxiao had been swamped with work ever since her team lost its leader. Seeing Yan Ankuo return was like seeing a savior; she hurried over, “Mr. Yan, you’re back!”

Yan Ankuo set down his briefcase and asked, “Are there still reporters hanging around outside?”

Huang Xiaoxiao promptly replied, “Today is much better. Mr. Yan, you can resume your regular schedule.”

Yan Ankuo joked, “Director Zhou isn’t as skilled at exploiting people as you are.”

“Eh?” Huang Xiaoxiao retorted, “I’m going to report you to Director Zhou!”

Yan Ankuo waved his hand with a laugh and said, “With me back, you won’t get to slack off anymore. I need to sue some internet infringers, can you help me prepare a pre-litigation investigation order?”

Huang Xiaoxiao agreed, “Sure, I’ll find a template. When it’s ready, you just need to fill in the IDs.”

Yan Ankuo nodded, opened the office door, and started dusting off the table while asking, “Anything else happening?”

“Lawyer Wen called several times. He says Wu Hongying found numerous tracking and listening devices at her ex-husband’s place, including records from your neighborhood. The images match those leaked online, so the information might have been leaked by him,” Huang Xiaoxiao checked off points on her notebook, ensuring she covered everything before continuing, “Also, you need to make time to visit the police station and update them on the situation.”

After hearing her out, Yan Ankuo couldn’t resist saying, “Understood. You should go rest now. Leave the rest to me.”

Huang Xiaoxiao didn’t hesitate to accept, having stayed up late for days waiting for this moment, “Thanks, Mr. Yan. Good luck, and be careful!”

In her almost orphan-like tone, Yan Ankuo nearly felt like he was the intern awaiting confirmation of his permanent position.

“…You too, be careful,” Yan Ankuo responded sternly.

After Huang Xiaoxiao left, the office became quieter. The remaining lawyers and interns weren’t the type to engage in small talk.

Yan Ankuo feared he’d disturb their work, so he went to the tea room to make a call.

After confirming relevant details with Wen Hongyu, Yan Ankuo decided to modify the lawsuit in light of the information leak and focus on gathering evidence of internet infringement.

He spent quite some time in the tea room, long enough for Zhou Tianrui to come by for water multiple times. After Yan Ankuo hung up, Zhou Tianrui returned again and asked, “How was your rest at home?”

Yan Ankuo put away his phone and smiled tiredly, “I did rest, but Xiao Huang was swamped.”

“Your intern is quite capable; she’s guaranteed a permanent position this year,” Director Zhou’s comment made Yan Ankuo lower his head and smile. Zhou Tianrui then asked, “By the way, I noticed Xiao Huang has been running back and forth to the police station these past few days. Did they reach a conclusion about the offline harassment?”

“Yes, they’ve found the culprit. The person who sent the packages and the one who threw paint aren’t the same, but both have been identified and are under detention.”

Zhou Tianrui nodded, “Good. Several major media outlets in East China are conducting in-depth research. A local newspaper contacted me, wanting to conduct an interview about the legal profession. I plan to send you.”

Yan Ankuo paused, surprised, “Me?”

“Yes.” Zhou Tianrui looked at him, the gaze behind his glasses hard to read, “As a lawyer involved in controversial cases, you’re the most suitable choice.”

Yan Ankuo frowned, “The case hasn’t been judged yet. Without the client’s consent, I can’t discuss case details publicly.”

Discussing too much about a case with the public before judgment goes against professional ethics.

Zhou Tianrui understood and patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to talk about that case. Just share your experiences and beliefs.”

Yan Ankuo saw things clearly, “If we don’t talk about that case, there’s no reason for you to send me, nor for them to seek us out.”

Zhou Tianrui adjusted his glasses and laughed heartily, “You think too much about everything, that’s why you have so many worries.”

Yan Ankuo politely followed with a laugh, “Probably.”

Zhou Tianrui encouraged him, “Don’t rush to decline the interview. Think about it some more.”

Throughout his career, Yan Ankuo had never appeared in the public eye. Firstly, he wasn’t one to seek attention, and secondly, he worried that too much attention on him as a lawyer could lead to undue public pressure when representing clients in future cases.

However, considering the law firm’s interests and potential future cases, Yan Ankuo ultimately decided to visit the newspaper recommended by Zhou Tianrui.

Newspaper B was a well-known local company in Shanghai. Despite the recent impact of emerging online media, it remained committed to producing in-depth articles, one of the few traditional media outlets not yet devoured by short videos.

The journalist responsible for the interview was Tian Yanshan, recently graduated and well-prepared, with a thorough understanding of Yan Ankuo’s work history.

Before starting, Yan Ankuo clarified, “Today’s interview will focus solely on myself and Hengtian. We cannot discuss any details of unresolved cases or private information about parties involved.”

Tian Yanshan nodded, “Don’t worry, we won’t touch on those topics.”

Several cameras were set up from different angles. After adjusting the microphone, Tian Yanshan officially began questioning.

“Mr. Yan, I heard you initially handled more labor dispute cases, gradually shifting towards marriage and inheritance matters. What led you to make these choices?”

Yan Ankuo was adept at reasoning, but he didn’t want to use his talent in such a setting. Instead, he chose the simplest answer, “There’s no special reason. Before graduation, I spent some time at a legal aid center where labor disputes were common. After graduating, I continued working on them. Later, when interning at Hengtian, the law firm’s case sources leaned more towards marriage, inheritance, and finance, and I wasn’t skilled in the latter, so there wasn’t really a choice.”

Tian Yanshan hastily jotted notes, and once the interviewee finished answering, she immediately continued, “During your career, are there any memorable events?”

Yan Ankuo answered without hesitation, “Many. If I start talking about my experiences after graduation, I might not finish until the interview ends.”

Tian Yanshan was surprised, “I thought you would choose the most significant event to discuss.”

“Mainly because I don’t have the right to determine which case is more important. How do you judge importance? The first case I handled, the one with the highest stakes, or the one with the greatest impact?” Yan Ankuo shook his head, “With so many measuring criteria, but for the parties involved, even if the stakes are just five thousand yuan, it’s crucial.”

Tian Yanshan hadn’t expected Yan Ankuo to answer this way, and the image of the person in front of her became more three-dimensional. Her questions delved deeper, “Do you fully agree with and defend the actions of these parties?”

Yan Ankuo furrowed his brows, “I never form preconceived notions; there’s no question of agreement or disagreement.”

Tian Yanshan interpreted, “So, you don’t make emotional judgments, only defending the rights of the parties?”

Yan Ankuo corrected, “Their legal rights.”

Tian Yanshan posed another question, “Even if the person is a ‘bad guy’?”

Yan Ankuo spoke slowly, “Before a fair trial, all defendants are presumed innocent. This is a fundamental principle in modern legal systems.”[1] Tian Yanshan kept her promise made before recording, avoiding the topic of the Wensun Group case and using an unrelated case from a neighboring province as an example, “You may have also followed a malicious assault incident in a neighboring province. The defense lawyer was a very famous criminal defense expert, also your alumnus.”

Tian Yanshan deliberately mentioned the school, causing Yan Ankuo’s eyebrows to twitch.

She continued, “He helped the defendant secure a three-year reduction in sentence, which angered many. Do you have any thoughts on this?”

Yan Ankuo could guess which case based on the description, and could also guess the reporter’s intention – essentially comparing the criminal case to the Wensun case for leverage in writing later.

Considering the potential repercussions, Yan Ankuo was considerably more cautious this time, taking a long time to respond, “Whether it’s me or anyone else, we aren’t the court and don’t have the right to impose sentences. Therefore, if the lawyer secured a reduced sentence for the defendant through legal means, it only indicates that the decision should have been made according to procedure.”

Tian Yanshan hastily countered, “But it creates a terrible social impact!”

Yan Ankuo responded firmly yet calmly, “Punishment isn’t the purpose of the law. Rather, ignoring the defense lawyer system, ignoring procedures and rules, and making judgments arbitrarily would create a far worse impact.”

When this video aired on television, Bian Ji was coordinating the release of an article with the publicity department.

Official account usage and the process for the seal had taken time, but finally today, approval had been granted.

On the screen, the man wore a neatly buttoned shirt and the cufflinks Bian Ji gave him, answering questions effortlessly.

For a moment, Bian Ji was distracted, looking at the familiar face on the screen with a sense of pride.

He smiled, then quickly refocused, pointing to his computer and telling his colleague, “This statement needs the stamp. Send it out tonight, please. Thanks.”