All Rise Episode 11 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Zhou Nian returned to the law firm feeling dejected after his relationship with his girlfriend ended. As he entered, he heard a suspicious noise in the hallway. He initially called security, identifying himself as being from Jun An Law Firm and asking them to investigate, but they claimed to be off duty. When he went to check himself, mop in hand, he found Yan Fei sitting on the stairs, drinking.
Yan Fei, looking disheveled, was questioned by Zhou Nian about her frequent drinking and why she was still at the firm late at night. She candidly admitted that her current low ranking in the intern assessment had pushed her to ask her brother and his friends for outside help with the Warm Nest proposal, something she had vowed not to do.
Her goal was not just to secure her position at Jun An but also to prevent Warm Nest from holding the firm, Jiang Chen, or Zhou Nian accountable, and to help him reconcile with his girlfriend. She praised Zhou Nian as a rare "devoted and principled male lawyer," an "endangered species" she wished to protect. Zhou Nian, in turn, thanked her, admitting he had initially been biased against her because her family often contacted the firm.
He apologized, acknowledging that no one chooses their family and that her family's actions stemmed from love. Yan Fei shared her worry that others wanted her to simply "go through the motions and leave." Zhou Nian dismissed her confession, saying she was drunk and her words weren't legally binding. He then revealed that his girlfriend had broken up with him during their "final dinner," stating that the past was past.
Despite the sad news, he felt a strange sense of relief after their encounter, and they bid each other farewell for the weekend. Meanwhile, Yan Da, Yan Fei's brother, witnessed Zhou Nian helping a visibly intoxicated Yan Fei into her car. His assistant informed him of Zhou Nian's identity as a fourth-year lawyer and a mentor at Jun An, noting that Zhou Nian had been "clever" and respectful when Yan Da previously called him regarding Yan Fei.
Concerned, Yan Da instructed his assistant to "talk with" Zhou Nian and investigate his background, emphasizing that even if Yan Fei were to leave Jun An soon, she shouldn't associate with questionable people. In another part of the city, Jiang Chen found his aunt in tears after a video call with her daughter, his cousin, who had been living abroad for years and showed no signs of returning. His aunt expressed her frustration, lamenting that her daughter had forgotten her.
She then turned her emotional outpouring toward Jiang Chen, questioning if he understood his own mother's difficulties when she asked him to live with his father, defensively adding that his mother wasn't "after some money" and that "mothers are often blamed." Jiang Chen consoled her, acknowledging the hardships both his mother and aunt faced, and promised to talk to his cousin. The next morning, Zhou Nian sent a group message announcing that the assessment scores and rankings would be revealed.
The news left the interns anxious overnight. The following afternoon, in the multi-function hall, Bai Xiao announced the results: Ren Jiatong and Yan Fei each scored 30 points, Guo Xiaoyu and Huang Yue 20 points, Li Ke 10 points, and Jiang Chen, to his dismay, received zero points. Li Ke, concerned, asked if he and Jiang Chen were eliminated.
Bai Xiao, however, surprisingly declared that, after collective discussion among the mentors, there would be no eliminations in this round, and all interns would proceed to the next stage. A wave of relief washed over the group, and a more relaxed atmosphere settled. The group decided to celebrate their reprieve by going to a horror-themed escape room that evening.
Huang Yue initially expressed hesitation about joining the escape room, mentioning that her "older guy" had asked her to return home early. However, she quickly decided against it, wanting to celebrate and "have real fun" with the group on such a "big day." Zhou Nian declined the invitation, humorously citing the stress of mentoring them and his need for "health and wellness." Yan Fei also declined, looking visibly downcast.
Zhou Nian found her later and offered congratulations, which Yan Fei met with sarcasm, lamenting her second-place finish, achieved only through "resources of my family and professional investors." She expressed frustration at never ranking first at Jun An and having an overall score lower than Ren Jiatong's. Zhou Nian tried to comfort her by calling her a "pretty girl" who shouldn't obsess over rankings, but Yan Fei sharply corrected him, stating she was "not some little girl."
She then revealed she had thought her family background was why people ignored her abilities, but now realized she simply wasn't achieving first place. Zhou Nian advised her not to let minor setbacks discourage her if she was serious about being a lawyer, as the profession "shatters the fragile ones."
When Yan Fei asked if he also looked down on her, Zhou Nian reassured her, praising her as "outstanding" and recognizing her "genuine hard work" after hours, despite her claims of never working overtime. He reframed her family background and access to investors as valuable "resource integration skills," essential for top lawyers, even joking that he'd constantly use such advantages if he had them. Yan Fei teased him about his "carrot and stick approach" to management.
Zhou Nian then posed a crucial question: her true motivation for joining Jun An. Was it for rankings, to defy her brother, or a genuine desire to be a lawyer? He warned that without a clear answer, she might struggle to continue in the profession. Later that evening, at the horror-themed escape room, the game master detailed the rules, including random NPC appearances and solo missions.
Jiang Chen, clearly apprehensive, expressed his desire to check fire safety equipment and emergency exits, and even suggested revisions to the liability waiver to clarify responsibilities in case of an accident. Guo Xiaoyu jokingly observed that she understood why service industries often disliked lawyers. Despite claiming to be a "staunch materialist," Jiang Chen refused to lead the way.
Inside, Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen quickly identified a combination lock, a Durer painting, and the concept of a "magic square" to deduce some of the numbers. Li Ke made a wild guess of "42," linking it to "The Deer and the Cauldron", which Ren Jiatong dismissed as a stretch. However, Jiang Chen enthusiastically affirmed "42," citing "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"'s "ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything." They successfully input the code and escaped the room.
Jiang Chen, still reeling, warned an NPC about safety obligations and potential liability. During another segment, Jiang Chen and Ren Jiatong found themselves handcuffed together. As they struggled to free themselves, Ren Jiatong patiently guided Jiang Chen, who was visibly flustered, on how to maneuver his hand. Their close, cooperative efforts prompted a nearby Guo Xiaoyu to jokingly remark about them "showing PDA" and "eating dog food" while in a stressful situation.
After the intense escape room experience, the interns went their separate ways. Huang Yue invited Guo Xiaoyu to dinner, telling her she "didn't want to go home anyway." They went to a pet cafe, which Huang Yue affectionately described as an "expensive" place where she spoiled a "soft, cuddly, and well-behaved little puppy." Huang Yue then revealed her "good news": her "older guy" had proposed.
However, she was troubled by his constant belittling of her legal career, claiming her future earnings wouldn't match his "small project's earnings." He insisted she focus her energy on him, be more attentive, and eventually quit her job after marriage to dedicate herself to family and children. Guo Xiaoyu empathized, criticizing how men always expect women to "return to the family," highlighting the insecurity this creates for women.
Despite her reservations, Huang Yue admitted she had agreed to his terms because his proposal was a "long-held dream" and her "first mention of marriage" from him after being together for so long. She confessed to a touch of vanity but asserted she worked hard and was marrying the man she loved "with a clear conscience." Guo Xiaoyu, seeing Huang Yue's conviction, offered her sincere blessings and wished her happiness.
The next day, the team joined Zhou Nian for a community legal aid event. Yan Fei arrived late and was furious, realizing she hadn't been informed about it. She confronted her brother, Yan Da, who was dressed in traditional Hanfu, demanding to know why she wasn't included. Yan Da, unfazed, dismissed her career choice, stating that as a "child of the Yan family," she didn't need to "work that hard" to prove herself.
He revealed he had already "spoken to your leader," implying he had once again intervened on her behalf. Yan Fei challenged him, asking if he had approached the managing partner or a senior partner. Yan Da went on to disparage the legal profession, calling it a "tough path" where lawyers "work like a dog every day" and "force smiles in front of difficult clients."
He asserted that even top "Red Circle Firms" were essentially the "service industry" and questioned why she chose to be a "service provider" when she could be a "client." Yan Fei retorted that his experience as a client had made him feel "entitled to parent me." Yan Da then brought up her past request for him to secure "Eddie's funding for Warm Nest," stating he would not tolerate anyone "exploiting my sister's kindness and our family's resources."
He concluded by telling her to "leave Jun An gracefully" after this round. Angered, Yan Fei defiantly declared that she "loved defying" him. She admitted she had "never planned to stay long at Jun An," but now, she was "staying for sure" to prove herself. Upon arriving at the community event, Yan Fei saw Guo Xiaoyu also in Hanfu, participating in a legal play, and Jiang Chen and Ren Jiatong helping an elderly woman.
She immediately confronted Zhou Nian, demanding to know why she hadn't been informed. Zhou Nian vaguely attributed it to "work oversight," claiming he had emailed her but then they created a group chat she wasn't added to. Yan Fei, feeling betrayed, accused him of being "one-sided" and prioritizing his career over their friendship by not offending her brother. She declared he could "just watch carefully how well I handle this consultation."
After the community event, Jiang Chen went to a small noodle shop and found Ren Jiatong already there. He joined her at her table, and the owner greeted them warmly, mentioning the shop's cat had gotten "chubby." Jiang Chen, knowing Ren Jiatong's preferences, asked how she knew his: his love for spicy food and Americanos. Ren Jiatong teased him, saying she'd observed him often and if she didn't know him, she'd think he had a crush on her.
Jiang Chen blushed but denied it, and Ren Jiatong joked that "bashful boys are not popular now." She then cryptically warned him, referencing skilled hunters who "disguise themselves as prey." Jiang Chen then asked about a non-Jun An file he had seen on her computer, and Ren Jiatong explained it was for an old friend of her father's.
Jiang Chen advised her to focus entirely on the competition, warning her that even with her full effort, she might not win against him, let alone if she was distracted. Ren Jiatong, her competitive spirit piqued, declared she would "take him seriously" from that day forward. Jiang Chen then offered a more personal piece of advice, telling her to "learn to take care of yourself" and "shut down your computer when leaving your desk." Finally, he picked a braised egg from his bowl and placed it in hers, stating, "I hate braised eggs."
