All Rise Episode 12 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen were seeking shelter from the rain when Ren Jiatong spotted a little yellow puppy. She immediately scooped it up, admiring it. The owner mentioned the dog hadn't been named yet, prompting Ren Jiatong to suggest naming it after Jiang Chen, who visibly recoiled, admitting his aversion to dogs. Ren Jiatong then proposed "Sweetie" for the calm puppy, a name Jiang Chen reluctantly accepted. As they walked back, Jiang Chen opened up about his past.
He once had a dog, also named Sweetie, which his father gave away after his parents' divorce, leaving him heartbroken. He recalled his father's words that one shouldn't selfishly keep others if they couldn't care for them properly, and that one must become strong first. Jiang Chen felt his father's disdain and was determined to become an excellent lawyer to prove his capability and surpass him.
To lighten his mood, Ren Jiatong playfully led him to stomp in puddles, a simple act that eventually brought a smile to Jiang Chen's face. Meanwhile, Yan Fei offered Zhou Nian a ride home, but he declined, explaining it was inconvenient. She probed, asking if he feared her or her brother, Yan Da. Zhou Nian dismissed her concerns, stating he feared neither.
He clarified that Yan Da's actions stemmed from a protective instinct, much like his ex-girlfriend's fierce loyalty to her younger brother, Liang Xiaosong. Zhou Nian expressed admiration for Yan Da, who, despite his young age, had single-handedly managed Xingke Group for years, thus allowing Yan Fei the freedom to pursue her dreams at Jun An, a privilege he himself never had. Zhou Nian's words resonated with Yan Fei. Back home, she found her brother, Yan Da, suffering from a cold.
She approached him with uncharacteristic concern and learned that he had aspired to pursue a sociology PhD in the UK but had to abandon his dream and take over the family business when their father fell ill. Yan Da was both surprised and touched by his sister's calm and caring demeanor. Later, in her room, a smiling Yan Fei sent Zhou Nian a message thanking him for his insights.
At home, Ren Jiatong found Guo Xiaoyu distraught over an ongoing cold war with her boyfriend, Zhu Zhisheng, refusing to be the first to reach out. Guo Xiaoyu, noticing Ren Jiatong's quietness, playfully asked if she had a crush on anyone. Ren Jiatong instantly thought of Jiang Chen but vehemently denied it, though Guo Xiaoyu was quick to point out her obvious fondness.
The next morning, Jiang Chen arrived at the law firm early, eager to take on a new case from the lawyer pool. Li Ke and Huang Yue also showed up, having messaged Tian Min to express their interest. Tian Min briefed them on the case: their client, the plaintiff, had sued a defendant company in Beijing based on its registered address.
The defendant filed a jurisdiction objection, arguing their Beijing address was merely a rented office without active staff, leading the case to be transferred to Shenzhen. Although initial checks confirmed the Beijing address was indeed just an office, the Shenzhen address also seemed suspicious, raising doubts about the defendant's true operating location. Tian Min tasked them with further investigation. Guo Xiaoyu's attempts to contact Zhu Zhisheng proved fruitless. Browsing social media, she noticed he had followed a new woman.
A recent photo posted by this woman featured pants and shoes that Guo Xiaoyu recognized as Zhu Zhisheng's, though he himself was absent. Convinced by his sudden coldness and the suggestive photo, Guo Xiaoyu suspected infidelity and confided in Ren Jiatong, who urged her not to jump to conclusions and to keep personal issues separate from work. That night, Jiang Chen called Ren Jiatong, expressing concern after seeing Guo Xiaoyu's recent social media post.
He advised Ren Jiatong to be more open and trusting, suggesting she "stop building walls around herself." Ren Jiatong retorted that she found it difficult to trust, having witnessed too many betrayals. Jiang Chen countered that he was merely looking out for her only friend at Jun An, leading Ren Jiatong to declare they were rivals, not friends, adding that he was drawn to those who could challenge him.
Despite her earlier resolution, Guo Xiaoyu took sick leave the next day and secretly flew to Hangzhou. She called Ren Jiatong from the airport, explaining she had spent a sleepless night tormented by thoughts of Zhu Zhisheng and felt an overwhelming sense of dread. Tearfully, she questioned whether her decision to move to Beijing and join Jun An had been a mistake.
Ren Jiatong tried to calm her, reiterating her strong belief in prioritizing career over love, a path she vowed would not lead to regret. During a subsequent meeting, Ren Jiatong covered for Guo Xiaoyu, informing Mr. Zhuang and Zhou Nian that she was ill. Zhou Nian then introduced a new case from Yiaiwan Tech, a major client in Hangzhou. An employee had collapsed in the company parking lot after work.
Instead of filing a work injury claim, the family demanded the company cover all medical expenses, wages during recovery, and additional compensation. While Jiang Chen and Yan Fei both expressed interest, Mr. Zhuang ultimately assigned Ren Jiatong to assist Zhou Nian with the case, much to Yan Fei's visible frustration. Later, unwilling to give up, Yan Fei made a determined pitch to Mr. Zhuang, presenting detailed research on labor disputes and highlighting her connections at Yiaiwan.
She emphasized her achievements were her own and that she wanted to earn a spot on Mr. Song's team. Zhou Nian, who overheard her, was impressed by her renewed determination, jokingly praising her shift from doubt to passion. Yan Fei, realizing Ren Jiatong was covering for her, discovered Guo Xiaoyu's trip to Hangzhou via her IP address and confronted her. Ren Jiatong confessed the full truth: the unconscious Yiaiwan Tech employee was Zhu Zhisheng.
In a call with Guo Xiaoyu, they learned she was overwhelmed with guilt and no longer cared about the suspected infidelity. Concerned for her friend and motivated to seize the opportunity, Yan Fei decided to join Ren Jiatong in Hangzhou to bring Guo Xiaoyu back and investigate the case. On their flight, Yan Fei declared that she had "earned this opportunity fair and square" and was "tired of losing at Jun An, especially to you."
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen invited Li Ke and Huang Yue to collaborate on their jurisdiction case. He had found a critical clue on a delivery receipt showing a courier station in Beijing, which he suspected was near the defendant's actual operating address. Together, they began working to identify the company's true operational base. On their way from the Hangzhou airport, Ren Jiatong and Yan Fei discussed the Yiaiwan case, as Zhou Nian had to take a later flight.
Yan Fei revealed that her contacts at Yiaiwan had informed her that Zhu Zhisheng's mother had repeatedly pressured management, insisting his coma was due to chronic work exhaustion and citing his overtime records as proof. She questioned why the mother bypassed the formal work injury claim process in favor of direct compensation, especially as Yiaiwan was at a critical pre-IPO stage and keen to avoid negative publicity. This explained the company's urgent need for legal counsel. When Ren Jiatong pressed her on whether she believed Yiaiwan was exploiting its employees or if Zhu Zhisheng's mother was seeking excessive compensation, Yan Fei artfully dodged the question.
