All Rise Episode 22 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Ren Jiatong's team presented their findings on the Xia Jun case. Ren Jiatong detailed surveillance footage showing Xia Jun meeting the opposing representative, who claimed to have given her two million yuan in cash in a tennis bag.
Ren Jiatong's analysis, sparked by Guo Xiaoyu's observation about the weight of cash, revealed a critical inconsistency: two million yuan in 100-yuan bills would weigh approximately 23 kilograms, far too heavy for Xia Jun to casually carry with one hand as depicted in the footage. Ren Jiatong further explained that Xia Jun claimed the bag only contained a tennis racket, a gift that would not violate company policy.
Ren Jiatong suspected that the opposing party, likely aware of an impending investigation, deliberately implicated Xia Jun to coerce both companies into a quiet settlement. Yan Fei added that her brother had encountered similar manipulative tactics in the past. Zhou Nian praised the teams' unique strengths and confirmed that he would send his notes to the supervising lawyers, who would score them based on individual performance and teamwork. He announced a follow-up presentation later that afternoon.
Privately, Guo Xiaoyu expressed concern for Ren Jiatong's emotional state, but Ren Jiatong assured her she was fine and focused on refining their report for the afternoon. Guo Xiaoyu then shared her plan to earn extra points by assisting Mr. Song with his client meeting. Soon after, Gao Lang dropped Bai Xiao off at the firm. Song Yifan observed their polite embrace.
Bai Xiao confirmed to Song Yifan that her meeting went smoothly and Gao Lang had paid the full amount upfront. Song Yifan, with a hint of sarcasm, suggested the fee should be tripled for such a "minor matter" requiring Bai Xiao's personal attention. When Bai Xiao invited him to the afternoon report, mentioning Guo Xiaoyu would be presenting, Song Yifan promptly agreed to attend.
Later, the results of the assessment were announced: Ren Jiatong's group and Jiang Chen's group members each received 20 points. Guo Xiaoyu received an additional 30 points for her outstanding performance, while Yan Fei had the lowest score among the four candidates. That evening, as the team gathered for late-night snacks, Guo Xiaoyu recounted the “battlefield” she witnessed in the parking lot, openly admitting her admiration for Gao Lang’s handsomeness and recent single status.
She interpreted Gao Lang’s actions as a bold declaration to Bai Xiao, signaling his renewed availability. Guo Xiaoyu then revealed the long-standing misunderstanding between Bai Xiao and Song Yifan: Bai Xiao had resigned, believing Song Yifan would leave the firm with her, while Song Yifan remained, mistakenly thinking Bai Xiao was resolute about staying at Jun An, causing them to miss their chance.
Song Yifan, arriving with bubble tea for the team, overheard Guo Xiaoyu's entire recounting, much to her embarrassment. Jiang Chen, however, reassured Guo Xiaoyu that Song Yifan was not upset, remarking that "girls love to gossip." Ren Jiatong later initiated a private conversation with Jiang Chen. She apologized for her harsh words, admitting she had been "a bit too much."
Jiang Chen also apologized, explaining that it was his father's birthday, and he was in a bad mood due to personal struggles, causing him to lash out. He insisted it wasn't her fault and that he would never allow a lady to apologize first. They discussed their shared commitment to becoming lawyers, emphasizing the importance of solving problems through logic and clear communication.
Ren Jiatong stated her desire to win the Talent Hunt Program but not at the expense of their relationship. Jiang Chen promised he would compete fairly and confirmed he had other career options even if he lost. Jiang Chen expressed his suspicion regarding Zhang Xiaomei's actions—her return to China, her inability to contact Yan Da, her confrontation with Yan Fei, and the circulating photo—finding the timing "too convenient."
Ren Jiatong informed him that Yan Fei had discovered Zhang Xiaomei's frequented coffee shop, and they planned to meet her. Jiang Chen playfully questioned Ren Jiatong's sudden shift in focus, teasing her about her feelings for him, but she quickly redirected him to concentrate on their professional responsibilities. Jiang Chen then received an urgent call from Ren Jiatong, who relayed grim news from Yan Fei.
Yan Fei explained that Yan Da had been secretly taken by local police abroad under suspicion of infringing upon a major competitor's corporate secrets. He was out on bail but his freedom was restricted. Concurrently, the competitor was suing Xingke Group for patent infringement in China. Yan Fei, her family, and their legal director decided to entrust Jun An with the case.
Song Yifan volunteered to handle the patent infringement aspect, with Bai Xiao taking on the litigation for Yan Da. A visibly pale Yan Fei then revealed that her father had suffered a stroke upon hearing the news and was now hospitalized with her mother. With her brother's situation uncertain, Yan Fei felt an immense pressure to remain strong and manage family affairs, leading her to formally apply to withdraw from the Talent Hunt Program.
The team members immediately expressed their profound concern for Yan Fei. Jiang Chen proposed that the most effective strategy would be to prove the competitor's patent invalid, and he had already reached out to his overseas classmates and friends in the chip industry to search for prior art. Ren Jiatong suggested that the photo of Jiang Chen and Yan Fei online might have been a "setup" orchestrated by someone connected to Yan Da.
Yan Fei confirmed that Zhang Xiaomei, a video blogger, genuinely loved Yan Da and had only sought money as a pretext to compel him to appear. Guo Xiaoyu supported this, adding that women often instinctively sense such emotional truths, and suggested investigating Zhang Xiaomei's social media for further clues. Zhou Nian approached a deeply distressed Yan Fei, advising her against drinking coffee. He empathetically acknowledged the immense pressure she was under.
Yan Fei poured out her heart, expressing profound sadness for her brother, who, at 28, had sacrificed a sociology PhD program in the UK to take over Xingke after their father's serious illness, never once complaining. She regretted her past antagonism towards him, recognizing that he had always protected her, especially after a painful previous relationship. Now, she yearned to protect him. Zhou Nian reassured her that her brother would be proud and that the entire team would help her.
He gently suggested she allow herself to cry. As Yan Fei prepared to leave, Zhou Nian swiftly followed her, informing her that he had already contacted several leading intellectual property lawyers and industry experts, and posted a request for assistance on industry forums. He advised her to prioritize stabilizing Xingke by meeting key investors and reassuring suppliers and clients. He also provided her with compiled case studies and public relations strategies for crisis management.
Deeply moved by his unwavering support, Yan Fei asked for a hug, which Zhou Nian readily offered, promising to be there for her whenever she needed him. Bai Xiao updated Ren Jiatong on the ongoing investigation, revealing that local police had discovered a notebook in Yan Da's office containing critical information about the competitor's core clients, detailed transaction records, and customized product data. These details matched the clients Yan Da had been visiting overseas.
Ren Jiatong's review of the internal surveillance footage showed that, aside from Yan Da himself, only his assistant He Fan had frequently entered his office. Zhang Xiaomei's few visits were consistent with her earlier statements about her itinerary. Ren Jiatong had also been monitoring Zhang Xiaomei's social media, noting her current low spirits while on vacation with friends.
The Yan family's attempts to contact Zhang Xiaomei had been unsuccessful, but Guo Xiaoyu's online efforts suggested Zhang Xiaomei would return to China next Monday, creating an opportunity to speak with her. Song Yifan, having consulted with Xingke's researchers, emphasized that proving the competitor's patent invalid was the most direct and effective strategy. He instructed the team to diligently search for evidence that the relevant technology had been publicly disclosed prior to Airuiqi's patent application.
The team made calls to various contacts, including Bill, Chuck, Mr. Liu, and Chris, seeking assistance in finding the necessary information. Yan Fei met with Zhang Xiaomei, who revealed that Eddie, a long-time family friend of the Yan family, was actually the Asia-Pacific head of the competitor company. Zhang Xiaomei also stated that Eddie had introduced He Fan as Yan Da's assistant and had encouraged her recent overseas trip, likely to divert their attention.
Zhang Xiaomei denied any knowledge of the photo of Jiang Chen and Yan Fei circulating online, which only deepened the team's suspicions. Ren Jiatong recalled that Eddie was the person Yan Da had previously arranged for Yan Fei to go on a blind date with. Eddie was currently unreachable, and Yan Fei was actively trying to locate him. Bai Xiao instructed Ren Jiatong to arrange a prompt meeting with He Fan.
During a subsequent case report meeting, Ren Jiatong presented her latest findings. Jiang Chen and Guo Xiaoyu advocated for the patent invalidation strategy, pointing out that the patent had already faced multiple invalidation lawsuits abroad, suggesting inherent flaws. They recommended that Xingke collaborate with a specialized technical evaluation agency to uncover further weaknesses in the patent.
Guo Xiaoyu explained how she had leveraged her experience as a video blogger to enlist tech influencers and other content creators to help with their research, in exchange for interview opportunities with Xingke, which served as a beneficial public relations event for the company. She credited Zhou Nian for his continuous guidance and for pulling "all-nighters" with them.
Bai Xiao underscored that the upcoming weeks constituted the final and most crucial assessment round for the Talent Hunt Program, urging everyone to dedicate themselves fully, both for their friend Yan Fei and for their own professional futures. Later, Ren Jiatong received an urgent message from Mr. Lin, informing her that her mother had been in a car accident.
Bai Xiao immediately instructed Ren Jiatong to take personal leave and return home, reminding her of the importance of timely communication in such critical situations, and offering unwavering support. Bai Xiao emphasized that Jun An trains "lawyers, not machines," implying the importance of personal well-being. At the hospital, Ren Jiatong’s mother, recovering from successful surgery, expressed guilt for being a burden and worried about impacting Ren Jiatong's competition.
Ren Jiatong reassured her that her condition was stable and offered to hire a caregiver, which her mother, concerned about the expense, declined. Back in Beijing, Ren Jiatong confided in Guo Xiaoyu about the challenges she faced, discussing their shared passion for the legal profession and the persistent misunderstanding from their families and relatives.
Ren Jiatong recounted her mother questioning her decision to practice law in Beijing, given the current salary and the negative stereotypes held by their relatives about lawyers. Guo Xiaoyu, identifying as a "digital native" who could discern "gentle, kind-hearted, and passionate" individuals, vehemently defended lawyers, citing their mentors like Bai Xiao, Song Yifan, Zhou Nian, and Tian as examples of good people.
She affirmed that Ren Jiatong would also embody these qualities and was destined to be a good lawyer who could advocate for the profession, educating the public about the demanding reality of their work—from working past midnight to clocking in at dawn, providing emotional support, and the constant pressure. She described Bai Xiao's motivation for being a lawyer as "liking it" and finding "a feeling of accomplishment" even from rare victories, concluding by calling Ren Jiatong "a young Bai Xiao."
Amidst their conversation, Guo Xiaoyu discovered an alarming online post by He Fan, accusing Bai Xiao of employing "coercive interrogation tactics" that caused her "excessive stress" and "unexpected collapse," leading to widespread cyberbullying against Bai Xiao. Guo Xiaoyu expressed her outrage at this development.
