All Rise Episode 3 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Guo Xiaoyu, feeling remorseful about filming the video, decided to stay late at the office to help with work. Ren Jiatong, understanding Guo Xiaoyu's guilt, reassured her that she never blamed her for the video and that her presence wouldn't solve anything now that the translation had been submitted.
After leaving briefly, Guo Xiaoyu returned with snacks and hot coffee for Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen, urging them to get some rest and promising to cover for them the next morning. Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen pushed through the night, meticulously reviewing the documents.
Jiang Chen asked if Ren Jiatong was still managing, to which she confidently replied she wouldn't collapse even if he did, emphasizing that her dedication stemmed from professional judgment rather than any personal risk taken with him. They finally pinpointed the critical error in the agreement concerning the "exclusive authorization" and Ren Jiatong immediately emailed Song Yifan with their findings. During a brief break, they discussed the incident and the nuances of the legal profession.
Jiang Chen noticed Ren Jiatong's low spirits and correctly guessed she was still anxious about the firm's decision regarding the Warm Nest video. Ren Jiatong confirmed her apprehension about the announcement expected that morning. Jiang Chen insisted she had done nothing wrong, pointing out that she only mentioned being "from Jun An" and never claimed to be a lawyer. He advised her to actively appeal her case.
Playfully, Ren Jiatong called his advice "friendly advice from a rival," to which Jiang Chen responded that it was "a defense opinion from the great lawyer from the future." He then urged her to advocate for her own rights, reminding her that her world should not solely revolve around law and clients, but also include her own well-being. He also noted he had never seen her smile so genuinely before.
Inspired by Jiang Chen's words, Ren Jiatong used the opportunity of organizing medical dispute case files to proactively present her capabilities to Bai Xiao. However, Bai Xiao quickly saw through her intentions. Recognizing her from the Warm Nest video, Bai Xiao asked if Ren Jiatong was attempting to use connections. After examining the materials, Bai Xiao critically pointed out several unclear statements and glaring errors, leaving Ren Jiatong disheartened.
Bai Xiao then challenged her to provide a compelling reason why she should be retained. Meanwhile, the Warm Nest company, a crucial client for Jun An Law Firm, demanded Ren Jiatong's dismissal as a condition for continued cooperation. This sparked a heated debate among the partners during an internal meeting. Despite Ren Jiatong's excellent assessment scores and evident potential, opinions were divided.
However, Bai Xiao ultimately overruled the dissenting voices, affirming that Ren Jiatong had only stated she was "from Jun An" and not a lawyer, thus not violating any rules. Guo Xiaoyu, feeling responsible, burst into the meeting and took full blame for filming and uploading the video, arguing that eliminating Ren Jiatong for it would be unfair. The firm decided to keep Ren Jiatong's internship provisional, with her final retention to be determined after the next assessment.
Guo Xiaoyu excitedly hugged Ren Jiatong, reminding her that she was also still "on probation" and they should both continue to work hard. To express her gratitude, Ren Jiatong meticulously researched Bai Xiao's coffee preferences. She then prepared a precisely made latte for Bai Xiao, citing notes left by a previous assistant. She explained that "observation and gathering information" are essential for lawyers. She also presented a revised legal plan incorporating Bai Xiao's feedback.
Bai Xiao, though initially dismissive of such gestures, was impressed by Ren Jiatong's respectful yet confident demeanor. Bai Xiao acknowledged Ren Jiatong had more practical experience than other candidates, but challenged her to prove she could maintain her performance. Later, Song Yifan paid a visit to Bai Xiao's office, teasing her for "talking tough but acting soft" regarding Ren Jiatong's situation. He repeatedly invited her to dinner, but Bai Xiao declined, stating she had plans with her daughter Niuniu.
Among the other interns, reactions to Ren Jiatong's continued presence varied. While some were pleased, others grew resentful due to increased competition. Wang Lu and Li Ke murmured about Ren Jiatong having "connections," particularly noting her previous failure at Yingtai Law Firm. Guo Xiaoyu tried to defend Ren Jiatong, highlighting her evident competence, but Wang Lu retorted by bringing up Guo Xiaoyu's role in filming the controversial video.
Seeing Guo Xiaoyu speechless, Yan Fei interceded, telling Wang Lu to rely on his own abilities to win. Afterward, Guo Xiaoyu and Yan Fei chatted in the breakroom. Guo Xiaoyu expressed her anxieties about pursuing her lawyer dream in Beijing, detailing her financial struggles with hotel stays and unrefunded deposits, and her parents' disapproval. Yan Fei, referring to her own family as "just regular business people," offered a contrasting perspective, encouraging Guo Xiaoyu to focus on earning her own money.
Yan Fei also playfully critiqued Guo Xiaoyu's inability to articulate herself in arguments and correctly deduced she had helped Huang Yue with the translation. She challenged Guo Xiaoyu's self-perception, pointing out that despite her average background, she had outranked top-tier students. Guo Xiaoyu, amused, praised Yan Fei's perceptiveness, jokingly suggesting she could be a "Master Yan" for curing workplace anxiety.
When Guo Xiaoyu asked about her relationship status, Yan Fei revealed she was single and that her only relationship criterion was "no male lawyers" because they are "too calculating." Just as Yan Fei left, Li Ke approached Guo Xiaoyu, speculating that she was befriending Yan Fei, the heiress of Xingke Group, to secure her position. He provided details about Yan Fei's family and the value of her designer bag, implying Guo Xiaoyu was strategically "climbing the ladder."
Guo Xiaoyu quickly denied knowing Yan Fei's family background. The assessment results for the translation task were announced. Song Yifan explained that the task, based on his own past case, was designed to test the interns' professional legal thinking, not merely their translation skills.
He recounted how he had discovered the original document's flaw and communicated with the client and opposing counsel to verify it, which not only led to the client renewing their contract with Jun An but also brought in new legal work for Kern Company's projects in mainland China. He then revealed that despite some interns (like Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen) detecting the issue, no one had contacted him or Zhou Nian, their supervising lawyers, to report it.
He emphasized that for new lawyers, feedback and communication with seniors are paramount, as senior lawyers are responsible for case decisions. He concluded that due to this critical lapse in communication, the entire group would receive zero points for the round, leaving their overall scores unchanged.
After the announcement, Song Yifan advised the interns to prioritize their well-being, go home, and enjoy their weekends, stressing that "life isn't all about work" and Jun An is a law firm, not a "sweatshop." He encouraged them to learn cooperation, rather than just competition, highlighting that the work is endless and should not be shouldered by one person alone.
Later, Jiang Chen privately met with Song Yifan, expressing his ambition to become an excellent lawyer and his desire to work in Song Yifan's team. He praised Jun An's development and Song Yifan's success, viewing it as proof of China's legal progress. Song Yifan, admiring Jiang Chen's confidence, noted that Ren Jiatong had negotiated for her challenging work and suggested Jiang Chen could do the same.
Recognizing Ren Jiatong was currently overloaded, Song Yifan subtly proposed that Jiang Chen consider teaming up with her. As the workday drew to a close, Song Yifan found Bai Xiao still working late. He playfully chided her for not leading by example, especially after encouraging the interns to go home.
He insisted on driving her home so she could spend time with her daughter Niuniu, playfully deflecting her sarcastic remark about him needing to take female clients to dinner by reaffirming his status as "decent and principled." Ren Jiatong proactively signed up for the firm's community legal consulting activity, hoping to work alongside Bai Xiao. To her surprise, she discovered Jiang Chen had also registered.
At the community consulting event, an elderly gentleman mistook Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen for screenwriters. Upon learning they were lawyers, he initially wanted to leave. Jiang Chen quickly stepped in, offering his contact information and assuring him of available legal assistance. Later, as Jiang Chen walked away to take a phone call, Ren Jiatong continued her conversation with the old man, who mentioned he had written a novel and adapted it into a screenplay.
As she was walking him home, she learned that his plot bore a striking resemblance to a recently released movie. With her professional intuition, Ren Jiatong suspected potential copyright infringement and immediately offered to provide him with legal assistance, giving him her contact details. Meanwhile, Yan Fei, at her brother Yan Da's insistence, reluctantly agreed to a blind date. Yan Da introduced her to Eddie, the son of a business associate, claiming they were childhood friends.
Yan Da suggested that Eddie's company needed lawyers, hinting at potential collaboration. Yan Fei, however, was unimpressed with Eddie and sarcastically inquired if he was facing legal troubles, debt, or contemplating divorce, elaborating on the complexities of such cases. Her brother grew frustrated, but Yan Fei reiterated her disinterest in arranged marriages and insisted on finding her own partner. She also expressed her growing enjoyment of the competition at the internship. Annoyed, she abruptly left the meeting.
Concurrently, Jiang Chen received a phone call from his mother, who demanded he return to Chongqing to take over their family's law firm, arguing that it was established during her marriage to his father and she had a stake in it.
Jiang Chen expressed his reluctance to demand money from his father and reminded his mother that he had intended to repay her for his education abroad by working at an American law firm for two years, but she had insisted on his return. He pleaded for three more months to prove himself by winning the Talent Hunt Program, emphasizing that he didn't wish to inherit anything. His mother, however, questioned what would happen if he failed to achieve his goal.
