All Rise Episode 5 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Guo Xiaoyu, feeling overwhelmed, announced her intention to leave Beijing the following week and return to Hangzhou, stating that she was exhausted and unable to keep up. Yan Fei suggested that since Guo Xiaoyu was leaving anyway, she should confront Ren Jiatong to clarify the misunderstanding surrounding the plagiarism accusation. Jiang Chen quickly arranged for them to meet at a noodle shop.
During their conversation, Ren Jiatong firmly denied copying Guo Xiaoyu's proposal, stating that she had no need to explain something she hadn't done but was speaking to her because Jiang Chen mentioned Guo Xiaoyu’s distress. Ren Jiatong then challenged Guo Xiaoyu, advising her to stay and gather evidence if she truly believed she was plagiarized, just as a lawyer should fight for their rights.
After trying some of the noodles, Guo Xiaoyu admitted that they were delicious and she had wrongly accused Ren Jiatong. She then shared her suspicion that Huang Yue had accessed her computer the previous night and could have memorized the relevant URL with her tech skills. However, Guo Xiaoyu also questioned herself, wondering if the idea was simply common and if she was being conceited.
Ren Jiatong, unusually talkative after having a drink, refuted this, insisting that the idea was unique to Guo Xiaoyu and she should not lack confidence. Encouraged, Guo Xiaoyu had too much to drink and got completely drunk. The next morning, Ren Jiatong checked on her, recounting her drunken ramblings about her boyfriend Zhu Zhisheng, her picky roommate, and seeing "double vision." This last phrase sparked an idea in Guo Xiaoyu.
Later at the law firm, Guo Xiaoyu, though late, presented her new findings. She explained that while the manga character was called "Xiaoxiao," there was no official public statement linking it to Ms. Xiao, and public assumption was not enough. To provide stronger evidence, Guo Xiaoyu presented a contour line drawing she made by stripping away decorations from Ms. Xiao's photo shoot image.
She demonstrated that the manga character's pose and angle were identical to the original photo, proving the "double vision" concept and building a strong case of portrait rights infringement. Zhuang Xin praised Guo Xiaoyu for her ingenuity and encouraged all interns to cultivate diverse interests beyond legal studies, emphasizing that the legal profession needs young talents who can adapt to new challenges. Zhou An announced that Guo Xiaoyu's team members would each receive 20 bonus points for their successful presentation.
Wang Lu, concerned about his low ranking, asked if he would be eliminated. Zhou An clarified that the first round was merely adaptive training, and no one would be eliminated. However, to acknowledge performance, the next round's starting scores would be adjusted: Wang Lu would begin with minus ten points, and Huang Yue with minus five.
Conversely, Jiang Chen, as the top performer, received immunity from one elimination, while Ren Jiatong and Guo Xiaoyu, tied for second, would get five bonus points added to their next task score. Yan Fei and Li Ke would start the next task with zero points. Zhou An concluded by wishing everyone good rest, stating that the real competition was about to begin. Li Ke proposed a team dinner to celebrate everyone making it through the first round.
When Wang Lu jokingly suggested Guo Xiaoyu pay, she demurred, having just paid her rent. Jiang Chen stepped in to ease her discomfort. As the group prepared to leave for a hot pot restaurant, Guo Xiaoyu received a call from her boyfriend, Zhu Zhisheng. He enthusiastically announced his approved leave and plans to come to Beijing to pick her up.
However, upon hearing Guo Xiaoyu's hesitation about returning to Hangzhou, he became angry and hung up, leaving her no chance to explain. Seeing Guo Xiaoyu distraught, Yan Fei offered her a tissue. Guo Xiaoyu broke down crying, but with Yan Fei’s comforting words that she should follow her heart and stop worrying about what others think, she gradually calmed down. They reconciled, agreeing to attend the dinner as colleagues.
At the hot pot dinner, the interns gossiped about Bai Xiao and Song Yifan’s past relationship. It was revealed they had dated, but after their breakup, Bai Xiao married, had a child, and then divorced, while Song Yifan remained single. Wang Lu explained that Jun An discouraged internal relationships, and if two people in the same group dated, one would eventually have to leave the firm. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen noticed Ren Jiatong seemed unwell.
He later found her outside the restroom and, after repeated inquiries, she explained in medical terms that she was menstruating, which left Jiang Chen feeling awkward. A small boy accidentally bumped Ren Jiatong into Jiang Chen, creating a moment of subtle tension that was broken by Guo Xiaoyu's arrival. The conversation then shifted to Wang Lu's decision to join the Talent Hunt Program.
He candidly admitted he sought a faster path to prove himself and work on cases with senior lawyers, explaining that regular internships often offered limited exposure. Huang Yue, feeling vulnerable after everyone shared their thoughts, confessed to Ren Jiatong that she both envied and admired her professional capabilities. As she raised her glass to drink with Huang Yue, Ren Jiatong realized her alcoholic beverage had been secretly swapped with iced tea.
She then discreetly sent a text message to Jiang Chen, thanking him. As the evening progressed, fueled by drinks, the interns shed their guard, openly discussing their career aspirations and anxieties. The earlier competitive barriers began to dissolve, replaced by mutual encouragement, significantly strengthening their team cohesion. The next morning, the interns arrived at the law firm looking weary. Zhou An announced the second round of assessments: an individual task.
Their client, Ms. Tan and her agency, had received an endorsement offer from Ha'erjian Foods for their candies. Each intern was required to prepare a legal memorandum for Ms. Tan, analyzing the feasibility and risks of the endorsement. Zhou An emphasized that this was an individual competition, with points awarded in three tiers for the top three, and the lowest overall scorer would be eliminated. The deadline was midnight that same day.
Later that afternoon, an elderly man visited the law firm to personally thank Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen for their pro bono legal assistance. He praised Ren Jiatong’s meticulousness and Jiang Chen’s dedication, confirming that he had retained Jun An for his case. As a result, Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen were each awarded ten bonus points. Shortly after, Ren Jiatong received an urgent phone call from a man who insisted on meeting her downstairs.
She requested a half-hour leave from Zhou An, who granted it but reminded her of the elimination round's importance. When Bai Xiao returned to the office, she saw Ren Jiatong speaking with the man in the lobby and mistakenly assumed she was prioritizing personal matters over work. Throughout the afternoon, Ren Jiatong appeared distracted, causing her work progress to lag. Jiang Chen subtly placed a cup of milk on her desk as a gesture of concern.
Despite her efforts, Ren Jiatong submitted her legal memorandum one minute past the midnight deadline. Realizing the gravity of her error, she was filled with regret. Bai Xiao sternly criticized Ren Jiatong, stating that punctuality is a fundamental professional ethic for lawyers, crucial for client trust, and that even Song Yifan could not make an exception for her.
Ren Jiatong later approached Song Yifan, who acknowledged the quality of her report but stressed the importance of adhering to rules and commitments, asking, "We mentors can stay up waiting for your report. And clients?" Ren Jiatong replied that she understood.
