All Rise Episode 7 Recap
> All Rise Recap
Guo Xiaoyu, known for meticulously tracking everyone's birthdays and zodiac signs, eagerly planned a celebratory birthday party for Ren Jiatong. However, Ren Jiatong, who had not marked the occasion since her father's death, politely declined the gesture, expressing her long-standing aversion to birthday celebrations. Early one morning, a palpable tension filled the office as Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen sat at their respective workstations, engaged in a silent rivalry. Both were vying for a spot on Bai Xiao's team.
Colleagues observed the standoff, with one speculating if Jiang Chen had again faced Ms. Bai's criticism. Others likened their unspoken contest to masters playing blind chess, having fought "hundreds of rounds" without visible movement. Zhou An then summoned both Jiang Chen and Ren Jiatong to Bai Xiao's office. In their initial presentations, Jiang Chen proposed suing the friends of the deceased for encouraging drinking and the insurance company/employer for humanitarian reasons.
Ren Jiatong added the road authority as a potential defendant, citing damaged streetlights at the crash site as a contributing factor. Dissatisfied with both submissions, Bai Xiao instructed them to revise their reports for a more accurate analysis, setting a Sunday noon deadline. Later, at a quiet bar, Jiang Chen, engrossed in his report, encountered Zhou An. Zhou An confided his frustration with Yan Fei, explaining that her father, Yan Da, had privately asked him to lighten her workload.
This intervention, however, provoked Yan Fei, who demanded equal treatment and complained about not being given assignments. Zhou An found it baffling that Yan Fei, from a privileged background, chose to "suffer" at Jun An, much like he questioned Jiang Chen's decision to leave a lucrative U. S. law firm for the competitive environment in China. Jiang Chen mused that they might both be seeking "a life they choose themselves."
He confessed a desire to prove his capabilities since returning to China but admitted the journey at Jun An was proving "so hard," feeling that his prestigious "Harvard and Yale" degree seemed "superficial" in the face of practical challenges. Despite his momentary despair, Jiang Chen reaffirmed his resolve, declaring, "In my life, I only win." Song Yifan later approached Ren Jiatong, who was working late, encouraging her to prioritize work-life balance.
He then revealed that her retention in the previous round was not solely due to Bai Xiao's approval; Jiang Chen had personally pleaded her case to the review committee, even utilizing his own bonus to ensure her re-evaluation. Touched by this, Ren Jiatong sought out Jiang Chen. He admitted his actions, explaining that he viewed her as his worthy competitor and wished for a fair contest.
He then proposed they "work together" to secure spots on Bai Xiao's team, reminding her of their successful collaboration on the medical dispute case. Jiang Chen also debunked the rumor that Bai Xiao only accepts one intern annually, citing Jun An's "inclusive" philosophy and Bai Xiao's own unconventional career path as proof that "rules are meant to be broken." Ren Jiatong readily agreed to the partnership.
In their joint video presentation to Bai Xiao, a moment of distraction occurred when Bai Xiao was seen gently feeding her daughter cake. Jiang Chen subtly prompted Ren Jiatong to continue. They unveiled a new line of reasoning, identifying a demolition company as an additional defendant. Their investigation revealed that an empty lot behind a wall at the accident site should have been cleared two years prior, as per government contracts.
Had the wall been removed, the employee's fatal fall might have been prevented, thus making the demolition company liable. Both interns affirmed it was a collaborative idea, with Jiang Chen emphasizing that "cooperation" aligned better with the program's goals. He explicitly requested that Bai Xiao make an "exception" to take both of them. Bai Xiao, however, clarified that she had no rigid "one person per year" policy and would select based on "whoever performs best."
After the meeting, Jiang Chen confidently told Ren Jiatong they were "unbeatable together" and would become "Jun An's next legendary duo." Soon after, the team assignments were emailed out: Jiang Chen and Ren Jiatong were assigned to Bai Xiao's team, Guo Xiaoyu to Song Yifan's, and Yan Fei, Huang Yue, and Li Ke to Zhuang Xin's.
Upon receiving her assignment, Yan Fei immediately contacted Zhou An, expressing her anger at being placed in Zhuang Xin's team despite her preference for Song Yifan's. After Zhou An clarified that Song Yifan wasn't responsible for the change, Yan Fei confronted Yan Da via phone, accusing him of constant interference in her career and personal life. She angrily questioned if he viewed her as "a person" or "just some pet."
Yan Da defended his actions as being in her best interest, particularly regarding a past relationship, and questioned her desire to pursue a legal career. Yan Fei countered that he considered her "useless" and never truly understood her aspirations. That evening, Ren Jiatong returned home to a heartwarming sight: Guo Xiaoyu had arranged simple decorations and received a cake, but after sampling some, she had fallen asleep on the sofa.
Later, Ren Jiatong learned the cake was from Jiang Chen, who explained he sent it in celebration of their successful entry into Bai Xiao's team, recalling her earlier appreciation for Bai Xiao's daughter's cake. Ren Jiatong confirmed she loved it. On their first day with Bai Xiao, Jiang Chen, expecting to tackle significant cases, was dismayed to find himself assigned the mundane task of case file review.
He voiced his frustration to Ren Jiatong, remarking that the work was so unchallenging that "AI could do this job" and lamenting his decision to join Bai Xiao's team over Song Yifan's, as he sought to "learn how to handle cases" not simply "typing text like a clerk." Bai Xiao, having overheard his complaints, directly informed him that if he was dissatisfied or preferred Song Yifan's team, he was "free to leave anytime."
Earlier, Jiang Chen had prematurely presented a draft of a second-instance defense statement based on his "new perspectives" from the case files. However, Bai Xiao sternly redirected him, emphasizing the importance of first completing the assigned task of organizing original trial evidence. She stressed that uncompleted basic assignments, regardless of additional efforts, would not earn points, and reminded him to shred all physical client information to maintain confidentiality.
Meanwhile, Zhou An officially launched the third assessment round, a two-week, point-based elimination. He then announced the first task for Zhuang Xin's team (Huang Yue, Yan Fei, and Li Ke), as Zhuang Xin was attending a bar association meeting. The team was to research an unfair-competition case concerning trade secrets, specifically whether the plaintiff's client list constituted a trade secret. Huang Yue volunteered to lead, citing her lower ranking and desire for a leadership opportunity.
Li Ke suggested a comprehensive approach of reviewing regulations, case law, and academic theories. However, Huang Yue advocated for prioritizing "case research" to find a unique "breakthrough." While Li Ke expressed reservations about potentially overlooking "important statutes," Yan Fei agreed with Huang Yue, stating that a traditional approach "lacks highlights" and that as "Mr. Zhuang's group," they needed to "stand out." They ultimately deferred to Huang Yue's decision.
Simultaneously, Guo Xiaoyu was thrilled about her first business trip with Song Yifan to Hangzhou for due diligence, which offered a chance for bonus points. Her colleagues expressed envy. She was particularly excited to reunite with her boyfriend, Zhu Zhisheng, and planned a romantic Mid-Autumn Festival getaway to a "trending vacation rental" at Fuchun River. However, Zhu Zhisheng seemed preoccupied and slightly annoyed by her unilateral planning. Later, Zhuang Xin reviewed Huang Yue's team's research report, deeming it "not great."
He acknowledged their extensive case review but highlighted a critical oversight in their legal framework: their failure to consult "The Trial Guidelines for Civil Trade Secret Disputes," a key document for cases in Nanjing. When asked to explain their research approach, Huang Yue hesitated, fearing the impact on her low ranking. Yan Fei interjected, claiming the research framework was a collective decision.
Li Ke was visibly frustrated by Huang Yue's reluctance to take responsibility and by Yan Fei's attempt to play the "nice guy," arguing that as team leader, Huang Yue should bear the consequences as she would have received extra points for success.
