Lady of Law Episode 11 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Xu Jie assists Dr. Ye in reviewing a medical cooperation agreement. She confirms there are no issues but suggests a supplementary agreement for post-operative disputes if he remains concerned. Dr. Ye expresses his gratitude, noting these contracts often trouble him, and hints he may need her help again, to which Xu Jie readily agrees. He then invites her to dinner at a friend’s restaurant, which prompts her to remark on his wide circle of friends.
The next morning, after her run, Xu Jie receives a call from Song Xiu. He playfully teases her for being upset that he missed her call last night, interpreting her frustration as a sign that she needs him. Xu Jie dismisses his teasing, urging him to focus on his case, but Song Xiu insists she should care more about him.
Meanwhile, Chen Ran arrives at the office with a new look—a bun hairstyle and a light-colored suit—drawing compliments from colleagues like Liu Fang. New hire Xiao He also greets Chen Ran, expressing his enthusiasm for joining Mingtang and offering his assistance. Chen Ran thanks Xu Jie for her help, acknowledging that while she can offer clear advice to others, she struggles to apply it to her own life.
She reveals she recently had a breakthrough and no longer wants past issues to hold her back. Xu Jie tells her that she should thank herself, as only one's own brave heart can resolve internal conflicts and empower them to move forward. Later, Chen Ran is shown actively managing her team, inquiring about maternity leave and work schedules, and helping a colleague secure a doctor’s appointment for their child.
She notes that Du Qian, due to his inexperience, was easily misled during the L-Station streaming platform's liquidation, and asks Xu Jie to help review the numbers. Chen Ran then receives a call from Attorney He, who asks her and Xu Jie to discuss a new case.
They learn that L Station, a female-oriented game streaming platform founded in 2010 by CEO Zhang Ying, is being sued for copyright infringement by Douma Games over elements from their game, "I Love Xiao Dao." Xu Jie explains that L Station, with its 90% female user base and high daily active users, is highly attractive to venture capitalists. However, she predicts that L Station would suffer a complete loss in court, facing 70 to 100 million in damages.
Attorney He clarifies that Douma’s true intention is to acquire L Station, using the lawsuit as a common "fatten then slaughter" tactic. He asks Xu Jie to help with L Station's financial reports, copyright liabilities, and future valuation, offering to split the profits. Chen Ran describes Attorney He as a quiet but exceptionally skilled lawyer in internet cases, capable of identifying critical issues within complex situations.
She sees potential for their team to expand into internet law, but Xu Jie reminds her of their role as assistants. Concurrently, Damao brings Jian Peiran homemade pickled cabbage dumplings and Northeastern-style cold jelly noodles. She tidies his office, confidently calling herself an "organization expert." Jian Peiran notices Damao has a cold and gives her medicine, urging her to take care of herself.
During this, Jian Peiran's mother calls, complaining that Chen Ran is too focused on work and neglects their family. Jian Peiran tries to defend Chen Ran, suggesting she is busy, but is clearly troubled by the call. Damao discreetly overhears and empathizes with him, remarking on his thoughtfulness compared to other male colleagues. She offers to be his confidante, calling herself the company's "relationship expert." Jian Peiran, not wanting to burden her, dismisses his troubles as minor family matters.
To cheer him up, Damao suggests they attend a ball game that evening. Jian Peiran, realizing he hasn't been to a game in a long time, agrees. Zhang Ying expresses her frustration to Attorney He and Xu Jie, recounting Douma’s past delaying tactics on copyright negotiations, which have now escalated to a lawsuit aimed at forcing an acquisition. She vows not to relinquish company shares.
Xu Jie advises that without a settlement, no reputable venture capitalists will invest, and that this is not the time to insist on absolute control. Both Xu Jie and Attorney He propose that instead of focusing on litigation, they should quickly find a venture capital firm to use as leverage for a settlement with Douma. Xu Jie provides Zhang Ying with a list of potential investors and urges her to negotiate sincerely. Impressed, Zhang Ying offers 0.
25% of company shares as a bonus if the matter is resolved successfully. Xu Jie believes their public pursuit of VCs creates a strong stance, signaling their readiness for court, a strategy Attorney He agrees with. He also notes Zhang Ying’s increasing shrewdness in critical situations. Later, it is reported that 198 out of 207 L Station streamers broadcasting "I Love Xiao Dao" have had their accounts suspended by Douma, citing a terms-of-service violation.
Xu Jie suggests creating a public outcry and encouraging the streamers to file collective lawsuits, but Attorney He objects. He argues that such actions would only give Douma a moral high ground while leaving L Station without streaming authorization and vulnerable to a backlash. He warns that if L Station cannot stream Douma’s popular games, both streamers and fans will leave, severely damaging the platform.
Attorney He concludes that Douma wants L Station to escalate the issue publicly so Douma can then "prove their innocence." Zhang Ying agrees, instructing her team to avoid media responses, comfort the affected streamers, and reschedule investor meetings. Meanwhile, Douma’s legal team, including Su Kejun and Kuang Yu, waits impatiently for a meeting with Mingtang. At Mingtang, Attorney He and Xu Jie present the "Matrix Alliance" proposal to representatives from other gaming companies.
The proposal outlines L Station’s commitment to matching new games with suitable promoters, ensuring streamers test games and create content, with L Station providing resources and preferential pricing. Several representatives, including one from Cool Fox, express strong interest, seeing it as a win-win scenario, and consider signing. Attorney He expresses his hope that this alliance will establish industry-standard rules. The Mingtang lawyers then meet with Douma’s legal team.
Su Kejun dismisses the immediate impact of the alliance, but Xu Jie counters that its success could trouble Douma within a month. Xu Jie then highlights L Station's strong potential, having received favorable investment offers from Huangshan, Pumi, and Sairui Capital. Su Kejun condescendingly questions Xu Jie's experience, arguing that investment terms are often non-binding and VCs are unreliable. He asserts that L Station's valuation is too high and that Douma still holds leverage.
Attorney He concludes the unproductive meeting, refusing to compromise and telling Douma's lawyers to re-evaluate their position. Amidst these negotiations, negative news articles about L Station circulate, appearing to be deliberate releases from VCs and Douma to drive down the platform's valuation. Xu Jie wants to contact the VCs to clarify, but Attorney He stops her. He believes this negative attention is advantageous and instead mobilizes Editor-in-Chief Yang and other internet journalists to launch a counter-attack.
Despite admitting only "50% confidence," Attorney He advises preparing for the worst. His unconventional strategy proves successful: international media pick up the story, exposing Douma's "manipulative tactics," which threaten the industry and prompt potential regulatory intervention. Douma's A-share stock plummets at opening. Faced with this sharp decline, Douma's lawyers call again. Attorney He agrees to a mutual shareholding arrangement. Soon after, Yangyang joyfully announces that the game livestream has been restored.
Separately, Qian Qiuqing introduces Chen Ran to Li Yueru, the chairwoman of Kuntai Life Insurance. Li Yueru offers Chen Ran a position as Legal Manager with a path to Legal Director. The offer includes an annual salary of "no less than seven figures," plus bonuses and the opportunity to purchase shares at the IPO price, as Kuntai plans to list in Hong Kong.
Li Yueru emphasizes Kuntai's focus on work-life balance with standard 9-to-5 hours, inviting Chen Ran to experience the company culture firsthand. That evening, Yangyang video calls Jian Peiran, playfully scolding him for eating out with colleagues again. Chen Ran tells Jian Peiran about the job offer from Kuntai. He acknowledges the new job might be "easier" but advises her to make her own decision, as he doesn't fully understand her legal career. He quickly ends the call to continue dinner.
Shortly after, Damao arrives, apologizing for her delay. Jian Peiran's colleagues playfully comment on his affectionate relationship with Chen Ran. Damao then steps in to help Jian Peiran fend off drinks from his enthusiastic colleagues, declaring them "comrades in the same trench" and matching them drink for drink. At a celebratory event, Attorney Kuang remarks on the successful win-win outcome, noting that Douma expands its user base and L Station secures streaming rights through cross-shareholding.
His superior, the senior opposing counsel, also praises Attorney He's team, singling out Xu Jie's talent. This prompts Attorney He to interject that Xu Jie is "already taken" and is now a good partner with Chen Ran. In a separate conversation, Yangyang expresses her anxieties about her parents being apart, citing a lawyer couple who divorced due to long-distance, and declares she will never be a lawyer.
Alone, Chen Ran looks at a fountain pen her father gave her for her 40th birthday, recalling his words that elegant handwriting earns a client's trust, as she contemplates the significant career decision before her.
