Lady of Law Episode 14 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Chen Ran poured milk for her daughter, Yangyang, and discussed her intention to switch to a more relaxed job to spend more time with her. Yangyang, however, encouraged her mother to choose a job she truly enjoyed, assuring her that she would support her decision and pursue her own passions when she grew up. Shortly after, Chen Ran's senior brother, Tian Mao, arrived, visibly intoxicated.
He shared that while the chemical plant pollution case had resulted in compensation for the villagers, one child couldn't be saved, leaving him deeply saddened. He also expressed concern about the bribery case involving Chen Wenguang, their mentor, as proof of the bribe account remained elusive, creating a deadlock. Chen Ran offered words of comfort, urging him to be patient as a breakthrough would eventually come. Yangyang overheard parts of this conversation.
Meanwhile, a popular idol named Wei Xing found his flight to a commercial event mysteriously canceled, leading to public accusations of him being a "diva." Yangyang, a fan of Wei Xing, dismissed the online rumors as sensationalized. Wei Xing's team decided to sue Jinghai Airlines, demanding not only an explanation for the cancellation but also a modification to their ticketing rules to prevent unauthorized changes or refunds.
The airline, however, considered flexible ticket changes a core marketing strategy they were unwilling to abandon. Later, Chen Ran received a call from her mother, informing her that Zhang Qinglan was in Jinghai and might seek her help to visit Chen Wenguang, and warning her not to engage. At Mingtang Law Firm, Director Tang assembled Chen Ran, Xu Jie, and Attorney He to strategize the Wei Xing case.
Attorney He proposed a settlement where Jinghai Airlines would apologize and conduct a joint public relations campaign. However, Xu Jie suggested arguing for "apparent authority," asserting that since the ticket canceller possessed Wei Xing's identity and flight details, Jinghai Airlines had reason to believe they were authorized, thus protecting the airline as a good-faith third party.
Director Tang ultimately favored Xu Jie and Chen Ran's approach, believing it would be a winnable case in court and incur less financial loss than modifying the entire ticketing system. Although it carried reputational risks, it was deemed preferable to conceding on their core business model. Director Tang then assigned Chen Ran to assist on the case, a decision that surprised Bai Ning.
Bai Ning privately questioned Director Tang's decision, especially since Chen Ran had recently considered resigning but hadn't followed through. Bai Ning suspected Chen Ran was positioning herself for the upcoming senior partner election. Director Tang, however, advised Bai Ning to focus on her own cases and learn from Chen Ran's experience, particularly in e-commerce cases like the "Good Goods Arrive" matter, which Bai Ning had initially dismissed but Chen Ran handled successfully.
Director Tang emphasized that she brought Chen Ran onto the team precisely so Bai Ning could observe and learn from her up close, urging her to look at the bigger picture beyond office politics. Concurrently, Song Xiu was representing Charles, an influencer facing a civil lawsuit from Yuanben Home Furnishings. Charles had caused disruption and property damage by sneaking into their showroom to film a video overnight.
Song Xiu met with Yuanben's legal team from Chengtai Law Firm, which included his friend Wang Tao and his assistant Chen Ke. They were seeking civil compensation for the negative impact. During the meeting, Wang Tao abruptly left and delegated the discussion to his junior assistant, Chen Ke, whose dismissive attitude towards Song Xiu bruised his ego.
Xiao He complained to Song Xiu about Bai Ning's nitpicking, even over a single comma in a report, which he felt was deliberate harassment. Song Xiu, despite calling Bai Ning "not particularly pleasant," defended her as being meticulous and fundamentally of good character, attributing it to her rigorous training under Director Tang. He also revealed that Director Li Gongming had submitted his application for regularization, much to Xiao He's envy and joy.
Xu Jie, observing Attorney Jiang, a successful divorce lawyer with a happy family, wondered why Mingtang had so many talented lawyers but only three senior partners. Liu Fang gossiped that Attorney He, one of the most senior lawyers, hadn't been promoted because Chen Wenguang disapproved of internet law cases, which Attorney He specialized in, creating a rift between them. With Chen Wenguang gone, Liu Fang speculated it might be Attorney He's chance, but cautioned against speaking carelessly.
Chen Ran and Xu Jie found Liu Na, the person who canceled Wei Xing's flight. Liu Na was a café server and a former devoted fan of Wei Xing who had a falling out with his management over his participation in the commercial event. Wei Xing's fan club leader, Shouke Zhai Xingchen, confirmed Liu Na's past actions and provided chat records proving Wei Xing was unaware of the cancellation.
Chen Ran confronted Liu Na with the evidence, explaining that her actions had led to Wei Xing facing a 1. 2 million penalty. Initially defiant, Liu Na conceded after Chen Ran informed her that Jinghai Airlines would sue her if she refused to testify. Liu Na agreed to cooperate on the condition that Jinghai Airlines would not pursue charges against her, establishing her liability for the unauthorized action.
Chen Ran reported her findings to Director Tang, who agreed to convey Liu Na's condition to Jinghai Airlines' Attorney Yang. Later, Dr. Ye invited Xu Jie to what she thought was a dinner meeting to discuss legal consultation for a private hospital. However, Dr. Ye's parents were also present, turning it into an unexpected family introduction. They mentioned giving Xu Jie the hospital's legal work and inquired about her family.
Xu Jie, feeling manipulated and furious at Dr. Ye's presumptuousness, clarified that she and Dr. Ye were merely friends. After dinner, she firmly rejected Dr. Ye's apologies and attempts to justify his actions, emphasizing her discomfort and stating that she wished such misunderstandings wouldn't happen again. She then promptly asked him to settle her legal fees.
Song Xiu called Xu Jie, who was still agitated from her encounter with Dr. Ye, to ask if she would join him and Bai Ning for dinner, as Bai Ning had asked to meet his "mystery girlfriend." Xu Jie tersely replied, "We'll see."
