Lady of Law Episode 21 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Chen Ran hesitated regarding Ms. Liu Li's request, but Xu Jie, usually rational, believed it was an achievable demand. Xu Jie reasoned that Longfei Motors likely sought to settle the matter with compensation and a confidentiality agreement, so suggesting a closed-door incense offering might be more advantageous for their client. She pointed out that Liu Li had already approached many law firms, making her well-informed about the standard legal avenues.
Xu Jie urged Chen Ran to see the potential for their firm to make a name for itself in Jinghai by successfully resolving this complex case. Chen Ran agreed to draft a power of attorney for civil litigation, stipulating that if they couldn't meet Liu Li's core demand, no legal fees would be charged.
Later, Chen Ran expressed concern that Xu Jie had been too quick to agree to Liu Li's emotional request, fearing it would put them at a disadvantage in negotiations. Xu Jie clarified that their initial plan was indeed to propose a closed-door offering, but by demanding a public apology first, they left room for negotiation without immediately revealing their bottom line. She stressed the importance of a firm stance when dealing with the opposing counsel.
At the law firm, Chen Ran and Xu Jie met with Longfei Motors' legal representatives, including their old adversary Fang Pu and Chengtai's newly recruited lawyer, Sun Zhewei, who was introduced as being from Qing'an, like Xu Jie. Xu Jie immediately presented their primary demand: Ling Longfei, the owner of Longfei Motors, must personally kowtow and offer incense at Liu Li's home, with other compensation terms to be discussed later.
Sun Zhewei countered with an offer of one million in compensation and a confidentiality agreement, stating that Ling Longfei had already refused the kowtowing and incense offering in previous discussions with other lawyers. Xu Jie insisted, and when Sun Zhewei pushed back, she abruptly ended the meeting and left, much to Chen Ran's surprise. Xu Jie later explained to Chen Ran that her abrupt departure was a calculated negotiation strategy.
She admitted her familiarity with Sun Zhewei necessitated a strong approach to gain an advantage. After work, Sun Zhewei confronted Xu Jie, revealing that his engagement had been called off and expressing his intention to pursue her again, claiming he had moved to Jinghai for her.
Xu Jie, visibly annoyed, rejected his personal advances and reiterated her settlement terms for the Longfei case: five million in compensation and a private incense offering by Ling Longfei, with her personal guarantee of no media presence. She emphasized that his personal life was irrelevant to her. Feeling exhausted, Xu Jie fell asleep on the sofa, still looking beautiful to her boyfriend, Song Xiu. Waking up, she asked him to "recharge" her with a hug.
To lift her spirits, Song Xiu took her to the outdoor exercise equipment, encouraging her to walk while gazing at the sky. He playfully made light of his own unemployment, making her laugh and feel lighter. Xu Jie saw through his humor, realizing he was doing all this to care for her during her stressful time. Xu Jie and Chen Ran subsequently met with Ling Longfei directly, presenting him with a letter from Liu Li.
They strategically questioned the alignment of his lawyers' interests with his own, prompting him to dismiss Sun Zhewei and Fang Pu from the room. The two lawyers then pressured Ling Longfei by citing China's Road Traffic Safety Law Implementation Regulations and intelligent connected vehicle road test management regulations.
They highlighted Longfei Motors' misleading promotional materials, which advertised their Level 3 autonomous driving system as "Auto Running autonomous driving," capable of "completely freeing hands and feet," despite Level 3 systems still requiring constant driver attention. They warned that these misleading claims could lead to widespread public and legal backlash, including car recalls and numerous other lawsuits. Faced with mounting pressure, Ling Longfei agreed to personally offer incense at Liu Li's home.
However, Xu Jie unexpectedly postponed further settlement discussions until the following week, a move Chen Ran found puzzlingly irrational. Meanwhile, Bai Ning called Song Xiu, ostensibly about medical insurance reimbursement, but subtly hinted that Xu Jie and Sun Zhewei had an "unusual relationship." Song Xiu, however, did not seem concerned. Sun Zhewei later presented the finalized settlement terms to Ling Longfei.
The agreement stipulated that Liu Li would sign a confidentiality agreement, prohibiting her from disclosing any details of the case. In return, Longfei Motors would establish a ten-million-yuan trust fund with a bank, generating five percent annual interest. Half of this interest, 250,000 yuan, would be paid to Liu Li and her son, Du Xiao, annually until Du Xiao's death. The remaining profits would be reinvested into the principal. Mingtang's designated accounting firm would audit the fund yearly.
Crucially, if Liu Li or Du Xiao violated the confidentiality agreement, the trust payments would immediately cease, and the principal would revert to Longfei Motors or Ling Longfei's designated successor. Sun Zhewei presented this as a win-win, ensuring Liu Li and Du Xiao's financial security while effectively buying their "eternal silence," with the principal ultimately returning to Ling Longfei. After the case concluded, Sun Zhewei attempted to contact Xu Jie again.
Xu Jie, however, impersonated him at his hotel to mail Longfei Motors' internal inspection report to Jinghai Daily, implicating him in the leak. The news report exposed Longfei's misleading advertising of its "autonomous driving" features, sparking public debate. Chen Ran, angered by Xu Jie's secretive and seemingly irrational actions, confronted her, fearing it would jeopardize their client's settlement.
Xu Jie defended her actions, explaining that the report did not directly relate to Liu Li's specific case, making it difficult for Longfei to prove a breach of the confidentiality agreement. She asserted that Sun Zhewei would ensure the settlement remained intact. Finally, Xu Jie confessed that Sun Zhewei was her ex-boyfriend, clarifying her personal motivation. She further revealed her belief that Chengtai hired Sun Zhewei not to target her, but to undermine Mingtang.
She also emphasized that she acted out of concern for public safety, believing that not exposing the flaws in Longfei's vehicles would lead to more deaths. Elsewhere, Fang Pu visited Attorney He Gang at Mingtang. To the surprise of their colleagues, who were speculating about a major legal collaboration, Fang Pu distributed wedding invitations. The two lawyers had been meticulously negotiating their marriage agreement, including supplementary clauses about not interfering with each other's clients.
Liu Fang, a "gossip princess," and other assistants were astonished by the revelation. Song Xiu also expressed his amazement at Attorney He Gang's ability to keep his "underground romance" a secret and playfully debated with Xu Jie about what attire to wear to the wedding. At the wedding, Song Xiu intended to speak with his mentor, Li Gongming, about his suspension. However, he overheard Li Gongming discussing his case with another lawyer.
Li Gongming firmly rejected the suggestion to withdraw the disciplinary action against Song Xiu, stating that young lawyers needed to endure hardship and gain experience. Song Xiu was disheartened by his mentor's unwavering stance. The other lawyer then proposed to Li Gongming that since lawyers from their respective firms were marrying, perhaps their law firms could also consider merging for a "powerhouse alliance."
