Lady of Law Episode 28 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Following his father Chen Wenguang's death, Chen Ke had decided to stay in China for his career. Chen Ran, his half-sister, suggested he join Mingtang Law Firm, noting there were more opportunities domestically and expressing her desire for them to work together, which she believed their father would have wanted. Chen Ke, initially surprised by her offer, agreed.
Meanwhile, Song Xiu’s friend, Wang Tao, informed him about Chen Wenguang’s past, which Song Xiu had never heard of during his time at Mingtang. Wang Tao then pressed Song Xiu for information about Mingtang’s internal affairs, but Song Xiu quickly shut him down, asserting he would never be disloyal to his former firm, especially as many of his current cases at Chengtai Law Firm involved opposing Mingtang.
Wang Tao teased Song Xiu about his status at Chengtai, remarking on the unclear nature of his case analyses, even as Song Xiu was about to become a team leader. Sun Zhewei met with Bai Ning, flattering her and subtly revealing Chengtai's intention to acquire Mingtang. Bai Ning was taken aback, realizing Director Li had not informed them. Sun Zhewei then explicitly stated that he came to Chengtai to complete this acquisition and saw Bai Ning as a potential "teammate."
He suggested that if the merger went through, it would benefit her, as "the victors write the rules." He encouraged her to gather support within Mingtang, which Bai Ning understood as a request to form factions for the acquisition. Although Bai Ning found Sun Zhewei’s playboy demeanor distasteful, she still clinked glasses with him. Chen Ran, seeking a distraction, accompanied Jian Peiran to the Northeast.
Instead of a colleague named Old Li, Jian Peiran’s enthusiastic colleague, Big Cat, met them at the airport, claiming Old Li had a family emergency. Big Cat's overly familiar and intimate behavior towards Jian Peiran immediately caught Chen Ran's attention.
At dinner, Big Cat ordered their "usual set menu" and recounted an incident where Jian Peiran almost had an accident at a construction site but she saved him, adding that Jian Peiran then acted as her "free caretaker" in the hospital. Chen Ran was dismayed that Jian Peiran had not informed her of such a serious incident, to which he replied that he didn't want to distract her while she was grieving her father.
Big Cat continued to reveal more details about Jian Peiran's life, asking Chen Ran if she enjoyed the Northeastern specialties Jian Peiran had brought home previously and if their son Yangyang liked the watch Big Cat had given him, which Chen Ran perceived as an attempt to bribe her. Later, Chen Ran suggested treating Jian Peiran’s colleagues to dinner, despite his attempts to dissuade her, hoping to observe Big Cat more closely.
At a Chengtai social gathering, Director Huang, despite Song Xiu’s reluctance, called him out to perform a dance for everyone, making him feel awkward. Afterwards, Song Xiu, feeling nauseous from the alcohol, excused himself. Unbeknownst to him, his colleague Sun Zhewei had sent an intimate photo to Xu Jie's best friend, Wu You, showing another female colleague cupping Song Xiu’s face.
Concerned that Xu Jie was being cheated on but wanting to avoid direct involvement, Wu You discreetly left a printed copy of the photo at Xu Jie's doorstep. Although initially doubtful, Xu Jie, who had been hoping to reconcile with Song Xiu, decided to wait for him outside his apartment. Meanwhile, Song Xiu returned to the party to challenge Sun Zhewei to a drinking game of "depth charges" after being singled out earlier.
They drank heavily, and as Song Xiu stumbled out, his phone, displaying a call from Xu Jie, was intentionally broken by Sun Zhewei. Thinking Song Xiu had hung up on her, Xu Jie texted him, demanding he return home within half an hour. That night, Song Xiu, unaware that Xu Jie was waiting outside his door, made his way to her apartment, where he waited outside all night.
Wu You, Xu Jie's neighbor, observed Song Xiu's lovesick vigil and, with her partner, discussed their decision to inform Xu Jie, assuring each other that Song Xiu would not trace the photo back to them. The next morning, Xu Jie, unable to tolerate what she perceived as Song Xiu's deception, arrived at Chengtai. She saw a female colleague offering Song Xiu bubble tea and pretending to be weak.
Xu Jie then pulled Song Xiu aside, confronting him with the photo and pressing him against a wall. She questioned the colleague's intentions and demanded to know why Song Xiu let a female colleague apply foundation to his injury. Song Xiu frantically explained it was a misunderstanding and that someone was framing him, insisting there was nothing between them. Xu Jie retorted with the proverb, "Where there's smoke, there's fire," accusing him of becoming reckless.
Just then, Director Huang called for Song Xiu, who left, urging Xu Jie not to be angry. Director Huang then spoke to Song Xiu about the potential Mingtang acquisition, advising him on the sensitive nature of the period and reminding him to keep his work and personal life separate, despite reminiscing about his own wild youth.
Back at Mingtang, Li Gongming convened a meeting with senior partners Tang Ying, Attorney Jiang, and Attorney He to discuss Chengtai's acquisition offer and the selection of new senior partners. Li Gongming presented financial reports indicating a decline in Mingtang's case sources and revenue, acknowledging that Chengtai’s interest stemmed from their current situation. Attorney He expressed no interest in becoming a senior partner, stating he wished to focus on enjoying life rather than dedicating all his energy to work.
Attorney Jiang, however, was eager to compete for the position but argued that evaluating candidates based on less than a year’s performance, deviating from previous rules, would be unfair and might invite criticism. She stressed the importance of a selection method that would be recognized and approved by all colleagues, including younger lawyers like Bai Ning and Chen Ran, whom the new senior partners would lead.
Tang Ying assured her that she and Li Gongming would devise a fair selection mechanism. Later, Bai Ning took on an emotional fraud case involving a man named Xie Jing, but found it difficult to file as there was no clear evidence of financial fraud or physical harm. Determined to expose Xie Jing, Bai Ning decided to seek Xu Jie's help, offering a 50/50 split of the legal fees.
Bai Ning praised Xu Jie's strong track record in "punishing scumbags" and her straightforward personality, also noting that with Chen Ran busy with family matters, Xu Jie should not remain idle. Xu Jie readily agreed, emphasizing the need to dismantle the emotional deception organization, as their methods were learned and numerous women could become victims. She urged them to make it clear that emotional deception is an illegal act.
Bai Ning's colleague, Xiao He, questioned Bai Ning's true motives, suggesting she was recruiting Xu Jie to gain a competitive edge for her own senior partner candidacy. Xu Jie and Bai Ning discussed their strategy for the case, agreeing to start by investigating Xie Jing's social media. Xu Jie explained that while this might only initially secure Wenya's case, the "herd mentality effect" meant that many victims were waiting for a "winner" or someone to speak up.
If Wenya could be that trailblazer, more victims would come forward. Bai Ning then revealed that Wenya was her middle school classmate and former best friend, whose mother reported she was in a very fragile state. Bai Ning worried that media attention would be too much for Wenya to handle.
To protect Wenya while still pursuing justice, Bai Ning suggested they "set a trap" for Xie Jing, using an elegant and beautiful woman through social media to lure him into striking again. Bai Ning visited Wenya at her home. Wenya's mother expressed deep concern about her daughter's condition, describing how Wenya refused to leave her room, eat, or communicate, and cried constantly. Bai Ning tried to comfort Wenya, reminiscing about their happy school days when Wenya was the "campus belle."
However, Wenya, in a distraught state, began to recount phrases seemingly uttered by Xie Jing, revealing his emotional manipulation. She tearfully repeated, "He doesn't love me anymore. Why doesn't he love me?" and questioned what she had done wrong, begging Bai Ning for answers. Bai Ning assured her that it was not her fault, but that Xie Jing was simply "not worthy." Wenya continued to struggle with these words, unable to grasp the idea that she was not to blame.
