Lady of Law Episode 33 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Bai Ning, feeling she lacked a strong ally at Mingtang, found herself unable to muster enthusiasm for work, lounging on the sofa in despondency. Xiao He, who retrieved a spare key from the fire hydrant outside her apartment, entered to console her. He gently chided her for keeping the key in such an obvious spot and noted her lack of spirit, recalling her earlier teachings on the "Olympics" of law.
Bai Ning expressed her contempt for the "corrupt" firm, lamenting that the system was rigged and that "athletes who dope get disqualified," implying unfairness. She revealed her envy for Chen Ran, who seemed to effortlessly possess what Bai Ning had to fight half her life to achieve.
When Xiao He suggested she shouldn't dwell on temporary setbacks and questioned her constant competition with Chen Ran, Bai Ning retorted, asking him not to persuade her if he was on Chen Ran's side. Xiao He clarified that while Chen Ran had recommended him, he wasn't biased. He admitted to finding Bai Ning annoying at first, but soon realized her relentless self-pressure stemmed from ambition, not malice.
Bai Ning, however, vehemently blamed Director Li Gongming for favoring Chen Ran and Tang Ying for manipulating her, insisting she herself was blameless. Xiao He tried to help her see reason, but Bai Ning dismissed him as merely an intern. Accepting his inability to comfort her, Xiao He left, urging her to rest. Meanwhile, Jian Peiran returned home, burdened by the collapse of his building project in the Northeast.
He called out for his wife, Chen Ran, and their daughter, Yangyang, but was met only with silence in the empty house, intensifying his sense of loss. Shortly after, Cao Hui called him. She mentioned hearing about the project failure and invited him out for a drink to unwind.
At the bar, Jian Peiran recounted his earlier ambition to work for a couple of years in the Northeast, enduring hardships to secure a promotion—a plan Chen Ran had opposed, but he had insisted on. Now, he felt it was a humiliating defeat. Cao Hui comforted him, attributing his misfortune to bad luck and reassuring him that his age was a man's prime, promising more opportunities. She even offered to be his "support" if things became truly dire.
Feeling a fleeting uplift, Jian Peiran decided to invite his friends, and encouraged Cao Hui to invite hers, for a night of karaoke and drinks to lift their spirits. Returning home, Chen Ran noticed Jian Peiran's luggage and schoolbag, but couldn't find him anywhere. Worried, she waited for him on the sofa all night. She tried calling his phone multiple times, then called her mother-in-law, who was already asleep and unaware of Peiran's return.
Chen Ran promised to text her once he was home. Later that night, a highly intoxicated Jian Peiran was being helped into a car by his friends, with Cao Hui accompanying them. He kept insisting he wouldn't go home, wanting to continue drinking. In the car, as Jian Peiran rested his head on Cao Hui's lap, Chen Ran's call came through, but Cao Hui silently disconnected it.
The next morning, Jian Peiran woke up in a hotel room, finding Cao Hui asleep beside him. He quickly answered Chen Ran's latest call, fabricating a story about being at a friend's place and having passed out from drinking too much. Chen Ran, relieved, asked him to call his mother, who had been worried. After hanging up, Jian Peiran immediately apologized to Cao Hui for drinking excessively, which she casually dismissed.
In court, the case involving Laiwu Real Estate, represented by Chen Ran, against Zhao Rentai and Qi Min was heard. Chen Ke's thorough collection of evidence, including Qi Min's prenatal checkup reports and the house quality report, along with Chen Ran's composed arguments, gave Laiwu Real Estate a significant advantage. The plaintiff's attorney, Shi Qi, questioned Ms. Qi about two prenatal checkups within a week, implying underlying health issues before her miscarriage.
Ms. Qi explained she felt unwell after the first checkup and later experienced a slight impact from a child, but doctors assured her everything was fine until her miscarriage four days later. Chen Ran presented evidence that the formaldehyde levels were compliant when the property was delivered and noted that Zhao Rentai had performed secondary renovations on the TV wall.
She also cited Ms. Qi's history of two previous miscarriages, though she had Shi Qi clarify that it did not meet the medical definition of "habitual miscarriage," firmly asserting no causal link between the property and the miscarriage. During the recess, Chen Ran approached Ms. Qi directly, apologizing for the uncomfortable questions asked in court and expressing her empathy as a mother. She subtly conveyed that, despite the impending verdict, the miscarriage was not the fault of Laiwu Real Estate.
Chen Ran then offered a settlement of 200,000 yuan as a gesture of goodwill. Shi Qi's attempt to reject the offer and seek public support was met with a firm reminder from Chen Ran that lawyers resolve problems, not exploit clients, and that further public exposure would only cause more distress to Ms. Qi. After considering the implications, Zhao Rentai and Qi Min agreed to the settlement, forcing Shi Qi to concede. Facing Xiaoyu's case, Song Xiu was deeply troubled.
His firm, Chengtai, was now representing Shihao Hotel, leaving Xiaoyu vulnerable and him unable to help. Wang Tao comforted him, advising that lawyers are gladiators wielding the law, not superheroes upholding justice. Meanwhile, the verdict for the Hunter Restaurant case was announced: Song Xiu had won.
The court ruled that the "courtesy menu" did not violate consumer protection laws, as price menus were available upon request, and it was aimed at the host, not specifically women, thus not constituting personal insult. Xu Jie then informed Chen Ran of her desire to represent Xiaoyu against Shihao Hotel.
Despite Shihao Hotel having been a previous client of Mingtang, Xu Jie argued that since their contract was terminated, she was ethically free to represent Xiaoyu, feeling a deep connection to Xiaoyu's plight as it mirrored her own past. Chen Ran supported Xu Jie's decision. Xu Jie and Song Xiu visited Xiaoyu. Suffering from emotional dependence, Xiaoyu clung to Song Xiu when he arrived, tearfully pleading for his help.
Song Xiu gently explained his firm's conflict of interest and persuaded her to accept Xu Jie as her new lawyer, reassuring her that they would both work to win her case. Outside, Song Xiu apologized to Xu Jie for the earlier lipstick incident. As forgiveness, Xu Jie demanded a kiss. After their tender moment, Song Xiu received a call from his mother, who urgently informed him that his uncle had suffered business losses and needed financial assistance.
Song Xiu quickly ended the call, concealing the new family burden from Xu Jie by telling her his mother simply wanted them both home for dinner. Bai Ning returned to work, and Xiao He, noticing her unhappy demeanor, attempted to lighten her mood. Their playful bickering eased the previous awkwardness between them. Elsewhere, Jian Peiran was facing a stark reality at his company.
His manager, Mr. Chen, informed him that while his diligence was recognized, responsibility for the project collapse was unavoidable. Although the company wouldn't fire him, a transfer to a new role was definite. Jian Peiran pleaded to remain in his current position, even with a pay cut, but Mr. Chen stated it was beyond his control. Later, Chen Ran called Jian Peiran, suggesting they go home together as she was finishing a case nearby.
Jian Peiran lied, claiming he was working overtime with a colleague, "Lao Bai." As Chen Ran was leaving her office, she overheard one of Jian Peiran's colleagues—the very same Lao Bai he had mentioned—talking about Jian Peiran's demotion due to the Northeast project collapse. The colleague, seeing Chen Ran, confirmed the news and advised her to spend more time with Jian Peiran. Chen Ran, visibly shocked, simply thanked him, having unwittingly discovered the truth about her husband's predicament.
