Lady of Law Episode 4 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Chen Ran, still processing Xu Jie's words, contacted a friend named Xiao He to investigate Wang Moyu, the daughter of Wang Chengyuan. Meanwhile, Xu Jie, diligently pursuing leads in Chen Wenguang's case, discovered that he had no reimbursement records for his trip to Lucerne. Suspecting he might have rented a car for the short distance, she contacted a rental company but was informed they had no record of the vehicle being returned.
Later that evening, Song Xiu urgently summoned Xu Jie, claiming an emergency and insisting she meet him immediately. At a restaurant, he presented her with his bank card, containing 120,000 in savings, and his car keys, declaring these as his "dowry." He expressed his desire to take responsibility for her and formalize their relationship.
Xu Jie, however, rejected his proposal, stating she didn't need his responsibility and felt secure on her own, adding she had no interest in his financial status. Song Xiu, undeterred, twisted her words, suggesting her disinterest in his money meant she was interested in him personally and that he could pursue her. Xu Jie dismissed him as a "little brother" and advised him not to be so serious.
To prove his commitment, Song Xiu highlighted his upcoming promotion to a regular employee, which would allow them to "keep pace professionally" and build a "brighter future." To settle the matter, Xu Jie proposed a coin toss. Song Xiu chose "characters." When the coin landed on "flowers," Xu Jie, concealing the result, declared he was "lucky" and granted him permission to pursue her, secretly harboring a growing fondness for him.
The next day, Chen Ran and Xu Jie met with Wang Chengyuan to discuss his divorce from Zhang Fei. Wang Chengyuan explained that sending their daughter, Doudou, abroad was for her future, with plans for her to attend Oxford and for his parents to join her there. Xu Jie countered, revealing that Zhang Fei's company, Feiyi Culture, owed five million in rent for paintings from Blackwater Gallery, whose owner was a friend of Wang Chengyuan's.
Xu Jie accused him of deliberately entrapping Zhang Fei financially. She argued he set up the company for Zhang Fei's artistic interests but intentionally denied her management skills, thus fostering her dependence—a slow, calculated manipulation. Zhang Fei, also present, confirmed her husband had given her the company but admitted she never managed its operations. Xu Jie pointed out this manipulation had left Zhang Fei with the mentality of a 22-year-old. Wang Chengyuan insisted his actions were "for her own good."
Xu Jie further accused him of making Zhang Fei materially dependent and pre-planning a trap regarding Doudou's custody, effectively treating their marriage as a business deal. She then revealed that Doudou was already enrolled in a school abroad, a move made knowing Zhang Fei, who suffered from ALS, would be unable to travel. Wang Chengyuan admitted his mother had advised some pre-marital arrangements, citing corporate responsibilities and Doudou's education.
He expressed a desire for joint custody and promised unlimited visitation for Zhang Fei, offering to formalize it in writing, before asking them to "name their price." Xu Jie then boldly wrote 40 million as the proposed settlement, stating it was the best outcome they could achieve for Zhang Fei. She criticized Zhang Fei's choice to prioritize custody over financial compensation, calling her a "selfish mother" for making a decision detrimental to Doudou out of "self-satisfying maternal love."
Xu Jie argued that a patient with ALS, unable to work and burdened by debt, could not provide a stable life for a child, contrasting it with the secure future Doudou would have with the wealthy Wang family. Chen Ran, speaking as a mother, believed she understood Zhang Fei's emotional stance, but Xu Jie dismissed this, stating that using family bonds to manipulate others was the "most selfish choice."
Later, during a meeting to sign the divorce agreement, Zhang Fei tearfully stated she had found a job and could repay her debts, reiterating her desire for no money but only to be with Doudou. She expressed her fear that Doudou would grow up thinking her mother abandoned her for money. Wang Chengyuan assured her to focus on recovery and that he would arrange visits.
Chen Ran interjected, arguing that with Doudou sent abroad, Zhang Fei, in her condition, would likely never see her again, and that a mother's love was irreplaceable. Xu Jie urged Chen Ran to guide her client towards rational judgment, but Chen Ran insisted she was merely fulfilling her client's wishes. After the meeting, Xu Jie confronted Chen Ran, questioning if she was a "lawyer or a philanthropist."
Xu Jie firmly argued that for Zhang Fei, "being alive" and having financial security were paramount, asking how she could possibly survive with ALS and mounting debt. Chen Ran retorted that forcing Zhang Fei to give up Doudou would be tantamount to "killing her." To persuade Wang Chengyuan, Chen Ran arranged for him to witness Zhang Fei struggling through a photo shoot for a job.
Chen Ran shared her personal journey, explaining how her father's accident had shattered her "comfort zone" and forced her to confront a new reality, making her realize the importance of independence. She passionately appealed to Wang Chengyuan, emphasizing that their family existed because of all three of them—him, Zhang Fei, and Doudou—and that none could be missing. This heartfelt plea prompted Wang Chengyuan to agree to consult with his mother.
Later, he informed Zhang Fei that he would bring Doudou back from his mother's house and that Zhang Fei could see her every Friday evening until Sunday or Monday morning. Zhang Fei expressed profound gratitude. However, Xu Jie remained unconvinced, asserting that this was not the best outcome, as Zhang Fei's "happiness was temporary" without fundamental financial security. Continuing her investigation into Chen Wenguang, Xu Jie called the car rental company again.
This time, she falsely claimed Chen Wenguang had a traffic violation on November 26, 2019, and provided his passport number. The company confirmed the rental and revealed that the car was returned by a woman named Zhang Ruiqiu, a name that surprised Xu Jie. Later, Li Gongming revealed to Chen Ran that he had specifically brought Xu Jie from Qing'an City to investigate her father's case.
He explained that while their personalities and approaches differed—Xu Jie's rationality complementing Chen Ran's empathy—he believed they could effectively work together. He then shared Xu Jie's new lead, but Chen Ran stated she did not know Zhang Ruiqiu and had never heard her father mention the name. Li Gongming then assigned Xu Jie the Victory Group bond dispute case, stating she was the most suitable lawyer for such economic matters.
This greatly upset Song Xiu, who had diligently followed the case and hoped it would earn him recognition. He confronted Xu Jie, expressing his frustration that she had taken "his" case. Later, Xu Jie found him letting off steam on the tennis court. She advised him to view such situations rationally, as it was a reality of their profession where colleagues compete for cases.
Song Xiu confessed that he wasn't angry about losing the case to just anyone, but specifically to her, as his ambition was to "stand by her side" and "keep pace professionally," not to be her rival.
In a subsequent firm meeting, Director Li detailed the Victory Group case: Li Weiying, the group's controlling shareholder, had used personal equity as collateral to borrow 800 million from over thirty entrepreneurs, defaulted on repayments, and was now a discredited person who had fled abroad. Lin Guangshu, the largest creditor and a friend of Li Weiying's, had approached their firm to evaluate a bankruptcy plan.
While he had considered using personal funds to cover some worker wages, he was advised against it due to the high risk of bad debt, leaving bankruptcy liquidation as the most likely path. The case was a "hot potato," attracting significant public and governmental attention due to widespread worker protests over unpaid wages.
Chen Ran volunteered Team Two to handle it, and Xu Jie presented her strategy: locate Li Weiying in Switzerland and compel him to propose a feasible repayment plan, convinced that he was not the type of person to simply flee. Director Li approved their plan. Afterwards, another lawyer, Attorney Bai, approached Song Xiu, acknowledging his magnanimity and offering him an auto repair shop case from Director Tang as a good opportunity for "refinement."
