Chapter 1292: Self-Contradictory
Looking at Gu Nianzhi’s cold expression, Cai Shengnan smiled as she thought that perhaps her first achievement in the country would be to bring Gu Nianzhi down.
Her att.i.tude became more demure and amiable, and her voice changed from its previous high-pitched and intimidating voice to a gentle and steady voice.
“Miss Gu, I’ve said everything I need to say. It’s also fate that we’ve met here today. We’re all people who understand the law, so we must understand that there are many things that can be settled out of court. There’s no need to take it to court. How embarra.s.sing would that be? We’re not kindergarten children. Do we have to be so ruthless? Don’t you agree? ”
Cai Shengnan spoke to Gu Nianzhi in a conciliatory tone.
Indeed, a lawyer serving a client didn’t necessarily have to go to court to represent the client.
The best thing a lawyer could do was to settle all kinds of legal disputes for the client so that things wouldn’t get out of hand and wouldn’t end up in court.
“What do you mean? I don’t understand.” Her tone unperturbed, Gu Nianzhi said calmly.
“It’s very simple. Didn’t your university professor teach you that? There are many cases that have been decided before the court. ” Cai Shengnan looked at her with a smile. “Not many lawyers win their cases by debating in court.”
“Really?” Gu Nianzhi raised an eyebrow. “I did just graduate and haven’t fought many cases. Coincidentally, my cases were won by debating in court.”
“That’s too bad. If you think that way, it can only mean that you’re too naive, and that Major General Huo has protected you too well. You know how it is when you have your back against a big tree? Do you really think that you won all the cases in the past because of your ability? Hehehe… ”
Cai Shengnan finally showed a hint of disdain in her tone, which indicated that she looked down on Gu Nianzhi’s ability. She still thought that her achievements were either because of Huo Shaoheng or He Zhichu.
She wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Gu Nianzhi couldn’t be bothered to argue with her anymore.
Besides, everything she said was a lie. When the time comes, they’ll know each other’s strengths in court.
However, Gu Nianzhi could sense that something about Cai Shengnan’s words was off.
It looked like this person was determined to connect Song Jinning’s case with Huo Shaoheng…
It was exactly as she had expected. Regardless of whether they had used Huo Shaoheng’s power or not, these people were going to label them as the strong “bullying” the weak.
It was a pity that even though it was understandable for others to say that, Cai Shengnan was the only one who didn’t have the right to say that.
Shouldn’t she take a look at herself before shaming others?
“So that’s what Miss Cai thinks. I’ve learned my lesson.” Gu Nianzhi wasn’t angry at all. She followed Cai Shengnan’s reasoning and asked, “Ao all of Miss Cai’s achievements in the United States were because of your father’s ability and status?”
“No wonder you, Miss Cai, are so uncouth when dealing with legal affairs. You are even willing to disregard the most fundamental legal facts and lie through your teeth. Did you really go to law school? Or did the law schools in the United States lower the admission and graduation standards to release menaces like you to harm society?”
“d.a.m.n you! ” Cai Shengnan was furious, and she pointed at Gu Nianzhi. “How dare you slander me? I’ve worked so hard for so many years, yet now you’re trying to denigrate all my hard work! Where’s your evidence? You’re slandering my professional capabilities, academic achievements, and slandering my character. If you don’t show me evidence, I’m going to sue you for slander!”
“The same goes for you.” Gu Nianzhi didn’t back down. She raised her chin slightly and looked at Cai Shengnan coldly. “You slandered my professional capabilities and academic achievements just now with empty words. In your words, where’s the evidence? If you don’t show me the evidence, I’ll sue you for slander!”
She was completely using Cai Shengnan’s own words against her.
Cai Shengnan’s face gradually turned red from the provocation. Her chest heaved up and down, and even her hands were clenched tightly.
Gu Nianzhi followed suit to provoke her further. “…You can’t show me any evidence? Only you’re allowed to judge others for being unprofessional, but if others criticize you it’s regarded as slander? Your double standards are truly the quintessence of America values. You’re really good at this!”
As the two of them stood at the door of the private room arguing, Luo Jialan, who was sitting with her back to them, finally turned around. She saw Cai Shengnan and a woman standing face to face as if they were talking, and the woman was actually Gu Nianzhi!
Luo Jialan’s heart tightened.
Cai Shengnan hadn’t signed a contract with her yet. If Gu Nianzhi ruined it, where else would she find such a capable lawyer to represent her?!
Luo Jialan had witnessed Gu Nianzhi’s abilities firsthand during Bai Jinyi’s case, so she didn’t dare underestimate her.
She wasn’t even 20 years old, and looked like a cute young girl. She was like a dog that didn’t bark. When she bit someone, she was silent but deadly…
Luo Jialan got up in a hurry and went to Cai Shengnan’s side. She glanced at Gu Nianzhi and snorted lightly, then said, “So Miss Gu is eating here as well. Feels nice exploiting the prestige of the Huo family’s name, isn’t it? No wonder you’re reluctant to let go, even if it will hinder Shaoheng’s future.”
She tugged at Cai Shengnan’s arm again. “Miss Cai, the dishes are starting to be served over there. Shall we go back and eat? There’s nothing to talk about with her.”
Luo Jialan had always acted as if she was superior to Gu Nianzhi. Ever since Gu Nianzhi first went to the Huo family’s mansion, and since Luo Jialan was still Huo Jialan, she had never taken Gu Nianzhi seriously.
Gu Nianzhi was an orphan girl who had tried every possible means to get into the Huo family’s good graces. This impression of her was deeply ingrained.
Moreover, because Gu Nianzhi refused to back down, she didn’t even give her the chance to get a marriage certificate with Huo Shaoheng — a “fake marriage. ” Luo Jialan’s beautiful dreams and plans were completely shattered. She hated Gu Nianzhi to the core.
Gu Nianzhi saw that Luo Jialan had taken the initiative to throw her under the bus, so she didn’t hold back anymore.
“Haha, our Huo family? Miss Luo’s surname is Luo, right? What do you have to do with the Huo family? The fact that you can come here to eat itself is exploiting the Huo family’s name, right? No wonder you’re reluctant to let go and even asked to get a fake marriage certificate with my fiancé. ——Miss Luo, don’t you know that fake marriages are illegal? You were sent by the enemy to ruin my fiancé, weren’t you?”
Gu Nianzhi could tell that both these two women were interested in Huo Shaoheng, so she couldn’t help provoking them by calling him her ‘fiancé’ in front of them.
She had to expose their unrealistic fantasies so that they wouldn’t continue to spite her in the future.
Luo Jialan didn’t expect Gu Nianzhi to know about this as well. She was so embarra.s.sed that she had the urge to find a hole to burrow into.
She couldn’t maintain the haughty expression on her face anymore, and retorted reflexively, “Nonsense! You’re obviously the one who couldn’t get the Huo family’s approval, so you’re taking it out on me. Aren’t you suing me because I’m obstructing your plans? Are you worried that you won’t be able to marry into the Huo family easily?”
Cai Shengnan raised an eyebrow and said immediately, “I see. Miss Gu, you’re suing Miss Luo for your own selfish interests. Isn’t that unethical? Isn’t that against the code of ethics for lawyers? I can file a complaint against you!”
“Why would I sue Luo Jialan? Doesn’t she know?” Gu Nianzhi’s lips twitched, and she rolled her eyes. “Besides, where do you stand on this? Are you Luo Jialan’s lawyer or her hired thug?”
“Of course I’m her lawyer! ” Cai Shengnan blurted out, “I’m speaking for my client. What do you think?”
Luo Jialan was both surprised and delighted.
She had been thinking about how she could convince Cai Shengnan to be her lawyer, and was afraid that Gu Nianzhi would ruin it. After all, with Cai Shengnan’s ability and status, money alone wouldn’t be enough to convince her.
She had set aside a day to talk to her in detail today precisely because of this matter.
She hadn’t expected Cai Shengnan to agree the moment Gu Nianzhi spoke…
Luo Jialan immediately jumped at the opportunity. “That’s right. Lawyer Cai is my lawyer. Miss Gu, what she says are my words.”
“Okay.” Gu Nianzhi flicked her fingernails as if she was flicking off a speck of dust. “Then you’d better pray that Luo Jialan tells you the entire truth. You know that if the client conceals the truth from you, you won’t be able to win the case.”
As she spoke, Gu Nianzhi turned to look at Luo Jialan, whose eyes were twinkling. “Isn’t that so? Miss Luo, it’s no use trying to portray yourself as an innocent and ditzy airhead in front of your lawyer. It’ll mislead her and cause her to develop false optimism and abnormal legal judgment. It won’t be good for the case.”
Luo Jialan’s heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she suddenly got a headache.
It was impossible for her to tell Cai Shengnan everything, because she didn’t trust anyone.
It was precisely because Gu Nianzhi knew what she had done in the past that she concluded that a person who didn’t even trust her own mother couldn’t be expected to confide in a lawyer.
Cai Shengnan laughed. “Miss Gu, it looks like you really don’t understand me or how the law works. As for me, I don’t need my client to tell me the truth. I just need her to tell me if she’s innocent. As long as she tells me she’s innocent, we lawyers will do the rest.”
Then, she added, “Otherwise, do you think it’s that easy to become a famous lawyer? A lawyer’s capability is reflected here, instead of digging out the truth from a client. The truth of the case is for the court to decide. It’s up to the judge and the jury to decide. We’re only responsible for telling our side’s truth.”
“I understand. Turns out that the famous Cai’ lawyer’s litigations are all about ‘making up facts’. Alright, I’ll see you in court. I’ll see how perfect your fiction is and whether it can withstand my interrogations.” Gu Nianzhi didn’t want to speak with them any more, so she turned around and was about to enter the room.
Cai Shengnan looked at the magnificence of the room and bit her lip. She said unwillingly, “Miss Gu, let me warn you. It does feel good to use someone else’s privilege for your own benefit. But you also have to bear the consequences of doing so.”
Gu Nianzhi stopped in her tracks and turned around. She frowned slightly and asked in confusion, “What did I do to deserve this? To make you mention ‘privilege’ over and over again?”
“Still pretending? ” Cai Shengnan pouted at the private room. “Didn’t you just use your privileges to cut the line before us and get this private room? ”
Gu Nianzhi was silent.
So this was the root of it all.
The two of them were angry that she had used this private room.
She had only used a private room for a meal, and they were already talking about her privilege. How low was their threshold for privilege…
Gu Nianzhi looked up at Cai Shengnan and Luo Jialan andsaid airily, “You need a members.h.i.+p card to eat here. Do both of you have members.h.i.+p cards for here?”
She wouldn’t answer Cai Shengnan’s question directly. At this point, she would have to use smoke and mirrors to get more information.
Sure enough, Cai Shengnan said proudly, “Of course. Do you think we’re like you? You want to show off with other people’s privileges. Miss Luo and I both have members.h.i.+p cards here.”
Cai Shengnan was Cai Songyin’s niece, so Gu Nianzhi wasn’t surprised that she had a members.h.i.+p card here.
But Luo Jialan having a members.h.i.+p card here was truly exploiting the Huo family’s prestige, wasn’t it?
Gu Nianzhi looked at Luo Jialan and asked in confusion, “Miss Luo also has a members.h.i.+p card here? Didn’t you leave the Huo family? Why didn’t you return their members.h.i.+p card?”