Chapter 117: Thank You

“How exactly did you manage it?” Zhang Ze asked as he watched Chen Yuanding exit through the main gate of Court No. 2.

“Me?” Xu Fei smiled lightly. “You could say it’s a little secret of mine.”

Zhang Ze glanced at Xu Fei with interest. “I misjudged you.”

“Did you?” Xu Fei replied with a faint smile.

“This time, if it weren’t for you, I might never have escaped that trap in my life.”

Xu Fei was momentarily surprised. “Trap?”

“Yes. When I graduated, I was actually Chen Yuanding’s assistant.”

“That explains why that girl looked at you like you two knew each other well.”

“You mean Su Lan? Yes, actually, we were…”

“Lovers?” Zhang Ze gave Xu Fei a knowing look.

“You seem to see through everything,” Xu Fei said with a slight grin.

“Do I?” Zhang Ze nodded. “Su Lan was my junior in college. When I was a senior and she was just starting as a freshman, we were together as I graduated.”

“Oh, she’s a beautiful girl.”

“Yes!” Zhang Ze nodded appreciatively. “Later, I went to Donghai to work under Chen Yuanding. Even back in school, I aspired to be someone like him.”

“Like this?” Xu Fei gestured toward the direction Chen Yuanding had left.

Zhang Ze shook his head with a wry smile. “Back then, Chen Yuanding was a man of strong principles, but…”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Later, he changed.”

“Really?” Xu Fei seemed unconvinced.

To him, Chen Yuanding was inherently a shrewd operator, skilled in manipulation and accustomed to certain tactics.

In contrast, Zhang Ze’s honesty and sincerity felt genuine.

“What happened that made you give up your dream of becoming a lawyer?” Xu Fei asked.

Zhang Ze lowered his head. “Su Lan graduated and was assigned to Donghai. She chose to be with me, and we both worked as Chen Yuanding’s assistants.”

“That sounds perfect. Being together with shared goals and interests—that’s a match made in heaven!” Xu Fei looked at Zhang Ze with some envy.

“Yes,” Zhang Ze nodded. “At that time, many envied us, saying we had a bright future ahead.”

He smiled softly, a hint of sweetness touching his lips.

Xu Fei quickly asked, “And then?”

“Then something happened that I never expected.”

“Unexpected?”

Zhang Ze’s expression darkened as he looked at the seat Chen Yuanding had just vacated.

“Su Lan fell in love with Chen Yuanding.”

“Ah!” Even Xu Fei, who had been guessing, hadn’t imagined such an outcome.

“That Chen Yuanding... did he steal your lover?”

Zhang Ze shook his head.

Xu Fei frowned. “No?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Ze looked at Xu Fei. “Honestly, it’s hard for me to believe myself, but Su Lan fell for Chen Yuanding.”

“She liked him?” Xu Fei’s disbelief was evident.

“Yes. After she told me, I spent a long time wondering if Chen Yuanding had done something to her.”

Zhang Ze shook his head in self-reproach. “I even thought maybe Chen Yuanding had wronged Su Lan or threatened her.”

“But why? Su Lan was so young—how could she be attracted to that old man?”

Zhang Ze smiled bitterly. “Maybe that’s just love. As Su Lan said, I don’t understand what love is.”

Xu Fei paused, noticing a trace of sorrow in Zhang Ze’s eyes—a kind of pity directed at himself.

“So I’ve been hating him, wanting to defeat him. Even after I left, I kept taking cases against Chen Yuanding’s clients.”

“But you never won, did you?”

Zhang Ze smiled helplessly. “No.”

“And eventually, you lost all confidence.”

“Exactly.”

Zhang Ze slipped his hands into his pockets. For some reason, his face brightened as he looked up at the emblem hanging behind the judge’s bench.

“The law is fair. I truly was just inferior to him before, blinded by my prejudice.”

He turned to Xu Fei. “Thank you for helping me understand that.”

With that, he stepped forward and patted Xu Fei on the shoulder.

“Come on, let me buy you a drink.”

Xu Fei saw a newfound confidence in Zhang Ze’s eyes and nodded.

“Alright.”

The two walked out of the courthouse.

Zhang Mingyang, Old Liu, and Old An were waiting for them at the entrance.

“Congratulations, Xu Fei.”

“Thanks, Brother Liu.”

“All’s well now.”

“Yes, Brother An.”

“I say, let’s go, Fourth Brother. I’ll treat you all to a drink at Old Li’s.”

Xu Fei looked at Zhang Mingyang and said, “No need to treat today, Third Brother. Lawyer Zhang wants to treat us.”

“Ah?” The others looked at Zhang Ze in surprise.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Exactly! Lawyer Zhang helped Fourth Brother win the case, and now he’s letting you pay?”

“Right, Fei, we should be treating Lawyer Zhang.”

Zhang Ze waved them off.

“Listen, everyone, actually today it was Xu Fei who helped me.”

“Helped you?!” Everyone was even more puzzled.

Xu Fei smiled. “Alright, let’s not stand here wasting time. We can talk on the way.”

Zhang Ze and Zhang Mingyang’s group headed toward the courthouse gate.

Xu Fei glanced at Du Man, who had been quiet beside him.

“It’s over.”

“Mm.”

Du Man stepped closer and linked her arm through his.

“I knew you’d be fine.”

“You?” Xu Fei smiled, looking at her leaning on him.

“Then why did you come so nervously?”

“I... Xu Qing and the others insisted I come see. I never said I had to.”

Du Man nestled closer, smiling softly.

Xu Fei smiled, too.

With that, the group left the courthouse.

At Old Li’s restaurant, Xu Fei raised his glass.

“Lawyer Zhang, this drink is to thank you.”

Zhang Ze raised his glass. “Xu Fei, before this, I didn’t think much of you, but after this, I’m glad to have you as a friend.”

“Well then, Xu Fei is honored to know you, big brother.”

They clinked glasses.

“To you, Brother Zhang!”

They drained their drinks.

Just then, five or six young men entered the restaurant, all with fierce looks in their eyes.

Old An, sitting facing the door, frowned as he watched them. They wore jackets with their sleeves seemingly hiding something hard.

Seeing Xu Fei and Zhang Ze seated, one of them gave a signal to the others, who then approached them.

Old An’s heart tightened. He stood up quickly, pointing at one of the men.

“What are you doing here?”

The man stiffened under Old An’s question, and a steel pipe fell from his sleeve.