After the Cannon Fodder A Accidentally Marked the Paranoid Female Lead - Chapter 12

 The curriculum at Hong Kong University isn’t particularly heavy. Major lectures last two to three hours, and tutorials last one hour. Aside from Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays are basically half-days. There are also special circumstances, such as internships or exchanges, where one can proactively reduce their course load, provided they have enough credits.

Ming Sian was a special case. Generally, law students start interning in their third year, but she began in her second. However, since her internship was at a firm under the He family umbrella—and who knows how many professors at the school were connected to the He family—it was relatively easy to reduce her classes.

Consequently, she could work full days at Anning twice a week. On her half-class days, she had to spend the remaining half-day at work; Anning Law Firm had a copy of her class schedule.

She didn’t have the mental energy to think too much. Between classes, work, and her part-time job, she was busy from morning till night, only hoping that the moment she received her salary, it would bring her happiness.

Whenever Ms. Chen had time, she would call or message to act crazy. It was a blessing that she had set it to “Do Not Disturb.” The new number Ming Sian got after coming to Hong Kong hadn’t been given to Ms. Chen; otherwise, she truly wouldn’t have a moment of peace.

The name “Anning” (meaning Peace/Tranquility) really was a good omen.

As soon as Ming Sian arrived at the firm, she noticed the staff looked solemn, as if facing a formidable enemy. What happened?

At that moment, Huo Qi walked out. “You’re here. Have you processed the email I sent you yesterday?”

Ming Sian nodded. “Team Leader, I’ll send it to you shortly.”

Just because she wasn’t physically at the office didn’t mean she wasn’t working. The tasks she did while working online were no less than those done offline. Moreover, ever since she drafted that document for He Yining last time, her workload had increased significantly.

Still, considering Anning Law Firm paid her such a high salary for a sophomore, it wasn’t a losing deal for them.

Sitting at her workstation, Ming Sian sent the file to Huo Qi, who received it immediately. From across the office, she could see Huo Qi scanning the document rapidly before snapping her laptop shut. “Ming Sian, come to the meeting with me.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

As an intern, being able to bypass so many permanent employees to attend a meeting meant her recent work was highly satisfactory to the leadership.

Following behind Huo Qi, she listened as the Team Leader explained the meeting’s content at top speed: “You are quite familiar with Ms. Ailan’s property division case. During the meeting in a bit, just present the materials you wrote.”

Detailed asset lists, sources, ownership, proof of contribution, debts, and other evidence—she was familiar with all of it. She had drafted the legal documents, so of course she had to attend.

When she sat down in the office, she realized it was only her and Huo Qi.

“Team Leader, just the two of us?”

“Wait a moment.”

Ten minutes later, He Yining walked in accompanied by a lady in her forties with large, wavy hair.

Huo Qi stood up hurriedly, and just as she was about to remind Ming Sian, she saw that Ming Sian had already walked over to open the door.

Huo Qi looked at Ming Sian with slight surprise. This level of initiative didn’t look like an intern at all.

It was a habit. When Ming Sian ran her own studio, she did everything from serving tea to pouring water herself. Opening a door was nothing. She was the type of lawyer who protected women’s and workers’ rights; most of the clients she dealt with were vulnerable groups. A lawyer’s attitude—whether they were down-to-earth or not—could increase the client’s trust.

Whether in a “Red Circle” firm or a small-town studio, the necessary etiquette when facing a client was essential.

The woman walking with He Yining was clearly the client; one could tell by her expression while speaking.

The woman looked at Ming Sian and then chuckled softly. “The lawyers at Anning are all quite young.”

He Yining went straight to the head seat and sat down. “If we weren’t young, we wouldn’t have taken Ms. Ailan’s case.”

The smile on Ailan’s face faltered. “My lawyer is you, and my fake son’s lawyer is He Chenzhang. No matter who wins or loses, the legal fees stay with your He family.”

“It’s not too late for Ms. Ailan to change lawyers now.”

He Yining’s attitude toward Ailan wasn’t good; she was even showing a sharp edge.

Based on the materials she had handled, Ming Sian knew Ailan’s identity and the nature of the lawsuit. From the desired outcome and the evidence involved, she had a rough idea of this person’s personality—this was her unique analytical method.

Ailan was very assertive. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have made it to where she was today. But when it came to negotiating and litigating, He Yining was the professional; she wouldn’t allow the client to dictate terms in her professional domain.

Ailan suddenly laughed. “Lawyer He, you’re being too serious. Since I chose your firm, I naturally trust you.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Ailan hadn’t gained the upper hand in this round, so she simply called for the meeting to start.

Huo Qi looked at He Yining, and seeing her nod, she nudged Ming Sian’s arm.

Ming Sian stood up and opened the PPT. “Lawyer He, Ms. Ailan.”

After a brief greeting, she began explaining the PPT content. “This case differs from traditional property division. Ms. Ailan is Mr. Liang’s wife in name, but you never registered the marriage. You have one daughter. Liang Feng is Mr. Liang’s illegitimate son. However, Mr. Liang has been cremated, so his biological relationship cannot be directly proven. It can only be proven indirectly. But Mr. Liang’s parents have passed away and he has no siblings; the only person who can indirectly prove his blood relation to Mr. Liang is your daughter.”

Hong Kong does not recognize “de facto” marriages. Even if Ailan and Mr. Liang lived together for twenty years, the law remained the same.

“Regarding Liang Feng’s birth registration records from back then, it’s impossible to confirm if the registrant was Mr. Liang. Correspondence, emails, and witness testimony from friends and family might prove the relationship.”

However, they hadn’t been able to view Mr. Liang’s chat logs yet and didn’t know if he had ever acknowledged Liang Feng as his son.

Furthermore, Mr. Liang and Liang Feng did have financial transactions. Although it wasn’t explicitly stated as child support, it was a fixed 100,000 yuan per month.

Ming Sian continued to explain the case. She spoke skillfully, clearly outlining the strengths of their side as well as the strengths of the opponent.

Mr. Liang’s electronic devices were all in Ailan’s hands, yet she refused to submit relevant evidence—clearly showing a lack of trust in the firm.

This was why He Yining was being so sharp. The client’s attitude dictated her attitude.

While Ming Sian was speaking, He Yining’s gaze fell upon her lips. The sweet-bitter scent of cherry rum seemed to haunt her nose. Is Ming Sian releasing pheromones? She cautiously glanced at the other two; they had no reaction whatsoever.

Ming Sian was working very seriously, and her ability was even stronger than she had thought—and she thought she had already overestimated Ming Sian’s capability.

It truly was a surprise.

However, the distance between them was at least two meters. Ming Sian hadn’t used a suppressant spray, and her suppressant patch was properly applied.

He Yining frowned, listening through the whole process without showing any emotion. What Ming Sian had written was flawless—stunning, even. It made one look at her in a new light.

Ailan’s eyes were full of appreciation. “Lawyer He, you have many talented people under you.”

“Ms. Ailan flatters us. I hope you will seriously consider whether to hand all the evidence over to me.”

He Yining didn’t want to say much more. Based on the existing evidence, the win rate wasn’t high, but neither was the opponent’s. However, as long as the opponent had evidence to prove the relationship with Mr. Liang, Amy (the daughter) would have to cough up assets. In Hong Kong, illegitimate children enjoy the same rights as legitimate children.

Ailan’s tone was cold. “Lawyer He, my request is simple. The assets can only be mine; Liang Feng cannot take a single cent. You just need to fight this case my way.”

This was why He Yining was clashing with Ailan. This woman actually wanted to control the legal process; how could He Yining agree?

After seeing Ailan out, the meeting room fell into a brief silence.

Huo Qi twisted open a bottle of water, suppressing her annoyance. “She’s hiding too much but wants to micromanage the case. Should we really take this on?”

He Yining pushed her phone over. “It’s on the news.”

She opened the video—it was a report on this case. It downplayed the Liang family property division and focused on: ——【The He family siblings will face off in the Liang family case; who will emerge superior?】

The Liang family asset battle had been turned into a duel between the He siblings. This headline was malicious.

Huo Qi frowned. “Someone is deliberately stirring up public opinion. Is it He Chenzhang?”

“I think it’s Ailan,” Ming Sian, who had been taking small sips of water, suddenly spoke up, drawing their attention. “By steering the case toward a He family internal feud, she can slip away. Perhaps from the start, she didn’t want to win, but to divert attention. She wants time.”

She looked up at He Yining, who slowly parted her lips: “The Liang family goes bankrupt, the Ai family rises. Even if Liang Feng wins, what he gets will be an empty shell and debt.”

“Therefore, for Ailan, winning or losing the case isn’t important. It just needs to buy her enough time to transfer the assets. As for losing the case, Anning’s reputation, or the public opinion that Lawyer He is inferior to He Chenzhang—none of that matters to her.”

The two of them had explained Ailan’s plan with perfect timing. Huo Qi looked at the two of them in shock. “Since when did you two develop such a rapport?”

And you still say you haven’t slept together!

He Yining & Ming Sian: “…” They really didn’t want to talk.

[Author’s Note]

Ming Sian: Who has a rapport with her?!

He Yining: Who slept with her?!