A crafty bunch of lawyers.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Notable Actors/Actresses
Director
Screenwriter
Cast
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| Rayzha Alimjan: Luo Ying Zi |
Wang Yang: Chen Shuo |
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| Chuo Ni: Qiu Hua |
Huang Jue: Xu Zhuo |
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| Shen Yu Jie: Xia Shu |
Li Yu: Fang Li Hong |
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| Feng Hui: Han Zhi Tong |
Na Jia Wei: Tao Zheng |
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| Tan Quan: Fang Rui (Fang Li Hong's nephew) |
Qiao Da Wei: Lawyer Xue Lao Xue |
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| Chen Jin: Mei Da Liang |
Seasons
| 📍 | |
| S1 |
S2 |
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Mini Recaps
♪ Dun dun da dun… DUN dun da dun ♪. Our pretty Qiu Hua marries this square: Zhang Quan Quan. Meanwhile Qiu Hua looks rectangular. But at least he radiates… trustworthiness! (And comes with a rich daddy.)
Fired. Our FLs, Luo Ying Zi, Qiu Hua, and Xia Shu are abruptly kicked out of Liang Chen Firm. There's an official story, but the real reason is because Luo Ying Zi is snooping into her teacher, Mei Da Liang's case, the firm's former senior partner, the "Liang" in Liang Chen Firm.
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| Confidence is everything xD even if you're fired. |
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| This is them in S1. They switched hairs xD. |
Hired. Our ML, Chen Shuo, left his cushy old firm to work with Luo Ying Zi. Only she's fired. HAHA. And he takes her office. Whoops. What a way to charm your FL!
Little weasel meets Big weasel (Han Zhi Tong). They trade pleasantries...with death curses LOL.
Han Weasel: When you die, you must leave me that [clever] mouth of yours.Chen Shuo: Sure, I'll leave you my mouth, and then you need to give me your wrist 手腕 (which also means trickery / finesse because of the wrist's ability to bend and twist compared to all our other joints).
They joke that they’re allies, bound by the same string, as they bounce, bounce, bounce, fully embodying 一條繩上的螞蚱 = Grasshoppers tied together with a string = people stuck in the same fate, for better or, in this case, definitely worse.
Sweet Xia Shu. She's not only fired, but she's also homeless, bankrupt, and her father is arrested for embezzlement. She was at a hotel but couldn't afford it anymore, and so she shows up at Luo Ying Zi's with luggage in tow.
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| LYZ: Who raised you so spoiled like this? XS: My mom. LOL. |
Sweet Xia Shu has a hater in Qiu Hua. It's Qiu Hua's biological reaction towards spoiled princesses.
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| Qiu Hua's bitch-reacting face, lol |
Hurrah for Xia Shu’s shamelessness! Except it's not shameless at all. She's rightfully taking back her own car from her ex who shamelessly took it from her after she went bankrupt, flips it for 800,000 yuan, and pours the entire sum into the ladies' new firm. Unlike Qiu Hua, I'm Xia Shu's cheerleader. I love the "new" her. And Qiu Hua might hate her, but she can't say no to money.
Chen Shuo gets a booboo on his forehead. And a booboo in his heart. Because as much as Luo Ying Zi unconsciously relies on him, whatever he's hoping for, it’s not happening. Her heart’s too scarred from her previous marriage.
Case 0: A fugitive escapes (from S1). He's Xu Jian She, the man serving a life sentence, thanks to his wife, Ma Li Li. He unfortunately does not murder Ma Li Li. But at least he's finally aware of how viciously she played him. Our ladies will continue to appeal for his original murder trial.
Xia Shu's kidnapping hearts. When she was kidnapped by Xia Jian She, she was clever enough to sneak out an SOS signal that she was "driving" – a red flag since she has no car to drive. Qiu Hua is proud of Xia Shu \o/. If Luo Ying Zi is the "mommy", Qiu Hua’s officially the "daddy". Aw!
Mommy LYZgoes off to fetch water for their daughter
Daddy QH chips in for hot water.
LYZ bends over like a slave, saying there's no hot water…
"I’ll warm it with my armpit, is that okay?” xD
Loving the parental love! xD It feels like they're ad-libbing here with Shen Yu Jie actually laughing at Rayzha and Chuo Ni's lines xD
Case 1: Auntie Song (Civil Fraud). Worth 3 million yuan. Ka-ching! Earned by our sweet, spoiled princess Xia Shu! Auntie Song lent several million yuan to He Qiao Hui, who was initially a health product salesperson, knocking on doors. The two developed a motherly-daughter bond where He Qiao Hui appealed to Auntie Song's loneliness (depression) and maternal instincts (her daughter passed away). At first, He Qiao Hui borrowed money and repaid it, building credibility. But later, she began borrowing significantly larger sums, and repaying small amounts to maintain the illusion of reliability. This is a deliberate exploitation of trust for financial gain. Sue her!
Issue: Luo Ying Zi and Qiu Hua recognize the undue influence involved. They ask if Auntie Song would still lend He Qiao Hui money. Auntie Song actually hesitates. Our ladies refuse the case, worried that Auntie Song’s emotional instability would make litigation messy, and she might not even be able to pay the fees.
Real issue: Xia Shu. Our softie insists she’ll take the case. Then the soft-hearted Luo Ying Zi gives in, and convinces soft-hearted Qiu Hua too. They're all softies :D But Xia Shu is – SIGH – too naive and dumb. She lets Auntie Song inform her goddaughter (He Qiao Hui) about the lawsuit despite Qiu Hua's strict instructions NOT to. Because this gives goddaughter time to build her defence. And so Goddaughter (He Qiao Hui) suits up. And it's Han Weasel.
Han Weasel, Han Zhi Tong gleefully accepts the case purely out of spite for Luo Ying Zi and Qiu Hua. HA. He's the only weasel that brightens my screen. By the way goddaughter is a LOAN SHARK. She lent out Auntie Song's money for interest. And now she has Han Weasel to give her unethical advice: hide. If the court summons isn’t served, the case gets delayed. It’s a blatant abuse of legal procedure to stall litigation. There are other ways to deliver the court summons, but those take weeks. And Auntie Song doesn’t have that time. Her husband is dying. She needs money stat to save him. Delaying service for her is not just unethical, it's murder.
Han Weasel is a weasel, and goddaughter is an evil shark, but so much of this is Xia Shu's fault.
Qiu Hua: 我真是醉了。我剛看她順眼. I'm speechless. I just started to find her tolerable. ^^". Poor Qiu Hua. Her patience keeps getting stress-tested, haha.
I can't help but love this Xia Shu, but she really is dumb(ly optimistic).
Don't let goddaughter ruin your impression of loansharks. Because we have a good shark in Boss Zhou!!! Luo Ying Zi asks her loanshark bro to investigate the loanshark goddaughter. My favorite loan shark ever. He cracks me up every time just by showing up.
Fang Rui (Fang Li Hong's nephew, and "spy"), clearly disgusted by Lao Han's tactics, gets a 'tip" from Chen–So–Much–Conscience–Shuo. If someone were to obtain and submit Han Weasel’s attorney-client agreement, Han would be forced to attend court. Oh, and what’s this? Chen Shuo just happens to leave behind a photocopy of that very document (which he made an extra third copy from a careless Xiao Tang back in Ep7). Sure enough, someone named Fang Rui submits the copy to the court – only to be unfairly scolded by the judge for being underhanded, thinking he's working for Han Weasel. Hahahaha. Chen Shuo, leaving the dirty work for others.
The sham divorce. Thanks to Chen No-Conscience Shuo manipulating Xiao Tang (a junior lawyer working as Han Weasel's lackey), Han's clients, Goddaughter and Zhou Da Min (husband), are connected with Lawyer Lao Xue (Team Chen Shuo) to handle the divorce so that they can transfer all her assets to Zhou Da Min (because only the Goddaughter is being sued) to avoid legal seizure. Ohh, but husband does not look trustworthy looool.
We also learn that someone donated Auntie Song money under the guise of a charity. Is that you, Chen Shuo?
The ladies finally have money in their account and look at them with their black sunglasses, considering renting an office – right above Liang Chen’s! LOL. Han Zhi Tong's face. But naw, they don't have that kind of cash to burn. But still, that was a sweet moment.
Another sweet moment against Han Weasel. He cries unfairness – pft – and complains about a possible mole in the firm because who would have submitted the photocopy. Coincidentally, Chen Shuo – the mole – walks in.
Case 1: Auntie Song (Civil Fraud). Is this Chen Shuo's long game? He knew Han Zhi Tong was going to delay the repayment, stall until Auntie Song gives up or passes away. But now with the sham divorce, Goddaughter realizes all her assets are now legally her husband's – her cheating husband's. She’ll come clawing back for her money. And if it's through legal means, the court will see ALL the cash she has. And then she'll have money to repay Auntie Song in full?
Moving onto a new case. Chen Shuo and his buddy, Lao Xue, both have a divorce case, and then they realize it's the same couple. The wife has the stronger claim, and so Chen Shuo, the romantic, hands the wife's case to Luo Ying Zi. Chen “No-Conscience” Shuo takes on the deadbeat husband because it’s more fun that way. At Luo Ying Zi's side, unaware it's from Chen Shuo, she cheerfully accepts the case, especially when she realizes her opponent is Chen Shuo. Their love language is arguing at court, lol.
Case 2: Jiao Yan Ling and Zhao Wei's Divorce. Zhao Wei (M) married Jiao Yan Ling (F) for a Jingbei household registration. But to her, the marriage had some love. Even if just for a few days. Not for him. He always looked down on her disability (she walks with a limp) and ran away when their newborn was four months. Left to raise their son alone, she started a small restaurant. By luck and skill, her food drew crowds. She expanded, gained recognition, and became a local culinary star. Now that she’s wealthy, he’s back, filing for divorce and demanding half of her assets. He never contributed to raising their child. And now he wants a payout. Those are some expensive sperm. Still, Jiao Yan Ling has feelings for this ghost-husband. She’s willing to pay in monthly installments, worried he’ll blow a lump sum. OMG
Qiu Hua is very attentive. She stops Luo Ying Zi from seeing out the wife. She might be conscious of her hobble if they follow her down the stairs. Qiu Hua sees what others overlook.
Xia Shu storm into Han Weasel’s office and gives him a full-on verbal beatdown right in front of the whole firm (over Auntie Song's case). Go Xia Shu! These reactions, LOL.
Case 1: Auntie Song (Civil Fraud). Conclusion. Goddaughter is still delaying the repayment as she tries to privately deal with her husband. But Luo Ying Zi and Xia Shu has evidence from Boss Zhou, exposing Goddaughter's illegal loan operation. They threaten legal action on behalf of the lending victims. Cornered, Goddaughter agrees to repay the debt. Case closed. But wait. We're not letting off the scammers. Luo Ying Zi promised on her end not to take legal action, but she can still hand the clients to Chen Shuo – who else but the king of legal loopholes. He’s the perfect guy for the job. Han Weasel can do nothing but flare his nostrils in helpless rage xD.
Qiu Hua chooses Luo Ying Zi over a lucrative offer from a major law firm AND invests in Luo Ying Zi with her baby fund from Quan Quan. Qiu Hua's true love is very clear.
Case 2: Divorce. Husband Zhao Wei leaves Wife Jiao Yan Ling saddled with debt – his debt – and she still wants to negotiate with him to do what, discuss how to split the debt? WOMAN. She makes me more speechless than the husband. Thankfully, our legal team uncovers that Zhao Wei is married and has an illegitimate child. Jiao Yan Ling is presented with two legal strategies:
1) Leverage bigamy – threaten criminal charges to pressure Zhao Wei into relinquishing any claim on her assets.2) Pursue prosecution – file bigamy charges and potentially send him to prison. The downside is that he’d still be entitled to a share of marital property.
Meanwhile Chen Shuo is disgusted with his client Zhao Wei, and requests to be fired as his lawyer. He'll even pay the client to quit. That’s a 7,000 yuan loss. but Chen Shuo knows that with bigamy charges hanging over him, Zhao Wei will struggle to find new rep. He warns him: if he comes crawling back, the starting fee is 500,000 yuan.
Guess who comes crawling back? Zhao Wei. Haha. He tries to haggle, but Chen Shuo doesn’t budge. Instead, he “helpfully” suggests Zhao Wei try begging his wife for forgiveness instead of paying for legal help. Zhao Wei thinks it’s a clever shortcut and walks out. Chen Shuo doesn’t stop him – he just raises his voice casually: “Next time you come back, it’s 600,000.” From a 7000 yuan loss to a 600,000 yuan offer on the table – all without lifting a pen. Chen Shuo "representing" bastards is a blessing lol.
Case 2: Divorce. Conclusion. Zhao Wei comes crawling back to Chen Shuo again. Hahaha. 600,000 yuan it is. However, Jiao Yan Ling is done with Zhao Wei. No more negotiations. She confesses she once held onto the fantasy that she was building a life for both of them. But now, she's finally using her opened eyes. It’s time for Zhao Wei to grow up and face the consequences. We're going with Legal Strategy #2: Pursue prosecution. He can take a cut of her money – she’ll just earn more. Zhao Wei’s going to jail.
Case 3: Mingshan and Minghai Debt. Mingshan (Ming-Mountain) wants its debt repaid. Minghai (Ming-Ocean) refuses. Liang Chen Firm takes on the case, but President Sun Ming Shan won’t pay a cent unless they win. The lawyers have to cover all costs upfront, including hiring forensic accountants. No one volunteers – except Chen Shuo. He agrees to shoulder the full financial risk. The firm typically takes 30% of any payout. Chen Shuo negotiates it down to 20%, fair given the gamble. Now everyone at the firm is jealous – but who told them to chicken out? Fang Li Hong brings in Han Zhi Tong to supervise, and Han Weasel is de–lighted! $$$ ¥¥¥. Two weasels (Chen Shuo and Lao Han) now represent a third weasel: Sun Ming Shan. Let the fun times begin.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt (Chen Shuo & Lao Han). To raise funds to hire a better accounting firm, Chen Shuo mortgages his own apartment. Lao Xue jokes he should’ve mortgaged Luo Ying Zi’s house instead (you know, the one he won the auction for at the end of last season, haha). Chen Shuo admits he couldn’t bring himself to do it even though that house is full of her ex’s traces. Chen Shuo cringes but confesses: just thinking of her makes him happy. Love really does dumb things to people.
Case 4: Wanhe Bankruptcy. Last episode, Luo Ying Zi’s mentor, Mei Da Liang, tipped her off about the Wanhe bankruptcy – a case far beyond her firm’s reach, but Mei connects her with Xu Zhuo, another student of hers who’s forming a bid team. However, Liang Chen Firm is gunning for the case too – and they might stand a better chance. And now we have three of Mei Dan Liang's students – uo Ying Zi, Xu Zhuo and Fang Li Hong – fighting for bankruptcy (case).
Case 5: Hao Lei's Debt. More debts! This one's Xia Shu case, representing Hao Lei. He’s a privileged heir (富二代 fuerdai) who, like her, got a rude awakening. His father passed away, and now his uncles are circling the company like vultures. Xia Shu, bold as ever, offers to handle Hao Lei's debt recovery for a 20% commission. Hao Lei agrees, but only if she covers upfront costs and takes full responsibility for her own safety. Safety?!
Even Qiu Hua is worried about Xia Shu traveling far to hunt down Hao Lei's lenders.
Our tough Xia Shu's princess mode is still on lol. She expects motel escort service like it's a five-star hotel, and shows up completely underdressed. Thankfully, 傻人有傻福 – her naive charm earns her a place to stay when a kind employee lends her a dorm room. But the next morning, she hops into a sketchy taxi that veers off course... :OOO. My princess!
Case 4: Wanhe Bankruptcy (Luo Ying Zi & Qiu Hua). Qiu Hua is FUMING at Luo Ying Zi because she, in order to gain Xu Zhuo's trust, reveals their big discovery that Wanhe is attempting fraudulent bankruptcy and so there's no point in fighting to represent Wanhe. Qiu Hua wanted to take this intel to Wanhe’s largest creditor, Dingxin, and claim the case for themselves. But Luo Ying Zi knows the truth: they still need to build a name. Their firm isn’t ready to handle Dingxin alone to charge Wanhe – yet.
Case 5: Hao Lei's Debt (Xia Shu). Girl almost got r*ped, and now she's getting rolled over. Everyone’s worried for Xia Shu. But not her xD. She charges ahead, wide-eyed and undeterred, looool. Her naivety is a little scary xD. Xia Shu threw herself under a truck to negotiate with the debtor. Even Boss Zhou is frazzled, trying to mediate with her on the ground haha. The debtor, all bulk and no backbone, starts sweating bullets. She’s got every grown man in that parking lot scrambling to appease her.
Hao Lei shows up, sees our Queen of Concrete, and falls in love on the spot. She did it. She collected the debt he thought was impossible to recover.
Ew. Xu Zhuo phones Luo Ying Zi in the middle of the night to ask if she wants coffee.
Overarching Case: Mei Da Liang.
1) Refresh: Mei Da Liang and her husband's downfall came from their plaintiff, a rape victim, accusing them of bribery. Chen Shuo found out that the firm (Mei and her husband) was also handling a bankruptcy case: Zhucheng. He suspects Tao Zheng may have wanted control of the Zhucheng case and used the rape/bribery scandal as a way to eliminate Mei Da Liang.
2) Qiu Hua suspects Xu Zhuo, implying that his first bucket of gold came from the Zhucheng case. Mei Da Liang explains that it was Xu Zhuo’s second time being released from prison and she brought him onto the case as a gesture of support, impressed by his skills. Still, Qiu Hua finds it strange that such a profitable case was handed to Xu Zhuo instead of handled by in-house lawyers of Liang Chen firm.
3) So we're suspecting Tao Zheng and Xu Zhuo, but Mei Da Liang remains skeptical. These are her students. She struggles to believe any of them would ruin her so completely.
Romance & Sismance & Anti-Shark
Luo Ying Zi is worried about Chen Shuo digging into Mei Da Liang's past because that's what got her fired. Chen Shuo brushes her off, casually revealing that he’s already combed through two years of archived cases. She’s stunned. What’s his motive? Girl, you really need to ask? "You."
Xia Shu tears up. She didn't when she was nearly kidnapped. She didn't when she was lying under a car. But she does when Luo Ying Zi tells her she's proud.
Case 5: Hao Lei's Debt (Xia Shu). Hao Lei is sneakier than he looks and cuts Xia Shu's share. But baits her in for a long-term arrangement with increments in each successful debt recovery. I like the clever character, but shame this actor lacks so much charisma! I can try to tell myself he's kind of cute D:. Try…
Ladies. Xia Shu returns with 3.2 million yuan in new contracts and announces she wants to become a partner. Girl is making all the money, haha. She didn’t need to ask! Qiu Hua and Luo Ying Zi had already decided to give her 20% equity before she even left. Xia Shu bursts into tears and throws herself into Luo Ying Zi’s arms. Qiu Hua flees before she gets pulled into the group hug, awwwww lol.
2CP. There's feminine charm (魅力) left and right of Qiu Hua except in herself. Luo Ying Zi has Chen Shuo and ew Xu Zhuo, and Xia Shu has Hao Lei. Aw! If there's a S2, I need a competent love interest for Qiu Hua who is her equal!! Then Qiu Hua gets asked by her father-in-law what "charmed" her into loving her son. Comfort and security. Not love.
Main CP. Chen Shuo earns a whopping 8 million yuan payout. Feeling celebratory (and flirty), he books a high-end dinner with Luo Ying Zi. But this girl. FORGOT. And she has a meeting with Xu Zhuo.
Main CP. No high end dinner, but Chen Shuo cooks ramen with milk for Luo Ying Zi. And he has business here too. He's got a case involving school bullying. But when Luo Ying Zi brushes it off as just bullying, he is visibly disappointed. He always saw her as “Luo Justice” to his “Chen No-Conscience.” He passionately defends the case: the victim is still suffering from severe trauma, unable to live a normal life or form relationships. Frustrated, he storms out. Luo Ying Zi runs after him and apologizes. Morals successfully kidnapped…lol
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi + Ladies).
1) Our legal team is split on this case. It's because Xiao Nan Nan is successful now. Her current "stability" weakens her defamation case – after all, how much damage can bullies cause if you're doing better than them in public's eye?
2) Qiu Hua believes in emotional resilience. She tells Xiao Nan Nan to toughen up. Qiu Hua has been through worse (e.g. Lao Han), so her legal advice is this: grow thicker skin; the world doesn’t owe you closure.
3) Xia Shu argues the opposite – victims shouldn’t have to tough it out. The law is here to protect people like Xiao Nan Nan.
4) The result: both lawyers f*** up. Qiu Hua invalidates Xiao Nan Nan’s feelings, while Xia Shu accidentally leaks the client's phone number, thinking the classmates are calling to apologize. Instead, Xiao Nan Nan receives another wave of harassment.
5) Luo Ying Zi is forced to handle the case. Just as Chen Shuo wanted.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt (Chen Shuo & Lao Han). Chen Shuo's whopping 8 million yuan payout might not pay out. If Mingshan and Minghai settle out of court, then Chen Shuo will lose his legal fees because that's their contract – they have to win in court earn it. Acting fast, he sets up their “co-managed” bank account and with his smooth-talking, he distracts a Mingshan finance staffer to stamp an agreement that allows Chen Shuo withdrawal rights without Mingshan’s consent. Payment is secured.
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi). Chen Shuo, ever the strategist, finally pulls Luo Yin Zi off Xu Zhuo’s case and into this one with him. Getting justice and dating. Win-win. Onto the date, uh case. They track down Xiao Nan Nan’s former bullies, now grown-ups with the same rotten personalities. Unbeknownst to Luo Ying Zi, who's fuming at every interaction with the bullies, Chen Shuo is recording their responses, building a stronger defamation case.
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi). Liu Jian Min (bully) panics and turns to a distant uncle for help, who turns out to be none other than Han Weasel. HAHA. Han Weasel agrees to represent him purely to spite Luo Ying Zi and Qiu Hua.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case (Chen Shuo & Lao Han). Chen Shuo realizes he’s been played. Mingshan case was never meant to be won. He was just a legal scarecrow used by President Sun to pressure Minghai into a better deal. Drenched in expensive alcohol, he vents to Luo Ying Zi about the case – and about her. It's a drunk confession. And he receives an indirect rejection. She says she wants someone dependable. He assumes that's Xu Zhuo. Ew. (No.). Anyway. Luo Ying Zi advises him to let the case go and take the one million yuan still on the table before things get worse.
Compromise? Not Chen Shuo's style, especially not when Mingshan breached a key clause, which was forbidding backdoor negotiations with Minghai. So in a final act of defiance, he pulls the entire 4.48 million yuan from the shared account.
And then preparing for the impending chaos, Chen Shuo retreats. Literally. He disappears to a mountain monastery, phone off, signal gone. :O
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi). Luo Ying Zi finally catches onto Han Weasel’s little scheme – he stalled the case just long enough for the five-year statute of limitations to expire. No wonder he was all smiles and delays. Luo Ying Zi and co were idiots. IDIOTS.
2CP. Qiu Hua is rightfully embarrassed by her country bumpkin husband who's disturbing the wife of the director he's trying to suck up to.
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi). Our hero monk, Chen Shuo is the "Big (Sly) Fox" saving Luo Ying Zi's butt. He left a message on the forum that triggered Liu Jian Min to reply. Therefore their defamation case is still live! We can sue.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case (Chen Shuo & Lao Han). Thug President Sun threatens to sue Chen Shuo to return the money. Fang Li Hong supports Chen Shuo in front of enemy, but she will not shield Chen Shuo completely either. Han Weasel, although detaches himself with Chen Shuo from the case, threatens Fang Li Hong that Chen Shuo accepted Mingshan case on behalf of their firm. If she dares to let him take all the blame and risk, then he won't be polite with them. Oh?! This is our Han Weasel?! (But then he did shake himself off of liability first and handed the mess to her hahaha)
1CP. So now that Chen Shuo gives Luo Ying Zi the cold shoulder, she isn't used to it. He rejects her invitation to attend Xiao Nan Nan’s defamation hearing. And then Xu Zhuo asks if he can attend. *Pukes*
Case 6: School Bullying – Defamation Suit (Chen Shuo & Luo Ying Zi). It's basically game over when Luo Ying Zi submits the videos Chen Shuo recorded of the bullies.
Case 4: Wanhe Bankruptcy (Luo Ying Zi & Qiu Hua + Xu Zhou). Luo Ying Zi and Qiu Hua uncover additional assets tied to Wanhe, but under Xu Zhuo's leadership, they strategically withhold that information from their client for now. They're afraid once this information is disclosed, all of Wanhe debtors will demand their money back. Wanhe's asset will dissipate and Wanhe could really go into bankruptcy and Dingxin won't be able to recover anything. Luo Ying Zi complies but not without hesitation. Limiting what the client knows feels uncomfortably close to breaching duty of candour, even if it serves the client’s ultimate interests.
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| Dingxin's CEO |
Luo Ying Zi finally quits the Xu Zhuo fan club and begins suspecting his involvement in Mei Da Liang’s downfall. Meanwhile Xia Shu rises to the occasion… by becoming completely infatuated with Xu Zhuo instead. Qiu Hua is infinitely disgusted.
Xu Zhuo later calls Fang Li Hong to ask about Xai Shu, and Fang Li Hong dismisses Xia Shu as simple-minded and easily distracted – just upgrade her internet speed. So Xu Zhuo lowers his guard around her, which lets Xia Shu overhear him discussing a 5.6 million yuan case with Mingshan against Chen Shuo. She immediately runs back to report everything.
Qiu Hua is SHOOK. Her precious dumb princess actually did espionage.
Qiu Hua: 以後誰要是小看你就是瞎了他的狗眼比如我瞎了好機回 Whoever underestimates you in the future has their dog-eyes blinded. For example, me. I’ve gone blind several times already. xD
Qiu Hua is now in love with Xia Shu LOL.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case (Chen Shuo & Lao Han). Xu Zhuo now represents Mingshan in suing Chen Shuo, demanding 5.6 million yuan in damages. Except Xu Zhuo’s own legal fees are… also 5.6 million yuan. Meaning even if Mingshan wins, they gain absolutely nothing. Xu Zhuo calmly asks them what they really want here: the money, or the satisfaction in screwing Chen Shuo over. Xu Zhuo is vile.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case (Chen Shuo & Lao Han).
Chen Shuo gets fired by the firm – or more like he fires the firm out of principle. He asks Lao Xue to represent him. Lao Xue thinks Luo Ying Zi is the better lawyer (really? Lol. She actually hasn't shown me that much skills this season haha), but there is a slight conflict of interest anyway since she's working with Xu Zhuo on the Wanhe case. So Lao Xue sighs and takes out a contract he clearly prepared way ahead. He charges a whopping cost of 1 RMB. T_T. AWW. Bros! Loyaty!
President Sun hires Xu Zhuo and agrees to his term (5.6 mil) on one condition: no win, no fee. It's the same contingency fee contract President Sun signed with Chen Shuo. *Rubs hands*
Luo Ying Zi tells Chen Shuo to protect his own interests and drop it because nasty Xu Zhuo took the case. Chen Shuo is furious and insists he’ll execute the agreement at the originally promised amount. These are his principles. And he keeps pressing her too: who matters more to her, Xu Zhuo or him. Then he leaves without waiting for an answer. Only after he’s gone does she murmur to herself: "You are very important." You, Chen Shuo. But what use is this if you don't say it to the guy, Ying Zi.
Chen Shuo recounts a past case with Xu Zhuo as his opponent. It was almost guaranteed to win – until Xu Zhuo insisted the woman (Chen Shuo's client) had mental health issues. Then she was institutionalized during the second trial, and she now breaks down at the mere mention of Xu Zhuo. Chen Shuo suggests that Xu Zhuo may have manipulated the woman’s admiration for him and implies that Luo Ying Zi is in a similar position. He warns her to think carefully.
After thinking carefully, Luo Ying Zi asks: "Chen Shuo – join my firm. I need you." Hm? What, lol. But Chen Shuo rejects. He knows their personalities too well that if he joins her firm now, he will hurt her. Ah?
Case 4: Wanhe Bankruptcy (Luo Ying Zi & Qiu Hua).
It's nearly over. And then the ladies won't have to see Xu Zhuo anymore.
Xia Shu records the conversation the entire conversation of Xu Zhuo going into detail that he withheld the real financial situation of Wanhe along with Liang Liangchen Law Firm. At the end, Xia Shu asks a question (about whether or not to investigate Wanhe CEO's daughter's assets) just so that her voice is included to make the recording legal. Smart girl.
After Xu Zhuo was rejected by Luo Ying Zi to join his firm, he forces the ladies to sign a confidential agreement. The girls agree but add a time limit. The agreement is to be lifted once Wanhe bankruptcy proposal is approved by the judges.
Xu Zhuo isn't interested in Wanhe daughter, but Qiu Hua is. Good eye, Qiu Hua!
Luo Ying Zi phones Chen Shuo and FINALLY gives her full support to stand against Xu Zhuo and Mingshan. She's finally not urging him to give him, but defending him. Chen Shuo feels recharged! Great, can I get a clean looking Chen Shuo now.
Case 5: Hao Lei’s Debt (Xia Shu). Hao Lei shamelessly still owes Xia Shu her pay, money she desperately needs for her father’s legal expenses. Because he's scrambling to secure his chairman position. He needs to buy 2% shares from his relative Zhang Lan, except she suddenly raises the price and gives them only ten days to come up with the money. Xia Shu is broke herself, yet still goes all out helping him. She personally persuades Zhang Lan to sell Hao Lei the shares. And the second he realizes Xia Shu was advocating for him behind the scenes, he immediately withdraws his own money and rushes straight to her.
Case 4: Wanhe Bankruptcy (Xu Zhuo & Fang Li Hong). Fang Li Hong and Xu Zhuo’s restructuring plan for Wanhe – the one meant to revive the company and repay creditors – fails to pass. If the plan fully collapses, the entire case moves into liquidation and all their previous work goes down the drain. Fang Li Hong calls Xu Zhuo because it’s his client, Dingxin, rallying creditors to vote against the plan. Professionally, the two coordinate calmly. Personally, they’re both cursing the second the other can’t hear, lol.
Luo Ying Zi storms straight to Xu Zhuo’s office. He dodges the issue and turns it personal, implying she’s involved with Chen Shuo (got "one leg"一腿 in with him).
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case vs Chen Shuo.
Chen Shuo goes to jail! Xu Zhuo escalates the case from civil to criminal by accusing Chen Shuo of embezzlement.
Han Weasel panics and demands a meeting with Xu Zhuo, who refuses to see him. Lao Han plants himself there anyway.
Luo Ying Zi storms straight to Xu Zhuo’s office. He dodges the issue and turns it personal, implying she’s involved with Chen Shuo (got "one leg"一腿 in with him).
Luo Ying Zi doesn’t miss a beat: Whether it’s one leg or both legs with him—what does that have to do with you? LOL.
Xu Zhuo admits he thought she liked him. EW. PLEASE. She ignores it, makes it clear she’ll see him in court and walks out.
Luo Ying Zi applies to act as Chen Shuo’s defence attorney – partly strategy, partly the only way she can legally meet him. Lao Xue gets a bit upset himself for his bro. Chen Shuo has loved her for years, and she kept her distance. Now she shows up when he’s in detention? Doesn't that mean she cares? Lol He goes on to say Chen Shuo has never fallen this hard for anyone. He wanted to be her Petőfi Sándor (???. This random reference to a Hungarian poet – obviously a romantic guy, I assume.). Luo Ying Zi insists on representing anyway and Lao Xue gives in. Except Chen Shuo refuses. Out of concern. He doesn’t want her pulled into Xu Zhuo’s crosshairs.
Lao Xue, watching this stalemate: Oh. Now you two are sacrificing for each other? What were you two doing before? LOL.
Outside, Luo Ying Zi begs Lao Xue to try again.
And so *whistles*. Lao Xue's back!
Chen Shuo asks Lao Xue "Why are you here everyday?" LOL. Lao Xue just keeps muttering nonsense like the weather suddenly changing and Luo Ying Zi's snot is falling from her nostril to mouth. She might need to go to the hospital where there's more sick people. Finally, Lao Xue repeats Luo Ying Zi’s own words: if she can’t defend him, she won’t be able to live with it. And finally Chen Shuo gives in. What would they do without Lao Xue.
Case 5: Hao Lei's Debt (Xia Shu). Hao Lei secures control of the company because Xia Shu was clutch. She successfully convinced Zhang Lan and now formally acts as her proxy, voting in Hao Lei’s favour.
Case 3: Mingshan Debt Case vs Chen Shuo.
Xu Zhuo has an ultimatum for Luo Ying Zi: Drop Chen Shuo, or withdraw from Wanhe and forfeit all legal fees. Because he's citing a conflict of interest where she cannot handle Wanhe while representing a party adverse to his position. This man even has the termination agreement pre-printed and ready to go. Prepared and shameless.
Luo Ying Zi calls her team. Qiu Hua and Xia Shu don’t hesitate. They choose her over the case and walk away from Xu Zhuo and Wanhe entirely. Xia Shu mourns the lost money for about two seconds before recovering, lol.
And so the ladies hold their 完了 dinner. [完了 wán le = we're screwed / it's over / oh no]
First 完了. Qiu Hua goes oh no for the contract, scaring Luo Ying Zi. False alarm. Everything's fine.
Second 完了. Xia Shu goes oh no for an email, scaring Luo Ying Zi again. It's not fine. Wanhe's CEO's daughter does have more hidden asset. We're talking an ENTIRE SHIP loaded with precious metals sitting in the middle of the sea. This is better than fine. Amazing, Catastrophic.
With this email, Wanhe and Xu Zhuo are truly 完了. Done for. Screwed. I wonder if that's the pun for Wanhe. Wan = 完 = done. He = water.
It's over
It's really over
৻( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻)
1CP.
Chen Shuo is released because Xu Zhuo's attempt to jail him is overturned. He takes the loss exactly like the loser he is.
Luo Ying Zi pulls up late in her signature red sedan. She hands Chen Shuo a retainer agreement: legal fees, 1 million. Yo. Lao Xue only charged him 1 RMB lol. Lao Xue, our bro, leans in to say if it were him, he’d sign immediately. LOL. What are bros for. 
Chen Shuo mutters to the guys: I've basically been cursed/spellbound by her (as he prepares to sign the agreement)Lao Xue: You've met the natural thing that defeats/subdues you. The exact idiom he said was 鹵水點豆腐 = using brine to soy milk into tofu. They naturally "work on" each other perfectly.
They kiss…I love Chen No Conscious Shuo and Luo Righteousness, but I’m sorry, I could NOT watch them kiss without laughing LMAO. It was so ugly hahahahaha My eyes!!! 完了. But okay. Love reciprocated. Done. Move on! LOL
3CP.
Hao Lei confesses. With his tiny eyes that barely open LOL. This romance is all about personality. Because visually – Xia Shu, my beautiful princess, I don't think this actor is worthy! xD. But okay okay, it's kind of sweet how he confessed while she was recording to keep evidence of his promises and suddenly this man turns sincere and confesses properly. She accepts him.
2CP.
Happiness is everywhere. Except here. Quan Quan is cheating on Qiu Hua – with a fresh grad, Xiao Wei.
Xia Shu playing Xu Zhuo is 爽 shuang. By the time Xu Zhuo realizes the “clueless princess” outplayed him, the restructuring plan is already approved and he’s the one trapped holding the bomb. If those hidden assets come to light now, it exposes potential asset concealment and drags both him and Liang Cheng into serious trouble. The best part is Xia Shu never even drops the act. She skips away still looking cute while Xu Zhuo finally realizes this girl has been scamming him the whole time.
Flashback: The night before trial, Lao Han hands Luo Ying Zi the audio recording – the key piece of exculpatory evidence. She's absolutely surprised. Han Weasel is acting offended because he has always stood on the side of justice LOL.
Luo Ying Zi: Shifu, thank you. 姜還是老的辣. Old ginger really is the spiciest.
Han Zi Tong <3 LOL
Verdict Chen Shuo is not guilty.
Under the table, Luo Ying Zi and Chen Shuo’s hands find each other.
Xu Zhuo takes the loss personally – as usual. And he walks away with absolutely nothing because the case was contingency-based. No win, no pay.
President Sun immediately starts sucking up to Chen Shuo (after abandoning Xu Zhuo), and Chen Shuo is surprisingly understanding about it all. Especially because he’s opening his own firm now (Tong Qian). I seeeee. Everyone is so opportunistic lol. President Sun quickly hires him. Big Win.
Overarching Case: Mei Da Liang. The truth surfaces. Luo Ying Zi tracks down Yang Cui Li, the complainant whose accusations destroyed Mei Da Liang and her husband.
What/How: Back then, multiple Liang Chen lawyers quietly fed Yang Cui Li information and guided her statements, effectively steering her into accusing Mei Da Liang’s husband of sexual harassment to save her own case.Why 1: It was a coordinated effort to remove Mei Da Liang and her husband from the firm. Because Mei and her husband were domineering, and the pressure on the juniors met a breaking point.Why 2: It was also to remove Mei Da Liang and her husband from the Zhucheng Bankruptcy Case. Mei Da Liang and Xu Zhuo were set to reap most of the benefits and money if the case succeeded, while the rest of the firm carried the risk if it failed. The juniors basically decided: if we’re sharing the danger, why are only you two eating the meat?Who: It wasn't just the entire law firm, but also Xu Zhuo. Even though he could profit, Mei Da Liang was taking risks so huge that even Xu Zhuo and his tiny firm couldn’t stomach it anymore.
One person, however, was NOT involved in the setup: Han Weasel. Not because he’s morally superior LOL. He just happened to be stuck in the office at the time dealing with a workplace harassment complaint against himself. Which is (unfortunately hilariously) the most Han Weasel reason imaginable. LOL.
Liang Chen's lawyers insist they did nothing wrong. They merely "had a conversation" with Yang Cui Li. Lao Han helpfully pieces it together for them: you fed information to a witness and nudged her toward making allegations that ultimately framed Mei Da Liang's husband in court. Even Luo Ying Zi can't suppress a smile. Imagine being so shameless that Han Weasel has to be the one calling you out on ethics LOL.
Creditors vs Fang Li Hong & Xu Zhuo
Creditors vs Fang Li Hong & Xu Zhuo
The creditors are coming. It was Xia Shu who tipped off Dingxin against Xu Zhuo. But who tipped off the other creditors against Liang Chen? Qiu Hua.
Qiu Hua: Who do you think?
For the first time, Fang Li Hong breaks. For nine years, she's carried the firm through every crisis, held everything together, and protected everyone. Now that liability is knocking at the door, suddenly it's all her responsibility.
Fang Li Hong: 現在大難臨頭你們卻把責任全推到我一個女人身上。你們好意思啊！Now that disaster is here, you've pushed all the responsibility onto me, a woman. How can you all even do that to me! She can whine! LOLPartner: It's over for Liang Chen. Even she's calling herself a woman. LMAO.
Here comes the irony. Mei Dan Liang walks in to save the firm, the very firm that pushed her out partly because of a bankruptcy restructuring case. She calls Luo Ying Zi down from the 17th floor to where she is on the 16th floor. The call:
The person who walks in to save Liang Chen is Mei Da Liang. The same Mei Da Liang they pushed out because of a bankruptcy case is here to save them from bankruptcy. She calls Luo Ying Zi from the 16th floor.
Mei Da Liang: I'm under your feet, come down.Luo Ying Zi to Qiu Hua: She's under my feetLOL
Mei Da Liang wants to know whether Luo Ying Zi was the one who reported Liang Chen. Luo Ying Zi doesn't directly deny it, partly to cover for Qiu Hua. But both Mei Da Liang and Fang Li Hong know it wasn't her. At this point, it doesn't matter. Liang Chen mishandled Wanhe. The problem isn't who reported it. The problem is how to survive it.
Qiu Hua returns triumphant with an offer: creditors want her/them to act as legal counsel, with fees exceeding ten million. But Luo Ying Zi and Xia Shu hesitate. Qiu Hua doesn’t take it well. From her perspective, Liang Chen was negligent, destroyed Mei Da Liang, fired the three of them, and now an opportunity they rightfully earned has landed in their laps. Suddenly now they're morally superior? No. Qiu Hua wants the case. Qiu Hua wants the money. And if they won't take it, she'll go elsewhere.
And she leaves.
Then she comes back. AW. Because she knows exactly what walking away would mean. Losing them. AWWW. The three of them hold onto each other instead. The girls thank Qiu Hua for coming back. Awwwwww.
And she leaves.
Then she comes back. AW. Because she knows exactly what walking away would mean. Losing them. AWWW. The three of them hold onto each other instead. The girls thank Qiu Hua for coming back. Awwwwww.
Meanwhile. Chen Shuo picks up Dingxin’s case against Xu Zhuo. YESSSS.
2CP. Qiu Hua catches Quan Quan cheating. She confronts him, but blames it all on herself that she never made him feel that he was loved. As much as I love Qiu Hua, this is true, lol. My girl doesn't tell the other girls who are happily going on dates. Just keeps it all to herself :(
1CP. Chen Shuo invites Luo Ying Zi to dinner at the place he's been booking for two whole seasons now lol. It's literally been their first dinner as a couple and he's already suggesting she move in. He did buy her old house. She agrees – so she can live at his place and fantasize Liu Ming (her ex who ruined her) walking back and forth, and the three of them can live happily together forever LOL.
One knee and all!
She accepts. (I was actually 50/50 on whether she would, lol. She looked very worried).
Honeymoon phase is over and honeymoon didn't even start.
Chen Shuo and Luo Ying Zi face off in court over Li Yuan and Mrs. Cui. Chen Shuo represents Mrs. Cui and takes the case oddly personally. He wins, granting Mrs. Cui her guardianship rights. Her son "lives." Luo Ying Zi lost and returns home and speaks with her father, asking if he ever thinks about her mother and whether he regrets signing the consent to stop treatment. No. Her father and her mother had long agreed that if either of them faced an incurable condition, they would not prolong life unnecessarily.
Chen Shuo and Luo Ying Zi collide over what love is supposed to look like. And I am so confused why we're doing this in the last episode. For her, love includes letting go. For him, love means never letting go. Because his past won’t let him. Unlike her parents, Chen Shuo's father gave up his mother, let her die and then immediately flash married the mistress. So when Luo Ying Zi talks about accepting loss and learning to let go, Chen Shuo hears abandonment.
Case 8: Divorce. It's still Li Yuan v. Mrs. Cui. But now Li Yuan wants a divorce. Which is essentially forcing Mrs. Cui to let her son go because she can't care for Yuan Gang alone. The legal problem is that divorce requires consent from both spouses. Yuan Gang can't consent, so Mrs. Cui, as his guardian, can act on his behalf and refuse the divorce. (I don't like this case the most in all of 2 seasons because they have too many morals as lawyers and what they want emotionally for this family is none of their business.).
Despite everything, Li Yuan continues showing up at the hospital. She makes sure Yuan Gang is repositioned, cared for, and treated with dignity. She tells Mrs. Cui that she dreams about him. In those dreams, Yuan Gang can't speak. But somehow she knows what he's trying to say. He wants to leave. Then suddenly his heart rate drops. (A sign.) Li Yuan immediately runs for the doctors. When they ask whether to continue resuscitation, her answer is a soft but resolute. "Save him." They stand together, bracing themselves – until his heartbeat finally returns. That moment changes everything. Mrs. Cui finally acknowledges what she's known all along: the man lying in that hospital bed is already gone. And she's finally able to think about Li Yuan too. Li Yuan is still young. She shouldn't spend the rest of her life tied to a ghost. Li Yuan quietly responds that they've both lost someone important. She has no parents. Mrs. Cui has lost her son. From now on, they only have each other. Mrs. Cui simply answers: "Aye." Accepting this daughter.
Chen Shuo watches the reconciliation between the lades … and leaves. Luo Ying Zi goes after him. And then there's a flashback as they face each other in silence. Chen Shuo admitted he didn't take this case to defend Mrs. Cui. He took it to defend his mother. And to defend their future. He needed to believe that when hardship came, they wouldn't give up on each other. He wanted some signal. Some reassurance. Luo Ying Zi refused. Not because she didn't love him. Because she doesn't believe in making promises nobody can guarantee they'll keep. Instead, she told him something far more important: It took her a very long time to choose him. She's not walking away over this.And she asks him to stop letting his past dictate what they have now. In the flashback, they understood each other. He accepted her answer.
His courtroom speech echoes back one last time. They were marriage vows for his legal argument. But they were more like genuine wedding vows to Luo Ying Zi. And Chen Shuo meant every word. To her.
The end.
THE END??? Chen Shuo, you turn this car around right now.
Remarks
[Ending] Unnecessary cliffhanger in the main romance. If there is no S3, I'm fine imagining that they overcome whatever and are happily (bickering) together.
[A Highlight] Han Weasel in Ep34 🥹
[Review & Rating]
Recommendations
| FL divorces | Ladies | Smart ML |
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