Upon hearing about the case, Shen Moran paused. She quickly recalled the murder case her colleagues had discussed previously, typed the keywords into her computer, and pulled up the original news reports.
This case had caused quite a stir. It occurred at the entrance of a vegetable market when the victim was buying groceries. A man stopped her, and after a brief argument, he pulled out a concealed knife and stabbed her more than a dozen times in the abdomen and chest. He then mounted her and stabbed her several more times.
Since it was the peak hour for grocery shopping, many bystanders recorded videos and posted them online, causing the incident to go viral.
Shen Moran turned her computer screen to show Sun Heng and asked, “Is this the case?”
Sun Heng glanced at it and nodded. “Yes, this is the one. The murderer is currently awaiting sentencing. The child’s situation is very complex. Neither the paternal grandparents nor the maternal grandparents are willing to raise the child. My friend wants to adopt the child, so she is consulting on what should be done in this situation.”
“How old is the child?”
“Five years old. They have lived together since birth, so it has been five years now.”
Shen Moran answered with regret, “Our country has no laws protecting same-sex domestic partnerships. Therefore, this child has no legal relation to your friend. The maternal grandparents are the legal guardians in the second order. There is no point in taking this to court, as the child will not be awarded to your friend.”
Sun Heng knew this already. Xiang Anqing had consulted many people, and almost every lawyer had told her it was impossible. Even if they were partners, without legal documentation, she could not gain custody of the child. Sun Heng felt the woman was pathetic and wanted to help her find any other possible solution.
Shen Moran fell silent, deep in thought.
She rested her chin on one hand while rhythmically tapping the table with the other. Her slender fingers were impeccably clean, with healthy, rounded nails and no nail polish or decorations.
Sun Heng touched the tip of her tongue to her teeth, secretly comparing the length of her own fingers to Shen Moran’s. She imagined how beautiful it would be if such elegant hands were wrapped around her shoulders or pinning her wrists to a pillow in bed.
“I am very sorry.”
Shen Moran suddenly spoke, breaking Sun Heng’s train of thought. “I am afraid I cannot help your friend with this. I specialize in economic disputes and labor arbitration. You might want to find a lawyer who specializes in this field.”
She then suggested, “As it happens, our firm has a senior lawyer who specializes in this. I will take you to consult with him.”
“Great.” Sun Heng agreed and followed Shen Moran out of the office.
Sun Heng noticed that the firm was bustling. Every station was busy, phone bells were ringing, and men and women in casual attire were being greeted, clearly clients.
Soon, Shen Moran stopped in front of an office and knocked on the door.
“Please come in.”
A middle-aged man’s voice came from inside, and Shen Moran pushed the door open to enter with Sun Heng.
“Lawyer Cao.” After entering, Shen Moran said to the middle-aged man sitting behind the desk, “I recall you once handled a custody battle. I have a similar case here and wanted to see if you could help.”
Lawyer Cao looked up, glanced at Sun Heng and then at Shen Moran, and frowned. “What kind of custody case?”
Shen Moran blinked and said, “It is the case for the Hengli Group. There was only a three-year-old heir, and you helped win that lawsuit, did you not? There is a similar case now, why do you not…”
“The Hengli Group case was not a simple custody battle.” Lawyer Cao put down his phone. “All the direct relatives had died, leaving only a three-year-old grandson. The shareholders wanted to become his legal guardians to control the group’s finances. That was an economic dispute, not a standard custody battle.”
After he finished speaking, Shen Moran frowned. “Is it not similar? In my case, the parents are unable to raise the child due to tragic circumstances. The child is currently being raised by the mother’s unmarried partner, who now intends to fight the grandparents for custody. I wanted to consult you about this.”
Lawyer Cao rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Sun Heng was displeased by his attitude. She was used to being treated with respect wherever she went; no one had ever dared to roll their eyes at her.
“I will pay the consultation fee according to the highest standard,” Sun Heng said to Lawyer Cao. “I just want to see if there is a good solution.”
Shen Moran turned back to look at Sun Heng, frowning slightly.
Perhaps Sun Heng did not realize that Lawyer Cao was a partner at the firm and was not short on money. Her offer was, to some extent, an insult. Just as she was about to warn Sun Heng, Lawyer Cao threw a tantrum. “No need for consultation. I will tell you the truth: your case will definitely lose, so do not even think about it.”
Sun Heng was puzzled. “You have not even heard the details, so how do you know we will lose?”
Lawyer Cao ignored her and said to Shen Moran, “Lawyer Shen, you are not at a low level anymore. Do not push every messy case my way. Divorce and custody cases should be handled by you female lawyers. Stop bothering me.”
Shen Moran frowned. Before she could speak, Sun Heng stepped in.
“What do you mean by ‘should be handled by female lawyers’?” Sun Heng raised an eyebrow and challenged him. “Are female lawyers so worthless that you treat them with such disdain?”
Lawyer Cao could not be bothered to respond. “Think what you want. I have an appointment, so Lawyer Shen, please take your client and leave. Do not delay my business.”
He then pressed the intercom to call his assistant.
Sun Heng could not stand his attitude. She reached out, grabbed Shen Moran’s wrist, and said, “Let us go. Do not waste time with someone like this.”
Shen Moran glanced back at Sun Heng and followed her out.
Back in her office, an intern assistant placed a stack of files on Shen Moran’s desk. “Lawyer Shen, these are today’s files. I will leave them to you.”
Shen Moran nodded at the thick stack.
Once the assistant left, Sun Heng felt confused. Theoretically, Shen Moran should be a high-ranking lawyer given she had her own office. However, judging by Lawyer Cao’s attitude and the assistant’s words, Shen Moran did not seem as prestigious as she appeared.
It even seemed like she was being bullied.
Shen Moran was oblivious. She picked up the first file, glanced at it, and sighed. She turned to Sun Heng and said, “You see, I am about to get busy. I truly cannot help your friend with this case. You should try consulting other law firms.”
“Oh, alright.” Sun Heng replied. “No worries, I will keep looking.”
She smiled at Shen Moran. “I have taken up much of your time today. Are you free at noon? Let me treat you to a meal to show my gratitude.”
Shen Moran shook her head. “I do not know when I will be done. Besides, we just started work. Let us arrange it when I have time.”
Sun Heng knew Shen Moran was refusing, so she did not insist. She simply said, “Alright, I will go look at other firms, and we can eat together when you are free.”
Shen Moran thought Sun Heng was just being polite, but to her surprise, she encountered her at the law firm entrance after work that evening.
“Hi!”
Sun Heng was still wearing the black trench coat from the morning, leaning against a black Mercedes-Benz G-Class and waving at her. Shen Moran was stunned to see her there.
“Sun Heng?” Shen Moran walked over, stunned, and seeing her car parked next to hers, asked with a frown, “It is so late, why are you here?”
“I was passing by and saw your car, so I guessed you had not left yet.” Sun Heng smiled. “Have you eaten? If not, want to grab a bite?”
Shen Moran refused, “No, I have to go pick up Niannian.”
Sun Heng watched as she walked around her to get into the car. “Su Nian? Why do you need to pick her up?”
“Tutoring,” Shen Moran said. “Class ends at 9:30, so I have to go get her.”
Sun Heng checked her watch and saw it was 9:20. Shen Moran seemed truly anxious to pick up the child. She did not even say goodbye to Sun Heng before opening the door to get in.
Just as Shen Moran reached for her seatbelt, the passenger door slammed shut. Sun Heng sat down naturally and started buckling her own seatbelt.
Shen Moran frowned. “What are you doing in my car?”
“Do you not have your own car?”
Sun Heng buckled her belt, leaned back, and smiled at Shen Moran with her eyes curving into crescents. “Since you are picking up Su Nian, I will join you. I have not seen the girl in a while, and I will treat you both to a late-night snack.”
Shen Moran frowned. “No need.”
“Have you eaten?” Sun Heng chatted casually.
“I have,” Shen Moran replied.
“You have, but Su Nian has not.” Sun Heng smiled brightly, her eyes narrowing as she said in a gentle tone, “Come on, do not be so cold. I really just want to treat you both to a meal.”