“Husband, you’re here.” Lin Nianxi quickly walked to his side, her soft, pale arm linking with his.
Seeing him arrive, she was like a child who had just gained the backing of an adult.
Instantly, she felt secure.
But…
“Husband,” the girl lifted her porcelain-like face, looking up at him with soft, pleading eyes as she bit her lip, “did I interrupt your work…”
In her moment of panic, she had thought of Huo Jingmo.
But now that she had called him over, she felt a bit of regret.
He must be very busy usually.
She had caused him trouble, wuwu.
“Work isn’t as important as you.” Huo Jingmo looked at the young girl standing beside him, her dark almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.
Such a young wife—sometimes raising her felt like raising a daughter.
His wife was indeed young and needed more care and time.
But he was happy to give it.
Lin Nianxi’s face flushed red again.
He really knew how to sweet-talk.
“Were you wronged just now?” The man looked at her with gentle eyes.
“A little bit.” Lin Nianxi bit her tender lips and said softly, “I paid a year’s rent, a total of eleven thousand. I only stayed for one day and wanted to move out. I said I wouldn’t ask for the rent for this month, just the remaining rent, but the landlord wouldn’t give it to me.”
Her voice was soft, and she hung her head, growing more aggrieved as she spoke. “And the landlord even demanded I pay a penalty for breaking the lease, saying I damaged her furniture and had to pay an extra five thousand, plus renovation costs. But the peeling walls and cracked bed legs had nothing to do with me.”
“I only left my things here; I didn’t even live here. She’s just trying to cheat me.”
The young girl was like a child who had been wronged at school, complaining to her parents—pitiful yet adorable.
“Good girl,” the man raised his hand, his long fingers gently stroking her dark, smooth hair. “Your husband will stand up for you.”
“Mhm!” Lin Nianxi looked at him with bright, shining eyes.
With him here, she wasn’t afraid of anything.
Lawyer Zhou, standing nearby: …
He thought Mr. Huo had called him here so seriously today to handle a dispute involving billions. He had even prepared himself for a tough battle, but in the end?
A dispute over just eleven thousand?
Wasn’t this like using an atomic bomb to kill a mosquito?
The smallest project he had ever handled was no less than eighty million.
Lawyer Zhou stared blankly at the shabby ceiling, feeling speechless.
“Who are you?” Sister Li sized up Huo Jingmo, her voice not lowering in the slightest.
Huo Jingmo turned around, his deep, dark eyes sweeping over Sister Li with indifference.
That glance held no emotion, as calm as if he were looking at an insignificant object.
But Sister Li shivered inexplicably.
Intense…
This man’s aura was too strong…
“Lawyer Zhou.” Huo Jingmo spoke, just two words, light as a feather.
Zhou Hengshan snapped back to reality, wearing a professional smile as he stepped forward, opened his briefcase, and took out a business card, handing it to Sister Li.
“Hello. I am Zhou Hengshan, senior partner at Wansheng Law Firm and the legal representative for Ms. Lin.”
He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone calm and restrained, as if delivering an opening statement in court.
“Regarding the matter of terminating the lease, according to Article 563 of the Civil Code, if the lessee is unable to continue fulfilling the lease contract due to objective reasons, they have the right to terminate the contract. The lessor should refund the remaining rent, deducting reasonable losses.”
“As for the 5,000 yuan compensation you are demanding for renovation and furniture,” Zhou Hengshan glanced at the dilapidated furniture in the room, “according to Article 714 of the Civil Code, the lessee shall use the leased property properly, but shall not be liable for reasonable wear and tear resulting from normal use.”
“The cracked bed legs, detached wardrobe hinges, and peeling wall paint you mentioned are all due to the natural aging of the house and its attached facilities. The lessee only rented for one day and did not stay overnight here. All these facts prove that this aging has nothing to do with the lessee.”
“Furthermore, your act of demanding unreasonable compensation by seizing the lessee’s property and restricting their personal freedom is suspected of extortion. According to Article 274 of the Criminal Law, if the amount is relatively large, the punishment is imprisonment for up to three years.”
A series of legal provisions were delivered—precise and calm.
Sister Li was stunned by this barrage of professional terminology, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly.
But she hadn’t spent over a decade in this business for nothing. After regaining her composure, she grabbed the business card Zhou Hengshan had handed her and glanced at it twice.
“Wansheng Law Firm?” Sister Li snorted, throwing the card to the ground. “Don’t try to scare me with this! You think I don’t know the law?!”
She planted her hands on her hips, chin held high. “Let me tell you, my son is Liu Zhiqiang, a full-fledged lawyer at Dingsheng Law Firm! Do you know Dingsheng? It’s one of the top ten law firms in the city! My son has worked there for five years—there’s no case he hasn’t handled!”
Sister Li grew more animated as she spoke, spittle flying. “You think bringing a lawyer here will intimidate me? Just wait until my son arrives—he’ll teach you a lesson in no time!”
Zhou Hengshan wasn’t angry.
He even smiled slightly.
“Dingsheng Law Firm, Liu Zhiqiang?”
“That’s right!” Sister Li puffed out her chest. “That’s him! Are you scared now?”
Zhou Hengshan glanced at Huo Jingmo.
Huo Jingmo leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, signaling him to handle it himself.
Zhou Hengshan took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, found a number, pressed the dial button, and put it on speaker.
The phone rang once before it was answered.
“Lawyer Zhou!” The voice on the other end was filled with utmost respect. “This is Director Wang from Dingsheng. What can I do for you?”
Zhou Hengshan’s tone was indifferent. “Do you have a lawyer named Liu Zhiqiang at your firm?”
“Yes, yes, he’s in our civil department. What’s the matter, Lawyer Zhou? Has he caused any trouble?”
“Fire him.”
Three words.
There was a two-second silence on the phone.
“Understood, Lawyer Zhou. I’ll take care of it immediately.” Director Wang didn’t hesitate for a second.
The call ended.
The arrogance on Sister Li’s face froze.
Her mouth hung open as if someone had grabbed her by the throat, unable to make a sound.
But then, she snapped back to reality and shrieked, “Who do you think you’re fooling?! You think a phone call can get my son fired? What a joke! Director Wang of Dingsheng—what kind of person is he?! My son is one of his top performers! You, some random lawyer from who-knows-where, think you can order Director Wang around? That’s hilarious! The person who answered your call just now must have been a fake!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sister Li’s phone vibrated in her pocket.
Caller ID: Son.
Sister Li answered the phone, raising her voice. “Son! Listen, Mom’s dealing with a scammer here. He’s pretending to be someone with a lousy business card—”
“Mom!!”
On the other end of the phone, Liu Zhiqiang’s near-roaring voice exploded through the receiver, loud and clear enough for everyone present to hear.
“Who on earth did you offend?! I’ve been fired!! Director Wang personally called to notify me! Said it takes effect immediately! No compensation at all!”
Sister Li shuddered, the color rapidly draining from her face.
“No… impossible…”
“Mom! Who exactly came to see you? Tell me now!”
Sister Li lowered her head, her gaze falling on the business card she had thrown on the floor.
She bent down to pick it up and read the words aloud: “Wansheng Law Firm… Senior Partner… Zhou Hengshan…”
Dead silence hung on the other end of the line for three seconds.
Then, Liu Zhiqiang’s voice changed—from anger to terror.
“Mom, have you lost your mind?! Zhou Hengshan!! Zhou Hengshan from Wansheng Law Firm!! He’s a standing council member of the National Lawyers Association! Wansheng is the top-ranked law firm in the country! Dingsheng isn’t even fit to carry their shoes! Director Wang is just an errand boy in front of Zhou Hengshan!”
“If he told Director Wang to fire me, would Director Wang dare say half a word of refusal?!”
“Mom, you need to apologize to him right now!! I’m begging you!! If you keep making trouble, I’ll never be able to work in this industry again!!”
The phone nearly slipped from Sister Li’s hand.
It’s over…
Everything is over…