Final Civilization

Chapter 10: The Chief

"Hasn't Tianzhou's legal business always been handled by Yingcheng? Last year alone it was over 40 million, making them a major client for Yingcheng. So why is Tianzhou suddenly looking to change their legal team?"

On the 20th floor of Huatian Tower, inside Fang Tiancheng's conference room, several senior partners of the law firm were engaged in a heated discussion.

"I've handled some of Tianzhou's cases before. They cover almost every type: civil, economic, administrative, even criminal. Big clients come with big risks. Yingcheng lost two of their top players last year; maybe they just can't handle the load anymore," said a female partner named Yan Li, who had delicate features.

"Criminal cases?" someone asked.

"That's right. Last year's Case 611, the cement burial incident at the Wufeng River Eco-Park construction site. The contractor, Jingke Construction, was a subsidiary of Tianzhou. That case implicated a whole group of Tianzhou's upper management; it almost got classified as organized crime."

"That's definitely troublesome."

"Regardless, having a major client like Tianzhou come knocking on our door is nothing but beneficial. If Yingcheng could handle them, then our Fang Tiancheng firm certainly has no problem." Qin Shanhai leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, his brows furrowed. "What I don't understand is why the client specifically named Han Ming as the lead counsel representative?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to him. The verbal spat between him and Han Ming yesterday was still fresh in everyone's minds. Hearing this now, it immediately felt like there was more to his words.

Sensing his comment might have been inappropriate, Qin Shanhai immediately sat up straight and addressed everyone seriously, "Let me be clear, my point isn't because I have any personal issues with Han Ming."

"Alright, I admit Han Ming has some skills. Getting promoted to senior lawyer in his early thirties, never losing a case across various types, he qualifies as a top-tier elite.""But our Fang Tiancheng firm has at least 20 people like that. In terms of seniority, there's no need to even compare. The biggest case he's handled is the Liz case, which wasn't even worth ten million. Furthermore, he only specializes in civil litigation. A case as massive as Tianzhou's, as Partner Yan just mentioned, can even involve criminal aspects. How can someone like Han Ming be qualified to be the lead?"

"But that's the client's requirement," the female partner Yan Li spread her hands. "Do we refuse them? Or do we tell the client Han Ming's qualifications aren't sufficient? We can't exactly badmouth our own people, can we?"

Qin Shanhai raised both hands and declared loudly, "We can absolutely provide Tianzhou with a proposal from a professional assessment perspective!"

"And I'm also thinking about our firm's reputation. Taking a step back, if we put Han Ming in charge and something goes wrong, wouldn't that tarnish our firm's name? As a professional institution, we are here to solve problems for our clients, not to just serve whatever dish the client orders. We're not salespeople."

"I think Partner Qin's analysis has merit," another partner voiced their agreement.

"Hmm, indeed."

"I agree as well."

For a moment, several other partners also nodded. Seeing he had gained majority approval, Qin Shanhai let out a sigh of relief, but still deferred the final say to Qi Rong.

Qi Rong, who had been standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, turned around. "I've already called Han Ming. Before we respond to Tianzhou, it's necessary to discuss this with him."

"Director Qi, I actually think... that might not be necessary."

Qin Shanhai smiled a somewhat helpless smile. "It sounds like we're about to criticize him. Better to let him save some face."

"Partner Qin."

Qi Rong looked at him with a gaze that seemed both amused and serious. "You've been a lawyer for over a decade now, right?"

"Huh?" Qin Shanhai's expression froze.

"Let me ask you, out of the over four hundred lawyers at our firm, why do you think Tianzhou only named one person?" Qi Rong asked calmly.

The other partners present remained silent. Qin Shanhai's expression changed, and he also sat down in silence.

None of them were fools. For such a massive group project to suddenly come knocking, and to specify a single person, clearly indicated there must be some connection involved.

"Then, Director Qi, what do you think..."

Qi Rong raised a hand to cut off the others, pondering for a moment before saying, "I understand. Partner Qin's analysis earlier wasn't without reason. However, in this situation, I believe we first need to understand Tianzhou International's demands and Attorney Han's perspective. Alright, it's the weekend today, and this cooperation is still in the negotiation phase. Let's disperse for now. I'll speak with Attorney Han shortly. We'll discuss the specifics further on Monday."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After the meeting adjourned, Qi Rong returned to her office. She boiled water, took out tea leaves, and brewed a pot of tea. Within a few minutes, Han Ming arrived.

"Come in."

Han Ming pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Qi Rong had brewed tea and was specifically waiting for him alone, he was quite surprised.

His pupils contracted slightly. A wisp of temporal energy flowed from between his brows. Instantly, his expression calmed.

Yan Jing seeking him out to be the lead representative lawyer for their legal counsel team was obviously placing high expectations on him. Simultaneously, he understood this might not merely be an olive branch from Yan Jing to express her gratitude.

She must have already started investigating that premeditated car accident. Normally, at a time like this, one wouldn't replace a familiar legal team, because it takes considerable time for a new legal team to take over Tianzhou International's affairs.

Therefore, changing legal teams at this moment suggested Yan Jing wasn't using legal means to investigate this accident case at all, but rather other methods.

So, placing Han Ming in this position carried some intriguing implications.

Thinking optimistically, Yan Jing simply wanted to thank Han Ming, perhaps also considering his firsthand understanding of the incident scene.

But thinking pessimistically, before finding the mastermind behind the scenes, Han Ming himself was also one of the suspects.

Han Ming had to consider this possibility, because he didn't believe the chairwoman of a multi-billion-dollar group would hand over the significant responsibility of the group's legal affairs to a 'benefactor' with ordinary seniority out of simple gratitude.

If it were just gratitude, her previous offer of money was more direct, or even handing him some medium-sized cases from Tianzhou's subsidiaries would have been understandable.

Having figured this out, Han Ming pushed open the glass office door.

"Director Qi."

"Have you eaten?" Qi Rong walked over with a smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting any weekend plans."

"If I were on a blind date, I'd have to thank you profusely for the phone call rescuing me," Han Ming replied.

Hearing this, Qi Rong gave an unexpected laugh and gestured for Han Ming to take a seat. "No matter how busy work gets, one shouldn't neglect matters of the heart. Besides, with your qualifications, logically you shouldn't lack for female admirers. How did you end up on a blind date?"

Han Ming sat down in front of the tea table and sighed. "My parents are quite anxious on this point. But I think one shouldn't put so much pressure on oneself."

"You consider marriage to be pressure?" Qi Rong asked casually.

Han Ming shook his head. "I just think one shouldn't view these 'life milestones' as 'life tasks'."

Qi Rong's hand, pouring tea, paused slightly. Han Ming's words seemed to strike a chord within her, causing her usually composed professional demeanor to waver momentarily.

She looked at Han Ming as if she had found a kindred spirit.

"I didn't expect your perspective on marriage to be so mature."

"That's the benefit of adopting a 'Buddha-like' attitude." Han Ming picked up his tea and took a sip. "Life and death are merely the start and end points. Everything in between is an experience. Looking at things from this perspective might reduce the anxiety."

Qi Rong nodded, quite approving. "Actually, I'm like you. I've always felt the pressure of marriage. But at this age, my parents have given up, so they don't push anymore."

Hearing this, Han Ming offered a slight smile:

"That's probably because they presuppose marriage is a necessity to be achieved by a certain age, overlooking the fact that this age is when a woman's mind and character are at their strongest, capable of defining a more beautiful life for herself."

Qi Rong looked at Han Ming with great surprise upon hearing this. She knew Han Ming was articulate, but this was the first time she discovered he could be this compelling, leaving her momentarily speechless.

The words were clearly flattery, even carrying a hint of inappropriate flirtation, yet Qi Rong didn't feel the slightest aversion.

On the contrary, she felt Han Ming had spoken these words with genuine sincerity, offering her a refreshing perspective.

For a long time, Qi Rong had maintained the image of a workplace elite leader. She had climbed from assistant lawyer to her current position, honing herself through nearly ceaseless work, turning herself almost into an iron-willed person.

Qi Rong admired this version of herself. She believed a woman's greatest confidence came from knowledge, ability, wealth, and the elegance of remaining unflappable.

Even though her looks were striking and her figure impressive, she never deliberately showcased them. Her attire consisted of refined, serious professional wear, her makeup impeccable.

Even with a somewhat sarcastic label like 'Cold-Faced Nun', she considered it an affirmation of her style. Being single and her age were not her weaknesses.

Precisely because of this, Qi Rong was widely respected in the industry. She also enjoyed the sense of achievement that came from balancing wealth and respect as a woman.