Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The coroner was stunned speechless by Gu Nianzhi’s words and sheepishly took another two vials of blood to give to He Zhichu and Gu Nianzhi for their archives. Ramona, Seth’s mother, appeared livid. Balling her hands into tights fists, she stared at Gu Nianzhi with heavily made up, deep socketed eyes that made no attempt to hide her disgust and hatred. Gu Nianzhi carefully put the two vials of blood into her briefcase and nodded to the forensic doctor. “Thank you.” She then turned to Ramona, who was a senior lieutenant police officer. “Remember this. When your son is in jail, I’ll come to take his blood and DNA every year until the very last year of his sentence.”
“Don’t get smug! My son hasn’t been sentenced yet! How can you sentence him yourself?! Aren’t you a lawyer from the best American law firm? How can you disregard the law?!” Ramona smiled contemptuously at her and discovered the handsome Chinese man standing behind her and doting over her. The girl appeared so young and barely looked legal, so Ramona assumed Gu Nianzhi had used inappropriate means to obtain her lawyer’s license. “How did you become a lawyer with that kind of capability? Did you answer debates on your instructor’s lap and have your instructor take the bar exam for you? Is that why you think you can do whatever you want?!” Ramona was stony faced and stopped pretending she didn’t understand English. “This isn’t America, this is Germany!”
He Zhichu quietly looked at Gu Nianzhi and was a bit worried she would go off on a rampage. It would be bad if she lost her temper in court. Obviously, Ramona wanted to infuriate Gu Nianzhi and turn the tables around. Ramona didn’t expect Gu Nianzhi to remain calm and fail to fall into the trap. She took out her small notebook and pretended to write in it. “Senior Lieutenant Ramona, I am going to add another charge for you on this list–defamation. If you cannot afford the compensation we request, then you can prepare to go to jail.” She then turned around to sit beside He Zhichu and ignored Ramona.
After hearing Gu Nianzhi’s warning, Ramona’s heart sank, and she couldn’t help glancing at her husband, York. She whispered, “What do they mean? Will there be civil proceedings?”
York was more calm and calculating than Ramona. His eyes scanned Gu Nianzhi’s face before he turned around to reply expressionlessly, “That’s for certain.”
“Oh? What should we do, then?!” Ramona was flustered and grabbed the hem of her uniform tightly as she murmured, “We… We…”
“Don’t fret, I have a plan. Let her gloat for now.” York’s eyes traveled towards Gu Nianzhi, and his gaze was as icy as a poisonous snake darting its tongue out.
“You really have a plan?” Ramona’s voice grew even quieter. “The man beside her seems pretty impressive.”
York solemnly regarded He Zhichu and snorted derisively at his delicate and handsome profile. “We’ll see exactly how impressive he is.”
“Silence, the court is in session.” The judge struck his gavel to begin the proceedings. It had only been three or four months since the case had occurred, but according to the normal efficiency of German courts, the case was able to begin trial now, largely due to public pressure to push it forward in the queue. Many cases from the same period still needed to be scheduled for trial, and some had even been scheduled for the following year. It was thanks to the German people’s conscience that the case only had to wait three or four months before it was tried. Gu Nianzhi stopped thinking about other things and focused on listening to the prosecution and defense lawyer’s debate.
The defense lawyer insisted the deceased Hua Xia female exchange student, Li Haiqing, willingly engaged in a threesome with Seth and Niya. She was also really into BDSM, which resulted in the injuries on her body and in the end, the three of them took it too far, resulting in Li Haiqing’s death from suffocation. In short, the lawyer was claiming that Li Haiqing caused her own death.
Willingly engage?! As if! Gu Nianzhi balled her hands into fists and got angrier the more she listened. He Zhichu discreetly squeezed Gu Nianzhi’s hand and shook his head slightly to make her calm down. He Zhichu’s palm was dry and slightly cool, so Gu Nianzhi did calm down. However, she quickly struggled out of He Zhihchu’s grasp and took out her laptop to begin making notes on it.
After the defense lawyer stopped speaking, he reiterated that his client had no previous criminal record and had a good history, so this was only an accident. “Although this was very tragic, it was still an accident. I hope that everyone won’t base their decision on their emotions and make this accident even more tragic. This accident has already ruined one family, so it cannot be allowed to ruin another family.” The defense lawyer stated it seriously and bowed before stepping down.
The logic was well constructed and convincing, but Gu Nianzhi only wanted to laugh at it. It was time for the prosecution to begin speaking. He first objected to the defense lawyer’s allegation that the victim “willingly engaged” in a threesome. He frowned at the judge. “According to the testimony from the victim’s classmates from the same dorm, the victim, Li Haiqing, changed into a jogging outfit in the evening and went out to exercise. May I ask why a girl who had a habit of jogging at a certain time and route would suddenly want to have a threesome with two strangers?”
“How would I know? Maybe she fell in love at first sight with my client. You are also aware that many Hua Xia girls have a natural sense of worship for white people…” The defendant’s lawyer chuckled.
Gu Nianzhi was enraged and couldn’t stand it anymore. She stood up and said, “Objection. The defendant’s lawyer is using personal speculation instead of legal analysis, and at the same time is defiling character of the victim as well as that of all Hua Xia girls. I reserve the right to seek legal retribution and compensation from the defense lawyer.”
The defense lawyer’s face suddenly turned beet red as he glared with bulging eyes at Gu Nianzhi and shouted angrily, “Am I wrong?! Could all you Hua Xia girls not be…”
“Of course not!” Gu Nianzhi answered crisply and without hesitation. “Defense, just like how there was an anti-human fascist like Hitler among you Germans, I wouldn’t say all Germans are fascists like Hitler. What you said right now was a blanket statement stereotyping an entire race.”
The judge’s expression also darkened as he warned the defendant’s lawyer, “Please watch your language.”
Gu Nianzhi thought the judge was being too lenient with handling the situation. She raised a brow and steadied her voice. “Your Honor, in view of the racist comments and views of the defendant’s lawyer, I request the removal of his right to represent the defendant.”
The judge looked at Gu Nianzhi then glanced at the defense lawyer. He coughed awkwardly. “Hans, you must apologize to the other lawyer.”
The defense lawyer’s face was now purple, and his large nostrils were huffing as his eyes widened to the size of saucers. Combined with his thick churlish lips, he really resembled a pig. He finally lowered his haughty head and apologized to Gu Nianzhi. “Sorry.”
However, Gu Nianzhi didn’t appreciate it. “If apologies made a difference, what would we need courts for? Your Honor, you know better than I what kind of crimes racism and hate speech are considered. I don’t believe you will willingly break the law.” The judge regarded Gu Naiznhi calmly and was silent for a long time. Gu Nianzhi wasn’t afraid at all as she scanned each face of every single person and enunciated clearly, “If the judge treats the case like child’s play, then I will keep taking this up the judicial system. I have no qualms about going to the German Supreme Court and the EU Supreme Court!”
He Zhichu also stood up, his handsome face aloof as he stated solemnly, “Her stance is that of our law firm’s.” If Gu Nianzhi’s words couldn’t be taken seriously because she was a minor lawyer’s assistant, then He Zhichu’s words would certainly be taken seriously. He Zhichu represented the largest American law firm, and he was also a partner himself. Not only that, but he had a mysterious background, and the German courts had some understanding of him. Although they didn’t have a clear idea, one glimpse of fur was indicative of the entire leopard. They all had a fear of his background.
As soon as He Zhichu spoke, Hans’ face turned ashen. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his dark red, sunburned face gleamed with grease. He was an eyesore. “Sorry…” He stammered an apology to Gu Nianzhi once again.
However, Gu Nianzhi didn’t accept it at all. “I still stand by my statement. As the defense’s lawyer, you spoke of such things, so not only are there issues with your professionalism, but this was a violation of law. Racism or defamation, you pick. I will certainly be pressing charges.” Having a white man accuse all girls from the Hua Xia Empire of having a natural sense of worship for white people… how could she tolerate that?! What day and age was it, anyway? How could he still have such a white superiority complex? He couldn’t blame Gu Nianzhi for teaching him a lesson.
First, she would complain to the German Bar Association regarding Hans’ qualifications. If he was judged to be acting inappropriately, his qualifications as a lawyer would be revoked and in serious cases, he would be forbidden from reapplying ever again. Then, she would be sure to file a case with the court suing him for racism and defamation. It didn’t matter when the trials were scheduled. Gu Nianzhi wanted to hang a Damocles sword over his head so he would be constantly terrified and unable to live peacefully. Of course, the most important point was that the defense lawyer would have to be swapped out, and that was the most effective way to attack the defense’s momentum. If she didn’t teach Seth’s scumbag family a bit of lesson, they would never learn…
At Gu Nianzhi’s insistence, the judge stripped the defense lawyer of his right to represent the defendant, so the defense had to find another lawyer and choose another day to continue the trial. With Gu Nianzhi’s incredible assistance, the defense lawyer was removed on the very first day of the trial.
After the judge announced the adjournment of the court, the defense’s side was very gloomy. Seth especially glared at Gu Nianzhi. His gaze was evil and vile, so disturbing he looked like he was insane. Gu Nianzhi was unperturbed and reached out to make a scissoring gesture with her fingers. If she weren’t still in court, Gu Nianzhi would have loved nothing more than to pantomime shooting a gun at Seth…
