07
How to put it? Xu Huaisong really didn’t know where to start for a moment. After a long pause, he managed four words: “It’s a bit complicated.”
“Is there any interpersonal relationship more complicated than an ex?”
“Are debtors and creditors any less complicated?”
Liu Mao’s eyes widened. Thinking about it, that did sound about right.
Working in the legal profession and dealing with all sorts of people had sharpened his observational skills. Given today’s situation, he could confirm that Ruan Yu and Xu Huaisong knew each other.
He had initially thought that the only thing that could make a “reunion” so awkward was being “the most familiar strangers.” But reminded by Xu Huaisong’s words, he realized his thinking had been too narrow.
Liu Mao suddenly understood and stammered, “She… she owes you money?”
No wonder Ruan Yu had been so nervous, pretending not to know Xu Huaisong. And Xu Huaisong, too, had stubbornly maintained a poker face.
Seeing him take it seriously, Xu Huaisong chuckled. “No.”
“...” Liu Mao felt like committing a crime.
“Let’s find a place to eat.” Before Liu Mao could ask more, Xu Huaisong cut him off.
Liu Mao had no choice but to step on the gas, steering the wheel while recalling yesterday’s events.
Yesterday, Xu Huaisong had called him, asking him to pull some strings to look up someone’s basic information and contact details in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area. Liu Mao had asked if it was urgent because he’d just taken on a copyright and defamation case and was rushing to preserve online evidence.
Xu Huaisong said it was “urgent,” but after that, he fell silent, as if reconsidering, and instead asked who the client for that case was.
As a partner at Zhi Kun, Xu Huaisong had the right to know about the cases the firm handled. Liu Mao explained everything in detail, only to have the call abruptly ended.
The next time he heard from Xu Huaisong was in the early hours of the morning, when he dropped the bombshell that he was at Pudong International Airport.
Putting two and two together, Liu Mao completely understood: the person Xu Huaisong wanted to look up was Ruan Yu.
This was no chance reunion—he had returned to China for her.
Only to be met with her saying, “I don’t know him.”
What man wouldn’t want to save face? So Liu Mao didn’t press further and asked, “What do you want to eat? Western?”
“Too slow. Something simple—I’ve got a flight to catch.”
“To San Francisco?” he asked, surprised.
Xu Huaisong nodded.
So even the hotel search had been a lie.
“You just got here. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
“My client’s trial is less than twenty-four hours away. Do you think I’m in a hurry?”
Liu Mao gaped. “Are you insane?”
Spending over ten hours flying back, rushing to see someone, then spending another ten hours flying back to defend a case?
Xu Huaisong reclined his seat and closed his eyes wearily. “Maybe.” Then, with a sigh and a faint smile, he added, “Who wouldn’t go insane?”
Meanwhile, at Shen Mingying’s apartment, Ruan Yu was curled up on the sofa, her face buried in a pillow. “I’m going insane…”
After hearing the whole story, Shen Mingying laughed until tears welled up. “Who was it that swore up and down they wouldn’t be recognized?”
“How was I supposed to know it would actually reach the real person?” She grabbed her hair and sat up. “This is too surreal. Even novels wouldn’t dare write something like this. Am I dreaming?”
“Do you know what you remind me of right now?”
She mumbled weakly, “What?”
“The night after your eighteenth birthday, when Xu Huaisong held your hand for the first time.”
That night, she had been so exhilarated she couldn’t sleep, repeatedly asking herself if it was all a dream.But the excitement she had felt back then was now matched by an overwhelming urge to explode.
Shen Mingying turned to the kitchen to make lunch. When she returned, she saw Ruan Yu clutching her phone, her face ashen: "What do I do? That tweet where I said the novel was based on my personal experiences was posted alongside the video clarifying the timeline of the outline..."
In other words, she couldn't delete the tweet or edit its content, because such actions would inevitably be twisted into something dirty by those with ill intentions.
"Stop being narcissistic. That elite American lawyer wouldn’t have the time to scroll through your tweets. Besides, he doesn’t even remember you. Even if he tore through your novel, he might not realize you were writing about him," Shen Mingying reasoned. "And it’s all in the past now. Just treat him as a random passerby. At worst, you’ll embarrass yourself a little—who hasn’t had some teenage fantasies, right?"
Ruan Yu knew she had a point, but: "The thought of him possibly reading that 'dream sequence' in the novel... I just can’t get over it..."
Shen Mingying burst into laughter: "Serves you right for embellishing it for artistic effect!" She nudged the limp figure sprawled on the couch. "Seriously though, are you really giving up on the lawsuit over something this trivial?"
Ruan Yu perked up and shook her head.
Of course, she wasn’t actually giving up—just planning to ditch Zhi Kun and find another lawyer.
After confirming that Shen Mingying’s friend wouldn’t be affected, she contacted another law firm in Hangzhou that same day.
They also requested a face-to-face meeting.
This firm was called "Dingzheng," and the lawyer handling Ruan Yu’s case, surnamed Fan, was swift and decisive. By that evening, he had already drafted a response plan.
So the next day, when she arrived at the firm, she was handed a detailed proposal.
As she flipped through the documents, the middle-aged man across from her explained: "Ms. Ruan, you mentioned that your case involves disputes over copyright and reputation rights, but in reality, it has little to do with the latter. Whether your work is original or not doesn’t need to be validated in court."
She was surprised: "Then how do we turn the public opinion around?"
Fan Yizhong smirked: "With proper preservation of online evidence, proving the theft of your outline alone is enough to establish the defendant’s infringement."
"Legally, that might be sufficient, but as you’ve seen, the author involved has already cooperated with my clarification, yet it hasn’t made much difference in the court of public opinion."
"Because that statement currently holds no legal weight."
She frowned: "But wouldn’t discussing the originality of the works alongside proving the theft be more convincing?"
"Once the theft is proven, comparing the two works becomes meaningless. Unless Ms. Ruan is eager for a verdict stating 'both works are strikingly similar'?"
She shook her head: "Similarity is just superficial. If you carefully compare the two texts, you’ll find—"
"If you insist on your stance," Fan Yizhong interrupted, "my plan won’t meet your expectations. I suggest you find another lawyer. But honestly, I doubt any lawyer would adopt your approach."
After a moment of silence, she nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your advice."
Hangzhou had plunged into summer abruptly these past few days. By the time Ruan Yu left Dingzheng, the sun was scorching.
She hailed a cab under the blazing heat, initially heading back to her apartment. But at a crossroads, remembering Fan Yizhong’s final words, a stubborn reluctance took hold, and she redirected to another law firm.
After visiting two more firms in quick succession, she received a call from Liu Mao while still on the street.Liu Mao heard the honking on her end and let out a low "ah." "You're outside? We can talk when it's more convenient."
She said, "Wait a moment," and turned into an unmanned newsstand by the roadside.
One side of the newsstand had a row of transparent compartments stuffed with newspapers and magazines for self-service purchase. But in the sweltering heat, no one had the leisure to buy newspapers.
Ruan Yu stood under the cool, quiet shade of the newsstand's awning. "Go ahead, Lawyer Liu."
Liu Mao got straight to the point: "The notarization process is almost complete. Have you made your decision?"
Ruan Yu paused briefly.
Of course, she had never given up on litigation from the start. Although she had been turned down by three law firms in just half a day, it was impossible not to feel disheartened. But rationally speaking, the lawyers weren't wrong.
Why take a roundabout, troublesome approach when you could hit the bullseye with one shot? Who would want to do something laborious and potentially thankless?
After all, she had been tempered by society and knew that adaptability was sometimes a survival skill. So while crossing the street earlier, Ruan Yu had wondered if she should stop being so stubborn.
But Liu Mao's phone call made her want to try one last time.
Instead of answering, she asked, "Lawyer Liu, in your opinion, how should this case be handled?"
Liu Mao seemed momentarily taken aback. "Proving the outline was stolen is the most straightforward method."
Ruan Yu resignedly hummed in agreement.
Sensing her dejection, he asked, "What's wrong? If you're facing any trouble, feel free to speak up. Even if I'm not your legal representative, I can still be your friend."
Hesitantly, she said, "I was thinking—if I wanted to explore the originality of the work, could that be addressed in this case?"
The silence on the other end lasted a bit too long, and she understood. With a smile, she said, "Never mind, I get—"
"It can," Liu Mao interrupted.
"It can?"
After a thoughtful pause, he said, "Yes, it can be addressed..."
His tone sounded off, and she hesitated. "If this is just a favor from a friend, you don’t have to force yourself."
"I’m not forcing myself!"
His raised voice echoed slightly, and she asked, "Lawyer Liu, is your landline on speakerphone?"
"Yes. Sorry, please hold on. I have a few documents to sign urgently."
"Go ahead."
Ruan Yu kept the line open. Hearing no further sound, she lowered her phone and glanced at the newspapers in the transparent compartments.
A folded evening paper revealed a small portion of a news report about a former executive from the American S.G. company who joined a competitor, violating a non-compete clause and facing litigation.
Even a top-tier computer software development company in the U.S. couldn’t avoid such disputes.
Ruan Yu tilted her head and skimmed the words "San Francisco," "trial tomorrow," and "Chinese-American lawyer." Just as she was about to read further, Liu Mao's voice returned, saying he was done and asking if she was still there.
She looked up. "Go on."
Liu Mao spoke more smoothly now. "While exploring originality isn’t essential evidence, as supplementary material, it could positively influence the case outcome. So your request can be accommodated."
Ruan Yu was surprised. "Aren’t you worried the comparison might not turn out well?"
Liu Mao fell silent again. "Sorry, I need to sign a few more documents."
"..."A minute later, he spoke again: "Worry or not, it boils down to the win rate. As a lawyer, due to professional constraints, I can't give you a definitive answer. But I believe genuine originality deserves such an attempt."
Ruan Yu's breath hitched. After repeated rejections, these words were undoubtedly like timely aid in a snowstorm.
Liu Mao's image instantly soared in her mind to a towering height of 2.8 meters.
The passionate fervor of a writer surged in her heart, and in that instant, she made up her mind: Zhi Kun and Liu Mao were indeed the right choice for her.
But the next second, the person on the phone hesitated and said, "Well... these words were actually learned from Lawyer Xu."
"..."
The heated excitement in Ruan Yu's head quickly cooled: "Lawyer Liu, if I choose litigation, you'll be my legal representative, right?"
"Of course."
"What about Lawyer Xu?"
"He won't appear in court; he's only involved in preparing the case."
Ruan Yu rubbed her forehead and lied: "Actually, I might not be able to afford the fees for two lawyers..."
"Don't worry about that. Lawyer Xu is participating out of personal research needs, so his portion won't incur any additional costs for you."
She tried to resist further: "I have a few industry friends who've also faced copyright disputes. I could introduce them to him for study."
"Well... the thing is," Liu Mao sounded somewhat troubled, "but in all my years of practice, I've genuinely never seen a case as unique and exemplary as yours."
Ruan Yu wasn't sure how she ended the call. When she came to her senses, her WeChat chat already displayed a new contact card—Zhi Kun Liu Mao has recommended Xu Huaisong to you.
She stood there holding the phone that now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, her vision darkening momentarily.
On the other end, Liu Mao, who had just put down the landline receiver, was equally nervous and dizzy. Glancing at his computer screen, he picked up the phone that had been on speaker for a long time and snapped angrily, "Xu Huaisong, can't you type faster? Since when do I have this many documents to sign?"
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