Me! A disgraced celebrity! Starting by seeking justice for impoverished students.

With the verdict announced, the lawsuit came to an end.

The courtroom instantly became lively after the presiding judge announced the adjournment of the court.

"Twenty-three years..."

With a thud, Pei Yanzhou collapsed to the ground.

He kept repeating those three words to himself.

His eyes were unfocused, and he had completely lost the arrogance of his former rich kid days.

The bailiffs went forward to help him up, but he was so weak that he couldn't even stand up.

Lu Cheng quickly stepped forward and bent down to support his arm.

He forced his voice down, his tone resolute.

"Don't panic! The first instance judgment is only a preliminary ruling; we'll appeal immediately!"

"During the second trial, I personally reviewed all the procedural flaws; there's definitely still room for a reversal!"

"A comeback... is it still possible?"

Pei Yanzhou's voice trembled as he looked up at Lu Cheng, his eyes filled with fear.

"Twenty-three years, Attorney Lu! My life is almost ruined!"

"If I say it's possible, then it's possible." Lu Cheng gritted his teeth and helped the person steady. "The first-instance panel focused on reason and social impact, and the sentencing was obviously too harsh."

"In the second instance, we will focus on three aspects: the validity of the evidence, the sentencing standards, and the compliance of the procedures. We are confident that we can reduce the sentence and even strive to have the case remanded for retrial."

He had just finished speaking.

Pei Zhenbang walked to the defense table with a dark face, his expression frighteningly gloomy.

He stared at Lu Cheng, his voice low and filled with anger.

"Attorney Lu, is this what you mean by 'being confident'?"

"I spent seven figures on legal fees, only to have my son spend twenty-three years in jail?"

"President Pei, the first trial is only a preliminary result..." Lu Cheng's face was pale, but he still maintained his composure.

"I admit that my strategy in today's first trial was too conservative, and I didn't play many of my trump cards."

"I will utilize all the resources of my team for the second trial, and I will definitely give you a satisfactory result!"

Pei Zhenbang stared at him coldly for a few seconds, but ultimately suppressed his anger.

Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to pin his hopes on the second trial.

"That would be best. I need you to present a complete appeals plan within the ten-day appeal period."

"If Yanzhou really goes in, it won't look good for either of us."

After saying that, Pei Zhenbang turned and left, his back filled with anger.

Lu Cheng stood there, his fingertips gripping the judgment tightly, the edges of the paper crumpled from being squeezed.

In his twelve years in the industry, he had never lost so badly!

His entire defense was rejected, and he was sentenced to the maximum penalty for multiple crimes, which is an absolute disgrace to his career!

He looked up at the plaintiff's seat.

Jiang Chen was calmly tidying up the files, his expression serene.

It was as if everything was within his expectations.

For some reason, even though there was still a chance for a second trial, Lu Cheng had a feeling of unease.

……

On the plaintiff's side, Tao Yi's eyes were already red.

After days of tension, my mind finally relaxed completely at this moment.

"Attorney Jiang...won."

"We really won!"

Her voice choked with emotion, and she could barely speak coherently.

All the torment, worry, and resentment of these past few days turned into tears.

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Winning the first instance is a good thing, but don't get too excited yet."

"Call Wanwan first. She's probably been watching the live stream. Don't let her get too emotional."

"Yes! Yes! I have to tell Wanwan right away!"

Meanwhile, in a hotel room in the city center.

Tao Wanwan curled up on the sofa, hugging a blanket in her arms.

He stared intently at the live court hearing on the tablet.

She watched the entire process live, from the opening of the court hearing to the presentation of evidence, from the debate to the sentencing.

When she heard "twenty-three years in prison," she froze for a few seconds, and then tears unexpectedly streamed down her face onto the screen.

That wasn't pain, nor was it grievance.

It was a release that had been suppressed for far too long!

The person who ruined her life has finally received the punishment he deserved!

She covered her face, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Suppressed sobs slowly began to rise.

After so many days of despair, fear, and self-doubt, I finally have a place to vent.

Just then, the cell phone rang.

It was my aunt Tao Yi calling.

She sniffed, answered the phone, and her voice was thick with a nasal tone.

"Feed? Little Aunt..."

"I saw it."

……

Online discussions about this case have already reached a fever pitch!

Although the live stream has ended, every related video is still filled with heated discussions among netizens.

[Twenty-three years! A truly gratifying verdict! This is a just verdict!]

[Multiple charges combined! Rape plus obstruction of justice—serves him right!]

[Wasn't Attorney Lu supposed to be very good at sophistry? How come the judge dismissed his case with just one sentence?]

[Hilarious! This defense, which twists the truth, is utterly futile in the face of real evidence and common sense!]

[Great! The little girl's suffering wasn't in vain!]

[Attorney Jiang is a legend! His 100% win rate continues!]

Wait a minute, the defendant will definitely appeal, right? The lawyer in the red circle can't just give up like that.

[An appeal is useless! Attorney Jiang clearly had a backup plan; didn't you see he was playing it safe from beginning to end?]

The related topic instantly topped the trending search lists on major platforms, and the entire internet was discussing the verdict.

Some people praised the fairness of the law, while others felt sorry for the victims' ordeal.

Some people praised Jiang Chen's professional skills, while others were waiting to see the protracted battle of the second trial.

……

In the evening, Jiang Chen returned to the law firm.

As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Chen Qiaowei standing next to the front desk.

The other person was holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, clearly waiting for him.

"You're back? You won the first instance. You've worked hard."

Chen Qiaowei smiled and handed over the teacup, her eyes full of satisfaction. "I watched the whole live stream. You handled this case brilliantly!"

If Chen Qiaowei weren't busy with her firm's affairs, she would have attended the court hearing in person to watch Jiang Chen's trial.

Jiang Chen took the teacup, feeling the warmth on his fingertips.

He chuckled lightly: "Just lucky. The presiding judge was fair and sided with the facts."

"It's not just luck." Chen Qiaowei shook her head, her tone full of amazement.

"A lawyer of Lu Cheng's caliber would have easily fallen into the trap of rules by now. Only you can accurately expose the flaws in his logic."

"However, I estimate that he will definitely not give up easily, and an appeal is a certainty."

"As expected." Jiang Chen casually placed the file on the table, his tone relaxed.

"Given his personality, after losing so badly in the first trial, he'll definitely go all out to fight back in the second!"

After all... the reputation of lawyers in top-tier law firms isn't so easily tarnished.

Chen Qiaowei asked with some concern, "For the second trial... do you want me to help you organize the materials?"

"The teams at the top-tier law firms are quite strong; we need to prepare in advance!"

Lu Cheng's defeat this time was so humiliating that his law firm certainly wouldn't stand idly by.

If he loses again in the second trial, it won't just be Lu Cheng's personal face that will be lost, but also the reputation of his law firm!

Jiang Chen looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Don't worry too much."

"The second trial may seem dangerous, but it's actually easier to win than the first trial."

"The backup plan I kept in mind was specifically for when he appeals!"

Chen Qiaowei was slightly taken aback, then realized what she meant and said with a hint of surprise, "So you knew from the beginning that he would appeal, and you had a plan all along?"

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win."

Jiang Chen nodded, as if he had everything under control.

"The opposing lawyer thought the second trial was his chance to turn the tables, but in reality, the outcome was already decided the moment he decided to help the defendant take the route of bribing for forgiveness!"