He carried his coat over his left shoulder, his right hand yawning as he walked out the door.
Giai Moc Vi lowered the fist she was about to swing and turned around to see Khuong Tich Yen still watching her, quickly putting on a humble, respectful expression:
"Khuong Tich Yen, I want to try my hand at this."
Khuong Tich Yen smiled faintly and stepped forward, patting Giai Moc Vi on the shoulder: "But it will be very difficult. Aren't you afraid?"
Giai Moc Vi neither nodded nor shook her head: "If I were afraid, then my past self would not have chosen to become a lawyer. The first step in life is not the moment we walk, but when we open our eyes."
"When I held the sunflower scales badge, I already accepted the possibility of failure. After all, not everyone can be like Khuong Tich Yen, who never loses."
She finished speaking, grinning mischievously.
As the saying goes, flattery never fails.
Although Khuong Tich Yen was not easily swayed by sweet words, what Giai Moc Vi said truly touched the depths of her heart.
She looked at Giai Moc Vi and smiled: "Honestly, the first time I went to court, I thought the same way. I comforted myself, thinking it's okay even if I lose, the future holds countless possibilities. So don't be afraid; try your best. I will support you."
Hearing this, Dam Uyen Chi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Does this mean Khuong Tich Yen will help her?
Probably.
Perhaps in the end, if Giai Moc Vi can't handle it, Khuong Tich Yen will personally step in to assist.
That made sense.
Khuong Tich Yen was not the type to let her student suffer setbacks!
That's good. That's really good.
Khuong Tich Yen looked at Dam Uyen Chi's relieved expression and, knowing that Dam Uyen Chi cared deeply for Giai Moc Vi, smiled:
"All right, for now, I am preparing for the law seminar in Yokohama, so your main work isn't centered on me. Dam Uyen Chi, help Moc Vi. But report progress to me daily; if any issues arise, come to me."
Giai Moc Vi blinked, overjoyed.
So she actually got a "secretary" assigned to her by her boss?
It seemed her previous efforts had earned enough goodwill with Khuong Tich Yen; the teacher treated her fairly well.
Dam Uyen Chi straightened up and nodded repeatedly: "Yes! I will be diligent!"
This was a divorce case.
Giai Moc Vi had to defend the defendant.
The defendant, Lam Pham, initially did not want a divorce, but his wife was determined, and multiple attempts at reconciliation failed.
Now, the issue was compensation.
The contract with Lam Pham was signed very smoothly.
When signing the contract, Giai Moc Vi had already determined one thing.
"May I ask, have you ever been taken by the police for domestic violence when you first married Ton Duc Linh ten years ago? What happened then?"
Lam Pham's expression stiffened, slightly uneasy.
Giai Moc Vi continued: "Although I know clients may keep certain matters private, I still want to tell you I dislike being lied to, and I also dislike losing. So, if you don't want to lose, tell me everything."
Lam Pham nodded, sitting a bit straighter: "I confirm I did act violently toward Ton Tich Chu."
Ton Tich Chu.
She was his wife's child from a previous relationship.
"That was on the first wedding anniversary of Duc Linh and me. Ton Tich Chu and Duc Linh argued, and she even tried to physically confront Duc Linh."
"I heard Duc Linh calling for help, so I ran over to see what was happening. Ton Tich Chu pushed me, and because I had drunk a little, a conflict ensued between me and Tich Chu."
"I also confirm I threw a punch at Tich Chu, but I absolutely did not use any knife. After Duc Linh pulled Tich Chu aside, I fell asleep due to alcohol and exhaustion."
"When I woke up, the police had taken me away, saying I had used a knife on my stepchild, suspected of domestic abuse by my wife's child."
"At that time, Duc Linh said I was drunk and angry, she couldn't stop me, but since it was due to alcohol, she forgave me and posted bail for my release."
"Since then, my relationship with Tich Chu hasn't been great. Duc Linh sent Tich Chu to study in the U.S., and she just returned this year after completing her PhD."
Giai Moc Vi perked up a little.
Ah.
So he hurt his stepchild to protect his wife.
Perhaps that's why his wife didn't divorce him because of that incident.
Giai Moc Vi asked further: "And how is your relationship with your stepchild?"
"Not great, but nothing overlapping. Although Duc Linh and I have been married eleven years, she has always lived abroad. We have hardly met; basically, she is like a stranger."
Giai Moc Vi roughly understood Lam Pham's situation.
After seeing Lam Pham off, she began preparing materials for the trial with Dam Uyen Chi.
The court date was set for a week later.
Seven days.
Living one day like a year within seven days.
Dam Uyen Chi organized the materials, sighing: "According to the Civil Code, domestic violence, abuse, or neglect of family members can be grounds for divorce. Also, compensation must be paid."
The more Dam Uyen Chi looked, the more it seemed the case might have no favorable outcome.
But the contract was signed. Giai Moc Vi couldn't give up midway. She consoled herself: "It's fine. After all, Khuong Tich Yen said, if you have any problem, you can ask her. She will definitely help you find a solution."
Giai Moc Vi remained unflustered.
After collecting all necessary documents, she looked up at Dam Uyen Chi: "These things aren't important. The key is to resolve his 'infidelity' first."
After talking with Lam Pham so much, Giai Moc Vi could roughly deduce that the nurse and her client truly had no relationship.
This was a "divorce trap."
If it's a "trap," then first, it must be proven that Dao Mo Nhien and Lam Pham are involved. Otherwise, Dao Mo Nhien would not harm someone unrelated to her.
"How will you handle this, Moc Vi?" Dam Uyen Chi asked.
"First, we need to know why Ton Duc Linh knows Dao Mo Nhien."
Giai Moc Vi began mapping out the relationships on a whiteboard.
She posted photos of the three key people: Lam Pham, Dao Mo Nhien, and the plaintiff Ton Duc Linh.
Then she drew an arrow between Ton Duc Linh and Dao Mo Nhien.
"Lam Pham said Ton Duc Linh has no medical background. So how did she meet Dao Mo Nhien, a nurse?" Giai Moc Vi said while calling Bac Si Ha.
"I'll go too!" Dam Uyen Chi said eagerly.
Giai Moc Vi shook her head: "I can handle this alone. You help me with something else."
"What?" Dam Uyen Chi straightened up.
"Follow Ton Duc Linh. I want to know who she has met recently," Giai Moc Vi said.
In this country, where everyone seemed like a detective,
Lawyers also had the right to investigate to some extent, sometimes working like private detectives to conduct surveillance and covert investigations.
Not every lawyer would be willing to go this far for their client.
Giai Moc Vi did not expect that when she arrived at the hospital, someone else was thinking the same thing.
She saw Ve Dinh Tieu standing at the door of Bac Si Ha's office. Giai Moc Vi was a bit surprised: "You… why are you here?"
He tossed aside the cigarette in his hand: "Coincidentally, I'm here about a case."
"Aren't we asking about the same case?" Giai Moc Vi asked.
Ve Dinh Tieu smiled: "I'm afraid… yes."
Their investigative targets were similar but not identical.
Giai Moc Vi wanted to see if Ton Duc Linh had ever visited this hospital, while Ve Dinh Tieu wanted to check the condition of the victim in Dao Mo Nhien's brother's case.
Bac Si Ha was very accommodating; whether it was the law student or the police officer, he tried to meet every request.
In the thick registration files, Giai Moc Vi found Ton Duc Linh's name.
But… there was an issue.
Giai Moc Vi looked at the dates in the notes, slightly off: "Ten years ago… Ton Tich Chu and Ton Duc Linh had been to the ER?"
Bac Si Ha nodded: "Our hospital records only go back ten years for the person you mentioned."
Ten years ago?
That's too far back.
Giai Moc Vi frowned: "Not right. When Dao Mo Nhien's brother caused injury, it was ten years ago, but Dao Mo Nhien didn't register at this hospital until nine years ago. So, when Ton Duc Linh and her child visited ten years ago, she hadn't met Dao Mo Nhien yet, right?"
Meanwhile, Ve Dinh Tieu was reviewing the victim's basic condition: "The lumbar region was stabbed, lumbar nerves damaged, aortic hemorrhage… But three months ago, there was a moment of clear consciousness. Does that indicate improvement?"
Bac Si Ha nodded but shook his head: "Although there was a conscious state three months ago, overall indicators were declining. Consciousness shows hope, but as you know, hope is the farthest thing."
After taking the materials from Bac Si Ha's office,
Giai Moc Vi glanced at Ve Dinh Tieu: "Do you think there's something off about Dao Mo Nhien's brother's assault case? Are you re-investigating?"
Honestly, Ve Dinh Tieu wanted to say yes.
But even if he sensed a problem, the perpetrator had confessed in the appellate trial years ago and was about to finish his sentence. The case could not be reopened.
Ve Dinh Tieu pressed his lips, looking at Giai Moc Vi with bright eyes, then lowered his voice: "Do you know why I transferred from the SWAT team to the First Investigation Unit?"
Giai Moc Vi blinked: "Not because of Du Thua Uy?"
"That's just one reason. There's another."
"What is it?"
Ve Dinh Tieu's nose was sharp as a blade, thin rays of light casting a stark contrast across his face.
"I realized, over all these years, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has changed several people, but each of them still 'eat without working.'"
"…" Giai Moc Vi.
Ve Dinh Tieu's father had once been arrested as a suspected murderer when he was very young.
Later, due to insufficient evidence, his father was released.
But the incident left a deep impact, causing his career to plummet.
A wrongful case.
It had happened long ago.
Ve Dinh Tieu's father was at least lucky to avoid a conviction, yet it still affected him.
Many would say:
"Oh, this man was arrested on suspicion of murder."
"Who knows if he really killed someone, but because he was too cunning, the police couldn't find evidence? Isn't that scarier?"
"Stay away from this person."
Baseless slander is more painful than any blade.
Giai Moc Vi looked at the crisscrossed scars on his knuckles, some new, covering the old but not erasing their origin.
He had once been a young man, throwing punches because others slandered his father, calling him the son of a suspected murderer.
Giai Moc Vi reached out, holding his scarred hand.
Her fingers were slightly cold, stroking each scar like a clear stream, cleansing the old wounds on the surface.
"Then become the Commissioner of Police, show them how a Commissioner should work, and drive away those 'idle eaters'!" she said seriously.
The fire of anger within him seemed extinguished, replaced by warmth flowing through his bones, making the corners of his mouth lift in a light smile.
Her serious expression made Ve Dinh Tieu's heart race.
He had once jokingly said he wanted to beat the Commissioner, and the others had laughed mercilessly.
But he wasn't joking.
Police work leaves no room for error.
He always approached his work with extreme caution and seriousness.
Though he thought he had outgrown such impulses with age, she had completely rekindled that wild streak.
He said nothing.
She understood him perfectly.
The last person to understand him like this had been Du Thua Uy.
"Moc Vi," he whispered her name, solemnly pledging, carefully asking:
"Even if you never regain your memory, will you… stay by my side?"