Chapter 1: Senior Lawyer
"How old?"
"Thirty six."
"I am asking how old the mistress is."
"Oh, the mistress's age, she is probably in her early twenties, she appears still to be attending university, disgraceful, at such a young age there were so many proper things she could have done yet she chose to seduce another woman's husband."
A well maintained woman continued to curse incessantly while describing the various acts of infidelity committed by her husband.
After a short while, perhaps having reacted belatedly, she asked again, "Why did you ask about the mistress's age?"
"The Criminal Law stipulates that engaging in improper relations with a girl under the age of fourteen constitutes a criminal offense regardless of whether it was voluntary."
"I see, what a pity."
The woman clicked her tongue with an expression of regret on her face and continued to denounce her unfaithful husband.
Su Bai listened attentively while recording the key information from the woman's account, and after finishing he made several markings in his notebook with his pen.
Half an hour later, the woman became somewhat thirsty from speaking and said, "Do you have any water? I would like to drink some water."
Su Bai skillfully handed her a bottle of mineral water and then listened for another half hour as the woman described her situation with tears in her eyes.
Finally, the woman appeared somewhat tired and wiped away tears that were not actually present.
"Lawyer, I would like to ask whether, in the event of the other party's infidelity, I can require him to leave the marriage without taking any property?"
Su Bai glanced at the key information he had recorded.
"According to the legal basis, this is not possible, under certain conditions the division of property will take your interests into consideration to some extent, however if you choose to litigate through our law firm you may obtain seventy percent of the marital joint property, would you consider pursuing legal proceedings?"
"I see, that is letting that scoundrel off too easily, thank you lawyer, however I do not intend to divorce for the time being, I will speak again when necessary."
"Then why did you say so much?"
Su Bai rubbed his temples and attempted to maintain his professional composure as a lawyer.
"Lawyer, you are quite handsome, speaking with you improved my mood considerably, and before I realized it I had spoken at length."
'Simply because I am handsome, she compelled me to speak with her for two and a half hours?'
Su Bai felt his composure nearly collapse, this was a law firm rather than a companionship establishment.
Male models charge several hundred yuan per hour, which meant that he had suffered a loss instead?
"You are welcome, the consultation fee is three hundred and fifty yuan, thank you."
Su Bai spoke helplessly, and the woman waved her hand enthusiastically.
"I will come again when I have time, goodbye lawyer."
After watching the woman leave the law firm while swaying her hips, Su Bai withdrew his gaze and focused his attention on the three hundred and fifty yuan that had just been credited to his account, and sighed slightly.
"I did not expect that after transmigrating I would become a professional consultation lawyer specializing in divorce reception."
Su Bai was a transmigrator, and he had originally been a lawyer with nearly twelve years of professional experience who served as a partner at a prestigious law firm.
During his professional career his success rate in litigation had been ninety nine point nine percent, and the only case he lost was one in which he obtained victory inside the courtroom but lost his life outside the courtroom entrance. [Litigation is process of taking legal action through the courts to resolve a dispute between parties.]
He did not lose within the courtroom but lost outside it.
After awakening, he discovered that he had transmigrated to the parallel world known as Blue Star, and it was now the fifteenth day since his arrival.
He had now basically integrated into the living environment of Blue Star.
The favorable news was that the legal provisions here were identical to those of his original planet and there was no difference, therefore his legal understanding and knowledge remained fully applicable.
The original owner of this body had also left behind a personal law firm that specialized in marital consultation.
The unfavorable news was that business was currently poor and there were almost no cases at all.
Apart from divorce consultations, divorce consultations, and still divorce consultations.
Strictly speaking, as such a distinguished lawyer he should have been able to undertake a major case at any time, correct?
However, the current Su Bai's external identity was merely that of a lawyer with many years of practice but very few successful cases.
It would not be inaccurate to describe him as incompetent, who would entrust litigation to an incompetent lawyer, and which law firm would employ one?
"This situation cannot continue, next month's rent has not yet been secured."
Looking at the text message from the bank indicating a balance of one thousand eight hundred sixty yuan and fifty seven fen, Su Bai frowned slightly. [Fen is a subdivision of the Chinese yuan; 1 yuan equals 100 fen, similar to cents in a dollar.]
"If necessary I might as well change professions and take employment elsewhere, I could even make a living by relying on my appearance."
However, upon recalling the abnormal demands of wealthy women, Su Bai felt a chill in his lower body and immediately abandoned the idea.
Taking employment elsewhere was impossible, yet without employment there was no money to spend.
Su Bai fell into helpless indecision, and at that moment a voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Your Outlaw System has been activated, please choose whether to accept.]
[Forced installation in progress.]
[A novice gift package has been issued, upon completing ten legal consultation assignments or undertaking one case you will receive a cash reward of fifty thousand yuan.]
'A system?'
Completing ten consultations or undertaking one case would directly yield a cash reward of fifty thousand yuan.
This was equivalent to five thousand yuan per consultation.
'Excellent.'
After resolving the anxiety caused by financial pressure, Su Bai immediately felt considerably more relaxed.
He now only needed to complete ten consultations or undertake one case and the fifty thousand yuan would be obtained.
Fifty thousand yuan would at least sustain him for half a year, and half a year would be sufficient time for him to support the operation of the law firm.
"I shall simply wait for ten consultations or one case."
Without concern regarding rent, Su Bai leisurely brewed a pot of tea, Lao Ban Zhang tea priced at nine yuan and ninety nine for one and a half kilograms (≈3.3 lb). [Lao ban zhang tea is a highly prized variety of Pu-erh tea from the Lao Ban Zhang village in Yunnan, China, known for its strong bitterness, thick texture, and powerful qi (body sensation). Often considered one of the most premium and expensive Pu-erh teas.]
While Su Bai was leisurely savoring his tea, the door of the law firm was pushed open and an elderly couple supporting one another slowly walked inside.
Judging from their appearance they were at least about seventy years old.
They probably were not here for divorce consultation, were they?
Su Bai set down his teacup and this thought suddenly arose in his mind, he examined them from head to toe and observed harmonious relations and advanced age, which suggested that they had come regarding a case.
Adhering to the principle that the client is paramount, Su Bai stepped forward and began his self introduction.
"Hello, this is Baijun Law Firm, our firm undertakes civil representation and criminal defense, I am the person in charge of this firm, may I ask who you are?"
The elderly woman spoke first, perhaps because of her advanced age her voice trembled slightly, "You are a lawyer, correct?"
"Yes, I am the lawyer and also the person in charge here, may I ask whether you have come for legal consultation or whether you wish to initiate litigation and engage a lawyer?"
"We wish to initiate litigation."
A case had arrived.
This was also the first case since Su Bai transmigrated, and it was inevitable that some agitation arose in his mind.
"May I ask what type of case you intend to pursue, a criminal case or a civil case?"
The elderly woman hesitated and glanced at her husband.
Su Bai noticed this subtle change in expression and understood that they were concerned about whether his law firm was reliable.
He stepped before the elderly woman and revealed two neat white teeth, which greatly increased his sense of approachability.
Regardless of the nature of the case, it was best to invite them to sit down and discuss it first.
"You may rest assured that our law firm has only recently opened and our fees are reasonable and fair, we will not make excessive charges, would you both care to come inside and sit for a while and first discuss this case?"
"It is free."
The elderly man looked at Su Bai and nodded, "This lawyer appears fair and decent and does not resemble an unscrupulous lawyer, let us first go inside and sit."
Su Bai pulled at the corner of his mouth, what did it mean to appear not to resemble an unscrupulous lawyer?
It did not matter, at present the law firm had no cases and no income, the client was paramount and he would simply regard this as praise.
After the two elderly individuals sat on the sofa, Su Bai placed two bottles of mineral water on the table and sat upright opposite them with a serious expression while inquiring about the specific circumstances of the case for which the elderly couple had come.
"Is it a civil case or a criminal case?"