Although Qi Xi was very calm and even appeared very ruthless during her negotiation with Qi Ruiming, to the point of giving Qi Ruiming the impression of being vicious, it was only when she forced herself to walk away from the café and onto the sun-drenched street that Qi Xi felt a complete collapse from exhaustion.
The hurt caused by her father's affair, the resentment from her father's preference for sons over daughters, and the pain from her father's betrayal of the family—none of these would be diminished just because Qi Xi had successfully confronted Qi Ruiming. The emotional aftereffects were inevitable. In fact, because she had been so focused on gathering evidence, negotiating with Qi Ruiming, and finding a point to shift her attention, now that this matter was completed, the remaining issues were beyond Qi Xi's control. The surging emotions within Qi Xi came rushing back, like a tsunami after an earthquake, leaving her no time to breathe before being swept into the fierce and turbulent waves.
Grievance, anger, resentment, unwillingness, and guilt formed a net, from which Qi Xi could not escape.
Gu Yan drove the car, not taking Qi Xi back to the law firm, nor sending her home, but instead driving her to the lakeside.
"Qi Xi, whatever sadness or unhappiness you have, leave it all here today. Today, I'm here for you. You can vent all you want."
Before Qi Xi was Rong City's largest lake, so vast that one couldn't see the other side. Only in the distance, where the lake met the sky, could one see the Ferris wheel, Rong City's iconic landmark, standing tall on the opposite shore. The night view here was exceptionally beautiful, and the evenings were always filled with people strolling, but at this moment, there were few people around.
There was no wind today. The vast lake surface was so calm that it seemed undisturbed. Only the sunlight scattered on the lake, within the tiny ripples and folds, resembled shattered fragments of a mirror, reflecting the light, extending into the distance, seemingly without end.
At this moment, Qi Xi suddenly understood why many people, after being hurt, needed to travel, needed to find solace in nature to heal. It was because nature always offered the most expansive and inclusive scenery. Like this lake surface, although filled with tiny ripples, resembling the small setbacks in life, when viewed as a whole, the lake was calm and gentle. The vast lake embraced everything.
"Qi Xi, I know this is difficult. I'm not directly involved, so I can never truly feel the same emotions as you and your mother. But everyone encounters difficulties in life, sometimes even setbacks that feel like the sky is falling. But when you're old and look back, you'll find that these things, in the long river of your life, may truly be insignificant and not worth mentioning."
Qi Xi gazed at the gentle and calm lake surface, listening to Gu Yan's gentle voice beside her, and in an instant, she understood Gu Yan's intention in bringing her here.
Along this journey, she had lost a great deal—severed family ties and a broken home—but she had also gained some things.
Her mother, in the face of adversity, was far stronger than Qi Xi had imagined. Working together to investigate, she and her mother had become closer and understood each other better than ever before. Not only did Qi Xi see her mother's brilliance in raising her, but she also saw things worthy of respect in her mother's educational background and character.
Gu Yan's steadfast support as her boyfriend, during Qi Xi's most vulnerable moments, never wavered. He had always supported Qi Xi, helping her through the initial pain. And when Qi Xi wanted to confront her father alone, Gu Yan chose to protect her discreetly. He didn't directly appear before Qi Xi, standing by her side, but quietly accompanied her from a distance in the café, ensuring that he could help Qi Xi at any time if danger arose.
Like the ever-present hands behind a beginner learning to ride a bicycle, when Qi Xi knew nothing about bicycles, Gu Yan diligently bent down to accompany her, balancing her body's gravity. And when Qi Xi finally began to ride, albeit unsteadily, he gave her enough freedom to learn, but his hands never left the sides of Qi Xi's bicycle.
Like the silent spring rain, nourishing all things without seeking reward or making a fuss, he simply and quietly nurtured the things he loved.
At the same time, Qi Xi also gained the professional support of Gu Xuehan, her superior. She was like a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding Qi Xi's direction, an existence both as a teacher and a friend, someone to be respected. She not only guided Qi Xi's professional operations but also subtly imparted many life philosophies and insights to Qi Xi, making Qi Xi unconsciously want to catch up, to become a brave, resourceful, and heroic woman like Gu Xuehan, to become strong enough to pass on the kindness Gu Xuehan had given her—to protect other, more vulnerable women.
Comparing these things, Qi Xi looked at the lake and suddenly felt some relief.
Sadness and sorrow were inevitable, however—this was the worst of times, but it was also the best of times.
Qi Xi finally couldn't hold back any longer. She hugged Gu Yan, buried her head in his embrace, and wept bitterly by the deserted lakeside.
She desperately needed to cry.
But Qi Xi knew in her heart that after the crying, there would be tomorrow, there would be the future.
**
Gu Yan was very patient. He didn't mind at all that Qi Xi's tears and snot were all over him. He just held her tightly, gently patting her back, without urging, without meaningless comfort, only genuine companionship.
When Qi Xi finished crying, he took out a handkerchief, as if he had prepared it in advance, and gently wiped her face. Then he tugged at Qi Xi's hand—
"By the way, there are two people who want to see you."
Qi Xi's eyes were red from crying, and she was a little embarrassed. She took the handkerchief and wiped her face again. "Who?"
"Wu Jianqiang and Wu Kangqiang."
Qi Xi was stunned for a moment, taking a while to react. Finally, she remembered: "What do they want to see me for? Didn't we already settle things with that black-hearted factory last time? Did something else happen?"
Gu Yan kept her in suspense: "You'll know when you see them."
There's no time like the present. Once Qi Xi's face no longer showed obvious signs of crying, Gu Yan made a phone call to the brothers, seemingly arranging a meeting place. Then he drove Qi Xi directly to the destination.
It wasn't until they met Wu Jianqiang and Wu Kangqiang outside a small beverage shop by the river that Qi Xi understood the brothers' intentions.
Wu Kangqiang spoke first. His green hair had long been dyed back to a normal black, making him look much more well-behaved, but the acne on his face had become even more dense. His tone was somewhat shy: "I contacted Lawyer Gu earlier and already thanked him, but I still wanted to see you in person and say thank you properly!"
Wu Kangqiang was still very young, but as he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears: "Thank you for not looking down on us, especially you, Lawyer Qi. Thank you for not seeking compensation after my brother attacked you, and for proactively caring about us and helping my brother get justice!"
While Wu Kangqiang was saying these words, Wu Jianqiang remained silent, but his eyes were also slightly red. He was now wearing loose-fitting clothes, simple and inexpensive, but clearly well-maintained. Although his life was not wealthy, he was much more energetic, no longer as manic as before, nor as listless.
Wu Kangqiang also looked at his brother. He said gratefully to Qi Xi: "Since getting the compensation we deserved, my brother has finally let go of some of his resentment. For all these years, he's been resentful, feeling that there was no justice, no fairness, feeling that there was no justice in this society. He always hated himself, feeling that it was his fault that his family suffered."
"At first, my brother didn't believe we could get compensation. He kept telling me that lawyers were all liars. To be honest, at first, I was a little influenced by my brother. But thank you! Thank you for not asking us for money, for not looking down on us for being uneducated and misunderstanding you, and for helping us get the money without charging us a penny!"
Wu Kangqiang couldn't help but wipe away his tears: "You don't know what my brother was like when he got the money. He really couldn't believe it. He cried even harder than I did that time. He really felt that this society hadn't abandoned us, that this society hadn't given up on us, that there was still justice, and that there were still good people."
Perhaps because Wu Kangqiang had revealed that he had cried, Wu Jianqiang seemed a little embarrassed. He elbowed his brother and mumbled, "Don't say these things. The lawyers don't want to know."
Wu Kangqiang looked at his brother and couldn't help but laugh through his tears: "You see, my brother is much better now. Getting the compensation has helped him let go of that burden. With the money, I can also take him to the hospital to treat his bipolar disorder. He won't have to stop and start his medication because we can't afford it. The doctor we met this time is also good. After a period of proper treatment, my brother's mood is much more stable, and the symptoms of his bipolar disorder are basically under control! A few days ago, he even told me that although he has a minor disability, he has plenty of strength and can't just idle around at home. He's planning to find a job again!"
Seeing his brother talking so much, Wu Jianqiang started clearing his throat and coughing as a hint: "Why are you telling the lawyers all this? They're so busy. Haven't you heard that lawyers charge by the hour? You're just wasting their time with all this nonsense. Are you giving a work report? You're going on and on!"
"Brother! Didn't we rehearse all this beforehand? Didn't you even make me write a draft for you to see, and you even revised it, telling me to report it like this? Why are you blaming me now!"
Faced with Wu Kangqiang's exposure, Wu Jianqiang's face turned red. He made a gesture to hit Wu Kangqiang, saying in exasperation: "Why do you say everything that comes to your mind! Why are you so dense!"
...
Seeing the brothers bickering so energetically, Qi Xi suddenly felt a long-lost sense of ease.
She glanced at Gu Yan, very grateful that he had arranged for her to meet these brothers at this moment.
Wu Kangqiang and Wu Jianqiang continued to bicker and expose each other for a while, eventually seeming to exchange some kind of signal. Then Wu Jianqiang somewhat awkwardly took out something he had placed on the ground earlier.
"Lawyer Qi, Lawyer Gu, you must accept this!"
Qi Xi, surprised, naturally waved her hand in refusal: "Since we took on this case, everything we did was what we should have done. There's no need for you to give us anything."
"We know. Lawyer Gu already told us, he refused to accept gifts. But this really didn't cost much, and it's not really a gift. Open it and see before you decide whether to accept it or not!"
Qi Xi thought for a moment and didn't refuse again. She and Gu Yan opened the wrapped, long object.
Then, when they unfolded it, they saw a silk banner, and the words on it...
"Fairness and Justice Exist in the World, Lawyers Qi and Gu Eliminate Evil and Treachery"
Qi Xi couldn't help but laugh: "Which one of you came up with this?"
Wu Kangqiang scratched his head somewhat in annoyance: "Is it not good? I thought about it for a long time before I came up with something so rhyming. I even thought I was quite talented and decided to study law like you two great lawyers."
Although it was a very ordinary silk banner, with words that made one shake one's head and smile, Qi Xi felt a surge of emotion and a sense of professional responsibility and mission.
Although her initial reason for studying law, for striving to be first, was just to prove herself to Qi Ruiming, just to spite him, hard work and study were never wrong. Although Qi Xi had taken a detour, in the end, looking at Wu Jianqiang and Wu Kangqiang, Qi Xi felt that even if her original intentions were not pure, she had still, by instinct, found the right path.
The law allowed her to protect herself in the face of her father's affair and illegitimate child, and the law also allowed her to reach out and protect others when encountering the plight of vulnerable groups in society.
"Fairness and Justice Exist in the World, Lawyers Qi and Gu Eliminate Evil and Treachery"
It was a bit corny.
But it was also true.
Being an intern lawyer was just the beginning of a lawyer's career path. There were many more cases and challenges ahead. While realizing one's personal career value and earning a salary to support one's family, one could indeed help many, many people.
Although Qi Xi had already proven herself during the negotiation with Qi Ruiming, proving that women could also be good lawyers and handle negotiations well, at this moment, Qi Xi no longer wanted to prove anything—if she always wanted to prove that women were stronger than men, wasn't that also another form of being a victim of the preference for sons over daughters?
As long as she lived her own life well, lived up to her profession, and treated the people around her sincerely, she was already excellent and needed no one's validation.