Chapter 123: A Bold Idea

An hour later, at a little past one o’clock, Chen Qi arrived at a restaurant renowned for its lively atmosphere. Perhaps because lunchtime was already winding down, there weren’t many people inside. This suited Chen Qi perfectly.

After yesterday’s live broadcast at the car dealership, his popularity had surged noticeably—far more people recognized him now than before. To be honest, he felt quite a sense of accomplishment. Yet alongside that pride was a certain unease.

The overwhelmingly positive reviews online had placed enormous pressure on him. He didn’t want so many compliments; he didn’t want to be saddled with the daunting reputation of being a “good person.” Being a good person was just too hard!

Now, the internet was full of praise for him, but if he ever did something slightly out of line, those same admirers would instantly turn and shower him with abuse. The fiercer their applause now, the harsher their criticism would be later. Isn’t that terrifying?

Compared to this, he preferred the old “shameless” label that used to hang over him. With that reputation, he could do whatever he liked, free from pressure. He liked the silly, carefree netizens—the ones who had gleefully anticipated his self-destruction—not these earnest, zealous supporters. With those “clownish” followers, he felt no stress at all. They were rational, had their own sense of right and wrong, and weren’t easily swayed.

Chen Qi chose a quiet spot in the corner, ordered a few signature dishes, and waited patiently. He was expecting a lawyer.

Yesterday, the lawyers recommended by Xu Bu Nian and Zhao Qingqing had bluntly told him that he couldn’t win the case. When they learned he intended to proceed anyway, they all politely declined, even after he assured them he was willing to negotiate fees. Whether they were protecting their reputations or simply wanted nothing to do with the mess, he couldn’t tell.

Later, he vented his frustrations in a group chat, and unexpectedly, Zhao Wu popped up and recommended a friend. This lawyer was someone they’d met after graduation and had shared a rental with for quite some time; they still kept in touch.

But when Chen Qi asked for the contact details, he felt a bit uncertain. This lawyer wasn’t well-known; he’d only graduated a few years ago and was still painstakingly accumulating experience. To put it plainly, he was struggling to make ends meet, much like Chen Qi and his friends had been just a couple of months ago. Still, Zhao Wu assured him that his friend was capable—it was just unclear if this case was within his area of expertise.

Chen Qi didn’t care about fame; as long as the lawyer had some ability, that was enough. After getting the contact information from Zhao Wu, Chen Qi immediately reached out to this young lawyer named Ma Qianli, arranging to meet him here for lunch today.

Despite the later disruption of his plans caused by the national broadcast and the dealership’s quick admission of fault, Chen Qi insisted on meeting with Ma Qianli. He had a bolder idea in mind.

…

At the exit of a subway station, a young man in a suit hurried out, running as if pressed for time. This was Ma Qianli.

He was a bit nervous. Honestly, when Chen Qi called him yesterday evening, he could hardly believe it. He was very familiar with the name—Chen Qi had just stirred up a storm online, and thanks to Zhao Wu, he also knew the general story behind the filming of “Wanwan.”

He still remembered the feeling of envy he had when he saw Zhao Wu and the others on Simple Video. That sense of finally emerging from obscurity must be wonderful.

What surprised him even more was that Chen Qi wanted to see him about the dealership lawsuit. He wasn’t foolish; he quickly guessed that Zhao Wu had made the introduction.

He was genuinely touched that Zhao Wu, now on the rise, still remembered to lend him a hand.

But he didn’t dare take the case. Though he was still something of a rookie in the legal field, he knew how tough this lawsuit would be. If he took it, the chance of losing was one hundred percent!

He was aware of his own abilities—he’d spent years learning and improving, but he was nowhere near the point where he could turn black into white.

Yet Chen Qi said it didn’t matter. Winning would be ideal, but losing was fine too. Chen Qi emphasized that the case had to be fought, all the way to the final appeal.

Then he fell silent.

Ma Qianli had been following the dealership incident and understood the attitude Chen Qi wanted to convey to the public.

So he agreed—not for Zhao Wu’s sake, but because Chen Qi offered a price he simply couldn’t refuse.

But the subsequent developments were unexpected. It wasn’t surprising that the dealership admitted fault promptly; with the controversy raging, they couldn’t withstand the public pressure.

What Ma Qianli hadn’t anticipated was that, even though the dealership had agreed to replace the car, Chen Qi still insisted on meeting him. That was puzzling. With the case gone, what else could Chen Qi want from him?

He’d asked Chen Qi about it over the phone yesterday, but Chen Qi had only said they’d discuss it face to face, so Ma Qianli didn’t press further.

He was using his lunch break for this meeting, so time was tight. Fortunately, he arrived before the appointed hour.

He entered as the waiter was serving dishes.

“Hello, I’m Ma Qianli.”

“I’m Chen Qi.”

After brief introductions, the two sat across from each other. Chen Qi poured water for him, quietly sizing him up.

Not bad—the clean-cut, composed young man fit his taste and was easy on the eyes.

After some polite small talk, Chen Qi, in what seemed like casual conversation, began to pose the questions he’d prepared in advance. How did you enter the legal profession? What certifications have you obtained? How’s your performance at your current firm? Have you ever handled cases independently?

Ma Qianli listened to these questions, which sounded like an interview, and was filled with curiosity. But since they weren’t too personal and out of courtesy, he answered them thoroughly.

Chen Qi listened carefully. In fact, he’d already gotten a detailed account of Ma Qianli’s background from Zhao Wu before coming. Now, with these new details, Ma Qianli’s image in his mind became much more three-dimensional.

Yes, he seemed to be a reliable person.

And so, Chen Qi asked a question that left Ma Qianli stunned on the spot.

“Are you interested in starting your own law firm?”