Chapter 10

Zhong Peng arrived punctually at the law firm at three in the afternoon.

He still looked like an ordinary man with decent looks, but his complexion was far from what it appeared in the videos. Without filters, he looked thinner, his face slightly yellow, but his eyes were lively and shrewd.

However, accompanying him was not Zheng Xiaoxiao, who appeared in the videos, but a stranger.

The woman seemed younger than Zheng Xiaoxiao, unmade-up but still quite pretty. She had a full figure and a sweet, sexy demeanor, which was in stark contrast to Zheng Xiaoxiao’s delicate and gentle appearance.

Lin Shu initially thought the woman was Zhong Peng’s assistant. However, after greeting Lin Shu, Zhong Peng suddenly wrapped his arm around the woman’s waist and affectionately said, “Babe, come here.”

Babe?

Had Zhong Peng broken up with Zheng Xiaoxiao?

Zhong Peng seemed to notice Lin Shu’s confusion and generously introduced, “Lawyer Lin, this is my wife, Fu Si.”

Wife?

Not only Lin Shu but even Xu Shijia showed a look of surprise.

So what about Zheng Xiaoxiao…?

Zhong Peng walked into the conference room and got straight to the point: “I’m here today for this matter.”

“I want to sue Zheng Xiaoxiao for the return of our marital joint property between Si Si and me.” Zhong Peng paused, “What Zheng Xiaoxiao has spent recently is all our joint property.”

Lin Shu was a bit stunned: “But weren’t you and Zheng Xiaoxiao known as a loving couple online? How come you’re already married?”

It was better not to ask, but once she did, Zhong Peng became agitated: “What love? Zheng Xiaoxiao is just using me for publicity, exploiting my cancer as a gimmick to market a loving couple persona. As soon as she gained traction, it was all about the views; cooking for me was just for the clicks, tying me into her act of being a loving couple—it’s all business.”

“I was indeed classmates with her in middle and high school, and we did date, but she broke up with me long ago at her parents’ insistence! When she came to take care of me, it was out of guilt, out of pity for me. But then, after a few videos went viral, she decided to latch onto me to make money!”

“That would have been fine, but now I’m married to Si Si, and Si Si is already pregnant…”

Before Zhong Peng could finish, Fu Si chimed in, her expression hurt: “Lawyer Lin, Brother Peng and I are already legally married, yet I found out that Zheng Xiaoxiao is trying to destroy my family and act as the mistress to seduce Brother Peng. After we got married, Brother Peng was tricked into sending her several sums of money—what was it, fifty-two thousand, twenty-five thousand, and even red envelopes with 1314 and 520, there were so many!”

“She’s worried that after Brother Peng and I get married, he won’t want to pretend to be a loving couple with her anymore, so she’s desperately trying to seduce him to keep him tied to her,” Fu Si said, her emotions bubbling with anger and excitement. “She clearly knows I’m pregnant and still does such heartless things!”

At this point, Zhong Peng also felt a bit embarrassed. “I’m too soft-hearted and sentimental. After all, we used to date, and she often pretended to be pitiful in front of me. I’m just an honest person, and I fell for her tricks. I told her I was married and couldn’t continue this act, but she still refused to change her ways.”

“But now I see this woman’s true colors. I want to be fair to my wife and get this money back.”

Fu Si looked worried. “Lawyer Lin, can you help us get this money back?”

Lin Shu never expected that behind this loving couple account, there were so many stories.

She contained her shock and explained, “If the money transferred to the third party is joint property acquired during marriage, it can be reclaimed.”

“That’s good to hear.” Fu Si’s mood improved a bit upon hearing this. “The account was initially verified in Brother Peng’s name, so can we sue to get it back?”

When it came to the account, Zhong Peng’s emotions flared up again. “Actually, right now, it feels like I’m in a partnership with Zheng Xiaoxiao to run this account. Later, to facilitate invoicing, Zheng Xiaoxiao suggested we open a studio for business dealings and invoicing. However, she’s the one handling all the external advertising collaborations and accounting for the funds, with all the financial stamps being managed by her.”

Zhong Peng looked regretful. “So the finances of this partnership studio are completely opaque to me. I hadn’t planned on taking legal action against Zheng Xiaoxiao; I thought we could settle things privately. But a month ago, I found out she was using all that money for personal expenses.”

“She went on several trips to the U.S. with the money the account earned. I suspect she’s secretly supporting another man but continues to act in front of me as if she’s deeply in love for the sake of views and business.”

At this point, Zhong Peng’s expression darkened even further. “My mistake was being too emotional and trusting her too much.”

“But now that I’ve met Si Si, I finally understand what true love is. I want to spend my life with Si Si and be a good father to our child once he or she is born.”

Zhong Peng looked at Lin Shu. “So I want to use legal means to help me investigate how much money she has taken from me, retrieve the ownership of the account, reclaim the portion of the account’s income that belongs to me, and get back the joint property I mistakenly transferred to Zheng Xiaoxiao. I want to find the man she’s supporting and retrieve all my money.”

Lin Shu quickly sorted out the facts.

She looked at Zhong Peng. “We can take this case, but we will work on a risk-sharing basis. Initially, you will only pay a basic lawyer fee, but you will need to pay the lawyer fee as a proportion of the amount we recover afterward.”

Zhong Peng was quite sharp; he understood right away. “So that means we’re in the same boat, right?”

“You could say that. In order to earn more lawyer fees, I will naturally do my best to recover more money for you.”

After a brief discussion, Zhong Peng and Fu Si agreed and signed the attorney representation agreement.

Once he heard that he could recover the money, Zhong Peng’s mood improved significantly. As mealtime approached, he suggested going to a nearby luxury restaurant for dinner.

Considering they still had to collaborate, Lin Shu thought about it and didn’t refuse. She called Xu Shijia, and they headed to the restaurant together.

The restaurant was high-end with a pleasant atmosphere, and Lin Shu quickly realized just how much money top influencers could make.

Since they had signed the engagement agreement, Zhong Peng no longer held back. “I earn two to three million a year just from publishing books and giving speeches.”

“And the income from the ‘A Room, Two People, Three Meals, Four Seasons’ account from ads, live streaming sales, and traffic generation is over ten million a year. Unfortunately, that money is all in Zheng Xiaoxiao’s hands. I’m not sure exactly how much it is or how it’s being used.”

Since he had the funds, Zhong Peng ordered only the expensive dishes without blinking an eye.

However, when the dishes arrived, he only took a few simple bites, and his appetite didn’t seem good. He occasionally frowned, and Lin Shu noticed him gently pressing on the upper right side of his stomach, as if it hurt.

“Mr. Zhong, are you feeling unwell?”

Zhong Peng waved his hand at Lin Shu’s polite concern. “It’s nothing. I had a check-up just six months ago, and everything was fine. It’s just an old issue; my stomach isn’t very good. I feel uncomfortable after eating oily food.”

After saying that, he ordered a bowl of light seafood porridge.

Though his appetite was average, Zhong Peng was in high spirits, sharing plenty of stories at the dinner table about how he transformed from a lower-class citizen to a top influencer, with a sense of pride.

His wife, Fu Si, looked at him with admiration and couldn’t stop praising him. Zhong Peng seemed to enjoy the attention, showering his little wife with care, and they looked quite affectionate together.

Clearly, the infidelity scandal had been put behind them; Fu Si chose to forgive, and Zhong Peng expressed his regret and determination to return to his family. Their future as a family of three seemed unbreakable.

The scene before Lin Shu starkly contrasted her recollection of the loving videos Zheng Xiaoxiao and Zhong Peng had posted on the account.

It appeared that no one could easily become a top influencer; it required a strong heart and excellent acting skills.

Fu Si seemed to be in the early stages of pregnancy and didn’t have much of an appetite, possibly experiencing some morning sickness. Therefore, the dinner didn’t last long. Zhong Peng exchanged pleasantries about their enjoyable collaboration with Lin Shu before generously heading off with Fu Si to settle the bill.

This left Lin Shu and Xu Shijia at the table.

Lin Shu rested her chin on her hand and looked at Xu Shijia. “Briefly share your thoughts on this case.”

“It can be divided into three parts. First, setting aside the emotional entanglements between the three of them and analyzing from a legal perspective, Zheng Xiaoxiao and Zhong Peng are essentially partners. As one of the partners, Zheng Xiaoxiao used her position to misappropriate funds from the partnership, which, according to the law, constitutes embezzlement. If the situation is severe enough, it could even be classified as a criminal offense, and we can legally and legitimately recover it.”

“For this part, our job will be to sort out the details of the funds that have come in and out since the establishment of the partnership studio, as well as to gather evidence, such as account books, to prove that Zheng Xiaoxiao has indeed misappropriated these earnings for personal use, rather than reinvesting them into the studio’s operations,” Xu Shijia explained.

“As for the second part, that should be easier to handle. Zhong Peng’s royalties from book publications and his speaking fees are settled separately to him as an individual. If these earnings occurred after he married Fu Si, then they belong to the joint property acquired during marriage. Any red envelopes and transfers he made to Zheng Xiaoxiao, like the 1314 and 520 amounts, can definitely be reclaimed. Zhong Peng is also quite cooperative; all we need to do is ask him for the transfer details when the time comes.”

“The final part concerns the ownership of the account. For virtual accounts, we may need a valuation from an assessment agency, right? If Zhong Peng gets the account, then he should pay Zheng Xiaoxiao half the estimated value. He keeps the account, and Zheng Xiaoxiao gets the money, and they go their separate ways.”

Xu Shijia’s tone was measured, but her logic was clear. “So, the main focus will be the first part, especially gathering evidence that Zheng Xiaoxiao used the partnership studio’s income for personal purposes, and then clarifying the studio’s finances.”

Lin Shu was surprised by Xu Shijia’s response.

Xu Shijia was much better than she had expected; her capabilities were truly impressive.

Zhong Peng and Fu Si spoke from a place of emotion, mixing their feelings into the facts, but a lawyer cannot be swayed by emotions; they must focus solely on legal facts.

Xu Shijia’s ability to analyze and extract information so quickly showed that she was indeed suited to be a lawyer.

Lin Shu felt a spark of hope; she believed Xu Shijia could still be salvaged! Her heart was filled with the desire to nurture Xu Shijia further.

Noticing Lin Shu’s emotions, Xu Shijia thought for a moment and spoke up again, “However, I have a question.”

Having questions is a good sign; it means she is thinking critically.

Lin Shu was happy to answer such inquiries and looked at Xu Shijia with encouraging eyes. “Go ahead.”

In the dim, ambiguous light of the restaurant, Xu Shijia tilted his head, inadvertently revealing his striking facial features. His beautiful black eyes focused intently on Lin Shu as he asked, “You compared Zhong Peng to me before; that was completely ridiculous, right?”

Although it was a question, Xu Shijia clearly had an answer in mind already. He took a sip of tea and let out a cold snort.

“He’s just too far behind me. The bar for becoming an influencer is way too low.”

Lin Shu was momentarily speechless.

That was a great question, but let’s not bring it up again next time.

**

Fortunately, Zhong Peng returned quickly after settling the bill. After saying goodbye to Lin Shu and Xu Shijia, he gently supported his pregnant wife and left.

Lin Shu planned to leave too, but when she looked up, she spotted a familiar figure.

It seemed that this high-end restaurant really attracted notable people; Wang Yizhou from Xin Hui was also dining here. He was clearly just finishing his meal and was waiting for his driver at the entrance.

Lin Shu hadn’t had the chance to get acquainted with him during the annual meeting, so this time she was determined to seize the opportunity.

Building a good relationship with a client of Xin Hui’s caliber could lead to potential future collaborations.

“Hello, Mr. Wang, I’m Lin Shu from Tianhao Law Firm.”

Lin Shu stepped forward, took out her business card, and smiled at Wang Yizhou.

Wang Yizhou was momentarily taken aback but quickly accepted Lin Shu’s business card. “Hello, Lawyer Lin. My younger brother has mentioned you; he’s in your team, and I’ll need to trouble you to look out for him in the future.”

He was indeed quite approachable. “I’ve actually wanted to visit you before, but I didn’t have the time. It’s a coincidence to meet you now, as my driver is stuck in traffic. I’m fortunate to have a chat with you, Lawyer Lin.”

Potential clients like Wang Yizhou are someone any lawyer would want to connect with, especially since he was extending an olive branch.

Lin Shu was more than eager. “It really is a coincidence; I happened to come here with my subordinate to meet a client.”

As she spoke, Lin Shu suddenly realized that Xu Shijia, who had been following her, was nowhere to be found. She turned around to see Xu Shijia standing a short distance away, looking unwilling with a sulky expression as he glared at her and Wang Yizhou.

Why wasn’t he being proactive when a big case came knocking on their door?

When will this spoiled young man change his attitude?

“Xu Shijia!”

Lin Shu called out, but Xu Shijia ignored her and remained standing still, showing no intention of approaching Wang Yizhou.

In front of a client, if a partner can’t even control their subordinate and call them over, it not only makes them lose face but also gives the client a sense of distrust.

This wouldn’t do!

Lin Shu had to leave a good impression on Wang Yizhou to secure potential business from Xin Hui in the future!

In an instant, Lin Shu had a revelation.

There was only one reasonable explanation!

With a smile, Lin Shu explained to Wang Yizhou, “My subordinate has a bit of hereditary hearing loss, so he’s hard of hearing.”

Wang Yizhou was momentarily stunned. “Hereditary hearing loss?”

Lin Shu nodded. To make her explanation more convincing, she added, “It runs in his family; they’re all like this.”

Wang Yizhou seemed taken aback. “They’re all like this?”

“Mm.” Lin Shu displayed a sympathetic expression. “It’s really not easy for him to be a lawyer with this condition.”

Wang Yizhou’s expression became rather complex upon hearing Lin Shu’s words.

Lin Shu felt a stirring in her heart.

It’s said that some wealthy individuals are particularly sympathetic toward the weak, and Wang Yizhou seemed visibly affected by Xu Shijia’s “hereditary hearing loss.”

Now that they were this far, it made sense to go all out; perhaps he might even give Lin Shu and her team business out of sympathy.

“Although his hearing isn’t great, he’s incredibly strong,” Lin Shu said sincerely, glancing at Xu Shijia. “He values his self-esteem highly and doesn’t want to be treated differently. He prefers that no one brings this up, so I’d appreciate it if you could avoid discussing his hearing with him later, Mr. Wang.”

Lin Shu felt her strategy was right because the usually calm and composed Wang Yizhou now looked at Xu Shijia with a more complex gaze.