Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

He Zhichu glanced at her again, and she drew her hand back in trepidation before following him out of the courthouse.

The prosecutor who had been representing Li Haiqing in the trial earlier walked up to Gu Nianzhi at the entrance of the Munich District Courthouse and said earnestly, “Miss Gu, I sincerely apologize to you. Most Germans don’t believe that. We know the Huaxia people are very intelligent, and we respect them a lot. We would never allow such remarks to be made in our country.”

This was a nation where the chancellor had personally knelt before the Holocaust memorial. Out of all the countries, Germany had been the most earnest in their atonement for their crimes committed during World War II, as opposed to a certain East Asian country who denied the war crimes of invading the Huaxia Empire even to this day.

Gu Nianzhi relaxed her expression and nodded subtly. “I believe you. Every nation has its good people and bad people. A good nation is one where there are more good people than bad people.”

If a nation had more bad people than good people, they were just a rotten egg undeserving of forgiveness.

The prosecutor sighed in relief and mustered a smile. “Miss Gu performed exceptionally well in court today. We are very impressed. Rest assured that we have ample evidence—we will be sure to give the victim justice and punish the criminals according to the law.”

“The criminal case rests on your shoulders.” Gu Nianzhi also expressed her thanks. “I sincerely thank you for putting aside personal gains to help a helpless foreign exchange student.”

“The goddess of justice has her eyes blindfolded. She disregards wealth and power—all she sees is guilty or innocent.” The prosecutor extended his hand to shake Gu Nianzhi’s hand. “There will be a few more tough battles ahead. Please be prepared.”

“I’ll do my best.” Gu Nianzhi nodded and watched the prosecutor leave.

The defendants’ parents passed by Gu Nianzhi with grim faces, and York, the stepfather of the male defendant, Seth, suddenly turned around to glance at Gu Nianzhi. His gaze was piercingly frigid and made one’s blood run cold. However, Gu Nianzhi was completely unperturbed and glared back.

“What are you looking at?” Gu Nianzhi demanded. “Are you dissatisfied? I’ve never seen someone with the audacity to glare at people after harming others. You’re not worried that the victim’s spirit will come to you one night for a chat?”

Gu Nianzhi’s authentic Oxford accent was crisp and melodic, making the court officers all look their way.

York snorted, his threat obvious. He wrinkled the corners of his eyes and squinted more tightly at her.

Gu Nianzhi snorted right back at York and replied, “Don’t intimidate me. If something happens to me, then it’s sure to be your doing.”

York’s pupils contracted violently but quickly recovered. He turned away like nothing was amiss and didn’t say anything as he took his wife Ramona out of the courthouse entrance.

He Zhichu coldly watched York and Ramona’s car drive off, his eyes solemn.

He Zhichu’s four American assistants were all young lawyers in their 30s or 40s. They walked up to her and whispered, “Gu, don’t rile them up too much. We’re in their territory, after all.”

The assistants were concerned about her well-being and worried that Gu Nianzhi’s youthful brazenness would cause trouble and offend others. Although lawyers had to have a scathing side, they also had to carefully control it to ensure that the situation was resolved peacefully.

Gu Nianzhi touched her rigid neck and knew she was actually scared, but would she stop just because of that? Why should bad people do horrible things, then have good people fear them? The bad people should be the ones shaking! She wanted to say something, but she instinctively glanced at He Zhichu before opening her mouth. As her mentor, He Zhichu had earned her total trust when it came to her education and well-being. She knew who it was who truly cared for her. Words that might not have sounded nice out of someone else’s mouth were much more acceptable coming from him than Gu Yanran.

He Zhichu put one hand in his trouser pocket and carried Gu Nianzhi’s briefcase with the other. His handsome face remained cool and indifferent, yet a burning fire was hidden in his shimmering, sultry eyes. He glanced at his watch. “Ok, let’s talk at the hotel.”

As they chatted, their luxury rental vehicle had driven over, and Gu Nianzhi got in it after He Zhichu. She sat with He Zhichu in the middle seat while one assistant sat on the front passenger side and the other three sat together in the back. After the minor disturbance, everyone’s mood gradually elevated. The first day had been a success, after all, and this was truly a good omen. Although lawyers were the most logical among all professions, superstition knew no discrimination.

After returning to the hotel, the other four assistants notified He Zhichu and happily went sightseeing. They had wanted to invite Gu Nianzhi, too, but He Zhichu had already rejected it before they could even ask. Plus, Gu Nianzhi didn’t plan to go anyway, since she was exhausted from the day and wanted to have a good rest.

After going back to her hotel room, she first took a shower and changed in a casual pantsuit. She wore a white, heavy silk shirt with a sweetheart neckline, puffy sleeves, and ocean-blue trim, paired with skinny, light-blue, cotton, ankle-length pants and white Ralph Lauren sneakers. With her long hair loose around her neck, she only half-dried it with a hairdryer.

He Zhichu knocked on her door, an impressed look flashing in his eyes, before he asked her slowly, “Where do you want to go for lunch?”

Gu Nianzhi was about to speak when her phone rang, so she quickly went back to her bedroom to get it from her backpack. It was Gu Yanran calling. After hesitating for a moment, she unlocked it to answer, “Sis?”

Gu Yanran sounded a bit anxious over the phone. “Nianzhi? Where are you? Why can’t I find you anywhere?”

Gu Nianzhi didn’t know how to answer at the moment. She had only told Yin Shixiong, Zhao Liangze, and her roommate Ma Qiqi about going to Germany with He Zhichu. She had specifically asked Ma Qiq not to tell anyone. It was summer break anyway, so not many people stayed on campus. Ma Qiqi was busy with her internship at the law firm every day and didn’t contact Gu Nianzhi very much. But she had immediately taken the day off to see Gu Nianzhi off at the airport when she’d heard she was going to represent the unfortunate Huaxia female exchange student. Before she’d left, Ma Qiqi had made her promise to find justice for that girl and send the criminal to jail!

Gu Nianzhi knew Ma Qiqi was intently following the case. She had told her where she was going. When news broke, and He Zhuchu voluntarily stepped into the spotlight to become the famous lawyer popular in the online headlines, he’d dominated all the news and, at the same time, covered up the news that Gu Nianzhi was also going with him. He Zhichu was the main layer, anyway, and the one the Bais had truly intended to hire. Gu Nianzhi was only one of his five assistants, so it was normal that nobody would notice her involvement.

As for the Special Operations Forces, because Gu Nianzhi’s past had been cleared up and her father had moved to the Huaxia Empire, the Special Ops and the military now valued her father Gu Xiangwen more than her. So all the protective measures Huo Shaoheng had put in place for her had all been retracted.