Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[The Inner Eye] [EP30]

Xue Juanhong.

Let me say this again.

Right now, only the truth

is what's best for you both.

Any hiding or making things up

will only make

the legal consequences worse.

You have a family and a child.

Don't let

one wrong decision

ruin your family,

and your child's future.

With parents like us,

An'an...

An'an is unlucky.

Unlucky, isn't he?

He'll grow up.

I believe

when he's older,

he'll have

his own judgment about this.

But right now,

you have no excuse to abandon him.

Look at me.

How can I be responsible for him?

You can.

Of course you can.

Don't trap yourself in lies.

And don't try

to sacrifice yourself for someone,

or save anyone.

Let the truth face

the law.

That's how you protect your child.

And that's how you're truly fair

to you and your husband.

Xue Juanhong.

The law exists

to punish wrongdoing.

But it isn't heartless.

What you've suffered,

your husband's feelings for you,

and your son's dependence on you,

all of that matters

when the court decides.

That's also

what we can use

to argue for leniency,

the only way.

You little piece of trash.

Dacheng! Dacheng!

I'm looking after your wife, and you hit me?

Shouldn't you be thanking me?

Bitch.

Dacheng!

Dacheng!

Dacheng!

What do we do?

Oh God...

What do we do now?

What are we going to do?

Dacheng.

Call the police. Call the police!

Call the police?

And say what?

That we killed someone?

That we killed someone?

I killed him.

It's got nothing to do with you.

Changle Street.

Juanhong Laundry.

I'm turning myself in. I killed someone.

Come quick. Hurry!

What are you saying?

I killed him.

I did.

Not you!

It's me!

It can't be you.

I killed him.

I did!

He's dead. He's already dead!

He's dead!

Dead.

I killed him.

He's dead. Dead!

Why did you come back?

Why?

Why did you come back today?

I didn't want to drag you into this.

I didn't want...

I didn't want to...

Juanhong.

Listen to me. Listen.

You're a good woman.

I'm the useless one.

I'm the one who failed you.

I'm sorry.

It's my fault.

Since last year,

he's been tormenting me.

Over and over.

Taking photos. Filming me.

I was scared. I was terrified.

I was scared.

He should've died today.

If you hadn't come back, he'd be dead already.

This time, I'll protect you.

Dacheng.

Attorney Kang.

I have no hope left.

I can't drag her down anymore.

I heard the neighbors talking ages ago,

gossiping

about her and that Zhang guy.

Even if she did betray me,

she can't be hurt again.

Jia Dacheng, you

caused someone's death.

That is a crime.

But I still want to believe

you're not a bad person.

You didn't want this to happen.

And you wanted even less

for it to end like this.

I know killing means paying with my life.

I'll trade my life for his.

Don't drag my wife into this.

Attorney Kang, I'm begging you.

Please.

Please.

Please!

As your defender,

I can't give you

the promise you want.

I can't.

But I believe the whole truth

can help you,

and help the people you want to protect.

I'll do everything I can.

And thank you for trusting me.

Attorney Tang.

Please...

Please help me and Dacheng.

Please help us.

I believe you and Jia Dacheng

both deserve fair treatment.

I'll do everything I can

to help you

get the fairest judgment.

Attorney Tang.

Thank you.

Thank you for letting

people like us

believe there's still

fairness in this world.

Thank you for making me believe

even living in this filth,

I can still be clean.

Thank you for believing me.

Belief has power.

See you in court.

The court now invites

defense counsel for Xue Juanhong

to present the defense.

For the defendant, Xue Juanhong,

the defense submits as follows.

First.

The defendant, Xue Juanhong,

was subjected to long-term sexual assault

by the victim, Zhang Yunhui,

and was forced into sexual relations.

Driven beyond endurance,

she prepared

sleeping pills and rope.

However, on the day of the incident,

Xue Juanhong

did not actually use these items

to harm Zhang Yunhui.

This constitutes criminal preparation,

which is fundamentally different

from a premeditated violent crime

in terms of social harm.

Second.

During the struggle

between Jia Dacheng and Zhang Yunhui,

although Xue Juanhong provided an object,

she did not directly participate

in the killing.

She should therefore not bear liability

for completed intentional homicide.

Third.

As for Xue Juanhong's act

of choking

after Zhang Yunhui's death,

it has been established

that Zhang Yunhui showed no vital signs then.

Accordingly,

her actions

did not cause

the victim's death.

The tragedy in this case

stems from Zhang Yunhui's crimes

and Jia Dacheng's loss of control.

While Xue Juanhong bears some responsibility,

she is also

a victim

of Zhang Yunhui's rape.

Given that this was a first and incidental offence

with limited social harm,

and that the victim bears

significant fault,

the defense respectfully asks the court

to apply the principle of proportionality

and lawfully impose a reduced sentence on Xue Juanhong.

The court now invites

defense counsel for Jia Dacheng

to present the defense.

After reviewing

all the facts and evidence,

the defense submits that the prosecution's classification

of Jia Dacheng's conduct

as intentional homicide

is inaccurate.

The sentencing proposal failed factoring in

the unique circumstances of this case.

Based on both law and fact,

the defense submits as follows.

First.

On the facts of this case,

this was a crime of passion,

with minimal subjective malice.

The conflict between Jia Dacheng

and Zhang Yunhui

was directly triggered

by the victim's unlawful conduct.

This is consistent with

the Supreme People's Court's

Guiding Opinions on balancing leniency and severity,

specifically Article 22,

which addresses crimes

arising from escalated personal disputes,

and calls for lenient treatment.

Moreover,

their encounter and confrontation

were incidental rather than planned.

As for the instrument used by Jia Dacheng,

the rope,

was prepared in advance by Xue Juanhong.

But,

this was not a premeditated killing.

Second.

This case should be classified as

intentional injury resulting in death,

and it bears elements of self-defense.

The dispute and the physical struggle

between the two parties,

marked an escalation into physical conflict.

Jia Dacheng used a rope

to restrain the victim by the neck,

with the purpose of stopping

the ongoing assault in self-defense.

After restraining him,

Jia Dacheng did not continue the assault,

nor did he damage the scene.

He voluntarily called the police,

and remained at the scene awaiting arrest.

This should be recognized as voluntary surrender.

His conduct meets the legal elements

of intentional injury resulting in death,

and is fundamentally different

from the crime of intentional homicide.

Third.

Multiple mitigating factors

should be fully taken into account.

Zhang Yunhui's rape

of Xue Juanhong

shattered

Dacheng's family,

and directly triggered this conflict.

After the incident,

Jia's statement did differ from the facts

in some details,

but the key points was essentially truthful.

He only withheld

Xue's prior preparation

and her providing the tool.

The reason is that

he didn't want

his already traumatized wife

to suffer even more.

In light of all this,

we respectfully ask

the bench to classify

Jia's conduct as

intentional injury resulting in death.

And to sentence him within

the range of under ten years' imprisonment.

We also ask the court to

refer the matter to mediation

for civil compensation.

The defendant is willing to

compensate the victim's family to

the fullest extent possible.

[Three Months Later]

Judgment in the case of

Jia Dacheng and Xue Juanhong.

The defendant, Jia Dacheng,

is found guilty of intentional injury

and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.

The defendant, Xue Juanhong,

is found guilty of intentional injury

and sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Mr. Huang,

thank you for making time

to see us.

We're honored.

Attorney Kang's really been persistent,

showing up again and again,

camping in my reception room all day.

Don't you people

have any work to do?

Mr. Huang,

I've been dealing with you

in good faith

and with respect.

It was JW

who sued us first,

so don't blame us for

not being able to run business as usual.

I can let it slide that

you've been dodging me.

So don't hold it against me

for turning up.

What do you mean by that?

Are you saying Chen Jun Law Firm

had that junior lawyer stab you in the back,

and she's the one who got my

most important acquisition this year shut down,

and now it's somehow my fault?

Of course

we didn't mean that.

As for Lin Xiaoyun,

what she did

was unlawful and against the rules.

She's already stepped down

from her role at Chen Jun Law Firm.

The All China Lawyers Association and the Justice Bureau

have already sanctioned her,

and our firm as well,

in line with the regulations.

I don't care about any of that.

The Yate Biotech deal falling apart

cost JW

millions in upfront spend.

That money,

shouldn't

be paid back by you?

Fine.

Mr. Huang, flip it around for a second.

Have you worked out how much loss

we actually stopped you from taking?

Wasn't it because Lin Xiaoyun

found out

that Yate Biotech's investor,

Qiao Weimin,

is a fugitive con man?

He's also the one who masterminded

turning a company that was originally

worth only tens of millions

into something valued at hundreds of millions.

If you'd actually paid that price

to acquire it,

wouldn't you have been the sucker?

Alright, alright.

This whole thing

has affected JW's

business going forward.

And it made me

lose face in front of

the company's shareholders.

By "the shareholders",

you mean your father Chairman Huang

and what he thinks of you, right?

Think about it.

If you really had

bought it at several times the price

and acquired

a company owned by a con man,

wouldn't your brother

Huang Lingkai

try every possible way

to tell your father about it?

And when that happens,

what's the fallout would be for you?

Have you thought about that?

Mr. Huang,

what Attorney Kang said

was indeed a bit out of line.

I apologize to you on his behalf.

But please think it through.

We're absolutely not

throwing threats around.

We're honestly

looking at this from your side,

trying to help you

see the whole picture.

Sure, you don't have to take our word for it.

But you and Attorney Dai

go way back.

Could you consider,

for her sake,

giving Chen Jun Law Firm

another chance?

Alright.

So how are you

going to compensate me?

Compensate?

Here's what we can do, Mr. Huang.

If you're willing

to drop the lawsuit against Chen Jun Law Firm,

we'll handle JW's

regular legal work for the next three years.

And the retainer fee,

we'll charge

half the previous rate. How about that?

Hang on.

You mean

after your firm

has already messed things up for me once,

I'm not only supposed to not sue you,

I'm supposed to keep

our regular legal work

with you?

No, no. This is only

one part of it.

As for the acquisition

JW had to terminate,

we've already put together

a follow-up plan.

We'll recommend a few

tech companies

with the same qualifications and business scope

as Yate Biotech.

And those companies

have been personally vetted by Attorney Dai.

If you're interested,

we'll support you end to end.

Mr. Huang,

you know

what we can do.

We're not afraid of a fight in court.

But from your point of view,

it's simple.

One more friend

is better than one more enemy.

If we go to war, someone else wins.

Your competitors

are dying to watch you take a hit.

Just think about it.

Alright then.

I'll think it over.

Okay.

Come on.

That "good cop" act? Not bad at all.

Obviously.

But here's a tiny note,

just a small one.

Next time, dial it back a touch.

Just a little,

and you'll be

a seriously good actor.

It doesn't matter.

Your writing's strong anyway.

A good script carries the performance.

Mr. Huang

is finally willing to settle.

Chen Jun Law Firm

might finally get out of this hole.

[Caller ID: Jiang Huaishan]

Hello?

Jiang Xiaoying!

Yingying.

Are... are you listening?

What...

What's wrong?

It's your sister.

She wants to quit school.

To follow a guy from another school.

Go abroad to study art.

Now she says she'll run away.

Can you help me talk to her?

I'm still rebellious myself.

I really can't handle this.

Don't ask me.

[Chen Jun Law Firm]

You know,

I never realized

how big Chen Jun Law Firm is.

Look at the lights.

They don't even reach there.

Especially at night,

working late alone,

even your voice echoes.

I seem to remember,

when you first came here,

you complained that

the firm was too small,

and there wasn't much room to grow.

Stop.

Don't remind me.

When I was an intern,

I was at a top law firm.

They rented several floors.

Dozens of meeting rooms.

It seemed really elite.

So when I came to Chen Jun Law Firm,

it felt different.

Then why choose Chen Jun?

You must have had a reason.

Because of Chen?

Actually, the reason I came here

was very simple.

You know?

My first day here,

when I arrived

and walked in,

I saw a cleaner

holding a book.

Civil Procedure Law.

She was studying it.

From interns

to Chen,

everyone

explained things to her patiently.

At that moment,

I knew,

this was the right place.

Even the cleaner studied law?

I had no idea.

That woman,

her husband

had a debt case then.

They owed the money.

She studied that book

for half a year.

In the end, they still lost and paid.

I remember

my first day at Chen Jun Law Firm

was also funny.

I walked in like this.

I was in a pricey designer suit,

carrying a limited-edition bag,

walking in with that

full-on Devil Wears Prada stride.

Then suddenly,

Chen told me

to take a case.

A civil lawsuit over noise

cases don't come in sizes.

No matter what you wear,

you're still our firm's goddess.

Right? Goddess.

Right.

Come on.

Sir.

What about you?

How about

your first day at Chen Jun?

What do you mean?

My first day at Chen Jun,

was I inappropriate?

Appropriate.

Very appropriate.

Yeah.

Just too appropriate.

Right?

Cheng Feng,

you know that kind of peacock

that spreads its feathers?

That was him.

Suit and tie,

standing stiffly on stage,

giving his introductory speech.

"Everyone,

we must walk the path of justice.

That is the longest-lasting path."

Right?

Hey.

I... I was just motivating the team.

I don't think

my words were wrong.

No problem.

Yeah, just very pretentious.

None of us can beat him.

On his first day at Chen Jun,

Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng,

do you remember

what you were like that first day?

Like a clueless puppy.

I remember.

He gave everyone

a pack of hotpot seasoning.

Oh my god.

Never seen that type.

Wasn't I kind of cute?

Cute, cute.

But it feels like

it all happened just yesterday.

How time flies.

Yeah.

Chen Jun Law Firm

is about to turn fifteen.

It really went by fast.

By the way,

Chen has started

targeted therapy.

I wonder

how Chen's treatment

is going over there.

-Xiaoyun. -Xiaoyun.

Xiaoyun.

I asked her to come.

She's going abroad tomorrow.

Perfect timing to see her off.

Come on.

Miss, Attorney Dai, Director Kang.

Sit, sit.

Come.

Xiaoyun, I'll pour you a drink.

Xiaoyun.

We were just talking about

everyone's first come

to Chen Jun Law Firm.

Do you remember?

Um...

About three years ago.

Lin Xiaoyun,

welcome to Chen Jun Law Firm.

Starting today,

you'll be Attorney Tang's assistant.

I believe working with her,

you'll learn

a great deal.

This is my resume.

These are my certificates.

And this is

my internship report from my last firm.

Our university

organized mock trials.

This is my written argument.

I majored in

law and finance,

so I haven't had much exposure

to criminal procedure.

But I believe,

if I follow Attorney Tang,

I'll work hard and learn well.

We've reviewed

all your materials.

They do show that

you're a diligent

and excellent student.

But to become

a qualified lawyer,

I want to offer you

a small piece of advice.

You must remember this.

A true legal professional

seeks justice

not only from books,

but from the heart.

Welcome to Chen Jun Law Firm.

Isn't it ironic?

From my very first day,

my mentor already told me

how to be a good lawyer.

Yet I...

I disappointed her.

Xiaoyun.

you're already

a qualified lawyer.

That's why

we invited you today.

So beautiful.

Honestly, I kind of envy Xiaoyun.

Having time to study,

to live her life.

That's a good thing.

I should be the one envying you all.

You can still fight side by side.

But I...

I'm about to go abroad.

Director Tang.

As a leader,

shouldn't you say something

to your former subordinate?

Xiaoyun,

as director,

on behalf of everyone,

I promise you this.

As long as you're willing to return,

Chen Jun Law Firm

will always have a place for you.

Thank you, Miss.

Xiaoyun,

we'll all miss you.

When you harvest wheat next year,

call me.

Deal.

Sichuan welcomes you.

Come on, together.

-Come on. -Come on.

To our next fifteen years.

In work and in life,

may we all find

the answers

within our hearts.

Right.

Cheers.

Time to cut the cake.

Come on, goddess.

Director, director,

you do it.

Xiaoyun, you cut it.

Then I will.

Go ahead.

Are you okay?

Sis, let's take a break.

Okay.

I'm exhausted.

The one you like?

Sis.

Let me show you.

He's an artist.

He studies sculpture.

Pretty unconventional, right?

Unconventional?

Sis, you know what?

When he's sculpting,

head down,

he looks so cool.

And,

he reminds me of you.

Me?

A little boy like me?

I mean that feeling.

Independent, focused,

and rebellious.

It all makes me think of you.

A sister crush?

Of course.

You're my real sister.

You're my role model

as well.

Jiang Xiaoying.

As for your sister,

I'm pretty capable.

If you see me as a role model,

that's not a bad thing.

But you're still young.

You need to see the world

in your own way.

The world

is colorful.

Don't let

so-called rules

limit you.

Understand?

Sis, you're amazing.

I thought

you teamed up with Dad

to stop me from dating early.

"Early dating" is a fake concept.

Dating is just dating.

What's early or late?

But remember one thing

Never lose yourself

for love.

Don't follow blindly.

Don't just go along.

Don't neglect your studies.

Don't hurt

your family relationships.

Before loving others,

learn to love yourself.

Most importantly,

be responsible for your choices.

OK?

I think I understand

what you mean.

You definitely will.

Most important of all.

As your sister, and as a lawyer,

I have to remind you

some risks and traps

you might run into in relationships.

I have to give you a warning

from a legal perspective.

First,

both of you

are under eighteen.

Jiang Xiaoying!

Sis.

Stop the legal lecture. Let's go!

Am I still your role model?

Stop right there!

Jiang Xiaoying!

So comfortable!

Yeah, I heard Chen's condition

has improved.

Really?

His daughter called me.

The interventional treatment worked great.

Better than expected.

The lesion is under control.

Everything is moving

in a good direction.

It's a miracle.

That's wonderful.

I told you,

as show as you believe,

miracles can happen.

You know,

I used to think

that we lawyers

spent every day buried in cases.

Most time, we face

places light never reached.

But standing here now,

I suddenly realize

this city is warm.

There are

so many warm people,

living earnestly,

creating their own miracles.

Yes.

No matter who and where they are,

and what they've been through,

they all deserve to be seen.

Attorney Kang.

I want to ask you again.

Why did you choose to stay?

Does the answer still matter?

Attorney Tang.

Then let me ask you.

Do you think

you're a good lawyer?

A good lawyer.

what does

that even mean?

Is there a standard answer?

You know,

I used to

be very sensitive

about those words.

But not anymore.

Because I've learned,

some things in this world

don't have standard answers.

This world is warm.

Where things are broken,

someone repairs them.

Where there are cracks,

someone plants flowers.

It allows reunions,

and also final farewells.

It allows growth,

and also withering.

True warmth

in this world

is never

a perfect fairy tale.

It is the light

never faded in Xue Juanhong's eyes,

even as she curled up in the detention center.

It is Liu Manli,

clutching the forensic report with trembling hands,

who still lifted her head and said, I sue.

It is Dai Peilin, taking off her wedding ring

and still standing straight.

What we can do,

and we should do,

is to plant seeds

in barren places.

Maybe it's saying "You're not wrong."

Maybe it's evidence.

Maybe

it's just waiting one more dawn

with them.

This world should allow

all possibilities to exist.

Allow Zhang Yi to turn back

on the bridge

and also to let go completely.

Allow Lin Xiaoyun

to stumble between dreams and reality,

and also allow her

to calmly make her own choice

at the crossroads of fate.

Likewise,

it allows us to stand opposed,

and allows us to fight side by side.

It allows us to say goodbye to the past,

and start over.

No one's life

should be defined.

My mentor once said,

let go of the past,

live in the present,

and cherish what you have.

Now I understand.

He wasn't asking us

to pursue perfection,

but to accept all that is

imperfect.

This world

holds many

possible answers.

So you were right.

The answer itself isn't what matters.

What matters is the process,

and the feelings.

Just like you and me,

standing here side by side,

we're also one of many answers.

What do you think?

How about it?

Come on.

Feel it with me.

Okay.

My mentor once said,

the meaning of life

lies in every single moment.

The future of Chen Jun Law Firm

was never about standing at the peak,

looking down on others.

It's about letting everyone

who walks in here believe,

even when trapped within

the cracks of life,

there will always be someone

planting hope for you.

Just like the girl in this painting,

she doesn't fail to see the darkness,

she simply chooses

to use the light of reason and wisdom

to illuminate every corner

that needs warmth.

And we, who chase the light,

will carry the scars along the way,

and the tenderness in our hearts,

and continue to

guard and cultivate the space

between law and human nature.

This world may always be flawed,

but as long as there are people

willing to mend the cracks,

willing to wait for flowers to bloom,

it will always be worth

our wholehearted devotion.