Alright š ā
The courtroom was still.
Even after the verdict was delivered, the air felt heavy with quiet triumph.
Lin Yuhan stood tall behind the plaintiff's table, her black lawyer's robe flowing slightly as she turned to face the judge.
Her expression was calm.
Composed.
Professional.
But beneath that calm exterior was something warmer ā satisfaction.
Justice had been served.
"The court finds in favor of the plaintiff," the judge declared. "The defendant is ordered to provide compensation and cease all forms of emotional and psychological harassment."
A soft murmur spread through the courtroom.
Lin Yuhan turned slightly.
Her client ā a woman in her late thirties ā was crying quietly.
Not loud crying.
Just silent tears of relief.
Lin Yuhan reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder.
"You're safe now," she said quietly.
The woman nodded, unable to speak through her tears.
The case had been difficult.
Emotionally difficult.
The woman had been married for ten years to a wealthy businessman who never physically abused her ā but emotionally?
Constant criticism.
Isolation from friends.
Financial control.
Subtle psychological manipulation that slowly destroyed her confidence.
Many lawyers avoided such cases.
Hard to prove.
Hard to win.
But Lin Yuhan had taken it personally.
Because emotional abuse was still abuse.
And she refused to let society ignore it.
She gathered her files and walked out of the courtroom with steady steps.
That was when it started.
Reporters.
Dozens of them.
Microphones extended toward her like weapons of curiosity.
Cameras flashed repeatedly.
"Miss Lin! How does it feel to win such a high-profile emotional abuse divorce case?"
"Do you think courts should take emotional abuse more seriously?"
"Is this victory a statement against wealthy men controlling their wives financially?"
"Miss Lin! There are rumors you have never lost a case since starting your law firm. Is that true?"
Lin Yuhan stopped walking.
Not because she was overwhelmed.
But because she knew exactly how to handle this.
She turned toward the reporters slowly.
Smiled politely.
Confidently.
"First," she said calmly, voice clear and steady, "this victory is not about winning or losing. It's about giving my client her freedom back."
Camera flashes intensified.
Another reporter stepped forward.
"Do you think emotional abuse should be legally treated as seriously as physical abuse?"
"Yes," Lin Yuhan replied immediately. "Emotional abuse leaves invisible scars. Just because you cannot see wounds does not mean they don't exist."
Another reporter asked quickly:
"Miss Lin, there are rumors that you only take difficult cases to maintain your reputation. Is that true?"
Lin Yuhan smiled faintly.
"I take cases where justice is needed," she said simply.
Another voice shouted:
"Is it true your law firm has risen to the top in just three years because of your aggressive legal strategies?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Hard work," she said. "Not aggression."
More questions came.
But she answered every single one with calm poise.
Like she had been born for moments like this.
Finally, a reporter asked the question that made her pause briefly.
"Miss Linā¦ is it true you are currently pursuing Gu Jinhan, CEO of the Gu Group?"
The cameras suddenly became louder.
More aggressive.
Lin Yuhan did not look surprised.
She simply smiled.
"Yes," she said calmly.
"No further comment on my personal life."
Then she turned and walked away.
Elegant.
Unshaken.
The next morning, headlines exploded across business and social media platforms.
---
HEADLINES
š„ "Top Female Lawyer Declares War on Social Status ā Pursues Gu Group CEO"
š„ "Lin Yuhan Wins Emotional Abuse Divorce Case, Sparks Debate on Psychological Violence Laws"
š„ "Three-Year Law Firm Sensation Continues Unbeaten Record in Courtroom"
š„ "Is This Confidenceā¦ or Love?"
---
Later that afternoonā¦
Lin Yuhan sat in a quiet cafe with her friend Ye Xiwu and her senior Lu Jingchen.
The atmosphere was relaxed.
Comfortable.
Lin Yuhan was smiling softly as she stirred her coffee.
Lu Jingchen was talking about a recent legal reform proposal while occasionally glancing at her with quiet admiration.
"You handled that courtroom cross-examination beautifully today," he said.
"You say that every time," Lin Yuhan laughed lightly.
"And I mean it every time," he replied.
She smiled.
Lu Jingchen had been her senior in law school.
Reliable.
Respectful.
Safe.
Someone who had quietly supported her career growth over the years without ever crossing boundaries.
Just then ye xiwu stood excusing herself restroom leaving just Lin yuhan and Lu jingchen.
They drifted into casual conversation.
Work.
Future legal cases.
Life.
At one point, Lin Yuhan actually laughed.
A real laugh.
Not a polite professional smile.
Just genuine amusement at something Lu Jingchen said about one of their old professors.
And inside a black luxury car parked across the streetā
Gu Jinhan's expression darkened.
He had been in the car for nearly fifteen minutes already.
He had watched her walking out of the courthouse.
Seen the reporters swarm her.
Seen her answer questions confidently.
And thenā¦
Heard her,
Laughing.
Talking with another man.
Gu Jinhan let out a dry, bitter laugh.
One moment she was standing in front of everyone saying she would pursue him.
The next moment she was sitting comfortably with another man, smiling like nothing mattered.
Like he didn't matter.
He felt something dark and heavy settle inside his chest.
Not jealousy.
He told himself it wasn't jealousy.
Just irritation.
Yes.
That was all.
Assistant Song carefully handed him his coffee from the passenger seat.
But when he turned aroundā
He froze.
The aura inside the car was suffocating.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Like a storm about to explode.
"Bossā¦" Assistant Song said cautiously. "Did something happen?"
Gu Jinhan didn't answer immediately.
He just watched her laugh again inside the cafe.
Then he spoke in a low, icy voice:
"Drive."
Just one word.
But Assistant Song understood immediately.
He started the car without another question.
Meanwhile, inside the cafeā
Lin Yuhan suddenly froze.
Her smile slowly faded.
She turned slightly.
Scanning the street outside.
But saw nothing unusual.
Stillā¦
She had felt it.
That heavy, intense gaze.
Like someone had been watching her.
She shook her head slightly.
Probably just imagination.
Just then, Ye Xiwu returned from the restroom.
"I have to go now," she said apologetically.
Lu Jingchen immediately stood up.
"I'll drive you home," he offered immediately almost too eager.
Lin Yuhan smiled knowingly.
Ye Xiwu didn't notice.
But Lin Yuhan did.
Lu Jingchen had liked Ye Xiwu for a long time.
She waved goodbye as her friend left with her senior.
Then she sat alone for a moment.
Stirring the remaining coffee in her cup.
She sighed softly.
Wondering what he was doing right now.
Was he thinking about her?
Or ignoring her completely?
She didn't know.
But she was patient.
Because chasing Gu Jinhan was never going to be easy.
And she was prepared to spend years proving she was serious.
Across the cityā¦
Inside the car moving silently through trafficā¦
Gu Jinhan stared out the window.
His face cold.
Emotionless.
But inside his chest, something was burning quietly.
He hated that she could still affect him like this.
Hated that she was smiling with other men.
Hated that he still felt the urge to pull her back to him.
And with quiet, suppressed anger, he whispered to himself:
"You started this, Lin Yuhan."
But what he didn't say out loud was even more dangerous.
Because the truth wasā¦
He was already halfway gone.