751: 575 Right and proper 751: 575 Right and proper “Editor Qi.”
At a restaurant next to the Feilang headquarters.
Fang Qing smiled and waved at Qi Kang as he walked in.
“Lawyer Fang.”
Qi Kang approached with a smile that seed sowhat stiff, or perhaps forced.
Fang Qing acted as if she hadn’t noticed, “Please, have a seat.”
“Lawyer Fang, just call Qi Kang.”
Fang Qing was noncommittal, “I haven’t ordered yet, and I don’t know what you like to eat.”
“Lawyer Fang, you are too polite.
This ti, it’s my turn to treat you.”
“Last ti we drank, it was Tong Dan who paid the bill, it had nothing to do with .
Besides, you helped out a lot; it’s the least I can do.”
Fang Qing’s smile remained, but upon hearing this, Qi Kang felt even more ashad.
Clenching his teeth, he said, “Lawyer Fang, I’m truly sorry.”
Fang Qing’s smile did not waver as she probed with just the right tone, “Those two news articles, they received such good feedback, why were they suddenly retracted?”
Qi Kang, of course, knew why Fang was inviting him to dine.
In the world of adults, in a society with strict social hierarchies, there really were too many things beyond one’s control.
He picked up the nu, “After those two articles were posted, the chief editor quickly called in for a talk and ordered to take down the news.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Qing imdiately understood.
She didn’t complain but simply nodded without any change in expression.
“I’ve caused you trouble.”
If it had been just a few critical questions, it would have been fine.
Fang Qing’s understanding made Qi Kang feel even worse.
“Lawyer Fang, sorry for not being able to help you.”
“Don’t say that.”
Fang Qing spoke gently, “I know you did your best.
Let’s order.”
Distractedly ordering a few dishes, Qi Kang put down the nu and looked at Fang Qing, who was still looking at hers.
Although they had only t briefly twice, there was no doubt that Tong Dan’s close friend was an outstanding woman in every aspect.
“Lawyer Fang, what are your plans moving forward?”
Fang Qing looked up, smiling, “Guan Libing has already entrusted to be his defense attorney.”
Brief and to the point.
Qi Kang pursed his lips, sensing the tenacity hidden beneath that graceful and intellectual exterior.
“Lawyer Fang, have you really thought this through?
Are you sure about taking this case?”
He seed both to confirm and to caution.
“This is my first case, and I have already accepted his commission.
If I back out now, how could I continue working in the legal industry?
My career would probably be over before it even started,” Fang Qing said half-jokingly.
“This case might face a lot of resistance, and possibly a fair amount of criticism as well.”
Even though he knew Fang Qing must be aware of the complexity of the case, Qi Kang couldn’t help but emphasize his point in a roundabout way.
“Without pressure, there’s no motivation.
I’m prepared,” Fang Qing said, raising her hand to call the waiter over, “We’re ready to order.”
Watching the young woman interact with the waiter calmly, Qi Kang suddenly felt a sense of deep respect.
He was a man and older than her, yet he found himself less brave than she was.
His heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
“When did you and Tong Dan get to know each other?”
After the waiter left, Fang Qing smiled and asked Qi Kang.
She indeed was a woman difficult not to like.
Knowing that it was the chief editor who ordered the retraction, she didn’t ask any further, promptly changing the subject to prevent her companion from feeling awkward.
“Not too long ago, about half a year.
I went to their airline to do a report, and that’s how I t her.
Tong Dan said you were high school classmates?”
“Yeah, I’ve known her for almost ten years now.”
“Tong Dan always ntioned how she had a good friend who was so excellent.
Indeed, not an undeserved reputation,” Qi Kang remarked, drinking water while expressing his sentint.
“We in the news industry value truth and facts, and yet this is only our second eting,” Fang Qing said with a smile.
Qi Kang laughed as well.
“This isn’t just politeness, but my heartfelt admiration, Lawyer Fang.
I bet you must have many admirers.”
Fang Qing shook her head and laughed, “No, don’t listen to Tong Dan’s nonsense.”
“She never said anything; she rely ntioned that you’re currently single.
It must be that Lawyer Fang’s standards are too high.”
Fang Qing didn’t continue the topic, picking up her glass of water instead.
Their conversation pivoted around Tong Dan, and the two soon beca more familiar with each other, chatting idly until the food arrived.
“Lawyer Fang, since you’ve thought it all through, I’ve got nothing more to say.
You can take on Guan Libing’s case, but it’s better if you don’t get involved with the high-interest loan issue,” Qi Kang advised.
“Why?”
Qi Kang fell silent for a mont, but eventually said, “Those two articles had to pass through the censorship departnt before being published.
The chief editor suddenly intervened, forcefully asking to retract them; I think there must have been so pressure.”
Leaving the chief editor’s office, he had felt sothing was off.
The Yanjiao murder case was complex, and retracting the news to avoid trouble was sowhat understandable, but exposing the evils of high-interest loans was purely a matter of advocating justice.
The request to retract that as well was evidently quite abnormal.
The reasons given by the chief editor were much too sanctimonious.
“Lawyer Fang, I also looked into that Jieyoudai, and a high-interest loan platform operating on such a large scale and so brazenly indicates that its background must be anything but simple.”
Speaking to soone intelligent, Qi Kang believed Fang Qing would understand his implication.
“Moreover, those who are in this line of work usually aren’t exactly kind-hearted souls.
Lawyer Fang, this isn’t your responsibility; you don’t need to…”
Qi Kang stopped.
“I know what to do, thank you,” Fang Qing said with a light laugh.
Qi Kang didn’t say anything more.
After the al, Fang Qing insisted on paying the bill and parted ways with Qi Kang at the entrance.
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