The Divorce Lawyer Is Very Hard To Flirt With - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Even Your Rationality Will Feel Pity, Right?

It seems it has always been this way: humanity conceptualizes its extermination by artificial intelligence in sci-fi, yet in reality treats such a hypothesis as a joke, like a proverb that, as long as it doesn’t happen, might as well not exist.

The Love Cheat Device was to Ying Zhi’an what the AI in a sci-fi novel is to real-life humanity.

It happened, and therefore it existed!

“Sister Zhi’an, what’s wrong?” Song Xidan had just stood up when she saw Ying Zhi’an suddenly close her eyes, her head slumped to the side, her entire body appearing limp and powerless. Fortunately, a second later, Ying Zhi’an reopened her eyes, tilted her head left and right, and rotated her neck.

“Sister Zhi’an?”

Ying Zhi’an did not answer. Instead, she stood up, took a step left, a step right, and then sat down again, back ramrod straight. Her gaze was directed at Song Xidan, dark and profound. “Which question?”

Song Xidan was about to perform the flirting techniques she had learned from short videos, but meeting Ying Zhi’an’s penetrating gaze made her scalp prickle. She obediently refrained from mischief. “Sister Zhi’an, I don’t quite understand this question. It’s about the combined offense of kidnapping and intentional infliction of serious injury. The question says that A kidnapped B for ransom, and during the kidnapping, A also intended to harm B, causing serious injury. Did I select the wrong option?”

Ying Zhi’an took the book of wrong answers. She read the question in a second and immediately explained: “This question involves the provision in Article 239, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law. Whoever commits the crime of kidnapping and kills the kidnapped person, or intentionally injures the kidnapped person resulting in serious injury or death, shall be sentenced to life imprisonment or death, and also subject to confiscation of property. This means that during the kidnapping, as long as the kidnapped person is intentionally injured, resulting in serious injury, the perpetrator should be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. The motive or purpose of the intentional injury is irrelevant. Therefore, if A, during the kidnapping, injures B severely for a purpose other than ransom, such as merely intending to harm B, it still falls under the crime of kidnapping. If there are other criminal acts during the kidnapping, such as rape, it involves the issue of cumulative punishment for multiple crimes. You failed to understand that the act and consequence of intentional infliction of serious injury have already been evaluated once within the aggravating circumstances of the crime of kidnapping, so there cannot be cumulative punishment. That is why you selected the wrong option.”

Ying Zhi’an’s voice was still pleasant, but she delivered this long passage in a single breath, without any meaningless vocal fillers, as if it were something she had long prepared and memorized in advance.

Song Xidan found it somewhat strange but couldn’t pinpoint why, only attributing it to Sister Zhi’an’s genuinely strong professional competence.

With this legal encyclopedia present, Song Xidan genuinely started asking questions, smoothly receiving fluent answers from Ying Zhi’an on topics ranging from Criminal Law to Criminal Procedure, Commercial Law to International Law, and even super-detailed questions about Legal History.

Song Xidan’s eyes, full of astonishment, widened, as if she wanted to imprint the scene deeply into her memory. She then let out a sigh that seemed to come from her soul. “Sister Zhi’an, you can actually remember legal provisions enacted during the Qing Dynasty so clearly. You are simply a genius; I really admire you!”

If the real Ying Zhi’an were present, she might have rolled her eyes dismissively, a hint of subtle sarcasm on her lips, and said in an almost admonishing tone: “Haven’t I emphasized that you should watch fewer of those fabricated TV dramas? No lawyer can spontaneously cite specific articles and paragraphs anytime, anywhere! Those are fictional. In reality, no one can remember that much, nor can they cite it so effortlessly!”

However, the Ying Zhi’an standing before Song Xidan now merely curved her lips into a slightly cold smile. She gently handed the book of wrong answers back to Song Xidan and spoke in an unusually severe voice, devoid of any emotion: “I am actually not remarkable; you are simply too dull. The questions you ask are quite basic. In your current state, it will be very difficult to pass the bar exam. Instead of specially asking me to come here to answer your doubts, you should spend more effort on attending lectures and practicing questions. The objective test for the bar exam is next month. Time is pressing. You should calm down, focus on your studies, and not waste energy on other irrelevant matters.”

Ying Zhi’an’s words, lacking emotional coloring, sounded exceptionally cold and ruthless, striking directly at Song Xidan’s heart. Song Xidan felt deeply ashamed, as if her disguise had been stripped away, exposing her inner restlessness and anxiety. She was indeed distracted, like a monster driven by desire, having lost her former calm and focus.

“Sister Zhi’an…” Song Xidan called softly, her voice as gentle as a kitten’s, her eyes full of flattery and reliance, like a small cat tugging at its owner’s sleeve, seeking comfort and forgiveness.

But Ying Zhi’an stood up without hesitation, her movement swift and decisive. There was no lingering attachment in the look she gave Song Xidan, only calmness and rationality. “You and Ying Zhi’an are not suited for any relationship other than mentor and apprentice. You are constantly relying on her, looking up to her, and pursuing her. You can neither become an object of admiration for the strong nor a synchronized comrade. The value you offer can be given by anyone. If providing thoughtful care in life were enough to be a stepping stone into intimate human relationships, then interactions between people would be too easy, and everyone would be far from loneliness. But true lifelong companionship is never maintained by momentary kindness; it requires sustained capability and effort. Song Xidan, what you should be doing is increasing your self-worth, not using cheap attentiveness as a lure to hunt for someone else’s heart.”

After speaking, Ying Zhi’an walked to the door and opened it without any hesitation.

“Sister Zhi’an!” Song Xidan cried out in alarm. “You knew?”

“I…” Ying Zhi’an’s voice paused slightly, the tone rising unusually, but it quickly returned to calm and fluent. “I have always known your feelings, but I wanted to maintain a silent mutual understanding, because that is the decency adults should have. Constantly knocking on a door that won’t open is impolite and an offense.”

Song Xidan fought back the tears threatening to fall, biting her lip tightly, her body trembling, unsure how to argue back. She just watched helplessly as Ying Zhi’an finished speaking and was about to leave. The strong emotion surging within her told her that if she didn’t speak now, she might never get the chance again. So, she abruptly ran forward and tightly grabbed Ying Zhi’an’s hand. “Sister Zhi’an! I was wrong; I was too impolite. Can we still be like before?”

Ying Zhi’an gently pulled her hand away from Song Xidan’s grasp, leaving a cold and resolute sentence: “If you don’t pass the bar exam, it’s impossible for the law firm to keep you. At that time, our mentorship will also end.”

After Ying Zhi’an left, Song Xidan felt a complete blank in her mind, her legs weak, her heart filled with self-reproach and a feeling of unworthiness. But the tears in her eyes never fell. She fiercely wiped them away with a raised hand, a stubborn determination rising within her. She grabbed the book of wrong answers and began to focus entirely on her studies. It’s just the bar exam? She absolutely must pass it!

“Even if Sister Zhi’an tactfully rejected me, I still have the bond of our mentorship!” Song Xidan secretly vowed in her heart, her tone carrying obstinance and resilience. “I won’t give up this easily!”

Provoked by Ying Zhi’an’s words, Song Xidan became even more determined. She cast aside the inferiority complex she had developed because of Song Moqiu, her mind full of thoughts like “increase self-worth,” “pass the bar exam,” and “maintain the mentorship.”

Meanwhile, Ying Zhi’an returned to the Judges Academy and, upon seeing Song Moqiu, immediately stated, “I’ve sought proof. You were wrong.”

Song Moqiu abruptly looked up, her slightly red and swollen eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. “What do you mean?” Her voice trembled slightly, as if she already had a premonition.

“I mean, perhaps you should consider the two of us.” Ying Zhi’an slowly walked toward Song Moqiu. A strange light flickered in her eyes, like a seductive siren. Her voice was gentle and full of affection: “You cried for me. What does that signify?”

Song Moqiu frowned, trying to cover up her momentary loss of composure. “I didn’t cry; I was just slightly emotionally agitated.”

“I felt it. When you said those things before, you were going against your emotions, but your rationality felt that those words should be spoken.”

Song Moqiu pursed her lips, her gaze intensely fixed on Ying Zhi’an. “What do you mean by ‘consider the two of us’?”

“Even your rationality would feel pity, wouldn’t it? If I truly left and never came back, even your rationality would think that we would be very suitable together.” Her voice held a strange firmness, as if she could already see the future.

Then, Ying Zhi’an smiled faintly, appearing even more seductive. “The two of us—we know what’s going on.”

Song Moqiu suddenly stood up, her movement swift and decisive. She forcefully pushed Ying Zhi’an onto the bed, controlling both of Ying Zhi’an’s hands with one of her own. “The two of us? Know what’s going on? What?”

Ying Zhi’an was pinned down in a controlling posture, like in a boxing ring, unable to move. But her eyes were full of excitement and anticipation, and a eager smile beamed on her face, like a little brat about to be praised. “We can start dating!” Her voice was filled with joy and expectation.

However, Song Moqiu was not swayed by this sudden declaration. She abruptly said, “Gong Ting Yu Ye Jiu?” (Imperial Court Jade Liquid Wine?) The phrase sounded completely illogical, but it was like a secret code.

Ying Zhi’an was stunned, clearly not expecting Song Moqiu to suddenly utter that phrase. “What?” Her voice was full of confusion.

Song Moqiu’s tone suddenly became stern and reprimanding. “You are not Ying Zhi’an. Who are you? What kind of filthy thing are you! I’m telling you, I’m a Party member, and no spirits are allowed under the red flag! You better roll out of her body right now!”

Ying Zhi’an’s face instantly turned pale, a flash of panic in her eyes. But she quickly regained her composure and spoke in an almost cold voice, “What are you talking about? I am Ying Zhi’an.”

However, Song Moqiu no longer believed her words. She stared intently into Ying Zhi’an’s eyes, as if trying to see through her soul. “My uncle is a very powerful Taoist priest. Don’t force me to go find him!” After saying this, Song Moqiu immediately pulled out a very old-looking yellow talisman and slapped it onto Ying Zhi’an’s forehead.