Chapter 155 Facebook
"Smooth talker, aren't you? Do you really think a handful of your eloquent sentences are going to sway me? Your interpretation of the law is your concern, not mine." Lucien retorted to Ashley's explanation, maintaining his icy aloofness. He even made a point to increase the physical distance between them, clearly not interested in prolonging their interaction.
Seeing that he was about to leave again, Ashley spoke again, "At least for your approval, I am trying hard instead of declaring failure after learning about your way of doing things out of fear."
This sentence may have touched Lucien's nerves. His steps, which were about to continue forward, paused, and he calmly looked down at those fearless eyes: "Ashley, when you go to court, is it all about eloquence and thick skin?"
In summary, it meant that she was being relentless.
Dealing with Damian indeed made Ashley braver, strengthening her inner resilience. Despite being openly plotted against by Lucien, she remained calm and composed, "I don't resort to tricks or exploit legal loopholes. In my view, eloquence and thick skin are more admirable. If you can see through my little tricks at a glance, Lucien, it means you are an expert who is far superior to me. As a junior and subordinate, I should learn from you." This was her third time buttering him up.
When Hendrix first mentioned this case to him, Lucien had already reviewed the relevant files. The evidence was unfavorable to the client, and the prosecutor was a difficult person to deal with. Pressure from the other side created a siege mentality for the defense.
It was challenging and demanding.
Leaving aside personal emotions, objectively speaking, at Ashley's current level, the probability of winning the lawsuit was less than one percent. Who gave her the confidence to take on a criminal case as a newcomer?
Lucien sneered, "Stop with these high-sounding words. You're just worried that the client is a criminal. Even if you win, you'll be labeled an accomplice to evil."
Ashley smiled lightly, her bright eyes flashing, showing no sharpness, confidence, and calm, "If I only wanted to defend innocent people in court and protect the good from harm, I wouldn't choose to be a lawyer; I'd be a pastor instead."
Lucien scrutinized her, and Ashley, unafraid, looked him in the eye.
A gentle breeze blew by; students passing by her side, recognizing Lucien, couldn't help but whisper a few words, then quickly walked away under Lucien's imposing presence.
At least ten seconds passed before Lucien said, "I don't know what kind of charm you used on Harold and Hendrix to make them both favor you so much, but as long as I'm here, I won't tolerate any behind-the-scenes manipulation of those dirty deeds."
With that, Lucien turned and walked away briskly, no longer leaving room for communication with Ashley.
Ashley watched Lucien's tall figure, exhaling the breath she had been holding in her heart.
In the law firm in the future, one had to keep a low profile and not offend Lucien.
Back home, Ashley kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto the couch. It had been a day of talking non-stop, running around, and reading documents until her eyes hurt.
As the case became more challenging, Ashley realized that going to court was physically demanding. She needed to strengthen her body through exercise and improve her endurance.
Having hamburgers for dinner, Ashley then looked over the materials sent by KM Road under the lamplight.
After prolonged exposure to the computer screen, Ashley felt dizzy and tired. She paused her work and searched online for a home printer.
With numerous brands to choose from, she was unsure how to make a selection, so she messaged Harold on Facebook for advice.
Below the Facebook message, a small red dot reminded her of a friend's update. Holding a cup of water, she curled up in her chair, ready to see the update.
Hayden: [A five-hour long surgery, all medical staff worked hard.]
The picture showed the handsome Hayden in surgical attire, looking tired with a slight sweat on his forehead.
Ashley pursed her lips.
Hayden vividly portrays the phrase 'looks can be deceiving.'
She wondered what the girls he had played with and then discarded would think when they saw his update.
Christian commented, [Don't overwork yourself.]
Evelina Hearst: [Can't resist Dr. Hayden's charm even when staying up late, thumbs up!]
Jade: [You are so hardworking.]
Theor rarely interacted on social media, where the New Feed seemed like a facade. Ashley suspected he never used this feature.
But the next moment, something even more unexpected happened. Damian, who had rarely been seen in the New Feed, surprisingly left a comment.
Damian: [Putting on a show.]
Was this guy leaving comments for friends?
That was quite rare.
Ashley stared at Damian's profile picture for a moment and swallowed the water in her mouth, wondering if he would post an update. What would it be?
She wanted to click on his profile to look at it, but she ended up clicking the wrong button and accidentally sending him a message.
Ashley's pupils dilated slowly, and then her mind raced as she tried to figure out how to retract the message. Can the recipient still see the message if she retracts it within two minutes? He probably wouldn't be looking at his phone at that exact moment.
In a flurry of frantic actions, the system reminded her that she could retract the message if the recipient had the latest version of Facebook.
Did Damian update his version?
Tonight, Evelina was organizing a gathering and invited Christian and others to meet at the Blue Star Club.
Hayden posted on his News Feed, and Christian was the first to see it. With his long legs swinging, he joked with Theor, "Between staying up all night and chasing girls, Hayden better not burn out too soon. If he can't keep up in another three to five years, he'll be in trouble!"
Not content with just teasing, he publicly ridiculed him with a comment: [Don't overdo it.]
Theor sat on the couch behind thin lenses, his features clear under the light, casting a faint blue hue. "Medical staff sacrifice their health to save lives. This industry deserves praise. Don't always speak ill of him. You might need his help one day when you're sick."
Christian snorted, "Him help me? He's an orthopedic surgeon."
In the end, he didn't support Hayden being a doctor. It was mentally and physically exhausting, with little free time. He had to cancel plans with him at least five out of the eight times, citing being on duty or having surgeries.
To those who didn't know, they might think he was moonlighting as a waiter.
Evelina clicked on the picture and commented: [Hayden looks very handsome, especially in uniform. It's the best way to trigger a girl's fantasies. Also, have you noticed how his muscle definition has improved recently? Look at his arms. Take a look!]
Damian picked up his phone from the table, took a sip of his drink, and leisurely scrolled through the updates. Hayden's post was highly visible, especially during the peak hours of checking social media in the evening. Most of their mutual friends were praising him, with a row of likes and a string of comments.
Evelina exclaimed, "Ashley probably hasn't seen it yet; otherwise, she would have commented."
Christian coldly remarked, "Don't be so familiar. She's not your sister-in-law."
Damian furrowed his brow for some reason, and for the first time, he left a comment.
The messages contained nothing worth seeing, so he was about to put down his phone and continue drinking when the chat box lit up.
Ashley accidentally sent Damian another message.
