Chapter 48: Overestimating Her

Ye Yingtang’s assistant placed the documents before Lu Yao one by one.

Lu Yao immediately began flipping through them. The more she read, the more she understood the case, and her expression grew ever more grave.

The subsidiary in question was called Green Realm Environmental Protection. Its scrap processing plant had been established in North Village for twenty years. In recent years, villagers in North Village had successively been diagnosed with lung and stomach cancer, and even young children had inexplicably developed blood disorders. The entire village was plagued by suffering, with funerals occurring one after another.

Some villagers pointed the finger at Green Realm Environmental Protection, insisting that the harmful substances in the wastewater and exhaust discharged by the scrap plant failed to meet national emission standards, leading to the cancers.

The villagers filed a joint lawsuit against Green Realm Environmental Protection.

The court’s first-instance judgment ordered Green Realm Environmental Protection to cease operations, publicly apologize to the villagers, pay three billion in compensation for environmental remediation in North Village, and provide each villager with ten million in compensation.

For the Ye Corporation, this was a massive compensation that would severely damage its reputation.

Having finished reading, Lu Yao let out a deep sigh, her face showing a look of despair.

Ye Yingtang really had too much faith in her—this was a case that even the most formidable star lawyer at Dacheng Law Firm could not win.

How was she supposed to win?

Her mind was a jumble of confusion as she considered how to politely refuse while still maintaining her chance to compete for Ye Corporation’s legal representation over the next five years.

As if reading her thoughts, Ye Yingtang spoke slowly, “Attorney Lu, you don’t have to rush to turn me down. I’ll give you half a day to consider. You can look into the case materials, and once you’ve thought it through, give me your answer.”

“President Ye, actually I…” The words of refusal were on the tip of her tongue, but Lu Yao hesitated.

Refusing meant her chance at Ye Corporation’s legal representation would be zero.

Accepting meant at least a fifty percent chance.

Why shouldn’t she try? Even if she lost, it would be a valuable experience in her legal career.

Her spirits lifted. With a confident smile, she said to Ye Yingtang, “I can give you my answer right now. I will do my utmost on this case.”

Ye Yingtang looked at Lu Yao with appreciation, clearly admiring the confidence and innocence on her face.

Looking at Lu Yao was like seeing Shen Qingyi—the biological mother of Ye Zehong—in her youth.

A strange fondness for Lu Yao arose in his heart.

“Attorney Lu, you must have a boyfriend, right?” Ye Yingtang suddenly changed the subject.

Lu Yao was caught completely off guard, flustered for a moment.

Why was Ye Yingtang suddenly interested in her personal life?

Could it be that he had discovered something about her and Ye Zehong?

Was that why he assigned her a case with no hope of victory, so she would back down?

But then she reconsidered. That was impossible. If Ye Yingtang really knew, he would never have given her the chance to get her proposal for Xunda Technology approved. Even if Ye Zehong was the project lead that day, approval would have required Ye Yingtang’s nod.

Lu Yao told herself not to overreact, to stay calm.

Or perhaps he intended to introduce her to someone?

With this thought, she smiled and replied, “I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment, but there is someone I like.”

“For such a beautiful and capable woman as you, what an outstanding man he must be to make you love him in vain.” Ye Yingtang chuckled. “If there’s a chance, introduce him to me.”

Lu Yao wished she could find a hole and disappear into it.

If Ye Yingtang knew who lived in her heart, he would surely take back his words.