Cases like this were time-consuming and labor-intensive, and might not even cover the litigation costs.
"I would first try to contact the streamer and see if we can negotiate a voluntary refund."
"Okay, give it a try."
Using the information in the case file, she found the streamer's contact number and called with her own phone.
It rang several times before someone answered.
"Hello?" A middle-aged man's voice was wary.
"Hello, I'm Zeng Keqin, a legal assistant at Jingheng Law Firm. Regarding the 'villa and luxury car' raffle you held on the live streaming platform, my client paid twenty thousand yuan but did not receive the promised prize. How do you plan to handle this?"
A cold laugh came from the other end. "A lawyer? Trying to scare me? That was just for show. Who told her to actually pay? No refund. If she has a problem, sue me!"
He hung up with a bang.
Zeng Keqin stared blankly at her phone.
Across from her, Chen Kaiheng picked up his thermos and smiled. "Not only is the little girl refined, she speaks gently too."
"Brother Kai, did I say something wrong?"
Chen Kaiheng unscrewed the lid and threw in a handful of goji berries. "You didn't say anything wrong. It's just that with this kind of person, if you reason with him, he'll only play dirty."
Zeng Keqin humbly asked, "Then what should I do?"
Chen Kaiheng stood up and walked to the water dispenser, speaking leisurely. "Dealing with people like this is like playing tai chi—soft with firm, firm with soft."
Zeng Keqin pondered his words, wanting to ask more, but Chen Kaiheng had already started making calls, busy as a bee.
She had no choice but to edit a new script on her notebook and try calling again. The other party seemed wary and hung up directly. She tried using the firm's landline, but he still wouldn't answer.
She hadn't expected to hit a hard wall on her first day.
Undeterred, Zeng Keqin thought that since he wouldn't answer calls, she would send a text. After nearly an hour of editing, she finally composed the message:
"Hello, Mr. Li. I'm Zeng Keqin, an intern lawyer at Jingheng Law Firm. Regarding the matter of you receiving twenty thousand yuan on the live streaming platform without fulfilling your promise, my client has entrusted our firm to handle it. According to Article 266 of the Criminal Law, defrauding public or private property worth over three thousand yuan is enough for filing a case. Twenty thousand yuan is considered a relatively large amount, punishable by up to three years in prison. However, if you proactively compensate and obtain forgiveness, criminal liability may not be pursued. This is my phone number. I hope you will contact me before 5 p.m. today to discuss a resolution; otherwise, we will report the case to the public security bureau."
She hit send.
Zeng Keqin's heart was anxious. She didn't know if the other party would contact her.
Surprisingly, around 4 p.m., the other party replied with just four words:
"How do I return the money?"
Zeng Keqin jumped up excitedly. "Brother Kai, he's willing to refund!"
Chen Kaiheng wasn't particularly surprised. He just smiled. "Then you can contact the client."
Zeng Keqin immediately called the client.
"Hello, this is Zeng Keqin from Jingheng Law Firm. Regarding the case you entrusted, the streamer is willing to refund the full amount. What do you think..."
"I don't want a refund."
The girl on the phone cut her off quickly. "I just want the car and the house. I paid for them. They're mine by right."
Zeng Keqin was stunned.
"But that streamer doesn't actually have a car or a house. He was lying to you..."
"That's his problem, not mine. I bought it, so he has to give it to me. If he doesn't give me the car and house, I'll sue him!"
Zeng Keqin widened her eyes in shock. Before she could say anything, the other party hung up.
She tried calling again, but no matter how she explained, the client was adamant: the streamer must keep his promise. If he didn't deliver, she would sue!
Zeng Keqin massaged her temples and leaned back in her chair. She had thought the hardest part would be the defendant, but it turned out to be the client.
It was enough to give her a headache.
Chen Kaiheng looked up from his pile of documents and saw her expression. He smiled and asked, "What, hit a wall?"
Zeng Keqin said weakly, "Brother Kai, the client doesn't want a refund. She insists on the car and house."
"Not too bad. Not particularly outrageous. I've handled plenty of stubborn clients like this. Reasoning with her about the law is useless. She only thinks she's in the right."
She sighed and wanted to ask Chen Kaiheng for more advice, but he had already started making calls again. So she looked toward Shen Jingbai's office.
Forget it. Asking questions on the first day would only make her look incompetent.
Her phone rang.
She picked it up and saw it was Jiang Shiyu.
"Hello?"
"Are you free tonight?"
"What's up?"
"I'm about to leave school." He paused. "There's something I want to give you."
Zeng Keqin was taken aback. She had almost forgotten he had already graduated.
"What time?"