Chapter 43

Chapter 43

◎The Power of Promotion!◎

"Lawyer Shen, look at this redesigned signboard I made for our law firm. Do you like it?"

"Lawyer Shen, I specifically asked a friend to design a homepage for our law firm—ta-da! Look at this bold headline, crimson infused with gold, shimmering with yellow—it’s so grand! The page layout and sections are also very logical!"

"Lawyer Shen, I also designed a mascot based on our firm's name, Red Circle Law Firm. Can you guess what this is?"

Early in the morning, Shen Ruzhen's office was taken over by Chi Xiaoyi. Chi held a laptop in one hand and several design drafts in the other, spreading them out one by one on Shen Ruzhen's desk. She introduced and displayed each one, her eyebrows dancing with excitement, tiny beads of sweat glistening on her nose from sheer exhilaration. Her mouth chattered nonstop, a stark contrast to the dejected state Shen had first seen her in.

At this question, Shen Ruzhen finally found a small window in the barrage of words to interject. She gazed at the mascot design, pondering for a long moment: "Uh, an ouroboros?"

Chi Xiaoyi was indignant: "What ouroboros? Isn't this the 'red circle' from our law firm's name?"

Shen Ruzhen still didn't understand, pointing to a detail on the design: "Then why is there a snake biting its own tail here?"

Chi Xiaoyi looked closely and immediately flushed: "Oh, that's just a guideline I forgot to erase when sketching!"

"Oh, I almost forgot, there's more—"

If Shen Ruzhen hadn’t been sitting, she might have jumped three feet in the air. Wide-eyed, she asked incredulously, "There’s more?"

Chi Xiaoyi waved her hand: "Don't thank me too much! I just had a burst of inspiration and drew it all in one go. These past few days, every time I saw news about Ji Xiang online, I got so angry. To calm down, I searched for news about our law firm. I found that not only was there hardly any promotion, but we didn't even have a proper official website! How can that be?"

Chi Xiaoyi patted her chest generously, saying proudly: "Lawyer Shen, don't worry. Over the years, I've gotten to know quite a few media friends. From now on, the firm's promotional work is on me!"

Finally, Chi Xiaoyi pulled out a stack of flyers from her bag. The paper was printed with a golden sheen, smooth and glossy to the touch—clearly expensive.

When Shen Ruzhen took a closer look, she nearly blushed speechless. It was one thing for Chi Xiaoyi to praise her law firm as diligent and responsible, but she had even put a photo of Shen on the flyer, extolling her virtues to the heavens as if she were a goddess descended to earth.

Handing the flyers to Shen Ruzhen, Chi Xiaoyi said earnestly: "Lawyer Shen, for so many years—no, so many days—the firm's publicity has been severely lacking. As the saying goes, 'Even the best wine needs a good alley.' I've already printed these for you. All you need to do is have someone distribute them!"

Then Chi Xiaoyi checked her watch: "Oh no! I have a meeting with the marketing manager of an apparel brand. I have to rush, or I'll be late..." She grabbed her bag from a nearby coat rack and was about to leave.

Shen Ruzhen: "Wait, what about the payment for these designs and the website production—"

Chi Xiaoyi smiled and waved her hand: "No payment needed! If it weren't for you, Lawyer Shen, I'd still be trapped under that scoundrel Ji Xiang's shadow, almost fooled by him! Why be so formal between us?"

The girl fluttered away like a colorful butterfly. Today, she wore an ice-blue floral dress, its lively and bright colors suiting her perfectly. In a trance, Shen Ruzhen felt as if she were seeing the 23-year-old Chi Xiaoyi again.

The law firm door closed hastily. Silence finally returned to Shen Ruzhen's ears. After a moment, she chuckled to herself, realizing the situation. Then, her gaze fell on the stack of flyers on the desk. Her fingertips rubbed the printed paper, and with her other hand, she massaged her temples, thinking with a headache: So many flyers, who should I find to distribute them?

Chi Xiaoyi’s promotional efforts were swift. Before long, Shen Ruzhen’s name caused a stir in both legal circles and among the public. In truth, after the Fu Feng and Ji Xiang cases, the public was already intensely curious about the downfall of these powerful tycoons. However, apart from those who watched the live court proceedings or downloaded and read the judgments, very few knew that the lawyer representing the victim in the Ji Xiang case was the same person who had been the victim in the Fu Feng case.

Once the public discovered the connection between these two cases through Shen Ruzhen, her name immediately exploded across the internet.

Although some comments with unclear motives subtly tried to smear her, claiming Shen Ruzhen was merely seeking publicity, that tycoons weren't so easily toppled from their pedestals, and that her high profile would inevitably invite retaliation from a powerful figure, these cynical remarks were quickly buried under dozens of layers of backlash. Some mocked the commenters for their transparent agendas, others sarcastically asked if they were the very tycoons guilty of crimes, and some simply retorted that Shen’s courage was far superior to hiding at home like a coward.

As Shen Ruzhen's name gained a little traction, she also received an invitation.

The invitation card was thick and exquisitely printed with gold foil. The content invited her to a cocktail party held a few days later on a cruise ship in international waters, an event exclusively for distinguished figures from various fields.

Shen Ruzhen had always had little interest in socializing and networking. She was about to toss it aside when she heard the system say: "Host, there's a high chance you'll meet this world's male and female leads at this gala."

Shen Ruzhen considered it. Whoever this world's male lead was, his identity as a powerful tycoon was undeniable, and such social events were always hotbeds of intrigue. The probability of encountering the leads here was exceptionally high.

Shen Ruzhen carefully put the invitation away.

Three days later.

"Welcome, Lawyer Shen."

It was ideal sailing weather—sunny with a gentle breeze. Against the soothing backdrop of waves gently lapping against the shore, Shen Ruzhen adjusted her sun hat, shielding her eyes from the glaring sun and the curious stares around her, revealing only a delicate chin and an elegantly curved neck. On the deck, she handed her invitation to an attendant, politely declining his offer to carry her suitcase before making her way to her stateroom.

[Author's Note]

New case!

In this case, the relationship between the male and female leads will develop rapidly—I swear!