Lin Wanyi also cherishes her time at home more and more. Even if she is constantly receiving work calls, she will take time to look at the busy Jiang Tingyan, feeling grateful, and discuss with him whether to try new recipes on the weekend, or plan to take the children to the newly opened parent-child park nearby. The two of them gathered in the kitchen, cutting vegetables and cooking, while chatting about the new legal points in the case, or the fun things that happened to the children at school. The fireworks and professional topics are wonderfully integrated, and the laughter and joy make the atmosphere of the home more mellow.

During the preparation stage for a new round of major cases, Jiang Tingyan specially rearranged his study. He bought a larger desk, and looking at the spacious desktop, he thought: “Now the information can be spread out, and it will be convenient for Wanyi to find it.” He also put a soft sofa in the corner and prepared a thick blanket. When Lin Wanyi stayed up late to study documents, he would hand her a cup of hot coffee at the right time. Looking at her tired face, he felt distressed and pulled her to the sofa to lean on it for a while, massaged her to relax her tense shoulders, and asked softly: “Are you tired? Take a break.” The two discussed the defense strategy in a low voice. Sometimes the child would wake up from a nap, quietly open the door, give his mother a small card of encouragement he drew, and then go back to sleep obediently. These bits and pieces gathered into an invisible force, supporting Lin Wanyi to continue to shine in the legal world, and also let the story of this family, in the interweaving of love and struggle, continue to write new chapters.

During the intense preparation process, the child also felt the mother’s hard work and pressure. One night, after the child came home from school, he did not play with toys as usual, but walked into the study and said to Lin Wanyi: “Mom, I drew a picture at school today. The teacher said it was great. I want to give it to you.” Lin Wanyi took the painting and saw a family holding hands and standing on the earth, surrounded by blue sky, white clouds, green trees and red flowers. Above the painting was written “Come on, Mom, protect the earth”. Lin Wanyi’s eyes were moist. She hugged the child tightly and said: “Baby, thank you, Mom will definitely do her best.” Jiang Tingyan watched this scene from the side, his heart was full of emotion and relief. He knew that this family was Lin Wanyi’s strongest backing.

In the vast and starry sky of the legal world, Jiang Tingyan and Lin Wanyi are like two stars shining against each other, shining more and more dazzlingly. The lawsuits they won one after another in the past were like solid steps, helping them to reach the top of the industry and gain a flood of praise. This well-known influence, like an invisible but powerful hand, steadily handed a very significant and heavy international cooperation environmental protection public welfare case file to the two.

At first glance, this case seems extremely difficult. It is like a densely woven giant web, where a single move affects the entire body. The laws and regulations of many countries are crisscrossed, and the differences between different legal systems are simply a maze that makes people dizzy. The rigorous rules of the continental legal system, the precedent tradition of the Anglo-American legal system, and the unique religious law background of the Islamic legal system, all kinds of detailed rules and regulations collide and rub against each other, and one will lose his way if he is not careful. The complex international relations have cast a layer of fog over the entire case. The balance of interests behind diplomatic rhetoric and the subtle changes in the positions of various countries have made every strategic discussion and every step of legal procedure must be treading on thin ice and be extremely cautious.

Lin Wanyi jumped into the vast pile of information without hesitation, like a fearless explorer, diving into the unknown and dangerous jungle. The desk lamp in the study, like a never-extinguished morning star, often quietly descended from the night sky, shining until the sky was pale. During the day, the sunlight tried to squeeze in through the gap in the curtains, but it could only outline a golden edge for her figure bent over the desk; at night, the moonlight sprinkled in front of the window, reflecting her increasingly thin figure, but her eyes were always as sharp as a hawk, as hot as fire, full of the kind of determination and confidence to overcome the problem without turning back until she hit the wall.

Jiang Tingyan watched all this silently from the side. It was as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. His brows were often tightly locked together, and deep grooves squeezed out between his brows. The worry in his eyes was as thick as ink that could not be dissolved. He understood too well the importance of this case. Those transnational laws and regulations were densely written on the paper. Any one of them might contain a fatal mystery. A deviation in an inconspicuous word might make all the previous efforts go to waste. But he also knew deeply that this career carried not only glory and fame, but also the common ideals and hot blood that they had cultivated and watered together since they met and knew each other.

Therefore, Jiang Tingyan quietly started the all-round “logistics support” mode. He incorporated his love and support for Lin Wanyi into the daily trivialities. In the early morning, before the dawn had completely dispelled the chill of the night, the whole house was still immersed in silence. He was always the first to gently lift the quilt, put on his slippers, and walked into the kitchen carefully, fearing that he would disturb the sweet dreams of his wife and children. He first gently opened the refrigerator door, stood there pondering for a moment, thinking about the combination of various ingredients – the whole wheat bread should be baked until slightly golden, exuding the fragrance of grains, paired with bacon that is fried crispy on both sides and has fat on the edges, and then a slice of juicy tomato and a piece of lettuce, which can not only replenish carbohydrates, but also have enough protein and vitamins; the freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice should be a mixture of oranges, carrots and apples, with the right amount of sweet and sour, and a full cup of vitality. Thinking about such a breakfast, Lin Wanyi can withstand a day of high-intensity mental consumption.

On the way to send the child to school, Jiang Tingyan did not forget to remind the child to be good at school and not to cause trouble for his mother, so that Lin Wanyi could focus on the case. As soon as he got home, he instantly switched to high-efficiency mode and swiftly cleaned up the housework. The dining table was cleaned spotlessly, and the dishes were rinsed in the sink and placed neatly in the disinfection cabinet; the scattered toys in the living room were put back in place one by one, and the pillows were patted fluffy and soft; the floor was mopped so bright that there was no dust in the corners. After finishing all this, he went straight into the study without a break.

In the study, all kinds of documents are piled up like a mountain, like a wild jungle of knowledge waiting to be cultivated. He gently pulled over a chair, sat down, and flipped through the materials page by page, stroking the paper with his fingers, his expression was so focused as if everything in the outside world was isolated from him. When he encountered key information, he picked up sticky notes of different colors, wrote down the notes neatly, classified them according to the context of the case, and then carefully pasted them in the corresponding positions, so that Lin Wanyi could lock the key points at a glance. When he encountered foreign literature, he slowly put on his reading glasses, and his concentration was even stronger. He translated word by word, and when he encountered obscure professional terms, he would never skip them perfunctorily, but would open thick dictionaries one by one, repeatedly checking in the vast ocean of knowledge, and his notebooks were densely filled with tiny handwriting. His serious and meticulous posture seemed as if he was carving a rare treasure.

Lin Wanyi is always concerned about Jiang Tingyan’s hard work. She understands that this case is not a one-person battle, and the family needs to be carried by both of them. When she has a little free time, she quickly takes over the “logistics baton”. When the children come home from school, she sits with them at the desk and patiently answers those novel and bizarre, fantastic questions, from how the stars in the universe are born to why ants move, and responds to each question seriously. On weekends, she carefully plans family activities, goes to the park for a picnic, prepares sandwiches and fruit salads in advance, and spreads colorful picnic mats. The family plays on the lawn and basks in the sun; or goes to the Science and Technology Museum to experience novel exhibits, and sees the children’s excited faces blushing, which also creates relaxing and warm memories for Jiang Tingyan. At night, when Jiang Tingyan’s breathing gradually stabilizes and he falls asleep, Lin Wanyi, like a cat walking quietly at night, gently pushes open the door of the study. She first re-sorted the materials she had sorted out during the day, checking for omissions and gaps. When she encountered unclear and half-understood parts of international law, she stood on tiptoe and pulled out professional books from the high shelf, and studied them under the dim desk lamp. She compiled the key points into a book with beautiful handwriting and attached case interpretations, hoping that Jiang Tingyan would be able to get started faster and spend less time.

In order to seamlessly connect with Lin Wanyi during the discussion, both of them worked hard to study the basics of international law. At the dinner table, the food was steaming hot, and they were eating while reciting difficult legal provisions, and occasionally arguing over a legal interpretation; in the leisurely moments before going to bed, leaning against the head of the bed, they should have chatted about family matters and relaxed, but the topic unknowingly turned back to international law, and when they encountered disagreements, the discussion became more intense. Jiang Tingyan quoted classics and brought out past cases to support his views, and Lin Wanyi was not to be outdone, arguing with reason and clear logic, but in this exchange, the complex and obscure knowledge became clearer and clearer. The child was infected by his parents’ seriousness and perseverance. He no longer clamored to play with his parents. Occasionally, he would tiptoe into the study, obediently hand over a glass of juice, and say in a baby voice, “Come on, Mom and Dad.” In this difficult and arduous battle, home has become the warmest and most solid fortress, weaving a barrier against wind and rain with love and responsibility, and supporting them to move forward fearlessly.

Finally, the long-awaited court date came like a long-accumulated storm, carrying tension and expectation. Jiang Tingyan woke up before daybreak. He got up lightly, afraid of disturbing his wife and children who were still asleep. When washing up, cold water splashed on his face, but it couldn’t dispel the tension between his eyebrows. Water drops slid down his chin and dripped into the sink, splashing tiny water drops, just like his disordered heartbeat at the moment.

After a simple breakfast, Jiang Tingyan carefully packed up the children, and the father and son went out early. When they arrived at the court, the gallery was empty. Jiang Tingyan deliberately chose a position with the best view, which allowed him to have a panoramic view of the court and ensure that he would not miss any moment of Lin Wanyi. He was wearing a plain and neat shirt with a straight ironed collar, but after sitting down, he unconsciously pulled his collar, trying to relieve the invisible sense of oppression. The child was also unusually well-behaved. He wore a small suit, and his usually lively and active temperament seemed to be sealed. His little hands were placed on his legs properly, and he swallowed his saliva from time to time. His big black eyes stared at the entrance of the court without blinking, and his eyes were full of complex emotions of tension and expectation.

The atmosphere in the courtroom was so heavy that it was almost sticky. Every breath of air seemed to have been drained of its relaxing elements, piling up heavily and pressing on everyone’s heart. Jiang Tingyan raised his hand to look at his watch from time to time. The subtle sound of the pointer on the dial was infinitely amplified in the silent environment. Every “tick” seemed to hit his increasingly tight heart. His knees trembled slightly, and his fingers tapped lightly on his knees. At first there was some rhythm, but later it became increasingly chaotic and completely out of order.

When Lin Wanyi, dressed in a neat and tidy professional suit, strode into the courtroom, Jiang Tingyan felt relieved as if a gentle hand had stroked his heart. She was as tall and straight as a pine tree, with a straight back and steady and powerful steps. She had a calm and unquestionable aura. Her hair was neatly tied behind her head, but a few strands of hair fell down playfully, which not only did not look messy, but added a bit of agility to her cold temperament. Her eyes were as firm as an eagle’s, sweeping across the courtroom sharply, and she seemed to be able to see through everything.

The bell of the trial rang, like the drums on an ancient battlefield, and a war without gunpowder but concerning justice and ideals officially began. Lin Wanyi stood in the defense seat, her figure like a towering mountain, and her calmness was amazing. She opened her lips, and fluent and standard English flowed down from the top of the mountain like a gurgling spring. Those complex, difficult, lengthy and cumbersome professional vocabulary were lightly connected together by her, and she expounded her arguments in an elegant and confident manner. Every syllable was clear and full, echoing in every inch of the courtroom, attracting everyone’s ears and even knocking on everyone’s hearts.

Facing the tricky questions raised by the opposing lawyer, Lin Wanyi was not in a hurry, and there was even a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. She nodded slightly, as if she was welcoming an interesting challenge, and then her solid and profound legal knowledge was instantly activated. She quickly extracted the corresponding laws and cases from the knowledge treasure house in her mind, quoted classics, and refuted them clearly. Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, but it revealed an irrefutable power, building an indestructible theoretical defense line for the public welfare cause of environmental protection. Her gestures were just right. She raised her hands or tapped the table lightly according to the rhythm of the explanation, assisting in the expression of her views, making the entire defense process like an exquisite artistic performance.

The heated debate lasted for several days, with sharp words and sharp arguments in the courtroom. Jiang Tingyan stared at the whole process, his eyes were sore, but he never moved away. (End of this chapter)