173: Chapter 173 Saving someone and still having to pay compensation? The live stream exploded.

"The evidence is right here, don't even think about walking away."

Ma Zehang shoved his phone in Li Li's face.

On the screen, the surveillance footage played on a loop.

The fire ax swung down.

The drainpipe burst.

Water gushed out from the bottom of the tank, and goldfish and koi were washed onto the floor together.

Ma Zehang couldn't keep his voice down.

"The custom tank cost 2.8 million, and with the fish, equipment, and landscaping, it adds up to at least 4 million."

"I don't care about you putting out the fire."

"But you smashed my things, so you have to own up to this debt."

Li Li looked down.

The koi at his feet was still flapping its tail.

It had a tough life.

He looked up, ignoring the talk of compensation.

"First, confirm whether there is anyone still inside the store."

Ma Zehang faltered.

"My employees have all evacuated."

"What about the customers?"

Ma Zehang opened his mouth.

He couldn't answer.

Cen Ye, standing to the side, flared up.

"Are you serious, man? You don't even know if there are people in your shop, and you come looking for money from the guy who saved them?"

Ma Zehang's expression turned ugly.

"I'm talking about property damage right now!"

"A fire is a fire, saving people is saving people, but you still have to pay for damaged property, right?"

Han Xubai stepped forward.

His shirt sleeves were still rolled up, and his gold-rimmed glasses caught the red and blue lights of the fire truck.

"Sir, please state your identity."

Ma Zehang straightened his back.

"Co-founder of Water World, Ma Zehang. I have the business license, brand authorization, and asset list—everything is clearly priced and honest."

Han Xubai nodded, pulled a business card from his trouser pocket, and held it between two fingers as he handed it over.

"Han Xubai, practicing lawyer."

Ma Zehang took it, looked at the front, then flipped it to the back.

"A lawyer?"

Han Xubai took the card back.

"Pro bono lawyer."

Cen Ye muttered from behind.

"He finally doesn't think the title sounds pathetic."

Han Xubai ignored him.

He stood in front of Ma Zehang.

"Mr. Ma, let's not argue. Let's go by the law."

Ma Zehang was about to speak.

Han Xubai raised a hand.

"Listen to me first, then decide if you want to keep blocking us."

"First, Li Li's actions just now fall under the category of emergency avoidance."

"Article 182 of the Civil Code states that if damage is caused by emergency avoidance, the person who caused the danger shall bear civil liability."

Ma Zehang frowned.

"But he's the one who…"

"I haven't finished."

Han Xubai tilted his chin toward the mall.

"The new energy vehicle on the first floor caught fire, and the flames spread up through the atrium. Your aquarium was directly in the path of the fire."

"Li Li dismantled the drainpipe, released the water from the tank, and suppressed the open flames on the perimeter of the first floor, buying time for the minors trapped on the third floor."

He paused.

"The people who were trapped are right here."

Song Yaoshan, still wearing his oxygen mask, quickly raised his hand.

"I'll testify. I almost finished writing my will in the private room."

Han Xubai turned his head.

"Shut up for now and save your oxygen."

Song Yaoshan put his hand down.

Cen Ye almost laughed out loud but held it in.

Han Xubai continued.

"Second, your aquarium's location, fire safety approval, fire partitions, and evacuation plan will all be investigated."

Ma Zehang's face changed.

"Our paperwork is complete."

"That's even better."

Han Xubai nodded.

"We'll take it out then, and everyone can look at it together."

He added,

"Third, there is a basement under the mall. How were the floor load calculations done for the size and water capacity of your tank? Who signed off on it? Who did the inspection?"

Ma Zehang gripped his phone, not interrupting again.

Han Xubai stepped half a step to the side, revealing the camera on Lao Zhou's shoulder.

"Of course, you can continue now."

"Continue blocking the person who just saved minors from a fire, and demand four million in damages."

"I won't stop you."

"But that camera is livestreaming."

Ma Zehang turned his head.

Lao Zhou was carrying the camera, the red light on.

The livestream was already going crazy.

"Lawyer Bai is holding court!"

"Article 182, write that down, it'll be on the exam."

"Demanding money for a fish tank right after saving people? This scheme is so dirty even a fire hose can't wash it off."

"That piece of aquatic weed on his pant leg is stealing the show."

"Mr. Ma should check if there are any customers left in the store first."

Ma Zehang looked down at himself.

His suit was wrinkled.

His pant legs were soaked.

A piece of water weed was still hanging on his pant cuff.

He raised his hand to pull it off, then stopped himself.

Han Xubai wasn't done.

"If you really want to claim damages, that's fine."

Ma Zehang looked up.

Han Xubai raised the business card in his hand.

"I can represent you."

The scene went quiet for a moment.

Cen Ye was stunned.

"Lawyer Bai, whose side are you on?"

Han Xubai didn't look back.

"I'm on the side of the law."

Ma Zehang hadn't reacted yet.

"You'll help me sue?"

"I can."

Han Xubai listed them smoothly.

"The defendants would be the operator of the new energy vehicle showroom, the vehicle manufacturer, the battery supplier, the mall property management, the landlord, and the fire maintenance unit."

"There are many parties involved, the claim amount is high, and media attention will be high."

"It's a winnable case."

Ma Zehang listened more seriously.

Han Xubai continued to twist the knife.

"The litigation cycle will be at least two years. I'll charge legal fees at a low standard."

He held up three fingers.

"Three percent of the claim amount."

Ma Zehang did the math quickly.

Four million.

Three percent.

One hundred and twenty thousand.

Plus two years of litigation.

And it wasn't guaranteed to win.

He put his phone away.

"I… will think about it."

Han Xubai was very polite.

"I suggest you hurry. Before the fire department's investigation report on the cause of the fire comes out, you still have room for negotiation."

"After the report comes out, who should pay and who shouldn't won't be so easy to negotiate."

Ma Zehang stood there, his face turning pale and then green.

He glanced at Li Li, then looked at the koi on the ground.

That fish flapped its tail again.

Slap.

It wasn't loud, but everyone on the scene heard it.

Ma Zehang turned and walked three steps, then stopped.

"Can I have that koi back first?"

Li Li looked down at the fish.

"It currently does not possess the ability to move autonomously."

Ma Zehang stared at him.

Ten seconds.

Finally, he crouched down, scooped up the koi, tucked it into the front of his soaked suit jacket, and walked away quickly.

The scene was quiet for two seconds.

Cen Ye was the first to applaud.

"Lawyer Bai."

Han Xubai straightened his cuffs.

"Hmm."

"That part just now, I'm impressed."

"Standard procedure."

Han Xubai took off his glasses and wiped them.

"I run into clients like this in court three times a week."

Cen Ye pressed.

"That last line, helping him sue, were you serious or just bluffing?"

Han Xubai put his glasses back on.

"Of course I was serious."

"The claim amount for this case is big enough, there are enough defendants, and the attention is high enough."

He looked down at his phone.

"My livestream gained 800,000 followers."

The admiration on Cen Ye's face vanished.

"I take back what I just said."

Yin Ruoying crossed her arms.

"Don't take it back, at least it was useful."

Fang Ruowei applauded at the right moment.

"Xubai is truly professional. Being able to keep control of the situation at a time like this is very impressive."

Han Xubai gave a business-like smile.

Wen Tang stood at the very back, her phone still livestreaming, but she didn't interject.

She had already learned.

In this kind of situation, whoever tries to steal the spotlight crashes.

Song Yaoshan's oxygen mask hung on his face, his voice muffled.

"Lawyer Han, will you represent Brother Li for free?"

Han Xubai looked at him.

"Free."

"Really?"

"Pro bono lawyer."

This time, he didn't pause when he said those four words.

Jiang Rumu had been standing to Li Li's left the whole time.

Han Xubai had blocked the person, so she hadn't needed to act.

She slung her bag over her shoulder.

"Let's go."

Li Li nodded.

The two walked toward the parking area.

Song Yaoshan trotted to catch up.

"Brother Li, can I go back with you guys?"

"No."

"I can sleep on the sofa."

"No."

"I can sleep on the floor too."

"Go home and sleep by yourself."

Song Yaoshan paused.

His voice grew quiet.

"I'm scared."

He turned to look at Jiang Rumu.

Jiang Rumu nodded slightly.

Li Li stopped and turned back.

"Come back with us for now. We'll talk about tomorrow later."

Song Yaoshan quickly pulled his oxygen mask up to cover half his face.

"Thank you, Brother Li."

"Don't cry."

"I'm not crying."

Li Li didn't call him out.

Several people got into the business van.

The car drove around the perimeter of the mall.

In the rearview mirror, the red lights of the fire trucks were still spinning, and white smoke drifted out from the top of the mall.

It quieted down in the car.

Cen Ye leaned against the car window to catch up on sleep.

Han Xubai was typing on his phone, probably organizing the legal logic from earlier.

Fang Ruowei was sending voice messages to her assistant, arranging tomorrow's schedule.

Yin Ruoying was checking her data.

Her livestream had broken her personal record for peak concurrent viewers tonight, although most of the traffic had spilled over from Li Li's side.

Wen Tang wore headphones, looking out the window.

Song Yaoshan sat in the last row, his head resting against the seat back, already asleep.

Sixteen years old.

Eating alone on the third floor of the mall.

Facing thick smoke alone.

Recording a nine-second will video alone.

Li Li glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

The phone screen lit up.

The message Cheng Songyan had sent half an hour ago was still there.

Cheng Songyan: [Preliminary investigation of the ignition point on the first floor shows abnormal traces on the chassis of the main burning vehicle. Waiting for the technical team's conclusion.]

Li Li stared at this line of text.

The unmanned SUV at the Fire Station entrance.

Wutong Mountain wildfire.

The new energy vehicle showroom fire today.

Three times.

All near him.

All happening during livestreams.

His thumb hovered over the reply box, and finally, he pressed the screen to turn it off.

The phone was placed face down on his lap.

Jiang Rumu was sitting to his right, not looking at her phone.

"What are you thinking about?"

Li Li leaned against the seat back.

"Thinking about that koi."

"Who are you trying to fool."

The car's interior lights were very dim, and the street signs swept by one by one.

Li Li turned his head to look at her.

"I'll tell you when I'm done thinking."

Jiang Rumu didn't press him.

She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.

Her left hand rested on the armrest between them.

Three seconds later.

Li Li's right hand was placed on top of it.

Their hands touched.

Neither pulled away.

In the back row, Song Yaoshan turned over, mumbling vaguely.

"Brother Li… will… orphanage…"

Li Li closed his eyes.

The phone with the black screen pressed against his lap.

Underneath the screen, that line of text was still there.

Abnormal traces on the chassis of the main burning vehicle.

He pulled his hand inward by half an inch, touching Jiang Rumu's hand.

She didn't dodge.

Instead, she moved forward half a centimeter.