Seeing this, Cheng Xin could not help but frown. He glanced up at the judge sitting on the bench, who wore a look of stony seriousness. Despite the flagrant insolence of Li Wei’s remarks, the judge remained unmoved, not even batting an eye. Cheng Xin didn't need to ponder the implications to grasp the situation; it seemed this trial would be far more complicated than he had anticipated.
However, now was not the time for such thoughts. Cheng Xin rose quickly, grabbed Zhang Qiang—who was on the verge of exploding—and whispered, "Zhang Qiang, calm down! This is a courtroom. Any impulsive behavior will only work against you. Do you understand?"
Zhang Qiang panted, his chest heaving like a trapped beast. He glared at Li Wei, his eyes burning with rage. He knew Cheng Xin was right—he couldn't afford to be reckless, nor could he let Li Wei’s scheme succeed. Taking several deep breaths to quell his fury, he slowly sank back into his chair.
Chapter 20