Episode Summary
The courtroom battle against Wan Xuemin intensifies as Lin Zhipao presents damning evidence of his child molestation, including testimonies from six girls and a pair of underwear with his DNA. Defense lawyer Li Daoran counters with manipulative tactics, bullying victim Wang Yuqing into a breakdown during her testimony. Though Wan gets a light 5-year sentence initially, Lin’s relentless appeal—backed by new forensic proof and a shocking voice recording found by Lu Sheng—forces the case to retrial. Justice inches closer, but darker secrets lurk.
Spoiler Alert
Endless Protection Episode 23: Courtroom Fireworks & Shocking Evidence
Buckle up, folks—this week’s legal showdown in Endless Protection had more twists than a soap opera villain’s mustache. Let’s break down the chaos (and grab the popcorn).
The Trial Begins: Dirty Laundry & Dirty Tactics
Lin Zhipao stormed into court armed with six victim testimonies against dance instructor Wan Xuemin, accusing him of using "dance lessons" to grope underage girls. Wan’s defense? Classic gaslighting: "It’s just part of the training!" But here’s the kicker—all six girls reported incidents happening during cleanup duty, not practice. Defense lawyer Li Daoran tried dismissing this as "coordinated lies," until prosecutor Bai Enyu dropped the mic: the school’s duty roster proved those girls were assigned to the equipment room on those dates.
Then came the bombshell: Lin presented underwear with Wan’s DNA as evidence of assault against victim Wang Yuqing. Li Daoran, however, pulled a sleazy Gotcha! by producing 40 pairs of underwear, claiming Wang had a "habit" of "playing with them." The courtroom gasped. Wang bravely testified remotely, but Li’s relentless bullying (calling her a liar, twisting her words) left her sobbing and fleeing mid-testimony. Justice? More like just-ice-cold.
Verdict Fallout: A Bittersweet Win
Wan got five years for indecent assault—far too light for Lin, who’d seen the trauma in Wang’s eyes. She rage-quit to her office, stared at the chair where victims once sat, and vowed: Appeal. Bai Enyu, her ride-or-die colleague, backed her 100%.
Their Hail Mary? Re-examining the crime scenes. All assaults happened in the dance studio—a public space. Under Chinese law, minor victims’ testimonies hold weight in public settings. Prosecutor Fu initially hesitated but finally greenlit the appeal.
Round Two: Surprise Allies & Hidden Tapes
At the appeals court, Lin and Bai met judge Yuan Jiaxin, who initially seemed dismissive… until they spotted slimeball Li Daoran schmoozing him. Cue the side-eye. But plot twist! Yuan turned out to be fair, even accepting new forensic evidence: the infamous underwear contained mixed DNA, proving Wan was there during the assault. Case overturned. Retrial ordered.
Post-win, the team realized Li’s theatrics might be hiding darker secrets. Meanwhile, Lu Sheng (our brooding hero) found a bombshell on Hu Minmin’s old MP3: a recording of Wan asking, "Why did you drug the girl?" followed by Hu’s chilling reply: "He needed to get the job done."
Final Thoughts
This episode was a rollercoaster of rage and redemption. Lin’s grit, Bai’s loyalty, and Yuan’s integrity saved the day—for now. But with that MP3 cliffhanger? Something tells me this rabbit hole goes way deeper.
