Episode Summary
Bai Xiao faces a coordinated cyberbullying campaign but refuses to let it distract her from the case. Ren Jiatong finally confronts Bai Xiao about her father's death, leading to a truce and a stronger partnership. The team discovers that their current legal opponent, Wang Qing, has a past connection to both Bai Xiao and Jiatong's father. They also find evidence that case files were tampered with.
Spoiler Alert
All Rise Episode 23 Recap: Old Wounds and New Scandals
Things are getting messy at Jun'an Law Firm. Just when you think the drama is settling down, the internet decides to blow up. Episode 23 throws Bai Xiao right into the fire, but it also finally addresses the elephant in the room regarding Ren Jiatong's dad. Let's get into it.
The Internet vs. Bai Xiao
Bai Xiao is having a terrible week. Because of He Fan's accusations, she is stuck in a massive online scandal. Ren Jiatong's mom sees the news and immediately texts her daughter. She warns Jiatong to stay away from Bai Xiao. This triggers Jiatong. She starts thinking about her father's past. She actually wonders if Bai Xiao did something inappropriate that put He Fan in a coma.
Guo Xiaoyu isn't buying it though. She is firmly on Team Bai Xiao. She analyzes the online chatter. It looks too organized. First came the late-night bombshell. Then came the paid trolls. Finally, they dropped "new evidence" just as things were cooling down. This is a setup. Someone is targeting Bai Xiao on purpose.
Jiang Chen and Xiaoyu work hard to clear Bai Xiao's name online. Bai Xiao is touched, but she tells them to focus on their final assessments instead. She is used to this garbage. People have accused her of sleeping with executives, ruining her ex-husband, and even keeping "boy toys." She knows she can't stop the rumors. She just wants to do her job.
The Real Target
Song Yifan steps up. A client cancelled a meeting because of the bad press, so he checks on Bai Xiao. She pivots the conversation back to the case. She points out that Eddie's real name is Jiang Yutai. He and Yan Da grew up together. They are close, but they work for rival companies. Plus, Xingke is expanding overseas. The motive here is complicated.
Bai Xiao also realizes something interesting. The opposing legal head is Wang Qing. They have a history. Song Yifan mentions he has a friend who knows both Eddie and Yan Da. He invites Bai Xiao to a dinner the next day to dig for info. She agrees immediately.
Clearing the Air
That night, the team is working late. Xiaoyu mentions that Bai Xiao seems cold, but she is actually a lot like Jiatong. They both need friends. This hits home for Jiatong. She runs out to catch Bai Xiao at the elevator.
Jiatong apologizes. She feels guilty that her family issues kept her from helping with the He Fan case. Bai Xiao doesn't hold a grudge. She asks about Jiatong's mom and invites her for a drink.
This is the big moment. Jiatong finally admits why she has been weird. Her father, Ren Ping, died of a heart attack right after a meeting with Bai Xiao years ago. She has never been able to fully trust her because of it. Bai Xiao appreciates the honesty. However, she says she can't say for sure if Ren Ping's death had anything to do with her.
Starry Nights and Secret Recordings
The next morning, the vibe between Jiatong and Bai Xiao is different. It's better.
Meanwhile, Zhou Nian checks on Yan Fei. She is doing better. He takes her to the mountains to see the stars again. Yan Fei talks about constellations and myths. She makes a point about love. She says you can't always weigh the pros and cons like a lawyer. Sometimes you just have to jump. Zhou Nian looks like he is really thinking about that.
Back at the office, Jiang Chen tries to figure out Jiatong's feelings. She admits she sees Bai Xiao as a friend now. She wants to stop the cyberbullying, but she also needs answers about her dad. Jiang Chen does some digging. He searches for "Ren Ping" online. He finds an old construction accident case. The lawyers involved? Bai Xiao and Wang Qin.
The Plot Thickens
Xiaoyu gets bad news. The other side released a recording. It supposedly sounds like Bai Xiao bullying He Fan. The team thinks it's fake. They decide to get a voice analysis.
Jiang Chen pulls Jiatong aside. He connects the dots. The "Wang Qin" from the old case is likely Wang Qing, the guy attacking them now. He tells Jiatong to let go of the past. Her dad wouldn't want her weighed down by this.
Jiatong tells Bai Xiao about the Wang Qing connection. She apologizes again for the misunderstanding. They are finally on the same page. Then, Bai Xiao spots a clue in a selfie posted by Zhang Xiaomei. The notebook on the desk has mixed-colored loose-leaf paper. Someone swapped the pages.
Zhou Nian gets an interview notice from a firm in Hangzhou. He tells Yan Fei he has to go on a business trip. She senses something is up but wishes him luck.
Finally, Wang Qing calls Bai Xiao. He pretends to catch up, but he is fishing for information. Bai Xiao sees right through it. She tells Song Yifan that Wang Qing is smearing her to protect Eddie. If he saves Eddie, he saves his own job.
