"Old Xu, step outside for a moment," his superior said.
Mr. Xu quickly stood up and followed his superior into the hallway.
His superior looked at him, his tone calm but tinged with scrutiny. "That lawsuit... is your son involved?"
"Yes," Mr. Xu nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed.
His superior was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Old Xu, you've worked at the court for so many years. You should know the implications of something like this. Our court is under public scrutiny, so the conduct of our families and our image are very important."
Mr. Xu lowered his head, unsure of what to say.
His superior patted his shoulder, his tone softening. "I'm not criticizing you, just giving you a reminder. You need to handle this properly. No matter what, you can't let personal matters affect your work."
"Sir, I understand," Mr. Xu replied quickly.
After his superior left, Mr. Xu remained standing in the hallway, not moving for a long time.
