Chapter 37

Chen Xue and a few others, including Wang, were outraged when they heard about this case. They were completely on Lu Tian's side. Lu Tian had a delicate, pitiful appearance that evoked sympathy, while Lin Qianjie, judging by his looks, seemed every bit the spoiled rich kid."Is there really nothing we can do to help Lu Tian?" Chen Xue was furious. "Even if Lu Tian was dating Lin Qianjie, does that give him the right to force her into a sexual relationship?"

"Chen Xue, that's not quite right. If they were actually in a relationship, it's a different situation. Isn't it normal for couples to be intimate?" someone countered.

Chen Xue grew even more indignant: "As long as the woman doesn't consent, it's rape! Otherwise, why would marital rape be a crime?"

Mu Mian, irritated by their heated debate, turned and said, "This Lin Qianjie is not a good person!"

"Mu Mian, isn't that obvious and beyond dispute?"

Mu Mian continued, "He's been involved in this kind of lawsuit more than once. One of the victims not only lost her case but was also sued by Lin Qianjie for defamation. In the end, that girl committed suicide by jumping off a building."

"How do you know all this?"

"I found it on the computer."

Chen Xue immediately rushed to Mu Mian's computer. On the screen was a court verdict: The Jiangzhou City East City District Court dismissed Shen Yuanyuan's rape lawsuit against Lin Qianjie due to insufficient evidence...

Mu Mian switched to another webpage, which was a news report.

Shen Yuanyuan had suffered from cyberbullying because of this incident, and she also had to pay Lin Qianjie a huge amount in compensation, or she might have faced jail time. Under this double pressure of mental and financial strain, Shen Yuanyuan jumped to her death.

The media had extensively covered Shen Yuanyuan's loss in court, but very few outlets reported on her suicide. Only some independent bloggers had spread the news voluntarily, so it didn't reach a wide audience.

Chen Xue was terrified after reading this. If they couldn't help Lu Tian, she might very well become the next Shen Yuanyuan.

When Fang Rui and Zhang returned, Chen Xue showed them the news about Shen Yuanyuan:

Shen Yuanyuan was a graduate student who had met Lin Qianjie through a friend, and they had attended gatherings together. Later, at one of these gatherings, Lin Qianjie raped Shen Yuanyuan.

The subsequent developments were similar to Lu Tian's case. Shen Yuanyuan also sued Lin Qianjie for rape, but Lin Qianjie used a wealth of evidence to prove that Shen Yuanyuan was his girlfriend.

His lawyer also provided chat records suggesting that Shen Yuanyuan had attempted blackmail. In the end, not only did Shen Yuanyuan lose the case, but she also had to pay a huge amount in compensation.

Zhang felt a chill run down his spine. "This Lin Qianjie is a habitual offender!"

Fang Rui felt a headache coming on. In the current situation, unless they could obtain direct evidence of Lin Qianjie raping Lu Tian, there was no way Lu Tian could win this lawsuit.

The next morning, Lin Qianjie and his defense lawyer proposed a private mediation with Lu Tian.

The mediation was to take place in a private room at a restaurant.

Lu Tian hadn't hired a lawyer. She was accompanied by Nie Yan, the prosecutor in charge of the case.

It wasn't that Lu Tian couldn't afford a lawyer, but other lawyers in Jiangzhou City were unwilling to defend her. They coldly told her that she had no chance of winning this lawsuit.

That's when Nie Yan actively sought her out. Rape cases are criminal cases, usually prosecuted by the procuratorate to the people's court. Most prosecutors didn't want to take on this case, but Nie Yan voluntarily applied to be responsible for it.

When Nie Yan learned that Lin Qianjie and his team had arranged a private settlement meeting with Lu Tian, she feared Lu Tian might be taken advantage of and decided to accompany her.

Lin Qianjie recognized Nie Yan. When he saw her, he flashed a smug smile: "If it isn't Prosecutor Nie. Didn't you have enough of losing last time?"

Nie Yan ignored him and went straight into the private room.

Lin Qianjie turned to Wang Li and said, "Let's not settle with that bitch anymore. Let's sue her for defamation, just like last time!"

Wang Li's expression was serious. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Miss Jiang said it would be better if we reached a settlement."

Lin Qianjie immediately fell silent.

Lawyer Wang poured Lu Tian a cup of tea and got straight to the point: "Miss Lu, if you're willing to withdraw the lawsuit and publicly apologize to my client online, my client is willing to pay you one million yuan as a breakup fee!"

Lu Tian didn't hesitate and immediately refused: "I don't want money. I want Lin Qianjie, that scumbag, to face legal punishment!"

Lin Qianjie sat leisurely with his legs crossed, completely unfazed by Lu Tian's curse.

"We're willing to settle with you not because we're afraid of losing the lawsuit, but because we don't want to make a big fuss and affect my client's reputation," Lawyer Wang said. He took a sip of tea, his smile fading and a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "Miss Lu, I advise you to think carefully. You only get one chance."

"I've thought it through very clearly. I won't compromise," Lu Tian said. Though she looked fragile, her will was strong. On the day she was hurt, she had sworn to make Lin Qianjie pay for his crimes. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Suddenly, the door to the private room was pushed open. Two elderly people walked in – Lu Tian's parents. They were farmers with little worldly experience, and they timidly greeted Lin Qianjie and Lawyer Wang.

"Lawyer Wang, our Tian Tian will sign the settlement agreement. We'll persuade her," Lu Tian's mother said.

Lu Tian's mother held her daughter's hand and said earnestly, "Tian Tian, just settle with him, okay? Let's drop the lawsuit. How can ordinary people like us win a case like this?"

"Dad, Mom, didn't you say you would support me? I won't settle with him!" Lu Tian protested.

"We can't win this case. Tian Tian, listen to your mother. Just settle with them," Lu Tian's mother hugged her daughter, her tone urgent. "They've agreed to give us one million yuan. With that money, your brother can buy a house in the city..."

Lu Tian's father even knelt down before her. "Tian Tian, please settle."

"Mom... Dad... why are you forcing me?"

Lu Tian choked up, feeling as if she had fallen into an endless darkness. Her best friend had betrayed her, and now even her beloved parents were betraying her. She felt like a complete failure in life.

Lawyer Wang was satisfied with this scene. He took out a contract that had been prepared in advance and handed it to Lu Tian.

"Miss Lu, please sign. Once you sign, we'll immediately transfer the one million yuan to your account."

Lin Qianjie also watched the scene with a mocking look. In his mind, there was nothing money couldn't solve. If it didn't work, it just meant not enough money had been offered.

"Tian Tian, sign it, quick, sign it!" Lu Tian's father hurriedly brought the contract and pen to Lu Tian, urging her to sign. "That kind of thing isn't a big deal. You can come back to the countryside with us afterward, and we'll definitely find you a good match. He won't mind these things."

Lu Tian's mother chimed in, "Yes, Tian Tian, don't be stubborn. Out of this million, we'll give you 200,000 yuan. You can use it to start a business!"

Lu Tian was on the verge of a mental breakdown, crying uncontrollably. She felt as if she were drowning, unable to grasp onto anything.

"Lawyer Wang, a rape case isn't something that can be withdrawn just like that. If Lu Tian signs this contract, aren't you going to turn around and sue her for blackmail next?" Nie Yan snatched away the contract, saying angrily.

"Prosecutor Nie, you're interfering too much. You should respect Miss Lu's own choice," Lawyer Wang retorted.

Nie Yan turned to Lu Tian and promised, "Lu Tian, if you don't want to settle, I will definitely help you win this case!"

Nie Yan's words gave Lu Tian a chance to breathe. Lu Tian looked at Nie Yan eagerly: "I don't want to settle. I don't want to!"

"Then we won't settle," Nie Yan affirmed.

"Madam Prosecutor, haven't you learned your lesson yet? Wasn't your last defeat embarrassing enough?" Lawyer Wang taunted Nie Yan. "Do you think you're helping her? You're actually harming her! If you had let that Miss Shen agree to withdraw the case, she wouldn't have jumped to her death. Do you want to see Miss Lu commit suicide in front of you too?"

Nie Yan was so angry her hands were shaking. She glared fiercely at Lin Qianjie and Lawyer Wang. "Those who do evil will eventually face retribution!"

Lu Tian grasped Nie Yan's hand. "Nie Yan, I trust you. Let's go!"

Nie Yan led Lu Tian out of the private room, with Lu Tian's parents' pleading voices still echoing behind them: "Tiantian, why are you being so stubborn? This is a million yuan we're talking about! How can you just refuse it like that?"

"Tiantian, please listen to your father just this once. I'm on my knees begging you!"

Lu Tian ignored her parents. From the moment they had tried to force her to sign, she had decided to sever ties with them.

"Nie Yan, aren't you afraid of offending them by helping me like this? Lin Qianjie's family is very powerful. Won't they retaliate against you?"

Nie Yan looked at Lu Tian, and through her, saw another fragile yet determined girl.

Nie Yan said, "I don't want to see another girl like you. I want to bring Lin Qianjie to justice."

Nie Yan had previously handled Shen Yuanyuan's case. She had lost that lawsuit, which had also cost Shen Yuanyuan her life. She didn't want to see the tragedy repeat itself.

Lin Qianjie watched Lu Tian leave, then turned to Lawyer Wang and said, "Since they refuse to drink to our toast, let's make them drink a forfeit. This time, I'm not only going to sue that Lu Tian, I'm also going to ruin Nie Yan's reputation!"

Lawyer Wang gave Lin Qianjie a sidelong glance: "Miss Jiang only asked me to help you win this lawsuit. She didn't ask me to do anything else."

"Don't worry, your work won't go unrewarded. I'll give you another sum of money."

Lawyer Wang smiled with satisfaction, "That Nie Yan has crossed me several times. I've been wanting to teach her a lesson for a long time. Rest assured, this time I'll put an end to her career for good."