The meeting place was a secluded teahouse. Nestled in a quiet alley, the teahouse was surrounded by old buildings, their walls covered in mottled moss, seemingly telling tales of bygone years. Lin Wanqing arrived early, sitting by the window, her eyes glued to the entrance, her gaze filled with both anxiety and anticipation. Finally, a thin, white-haired old man slowly entered the teahouse. His steps were somewhat unsteady, but his eyes held a calm composure honed by the passage of time. Lin Wanqing recognized Uncle Li immediately and quickly rose to greet him, her eyes filled with gratitude.

After Uncle Li sat down, he sighed softly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Back then, Ayu's father and Gu Yanting's father did business together. At that time, they were full of vigor and hope for the future. But later, some things happened that completely broke the relationship between the two families. Over the years, I have kept some evidence that might prove Ayu's innocence. Moreover, I know a key witness named Zhang Feng. He was also involved in that matter back then and knows many unknown inside stories." As Lin Wanqing listened to Uncle Li's story, a blazing flame of hope ignited in her heart. This hope spread like wildfire, instantly dispelling the gloom that had lingered in her heart for many days.

With Uncle Li's help, Lin Wanqing quickly found Zhang Feng. Zhang Feng was a simple, honest middle-aged man with dark skin and a face etched with the marks of time. Initially, Zhang Feng had some reservations, as this matter was of great importance, and he worried it would bring trouble to himself and his family. Lin Wanqing looked at Zhang Feng, her eyes filled with pleading: "Brother Zhang Feng, Ayu is a good person; he shouldn't have to suffer like this. Please, just do me a favor and help him." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Zhang Feng looked at Lin Wanqing, his heart moved. He pondered for a long time, and finally, under Lin Wanqing's persistent pleas, he gritted his teeth and decided to stand up and testify for Ayu.

IV. Dawn

Carrying the evidence provided by Zhang Feng and Uncle Li as if it were the most precious treasure, Lin Wanqing rushed to the law firm. The lawyer was an experienced middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses and a wise look in his eyes. After carefully studying the evidence, his previously serious face broke into a relieved smile: "This evidence is crucial. With it, there's a great chance that Ayu's innocence will be proven." A huge weight was lifted from Lin Wanqing's heart. She felt as if she had struggled for a long time in a dark abyss and finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Without delay, she and the lawyer submitted the evidence to the court.

The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense and suffocating. Ayu stood in the dock, looking somewhat haggard from days in prison, her eyes revealing weariness, but even more so, a steadfast belief in justice. When Zhang Feng appeared as a key witness, all eyes were on him. The courtroom was so quiet that only the softest breathing could be heard. Zhang Feng took a deep breath and began to recount in detail the events of that year, and how Gu Yanting had meticulously set a trap to frame Ayu. His voice trembled slightly, but every word was filled with power, as if releasing all the truth that had been suppressed for years. As he spoke, the truth gradually surfaced like the sun breaking through the clouds.

Zhong Hua sat in the gallery, her heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. She clutched the old document tightly, her palms sweating. Watching everything unfold in the courtroom, she knew she no longer needed to hesitate. As the evidence was presented one by one, the judge's face hardened with seriousness. He carefully examined each piece of evidence, listened attentively to each witness's testimony, and had a clear understanding of the truth of the case.

Finally, the judge struck the gavel, his voice echoing throughout the courtroom: "Due to the emergence of new evidence, Ayu's suspicion is temporarily cleared, and he is released in court." Hearing this verdict, Lin Wanqing and Zhong Hua were overcome with emotion, tears welling in their eyes. They stood up and rushed towards Ayu. The three embraced tightly, as if the whole world had stopped turning. Tears streamed uncontrollably down their cheeks, tears filled with the joy of surviving a near-death experience and the relief that the truth had been revealed. Sunlight streamed through the courtroom windows, bathing them in a warm and bright glow, as if cheering for this hard-won victory.

At this moment, although they knew the road ahead might still be fraught with thorns and they would face even more unknown challenges, at least for this moment, they had successfully ushered in the dawn of the truth and temporarily averted their imprisonment crisis. Their bond, forged in the crucible of this ordeal, had become even deeper and more unbreakable. Hand in hand, they walked out of the courtroom, greeted by a hopeful new beginning. Although the future remained uncertain, they firmly believed that as long as they stood by each other, nothing could defeat them.