0042 Mind Reading

Qu Zhong slept soundly until she woke up naturally.

A sliver of sunlight seeped through the curtains and shone on her eyelids, like a silent alarm clock waking her up. Qu Zhong stretched her limbs with some effort and struggled to turn over.

Upon glancing up, one sees a very clear-headed Zhai Shi.

She was so awake that she couldn't tell whether he had woken up early or hadn't slept all night.

He was looking at her intently, as if admiring a world-famous painting, trying to find every detail in it, never getting tired of looking at it.

Qu Zhong couldn't stand his affectionate gaze so early in the morning, so she turned into an ostrich and buried her head completely in the blanket.

Unexpectedly, Zhai did not restrain himself. Instead, he came closer and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms: "Good morning, Attorney Qu."

Over the past three years, Qu Zhong has been called Lawyer Qu by many people, and she has long been used to it, treating the title as a job label.

But Zhai, I don't know where he got the skill from, managed to call those three words with such tenderness and affection, as if he were playing a role-playing game between lovers, using them as his exclusive nickname for her.

Qu Zhong's face flushed slightly. She mumbled a "Good morning" from under the covers, but didn't bother to come out and look at him.

Zhai slightly curled his lips, a signal that was not a declaration of war. The next second, he directly used the ultimate move that would make Qu Zhong surrender with both hands raised: tickling.

It works every time.

Sure enough, the moment his hand touched her sensitive spot, Qu Zhong couldn't help but giggle, like a cat forced to roll onto its back, frantically trying to resist his advances while whimpering, "No...stop it, it tickles..."

Having achieved his goal, Zhai successfully pulled her into his arms. He reached out a hand and gently stroked her back, as if manually ironing out the wrinkles he had made on her clothes during their earlier playful antics.

This gentle gesture quickly calmed Qu Zhong down. She lazily rested her head on Zhai Shi's arm, pressed her chest against his, and counted his heartbeats, one by one. The rhythm was very even, like a timer.

After a moment of tenderness, Qu Zhong spoke softly, "We're going to be late."

She was referring to Zhai Shi.

It turned out that his sense of time seemed to differ from hers, or perhaps he was so engrossed in his own world that he wasn't worried about being late. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "No, I won't. I'll lie down a little longer."

His breath, like a clump of reeds growing by the water, tickled Qu Zhong's ears and her heart. She impatiently shifted her shoulder blades in silent protest.

Zhai smiled and stepped back a few paces from her ear.

Qu Zhong twirled his finger and asked, "Are you going to be very busy today?"

Zhai answered her attentively, "A little. These days there are two court hearings a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon."

"So many! What kinds of cases are they?"

Qu Zhong asked casually. Upon hearing this, Zhai Shi paused, his hand that was touching her back pausing, but he didn't speak.

"Um?"

Qu Zhong looked up at him, puzzled, and Zhai Shi was also looking at her. After a brief exchange of glances, Qu Zhong guessed the answer: "Duan Ningqi?"

Zhai nodded: "The trial was held a few days ago, and the verdict was announced at 9:30 this morning."

Qu Zhong lowered her head and uttered an "oh," her expression unreadable, merely indicating that she was listening.

Zhai felt that she probably wanted to know the follow-up developments of the case, and he planned to take this opportunity to tell her everything: "After that recording came out, I summoned Duan Ningqi. He admitted to all the crimes in the recording. Later, I revoked his bail decision, and he is now in the C District Detention Center."

Qu Zhong listened attentively to what he said, a whole process in which she, as the defense, should have participated, but instead withdrew midway.

Although Duan Ningqi's case had long since become irrelevant to her, hearing about it still left her feeling uneasy. She couldn't help but ask, "So, what are the charges and sentencing recommendations in your indictment? Would you mind telling me?"

Zhai's answer did not surprise her: "Rape, life imprisonment."

Qu Zhong let out a soft sigh and said in a low voice, "That's good."

From the perspective of the victims and the general public, this outcome is indeed very good.

Zhai stroked her soft hair twice, as if he could read her mind, and asked what she was thinking: "Is there anything else you want to ask Duan Ningqi?"

Qu Zhong looked back at him and said honestly, "Yes, I want to see him again."

As soon as possible, the sooner the better.

"He will be transferred to the new inmates prison as early as tomorrow."

The new prison, located in Q District of Shanghai, is specifically for adult male criminals from across the city who have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, life imprisonment, or have more than three months remaining on their sentences.

Qu Zhong immediately decided: "Then I will apply to visit you in prison the day after tomorrow."

The day after tomorrow? Are you sure you want to see him on Christmas Eve?

Zhai originally intended to ask that question, but after thinking about it, he felt it was unnecessary. No matter the circumstances, forging ahead without hesitation or restraint—that is true integrity.

"good."

...

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Qu Zhong took half a day off to visit Duan Ningqi, a new inmate in the Q district prison.

This was the first time she had seen him in three years; Duan Ningqi was wearing a prison uniform.

But he seemed not to recognize her at all: "Who are you?"

Qu Zhong's chest heaved slightly, like the surface of a lake awakened by a small pebble. It was a very slight movement, and she quickly returned to calm.

She said, "I am Qu Zhong."

The intern lawyer who drafted the agreement for him three years ago, his former defense attorney, was also the traitor who sent him here.

Duan Ningqi stared at Qu Zhong without moving, seemingly surprised that she would dare to appear in front of him again.

When Qu Zhong came to see him, she only wanted to ask him one question: "Three years ago, did you take over Moon Boat Kindergarten in order to commit a crime?"

This question had been lingering in Qu Zhong's mind, and every time she thought about it, it made her uneasy.

If that's the case, then she, who drafted the agreement for Duan Ningqi, unknowingly provided neutral assistance to his rape crime.

She will feel guilty for the rest of her life towards those injured victims.

She held her breath, waiting for Duan Ningqi's answer, like a defendant awaiting sentencing.

"no."

Duan Ningqi said no.

Upon hearing those two words, Qu Zhong finally felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

Her selfishness compelled her to ask another question, on behalf of the intern lawyer from three years ago: "You said that the organizer change agreement was drafted very well..." Is that true?

Before she could finish her question, Duan Ningqi glanced at her indifferently and asked, "What is it?"

"The organizer has changed the agreement," Qu Zhong repeated.

Duan Ningqi seemed to remember. He shrugged, the sarcasm on his lips obvious: "You mean those papers you gave me to sign? Ha, I can't understand a single word of them."

Qu Zhong's brain buzzed for a moment.

Duan Ningqi's attitude was indifferent and uncaring: "Saying it was drafted very professionally is just to give Su Rongqin face. I was introduced by his friend, so Attorney Su gave me a discount..."

He had lit a candle in Qu Zhong's heart, giving her immense encouragement during her internship when she couldn't sign her name on documents. Because of his praise, Qu Zhong experienced the value of the legal profession in practice for the first time.

But his words now are like clumps of rapidly sublimating dry ice, gradually covering up the oxygen that the candle flame depends on to survive.

Seeing Qu Zhong's stunned expression, Duan Ningqi raised an eyebrow: "Really? You're serious?"

call--

The candle went out.

Yes, she took it seriously. She remembered it for a long time and was happy for a long time.

...

If she had known it would be such a frustrating answer, she wouldn't have asked Qu Zhong.

She walked out of the prison listlessly, with a sense of detachment that felt like her soul had left her body.

But as soon as you step out the door, your soul returns to its place.

Because the first person she saw wasn't anyone else, but Zhai Shi. He was standing not far away, straight and smiling, with his arms outstretched to her.

Good heavens, how did he get here...?

Without thinking about anything else, Qu Zhong excitedly ran over and threw herself into his arms.

It was an incredibly warm embrace, soaked up in the sunlight.

Qu Zhong hugged him tightly, gently nuzzling her head against his chest: "Don't you have court sessions in the morning and afternoon?"

Zhai rested his chin on the top of her head and said calmly, "Yes, but it's noon now."

Qu Zhong exclaimed "Ah!" and pulled away from his embrace, anxiously saying, "Then why did you come here? You should have rested in the office for a while."

Zhai raised the corners of his mouth without any restraint, and looked down at her eyes: "What, are you feeling sorry for her?"

He got too close; any little trick he used to lie would be detected.

Qu Zhong's verbal skills completely failed her. She leaned back slightly and stammered, "I... I just feel it's unnecessary. It's not like I don't know the way back."

“But,” Zhai said, pulling her hand close with a sincere expression, “I think you might need a hug right now.”

So he came. He sacrificed his precious lunch break to come to her side.

Qu Zhong could no longer deny it, and hugged him again, muttering, "How do you know everything?"

Zhai pulled her closer and let out a relaxed, smug laugh: "Because I can read minds."

Qu Zhong scoffed, not believing her.

Then I thought again, wait a minute, he's a prosecutor. Whose mind does a prosecutor read? The criminal suspect's.

After realizing what was happening, Qu Zhong punched him on the back, pretending to be angry: "Fine, you're treating me like a criminal suspect."

Zhai denied it: "No way."

"Hmph," she seized the opportunity to negotiate with him, "then you promise me that you will never use that interrogation tactic on me again."

Zhai wanted to ask him when he would use the interrogation tactics he used on her. But she decided against it.

“I agree,” he said solemnly.

Qu Zhong wasn't satisfied: "Swear it."

"Okay, I will also swear an oath under the Constitution."

"..."