Chapter 58 This arrogant madman...
Xie Tang went to the detention center again.
In the visiting room, Zuo Meng sat with her head down, her face pale, her eyes dark and her gaze tired and empty.
"Did you get your schoolbag?" Zuo Meng asked weakly. "They said my case is about to be transferred to the procuratorate."
"I was notified." Xie Tang said calmly, pressing the recorder. "To make a long story short, did you offend Xiang Shaoyun because of those videos?"
"Um."
"How long has he been doing that to you?" Xie Tang asked in a low voice, trying to soothe her.
"I don't remember." Zuo Meng's voice trembled. "After leaving Dou Xiao, every day felt like torture in hell."
Her eyes reddened, and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I wanted to escape from him. I threatened him, saying I had evidence... hoping he would let me go."
Xie Tang handed over a tissue.
Zuo Meng took the tissue, covered her nose and cried, "After he found out, he snatched my phone, deleted the video, and even hit me."
She paused, took a deep breath, and said, "The injury you saw on my face that day was only minor... He didn't know there was a backup on the other phone. He made me accompany him to a cocktail party and forced that million-dollar necklace on me as an apology."
“When things got a little chaotic at the party, he said he had lost his necklace and called the police—the police found it in my bag, and everyone pointed it out to me… It was too fast. I asked Xiang Shaoyun for help, but he just watched me being taken away with a cold smile.”
Zuo Meng couldn't stop her tears; her world seemed to be collapsing. "This was all his plan."
Xie Tang's heart sank, and she didn't ask any further questions.
Zuo Meng looked up at her and said, "Attorney Xie, are you curious about how someone as poor as me got into this circle? My roommate introduced me to it... Dou Xiao took a liking to my beauty and kept me by his side. He was good to me, and I was bewitched, thinking he liked me... Who knew that with just one sentence from Xiang Shaoyun, he would give me away."
She laughed self-deprecatingly, "I'm too naive; I'm nothing more than a plaything in their eyes."
Xie Tang asked softly, "Do you want to pursue the matter of Xiang Shaoyun's assault?"
“I had no choice. If he doesn’t go in, I have to go in.”
After being released from the detention center, Xie Tang returned to the law firm to organize case files and discuss cases with his team.
Li Qing found the situation troublesome and sent Xie Tang's old partner, Pan Yu, to assist him.
In the afternoon, Xie Tang took Li Zan to the consulting firm for training.
On the road, a red sports car suddenly changed lanes and overtook another car.
"Damn it!" Li Zan glared, seeing the front of the car about to crash—Xie Tang braked suddenly, and the two of them swerved forward.
She hit her forehead on the steering wheel, and blood seeped out.
She asked Li Zan, "Are you alright?"
Li Zan shook his head: "Sister, you're bleeding..."
At that moment, the sports car owner knocked on the window.
Xie Tang got out of the car and saw Xiang Shaoyun's nightmarish face. She took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Young Master Xiang, what a coincidence."
“It’s a coincidence.” Xiang Shaoyun looked her up and down, raising his chin. “Look at the damage you caused. My sports car is very expensive.”
Xie Tang inspected the rear of the car and found no signs of collision.
Li Zan retorted, "You suddenly changed lanes and overtook me; we didn't even collide!"
Xiang Shaoyun scoffed and said shamelessly, "I said I crashed it, so how are you going to compensate me?"
Xie Tang knew that Xiang Shaoyun was trying to take advantage of her. "Call the police. I will pay for what I owe."
Xiang Shaoyun curled his lips in disdain. "I have plenty of money. Do you think I care about a few dollars? Besides, your colleague said it's my responsibility."
Li Zan couldn't stand Xiang Shaoyun's overbearing attitude, so he stepped in front of Xie Tang to protect him.
Xie Tang gently pulled him away. "How do you want to resolve this?"
"Are you sure you want to talk on the main street?" Xiang Shaoyun gestured for them to proceed, pointing to a coffee shop not far away.
Xie Tang took her handbag and phone out of the car and gestured for Li Zan to park the car.
Li Zan glanced at Xiang Shaoyun with unease; the man's brows betrayed a menacing look. He quickly drove away.
In the coffee shop, under the soft lighting, Xie Tang's heart was filled with turmoil.
She looked at Xiang Shaoyun across from her: he was touching his chin, a frivolous smile on his lips, looking just like a thug.
Recalling what he had done to Zuo Meng, Xie Tang forced back his disgust and asked, "Young Master Xiang, have you come up with a solution?"
"I heard you took Zuo Meng's case," Xiang Shaoyun said, flipping his palm. "What? Trying to overturn her case?"
Xie Tang smiled calmly: "Young Master Xiang knows best—this case can't be overturned."
Xiang Shaoyun laughed loudly upon hearing this: "You knew that, yet you still accepted?"
“Her mother comes to the law firm every day begging me, offering exorbitant legal fees. I’m a lawyer, why wouldn’t I take the job if I can make money?” Xie Tang scrutinized his expression. “The evidence in the case is conclusive, and a ten-year sentence is a certainty. But she insists on her innocence and wants me to defend her. I plan to persuade her to plead guilty, and I also ask Young Master Xiang to be lenient and issue a settlement agreement. That way, she’ll get a lighter sentence, and I’ll save myself trouble.”
Xiang Shaoyun narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her: "Is that really what you think?"
"Of course. Who dares to fight you? And who can defeat you?"
Xiang Shaoyun's smile deepened, his eyes playful: "I admire people who know when to yield. If Zuo Meng were half as smart as you, she wouldn't have come to this. I'm in a good mood today, so let's forget about the car."
Xie Tang suppressed his anger and forced a smile: "Thank you, Young Master Xiang."
“But there’s a condition—you can’t take Zuo Meng’s case.” Xiang Shaoyun stared at her stiff lips. “No matter what method you use, her lawyer must be changed tomorrow. Otherwise, even if the Chu family backs you up, I won’t let you off the hook.”
His gaze was as aggressive as a wild beast's, and Xie Tang felt as if she had become the prey.
Li Zan rushed over and heard these words. His brows furrowed – this person was ridiculously arrogant.
Xie Tang pretended to be relaxed and said, "Since Young Master Xiang has asked, I will do as he says."
Although Li Zan didn't understand her compromise, he didn't ask any questions, only reminding her, "Sister, time is almost up."
Xie Tang apologized: "I'm sorry, Young Master Xiang, I have to rush to the consulting unit for training."
Xiang Shaoyun nodded thoughtfully, stood up with her, and suddenly called out to her, "Zuo Meng didn't say anything else to you, did she?"
Xie Tang feigned confusion: "What does Young Master Xiang mean?"
Xiang Shaoyun took a step closer, and Li Zan tried to stop him but was suddenly pushed away.
Xie Tang stopped Li Zan with a look, signaling him not to act impulsively.
Xiang Shaoyun leaned down and whispered in her ear: "I raped her."
Xie Tang's heart stopped, and she stared at him in astonishment—this arrogant madman!
Xiang Shaoyun appreciated her shock, a cruel smile curving his lips.
Seeing this, Li Zan wanted to step forward, but Xie Tang stopped him with a look.
"I raped her." Xiang Shaoyun repeated, without any remorse, his gaze lingering on her face as if enjoying the thrill of control.
"Young Master Xiang...you actually did such a thing?" Xie Tang feigned suspicion. "This is a crime."
Xiang Shaoyun smirked at her for a moment, then suddenly burst into smug laughter: "Just kidding. I'm a law-abiding citizen, how could I commit a crime?"
Xie Tang breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile.
"Zuo Meng is vain and will do anything to get into my bed. A woman like that doesn't deserve sympathy, right?"
"Sorry, I don't know her." Xie Tang walked around him and left.
Xiang Shaoyun stared at the retreating figure and called out again, "Attorney Xie..."
Xie Tang couldn't bear to turn back.
"Come here at the same time tomorrow." His voice suddenly softened, but his eyes remained icy. "If you don't come, I'll come to your law firm."
Xie Tang's heart pounded like a drum, her expression changed slightly, and she finally managed to reply, "Okay."
-----------------
The consulting firm is located near the Huasong Building.
Disturbed by Xiang Shaoyun's threats, Xie Tang relinquished the training lecture to Li Zan.
Li Zan performed exceptionally well, only providing supplementary information when there were occasional difficulties in answering questions.
It was just past six o'clock when we finished, and the sky was already dark.
Xie Tang and Li Zan were waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant. It was rush hour, and they had to wait for a table for two.
Li Zan suggested changing restaurants, but Xie Tang shook her head: "At this point, it doesn't matter where we eat, let's just wait."
Fu Xiu entered carrying his bag and greeted them upon seeing them: "No seats? I booked a large private room, let's all come together—Tong Lan is here too."
Xie Tang politely declined, but Fu Xiu smiled and said, "We're all acquaintances, don't be so polite."
She was hungry, so she agreed.
As they walked, Fu Xiu asked, "Attorney Xie, what happened to the injury on your forehead?"
"careless……"
"I ran into a lunatic..."
Xie Tang and Li Zan spoke in unison.
Fu Xiu immediately became interested and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Come on, let's talk about it in detail when we eat later?"
Upon entering the private room, Xie Tang not only saw Tong Lan, but also Chu Song.
She glanced at Fu Xiu, who had a "should have known" look on his face, and pushed her next to Chu Song.
Xie Tang reluctantly called out "Brother Song" and sat down.
Chu Song had been staring at her ever since she entered the room, noticing the wound on her forehead: "What happened to your head?"
“A car accident on the road,” Fu Xiu interrupted, “We crashed into a limited-edition supercar.”
Chu Song's gaze remained fixed: "Have you been to the hospital?"
"It's just a minor injury." Xie Tang casually ordered the dishes, and without realizing it, she chose a few dishes according to Chu Song's taste.
Chu Song was already used to her meticulousness.
After dinner, while Xie Tang was waiting for Li Zan to drive, Chu Song stood beside her and asked, "How's the investigation going?"
"I've been busy these past few days and haven't found any leads. Give me a few more days." She asked Tang Zhi to retrieve the hotel's surveillance footage, but there were still no results.
Where do you live now?
"My mom's house."
"Weren't they going to demolish it?"
"Not so fast." Xie Tang turned around as the car approached and said, "Thank you for the treat, Brother Song. I'm a little tired, I'll head back now."
Chu Song didn't let them leave. After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Whose car did you hit?"
"Xiang Shaoyun".
It's him again!
Chu Song frowned: "He didn't pester me?"
Xie Tang, barely containing her anger, said, "Yes! He threatened me not to take Zuo Meng's case."
Chu Song gently reminded him, "Don't offend him."
Xie Tang retorted angrily, "I know! You've said it many times. Don't worry, I won't cause trouble for clients, much less give you any trouble!"
After saying that, she got into the car and left.
As the car drove away, Chu Song felt a surge of grievance: "I didn't mean that..."
Fu Xiu tossed the keys as he approached: "Tong Lan took a taxi, I'll give you a ride."
"Um."
In the car, Fu Xiu caught a glimpse of Chu Song looking lost—he had been like a lost soul these past few days, but seeing Xie Tang seemed to bring him back to his senses.
"Are you still thinking about that?" Fu Xiu asked, taking the initiative to speak.
Chu Song sighed, "There are many things I can't understand."
Fu Xiu countered, "If you can't figure it out, then why do you still doubt her?"
“Human hearts are unpredictable,” Chu Song looked at him. “Can you say she has absolutely no problems?”
“Of course I don’t know her as well as you do. The evidence shows that she did put a pill in the glass, but the exact composition of that pill is questionable. However, intuitively, I don’t think she’s that kind of person.”
Chu Song glanced at him sideways and said sarcastically, "Aren't you a lawyer? Aren't you the one who believes in evidence the most?"
"Lawyers are human, and laws are made by human beings; neither should be devoid of human compassion. Returning to this specific issue, have you considered looking at it from a different perspective?"
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