Chapter 154 Extra Chapter 11: Sun Wei's Story: The So-Called "Perfect Boyfriend"
Sun Wei, a sophomore majoring in accounting at Hunan University, walked along a tree-lined path on a September afternoon, carrying several books she had just borrowed from the library. Sunlight filtered through the layers of camphor leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on her light blue dress. She squinted slightly, feeling the breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of newly blooming osmanthus blossoms brushing against her cheek.
More than a year has passed since that summer that almost completely destroyed her.
Now, her skin is a healthy, radiant white. Her eyes, which used to be habitually lowered, now often look straight ahead. Although a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of caution still occasionally flashes across them, the heavy, almost overwhelming fear and despair that once weighed her down has faded away. She takes the medication recommended by her psychologist on time, actively participates in group counseling activities at the school's psychological center, and maintains an upper-middle-of-the-class academic record.
She knows that it is almost a miracle that she has come this far.
This miracle was brought back from the brink of disaster by police officers Jiang Ling and Zheng Yu from the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Yan City Public Security Bureau, as well as other police officers whose names she did not know, through their tireless efforts and heartfelt care.
Especially Zheng Yu. During the most helpless period when Sun Wei decided to sever ties with her family of origin, it was Zheng Yu who took her into her home and allowed her to truly experience what a normal, warm, respectful, and boundary-bound family atmosphere is like. That experience was like a ray of light shining into her inner world, which was shrouded in distorted perceptions.
Zheng Yu often wrote to her and called her, showing concern for her life and studies, her tone always gentle and encouraging. Jiang Ling was busy with work and contacted her less often, but every time they talked, she could accurately grasp her thoughts and use warm words to encourage her to break free from the past and face life with positivity.
"Weiwei!" Her roommate Zhou Qian caught up from behind and affectionately took her arm. "Studying hard at the library again? It's the weekend tomorrow, how about we go shopping downtown together? I heard there's a new jewelry store that just opened, it's so pretty."
Sun Wei smiled and was about to answer when her gaze was drawn to a figure not far away below the dormitory building.
It was her other roommate, Bao Xiaoli.
Bao Xiaoli squatted under the camphor tree next to the dormitory building, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were crying. She tightly clutched the old black phone with its small screen.
Sun Wei's heart clenched slightly. Bao Xiaoli came from a remote county in the province. She was introverted and shy, but studied very hard and was the first person in her dormitory to get up and read English. However, since the start of this semester, she had become increasingly silent, often staring blankly at her phone, her emotions fluctuating greatly. Sometimes she would inexplicably get red eyes, and her already thin figure became even more frail, like a sheet of paper.
Sun Wei and Zhou Qian exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes. They walked over, and Sun Wei asked softly, "Xiao Li, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Bao Xiaoli jerked her head up like a startled rabbit, frantically wiping away the tears on her face with her sleeve, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying: "No, it's nothing... I got sand in my eyes." She quickly stood up, lowered her head, and hurried towards the dormitory building, "I'm going up first."
Zhou Qian pursed her lips and lowered her voice to Sun Wei, saying, "It must be that 'perfect boyfriend' of hers again. He calls and texts every day, like he's checking up on her. Last time, Xiao Li talked to us a few more times and didn't reply to his message in time, so he got really angry at her. Xiao Li was so scared that she hid on the balcony and cried for a long time."
Sun Wei stopped in her tracks.
"Perfect boyfriend"? Controlling your whereabouts? Getting angry over trivial matters? Making your partner feel fear and cry?
These words were like keys, instantly unlocking the dark corners of Sun Wei's memory. Zhou Mingyuan's hypocritical, controlling face, and her father Sun Guodong's furious,狰狞 face flashed alternately before her eyes. Her stomach twitched reflexively, and a chill crept up her spine.
She was all too familiar with this pattern.
"Do you know her boyfriend?" Sun Wei's voice was a little tense.
Zhou Qian shook her head: "I've never met him in person, only seen photos. He looks quite presentable. I heard he's a few years older than us and already working. Xiao Li raved about him, saying he's exceptionally outstanding, understands her perfectly, and is incredibly good to her, but... he's a bit too strict."
Zhou Qian paused, then added, "Moreover, I feel that Xiao Li is becoming increasingly insecure. She keeps saying that she's stupid, that she's not good enough for him, and so on. It's really strange, she's a strong contender for the scholarship in our major!"
Sun Wei's heart sank completely.
—Being excellent, understanding her, and initially kind to her, then controlling her strictly and constantly belittling her self-confidence to make her feel "unworthy." How similar this is to the tactics Zhou Mingyuan used on her, and the psychological pressure her father inflicted on her for years!
A strong, almost chilling premonition gripped her. Bao Xiaoli was likely experiencing a form of spiritual plunder disguised as "love."
“Qianqian,” Sun Wei grabbed Zhou Qian’s hand, her expression more serious than ever before, “We need to keep an eye on Xiao Li. I’m worried about her.”
Zhou Qian was startled by Sun Wei's serious expression and nodded subconsciously.
In the following days, Sun Wei paid extra attention to Bao Xiaoli.
She noticed that Bao Xiaoli almost never let go of her phone. Whenever a text message notification sounded, she would immediately check it anxiously, no matter what she was doing. She made many calls, but the call experience seemed unpleasant. Often, Sun Wei could hear her low, tearful voice pleading, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... please don't be angry..." "I know I was wrong... I'll definitely change next time..."
After hanging up the phone, Bao Xiaoli's condition often worsened. She would stare blankly for long periods, unable to concentrate on a single word despite her books lying in front of her, or suddenly become extremely anxious, repeatedly checking her homework and clothes, muttering to herself, "This won't do... He'll be unhappy..."
One night, Sun Wei woke up in the middle of the night and heard Bao Xiaoli sobbing under her breath coming from her bed. She quietly got up and saw that Bao Xiaoli's phone screen was still faintly lit, and it seemed to be displaying a very long text message.
Sun Wei's heart clenched. She seemed to see herself in the past, tormented to the point of despair by the vicious words in Zhou Mingyuan's text messages and diary.
This can't go on any longer.
The next day was Saturday. Zhou Qian and another roommate went home, leaving only Sun Wei and Bao Xiaoli in the dormitory. The afternoon sun was lovely, and Sun Wei made two cups of osmanthus milk tea, placing one on Bao Xiaoli's desk.
"Xiao Li, shall we talk?" Sun Wei sat opposite her, her tone gentle but firm.
Bao Xiaoli looked up in surprise, her eyes darting around: "Talk...talk about what?"
"Let's talk about how you seem unhappy lately." Sun Wei looked directly into her eyes. "Is it because of your boyfriend?"
Bao Xiaoli's face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously denied it: "No...no. He's very good to me. It's my fault for not being good enough, I always make him angry."
That same phrase again!
Sun Wei took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady: "Xiao Li, can you tell me why he's angry? Like yesterday."
Bao Xiaoli lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, her voice barely audible: "Yesterday, yesterday I wore that new skirt to class, and he said it was too short, that wearing it out was indecent and embarrassing for him; he also said I deliberately wore it to show off to others, that I had other intentions..."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, her voice filled with grievance: "But that skirt was clearly past the knee, it wasn't short. And I love him so much, how could I possibly have any other thoughts..."
Sun Wei's fist clenched silently under the table. Controlling her clothing, stigmatizing her, making unfounded suspicions... it was exactly the same as her father who controlled her by not letting her lock the door and calling her "shameless," and Zhou Mingyuan who accused her of being "disgraceful"!
“This is not your fault, Xiaoli.” Recalling what Zheng Yu and Jiang Ling had once said to her, Sun Wei’s voice was clear and firm. “What you wear is your freedom. There’s nothing wrong with a skirt that goes past your knees. He has no right to criticize you for it, much less the right to insult you.”
Bao Xiaoli was stunned, as if it were the first time she had heard someone say to her, "This is not your fault." She looked blankly at Sun Wei: "But he said he loves me and cares about me, that's why he manages me like this. Everything he does is for my own good."
Seeing Bao Xiaoli, Sun Wei felt like she was seeing her former self, and quickly interrupted her: "Xiaoli, love isn't like that. Love is respect, trust, and the desire for the other person to be happy and confident, not making them fearful, insecure, and in pain."
She took out a notebook and flipped through some notes inside—things that Jiang Ling and Zheng Yu had told her on the phone, as well as information she had found while researching in the library, about identifying unhealthy relationships and psychological manipulation.
“Xiao Li, listen to this. Has he said or done any of these things to you?” Sun Wei read them aloud one by one.
"Who else would want you besides me?"
"You're so stupid, so fat, so ugly, it's only because I can tolerate you."
"You have to listen to me; I'm doing this for your own good."
"You must not associate with that friend; he or she has ill intentions towards you."
"If you don't listen to me, it means you don't love me."
"I can't live without you. If you break up with me, I'll make you regret it."
With each word read aloud, Bao Xiaoli's face paled a little more, and her body trembled slightly. These words were like poisoned needles, precisely piercing everything she endured daily.
"He...he really did say something like that!" Bao Xiaoli's voice was filled with immense panic. "He said my family was poor, I was unsophisticated and couldn't speak properly, and that I was good for nothing except being good at studying. Only he didn't look down on me. He said my roommates were laughing at me and that I should stay away from them. He said my parents were incompetent and couldn't help me, and that I would have to rely on him for everything in the future..."
Seeing the panicked Bao Xiaoli, Sun Wei's anger surged. This man, whom she had never met before, used such skillful and vicious methods; he was practically a combination of Zhou Mingyuan and Sun Guodong! He systematically destroyed Bao Xiaoli's sense of self-worth, cut off her social support system, and left her completely isolated and helpless, with no choice but to depend on him.
“Xiao Li,” Sun Wei grasped her cold hand, her gaze intense, “you’ve been deceived by him. This isn’t love; it’s a form of psychological control called PUA. He says and does these things not for your own good, but to control you. He wants you to feel worthless, to obediently listen to him, and to satisfy his desire for control.”
Bao Xiaoli shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face: "No, no! He's always been so good to me. He buys me gifts, cooks for me, takes me to the movies, and rides his bike with me through every corner of the city. He loves me so much. He just loves me too much, and sometimes he's short-tempered. It's me, it's me who's not good enough, and I always make mistakes..."
Watching Bao Xiaoli still defending the other party, Sun Wei seemed to see herself in the past, misled by Zhou Mingyuan and even momentarily confused after being rescued. Breaking down barriers of perception is the hardest thing, especially when the victim is already deeply trapped in the "love and salvation" scheme woven by the other party.
Thinking of Zheng Yu and Jiang Ling, who had saved her from dire straits, Sun Wei did not give up. Instead, she continued to look at Bao Xiaoli and tried to persuade her: "I have been through something similar. I once thought that someone was an angel who saved me from suffering, only to find out later that he was a demon who pushed me into an even deeper hell. I also once thought that my parents loved me, only to realize later that it was just control and taking. My feeling is not wrong. What you are going through is almost exactly the same as what I went through."
Bao Xiaoli looked up in shock, staring at Sun Wei in disbelief. She couldn't imagine that the gentle, kind, and cheerful Sun Wei in front of her had such a painful past.
Sun Wei took out her phone and scrolled to the contact list to find the name "Officer Zheng Yu".
"If you don't believe me, we can call a real professional police officer. She's an officer from the Yan City Public Security Bureau who specializes in these kinds of cases; she's the one who saved me back then. I'll have her tell you what really happened to you, okay?"
Police? Bao Xiaoli's face instantly drained of color, her eyes filled with terror: "No! We can't call the police! He said that if I tell anyone, especially the police, he won't let me off the hook, and he won't let my parents off the hook either! He meant what he said!"
Threat? Using the other person's family to intimidate them?
Sun Wei frowned deeply; it seemed the situation was more serious than she had imagined.
Seeing Bao Xiaoli on the verge of collapse, Sun Wei knew she couldn't be forceful at this moment, so she softened her tone: "Okay, we won't call the police for now. But Xiaoli, please promise me that from today onwards, you must save any messages he sends you, especially those that make you uncomfortable, accuse you, or threaten you. If he calls you and the content makes you feel bad, try to record it. Is that okay? This is just to protect yourself."
"Record a recording?" Bao Xiaoli looked at Sun Wei with some confusion. "How do you record a recording?"
Cell phones in 2000 didn't have recording capabilities, and besides, Bao Xiaoli hadn't recovered from the huge shock and fear; her mind was a complete mess, and she couldn't process anything.
Sun Wei pointed to the Walkman on the table: "You play it out loud, and we'll record it for you."
Bao Xiaoli nodded, but her eyes clearly showed timidity.
Having experienced the pain, Sun Wei knew that to truly pull Bao Xiaoli out of the mire, she needed more evidence and more professional help, so she made a long phone call to Zheng Yu that very night.
After listening to Sun Wei's description, Zheng Yu's tone immediately became serious: "Weiwei, your judgment is likely correct. This is a very typical case of emotional manipulation and intimidation, and the situation could be very dangerous. Once the manipulator feels out of control, they may resort to extreme measures."
Zheng Yu affirmed Sun Wei's approach of having Bao Xiaoli preserve evidence and provided more detailed guidance: "You can guide her to recall whether the other party has ever asked her for private photos or videos, or asked her to do something absurd under the guise of testing her sincerity or proving her love? For example, tattooing his name on her body, recording videos that insult her, etc.? This is very common in similar manipulation cases."
Zheng Yu's words sent a chill down Sun Wei's spine. She immediately recalled the "ultimate control method" that Jiang Ling had mentioned when analyzing Zhou Mingyuan.
The next day, Sun Wei cautiously probed Bao Xiaoli.
At first, Bao Xiaoli vehemently denied it, but after Sun Wei repeatedly assured her that it was only to help her and that it would be kept absolutely secret, she finally broke down and cried.
That man, Xu Hao, did indeed trick Bao Xiaoli into taking some explicit photos under the pretext of "lacking security" and "needing to prove her love." Recently, he even went further, demanding that Bao Xiaoli go to a small hotel during a date and record more private videos on his phone, claiming it was "the ultimate proof of mutual possession and trust." Bao Xiaoli felt extremely scared and ashamed and struggled to refuse. Xu Hao became furious and has been ignoring her for several days, threatening to send the photos to her parents and show them to everyone if she didn't comply.
Sun Wei felt a chill run down her spine, and her anger flared. This Xu Hao, his viciousness and controlling nature were simply outrageous!
She immediately reported the situation to Zheng Yu.
"Scumbag!" Zheng Yu cursed into the phone, then calmed down. "Weiwei, you did a great job. The chain of evidence is clearer now. Recordings, screenshots, chat logs demanding private photos and videos, threatening remarks—these are all very important evidence. Especially the threat to distribute private photos, which could constitute extortion and the crime of disseminating obscene materials. What you need to do now is continue to reassure Bao Xiaoli, ensure her personal safety, and at the same time, gather as much evidence as possible. I'll contact Jiang Ling immediately; she works in the provincial department and is in the provincial capital. We must thoroughly investigate this Xu Hao; he's very likely not doing this for the first time!"
Hearing that Jiang Ling was in the provincial capital, Sun Wei suddenly felt reassured. While contacting Jiang Ling, she began to accompany Bao Xiaoli more strategically. She stopped criticizing Xu Hao and instead guided Bao Xiaoli to compare and think for herself.
"Xiaoli, think about it. If he's really as outstanding as he claims, why doesn't he find someone just as outstanding as him, instead of constantly belittling and controlling you?"
"If he really cared about you, why would he keep calling and texting you while you were studying, even calling you a bookworm, knowing that you wanted to get a scholarship?"
"Does love make you more confident and happier, or does it make you as timid and tearful as you are now?"
Meanwhile, after Sun Wei explained the situation, Zhou Qian and her other roommate understood the seriousness of the matter. They no longer thought Bao Xiaoli was just "throwing a tantrum because of her relationship," but instead worked together to comfort and support her. They took Bao Xiaoli to study, eat, and participate in club activities, constantly showing her through their actions: You are great, you deserve respect and kindness, you have many friends, and you are not alone.
The warm atmosphere in the dormitory and the unconditional support from friends stood in stark contrast to Xu Hao's increasingly exposed anxiety, threats, and insults on the other end of the phone.
One weekend, Xu Hao actually barged into Hunan University and waited outside the girls' dormitory. He looked impeccably dressed, but the sinister and menacing look in his eyes made people uncomfortable.
He called Bao Xiaoli and ordered her to come downstairs immediately.
Bao Xiaoli trembled with fear, almost giving in. Sun Wei grabbed her and gave Zhou Qian a wink. Zhou Qian understood immediately and went downstairs, saying to Xu Hao in a composed manner, "Xiaoli isn't feeling well and has already gone to bed. Please leave; this is a girls' dormitory, and it's not appropriate for male comrades to stay for long."
Xu Hao's face turned extremely ugly. He glared fiercely at Zhou Qian: "Who do you think you are? Tell Bao Xiaoli to get down here and see me! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
His voice was loud, attracting the attention of many girls passing by.
Sun Wei stood with Bao Xiaoli behind the window and, through the curtains, witnessed everything. Sun Wei used a borrowed camera to take a picture of the scene; Xu Hao's ferocious expression sent chills down her spine.
Seeing that Bao Xiaoli was determined not to come downstairs, Xu Hao finally said, "Bao Xiaoli, you just wait!" and left angrily.
This direct confrontation frightened Bao Xiaoli, but it also gradually brought her to her senses. She witnessed Xu Hao's undisguised wickedness in public, a stark contrast to the man on her phone who was sometimes affectionate and sometimes tormented.
She cried and said to Sun Wei, "Weiwei, I'm so scared. Will he really distribute my photos everywhere? Will he really cause trouble for my parents? What should I do?"
Sun Wei hugged her tightly: "Don't be afraid! We are witnesses, and you have evidence of his threats against you. This isn't the first time he's done this. Officer Zheng said there are likely other victims. We can't let him harm anyone else! We need to call the police!"
This time, Bao Xiaoli did not object vehemently, but her body was still trembling uncontrollably.
Sun Wei immediately contacted Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling immediately checked Xu Hao's information through the police's internal system and found that he did indeed have a "criminal record." It was not a criminal record, but rather that his ex-girlfriend had reported him to the police. The record stated that it was a "relationship dispute that was mediated." However, the police report mentioned words such as "threat" and "distribution of photos." At the time, there was insufficient evidence, so no case was filed.
This further confirmed their suspicions: Xu Hao was a repeat offender.
Because Xu Hao's crimes were mostly committed through language and communication tools, Jiang Ling instructed Sun Wei and Bao Xiaoli to first report the case to the local police station where their school was located. At the same time, they organized all the evidence and sent it to the Provincial Department's Crime Prevention and Analysis Center, where Jiang Ling's team conducted preliminary analysis and secured it, and collaborated with the local police station to handle the case.
Accompanied by Sun Wei and her roommate, Bao Xiaoli mustered her courage and went to the police station. She presented all the evidence that Sun Wei had helped her compile: a thick stack of chat logs and photos, a transcript of audio recordings, text messages from Xu Hao threatening to release private photos, and even photos and testimonies of Xu Hao causing trouble downstairs at the dormitory.
They were received by a policewoman who listened carefully to Bao Xiaoli's tearful account and examined the shocking evidence, her expression growing increasingly grave.
“Young lady, we have taken your case into consideration.” The policewoman’s tone was serious but sympathetic. “This has gone far beyond the scope of ordinary emotional disputes. It involves intimidation, threats, and extortion. If the private photos are disseminated, it may also involve the crime of disseminating obscene materials. We will launch an investigation immediately.”
At the same time, the Crime Prevention and Analysis Center where Jiang Ling works attached great importance to the matter and also transferred the analysis report and copies of the evidence to the police in Xu Hao's area through internal channels.
With conclusive evidence and coordinated efforts between police from both locations, the operation was highly efficient.
Meanwhile, the Crime Prevention and Analysis Center where Jiang Ling worked urgently forwarded a detailed analysis report and copies of evidence to the police in Xu Hao's area through internal channels. With her professional insight, Jiang Ling characterized Xu Hao's actions in the report as "premeditated psychological manipulation and coercion, accompanied by serious circumstances such as extortion and threats to disseminate obscene materials, posing a significant threat to society, and highly likely indicating a repeat offender," recommending a thorough investigation.
With conclusive evidence and egregious nature of the crime, the police in both locations attached great importance to the case, coordinated their efforts, and acted with remarkable efficiency.
Xu Hao was summoned in accordance with the law. At first, relying on his legal knowledge, he denied everything, acting arrogantly and claiming that it was a quarrel between lovers. He even accused Bao Xiaoli of having mental problems, harassing him, and attempting to blackmail him.
However, he was facing a well-prepared police force.
The police not only presented him with complete and appalling chat logs and recordings between him and Bao Xiaoli, but also dropped a bombshell—Jiang Ling's team, through data mining and correlation analysis, discovered that Xu Hao had maintained similar "romantic relationships" with multiple female college students from other places simultaneously or successively over the past three years, with highly similar patterns: initially playing the perfect lover, then exerting mental control and belittling in the middle stage, and later threatening to expose their privacy. He even successfully coerced one of the girls to transfer several thousand yuan as "ransom" to delete photos!
The girl was too terrified and ashamed to report the crime to the police. However, after local police patiently collected evidence at her home and assured her that her privacy would be protected, she tearfully confessed to Xu Hao's crimes and provided crucial evidence such as bank transfer records and threatening text messages.
Each and every case presented irrefutable evidence.
Xu Hao's arrogance and sense of luck shattered instantly, turning him deathly pale and drenched in cold sweat. He was no longer the domineering controller in front of the weak victims, but a pathetic wretch trembling before the majesty of the law.
Ultimately, Xu Hao was formally arrested with the approval of the procuratorate on charges of extortion and threatening to disseminate obscene materials. The evidence was conclusive, the circumstances were serious, and multiple victims were involved. He faces criminal prosecution and several years in prison. Although his personal information has not been made public, he is completely blacklisted within his social and professional circles, and his future is ruined.
When the news reached the school, Bao Xiaoli hugged Sun Wei and her roommates and cried her heart out. In her cries, there was lingering fear, grievance, relief, and the excitement and joy of witnessing the devil brought to justice and the vindication of the law.
After the incident, Bao Xiaoli seemed to be reborn. The gloom on her face disappeared. Although she was still occasionally sensitive and timid, she began to learn to walk with her back straight like Sun Wei, dared to speak in class, and her smile truly became bright.
One evening, she and Sun Wei were taking a walk on the playground.
"Weiwei, thank you," Bao Xiaoli said softly, her eyes slightly red. "If it weren't for you, I might... I might really have been ruined by him."
Sun Wei shook her head, looking at the magnificent sunset on the horizon: "No need to thank me. Actually, when I helped you, it felt like I was pulling up my past self."
She paused, her voice calm yet firm: "Xiao Li, we must remember this feeling. Remember how painful it is to be manipulated, belittled, and threatened, and how easy it is to break free and breathe free air again. Then, we must become strong, not only to protect ourselves from falling into the same trap, but also, if possible, to be like a ray of light to illuminate those still trapped in darkness."
Bao Xiaoli nodded emphatically: "Yes, I've got it. I want to be as brave and clear-headed as you."
Sun Wei smiled but didn't say anything.
She recalled what Jiang Ling had told her before she left Yancheng: "In the end, only the power growing within yourself can save you. We are just helping you open your eyes."
Now, she not only sees through the disguise of emotional manipulators, but also has a tiny ability to help others identify and fight against PUAs who try to poison good people.
She looked up at the sky and whispered in her heart:
"Officer Jiang, Officer Zheng, can you see this? The person you saved back then hasn't let you down. I'm trying to live, trying to become a better person, and even... I can help others."
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