Upon hearing that her son might go to prison, Zhong Yao’s mother’s face immediately changed. She wanted to ruin Shen Suyu, sure, but her son couldn’t suffer any harm!
“Oh my, it’s not easy being a good person these days! My Yao’er is innocent!”
“My Yao’er is just a child! He was only joking with Shen Zhiqing. How could he ever be a scoundrel?” Zhong Yao’s mother wailed, scrambling to her feet and grabbing Shen Suyu. “Shen Zhiqing, you explain! What did my Yao’er do to you?”
Her old face was smeared with snot and filth, but her eyes shot a vicious threat. “Little tramp! I don’t believe you’d dare risk your honor to falsely accuse my son.”
Child? On the hospital bed, Shen Suyu’s lips curled into a cold smile. Zhong Yao was well into his twenties—hardly a child. But seeing the malicious look on his mother’s face, she allowed a playful glint to cross her eyes. Then, with Zhong Yao’s mother eagerly watching, she spoke:
“Oh~~”
“Zhong Yao, yes, he was lying.” Shen Suyu said this clearly, and she saw Zhong Yao’s mother visibly exhale in relief. A woman’s honor is worth more than life; had Shen Suyu truly accused him, she would have been condemned as a shameless woman for the rest of her life.
Gu Yanshen clenched his fists, looking at Shen Suyu’s pale face. His carelessness had almost overlooked her honor. If it weren’t for discipline, he truly would have thrown someone like Zhong Yao into the sea.
“Captain Gu, Shen Zhiqing herself said it! Release my son immediately!” Zhong Yao’s mother yelled arrogantly, thinking she had succeeded.
Shen Suyu’s fair face, however, suddenly lifted into a radiant smile. Her expression was mocking, her eyes not reaching the surface.
“Zhong Yao didn’t actually do anything to me.”
“He tried to pull my clothes off, but I struggled with all my might. That should count as… attempted molestation, right?” Shen Suyu’s innocent smile and harmless tone made everyone present’s expression change dramatically.
Zhong Yao’s mother’s face went pale in an instant. “You… what lies are you telling!”
“Lies? Isn’t it Zhong Yao spreading rumors, claiming I was already his?” Shen Suyu raised her delicate brows. “What, you think I, a pure sent-down youth with a bright future, would use my honor to falsely accuse a muddy-footed country boy?”
“Zhong Yao spread lies and slander. If the crime of molestation is established, I can make him spend a lifetime in prison!” Shen Suyu enunciated each word, smiling at Zhong Yao’s mother’s increasingly pale face with immense satisfaction. That arrogant phoenix man dared provoke her; now he had truly hit a wall.
“If we allow criminals to go free just to protect honor, women will never be liberated,” Shen Suyu said coldly, turning to Gu Yanshen under Zhong Yao’s mother’s venomous glare.
“Captain Gu, this is what happened. Please, handle this professionally, without concern for my honor, and help clear the moral atmosphere for the women of our fishing village.” Her words were firm and unwavering. Everyone present was struck silent.
Moments later, the crowd outside the ward erupted into thunderous applause. Gu Yanshen stared at Shen Suyu’s smile, stunned. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on the frail figure of the young girl, yet highlighting her smile so beautifully he couldn’t look away. She was smiling at him?
Shen Suyu hadn’t noticed Gu Yanshen’s gradually reddening ears as Zhong Yao’s mother lunged forward, screaming:
“How dare you lie! You little tramp, I’ll tear your mouth apart today!”
Her words were filthy, and she reached toward Shen Suyu in a frenzy. Shen Suyu’s expression turned cold. A strong hand grabbed Zhong Yao’s mother’s wrist.
“Disturbing the peace and intentional assault? Looks like you’re eager to join your son inside.” Gu Yanshen shielded Shen Suyu behind him, his tall figure exuding complete intimidation.
“Everyone see this! Bullying an old woman!” Zhong Yao’s mother’s face turned blue and white, then she began wailing again. “Shen Suyu! My son just learned to swim and risked his life to save you. Two touches, and you’re making this a big deal?”
“We’re a poor mother and son! You got my son arrested and now you want to take me too? If you arrest me today, you’ll get your spine broken!” She screamed, pointing at Shen Suyu, mixing threats and tears.
Shen Suyu’s gaze was icy as she sneered. “Had you not said anything, I might have forgotten.”
“I remember Zhong Xin mentioning that day I fell into the water, Captain Gu was there too?” Shen Suyu said, and Zhong Yao’s mother’s hands trembled, her legs weakening.
Shen Suyu’s smile widened. “Today, Captain Gu was also there. Let’s clarify things properly so no one can use this against me in the future.”
“Captain Gu, you were there too. Did you see Zhong Yao rescue me from the water?” Shen Suyu asked, looking at Gu Yanshen.
Gu Yanshen was momentarily stunned, then realization dawned.
“So Zhong Yao told you that?” His face darkened as he glanced at Zhong Yao’s mother, who was starting to tremble. Seeing Shen Suyu’s seemingly ‘innocent’ expression, his anger deepened.
“That day, I rescued you. I originally intended to take you to the clinic, but Zhong Yao claimed you were his sister, so he took you away.”
“I can’t believe it! Zhong Yao didn’t save me and even tried to molest me?” Shen Suyu exclaimed, her face showing shock and anger as she pointed at Zhong Yao’s mother. “You’re despicable! I was hesitant before, but now, you all deserve to spend a lifetime in prison!”
“A lifetime?! No… my son can’t go to prison, he can’t!” Zhong Yao’s mother fell to the ground, crying and begging. “Shen Zhiqing, we were just confused for a moment, please be magnanimous! My son can’t spend his whole life in jail!”
She was finally scared—the crime of molestation could carry the death penalty! Her son couldn’t die!
“Comrade Shen, Zhong Yao and his mother aren’t easy either; they’re neighbors. There’s no need to make things so awkward,” the women’s director, who hadn’t spoken, tried to smooth things over.
Shen Suyu’s icy gaze swept over her. “Director, government orders clearly state: anyone committing a sexual crime against a woman, if severe, is executed. Are you, as a women’s cadre, unaware of this basic law?”
Her clear voice was cold, and though her frame was slight, her presence was overwhelmingly powerful.
Gu Yanshen was slightly surprised, watching Shen Suyu’s back, a faint, almost imperceptible smile forming at the corner of his lips. Shen Suyu was completely unlike the delicate sent-down youths he had seen before. There was a resilience and intelligence in her that set her apart. He had thought she was a girl who needed protection. Clearly, he had underestimated her.