Xu Suyu seemed to come out of a shock. She spun, gripped Jiang Zhun’s arm and said, “A-Zhun, that man said he’d kill me after he slept with me. I’m scared.”
Tears spilled from her like rain, the kind of helpless, heart-tugging sobs that made people ache to comfort her.
Jiang Zhun had never seen a scene like that and froze for a beat. “W-what… don’t cry! I’m no good at soothing people, but I can smash that bastard’s face in, okay?”
He lunged at Li Baoxiang.
Li Baoxiang had lost fights to Jiang Zhun before; seeing that murderous look, he staggered back, terrified. “I didn’t say that! She’s lying!”
Xu Suyu held him and shook her head. “A-Zhun, since he won’t admit it, can I file a police report?”
“Anything—just don’t cry.” He practically promised, “Fine, fine. We’ll report it.”
He pointed at a military wife who’d been watching the commotion. “You—go with me to file the report.”
“I—I’ve got things to do…”
“If you don’t go, I’ll come to your house every day and drag your son out to play with me!”
“Okay, I’ll go.” She hurried off.
Xu Suyu remembered the last life, when Han Shumo and his mother had backed away when she tried to report something. Facing Jiang Zhun’s unconditional support now, the contrast in sincerity was glaring.
Before the police arrived, Li Baoxiang’s father, Li Changgui, had already been notified and rushed over.
Seeing his father, Li Baoxiang clutched his bleeding head and ran up to play the victim. “Dad, this woman falsely accused me of harassing her. Jiang Zhun shoved me into the water and hit my head with a rock. Look—this wound hurts so much!”
Li Changgui saw the bleeding gashes and was furious. “Jiang Zhun! You always swagger around the compound because of your mother’s military honors. Why bully people like this now?”
“That worm you spawned dares call himself a man? He wanted to grope my fiancée, so I taught him a lesson!”
Li Baomei piped up, “Jiang Zhun, don’t be fooled by this woman—she’s clearly framing my brother!”
Emboldened, Li Baoxiang straightened his neck. “Exactly. You got no proof I harassed her. I never touched her.”
“I saw him pinning my fiancée down! She screamed for help—what other proof do you need?” Jiang Zhun spat.
Li Changgui snorted coldly. “Jiang Zhun, your word isn’t evidence. Of course you’d defend your fiancée. Little comrade, if you’re accusing my son, you’d better have proof. If you don’t, you’re slandering my boy. With Jiang Zhun’s charge of intentional injury, I won’t settle this privately.”
Xu Suyu was unfazed by his threats. She turned to the group of army families who’d been watching. “Those military wives were right here — they can testify that Li Baoxiang was harassing me. It started as words, then he tried to force himself on me—”
Li Baoxiang shouted at the onlookers, “Which one of you saw me molesting her? I didn’t even touch her! If any of you lie with Jiang Zhun, my dad will not let you off!”
The small group who’d just been curious suddenly realized they’d been dragged into this. They exchanged nervous looks—nobody wanted to pick a fight with the Li or Jiang families. No one stepped forward.
Li Changgui barked, “I know exactly whose relatives you are. My son is a good kid. Don’t you dare help this liar.”
Xu Suyu let a faint, knowing smile lift the corner of her mouth. Intimidating witnesses, huh. She wasn’t in a hurry — but Jiang Zhun’s eyes had gone cold. Li Changgui using his influence to pressure people was infuriating.
This time, even if the old general let his authority do the talking, Jiang Zhun would stand up for Xu Suyu. Otherwise people would think she could be toyed with and trampled on at will. Not on his watch.
“My woman doesn’t take that kind of nonsense!” he said, voice low and threatening. “If any of you lie for him, don’t think my grandpa will be the only one you have to answer to. I’ll settle this with you too.”
Li Changgui smirked with a faint triumph. “Jiang Zhun, even if the old general retired, you’re an unemployed kid—don’t make trouble.”
The old general may have retired, but Li Changgui still held his post. That line settled the room.
Just then Aunt Zhao arrived with several police officers.
Li Changgui rushed forward and preemptively told the officers his version, naturally siding with his son and accusing Xu Suyu of fabricating the story.
An officer then approached Xu Suyu. “Comrade, what’s your side of the story?”
Xu Suyu bowed politely. “Officers, I filed this complaint. What you just heard from the perpetrator’s family isn’t the truth.”
She calmly recounted the incident, even amplifying some of Li Baoxiang’s words to make the harassment unmistakable.
Li Baoxiang stamped his foot denying everything, and Li Changgui called over the bystanders.
The first to break was one of them: “We were just here. Li Baoxiang didn’t harass that woman—she must have misunderstood.”
Once one person went, the others followed. “Yeah, he only said a few words to her, and then Jiang Zhun shoved him into the lake and beat him up.”
Li Changgui smiled with satisfaction.
Jiang Zhun ground his teeth. “You lot of gossiping hens—how dare you lie!”
Li Changgui cut him off. “Jiang Zhun, the people’s eyes are sharp. I won’t let this go. You hurt my son—let the police punish you.”
One of the officers moved to restrain Jiang Zhun. Furious and wrongly accused, Jiang Zhun tried to resist. “You idiots—”
“Jiang Zhun, shut up and don’t move. The matter isn’t over yet,” Xu Suyu interrupted, turning to Li Changgui with a calm, steady voice. “Comrade Li, have you already convicted me and my fiancé before the investigation is complete? Does being a leader place you above the law?”
That accusation flushed Li Changgui’s face dark. “Don’t be ridiculous! The witnesses already said my son is innocent!”
Xu Suyu shook her head serenely. “No — your witnesses have spoken. But my witnesses haven’t had their turn yet.”