Chapter 135: But I Am Clearly Trying to Coax You

Tang Yu and her grandfather were both unharmed and cooperated with the police by providing statements. The villagers present served as witnesses, and the police arrested Meng Shirui on charges of attempted crime. When she was arrested, the look of insane hatred in Meng Shirui’s eyes sent a chill down Tang Yu’s spine. She showed no signs of remorse and even seemed ready to seek revenge at the first opportunity.

However, according to current laws, even though Meng Shirui was an adult, the sentencing principle for first-time offenses or attempted crimes that resulted in no casualties was to grant a lighter or mitigated punishment. Tang Yu closed her eyes, her fingers pinching her skin until it hurt. After ensuring her grandparents were settled, she followed the police to the county seat. In the car, she consulted Dean Shen about legal matters, and the perspectives he provided gave her a sudden, clear understanding.

A "first-time offense." Those four words did not apply to Meng Shirui.

That night, she went to the hospital to find Xu Xinyan. Xu was about to sleep, but upon seeing Tang Yu, she asked her parents to step out. Tang Yu recounted what had happened that evening. Xu Xinyan was terrified; she wondered if Meng Shirui had lost her mind to attack Tang Yu with a knife. Fortunately, Tang Yu was safe, or else she would never have been able to forgive herself.

Tang Yu gathered her thoughts, about to speak: "I have something..." Xu Xinyan spoke at the same time, "I have decided..." They looked at each other, and Tang Yu bit her lip. "You go first."

Xu Xinyan gripped her bedding tightly and took a deep breath. "I have decided to sue Meng Shirui, even if it means I have to return that five hundred thousand..."

Tang Yu was stunned. "Didn't you say..."

Xu Xinyan lowered her head in shame. "I was cowardly before. I was so afraid the Meng family would demand that money back that I didn't join the other victims in suing her... But I regret it now. If I had sued back then, perhaps she would have been locked up! She wouldn't have been able to put you in such danger today. Meng Shirui will never let you go. If she is released, the consequences will be unimaginable. You helped me so much; without you, I never would have had the courage to pick up my books and prepare for the college entrance exam again." Her tone was firm. "I cannot let her continue to hurt you."

Xu Xinyan was the only victim with a documented moderate disability, and she had an official injury assessment. Therefore, her lawsuit was crucial. Tang Yu had rushed over to persuade her to change her mind, but hearing that Xu Xinyan was willing to stand up and sue alongside her, she realized her chances of winning the case were now one hundred percent. The minor injury report Tang Yu held, combined with Xu Xinyan’s moderate disability assessment—even though they occurred while Meng Shirui was a minor—showed that since she was over sixteen at the time and had committed repeated acts of violence, her behavior clearly violated the legal clauses regarding "remorse" and "first-time offenses." With the addition of tonight’s attempted stabbing, no one would be able to protect her this time.

"Don't worry," Tang Yu said, feeling a sense of relief. "I just consulted a very capable lawyer. He said the agreement you signed with the Meng family is legally considered coercion and is void. This means not only do you not have to return the five hundred thousand, but the Meng family should also be responsible for your follow-up medical expenses!"

Xu Xinyan was stunned, then overwhelmed with excitement. "Really?"

"Yes!" Tang Yu smiled, her lips curling into shallow dimples.

At that moment, she finally understood the significance of studying law: it was not just to protect herself, but also to protect others. On this path, she still had so much to learn from Teacher Shen.

Tang Yu’s words completely eased Xu Xinyan’s worries. That same night, the Xu family called the police to file a lawsuit against Meng Shirui. When Tang Yu left the hospital, it was already eleven o'clock. There were occasional cars and pedestrians on the street, and a warm breeze rustled the leaves. It was too late to return to Xiao Tang Village, so she planned to go to her apartment.

As she stood by the road hailing a car, she heard a voice behind her: "Tang Xiaoyu!"

Before she could fully turn around, she was pulled into a tight embrace by a pair of warm arms. Tang Yu was stunned. The familiar scent of the young man lingered at the tip of her nose, and she slowly wrapped her arms around his waist. He was panting from running and covered in sweat. Her heart swelled; she could feel his deeply buried anxiety and knew that Bian Yang must have been terrified. She rubbed her head against his chest to comfort him and explained, "It’s okay, I wasn't hurt, and neither was Grandpa. I came to the hospital to see Xu Xinyan."

Bian Yang held her tightly, not saying a word. After her grandfather called him, he had gone to the police station but couldn't find her inside. Upon hearing she had gone to the hospital, he had rushed straight there. Seeing her standing there was the only thing that allowed his suspended heart to finally settle. She had scared him to death!

Tang Yu, fearing he would worry, spoke in a lighthearted tone. "I was really brave! When Meng Shirui lunged with the knife, I wasn't scared at all, and then Grandpa hit her with a stool, leaving her spinning. Meng Shirui was completely stunned!"

"Then the villagers came to help us, and guess what? She fell into the cesspit outside the yard." Tang Yu chuckled, "She smelled awful when they pulled her out. Everyone stayed far away, and even the police were so disgusted they didn't want to get close." She laughed until her stomach hurt.

However, Bian Yang remained silent. The young girl’s clear, tinkling laughter echoed in the empty street, making her feel a bit awkward.

"Do you find that funny?" He released her, his eyes dark and smoldering with hidden embers.

Tang Yu touched the tip of her nose, her smile fading. It wasn't funny, not funny at all. Under the streetlights, Bian Yang’s dark, sharp bangs obscured the look in his eyes, and he no longer held her. His voice was deathly cold. "You actually provoked her? You dared to wrestle the knife from her? How many lives do you think you have? What if you hadn't managed to grab it, and she had stabbed you!"

He had never lost his temper with her before, but now his face was cold, and the anger radiating from him was like a wind soaked in snow on a midwinter day, which was quite frightening. Tang Yu swallowed hard, looking down at her fingers, whispering, "The situation was urgent. If I hadn't grabbed the knife, what if she had stabbed Grandpa or Grandma?"

"Her goal was to take revenge on you! What if she had stabbed you!" Bian Yang’s throat was dry as he suppressed his emotions.

Tang Yu shook her head. "She wouldn't have. I was very careful, and I called the neighbors right away."

Even though he knew her reasoning was sound, the mere thought of that scene made Bian Yang shudder with lingering fear. Seeing his dark expression, Tang Yu reached out to lightly brush the back of his hand. Bian Yang ignored her, only silently gripping her hand back. Tang Yu immediately took the opportunity to shake his hand playfully. "Look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? It’s over now, Bian Yang. I promise," she raised her other hand as if taking an oath, "I won't be so impulsive next time!"

Bian Yang glared at her. "You dare talk about a next time!"

Tang Yu quickly corrected herself, "No next time, no next time!"

"In the future, if I run into something like this, I'll just lock myself inside. Even if she stabs a hole in the door, I won't come out. I'll just threaten her: 'My boyfriend is super tough; if you dare to mess with me, he’ll beat you to death!' How about that?"

Bian Yang was so frustrated he laughed, though the laughter was tinged with deep chill. He took her face in both hands, his grip quite firm, his cool fingertips making her cheeks ache slightly. "You’re still being sarcastic, aren't you!"

Tang Yu pushed his hands away, puffing out her cheeks and rubbing her face. "I was clearly trying to coax you."

Bian Yang let out a cold snort, his expression aloof and detached. "Don't try that. Do I look like I’m being coaxed? You’ve scared me half to death!" What angered him more was that she hadn't even called him after all that had happened! Coming out of the police station and then coming to the hospital in the middle of the night without even a thought of contacting him! If her grandfather hadn't told him, he would have been kept in the dark!

Tang Yu looked up, meeting his dark eyes. The moonlight that night was beautiful, but he was more intense than the moonlight. She called out softly, "Bian Yang."

The young man didn't respond; he turned his back to her, the streetlights falling on his thin, sharp shoulders and his dark hair. Tang Yu found it amusing; she tugged at his sleeve. "Bian Yang?"

The young man remained indifferent.

"Bian Yang, won't you answer me?" She dragged out the sound in a soft, coaxing tone. Usually, his heart would have softened by now, but he was intentionally holding back to make her reflect.

"Bian Yang." She rested her head against his back. "I'm so tired, and I haven't had dinner yet. I'm practically starving." She touched her stomach pitifully.

Bian Yang tightened his lips; his heart finally softened.

The girl rubbed her forehead against his back. "So hungry. Your girlfriend is so hungry."