"Back then, I was terrified. I couldn't see, my mind was in chaos, and all I could think was that I had to survive."
After everything was over, Ye Sibei and Qin Nan sat together on the carpet by the bed. She was wrapped in a blanket, watching the half-set sun outside as she recounted those painful memories.
"So I did whatever he told me to do."
It was like tearing open a wound, exposing the raw, bleeding flesh beneath, then using tweezers to probe inside, stirring around to extract the largest piece of grit.
She described every detail of what had happened. His hand rested on her shoulder as he listened quietly, without the slightest disturbance.
When she finished speaking, she turned to look at him and saw his puzzled eyes lifting to meet hers. Only then did she realize that pain could truly heal over time.
Watching the sun sink below the horizon, she couldn't help but ask, "Qin Nan, if I hadn't pressed charges from the beginning and had just taken the money, would things have been better?"
"If you hadn't reported it to the police, they wouldn't have even considered offering you money."
Ye Sibei lowered her gaze, her voice soft. "But what if?"
Qin Nan didn't answer immediately. He stared at the sunset for a long while before speaking. "My father used to be a very weak man. Our family was small, and everyone in the village bullied us. One New Year, when my parents came back, my mom got into a conflict with a local bully. His four sons broke one of my father's ribs."
"I was right there, watching my father get beaten," Qin Nan gestured to a height of about a meter, "just this tall."
"Did you call the police?"
"Call the police?" Qin Nan laughed bitterly. "My father didn't dare. He was afraid they'd retaliate later, so he took the money and kept quiet."
"From then on, my father became more and more spineless. He was afraid of so many things. When my mother scolded him, he just took it. Later, when she found another man, he knew but pretended not to. He died at a construction site when I was in high school."
"And I've carried that memory with me all these years. Every time I close my eyes, I feel like I'm still that child, standing beside my father as he was beaten."
"So, Sibei," Qin Nan turned to look at her, "reporting it is like cutting the knot with a swift stroke. Not reporting it means letting it slowly consume your life."
"You have to report it. You have to win. Otherwise, you'll end up like me, forever trapped in that moment."
Listening to his words, Ye Sibei sensed from his eyes that this verdict would affect not just her life and future, but also Qin Nan's.
Perhaps he had remained stuck in the humiliation of his youth, forever questioning the rules of this world. Only if she won could she give him the answer he sought.
She nodded gently. "I know."
"We will win."
He looked at her as if she were a flickering candle, a glimmer of hope. "We will win."
From that day on, Ye Sibei stopped going out and avoided the internet.
Qin Nan handed over all his shop responsibilities to Chen Jun, only leaving the house for essential supplies.
The two of them lived in that small room, day and night, with no distinction between them.
Ye Nianwen would call from time to time, updating them on the outside world and the progress of the case.
They heard that Zhao Shuhui had been detained again, her recording submitted as new evidence. The prosecution had delayed filing charges to continue the investigation.
They heard the internet was in an uproar, and Ye Nianwen specifically warned her not to go online.
She didn't dare.
For them, life had narrowed down to just one thing: waiting.Day after day, they endured countless sunsets, their lives a prolonged torment.
Every day, Ye Sibei told herself to wait—wait until the verdict, and then it would all be over.
Once the trial concluded, she would receive a fair judgment. Perhaps she would still have to face gossip and rumors in the future.
But at the very least, the wound in her heart—that crumbling perception of the world—could begin to heal.
There would be an outcome, telling her she had won this time, that her life could still hold victories.
While she hid like a turtle in its shell, the outside world was in an uproar.
Some accused her of setting a honey trap, while others condemned Fan Jiancheng for smearing her name.
Many also took notice of Zhao Chuchu, who had left Ye Sibei alone in the car.
Zhao Chuchu had been spoiled and willful since childhood, with striking looks that earned her no shortage of enemies. After the incident, photos and rumors about her flooded the internet.
Netizens pieced together fragments of information, roughly sketching out an image of Zhao Chuchu.
She had neglected her studies in her youth, started dating in middle school, attended a vocational college, and carried herself with arrogance and aggression. After graduation, she latched onto a top law student, pressured him into buying a house, and together they leeched off his family—even forcing his sister to sacrifice for their marriage.
As for Ye Sibei’s case, Zhao Chuchu’s role was portrayed in countless conflicting versions.
Some claimed she was actually a pimp, helping Fan Jiancheng harm Ye Sibei.
Others spun bizarre tales, alleging she was the real victim but had betrayed Ye Sibei to save herself.
Still others insisted she and Ye Sibei had conspired in a honey trap to extort money—all to pay for her house.
Every day, Zhao Chuchu was bombarded with messages attacking her appearance, her fashion, her past behavior, her relationships since middle school, her lack of propriety, her flamboyance.
And everyone, from all sides, kept asking her the same question: Why had she abandoned Ye Sibei that day?
She gradually stopped leaving the house, locking herself in her room, wasting away rapidly.
Several times when Ye Nianwen visited, he found her sitting by the window, staring blankly at the yard outside.
He knew what tormented her. Gently pulling her close, he reassured her, "Don’t be sad. I believe you."
But as he held her, all she could think of were the netizens’ words.
"If that Zhao woman really left Ye Sibei in the car while she was unconscious, then she’s an accomplice to rape. How could Ye Sibei’s brother possibly not resent her?"
"If she really abandoned Ye Sibei, she’s a criminal who deserves to die."
"Clearly, the whole Ye family colluded to set this up. Rape? If it was really rape, what kind of person would a sister-in-law be to leave her drunk sister-in-law alone in a car?"
"Nian Wen," Zhao Chuchu began, summoning the courage to voice the question that haunted her most—but the moment she spoke his name, her resolve faltered.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," she murmured, resting her forehead against his chest. "I’m just so tired."
"Exhausted."
Everyone was waiting, suffering.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed—only that summer’s green leaves had turned autumn gold, the air grew colder, and people on the streets donned light sweaters. Finally, Ye Sibei received the court summons.
That evening, Qin Nan cooked beef. After they ate their fill, the two stood on the balcony, smoking.Qin Nan suddenly spoke up, seemingly out of nowhere: "After we win the lawsuit, let's quit smoking and drinking together."
Hearing this, Ye Sibei turned to look at her, somewhat bewildered. Qin Nan smiled and said, "I want to live a little longer."
"Live longer for what?"
"To see the world," Qin Nan thought for a moment, "and how it might change."
The two barely slept all night, only dozing off in the early hours of the morning. They were awakened by the alarm after just three or four hours of sleep.
They got up and washed together, standing side by side in front of the mirror. Qin Nan looked at Ye Sibei's sportswear in the reflection and couldn't help suggesting, "How about wearing a skirt?"
"I'm not ready yet."
Ye Sibei forced a smile. "I'd be too nervous, too scared."
"Then promise me this," Qin Nan placed her hands on Ye Sibei's shoulders. "If we win today, I'll buy you a skirt?"
Hearing this, Ye Sibei felt inexplicably happy, as if the future after victory was within reach. She pursed her lips into a smile and answered earnestly, "Okay."
After washing up, they went downstairs together. Ye Sibei sat in the passenger seat, watching Qin Nan put on sunglasses beside her, and for a moment, she had the illusion they were going on a picnic.
She couldn't help but smile faintly. From her bag, she took out a Chinese knot she had woven idly at home and hung it in the center of the car.
Qin Nan watched the Chinese knot sway gently in the car, then looked away and released the handbrake. "Ready to go?"
"Let's go."
Ye Sibei nodded.
As the car started moving, Ye Sibei saw the autumn sunlight streaming in. She suddenly remembered something: "When did you buy this car?"
"Not long after I met you."
"But you already had a motorcycle?" Ye Sibei turned to look at her, a little reproachful. "Why spend the extra money?"
"Because I was afraid you wouldn't dare ride a motorcycle," Qin Nan replied calmly, then smiled. "And I thought, since we were starting a family, we should look the part."
Ye Sibei listened quietly, suddenly realizing that from the very beginning, Qin Nan had never treated this marriage as just a compromise.
They drove to the courthouse, where many media outlets were already waiting at the entrance.
Since it wasn't their first time, it didn’t have the same impact as their visit to the procuratorate.
Ye Sibei and Qin Nan pushed through the crowd into the courthouse. Outside the courtroom, they saw Fan Jiancheng's family talking eagerly with an older-looking lawyer.
Zhao Shuhui held her child, her eyes red as she spoke to the lawyer, nodding repeatedly.
Ye Nianwen arrived with their parents and Zhao Chuchu. When they reached Ye Sibei, she shifted her gaze from Zhao Shuhui's face and immediately noticed Zhao Chuchu. She was dressed in plain casual clothes, her hair cut short, her bare face looking exhausted and haggard. Her once-bright eyes had lost their sparkle.
She had lost a lot of weight, and Ye Sibei could tell at a glance what she must have gone through.
Because she had been through the same.
Unable to bear looking any longer, Ye Sibei nodded at Zhao Chuchu, who softly called out, "Sister Ye."
"You've been through a lot."
Ye Sibei offered a comforting word, then turned to Ye Nianwen. "She's out?"
Ye Nianwen knew "she" referred to Zhao Shuhui and explained, "She was detained for fifteen days under public security regulations. She got out a while ago."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Shuhui, noticed the lawyer beside her, and stiffly averted his gaze. "Don't worry about her."Ye Nianwen said to ignore them, but the other party noticed him. The older-looking lawyer smiled and walked over to Ye Nianwen with familiarity. "Well, Nian Wen."
Ye Nianwen kept a straight face. The other glanced at Ye Sibei. "Acting as the civil litigation lawyer for your sister?"
"Yes," Ye Nianwen looked up at him. "Lawyer Meng still took this case?"
"Someone has to defend the accused," Meng Xin said, patting Ye Nianwen on the shoulder. "After the trial, I'll treat your family to a meal as an apology. Hope you understand."
"Who knows?" Ye Nianwen caught the implication and held his ground. "Maybe I'll be the one treating Lawyer Meng to a meal as an apology."
Hearing this, Meng Xin shook his head with a smile, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
After he left, Ye Sibei looked at Ye Nianwen. "Who was that?"
"Meng Xin," Zhang Yong walked over with a cigarette, explaining for Ye Nianwen. "The best criminal defense lawyer in Nancheng, your brother's boss."
Then Zhang Yong turned to Ye Nianwen. "When did you get fired?"
Ye Nianwen didn’t want to answer. He glanced at the courtroom doors.
The doors were opened by staff. Meng Xin, having calmed the defendant's family, entered the courtroom first with his assistant.
"You're both the plaintiff and a witness. Since the prosecutor's office is handling the public prosecution for you, your role as a witness is irreplaceable. So later, you'll wait outside the courtroom to be called as a witness."
Ye Nianwen briefly explained the trial procedure to her, and Ye Sibei nodded seriously.
Soon, several people in prosecutor uniforms walked over from another direction, carrying files.
"They are your prosecutors."
Ye Nianwen leaned closer to Ye Sibei and whispered.
Ye Sibei watched them approach from afar, as if seeing her hope. For some reason, her eyes grew moist.
The prosecutors reached the courtroom doors, saw Ye Sibei and Ye Nianwen, nodded slightly in greeting, and headed inside.
Ye Sibei instinctively grabbed the sleeve of one female prosecutor, who turned to see Ye Sibei’s hopeful gaze.
"You must win."
Ye Sibei spoke hoarsely. The female prosecutor paused, then patted her hand. "Don’t worry. We’ll act according to the law and bring the perpetrator to justice."
Ye Sibei nodded repeatedly but couldn’t let go.
The prosecutor looked at her calmly and firmly. Ye Nianwen stepped forward and gently pried Ye Sibei’s hand away.
"Sis, let the prosecutors go in first."
Ye Sibei was pulled back by Ye Nianwen. She watched the prosecutors, representing her justice, enter one by one, followed by the staff. Seeing it was almost time, Ye Nianwen softly told her, "Sis, I’m going in too."
"Mm."
"Sis," Ye Nianwen placed a hand on her shoulder, making her look at him. "In this trial, you’re not alone."
"I’ll be in the courtroom the whole time. Don’t be afraid."
"Mm."
Ye Sibei nodded. Ye Nianwen raised his hand and formed a fist.
When they were kids and the siblings pulled off some mischief together, they would bump fists like this to celebrate.
Seeing this, Ye Sibei smiled through her tears, raised her hand, and lightly bumped his fist.
Ye Nianwen grinned, then turned toward the courtroom, composed himself, straightened his clothes, and walked in solemnly and calmly.Ye Sibei watched as the courtroom doors slowly closed, then heard someone call her name: "Ye Sibei? Zhao Chuchu?"
Ye Sibei turned to see a staff member beckoning them: "Witnesses, please come this way to wait for your summons."
"Alright."
Ye Sibei responded and glanced back at Qin Nan, who had been standing nearby the whole time.
"I'll wait for you."
Qin Nan smiled: "I'll buy you that dress."
Ye Sibei laughed and nodded firmly before walking with Zhao Chuchu toward the staff member.
Alone with Zhao Chuchu, she finally had the chance. She looked at Zhao Chuchu and softly told her, "It ends today."
Zhao Chuchu lifted her gaze, her somewhat dazed eyes fixed on Ye Sibei. After a long pause, she gave a slight nod: "Yes, it ends today."
The two were separated by the staff. Ye Sibei followed the staff to a small room outside the courtroom. Alone in the cramped space, she surveyed her surroundings before slowly sitting on a chair. After hesitating for a moment, she turned to look at the small door beside her.
Meanwhile, in the courtroom, after the court clerk recited the courtroom rules, the presiding judge struck the gavel heavily, declaring the session open.
At 9:33 a.m. on September 3, 2018, the first trial of Fan Jiancheng's alleged sexual assault case officially began.
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