The crowd was bewildered.
Zheng Jintao answered a call, turned his head, and suddenly knelt down to beg Lin Fan for mercy?
What was going on?
Could it be that this young man really made Zheng Jintao jobless with just one phone call? No way, wasnât this young man just putting on airs earlier? Could he really be that powerful?
As Zheng Jintao suddenly knelt before Lin Fan, Zou Xiaosheng was shocked as well. She knew Lin Fan drove a Rolls-Royce and wasnât an ordinary person, but didnât expect Lin Fan to be so formidable, his influence far surpassing her imagination!
Who exactly is this man?
In addition to immensely admiring Lin Fan, Zou Xiaosheng also became extremely curious about his identity.
"How do you want me to spare you?" Lin Fan smiled and said, having already anticipated Zheng Jintaoâs sudden plea for mercy.
Everyone has weaknesses, everyone has things they care about. A person dares to harm others wantonly for only one reason: they believe their actions wonât affect what they care about, but once what they care about is threatened, they become afraid.
For someone like Zheng Jintao, the most direct method is to hit where it hurts.
The thing Zheng Jintao cares about most might not be that job heâs proud of, nor his beautiful wife, nor his daughter in an international kindergarten, but the vanity that all this brings him, the achievements he can boast about in front of others.
With his unemployment, with his imprisonment, all this would vanish like bubbles.
How could he not be afraid?
This was almost expected.
Zheng Jintao pleaded, "Mr. Lin, I know Iâm wrong, please donât sue me, I donât want to go to jail!"
Lin Fan said, "So you admit to slandering Zou Xiaosheng? If not, what are you afraid of?"
Zheng Jintao lowered his head, "Yes, I indeed slandered Little Sheng. Itâs because of that matter of stealing her grandmaâs old hen that I held a grudge in my heart. When I got the chance to get revenge, I felt I couldnât let it go, so I furiously attacked her."
Ah?
The crowdâs expressions changed, hearing Zheng Jintao himself admit that he was indeed slandering Zou Xiaosheng!
Lin Fan asked, "Tell me in detail, how did you slander Little Sheng?"
Zheng Jintao said, "Little Sheng never stole anything, I made that up. Little Sheng isnât a petty thug, she never bullied classmates, and also... and also, the thing about her asking for a house was just me hearing a one-sided story from her biological parents and then starting a smear campaign against her..."
Zheng Jintao actually confessed honestly.
He had no choice but to confess, as he now firmly believed Lin Fan had the means. If Lin Fan said he should serve the maximum sentence of three years, then he would indeed spend three years in prison!
Now, he had to get Lin Fan to give him a chance to escape this calamity.
Lin Fan said, "Itâs not up to me whether youâre spared; you should ask Little Sheng if sheâll forgive you."
Zheng Jintao immediately turned to Zou Xiaosheng, smiling ingratiatingly, "Little Sheng, I know I was wrong. Considering weâre family, could you forgive me this once? I wonât dare slander you again, I swear!"
Zou Xiaosheng was already somewhat dazed, never imagining that the arrogant Zheng Jintao would one day smile ingratiatingly and beg her for mercy.
Zou Xiaosheng was momentarily at a loss for how to deal with this.
She glanced at Lin Fan, who nodded at her, indicating she should make her own decision. Lin Fanâs intention was clear: no matter what decision she made, he would support her.
Zou Xiaosheng had never felt so protected before. Her heart warmed, and she felt as if she was filled with boundless strength.
"I want to use the law to prove my innocence!" Zou Xiaosheng said.
Having once set foot halfway into the gates of death, seeing Zheng Jintaoâs face tonight made her realize that her suicide would only take her life away, without causing any harm to those who hurt her.
They might even laugh happily, celebrating her death.
They wouldnât have any regret.
Nor any guilt.
If she forgave Zheng Jintao this time, he wouldnât sincerely thank her, because the reason heâs admitting fault isnât that heâs turned over a new leaf, but just because heâs been hurt.
Zheng Jintao is also afraid of being hurt.
Why is it, that when heâs hurt, he can kneel and beg for mercy, easily preserving himself?
While she had to endure his attacks to the point of ending her life?
No!
Zou Xiaosheng decided that she couldnât let Zheng Jintao escape responsibility so easily; he had to truly feel the hurt, only then could she let go of her hatred!
This was the price Zheng Jintao ought to pay; it couldnât end like this.
On one hand, Zou Xiaosheng was grateful she was saved, or else her suicide would have left her loved ones in pain and enemies in joy, seeming like she was relieved of this wicked world, but in reality, her soul wouldnât have found peace, and the wrongdoers wouldnât be punished.
On the other hand, she resolved to make these wrongdoers pay their deserved price, never showing mercy or letting them off.
What is revenge if forgiveness is involved?
"I want to use the law to prove my innocence!"
This sentence contained so much.
Like a thunderclap, it gave Zheng Jintao a shock on a sunny day!
Damn!
Zou Xiaosheng refusing to forgive him was questionable, and if she wanted to use the law, it meant Lin Fan would really help her, and he would end up in jail!
"Little Sheng, I really know Iâm wrong, Iâm your cousin, please, for the sake of my wife and kids, forgive your cousin this once!" Zheng Jintao, thick-skinned, tried to play the sympathy card.
Zou Xiaosheng said coldly, "Do you remember, how many times did I beg you to stop slandering and defaming me, and did you ever let me go? If not, what face do you have to ask me to forgive you now?"
Zheng Jintao said, "Little Sheng, no matter how much I cursed you, youâre just one person. I was wrong before, but I didnât hurt your family, did I?"
Zou Xiaosheng retorted, "If your family gets hurt, itâs not my problem; the only one responsible is you. The one hurting them is you, not me!"
Zheng Jintao was getting desperate, and it seemed like Zou Xiaosheng was determined to see this through with him.
"Guys, put in a good word for me!" Zheng Jintao turned to his group of friends at the table, hoping someone would speak on his behalf.
But...
The people who had been sitting at the same table as him were now pretending not to hear, not looking at Zheng Jintao at all. It was evident; with the situation turning, who would dare to be the one to stick their neck out?
"Little Chen, Ah-Tian, say something!" Zheng Jintao urged.
One person looked up and said in a deep voice, "Stop calling us. Youâve been fired from the Company, and you have nothing to do with us now. Donât drag us into the mess you created!"
Zheng Jintao nearly spat blood; so-called friends indeed, opportunists to the core, too damn realistic!
With no one speaking for him, Zheng Jintao felt a wave of despair as if everything he cared about was about to vanish.
He was going crazy.
"Zou Xiaosheng, if you dare harm me, donât think I wonât hit you!" Zheng Jintao said agitatedly, utterly frustrated, and he actually intended to assault Zou Xiaosheng.