Zhan's pov
I still can't believe how I ended up here. Just days ago, I was filled with excitement, stepping onto new soil with my husband and family, ready to start fresh. The air smelled different, crisper, promising. The thought of exploring new places, building a home, and making memories filled me with warmth.
I had imagined lazy mornings with Wang, waking up to sunlight streaming through our bedroom window. I pictured Mia running through the house, her laughter bouncing off the walls, Ji Li, and Grandma finally relaxing without worry. It was supposed to be perfect a new beginning, a dream turned reality.
But instead of unpacking and celebrating, I found myself here, in a cold, sterile police station, the weight of injustice pressing down on me. The joy of relocation now felt distant, replaced by a gnawing dread.
The sound of metal clanking against metal pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up as the officer unlocked my cell door, his face expressionless.
"Someone's here to see you," he said, stepping aside.
My heart leaped. Wang. It had to be him. He must have found a way to get me out. I quickly stood, smoothing down my shirt as I prepared to see the one person who could bring me comfort in this nightmare.
But the moment I stepped forward, my breath hitched. It wasn't Wang.
Standing just outside the cell was his mother, her sharp gaze scanning me from head to toe. Beside her stood a man in a crisp suit, his presence screaming authority. A lawyer, I suppose.
Disappointment crashed into me like a wave, but I masked it quickly. I squared my shoulders, swallowed the lump forming in my throat and forced myself to stay calm. "Where's Wang?" I asked, my voice strained with worry.
His mother sighed, her stern expression softening for a brief moment. "Good evening to you too Zhan. He's in the hospital," she said.
My heart stopped. "What?" My voice cracked.
"He fainted," she continued. "They refused to let him see you, and his body just... gave out. He's exhausted, hasn't eaten, hasn't slept."
The words slammed into me like a truck. My chest tightened, and a sharp pain stabbed at my heart. Wang. My Wang. He was suffering because of me. I wanted to scream, to punch something, to break down completely, but I clenched my fists, forcing back the tears that burned my eyes.
We are supposed to protect each other, to keep each other safe. And yet here I was, locked in a cell while he collapsed from stress and heartbreak. The thought of him lying weak in a hospital bed shattered me.
"Come with us," his mother said, her voice gentler than before. "Let's talk in private."
I barely registered myself nodding as I followed them. The officer led us to a small office, far from the cold, suffocating walls of my cell.
Wang's mother gestured for me to sit, and to my surprise, she reached out, squeezing my hand lightly. There was no accusation in her eyes, no blame just quiet concern.
"Tell me everything," she said, her tone motherly yet firm. "Don't leave anything out."
I hesitated for only a second before exhaling shakily. Wang had told me not to talk to anyone, not to trust easily. But here she was, sitting across from me, her gaze warm yet firm, nothing like the woman who once despised me.
"This is Lawyer Fengmian," she said gently. "He is our family lawyer, and he is here to help you."
I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. Help me?
Wang's mother had never liked me. She had called me a fling, an infatuation her son would soon wake up from. She had insisted he had a fiancée, a life planned out, a duty to his family. And now she was sitting here, holding my hand, speaking softly as if she cared.
Had she changed her mind? Did she finally accept us? Or was this just another trick to separate me from Wang?
"You're confused," she observed, reading my expression with ease. "I don't blame you."
I clenched my hands together, unsure what to say. "I just..." My voice trailed off.
"I was angry when I heard," she admitted. "I was furious. But Wang is in the hospital because of you, and despite everything, all he wants is to be with you. If my son loves you enough to collapse over you, then the least I can do is make sure you're safe."
I swallowed hard. This was real. She was really here for me.
"Tell us everything," she urged again, her voice softer now, almost... motherly.
I still didn't trust easily. But for Wang, I had to try.
The lawyer nodded, adjusting the video recorder to ensure it captured everything. "Go on," he encouraged, his tone professional but patient.
I took a deep breath, steadying my hands on my lap. "At first, I was just helping Meng and her friends with their assignments," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Please be specific," Fengmian prompted. "You mean Meng and who else?"
I swallowed, then listed them again. "Meng Ziyi, Wen Xu, Xue Yang, Jin Zixuan, Wen Chao, and Yu Bin."
Fengmian glanced at Wang's mother, who gave me a reassuring nod. "And then what happened?"
I exhaled, forcing myself to remember. "At first, they were friendly. But then... things changed."
"Changed how?" Fengmian asked, his voice calm, yet firm.
I wasn't familiar with chemistry since I wasn't taking the course, but I gave it a try and got an 8 for her. Still, she was furious. I swallowed hard, my throat tightening as the memories resurfaced. "She... she hit me," I whispered, my voice shaking.
Wang's mother stiffened, her face darkening with anger, but she remained silent, letting me continue.
Fengmian leaned forward slightly. "She hit you because she got an 8?"
I nodded, clenching my fists on my lap. "She said I was trying to make her look stupid. I wanted her to fail while her friends passed. She slapped me across the face."
"What did you do?" Fengmian asked, his voice calm but probing.
"I apologized," I admitted, shame creeping up my spine. "I told her I'd do better next time, but she wasn't satisfied. She wanted to make sure I understood my place."
"What happened next?"
I took a shaky breath. "She asked if I was dating anyone and I told her no. Before I knew what was happening Wen Chao Instructed Xue Yang to go and bring Mian Mian,"
Wang's mother let out a quiet, furious breath. "Monsters," she muttered under her breath.
Fengmian remained composed, but I could see the flicker of disgust in his eyes. "And this was just the beginning?"
I nodded, biting my lip to keep from crying. "It only got worse from there."
"Can you example?" Fengmian asks.
I hesitated before nodding. I had no idea what was happening or what these guys were trying to pull. A few minutes later, Xue Yang entered, dragging Mian Mian behind him like she was nothing more than a doll. Her eyes were wide with terror, her lips trembling as if she wanted to scream but didn't dare. My stomach twisted in knots. I had never seen her look like that before-so vulnerable, so helpless. I felt a pang of pity for her.
"Strip," Meng ordered the moment Xue Yang pushed Mian Mian forward.
She was so shocked but before she could beg Wen Chao reached out and ripped her uniform down the middle.
Wang's mother exhaled sharply, her fingers curling into fists.
Fengmian remained composed. "Did it escalate from there?"
"Yes," I whispered. "It got worse. Much worse."
"Take your time," he urged, and I clenched my fists, bracing myself for what came next.
Yu Bin, Meng's brother, was the only one who reacted. His face was tight with anger as he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. But before Mian Mian could clutch it to herself, Jin Zixuan yanked it away, throwing it to the floor like it was trash. Yu Bin clenched his fists but said nothing. Even he knew better than to challenge Meng or her group openly.
Entertain me," Meng said, lighting a cigarette, her eyes never leaving Mian Mian. One by one, the other boys followed her lead, lighting their own cigarettes, the room filling with smoke. All except Yu Bin, who turned his back and walked away.
I told Meng I didn't understand what she said.
Do you want me to spell it out for you? she hissed.
Wen Xu, without saying a word, walked over to Mian Mian. His expression was cold, indifferent, as he pressed the lit cigarette into her skin. The sizzle of burning flesh echoed in the air, quickly followed by the dull thud of his fist connecting with her face.
She winced in pain, but not a single sound escaped her lips.
I watched, frozen in place. My heart hammered in my chest, my body trembling, not out of fear for myself, but for her. I had been through this before, but Mian Mian? She didn't deserve it. But what could I do? I have scars that had already marred my life, one that would never fade, but Mian Mian, she was still untouched by the darkness that had consumed them.
"I'm sorry," I mouthed the words, but they felt hollow. Mian Mian's trembling body seemed to understand, though. She shook her head, refusing to let me take the blame for this nightmare. It's not your fault, she said, though her eyes were filled with silent terror.
Meng's eyes flicked to Xue Yang, her favorite tool of cruelty. "Your belt will be useful now," she said, approaching me.
Xue Yang, ever obedient to Meng, stepped forward, unbuckling the leather strap. I had seen this too many times to pretend ignorance. He beat her without hesitation, without remorse. The belt cracked across her body, and Mian Mian cried out, falling to the ground. The sight of her in pain twisted something deep inside me, and I wanted to scream, to stop it, but my voice stayed trapped in my throat.
"Just do what she wants," Mian Mian gasped through her tears. "Please." Her voice was so broken that it felt like a punch in my gut. She begged, not for herself, but for me to end it all by giving in to Meng's twisted desires. But how could I?
"I don't know what to do," I muttered, fidgeting, my hands shaking.
Wen Xu stepped closer, his lips curling into a smile that chilled me to the bone. "I'll teach you," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. He grabbed me roughly and forced me to strip, pushing me onto Mian Mian, his fists and belt finding my back until I did exactly as they wanted. Each lash stung, but it wasn't just physical pain, it was the pain of knowing I had no control, that I was being used to hurt someone else.
The door creaked open suddenly, and a figure appeared. Yu Bin walked in, flanked by his father and security. For a brief moment, I thought salvation had arrived. Surely Meng's games would end with the presence of her father.
Enough, Meng," her father commanded, his voice steady and cold.
Meng flashed a laugh, pretending it was all in fun. "Father, we were just playing around."
But her father wasn't amused. "You, stand up," he ordered, and I gratefully obeyed, expecting a reprieve. But I was wrong.
"Take her to the hospital," he said, nodding toward Mian Mian, now a crumpled mess on the floor. Then, his gaze turned to the boys. "I'll be reporting this to your fathers," he added sternly before leaving.
As soon as he was out of sight, Meng's calm façade crumbled. She turned on Yu Bin and slapped him hard across the face. "Get out," she screamed, her voice shrill with fury. Yu Bin, clearly shaken, left without another word, though his eyes darted toward Mian Mian one last time. His attempt to help her had only made things worse.
Once Yu Bin was gone, Meng turned to the security. "Mr. Kang, and she told him to let me handle it. We can't risk her going home and telling her father. I don't want my dad scolding me again," she hissed, her eyes dark with malice.
Mian Mian, barely able to speak, whimpered, "Please, I won't tell, I promise."
But Meng's cruel smirk only deepened. "Take her to the swamp," she instructed, "and let Zhan push her inside himself. Make sure you send me a video."
Mian Mian was dragged away, her sobs fading into the distance. My heart sank as the security guards followed Meng's orders, knowing all too well what awaited her. This was just another sick game for Meng.
The boys dragged me behind her, and when we reached the swamp, they beat me, forcing me to push her and they made a video.
Wang's mother cringed, cursed, and hissed, her hands trembling with fury.
Fengmian sighed. "What happened after that?" he asked.