“I, I…”
All eyes were on her. The female author, pen name Liang He, felt unprecedented psychological pressure.
Her gaze darted, ears red, completely at a loss.
On one side was her conscience’s condemnation, on the other, life’s pressures.
Han Qin’s words washed over Liang He’s heart like brainwashing.
“Your writing isn’t worse than others, yet after years, you’re still not famous. Do you know why?”
“You don’t lack writing talent, you lack an opportunity!”
“Writing, in the end, is no different from other industries. If someone promotes you, even if you’re mediocre, you’ll succeed. Without promotion, you’ll be overlooked forever!”
“You know how many times Ni Sisi fought for higher fees for ‘Against the Current’? If she did that for you, would you be so far behind?”
“You treat her as a friend, but she might not see you the same. Whoever boosts her performance, she fawns over!”
“You’re married now, your writing’s lukewarm, your status at home probably isn’t high. Don’t you envy those who gain fame and fortune from writing?”
Each sentence tightened Liang He’s heart.
Han Qin knew how to “persuade” someone, analysing pros and cons, using threats and temptations, breaking Liang He’s mental defences before laying bare the benefits.
Though demoted from editor-in-chief to proofreader, Han Qin’s promises still held weight. She told Liang He that after losing the Rongcheng lawsuit, the magazine was humiliated. If Liang He testified to help win the Shandong case, the magazine could tilt resources her way, enough to break her years of obscurity.
The difference a platform’s support makes is huge!
Better placement, higher acceptance rates, bigger fees, even editors outlining stories and analysing market trends… such support could make her a top author on the platform.
This was a temptation of career and dreams. With youth literature booming, Liang He, after years of persistence, wanted fame and fortune too.
If empty promises might bounce, Han Qin offered tangible benefits.
More practical than being a top author, it could ease Liang He’s financial strain. Why did she stay up late writing? She was married, had a baby, and was a mother. Daytime was consumed by her child, leaving only late nights for writing.
Exhausted by day, sleepless by night, Liang He was worn and haggard.
Accepting Han Qin’s benefits eased her financial burden. She could hire a nanny, reclaim her time, and focus on her writing career!
She wasn’t noble, just an ordinary person bowed by life’s weight.
Liang He lowered her head, shoulders trembling.
She hadn’t always been like this.
Not a saint, but never deliberately bad… She’d lied, as everyone does growing up, but perjury was far worse.
Her inner torment showed on her face. Zheng Zhihe saw it and felt confident: Han Qin was useless at everything, even picking a bad witness.
She chose someone who couldn’t handle the pressure.
“Perjury is a crime.”
Zheng Zhihe’s voice was gentle yet authoritative: “A moment’s mistake can be corrected, but stubbornly persisting in error is foolish. I’ve read your novels. Your writing is solid, your emotions genuine. If you haven’t succeeded yet, you will soon.”
To gain Liang He’s trust, Zheng Zhihe mentioned her novels’ titles and plots. Without reading and analysing them, he couldn’t offer such precise comments.
If not for the courtroom setting, Zheng Zhihe seemed eager to discuss writing techniques with her.
Liang He couldn’t look at Xiao Ni but couldn’t help listening to Zheng Zhihe.
His kindness offered her, tormented by guilt, a sliver of comfort, yet deepened her pain: someone like her deserved harsh questioning from Xiao Ni’s lawyer!
Lawyer Bai objected, claiming Zheng Zhihe was influencing the witness. The judge told Zheng Zhihe to stop. He raised his hand:
“Your Honour, just one last thing.”
Zheng Zhihe turned, “Actually, I lied. I haven’t read your novels!”
Liang He’s body shook.
How could he know without reading?
She wasn’t stupid and quickly understood.
Zheng Zhihe hadn’t read her work but knew her style so well… it was Xiao Ni who told him!
For the first time that day, Liang He looked at Xiao Ni, who said nothing accusatory.
Then Liang He’s emotions collapsed.
She was just an ordinary author.
Without Han Qin’s need for her testimony, she’d barely speak to the editor-in-chief.
Countless times, stuck, wanting to quit, torn between dreams and life, Xiao Ni encouraged and supported her.
Xiao Ni sent the ejiao cakes.
Xiao Ni cared so much for her.
If she perjured, would Xiao Ni still care for authors, trust them?
Editors like Xiao Ni were rare. Losing one would hurt many authors!
Liang He covered her face, sobbing:
“…I’m sorry, I lied!”
“Xiao Ni never asked for bribes. The ginseng tea wasn’t a bribe, it was my return gift. I did receive the ejiao cakes Xiao Ni sent.”
Her emotional collapse was like dominoes falling. Liang He spilled everything.
How Han Qin intimidated her, promised to promote her, even paid her 50,000 yuan before the trial.
“It was 100,000 total, 50,000 before, 50,000 after.”
Liang He revealed all, and the suffocating pressure lifted. She might not be good, but she didn’t want to be bad. The 100,000, hard-earned by her, could solve her immediate struggles, but the cost was framing a friend who’d helped her so much. Her conscience ached; she couldn’t face that ugly self!
Lawyer Bai’s face darkened.
This was Han Qin’s “guaranteed” witness?
Life isn’t a TVB legal drama. A witness admitting to being bribed for perjury? A first in Bai’s career!
Han Qin was furious and shocked.
Forget empty promises, 100,000 yuan for silence, and Liang He betrayed her in court. Han Qin couldn’t fathom it.
Did Xiao Ni offer more?
More than 100,000?
Han Qin was a caged beast, ready to breathe fire.
She recalled giving Liang He cash, choosing the location herself, wary after past betrayals, even checking Liang He for recording devices. So, Liang He’s accusations? She could deny them, claim Xiao Ni bribed her!
Han Qin whispered to Bai, who requested a recess.
Zheng Zhihe said he had a third piece of evidence.
“I said my client keeps receipts. She keeps invoices for purchases and mailing receipts too.”
Now Bai wanted to lash out.
Parcel records are hard to trace. The post office archives them, but they’re cleared after a while.
Bai had confirmed the ejiao cake mailing record was gone, hence his confidence!
No post office record, but Xiao Ni kept hers.
Fine, she kept it, but why not show it earlier? Playing games?
Purchase invoice, mailing receipt.
Recording.
Liang He’s courtroom reversal.
How could this case go on?
