149: Trial

[Real World · Municipal Intermediate People's Court]

In the solemn and dignified courtroom, the air was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out. The lingering echo of the gavel's fall still seemed to reverberate under the high dome, but the trial had already concluded.

Zhou Zihui stood in the defendant's dock, wearing an ill-fitting detention center vest, his frame thinner than months before, yet his back was ramrod straight.

His face lacked the youthful flush of blood, only a near-transparent pallor, and a weight far beyond his years settled deep in his eyes.

The Judge's reading of the verdict was lengthy and professional, but its core meaning was clear:

Given that the defendant Zhou Zihui was a minor at the time of the crime, had voluntarily surrendered, and judicial appraisal confirmed his actions were severely affected by rare physiological factors, significantly impairing his ability to recognize and control his behavior, coupled with his sincere remorse, his family's active compensation and obtaining a degree of forgiveness from the victim's side... with multiple offenses combined, he was ultimately sentenced to eight years of fixed-term imprisonment.

In a homicide case involving such severe consequences, this was already a highly favorable outcome within the legal framework.

In the public gallery, Zhou Zihui's mother trembled violently upon hearing "eight years," covering her mouth as suppressed sobs leaked through her fingers, tears streaming down.

His father tightly held his wife's shoulder, his own eyes already red, gritting his teeth as he bore this sentence that was considered "lenient" yet enough to crush a family.

They looked at their son's slender back, their gazes filled with heartache, confusion, despair, and endless reluctance and affection.

On the other side, the parents of the victim, Xiao Yu, were completely different.

The mother stared vacantly ahead, as if her Soul had been drained, only the continuously falling tears proving the existence of pain. The father's fists were clenched tightly, veins bulging on his arms, his body trembling slightly from restraining his anger.

When he heard "eight years of fixed-term imprisonment" instead of a harsher punishment, a low growl escaped his throat, and he abruptly turned his head away, unwilling to look at the defendant's dock again.

For them, any verdict that could not bring their son back to life was unjust;

any sentence less than "a life for a life" was leniency. The pain of losing a child and the resentment over "justice" not being fully served almost materialized into a frosty chill, permeating their surroundings.

The Bailiff began guiding Zhou Zihui away from the defendant's dock. He slowly turned, his gaze first finding Shen Mingyuan sitting at the lawyer's table.

Shen Mingyuan closed the case file in front of him and walked over. His expression was as calm and professional as ever, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of relief after completing a difficult assignment, and a complex scrutiny of this youth's future fate.

"The verdict has taken effect," Shen Mingyuan's voice was not loud but clearly reached Zhou Zihui's ears. "Eight years—this is already the most ideal outcome achievable within the existing evidence, your special circumstances, and the bounds of the law. From a legal standpoint, this sentencing is balanced and reasonable."

Zhou Zihui nodded, the movement light yet solemn: "I know. Lawyer Shen, thank you. Truly... thank you for everything you've done for me."

His gratitude was not just for this verdict, but also for the rescue in the rainy night mountains, and the subsequent meetings, communication, and psychological counseling.

Shen Mingyuan gave a slight nod, accepting this thanks. What he could do ended here.

Zhou Zihui's gaze passed over Shen Mingyuan's shoulder, looking toward the other side of the public gallery, at the couple who seemed to have aged twenty years in an instant—Xiao Yu's parents.

His eyes flickered intensely, filled with guilt, pain, and a deep sense of helplessness.

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something to that couple. An apology? Confession? Explanation? He knew any words would be laughably pale in the face of a lost life and a shattered family, and might even wound them again.

In the end, he only bowed deeply in that direction. His waist bent low, holding the position for several seconds.

When he straightened up, the faint glimmer of moisture in his eyes was forcibly suppressed. He turned to Shen Mingyuan, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear: "Lawyer Shen, I... and my brother, we destroyed another family. I know. This sin... we will use the time ahead to atone for it, bit by bit. Even if... they can never forgive."

He said "we," "my brother," and "I." He accepted this shared, twin-born guilt without evasion.

The Bailiff signaled again. Zhou Zihui took one last look at his sobbing parents, silently mouthing the words "I'm sorry, wait for me to return," then turned and followed the Bailiff toward the courtroom's side door, heading toward the long path of atonement he must face.

Shen Mingyuan stood in place, watching the youth disappear behind the door, then looked at the two families in the public gallery, plunged into immense grief yet heading toward different fates. He adjusted his suit jacket, his face returning to its usual calm detachment.

One assignment had ended. The legal process was complete, but the judgment of life, for everyone present, might have just begun.

He picked up his briefcase and walked out of the courtroom. Next, he needed to handle some follow-up paperwork, and then... it was time to refocus his attention on the shadow named "Zhu Zicong" hidden in the mist of Wild Fox Ridge.

Pushing open the heavy glass door, the familiar scent of the Law Firm's air conditioning mixed with paper and coffee wafted over. Shen Mingyuan carried his briefcase toward his private office; the heaviness brought by Zhou Zihui's case file seemed temporarily sealed away in a corner upon entering this supremely rational space.

He had just sat down in his chair, not yet having time to turn on his computer, when the office door was pushed open after two symbolic knocks. Partner Director Wang strolled in with a teacup, his face wearing a complex expression mixed with admiration, curiosity, and a hint of lingering fear.

"Back, Xiao Shen?" Director Wang sat down opposite him, blowing on the steam from his teacup. "Today's trial... I heard the result. Eight years. Honestly, in that kind of... well, that nature of a case, to achieve this level, people outside are saying our firm performed exceptionally this time."

Shen Mingyuan opened the case file and began organizing the final archival documents, responding with only a soft "hmm" without stopping his movements.

Director Wang leaned closer, lowering his voice, his eyes gleaming with inquiry: "But seriously, Xiao Shen, this case has been eerie from start to finish. That kid... Zhou Zihui, looks quiet and gentle, hardly seems like he could... ahem. And later, those psychological appraisals, special circumstance proofs—all so mysterious. You handled it; give your old brother the inside scoop. What other hidden details are there that we don't know? Is it really... dual personality?"

Shen Mingyuan looked up, his gaze calm and unruffled: "Director Wang, case details, especially those involving client privacy and undisclosed specifics of judicial appraisals, are bound by professional ethics and confidentiality agreements. You know I always value this."

His tone was polite yet firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Director Wang was taken aback, sitting up awkwardly and waving his hand: "Alright, alright, I know you're strong on principles. Sigh, I'm just curious—such a bizarre case, you don't encounter one like this for years. Never mind, never mind. The result is good anyway, and it's beneficial for our firm's reputation. You're busy, you're busy."

Watching Director Wang leave with a hint of regret and close the door, Shen Mingyuan let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

After efficiently handling all legal documents and transferring the archival Materials to his Assistant, the sky outside had already taken on the hues of dusk. Shen Mingyuan did not work overtime, heading straight back to his Apartment.

The moment the door closed, the city's noise was shut out.

He removed his slightly constricting suit jacket, loosened his tie, and walked to the Workbench. The pair of Matte-Black Pistols named "twin stars" lay quietly on their specialized Charging Dock. He picked up the Dedicated Connector, plugging it into the Wall Socket modified to provide stable, Strong Current.

Hum—

A faint vibration sound arose as the dark red Biological Veins on the "twin stars" pistols glowed faintly like breathing, beginning to absorb Electrical Energy in an orderly manner.

Shen Mingyuan could clearly feel a faint feedback of "satisfaction" and "desire" emotions.