When Luo Fei's case went to court, Su He sat low-key in the gallery, not attracting much attention.
She wore a black trench coat and sat in a corner seat, occasionally exchanging a few words with the person beside her.
An elderly woman next to her looked haggard, but her eyes were not vacant. Clearly, upon learning that Luo Fei was about to be sentenced, she found some solace in her heart.
"Young lady, why are you alone?" The elderly woman was bored waiting for the defendant to arrive and started a chat with Su He.
Su He smiled faintly. "Yes, alone."
"Did... someone in your family also suffer at the hands of that beast?" The elderly woman actually wanted to ask if Su He was also a victim, but she was afraid of upsetting her, so she changed her words.
Su He shook her head. "I saw the news and wanted to come and see what fate awaited him."
"For a thing worse than a dog, even the death penalty is too good for him." The elderly woman had only one daughter, whom she raised like a treasure. But because she was targeted by that beast, she eventually lost her mind and remained foolish to this day.
However, compared to those girls who lost their lives, her family was considered lucky.
At least, she was still alive.
But living like this was no better than being dead.
Su He agreed wholeheartedly.
As they were whispering to each other, the door beside them suddenly opened, and Luo Fei, with a shaved head, was slowly escorted in by prison guards.
Compared to his former glorious demeanor, he could now be described as pathetic.
His face was covered in stubble, his eyes drooped, and fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, making him seem ten years older all of a sudden. Moreover, there were new injuries on his face, bruised and swollen, indicating that he had not had a good time in the detention center.
It made sense. Prisoners in jail were of various types, from petty thieves to murderers. But even men themselves would despise someone like Luo Fei, who preyed on women.
In prison, it was a world of fists. A "refined" man like Luo Fei, with only a mouth, was bound to be beaten.
The more glorious he was outside, the more miserable he was in prison.
"I heard you're a con artist who preys on emotions? You look like a decent person, so why do this kind of thing? You're not a man at all!"
"Heard you're also a psychologist, using certain methods to make those women obey his every word, tsk tsk tsk..."
"Those women loved him to death, and it was all fake?"
"Of course not! If he hadn't hypnotized people, how could women have fallen for him!"
"This kid is despicable. If he wants to pursue a woman, he should do it openly. Using such dirty tricks! Pfft, shameless!"
"Is he not capable in that regard? Hahaha..."
Mockery was the least of it; more often, it was a barrage of fists.
A man, responsible for his actions, bullying women with such despicable means, was a disgrace to all men!
Thus, Luo Fei became what he was now.
The moment he was brought in, it caused a commotion.
Most of the people present were family members of the victims. Seeing him enter, they became extremely agitated, wishing they could rush forward and tear him apart.
"Luo Fei, you scum, may you die a terrible death!"
"Luo Fei, pay for my daughter's life!"
Seeing the excitement below, the judges had to bang their gavels on the table, signaling for silence. "Order!"
After a while, the people below were pacified.
The subsequent trial proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Faced with multiple charges, Luo Fei pleaded guilty without a defense. Perhaps knowing the outcome, he couldn't be bothered to argue.
"It's not like that... he couldn't possibly do such a thing..."
"He's a doctor, how could he break the law..."
The only one who felt he was wronged was his wife.
The pregnant woman, with tear-streaked face, cried out in Luo Fei's direction. "There must be some misunderstanding... My husband is a responsible psychologist, he has a family and children, he wouldn't do such a thing!"
"Madam, please be quiet." The judge, seeing she was pregnant, was polite. "If you continue to disrupt order, I will have to ask you to leave."
Mrs. Luo sobbed, as if not hearing the judge, and spoke on her own, "Luo Fei, explain yourself..."
Luo Fei kept his head down, seemingly unable to face them, and remained silent.
Helplessly, the judge asked a female lawyer to escort Mrs. Luo out.
Half an hour later, Su He walked out of the courthouse.
Luo Fei's various heinous deeds were proven with solid evidence. The lawyers barely spoke, seemingly having given up on the defense. In the end, Luo Fei was sentenced to death for multiple crimes.
Originally, he might have been able to get a life sentence. After all, he did not personally commit violence, only used some suggestions. The charges in this regard were difficult to define, and it might not have been a death sentence. However, Luo Fei's passive attitude made the outcome a foregone conclusion.
The moment the verdict was announced, there was a sudden outcry from the audience.
Some wept tears of joy, while others expressed relief.
The families of the victims, who had waited for so long, finally received a just trial, which brought them some comfort. However, the deceased were gone, and what was lost could never be regained.
With the dust settled, it was time to move on. Life had to continue.
Su He breathed in the fresh air outside, her heart feeling heavy.
Perhaps it was because she grew up in a loving environment and rarely saw the dark side of human nature, believing the world to be beautiful and pure. But recent events had shown her that the world was not as good as she imagined, and could even be terrifyingly frightening.
"Young lady, it's all over now." An elderly woman with white hair appeared beside her and gently patted her shoulder. Clearly, she mistook her for a victim.
Su He looked at the kind face of the woman and offered no explanation. "Yes, it's all over."
*
Su He drove home, her mood gradually calming down.
That evening, she personally cooked a meal of three dishes and one soup.
Compared to before, her cooking skills had improved significantly, thanks to Li Sao. Li Sao had worked for the Lu family for many years and was an excellent cook. Under her tutelage, Su He's culinary skills advanced rapidly.
When the food was served, Lu Yanbei arrived home on time.
Since their marriage, he rarely went out for social engagements. Unless it was unavoidable, he would call her in advance to report.
"Why are you cooking today? Where's Li Sao?" Lu Yanbei untied his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, pacing to the dining table.
"I made your favorite sour fish soup." Su He did not answer his question directly.
"Thank you for your hard work, wife." Lu Yanbei leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Su He found the address to be incredibly cheesy, but coming from Lu Yanbei, it sounded so natural, and even a bit sweet.
This man before her gave her a sense of security, making her unconsciously forget those unpleasant things.