Shen Jingwei took the stand in his own defense.
He was perfect. Calm, articulate, sympathetic.
"I loved Wanyin," he said, voice heavy with emotion. "I still do. Our relationship wasn't perfect but it was real. When she had the accident, I was devastated. I visited her every day at the hospital. Paid for her treatment. All I wanted was for her to recover."
"And when she left without telling you?"
"I was worried. She had a serious head injury. The doctors said she might not make rational decisions. I tried to contact her, yes. To make sure she was safe. To offer help if she needed it."
"The prosecution claims you were stalking her."
"I was concerned about her wellbeing. There's a difference."
"The vandalism at the bookstore where she works. Can you explain that?"
"I had nothing to do with it. I was in Shanghai when it happened. I have witnesses, security footage. Someone else did it and she's blaming me."
He was so convincing. Wanyin could see the judge listening carefully, considering.
"Mr. Shen, there are hundreds of text messages. Some of them quite threatening."
"Emotional, yes. Threatening, no. I was hurt. Confused. I said things I shouldn't have. But I never threatened violence. I never stalked her. I just... I wanted her back. That's not a crime."
The lawyer nodded sympathetically. "No further questions."
Wanyin's lawyer tried to poke holes in his story. But Shen Jingwei was prepared for everything. Had answers for everything.
"You paid for her father's medical treatment. Why?"
"Because I cared about her family. Even when she cut off contact, I continued the payments because it was the right thing to do."
"You showed up at a temple where she'd been lured by a fake name. How did you know she'd be there?"
"I didn't. I was there for personal reasons. Seeing her was coincidence. I tried to talk to her, yes. But she was with a friend. It was a public place. I never touched her, never threatened her."
"The restraining order violation. You were arrested for approaching her at her workplace."
"I went to apologize for any distress I'd caused. I didn't know the order was already in effect. The moment the police explained, I left peacefully. It was a misunderstanding."
Every question had an answer. Every piece of evidence had an explanation.
By the end of his testimony, Wanyin felt hopeless.
He'd made himself look reasonable. Made her look paranoid.
The trial recessed for the day.
That night, Meilin called.
"I watched the live updates. He's good."
"He's winning."
"Maybe. But Wanyin, the truth has a way of coming out. Trust the process."
"What if the process fails? What if the judge believes him?"
"Then we appeal. We keep fighting. We don't give up."
But Wanyin was tired of fighting. Tired of being on trial for surviving.