The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 13

“Although it feels like a misunderstanding,” Lü Yu sighed, “it’s a good thing you didn’t know he had feelings for you. That kind of person is just messed up, if he can’t have you, he’ll destroy you. It’s best that you never knew him at all.”

Xiao San nodded silently.

She didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.

After a moment of silence, Lü Yu cautiously asked, “Do you want to meet that person?”

Xiao San shook her head, “I’d rather.”

She paused, “I want to meet that person.”

Back when rumors were spread about her before, she had tried everything to explain, but no one believed her.

This time, she had Lü Yu and Zheng Qi who believed in her, and even Shen Lin, who though harsh with his words, had been working hard for her sake.

It was already different from before.

Xiao San wanted to meet Luo Tengfei, at least to understand why he did what he did.

The detention center was filled with the scent of smoke, completely unlike the cold, sterile image Xiao San had imagined.

As soon as she entered, there was a security gate inside, which could only be passed through when an officer opened it.

Beyond the gate was a long row of chairs. An officer brought over a form for Xiao San to fill out before leading her through another security gate.

After winding through countless corridors and passing through who knows how many security gates, they finally reached the innermost part of the detention center.

Inside a barred window, several people were crouched in the corner.

Allowing Xiao San to enter was already an exception, and Lü Yu, who was unrelated to the case, couldn’t be let in, creating an awkward situation.

Xiao San didn’t recognize anyone inside which one was Luo Tengfei?

“Luo Tengfei!” the officer shouted, slapping the bars.

From the deepest corner, a boy emerged, head lowered and steps hesitant.

He looked about the same age as Xiao San, or perhaps a bit younger. His face, which he tried hard to keep down, was covered in various pimples. Xiao San took one look and instinctively took a step back.

She didn’t know whether it was the boy himself that disgusted her or the constantly festering acne on his face that repulsed her more.

When Luo Tengfei saw Xiao San, his eyes instantly lit up.

“You came,” he said, staring intently at Xiao San her hair, eyes, nose, mouth. It was as if he wanted to see through every part of her.

The officer slapped the bars hard. “Watch yourself.”

Xiao San took a deep breath and asked, “Why did you take those photos and spread those rumors?”

“I was wrong. You’re not angry, are you?” Luo Tengfei replied.

Xiao San looked at him in astonishment. His response was the same as that person’s in the real world.

Only, Luo Tengfei’s words were even more terrifying.

Xiao San felt that Luo Tengfei was genuinely concerned about her.

A perpetrator, concerned about his victim.

“Why? Did I ever hurt you?” She just wanted an answer perhaps not from Luo Tengfei, but at least some kind of answer.

Luo Tengfei smiled. “Are you really angry?”

Xiao San pressed her lips together and didn’t respond.

Luo Tengfei grew even happier. “So you are angry! You’re angry!”

Xiao San felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach, acid churning and threatening to surge up her throat.

She covered her mouth and dashed outside.

As soon as she stepped out, following the direction the officer pointed toward the restroom, she hurried over, found a random stall, and vomited repeatedly into the toilet.

Luo Tengfei’s gaze was truly nauseating.

“Are you okay?” The officer, a young-looking woman, followed her out and gently patted Xiao San’s back. “Don’t pay any attention to people like that. He does these things just to make you notice him and remember his name. He’s a pervert. The more you show that you’re affected by it, the happier he becomes. The best revenge is to act completely unfazed and unaffected.”

Only after emptying her stomach entirely did Xiao San begin to feel slightly better.

Hearing the officer’s words, she steadied herself. “I just, couldn’t help it.”

“I understand. A well-behaved girl like you probably had no idea such perverts exist. It’s okay, you’ll feel much better after throwing up.”

Supported by the officer, Xiao San made her way to the mirror. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the water to rinse her mouth, then splashed her face vigorously.

“Thank you.”

If only she had been comforted by such a gentle older sister in the real world, maybe she wouldn’t have been left with lingering trauma. Maybe she wouldn’t have let the person who spread those rumors get away with it because of what others thought.

“Don’t mention it. Come on, I’ll walk you out.” The officer shook her head dismissively.

Xiao San murmured a soft “Mm” and let the officer guide her out. As she lifted her head, she caught her reflection in the mirror her eyes were as red as a white rabbit’s, and her face was deathly pale.

“San’er, why do you look so haggard?”

As soon as Xiao San emerged, Lü Yu hurried over to support her.

A male officer in his forties tossed the interrogation notes onto the desk. The officer who had accompanied Xiao San nodded at him, offered Xiao San a few more words of comfort, and then turned to leave.

Standing next to the male officer was Shen Lin.

Shen Lin’s expression was grim, especially in the tense atmosphere between him and the male officer. It seemed something had happened between them.

Xiao San glanced at Lü Yu, about to ask, when Shen Lin spoke up, “I won’t let this matter rest. Don’t try to pressure me with your high-minded talk. Let me tell you, I am the law here, and I’m going to make that bastard pay.”

The male officer furrowed his brows. “Young man, I understand that everyone is upset about what happened. But Lü Pengfei is just a college student. If you really press charges, it could ruin his entire life.”

Xiao San looked at the male officer.

His words were exactly the same as those spoken by the officer in the real world.

“He just made a foolish mistake in the heat of the moment. Besides, it didn’t lead to any serious consequences, right? You’re all young people, don’t push things too far. How about that?”

The officer spoke with earnest persuasion.

He didn’t show the slightest hint of a bad attitude. He was like a kindly uncle from the neighborhood, just trying to mediate a minor dispute.

“Besides, if this matter is settled amicably, it would be good for everyone. You wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of coming to the police station every time, or even having to go to court later. Lü Pengfei has already faced his punishment. As a young man, staying in the police station must have terrified him, right? If you want to vent your anger, this should be enough.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking?” Shen Lin exploded. “Is this how you act as a police officer? Don’t think I won’t report you!”

“Hey, student, calm down.” The male officer quickly tried to stop Shen Lin, sighing as he looked at him like an unruly child. “I’m just giving you a suggestion. Look at that girl, think about it. The longer this drags on, the worse it will be for her reputation. Why let momentary anger make everyone unhappy?”

Xiao San met Shen Lin’s gaze.

Even though Shen Lin could be sharp-tongued, he genuinely cared about her.

Xiao San couldn’t help but think.

Shen Lin, the male lead, hadn’t yet grown into the domineering CEO from the novel who constantly pushed others’ boundaries, nor did he possess the cunning that the protagonist should have at that stage.

Right now, he was more like an ordinary male college student, someone with a bit of family influence but not quite adept at using it.

Xiao San said to the male officer, “I want to press charges. Even if it ruins his future, I will do it. His future was destroyed by his own actions. From the moment he framed me and spread rumors to harm me, he should have known he was ruining his own prospects.”

If it weren’t for Lü Yu, Zheng Qi, Shen Lin, and that female officer, Xiao San might have accepted the police’s suggestion to settle, just as she would have in the real world.

But this time was different. She had Lü Yu standing by her side, Zheng Qi comforting and believing in her, and Shen Lin fighting for her at the front.

What reason did she have to back down?

“Young lady, don’t be so extreme. This matter hasn’t escalated that much, it’s just a joke between classmates.”

“Only when both sides find it funny can it be called a joke.” Xiao San gripped Lü Yu’s arm tightly. Her stomach was cramping in waves, and even without a mirror, she could guess how pale her face must be. But she persisted, “I don’t find it funny at all. His actions have completely disrupted my normal life. What right do you have to decide how much impact this farce has had on me?”

“As someone with more experience.”

This time, Xiao San didn’t let the male officer finish. She cut off his impending lecture. “If your daughter or your wife were slandered like this, would you be so generous as to settle?”

Xiao San let out a cold laugh, her voice growing even weaker. “You probably wouldn’t care, right? Someone like you only cares about yourself. Even if your family went through something like this, you’d surely settle generously, because you’re not the one suffering. Isn’t that, right?”

With a look of seeing right through him, Xiao San coldly pointed out the male officer’s irresponsibility both as a man and as a police officer.

The male police officer’s expression stiffened slightly. “You’re being too extreme. I’ll talk to you again once you’ve calmed down.”

“Then let’s wait. We can talk after my lawyer arrives and after Luo Tengfei’s verdict is announced.”

“Young lady, why are you so stubborn? I’m doing this for your own good. Can’t you understand? What good will it do you if this matter blows up? Do you really want everyone at your school to know you went to a hotel with a man? Do you want all your classmates to know you have so little self-respect?”

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